Rebirth from the Ashes

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Yun Jinping was tongue-tied to refuse the invitation.

Xiao Ran quickly jumped in. “Then it’s decided. My husband and I came with our daughter. We’re staying in the nearby First Snow Hotel. It’s the most luxurious hotel in our country and the rate for one night is at least twenty thousand yuan. I told my husband there’s no need to stay in such an expensive room, but he insisted on experiencing our nation’s best hotel. I couldn’t talk him out of it. Where are you staying?”

By the looks of Yun Jinping, she would barely scrape by to stay in a 30 yuan a night Travelodge.

“My husband and I are here to drop our kid off. We’re heading home in a bit.” Yun Jinping placed the sheets in the washing machine.

Xiao Ran walked up and swiped her newly bought card on the washing machine. “Let me get it for you. I just loaded ten thousand yuan onto the laundry card. The credit is more than enough.”

Since Yun Jinping was traveling home later, she probably did not want to waste money on lodging. That sounded about right as Yun Jinping’s family likely could not afford the astronomical prices in the capital.

Furrowing her brows, Yun Jinping was without a word.

“Are you and your husband flying home?” Xiao Ran feigned concern as she probed.

“No.” Yun Jinping shook her head.

“My husband and I are traveling first class by plane. It doesn’t cost much to get all the way to my place. I think it’s ten thousand yuan per person.” Xiao Ran grew hoity-toity, knowing her guess was right. Yun Jinping must be taking the train home because it was cheaper compared to flights. The poor thing sure had it rough.

Although Xiao Ran never stayed in touch with Yun Jinping after their graduation, she picked up that the latter had married a farming boy who only graduated from junior high. There was no future in farming.

Her husband was the owner of a listed company with an annual income of up to a million.

Yun Jinping smiled awkwardly.

Xiao Ran was overflowing with a sense of privilege as she observed what she thought to be inferiority, humiliation, and sheepishness on Yun Jinping’s face. Thrilled to crush Yun Jinping under her feet, Xiao Ran continued with the questions. “Which room is your child staying in? It must be destiny that we have such a good relationship and now our children are studying in the same school, living in the same dorm and building. I hope they hit it off.”

She expected her daughter to put down Yun Jinping’s daughter as she did to Yun Jinping to reflect their family’s superiority. Xiao Ran was elated just thinking about it.

“We’re going elsewhere later.” Yun Jinping declined the invitation, not wanting to waste another breath with her.

“It’s okay. We can wait. It’s our treat. So we’ll see you at noon in front of the dormitory.” Xiao Ran believed Yun Jinping was looking for an excuse to get away because she did not want to look bad.

Well, Xiao Ran was not going to let Yun Jinping get out of it. She wanted to show Yun Jinping how good she had it in life, how wealthy her husband was, and how successful her daughter was. Xiao Ran was a winner in life.

Yun Jinping tried to decline.

Xiao Ran acted angrily and said, “Don’t you say no to me. You’ll be looking down on me, your old friend. Do you have a problem with me? Is that why you won’t even have a meal with me?”

Helpless about the situation, Yun Jinping had to nod in agreement. She might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but even she could tell Xiao Ran was looking for a reason to brag. Still, Yun Jinping saw the behavior as childish and laughable.

She was doing well for herself. Her husband, daughter, and son were good to her. She was happy and counted her blessings, so there was no need for her to play the comparison game.

The pair exchanged contact details and arranged to call before the gathering.

Xiao Ran straightened her back in contentment and strutted away in her stilettos, riding away on her high horse.

She wanted to see what kind of husband Yun Jinping had. Surely, the farming villager was old, tanned, and ugly. Her daughter must also be a country bumpkin fresh out of a farm.

Since this was the girls’ dormitory, Xiao Ran at least knew Yun Jinping had a daughter.

Catching the discoloration in Yun Jinping’s face upon her return, Shen Zhangqing went up to her. “What’s wrong, honey?”

Yun Jinping curled her lips. “Nothing. I ran into a former university friend. She insisted on buying us lunch. I couldn’t refuse her.”

Shen Zhangqing thought it was something bad at first as she pulled a long face. “It’s just lunch. We can do lunch together.”

Shen Xi was itching with curiosity too. “Who is she to you, Mom?”

Why did she not know anything about it? Mom married Dad straight out of college and became a full-time housewife. She lost contact with all her classmates.

Mom would not normally bring up her days in university.

“A university mate I shared a room with,” Yun Jinping answered. “We don’t have to go if you don’t want to go.”

“We should go since you promised her.” Shen Xi drew close. “Are you afraid we’d embarrass you?”

Yun Jinping slapped her back. “How could you ever embarrass me? You only ever make me proud.”

No one else in the world was more outstanding than her darling daughter. Her daughter was her pride!

“What are you worried about then? Old Shen, my brother, and I won’t bring you shame.” Thrilled, Shen Xi clung onto Yun Jinping’s arm. “Come, I’ll put makeup on you. Let’s get an outfit delivered too.”

“Why go through all the trouble when it’s just a meal with a former classmate?” Yun Jinping poutingly took a glance at Shen Xi. Oh, the girl and her antics.

“It’s the very reason you’re having lunch with an old university friend that you need to get dolled up.” Shen Xi chuckled. She called the store and requested Jin Yun’s limited-edition “Phoenix in Peonies” that had not hit the stores yet.

A school reunion, huh? Shen Xi could tell from the look on Mom’s face that this was no friend. There was bound to be some showing off going on.

This especially rang true to those middle-aged women with nothing better to do. They loved to compare their husbands, their children, who had better skin care, and even something as trivial as the length of their fingernails.

Hearing this, Yun Jinping smiled dotingly. “Okay.”

Her husband was looking sharp dressed in a formal suit while she dressed down in a loose dress. She also had no makeup on, and that gave reason for people to look down on her.

She could not let her husband and children down!

“Better get to sprucing up, ladies. I’ll walk Yuanxi to his dorm.” Shen Zhangqing took a look at the time. It was only ten o’clock, two more hours before the lunch appointment.

“Sure.” Nodding with a smile, Yun Jinping watched as her husband and son hauled the suitcase out of there.

Jiang Xuanxuan and Yan Xiaoxiao gathered round excitedly as Shen Xi applied cosmetics on Yun Jinping. It was a rare honor to have front row seats to Ms. Cai Ni live at work.

At 11.50 AM, Xiao Ran, together with her daughter and husband, waited downstairs at the dormitory.

Xiao Ran’s husband had ordinary looks, thinning hairline, and a beer belly like most middle-aged men. Although he was decked out in a suit, his appearance screamed a greasy man.

Similar to Xiao Ran, her daughter’s face was painted with a no-makeup look. She appeared pure and beautiful.

“Honey, is your old university friend coming or not? Would you look at the time?” Xiao Ran’s husband was losing his patience. He glanced at his limited-edition Patek-Phillipe and expressed disgruntlement. “It’s ten to twelve. Call her right now. I’ve never waited on anyone.”

After saying that, all passers-by stopped in their tracks and looked towards the entrance of the dormitory..