Wendy stood at the doorway, her face suddenly darkening.
Alex frowned and immediately tried to pull Wendy away.
Employees of Yin Enterprises never have to put up with this kind of treatment.
But Wendy shook her head at Alex and said, "It's fine. This is the last high school reunion anyway, so it's better to clear things up once and for all. That way, they won't spread rumors, and if anything bad reaches my parents, it wouldn't be good."
Alex thought for a moment, then smiled confidently. "Wait for me for half an hour."
With that, Alex turned and took Wendy to the room next door, making a quick phone call: "Get me two brand new outfits, right away—for me and Wendy. They must be delivered within half an hour."
After hanging up, Alex told Wendy, "As the assistant to the CEO and Mrs. Yin of Yin Enterprises, we absolutely can't let outsiders slander us like this. Explaining ourselves a thousand times isn't as effective as showing them our strength. Today, I'll teach you how to put them in their place."
Wendy was stunned for a moment, then broke into a smile, her eyes curving. "Alex, it's really great having you around."
Wendy's words were sincere, and when Alex heard them, her heart fluttered with a sweet, inexplicable feeling.
When Wendy and Alex stood before their classmates again, those people were still brazenly gossiping about her.
As Wendy Parker pushed open the door, the laughter inside came to an abrupt stop.
When Aileen Huang saw Wendy’s delicate features, a flash of jealousy and unease flickered in her eyes.
She’d known since they were kids that Wendy was cute—not the trendy sharp-chinned look, but plenty of guys liked her type.
Take Aaron Meng, for example. He was definitely into that.
“Well, look who it is! Wendy Parker, our old classmate. Just graduated college, huh? What took you so long to come back?” Aileen strutted over, pretending she was close with Wendy, eyeing her Hermes scarf and LV bag with envy.
Why does Wendy get to use such fancy stuff right after graduating?
It’s gotta be a knockoff, right?
Aileen faked surprise, raising her voice, “Oh wow, Wendy, why are you putting on airs? Look at you, rocking fake designer! Tsk tsk, so vain. I heard you’re working as an assistant for some rich folks now, huh? You’re still young—why settle for serving others? Tell you what, I’ll talk to our Class President. You can join us as a promoter! One day on, one day off, twenty-six hundred a month! We’re all real people here, so stop fooling yourself with fake brands. Aaron, don’t you agree?”
Wendy noticed Aaron Meng was there too. She nodded at him, then introduced, “Let me introduce—this is my boss, Mr. Alex Summers.”
Alex nodded politely at them. “Nice to meet you.”
The group exchanged uneasy glances, all feeling an unfamiliar sense of pressure from Alex Summers.
Instinctively, they lowered their heads, not daring to meet Alex’s gaze.
After years working alongside Charles Yin, Alex naturally carried the aura of someone in charge.
It wasn’t just these inexperienced kids—even those rich guys in their forties and fifties would show Alex respect.
“Wendy, this isn’t cool. Today’s a class reunion, so why’d you bring an outsider?” Aileen’s eyes darted slyly as she spoke up, “Is he your boyfriend? Did you bring your plus one?”
Sure enough, Aaron Meng’s face changed instantly. He glanced at Alex, secretly sizing him up.
It was like he couldn’t measure up to Alex at all.
Was this guy really someone Wendy met outside school?
Aaron’s mind was spinning with wild thoughts.
Aileen saw Aaron’s reaction and knew she’d played her cards right.
She didn’t believe for a second that Aaron Meng could watch Wendy Parker walk in with another guy and not feel anything!
As long as Aaron gave up on Wendy, Aileen Huang would finally have her chance!
“Hey, didn’t you hear the introduction just now?” Alex Summers replied coolly, “I’m her boss. Literally. Got it?”
“You—Bosses can be more than just bosses!” Aileen snapped, rolling her eyes. “And who are you calling ‘lady’? How old do you think I am? I’m way younger than you! Don’t call me ‘lady’!”
“Ah, so you prefer ‘miss’? My apologies,” Alex answered, totally unfazed.
Everyone knew ‘miss’ had a special meaning.
Sure enough, a bunch of the guys in the room started snickering.
Aileen’s face turned crimson. “You—you did that on purpose!”
“So, what should I call you?” Alex looked at her with mock surprise. “You don’t like ‘lady,’ and ‘miss’ gets you mad. Should I call you ‘auntie’? I mean, those wrinkles around your eyes do look a little auntie-ish, but that’d be rude, right?”
“You!” Aileen was about to explode.
She was only twenty-two!
Wrinkles? No way!
Aileen turned to Aaron Meng, whining, “Aaron, look at him! This is all Wendy’s fault—she brought an outsider to our class reunion! Probably just here for a free meal. Has Wendy really fallen so far she’s bringing people to mooch off us?”
Wendy saw Alex sticking up for her, so she wasn’t about to let Aileen trash him. She shot back, “A free meal? You wish. I paid double for our meals. If you don’t believe me, ask the Class President.”
Aileen immediately looked over at the Class President.
The Class President gave an awkward smile and said, “Yeah, Wendy just sent me the money—not only for two meals, but she also upgraded our whole package. We originally booked the 888 per table deal, but now it’s the 2888 package. I haven’t had a chance to tell you all yet.”
Alex flashed a polite smile. “Our company’s just a small one, doesn’t make much, so all we could do was upgrade you to the fanciest set. That’s the best they offer here—2888 per table.”
The classmates who’d just mocked Wendy went dead silent.
Aileen really didn’t want to see Wendy steal the spotlight, so she snorted, “Quit pretending to be rich! Wearing fake brands just to get noticed here?”
Before Wendy could say anything, Alex looked at Aileen in mock amazement and said, “Wow, I had no idea the art of spotting real and fake brands all depends on Miss Huang’s eagle eyes! Maybe I should email a few luxury brands and recommend you for a job. That kind of skill isn’t something just anyone has!”
Two girls at the table couldn’t help it—they burst out laughing.
They weren’t in Wendy Parker’s class and didn’t know her well, but after that back-and-forth, they thought Aileen Huang was seriously bitter.
Even before Wendy arrived, Aileen was already badmouthing her. And now that she’s here, it’s all about fake brands and freeloading.
You’d have to be blind not to see how much Aileen Huang hated Wendy Parker.
Wendy glanced at Aaron Meng, a flash of disappointment in her eyes.
Aileen was mocking her nonstop, but Aaron just sat there like nothing was happening, not saying a word, letting Aileen bully her.
Even Alex Summers, an outsider, knew how to stand up for her.
Yet Aaron Meng, who always claimed to like her, never once stood up for her.
Some kind of love that is—cheap and careless!
Wendy was starting to lose interest in tonight’s blind date with Aaron Meng.
She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she be slandered like this?
Wendy turned to Aaron Meng. “Is that what you think too?”
Aaron Meng hesitated, glancing at Alex Summers. Just as he was about to speak, Aileen Huang jumped in, shrill and accusing: “You have the nerve to ask Aaron! If you don’t like him, why have you strung him along for years? If it weren’t for you, Aaron wouldn’t have—”
“Enough! That’s enough!” Aaron Meng cut Aileen off sharply.
Wendy looked at the others at the table and laughed. “So this isn’t a class reunion—it’s a public trial, huh?”
The Class President tried to smooth things over. “Wendy, don’t take it the wrong way, that’s not what anyone meant.”
“I don’t care what you meant. I’m saying this now.” Wendy spoke calmly, “I barely spoke to Aaron Meng in high school—we weren’t even in the same class. I was in liberal arts, he was in science; I was in the honors class, he was in the regular one. During four years of college, we never contacted each other—not by phone, WeChat, QQ, texts, MSN, nothing! So, Aileen Huang, I’d like to know how exactly I ‘strung along’ Aaron Meng? Did I do it with magic breath or something?”
The two girls burst out laughing again.
Both Aileen Huang and Aaron Meng looked embarrassed.
“I came today because the Class President called me, said it’s been ages since we all met up. I didn’t expect you all to see me as some vain, gold-digging woman living off men, who’s still stringing along a high school classmate. If I really were that kind of person, I’d admit it. But I’m not—so why force me to confess? Aileen, I know exactly why you’re so aggressive today. You’ve always had a crush on Aaron Meng, and you’re scared I’ll come back and steal him. Well, let me tell you: originally, Aaron and I were supposed to go on a family-arranged date tonight. But after this, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Aaron Meng, looks like you believe all the gossip about me, and you haven’t defended me once. Fine, I get it. That’s probably for the best. We’re not a good match anyway, and if our families weren’t always pushing, I wouldn’t even consider a blind date. Honestly, Aileen Huang seems perfect for you—she’s obsessed and dying to snatch you up.” Wendy stood up and turned to the Class President. “Sorry, Class President, I can’t finish this meal. And since you’re all so curious about who I work for as an assistant, I’ll satisfy your curiosity right now!”