10 Years Ago, 10 Years Later

Chapter 4

"Young Master Gong, where did you get that new jacket?"

After the bell signaling the start of lunch break rings, a kid in his class approaches Gong Jun's table, excitedly gawking at the brand-new jacket he is wearing over his school uniform. His remark draws the attention of several others sitting around him, and subsequently makes them gather around him, as well.

"Isn't this a limited edition from the brand that recently had a collaboration with that movie?"

"Wow, you're so lucky to be able to get it. I went to several stores with my parents the other day and they all said it's sold out."

Everybody starts commenting on the single piece of clothing on his body, allowing no room for him to even answer the first question. Internally, Gong Jun can only sigh in exasperation.

"Young Master Gong this, Young Master Gong that" — Aren't they all classmates studying in the same school in the same grade as him? Why must they make it sound as if he is some sort of an elevated being sitting a cut above everyone else? It isn't as if they do not come from wealthy families like he does, seeing as no ordinary person will be able to pay for this private school's tuition fee. Just because his Gong family happens to be a little more famous, they all race to praise and worship him at every chance they get yet there isn't a single genuine feeling that comes out of their mouth.

"You are all so out of touch. How can you not know who gave him that jacket?" at this moment, a girl sitting next to him joins in the conversation. She is wearing an all-knowing expression, proud to possess a piece of information that her peers don't. "Don't you all know that our Young Master Gong here is already betrothed? And it was his birthday party last week. The jacket must be a gift he received from his fiancee."

The moment the word "fiancee" leaves her mouth, the other kids start "aahh"-ing and "oohh"-ing in unison.

Children in fifth grade are still children, but they have developed some awareness about relationships concerning the adults' world. Though they know very little, they at least understand what it means for someone to be engaged. They are all the sons and daughters of wealthy families, after all. Having their parents already deciding who they're going to marry in the future isn't at all a strange concept to them. It's all for the sake of connections and expanding the family's business, much like the kingdoms of old marrying off their princes and princesses to each other to form an alliance.

Nevertheless, ganging up to poke fun at someone about their future love life is still a fun game to do for these half-grown children.

"How nice it is to be you, Gong Jun! I'm so envious!"

"I want a fiancee, too!"

"So who's going to be your future wife? Do you have a picture of her? I wanna see!"

"You guys don't know?" the same girl twirls her hair, barely able to curb her grin, "Young Master Gong's fiancee attends the same school as us. In fact, he's right in the next class, that Zhehan guy."

Gong Jun feels something pricking at his heart at once. Nobody notices the subtle change in his expression, however, as they are busy making a big ruckus over this revelation.

"Zhehan? You mean Zhang Zhehan?"

"For real? The sole heir of the super-rich Zhang family?"

"Forget about their money. Isn't he quite a beauty? There isn't a day I don't find him surrounded by his admirers but he always just smiles at them and walks away."

"Seriously, how much luck do you have in this lifetime that you get to marry someone like–"

"That's enough! I don't even like him in the first place!"