My dear readers,
as you so persistently want to read up this story (and I understand you very much!)  - and as far as our Kiai, unfortunately, could not continue this work - I return to my promises and begin to issue next chapters of this brilliant tale.
I don't promise you to do it very often - but I shall try to finish this story together with Russian chapters.

Our beautiful boys fully deserve it! And you, our devoted readers, too.
Sincerely thank all of you, who by your warm words and kind support help me to return to this case. :)
Enjoy your reading!

Chapter 45 – different directors are so different ...

When our sweet couple left the hospitable walls of the zoo, it was already late afternoon. On the way, they entered a small shop located at a distance of one li (0.5 km) from the zoo, ate a cup of the famous wontons (Chinese dumplings) famous for the whole city, after which they were fed and satisfied and went home.

They almost arrived when Wang Guangning received a phone call - Sun Xiang, his old friend and a roommate in the hostel, reminded him of tomorrow's party in honor of the anniversary of ... Nsky University. After agreeable chuckling into the phone and disconnecting, Guangning asked, looking thoughtfully through the window of the car at the passing walls of their condominium:

- Hey, Zhang Lingyi, tomorrow is the anniversary celebration at the university - are you going to visit it?

- Yes, of course...

Lingyi, confidently holding his hand on the steering wheel, glanced suspiciously at the neighbor:

- Shou-shou, are you also going to a celebration tomorrow? Have you accepted the invitation? If yes, then let's go together.

Guangning thought for a second, not taking his eyes off the urban landscape behind the window - and nodded affirmatively:

- Why not...

***

The sixtieth anniversary of ... the University of Nsk city was celebrated magnificently, as an important event in the life of the whole city.

Driving up to their alma mater, the partners got stuck in a huge stopper and were forced to park their car very far from the main entrance, next to the buildings of the neighboring college. Leaving the car, they went to the Main building on foot, joining the tumultuous streams of a cheerful, lively crowd.

On the avenue leading to the main entrance, a lot of people were slowly moving. Some of them idly chanted, called to each other over the heads of other people around them, and then began to hurry, laughing and smiling, to join their former classmates, others froze in small groups to chat with friends, crowded around trays with souvenirs — memorable badges, postcards and flyers. Sellers of these trifles, taking advantage of temporary revival of public live in these academic, usually silent walls, briskly praised their simple goods.

Guangning walked thoughtfully, looking around, involuntarily remembering his hasty escape from these places long time ago - and the aching feeling of nostalgia for the long past, happy, carefree student days chilled through his chest. His eyes stopped here and there - on this corner he saw his deadly rival for the first time... and here they were walking after buying clothes for loving pair... behind that turn the path leading to the Moon Lake begins ... and behind that corner there is an alley leading to the library ... and over there the roof of the university cafe glitters, on the podium of which they played their fateful game with a memorable coin ... and there ... and there ... there was Zhang Lingyi under one umbrella with that girl... how many memories ... funny, sad, cute, heavy - different ... the eyes of Guangning were filled with tears, which our dear shou tried to wipe away unnoticed for his companion ... He went slowly step by step, pausing on his way near every roadside kiosk, as if after the party he was going to open the ragman's shop.

Fortunately, on halfway to the main entrance Lingyi's phone rang - and Luo Zihui joyfully tweeted that their classmates had already gathered at one cozy place - a chic hotel near the university - and were just waiting for their first handsome man to start celebrating. Confirming the receipt of the coordinates, Lingyi nodded suspiciously to the silent Guangning, giving him farewell jealous look - and hurriedly went away to a meeting with his classmates.

Handsome shou remained on his own – and immediately saleswomen and sellers of the stalls attacked the lonely, melancholic handsome boy with a stream of the most profitable and attractive offers, promising some transcendental discounts and bonuses. Tall, slim, elegantly dressed - he drew glances of the crowd like a black swan in a flock of ducks. And his brooding silence and even a certain sadness in his eyes separated him more from the common cheerful party.

- And this - what is it? - Wang Guangning picked up a rectangular wooden box of the size of palm, on the lid of which were burned the inscription "60 anniversary of the ... University".

- This is a card holder. For business cards ... - the saleswoman, a pretty young girl, all blushing from the question addressed directly to her by slender stunning handsome.

- Oooh ... - Guangning weighed the casket in his hand - solid, from a good tree, beautifully polished, so that the veins of wood played on a smooth, silky surface, glowing softly in the rays of early lanterns. It looks rich. And not too expensive ... (Wang Guangning terribly reminds me his visual prototype, Krist Peravat – translator's note) The young businessman took out a wallet and bought one.

Leaving the stall, Guangning went further, dangling from one roadside to another, wandering freely, directing his steps wherever his random look fell.

The campus of the university was too big - and now, when a lot of people were filling the paths and ways, it seemed even smaller, more compact. At each corner shouted and laughed cheerful young people – students-volunteers, who should help past years' graduates to orient themselves.

A lot of visitors were much older than of the average age, they came to cling to their origins, to dive into the atmosphere of their past fun and long-gone youth - they behaved as if they got off the back a load of past years, laughing and fooling each other like unreasonable girls and boys, whom they were once upon a time in these walls.

It is not for nothing that the university is called "alma mater" - it, like a real mother, gently festered its children and let them go to a great life - and here they are, like kind children, returned to their beloved mother, to say thanks to her for the wisdom given to them, so that at least one evening to return under her protective, blessed wing.

Guangning suddenly again felt himself like a member of this huge family and was even more impressed.

For more than four years, his foot did not step on the campus's own paths, the feet themselves carried him where it was necessary — along the paths, memorable from the days, that had sunk into oblivion, and these paths carried thoughts farther and farther into the student past.

Sometimes he saw familiar faces — and then he caught on himself their surprised and interested glances, but, immersed in his own thoughts, he was not inclined to pay attention to these timid signs of recognition.

Finally, his footpath brought him to the building of the Main Lecture Hall.

The Main Lecture Hall could accommodate thousands of people, and in front of entrance there was a spacious area. Since the building was located a little away from residential and educational buildings, the place was usually empty and it was used for various sports and paramilitary trainings.

But today, in honor of the festival, the Hall itself and the square in front of it were packed with people.

Curiosity pushed Guangning - and he squeezed through the crowd inside. At the far end of the lobby there hung a huge red banner, announcing that a Great Debating Club of former graduates was taking place over here.

On the stage stood a row of ten chairs, on which sat well-dressed, tense, embarrassed people. One of them was standing in front of the microphone - thin, awkward, he spoke pathetically in a high, excessively forced voice about his story of struggle and success.

Our handsome man recognized the man at a glance - this was the one who unsuccessfully pursued Yu Haining, and after a scandalous rumors about her, spending the night in a hotel with the first Uni beauty prince, he tried to save his love by denigrating him - Wang Guangning. Then Zhang Lingyi roasted his ass in the chat – and poor boy was so ridiculed by him, that he received at last the nickname "The Main loser of the... uni"! Suddenly his name came to Guangning's mind - Xu GoHui.

Guangning did not expect, that this loser would have enough audacity to talk profusely about his successes in front of such a big crowd, he prized himself as an example of a man, who did not surrender under strokes of bad luck – and even if you were beaten by destiny, always would come a wonderful day to give you the chance to strike back.

While our successful businessman was pondering the vicissitudes of fate, Xu GoHui had finished his speech and went to his place among the guests sitting on the stage. Announcer bowed to him:

- So, Xu GoHui shared his story of success with us. Thank you for this invaluable experience! Just imagine, he graduated from the university just three years ago - and already became the marketing director of the South China branch of DM China. His success is an example to follow for many of us who are still storming the heights of top management of large companies. And now - open the question and answer session. What would you like to learn from our brother Xu? Feel free to ask, do not miss your chance!

Speaking his well-felt speech, the presenter carefully searched his eyes to the crowd, looking for someone known to spark a discussion.

Guangning grinned at the corner of his mouth and turned to leave the audience, when suddenly...

- This is the brother Guangning! Uh, brother Guangning, from where you undertook here?!

Guangning, shocked, froze in place, his legs resting on the floor. He watched with horror as the presenter flew off the stage and, pushing away the guests in the hall, began to make his way to him, not holding back the surprised exclamations:

- My God, what an unexpected joy! We did not expect at all that Wang Guangning bro finally returned to his native land. Please, I beg you - rise on the stage, tell us what happened to you!

Many of those, sitting in the hall, were students who entered the university after Guangning left it, and did not know anything about the former celebrity - but the presenter's obvious delight could not but intrigue them. What to say about the undergraduates, who, even if they did not see the mysterious handsome man with his own eyes, had heard a lot of legends wandering about him along the corridors of the faculties. The general excitement increased.

In order to demonstrate special respect for this outstanding graduate, one of the undergraduates volunteered to speak with him. He entered the university just at the time when Guangning fled to Taiwan. A student, who was by luck originally from the same city, as Guangning's neighbor Sun Syan, and who settled on the vacant place together with his fellow countryman, in the first year of study heard plenty of rumors and gossip about the mysteriously disappeared handsome man. Under the tireless influence of Sun Syan, he completely devoted himself to a cult of worshiping the fatal idol – and became his loyal priest, who did not consider it necessary to hide his worship under the mask of impartiality.

Some nicknames, carried by legends to new uni generations, came to his mind:

• Mr. Perfection (gāo fù shuài - Internet slang) of our uni!

• Sister killer!

• Student Council President!

• The legendary fighter of the Univer Basketball team!

• Winner of the high scholarships!

• Winner of the competition for participation in the exchange quota with foreign students.

Each title can be carved in gold letters on marble tablets. So, few devoted have begun to rustle at sounds of a familiar name, like an overflowing cauldron with potatoes in the student's canteen.

Some people, who knew the first handsome uni from photographs, followed presenter's gaze and found a familiar tall figure in the back rows, standing out even in a crowd - slender, elegant - as if radiant, filled with inner light.

At gunpoint of many eyes, Guangning could not retreat - he smiled easily and resolutely headed towards the stage. Xu GoHui frowned.

Guangning had no intention of chasing now cheap student popularity. But he, as before, adored being in the center of attention. And with this scene he has so many beautiful memories, so many pleasant moments, so many joyful emotions - he felt at ease here. He returned home from distant wanderings - and the love and adoration that accompanied him throughout his student life re-embraced him as a warm, cozy blanket.

With an easy, quick step, he ran up to the stage - and the hall could not refrain from enthusiastic exclamations. The young man came to the middle of the stage - and the rays of the spotlights illuminated him from head to toe, and he shone all over, like an angel in a pillar of heaven light.

He seemed to be born to draw hearts to him.

People in the hall fell silent, amazed by this amazing picture.

The presenter was incredibly excited, only tears in his eyes were not enough for complete happiness - he grabbed the microphone and proclaimed it in the most solemn voice that he could find in his repertoire:

- Ladies and gentlemen, friends, brothers! Let me introduce you to one of the most famous graduates of our alma mater. Here he is - an amazing handsome man, whose feet have broken countless beautiful girlish hearts. But he is known not only for his stunning beauty – he is also one of the smartest, most talented students who decorated these gray walls with their presence. He's the athlete – hello, basketball team! And the former president of the Student Council - his respectful followers are still guided by his wisdom. And the winner in the struggle for a scholarship of the highest rank - few can combine such brilliant virtues in different fields in the same person! He left us, having left for the exchange of the best students with outstanding foreign university to Taiwan - and so far, no one expected that today he will illuminate our wonderful party with his presence! And it is a great honor for all of us!

An explosion of wild applause accompanied the presenter's words - and Wang Guangning bowed modestly, listening with a cute smile to exaggerated praises.

The presenter, admiringly frozen, adored this elegant man, who really illuminated the scene with his presence:

- Brother Guangning, our senior mentor, you are a real idol for many generations of our students (especially for the beautiful half of them!) - today you finally returned to us, do you really have nothing to bestow on your loyal audience?

Guangning stepped toward the center of the stage, concentrating on thousands of attentive eyes, flashed a smile — so simple and sincere, that the girls' hearts began to flutter and melt like snowflakes under the rays of the spring sun, and:

- In this case, the only thing that needs to be said here, is "only study in your chest, always strive for the best! (Chinese proverb - hǎohǎo xuéxí, tiāntiān xiàngshàng)

The people at the scene exploded with friendly laughter - this was the most popular proverb of the university administration, practically a slogan, that was used to brainwash students from the very first year. Those who were afraid that Guangning would be let in long, boring reasonings, like his predecessor, laughed with relief — while others appreciated the ingenious, truly masterly departure from the answer. In one sentence, our hero won the hearts of all those present, as he had previously fascinated fellow students.

And the presenter himself laughed the loudest:

- Well, the legends do not lie - our elder brother's sense of humor is still unsurpassed. Can we at least ask, in what field are you working now?

Our director was not going to be modest in this point - his shyness had its clear limits:

- Maybe not everyone knows this company - Fumokashi Group?

- WAAAAU! – delighted presenter jumped on the spot with admiration. - So, this is one of the largest companies in Taiwan. So, Brother Guangning is working in the same arena as the one, who made a speech before him - Xu GoHui!

The aforementioned graduate flinched angrily - did anyone really bother, finally, to remember about him, the poor loser ...

But Guangning smiled - with a light, elusive irony:

- Of course, of course. Xu GoHui is not only my colleague. He is also my classmate.

- Yes, it's true, you have a lot in common with him, - the flattering voice of the presenter, contrary to his own words, assured the public, that Guangning's fame did not even illuminate student Xu with a distant ray, that only the bright name of Wang Guangning remained in the student annals.

- Fumokashi?

The question of the former loser sounded like a slap in the face, it flew into Wang Guangning's face, like a dueling glove, thrown by secular squabbler. It became chilly like in the Arctic desert, but the interrogator kept refined and polite manners in order to hit more painfully at the end:

- And what is the position of our brilliant Wang Guangning in such a glorious company as Fumokashi?

Hall alert and froze. The invincible charm of the renowned business monsters always attracted student's attention. Rumors, gossip, news - they always boiled around the largest brands, drawing public attention to themselves, like a magnet, the frantic curiosity of neophytes, eager to be allowed into inner sanctum of corporate secrets.

Far from understanding business realities, young people could not understand the details of structures, difference of departments and divisions, could not understand the importance of one or another direction in business development, did not catch undercurrents and underground competition, but the position level was usually available for third-party assessment of a person's position in a company .

Both Fumokashi and DM China were approximately equal on the business market, the reputations of both companies were high. Therefore, position on a career ladder, which was reached by each of our graduates, could be assessed by any third party and become a success measure for their professional achievements.

Marketing Director Xu - that sounded impressive. The young man was rightly proud of his achievement - less than three years after graduation, and he is in such a high position in a company with foreign capital. Not so easy to achieve this. He was absolutely sure that the ugly, cheeky handsome man could not outrun him at work - God knows, how he managed to get good grades in the university, but the rough reality usually quickly puts everything in its place - and Xu GoHui asked his question consciously, confident that his hated rival was acting in the famous Fumokashi on the roles of a simple clerk.

Guangning quite clearly had caught this hostility, but it did not provoke a single response in his soul. He did not seek to arise his own price, but he also did not consider it necessary to be too modest:

- Marketing director.

To an outside ear, it sounded absolutely like if both former classmates were in the same positions in their companies.

To most of the party guests the difference was completely incomprehensible - especially since at the beginning of the evening Xu GoHui had already told about his brilliant career - and received all the praises from both the host of the show and attentive audience.

Now both businessmen were equal in their career achievements - and the light that had illuminated earlier only Director Xu fell on Director Wang. However, Mr. Xu had already told everything about himself, and Director Wang was still a stunning handsome man - and even mysteriously disappeared from the university many years ago. So, all the further attention of the host and the students came down to this thin, slim, tall, handsome man, and poor Xu, along with all his career victories, was forgotten in neglect, like a half-puffed colored ball at the end of a fun party.

Wang Guangning, the strutter, bathing in attention of public, infuriated the director Xu fiercely. He not only drew all the love and adoration of the public. In the end, the gloom fellow was accustomed to being only an "air". But worse - he was tormented by professional envy.

For the past three years, Xu GoHui felt like a successful, successful businessman. The nightmare called "main loser" disappeared along with the walls of the ... University of Nsk and has not tormented him even in dreams lately. He was sure, that he had overcome this youthful injury - and now, the mere appearance of the damned upstart had thrown him from the tops of Olympus, where he had basked lately, swallowing ambrosia at the feet of Zeus, stuck him with a nose right into the oily, earthy dirt.

Marketing Director of DM China Corporation.

Fumokashi Corporation Marketing Director ...

Of course, for the students, these positions were quite equivalent.

But there was a difference. The huge difference ... And the director Xu was aware of this bitter difference for him.

Of course, their companies were leaders in their industry — and were not inferior to each other in regalia. Perhaps China DM could boast a longer history ... but ... but ... DM China entered the Chinese market a long time ago. They were known as a mastodon, as a very old-time player in the market - and the role of the marketing department in such conditions is small. No special accomplishments, no ambitious tasks - so, routine. In such conditions, marketers are most often seconded to sales (sales department) - and, despite the loud name "director," the marketing manager deals with posters, business cards, sending out gifts and postcards, developing calendars mockups - the work is important, no one argues, but any clerk could manage it. Who usually deals with it in proud loneliness. Or, maybe, together with and assistant from a neighboring department.

While in Fumokashi, which was intruding on a new market to grab a new consumer niche, all the main current hopes were pinned on their marketers, who should create and implement a winning concept to conquer consumer from competitors. In such a situation, even the Sales Director runs bustlingly, seemingly peering into the tired gloomy face of the marketer, wishing to see a glimpse of brilliant insights on him, that could lead their common child to future success. And here the director of the marketing department is the right hand of the big boss, the second person of the company, the senior officer of the icebreaker Fumokashi, storming the impregnable heart of China's blooming beauty.

Revolving among his colleagues, he had repeatedly heard opinion on the new Fumokashi Marketing director as a very capable and experienced man, despite his young years. His acquaintance from Huidi International - David - praised him very much for his professional talent and financial success - and even invited Mr. Xu to the celebration party for the anniversary of Huidi, which was also attended by their colleague from Fumokashi.

But GoHui did not expect that this talented stranger would be good, familiar to disgusting, hated Wang Guangning from his days of study.

He himself climbed to his post after the university with his last strength, brutally whistling memories of the humiliations he had experienced - and it was this memory that helped him overcome laziness and inertia, spurred, forced him to work more desperately and more persistently, than other young graduates.

He had to prove - to himself and others! - that he is not an empty place, not a "loser", but a great professional, who had taken his place by right! All these years, he hated Wang Guangning and dreamed to put him in his place, to rub him into powder, to poke his nose, like a naughty puppy, into his, Xu, successes — remember, someone called me a loser? Well, which of us is now a loser??

To defeat, humiliate, trample this worthless cute boy, throw him at his, Xu, feet ... Let him know, hear in his distant Taiwan... Let him envy...

These dreams drove the young graduate over the past three years.

And so, at the moment of his triumph, in front of his classmates, when his long-term dream came true - the damn poseur again turned into dust all his feverish fantasies.

Xu GoHui looked at Guangning, mischievously laughing, lightly and gracefully parrying jokes, coming to him from an enthusiastic audience - turned his eyes to his listeners - all of them - were exiting by the man, standing on the stage, they were clinging to him like a field of sunflowers to the shining sun - and this picture seemed to him the most severe a mockery of all his aspirations!

Well, well, Wang Guangning, one day you will pay your price for this evening! And do not worry - it will not seem too easy for you!