Chapter Fifty-Three: A Toast from Each

Lin Yi saw Li Yang’s dejected state and patted his shoulder. “Come on, giving up on you is her loss.”

A woman so shallow and vain wasn’t worth their attention.

Jiang Xiaoning burst out laughing at Lin Yi’s words. “Ha! Lin Yi, are you joking? Loss? Following him would be a loss for a lifetime. He’s got no money, no looks, a complete loser.”

Li Yang lowered his head, saying nothing.

The two stepped into the Golden Grandeur Hotel. The lavish decor only made Li Yang feel even more inferior.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, felt nothing—he’d been to places far more extravagant. In his eyes, the Golden Grandeur Hotel didn’t even rank in the top hundred; despite its opulence, it lacked true grandeur.

“Lin Yi, I bet a meal here costs several thousand, right?” Li Yang whispered.

“It depends,” Lin Yi replied with a light laugh. For ordinary people like Li Yang, spending even a few hundred on a meal was painful, but the rich could drop tens of thousands here without batting an eye.

“Wow, I really envy those who can dine here,” Li Yang said, his eyes shining.

Jiang Xiaoning followed behind them, sneering. “Ha, such country bumpkins. I eat here every three days. If you go clean the cars outside for me, maybe I’ll be generous and treat you to something.”

“Jiang Xiaoning, we grew up together. Isn’t that a bit much?” Li Yang said in a low voice.

“Disgusting! Who grew up with you? You should look at your own status,” Jiang Xiaoning scoffed, then sashayed away.

Li Yang watched her leave, then shrugged his shoulders.

The two climbed to the third floor, led by a beautiful woman in a cheongsam, and entered the private room for the gathering.

There weren’t many people inside, and their arrival drew little attention. Most just glanced at Lin Yi and went back to their conversations.

Lin Yi and Li Yang sat in the farthest corner. The main topic was work—who had found a good job, how much they earned, and so on.

Li Yang picked up a glass of beer and took a sip. He asked, “Lin Yi, what do you do now?”

“I’m a teacher,” Lin Yi replied, not hiding anything.

“You’re teaching now, but I’m still struggling everywhere. I developed a game, was full of ambition, but now...” Li Yang shook his head and drank deeply.

“What happened?” Lin Yi pressed.

Li Yang sighed, the alcohol loosening his tongue. “Don’t even mention it. Everything was going well, but the investor pulled out at the last minute. Now I’m buried in debt.”

“How much do you owe?” Lin Yi asked.

“About a hundred thousand,” Li Yang replied.

“Can I see your game? If I like it, I might be willing to invest,” Lin Yi said.

Li Yang’s eyes sparkled, but he quickly shook his head. “Forget it, Lin Yi. Making money isn’t easy for anyone. Besides, you’re a teacher—how much can you make a month? Don’t you have expenses?”

Lin Yi smiled. “I said, only if I’m satisfied with your game would I invest.”

“Oh, alright. I’ll show you when we get back,” Li Yang said, confidence flickering in his eyes as he spoke about his game.

They chatted idly. Just then, the door opened and a man and woman entered.

The man was tall and imposing; the woman, youthful and beautiful.

“Wow, Yuan Zhekai, have you been working out? Your physique is amazing!” a girl shrieked.

Back in their junior year, Yuan Zhekai had been quite thin. It was surprising that in such a short time, he now sported the beginnings of eight-pack abs.

“Hey, Zhekai, how come you’re walking in with Wenwen?” a guy whistled.

The pretty girl was Dong Wenwen, with long wavy hair and exquisite features, stylishly dressed—the campus belle.

“Haha, don’t speculate, everyone. I just ran into Wenwen on the way. She’s now the lobby manager of this hotel,” Yuan Zhekai said heartily.

“Wow, Wenwen, that’s impressive—so young and already a lobby manager!”

Many expressed their envy.

Of course, some were jealous—like Jiang Xiaoning, who relied on her looks for luxury.

But if Dong Wenwen really was lobby manager, her annual salary would be over a hundred or two hundred thousand.

Dong Wenwen smiled lightly. “I became lobby manager mainly because I seized an opportunity.”

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“A few days ago, our manager was suddenly dismissed by Young Master Yao. I volunteered and got the job. So, everyone, seize the opportunities around you.”

Jiang Xiaoning sneered. “Volunteer? I bet you slept your way up.”

Dong Wenwen’s eyes turned cold.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Yuan Zhekai stepped in to mediate. “Alright, everyone, it’s getting late. Is everyone here?”

Jiang Xiaoning gave Yuan Zhekai face. “Everyone’s here, even Lin Yi and Li Yang, those country bumpkins.”

Her words made everyone laugh—they all knew Lin Yi and Li Yang didn’t fit in and weren’t worth much respect.

Besides, it was common knowledge that Lin Yi and Yuan Zhekai had a grudge.

Now that Yuan Zhekai was a big boss worth tens of millions, everyone wanted to curry favor.

Li Yang’s face flushed red, his fists clenched tightly.

Lin Yi, however, remained unfazed, still sipping his juice.

Yuan Zhekai scanned the crowd and quickly spotted Lin Yi and Li Yang hiding in the corner.

“Haha, weren’t you quite something in school? Why are you hiding now?” Yuan Zhekai sneered inwardly. Though their statuses now differed greatly, today he wanted to reclaim his pride.

He deliberately put on a stern face. “Xiaoning, what kind of talk is that? Country bumpkins? We’re all classmates. As an apology, everyone should offer them a toast later—remember, use glass tumblers to show sincerity.”

Everyone looked at Lin Yi and Li Yang with a hint of pity. Yuan Zhekai’s words had completely cornered them.

If they drank, it’d be one glass from each of the forty-plus people present, all in tall ten-centimeter glasses. Even someone with a high tolerance couldn’t handle that much.

But if they refused, they’d be opposing the whole class.

In short, they had no choice but to drink.

Jiang Xiaoning giggled. “Zhekai, it’s my fault; I’ll be the first to toast.”

“Haha, no problem,” Yuan Zhekai said, laughing.

He then ordered the waiter to bring three cases of Maotai, prompting cheers—everyone praised Zhekai for his generosity.

Jiang Xiaoning poured a glass of Maotai, smiling as she approached Li Yang. “This is Maotai—you’ve probably never tasted it.”

“I...” Li Yang’s face changed dramatically. Two glasses would knock him out cold.

“Hurry up, there are so many people waiting,” Jiang Xiaoning teased, blowing gently in his face.

The sweet scent made Li Yang blush. He reached out, about to take the glass.

But before his hand could touch it, Lin Yi grabbed it away.

“Maotai, not bad,” Lin Yi said with a light laugh.

Jiang Xiaoning’s smile grew even brighter—she could already picture Lin Yi and Li Yang drunk and thrown out.

“Lin Yi, don’t worry, there’s plenty more,” Jiang Xiaoning grinned.

She stretched her hand out, and another eager girl handed her a glass of Maotai.

Lin Yi shook his head. “I only said it’s good wine, not that I’d drink it.”

Jiang Xiaoning’s face fell. She said coldly, “So you don’t plan to give me, Zhekai, or everyone else any respect?”

She pulled everyone in to pressure Lin Yi.

Lin Yi’s eyes flashed with disdain. He dumped the wine onto the floor.

A bunch of kids playing at schemes.

Yuan Zhekai demanded, “Lin Yi, what’s that supposed to mean? Everyone treats you as a friend, and you show no respect?”

“Friend?” Lin Yi glanced at them all, his heart unmoved.

“Did Zhekai say anything wrong? You country bumpkins—he already gave you enough face by inviting you, and now he’s offering a toast. Useless, through and through,” Jiang Xiaoning said.

Dong Wenwen hesitated. “Zhekai, let’s start eating. I just started my new job and can’t stay too long.”

“Alright,” Yuan Zhekai said.

He shot Lin Yi a threatening glare, then called for the dishes.

Because of the crowd, they split into two private rooms.

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Lin Yi and Li Yang’s room was directly opposite Yuan Zhekai’s.

Soon, a dazzling array of dishes was served, making everyone’s mouths water.

“Zhekai, this meal must cost a fortune,” someone remarked.

Jiang Xiaoning pointed at a plate. “See that beef dish?”

“Yeah, such a big plate for just a few slices,” someone replied.

Jiang Xiaoning spoke with pride. “That’s snowflake beef—six hundred eighty for just this plate.”

“My god, so expensive!”

The room erupted in shock—who’d have thought so little would cost so much.

Yuan Zhekai chuckled. “This meal isn’t too pricey, just about forty-eight thousand.”

He said it lightly, and everyone looked at him with greater excitement.

Jiang Xiaoning suddenly stood up. “Zhekai is so generous—we shouldn’t just sit here. Let’s all toast him together.”

Yuan Zhekai laughed heartily. “Haha, thank you for your enthusiasm.”

Everyone stood up, even Li Yang, but Lin Yi alone ate unfazed.

Yuan Zhekai’s face darkened.

Jiang Xiaoning sneered. “Country bumpkin, enjoying the food? Bet you’ve never tasted anything like it. Don’t mind him, Zhekai—we’ll toast you ourselves.”

Yuan Zhekai’s expression improved slightly. He gave Lin Yi a cold glance before smiling and raising his glass, downing the Maotai in one go.

The others followed suit.

Halfway through the meal, Dong Wenwen prepared to leave.

She apologized, “Sorry, everyone. The waiter just texted me—a troublesome customer arrived, and I need to handle it.”

Everyone understood.

Yuan Zhekai magnanimously said, “Go ahead. If you run into trouble, call me. Around here, I do have some influence.”

Dong Wenwen looked gratefully at him. “Thank you, Zhekai.”

After everyone finished eating and drinking, Yuan Zhekai suggested, “Who wants to join me for karaoke and a massage?”

“Zhekai, me—I’m going!”

All the classmates, except Lin Yi and Li Yang, wanted to follow.

Li Yang actually wanted to go, but knew he’d only be mocked—better to stay behind.

Yuan Zhekai scanned the crowd, then specifically asked Lin Yi, “You’re not coming?”

“Boring,” Lin Yi waved him away.

Yuan Zhekai sneered inwardly, “Unworthy fool,” but kept smiling.

Everyone left the room. As they reached the lobby, Dong Wenwen’s voice rang out.

“Sir, please show some respect,” she said coldly.

Yuan Zhekai instantly grew angry—in his mind, Dong Wenwen was already his girlfriend.

The other guys were furious too. Dong Wenwen was the campus belle, the goddess in everyone’s heart.

Now that their goddess was being harassed, they wouldn’t stand by.

“Brothers, follow me!”

Yuan Zhekai led the boys charging ahead, while the girls followed, worried.

Lin Yi trailed behind at his own pace.

Jiang Xiaoning said coldly, “Weren’t you supposed to be tough? Why so timid now?”

Lin Yi ignored her, leaving Jiang Xiaoning fuming, her chest heaving with anger.

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