Chapter 63: Class Reunion

Next, Qin Ze saw that the things he had just bought were too many to carry!

So he simply had the shops deliver everything directly to his door!

They shopped until noon, and only then did Jiang Manman feel fully satisfied!

And thanks to this spree of crazy consumption by Qin Ze!

He had effectively offset all his expenses from the past few days!

At noon, Qin Ze took her to the restaurant on the top floor of the mall for a meal.

After ordering, Jiang Manman suddenly said:

"Can I make a small request?"

"Next time we meet, could you accompany me to meet my colleagues?"

Qin Ze raised an eyebrow:

"Meet your colleagues?"

Jiang Manman's face turned red:

"I just want them to know that I, Jiang Manman, have a boyfriend!"

"And that my boyfriend is very handsome and very rich!"

She paused, then added in a soft voice:

"In our flight attendant crew, there are a few women who love to put on airs."

"Whoever finds a rich boyfriend or buys a new bag has to show it off."

"And there's Zhou Ying! Recently, she has started isolating me with the others!"

"I have to win one back, right?"

"If she knew that her ex-boyfriend is actually a wealthy man, how much would she regret it?"

"And now that he has become my boyfriend, I estimate she would go crazy!"

She wanted him to help her save face.

To be honest, a straightforward girl like Jiang Manman, who speaks her mind without beating around the bush!

Was truly to his liking.

"Alright, when I have time another day, I will go with you."

Jiang Manman's eyes lit up:

"Really?"

"Really."

For a moment, Jiang Manman was as happy as a little girl.

After lunch, Qin Ze drove Jiang Manman home.

On the way, Jiang Manman gave him her home address.

Qingcao Street, Nanhuan Road.

"Are you renting a place yourself, or living with your parents?" Qin Ze asked.

"I live with my parents, but it's an old residential area, and the house is very small."

"Who is in your family?"

"My dad, my mom, and a younger brother."

"My brother is a sophomore at Nanzhou University; although it's not a Double First-Class university, it is at least a Tier-One institution."

Qin Ze nodded:

"Nanzhou University is good. When your brother graduates, if there is any need, you can tell me."

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of an old residential compound.

Jiang Manman got out of the car and took out large and small shopping bags from the trunk.

"President Qin, won't you come up and sit for a while?" she asked tentatively.

Qin Ze shook his head:

"Not today."

"Okay." Jiang Manman felt a bit disappointed, but she did not insist.

"Then... I'm leaving?"

"Mm."

Jiang Manman turned around and walked a few steps, then looked back:

"President Qin, next time you are free, should I come to the hotel to find you again?"

Qin Ze laughed:

"You are welcome anytime."

Watching Jiang Manman walk into the residential compound, Qin Ze then started the car and left.

By the time he returned to Fusheng Hotel, it was already five in the afternoon.

Qin Ze went straight to his private office.

He made a phone call to the Hotel Manager, Chen Ming:

"Manager Chen, is Head Chef Master Wang available today? I have an important friend to entertain tonight."

Chen Ming's voice came through immediately:

"President Qin! Master Wang originally had several tables booked today, but I can have him make time to come over and prioritize your order!"

Qin Ze thought for a moment:

"Alright. Also, arrange a private room for me, somewhere quieter."

"What private room? President Qin, when you're hosting guests, why would you need a private room? I happen to have a VIP reception room vacant right now; the environment is excellent. I'll arrange it for you immediately!"

"You've worked hard."

"No hardship at all, no hardship at all! To serve President Qin is my honor!"

Hanging up the phone, Qin Ze thought for a moment, then transferred another ten thousand yuan to Chen Ming.

Chen Ming accepted it instantly, then sent a string of grateful messages.

Qin Ze didn't reply, tossing his mobile phone onto the table.

He leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.

The person he was meeting tonight was Wang Peng.

His best brother from university days.

After graduation, the only one who could lend him money was Wang Peng.

Although it was only five thousand yuan, that was all the savings Wang Peng had at the time.

Qin Ze had always remembered this kindness.

Just as he was thinking, his mobile phone rang.

It was a WeChat message from Wang Peng:

"Old Qin! I've already arrived at Fusheng Hotel!"

"The class reunion starts at six; I'll come find you after sitting for half an hour! Song Bin will come with me then!"

"Which hall are you in?"

Qin Ze replied:

"Just come directly to the VIP reception room; I've prepared wine and dishes here."

Wang Peng replied quickly:

"Holy crap! It's just a meeting; there's no need to specially book a reception room, is there?"

Qin Ze laughed:

"Just come when I tell you to; why so much nonsense."

"Alright, alright, alright! Then I'll come over in a bit!"

Not long after Qin Ze put down his mobile phone, just as he had lit a cigarette, the landline on the table rang.

He picked it up.

"President Qin, it's me, Chen Ming."

"The reception room has been arranged; it's in No. 1 Reception Room."

"The dishes and wine are all ready; Master Wang is also standing by in the back kitchen, ready to start at any time."

"I've already instructed the front desk; when someone looks for you shortly, the waiter will directly lead them to No. 1 Reception Room."

"Fine."

Hanging up the phone, Qin Ze glanced at the time; it was six-ten.

The class reunion on Wang Peng's side should have already started.

He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest.

Fusheng Grand Hotel, Third Floor Banquet Hall.

Inside the banquet hall were set four large round tables, seating over thirty people.

They were all classmates from Class 12, Computer Science Department, Jiang University.

Zhou Hao stood beside the main seat at the foremost table, holding a wine cup, dressed in a black Armani suit, his hair slicked back until it shone.

"Old classmates, everyone!"

"Today, three years after graduation, Class 12, Computer Science Department, Jiang University, has gathered so completely for the first time! As the organizer, I, Zhou Hao, propose a toast to everyone first!"

Below, a wave of applause and echoes of agreement arose.

"Brother Hao is awesome!"

"Brother Hao is doing quite well now!"

"This five-star hotel hall isn't cheap; Brother Hao has spent a fortune!"

A proud smile appeared on Zhou Hao's face; he raised his hand and pressed down slightly.

"We're all classmates; saying such things makes us seem like outsiders."

"I was just lucky; after graduation, I entered a real estate company, worked for two years as a supervisor, accumulated some connections and resources, and now I've started my own e-commerce business; I'm just scraping by."

"Brother Hao is too humble!"

A tall, thin male student sitting nearby stood up.

"Who doesn't know that nowadays, as soon as your company starts its daily live stream..."

"... tens of thousands flow into your pocket; by the end of a month, it's hundreds of thousands or even millions! The one doing best in our class is undoubtedly you!"

These words out, below arose another wave of flattery.

"Yes, Brother Hao, you're truly a big shot now!"

"If you have any projects, please take me along too!"

Zhou Hao waved his hand, but the pride on his face was impossible to hide.

"I only sell a few tens of thousands worth of goods a day; to put it plainly, I'm just a businessman; I don't qualify as a big shot."

Though he spoke these words, his tone was full of showing off.

At another table, Wang Peng and Song Bin sat together.

Wang Peng lowered his head, his fingers typing rapidly on his mobile phone screen.

"Old Qin, that bastard Zhou Hao is starting to show off again; listening to him gives me goosebumps."

After sending the message, he quietly activated the recording function, aimed the lens at Zhou Hao, and recorded for a few seconds.

Song Bin, sitting beside him, pushed up his glasses and whispered:

"Fatty, what are you doing?"

"Live-streaming the scene for Old Qin," Wang Peng replied in a hushed tone.

"Just look at this crowd, licking boots like crazy; this isn't a class reunion, it's purely a personal showcase, a competition for showing off!"

Song Bin gave a bitter laugh:

"Just get used to it; Zhou Hao is just that kind of person."

Just as the two were speaking, Zhou Hao suddenly changed the subject.

"By the way, aren't we missing a few people from our class today?"

"Where's Qin Ze? Why hasn't our big Class Monitor arrived?"

These words out, the banquet hall fell silent for an instant.

Someone chimed in:

"Qin Ze? Haven't heard any news about him in ages."

"Yeah, haven't been in much contact since graduation."

Zhou Hao smiled:

"I heard he was dating Zhou Ying, who was in our grade, and working at a major corporation."

"But recently, I heard... he got fired from his job? And broke up with Zhou Ying?"

"Really or fake?"

Immediately, others followed with mockery.

"Qin Ze got fired?"

"Zhou Ying was the department beauty; it was impressive enough that Qin Ze managed to win her over, and now they've actually broken up?"

"Probably doing poorly in life; she must have looked down on him."

"Qin Ze was the Class Monitor in college, stealing all the spotlight back then; now he's ended up like this, truly pathetic."

"A Class Monitor in college might have been somebody back then, but out in society now, he's absolutely nothing!"

Sounds of mockery and discussion rose and fell in waves.

Then, a boy with dyed yellow hair stood up:

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten; Qin Ze was so awesome in college, acting so majestic as Class Monitor; how did he end up like this now?"

These words sparked a burst of laughter.

Holding his wine cup, Zhou Hao wore a smile that was not quite a smile:

"Everyone has their own fate; perhaps our friend Qin Ze has found a better path now?"

"What path could he possibly have? No money, no connections; I bet he's probably moving bricks at some construction site right now!"

Wang Peng finally could not hold back.

He sprang to his feet, the legs of his chair scraping against the floor with a piercing screech.

"You bastard, what the hell are you saying!"

The banquet hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at Wang Peng.

Huang Mao was startled, but quickly reacted, craning his neck defiantly:

"What did I say? I'm just stating the facts! Qin Ze is simply doing poorly in life; are we not even allowed to talk about it?"

"You defend him so fiercely; are you Qin Ze's son?"

Wang Peng's temper flared up.

"You don't know shit!"

"Whether Old Qin is doing well or poorly is none of your damn business to chatter about!"