Chapter 455

Heng Xian glanced at Mao Wang, saying nothing.

Mao Wang sighed to himself: "Society changes day by day, people are different year after year, water flows downhill, people climb upward—you need to work harder, forget the past, or you'll end up being a stepping stone for your classmates!"

Heng Xian exclaimed in surprise: "A stepping stone? What achievements have you made?"

Half a year ago these people were still ordinary white-collar workers, doing a bit of small business or the like—what kind of reputation could they possibly have made?

As soon as he said that, it seemed to hit an itchy spot for a group of people.

Mao Wang slapped his thigh: "Don't even mention it! I just got promoted to regional manager of the conglomerate—called a manager, but aside from my salary tripling, getting a car and housing, saving me a lot of effort, I'm exhausted every day! Excuse me!"

A classmate beside him let out a hey: "I envy you guys hustling at your company jobs, unlike us civil servants—take me, for example: last month I was nominated for a section, and they said at thirty it's no problem to get a section-level post, but you have to outdo others everywhere, it's mentally draining!"

"You guys are too brilliant, buddy I'm not doing so well—this year I and my dad expanded the tire factory threefold and opened four branch stores..."

Everyone chatted among themselves.

Heng Xian was taken aback.

Finally, after everyone had said their piece, it was the turn of the former class belle Su Ya, who calmly tidied the hair by her ears, a bit embarrassed: "I don't have much of a career... I... got married!"

"Congratulations!" Heng Xian said sincerely.

Su Ya chuckled lightly: "Nothing to congratulate—my husband is the eldest son of the Song Group, Song Zhenkang; their family has too many rules, it's exhausting!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Mao Wang and a few others exclaimed: "The famous Song Group of Donghai City? The young mistress of the Song family? Su Ya, when you have time you ought to help out your old classmates!"

Su Ya laughed lightly: "No problem!"

Heng Xian simply turned his head to the side, too lazy to hear another word—what a Versailles scene, cringe!

Yet the crowd refused to let him go; Mao Wang pulled him and asked: "Are you still working at that electronics factory in Zhucheng? The one with three shifts and four hours of overtime every day?"

Heng Xian thought for a moment, recalling that he had indeed worked at the Zhucheng electronics factory for a long time back then, and laughed: "I did, but I don't anymore!"

"If you do it, you do it—why aren't you doing it now? We wouldn't laugh at you!" Su Ya said solemnly.

His expression revealed a sense of estrangement due to differing social classes.

"It's all for a living..." Mao Wang muttered offhand, his expression odd.

Afterwards, a group of classmates each chatted among themselves, quickly pushing Heng Xian to the side.

Heng Xian was happily leisurely, sipping his little drink by himself.

At that moment, the door of a private room at the far end of the hall suddenly opened, and a crowd escorted out a woman in her fifties bearing an aristocratic air.

That woman was the wife of the Kangshuai Group, the birthday star of this occasion, naturally taking the center position!

Beside her stood a tall, handsome youth with thick brows and large eyes, his face full of gentle humility—none other than Shitou Tai, the eldest son of the Kangshuai conglomerate! One of the outstanding young talents of Donghai City's younger generation!

"Madam Shi! Young Master Shi!"

The whole hall crowded over, everyone raising their cups in greeting.

"Happy birthday, Madam Shi! Greetings, Young Master Shi!"

Mao Wang, Su Ya, and their group also rose to their feet, excitedly raising their cups and shouting.

Yet a few people suddenly noticed that Heng Xian beside them remained seated, showing no intention to stand, and hurriedly reminded: "Quickly stand up, it's impolite!"

Heng Xian acted as if he hadn't heard.

From the moment Shitou Tai appeared, he had been staring fixedly at him.

He really wanted to know what kind of heart this former good brother and buddy of his had!

"I'm very glad everyone could come to my mother's birthday banquet—Shitou Tai thanks you all, please make yourselves at ease!" Shitou Tai raised his cup.

His confident, wise, handsome appearance instantly intoxicated a group of girls and female celebrities!

There were quite a few people present who wanted to become the daughter-in-law of the Shi family!

Even the few female classmates sitting at the same table as Heng Xian had their eyes darting, their expressions unusual.

"This is truly a proper aristocratic young master, a scion of a great family, full of charm—even stronger than my own husband!" Su Ya said with a sour tone.

"You're married, no chance!" several female classmates chuckled.

Mao Wang looked at Heng Xian: "Eh? Right, how did you make peace with Young Master Shi? Apologize... or what?"

Heng Xian downed his cup in one gulp: "I've never made peace with him—what peace? Why would I need to apologize to him?"

Su Ya looked at him, frowning: "Your temper was this hard even in school, and you still don't know how to compromise—without apologizing or yielding, can you even deal with Young Master Shi? Do you know that a single finger of his could send you fleeing to the ends of the earth?"

Mao Wang also said sternly: "Some things are destined from birth—if you can't match up, you'll forever be inferior, and not accepting it is unacceptable!

Forget about Young Master Shi—just look at those present; can you surpass that guy? And your temper is still that stubborn and foul!"

Heng Xian took a sip of wine, looked at them, and said seriously: "To be frank, if it weren't for my family's weak point being held by him, I really wouldn't have regarded Shitou Tai as anything at all!"

"You!" Su Ya and the others' faces changed.

At that moment, Shitou Tai seemed to notice the crowd and walked over.

"Young Master Shi has come!" Su Ya, Mao Wang, and their group immediately dropped their prejudices against Heng Xian, becoming nervous.

"All the classmates have arrived!"

Shitou Tai arrived at the table, slightly nodding to indicate his greeting to everyone—not only refined, but also exuding an indescribable aura of superiority!

Everyone hurriedly responded with deep respect: "We had to come, it's only right!"

Shitou Tai nodded, looked at Heng Xian, fell silent for a moment, and said: "I didn't expect you to come!"

Heng Xian glanced at him lightly: "It's Auntie's birthday—I certainly should come!"

Shitou Tai chuckled lightly: "Xiazǐ is here too—I've always regarded her as a sister."

Heng Xian unhurriedly interrupted: "Saying that—are you trying to win hearts?"

Shitou Tai fell silent for a moment: "You've had too much to drink!"

Heng Xian swirled his red wine glass: "Even a few more bottles won't get me drunk!"

Shitou Tai turned and left, telling the nearby server: "Give this table's guests the best wine—make sure it's enough, make sure they get drunk!"

"All right!" the server replied promptly.

Shi Tai walked away.

Mao Wang, Su Ya, and several others' smiles slowly faded as they looked at Heng Xian: "Are you crazy?"

"Oh?" Heng Xian laughed: "Do you think I'm crazy?"

Su Ya coldly said: "You not only refuse to yield, but also intend to cause trouble; you don't want to live? You, the lowest of society, do you know the power of the Kang Shuai Financial Group?"

"Power?" Heng Xian leaned against the chair cushion, saying: "I'm just afraid the power is too small, not fun!"

"You..." Su Ya glared angrily.

Just then, a man and a woman brushed past nearby.

Upon seeing them, Su Ya quickly rose and exclaimed delightedly: "Miss Miao? Young Master Hu?"

The two turned their heads, glanced at Su Ya and the others, showed little emotion on their faces, nodded, and were about to walk past, but upon seeing Heng Xian, they involuntarily stopped again, eyes widening: "You, you're actually here?"

Exactly the Ah Miao and Zhong Fen Tou I met that day when treating Boss Xu at the private club.

Heng Xian said: "Isn't that strange?"

Before Ah Miao and the other could speak, Su Ya interjected: "Heng Xian, this is Miss Miao of Kuai Ke Enterprise and the Eldest Young Master Hu of Pin Le Le; mind your manners..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhong Fen Tou coldly interrupted: "What are you? A three-time remarried widow from the Song family's sickly lot, speaking so incoherently—is that how you address a master? Watch your manners!"

(End of chapter)