As they talked, the group filed into the private room.
Just then, Ma Long hurried back and leaned in to whisper in Jiang Xinghai's ear, "Brother Hai, that guy's been taken care of. You can decide what to do with him yourself after the banquet."
Jiang Xinghai nodded with a smile. After he made the introductions, everyone quickly got to know one another.
"Lulu, even though we haven't known each other for long, we just clicked. It feels like we've been friends for years. This is my birthday gift to you. May you stay nineteen forever." Shen Lingyin was the first to stand, handing an exquisite gift box to Feng Lulu.
Feng Lulu was deeply touched. "Lingyin, thank you. It's just a sha I'm going to the Provincial City tomorrow. Otherwise, we could have hung out every day before school started."
"Oh, are you going to the Provincial City for a trip? We have to register for school soon, you know. I'll wait for you to get back, and we can go register at Central State University together." Shen Lingyin giggled, motioning for Feng Lulu to open the gift box.
Feng Lulu looked like she was about to say sothing, but she simply opened the gift box. "What's this mysterious gift? It's so heavy."
After she unwrapped it, she found a jewelry box inside, printed with the na "Zhou Dasheng Jewelry."
"Lingyin, what's all this? I have plenty of jewelry. This is too expensive, I can't accept it." Feng Lulu protested, trying to hand it back to Shen Lingyin.
Shen Lingyin pushed it back to her. "Lulu, this is a symbol of our new friendship. You have to accept it. Just open it and see what it is."
"Yeah, Lulu, open it and see," Jiang Xinghai and the others chid in.
Feng Lulu had no choice but to open the jewelry box. Inside lay a gleaming gold necklace with a pendant shaped, of all things, like a small gold bar in the form of an eraser!
Engraved on the small gold bar were three words: "A Gentleman's Friendship."
"Lulu, during the college entrance exams, you lent half of your eraser, and that helped realize my dream of getting into university. So, I wanted to commorate that and beco true friends with you. Please don't refuse it just because it's made of gold. Gold is easy to preserve, and it symbolizes our everlasting friendship. So please, accept it."
For once, Shen Lingyin sounded wise and level-headed.
In truth, Feng Lulu wanted to refuse again.
'This eraser pendant must be at least fifty grams. With the necklace, the whole thing has to be worth forty or fifty thousand. It's just too expensive.'
'But if I refuse...'
'...Shen Lingyin would be put in an incredibly awkward position, and it would probably strain our friendship from now on.'
"Alright, I'll accept it."
Feng Lulu hugged Shen Lingyin, secretly resolving to prepare a special gift for her in return.
"May your friendship last forever."
Ma Long started a round of applause. Once it died down, he presented his own gift.
"Miss Feng, I only know you through Brother Hai, so I wasn't sure what to get you. Instead, everything tonight is on ." Ma Long laughed magnanimously and began playing the part of an underling, pouring tea for everyone.
"Thank you, Ma Long," Feng Lulu said.
"Ma Long? Are you the son of Ma Tiebing?" Lin Qingyuan suddenly asked.
Ma Long kept himself busy pouring tea. "That's right, Elder Lin."
"Is that so? It doesn't seem quite right, having a Young Master Ma like you serving us tea," Lin Qingyuan said with an awkward smile.
"You're overthinking it, Elder Lin."
Ma Long grinned. "Anywhere Brother Hai is, my job is to pour the tea."
Ever since witnessing Jiang Xinghai's incredible combat prowess, he had long since given up any thought of pursuing Shen Lingxue.
Now, he was completely focused on making a good impression on Jiang Xinghai in the hopes of becoming his disciple and learning his arts.
"Well, we'll be troubling you then," Lin Qingyuan said with another smile.
anwhile, he glanced over at Jiang Xinghai.
'Just as I thought. Jiang Xinghai's background must be extraordinary. The son of the second-tier Ma Family is serving him tea.'
'And then there are the sisters, Shen Lingxue and Shen Lingyin, sitting right here.'
'I just overheard Shen Lingxue talking to Xiongzi, and what I heard was shocking.'
'I already knew that the Shen Family Patriarch, Shen Zhengye, had had his Dantian destroyed.'
'And now that it's been restored by Jiang Xinghai's dical skills, Shen Zhengye is certain to lead the Shen Family in a powerful resurgence.'
'So it seems everyone in this room has an extraordinary background.'
'And I'm just glad they're all here to celebrate my granddaughter's birthday!'
"Lulu, we're late."
Just then, two young n and a woman about Feng Lulu's age walked in, carrying gifts.
All three were Feng Lulu's high school classmates.
"You're just in ti! Oh, Song Chao, you ca too!"
Waving enthusiastically, Feng Lulu invited her three forr classmates inside.
She introduced them to the group, and everyone got acquainted.
The rest of the al passed pleasantly enough.
But after a few rounds of drinks and several courses, one of Feng Lulu's male classmates, Song Chao, suddenly raised his glass to Jiang Xinghai and Ma Long. "Brother Jiang, Brother Ma, drinking from these small cups isn't any fun. What say us young guys switch to bowls?"
"Bowls it is, then." Ma Long could clearly hear the challenge in his tone.
Jiang Xinghai simply gave a placid nod.
He had noticed long ago that Song Chao's eyes never left Feng Lulu. 'He's doing this because he sees and Ma Long as obstacles.'
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