To Lin Mu, friendship carried imnse weight.
Liu Zijian, Song Wenrou, and even Ye Tong knew this better than anyone.
Ye Tong looked at Tao Shiyu, her eyes filled with undisguised envy. These people have no idea how difficult it is to earn Lin Mu's friendship. Given Lin Mu's current identity, status, and his terrifyingly impressive titles, everyone present would be shocked. They would also be filled with regret.
"But..."
Tao Shiyu was rather stubborn; she was determined to repay Lin Mu no matter what.
Back then, 1,000 yuan had been an astronomical figure for her. Even now, it was half a month's salary. She had saved up the 5,000 yuan with great difficulty. She'd thought it was too little, but she never expected Lin Mu to only ask for 1,000.
"Lin Mu, I know this might make you lose face, but there are so things I have to say," Tao Shiyu said, taking a deep breath. "Back then, you dropped out of school to help continue my education, and you even left one thousand yuan. But soone else told that he was the one who gave the money. I was grateful to him, and eventually, I ended up with him."
As she spoke, her eyes reddened, but she forced a smile. "Maybe you don't know, but perhaps it was karma. Just when we were planning to get married, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Before he died, he told the whole truth. He said he was sorry, that he never should have claid the money you gave was his."
Tao Shiyu pushed the money toward Lin Mu. "This isn't just a token of my gratitude; it also represents Wen Jun's remorse!"
Everyone was shocked by her words.
They knew, of course, that Lin Mu had dropped out of school and that Tao Shiyu had gotten together with Wen Jun almost imdiately afterward. They just never realized this was the reason.
Lin Mu was also quite moved. He hadn't expected Wen Jun to be dead, especially not right before he was supposed to marry Tao Shiyu.
No wonder she looks so exhausted, he thought. She's been through so much.
"You have to take this money, no matter what!" Tao Shiyu said with a strained smile. "Besides, if you don't mind, I still have a spare house. If you don't have a place to stay, you can move in."
Fearing they might misunderstand, Tao Shiyu quickly added, "It was Wen Jun's place. He and I… we always lived separately."
Song Wenrou knew Lin Mu was in a difficult position, so she spoke up. "Since Tao Shiyu has put it that way, Lin Mu, you should just accept it."
"Zijian, take the money," Lin Mu said, then rose to his feet.
"Please enjoy the rest of your gathering. I won't disturb you any longer." Reaching the door, Lin Mu left them with these words and departed without a backward glance.
Seeing Lin Mu leave, Yu Fei couldn't help but sneer, "I was wondering how long you'd keep up the act. Turns out you're not so special after all."
"Yeah, Tao Shiyu looked like she had a hard ti scraping that money together, and Lin Mu actually took it. How disappointing."
"Friends? Don't they know friendship is worthless?"
Tang Man shook her head. "Lin Mu, that was wrong of you. We're all classmates, and Shiyu is clearly going through a hard ti. How could you really take her money? Have you no sha?"
Gu Jie and the others chid in, their words dripping with sarcasm. Who does he think he is, always acting so nonchalant? Does he really think he's that special?
"That's enough!" Liu Zijian finally snapped, slamming his palm on the table and cutting Tang Man off.
"Exactly! Lin Mu, what do you an by this?" Yu Fei also slamd the table. "You actually told Manager Liu to take the money? Does Manager Liu need your pocket change?"
Glasses chid in, "Yeah, Lin Mu, tis have changed. Do you still think you're the big brother around here?"
Back in the day, Lin Mu had been the leader of their trio, which was why Liu Zijian and Glasses had both called him Elder Brother Mu.
"All of you, shut up!" Liu Zijian suddenly roared at Yu Fei and Glasses. "Yu Fei, Little Glasses, I've been tolerating you for a long ti!"
At his words, the entire private room fell silent. After all, while Yu Fei was formidable, Liu Zijian was the deputy manager of Boheng Pharma. He even knew the person in charge of Coiling Dragon Bay. With such status and power, who could possibly compare?
So, as it turned out, Liu Zijian was the true main character of the night.
"What's wrong, Manager Liu?" Yu Fei was stunned but quickly forced a smile. "Ah, Manager Liu, calm down. If I said sothing wrong, I'll punish myself with three drinks later."
Yu Fei still hoped Liu Zijian would introduce him to the head of Coiling Dragon Bay, so placating him was the right move. As for Lin Mu, he could leave for all he cared.
Liu Zijian snorted. "Yu Fei, you passed out cigarettes to everyone but not to Elder Brother Mu, and I said nothing. You sat him in the corner, and I still said nothing. But..."
His voice turned icy. "You should not have insulted Elder Brother Mu! Hmph, we're all classmates? Do you people even treat Elder Brother Mu like a classmate? You deliberately humiliate him and mock him in front of everyone. Is this the 'classmate friendship' you keep talking about?"
His tone carried an accusatory edge.
"Hey, Zijian, we were just joking, don't take it so seriously," Glasses quickly stood up to play the peacemaker. "Besides, think about our relationship. What's wrong with a little joke, right?"
Internally, however, he was completely baffled. Why is Liu Zijian still so respectful toward Lin Mu after all this ti? Elder Brother Mu? Pfft!
Glasses wasn't the only one; the others felt the sa way. Sure, back in high school, Liu Zijian and Glasses used to call him Elder Brother Mu all the ti, but we were young then. A joke is a joke! Things are different now. We all have status. What gives Lin Mu, a re security guard, the right?
"Don't you talk to !" Liu Zijian pointed at Glasses. "Peng Qin, I never thought you could be such an ungrateful little wretch. Back in school, when kids called you Four-eyes and you hid in the bathroom crying, it was Elder Brother Mu who got revenge for you! And you, Gu Jie, you hated it when people called you Fatty. And Zu Xiaojuan, that ti your clothes were torn and you couldn't go ho, who helped you? It was Elder Brother Mu!
"Now look at yourselves. Is this how human beings act?" Liu Zijian said, his face livid. "I, Liu Zijian, must have been blind to sit with you people. It's disgusting!"
"Manager Liu, I..." Yu Fei's face fell. He never expected Liu Zijian to humiliate them so publicly, and his words left them speechless.
"Manager Liu, calm down, please," Yu Fei said, clearly rattled. He hastily picked up a glass of wine and walked over, intending to apologize.
"Get lost!" Liu Zijian smashed the glass on the ground, his eyes bloodshot. "You look down on Elder Brother Mu, don't you? You think he has no money and no power, is that it?"
"You look down on him?" Liu Zijian's voice dripped with scorn. "You're not even worthy to carry his shoes!"
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