This hotel was the most upscale venue in Chu City.
"This hotel just opened a couple of years ago, and the Xie family owns thirty percent of the shares," Xia Chu explained to Chen Yang. "Wu Peng probably chose this location to curry favor with Xie An."
Such a detail was an unmistakable declaration to everyone that this hotel belonged to the Xie family. For those who loved being the center of attention, what could be more glamorous? Wu Peng's bootlicking was perfectly tid.
The sixteenth floor was a long corridor flanked by banquet halls, its neon lights compelling one to unconsciously stand a little taller and prouder.
He rembered the gathering ten years ago. It had taken place in a very ordinary restaurant where, with few exceptions, most people were still genuine and sincere. Tis had changed. Then again, at thirty, everyone was deeply entrenched in society, burdened by the pressures of marriage, mortgages, and children.
As they entered the banquet hall, they found it buzzing with a lively atmosphere. People were clustered in small groups, clinking glasses and chatting about everything from romance to business.
CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.
The sharp sound of high heels echoed, causing everyone in the hall to turn their heads. All eyes converged on the woman who had just entered. She wore a pink dress and silver high heels, her slender neck and alluring collarbones exuding an aura that outshone all the other won present. If you didn't know her, you'd never guess from her appearance that this was a woman approaching thirty.
"Beautiful Xia Chu! It's been ten years, but you haven't aged a day."
"I'm telling you, she's still single."
After a mont of silence, the room erupted into heated conversation as a barrage of complints rained down on her.
Xia Chu simply responded with a smile, her expression unfazed by the flattery. She was genuinely exceptional and had long grown accustod to such praise. She gently took Chen Yang's arm and addressed the crowd with a smile. "Everyone, look who I brought with !"
Hmm?
At her words, even Xie An shifted his gaze to Chen Yang, who stood half a step behind her, as inconspicuous as a green leaf.
"Yo! Chen Yang!"
"You're the only one of us who joined the Martial Departnt. That imposing air of yours is sothing else, haha!"
The chatter started up, a mix of greetings and subtle jabs. Chen Yang, the man who had dedicated the ten best years of his life to the Martial Departnt and the battlefield, rely stepped forward and gave a slight nod in acknowledgnt.
"I heard Xia Chu used to have a crush on Chen Yang. Don't tell they're rekindling an old fla?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Look at her family background. Why would she fall for so worthless Martial Guard?"
Their joint arrival naturally sparked gossip and a fair amount of jealousy from the n. If these two really got together, it would be a case of a toad lusting after a swan's flesh.
"Yang, long ti no see!" A woman with a ponytail grinned as she approached, handing Chen Yang a glass of wine and giving him a playful wink.
It was Zhao Siyan. The forr crybaby who loved causing trouble but couldn't take a punch, always running to Chen Yang in tears, begging him to get even for her.
"You seem to have put on so weight," Chen Yang teased with a smile.
Zhao Siyan's already large eyes widened in an instant. Raising a small fist, she pretended she was about to hit him. "Yang, have you got a death wish?" she pouted. "How dare you call a girl fat to her face?"
"Co on," Chen Yang just smiled without another word and raised his glass.
"Fine, I'll take that as your apology," Zhao Siyan said, clinking her glass against his. Although she said that, a question nagged at her. Could she really have gained weight from eating too much lately?
"He's just teasing you," Xia Chu said with a laugh.
"Hmph!" Zhao Siyan pouted at Chen Yang before grabbing Xia Chu's hand. With a mischievous grin, she asked, "Chu Chu, be honest. Have you two... you know?"
Xia Chu's face instantly flushed crimson all the way to her ears. "You're infuriating!" she exclaid, pulling her hand away. "Why would you say sothing so ridiculous!"
"Haha, look how flustered you are. It almost feels like you're trying too hard to hide sothing."
"I'm not dealing with you." Xia Chu grabbed Chen Yang's arm. "Co on, let's find a seat."
"Ooh-la-la..." Zhao Siyan continued to tease as she happily trotted after them.
A short distance away, Xie An sneered. "He just scraped by in the Martial Departnt for a few years, and now he's acting all stern and aloof, sparing his words like they're solid gold?"
"The guy didn't even co over to toast you. That's out of line!" echoed a sycophantic-looking young man nad Qin Han, standing behind Xie An. "I can't believe soone with no understanding of basic social etiquette could win Xia Chu's favor."
"President Xie, a toast to you." Wu Peng, having greeted all the guests, scurried over with a glass of wine and bowed obsequiously.
Xie An remained unmoved, glancing at Wu Peng with a smirk. "Shouldn't your first toast be to Chen Yang? After all, you two used to be sworn brothers, weren't you?"
"President Xie, you said it yourself—that was the past." Wu Peng paused for a second before his expression turned fawning. "Tis have changed! If you'll have , President Xie, from this day forward, I, Wu Peng, will follow your lead."
"Haha..." Xie An took a sip of wine and laughed heartily. "We'll see about that. It all depends on your performance. After all, I don't employ useless people."
"Thank you, President Xie, for this opportunity! Allow to drink to that!" Overjoyed, Wu Peng drained his glass in one go.
"Go," Xie An said with a wave of his hand, gesturing toward Chen Yang. "Go and toast that old 'good brother' of yours for ."
"Yes, sir!" Wu Peng nodded, adding, "And I'll make sure he cos over to return the toast to you."
Xie An lit a cigarette, a silent, knowing smile on his face.
Chen Yang was busy chatting with a few old friends who had co over to say hello when Wu Peng approached.
"Chen Yang."
Chen Yang smiled back, thinking it was a friendly gesture. "Shall we have a drink?"
"We can talk later," Wu Peng said, cutting him off. "This toast isn't from . It's from President Xie."
As soon as the words left his mouth, not only Xia Chu and Zhao Siyan, but even the friends nearby bristled with fury. Has he really stooped this low? To beco a lapdog like this? It's utterly laughable!
Yet Wu Peng ignored their reactions, pressing on, "Chen Yang, you must know how powerful President Xie is. He doesn't toast just anyone, but he's making an exception for you. This is an honor, an opportunity. I hope you seize it." He gestured dismissively. "Now stop sitting there. Get up and drink this."
Xia Chu was speechless. So was everyone else.
THUD.
Chen Yang set the glass he had just lifted back down on the table. He turned his head and fixed his gaze on Wu Peng.
Facing Chen Yang's chilling stare, Wu Peng t it without flinching. He didn't feel he'd done anything wrong. In fact, in his eyes, he was granting Chen Yang a huge opportunity.
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