It wasn't until seven-thirty that the majority of Liang Jingyue’s high school classmates had arrived; those still absent likely wouldn't be coming at all. The classmates chose their seats according to preference, with Wu Changqing, Dandan, Lin Dao, and a few others sitting at the same table as Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue.

Seeing that almost everyone was present, Wu Changqing signaled the restaurant to begin serving the dishes. Quite a few people had come today; counting the Class Five students and their accompanying partners, they filled ten tables. Everyone chatted and discussed things, presenting an outwardly harmonious scene.

As the initiator of the gathering, Wu Changqing took the microphone from the restaurant and began hosting the reunion. He first reminisced about the bygone years, then lamented the present state of their lives, and finally looked forward to a bright future before giving a toast, officially announcing the commencement of the dinner banquet.

The crowd immediately grew excited, seeking out familiar faces to reconnect with. Those who were poor students before but were now successful cornered those who had been good students but were now struggling. Those who were average-looking before but married well cornered the previously beautiful ones who were now single. As for those who once shared ambiguous feelings or had fictional crushes, they exchanged phone numbers, promising to continue their conversations elsewhere later. The classmates on stage performed a drama of joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures—a complete tableau of human life.

Watching this performance by her classmates, Liang Jingyue shook her head repeatedly and remarked, "These classmates used to be passionate youths full of ideals. How did they become so hypocritical the moment they entered society?"

Liu Hui also sighed with feeling, "You can't really blame them. Their current state is related to the atmosphere of society today. Society is a giant dyeing vat; no matter what kind of person enters, they will be tainted. Look at society now; everyone chases money and obsesses over fame and profit, even losing basic moral concepts. It’s a period of moral chaos unseen in China’s thousands of years of history. Today’s society is just a collection of one and a half billion money-grubbers and status-seekers. What choice do your classmates have, being caught in the middle of it?"

Lin Dao sat next to Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue. Hearing their discussion, he chuckled, "If you cannot adapt to society, you will eventually be eliminated by it; that is the natural law of survival of the fittest. They are only behaving this way under pressure to maintain their lives."

Dandan sat next to Lin Dao, smiling flirtatiously. "Mr. Lin is truly impressive. The Huangyu High-Tech company you founded ranks among the top few in the capital city of China. Mr. Lin is one of those standing at the apex of the pyramid, a model for us all."

Lin Dao glanced at Liu Hui and smiled. "My Huangyu High-Tech is just a small business. Isn't that right, Boss Liu?"

Liu Hui pursed his lips and said dismissively, "If everything is governed by the jungle law of survival of the fittest, then what is the state for? Look at wild animals; they follow survival of the fittest, but have you ever seen an organized structure leading them?"

A momentary silence fell over the group. Wu Changqing, noticing the awkward lull, quickly stepped in to ease the atmosphere.

"Everyone, it's been so many years since we last met. Let's not talk about these unpleasant things. I propose, in memory of our glorious past, how about we drink until we drop tonight?"

"Great! I second that," Dandan clapped and laughed. The others at the table also voiced their agreement with smiles.

Lin Dao said to Liu Hui, "Boss Liu, I’m all for drinking till we drop. Are you two okay with that? I think the atmosphere tonight is excellent, perfectly suited for deepening our bonds!"

"Ah Hui doesn't usually drink much. Don't pressure him," Liang Jingyue quickly explained.

"Heh heh, how can a man not drink? Besides, everyone is happy today, so have just a little! Don't spoil the fun! Unless you're just an ornamental vase—all show and no substance?" Dandan delivered this line with exaggerated tone.

"Exactly! Today is different. It's rare for us all to gather, let's have a few drinks and enjoy ourselves. Plus, look at you, you've secured the school beauty! That makes us men very sad, so you should drink with us as a consolation," Wu Changqing also urged.

Liang Jingyue started to say more, but Liu Hui stopped her. He smiled, "Alright then, everyone is happy today, and we don't have anything planned for tomorrow, so let's drink our fill!"

Liang Jingyue was deeply worried. She had drunk with Liu Hui before; he would get drunk after just one bottle of beer, so how could he possibly compete with these classmates who looked ravenous?

Noticing Liang Jingyue’s concern, Liu Hui squeezed her hand under the table, reassuring her.

Seeing Liu Hui agree to drink until the end, the atmosphere at their table immediately soared, their true characters emerging. They promptly ordered ten bottles of 52-proof Luzhou Laojiao, placing one bottle in front of each person.

Liu Hui moved the bottle in front of Liang Jingyue to his own side and smiled, "Gentlemen, I will drink on Jingyue's behalf. That should be fine, right?"

"Heh heh, thoughtful of the lady. Truly a pretty boy with some skills! But if you can handle the drink, I have no objections," Dandan giggled coquettishly.

The others around them showed slight changes in expression upon hearing Dandan’s words. Lin Dao even shot Dandan a glare. Liang Jingyue anxiously clutched Liu Hui’s clothes, but Liu Hui ignored her.

Wu Changqing stood up, picked up a three-liang-three (about 165 ml) liquor glass, filled it to the brim, and proposed a toast to their years of classmate camaraderie. Everyone responded enthusiastically, filling their own glasses. Liu Hui placed two glasses in front of himself, filled both with baijiu, totaling six-liang-seven (about 335 ml) of hard liquor.

When everyone had filled their cups, Wu Changqing initiated the toast, draining his three-liang-three glass in one go, then turning the cup upside down to show it was empty.

A cheer erupted as everyone else downed the liquor in their glasses. Without hesitation, Liu Hui picked up his first glass and finished it in one gulp under everyone's gaze. Then he picked up the second glass and downed that one too. Seeing Liu Hui drink so heartily, the others applauded and cheered.

Wu Changqing laughed, "Now is the time for private exchange. Everyone, mingle and catch up with your old classmates!"

Seeing Liu Hui’s display of boldness, Dandan poured a glass of wine and toasted Liang Jingyue. Liu Hui poured the wine full, emptied a one-jin (500 ml) bottle of baijiu three times for her, drinking it all on her behalf. After downing a full jin of baijiu, Liu Hui’s face remained unchanged, his breathing steady. Liang Jingyue next to him was extremely anxious, wondering how Liu Hui had suddenly become so mighty, capable of drinking a jin of baijiu without issue.

While maintaining a composed exterior, Liu Hui was nearly convulsing with silent laughter inside. When drinking, he kept the thumb of his right hand inside the cup, gradually transferring the liquor into his spatial storage as the cup tilted, all while making swallowing motions with his mouth. In reality, not a drop of alcohol touched his throat.

The few classmates at the table, witnessing Liu Hui's prowess, immediately abandoned their previous targets and focused all their efforts on toasting him. However, they lacked Liu Hui’s trick; one by one, they soon collapsed under the table, while Liu Hui remained calm and collected, showing no signs of intoxication.

Liang Jingyue was greatly curious about how Liu Hui had suddenly transformed into a Wine Immortal. Lin Dao, sitting nearby, nearly dropped his jaw. He had initially planned to get Liu Hui drunk, but now he dared not make a move. Unfortunately, while Lin Dao wished to avoid drinking with Liu Hui, Liu Hui had no intention of letting him off.

"Brother Lin, you are quite a rare sight. Since I rarely see you, let's have a good drink tonight, brother. You agreed to drink until we drop just now!" Liu Hui poured wine for Lin Dao and raised his own glass to toast him.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Lin Dao could not refuse. He raised his glass and drank it all. Poor Lin Dao, being physically weak, could not handle a toast from Liu Hui like that. Swallowing nearly seven liang (about 350 ml) of baijiu, coupled with being intimidated by Liu Hui's aura, a sense of fear bloomed in his heart, and his face instantly turned pale. Seeing Lin Dao's complexion change, Liang Jingyue quickly signaled Liu Hui, who naturally understood her meaning and nodded in acknowledgment.

Liu Hui’s table had ordered ten more bottles of baijiu. Liu Hui alone had finished nearly ten bottles but showed no ill effects, not even needing a trip to the restroom. Meanwhile, those who had been toasting him, including Wu Changqing and Dandan, were all passed out under the table. Lin Dao, pale-faced, was terrified that Liu Hui might target him next.

At this point, everyone in the room noticed the unusual scene at Liu Hui’s table, stunned by his sheer might. A few hot-blooded youths who had once been infatuated with Liang Jingyue, disbelieving his tolerance, came forward wanting to knock Liu Hui under the table. But Liu Hui feared none of them; every toast offered was accepted and finished in one gulp. All those who challenged him were utterly defeated, slumped unconscious on the sofas.

The classmates in the restaurant marveled at Liu Hui’s drinking capacity. One classmate working in a government department squeezed over, took out his business card, and told Liu Hui that his immediate superior was looking for a heavy-drinking expert to deflect toasts on his behalf. If Liu Hui was interested, he could introduce him to his superior, and a civil servant position would surely follow. People nearby were extremely envious; in China, no job offered better benefits than being a civil servant.

Liu Hui found it amusing. He returned the card to the classmate, expressing his thanks, but stated that he was quite interested in his current line of work, so he apologized. The classmate expressed his regret.

Liu Hui's miraculous display as a Wine Immortal was merely one ripple in the wave of the class reunion; the classmates continued their boasting and flattery. Lin Dao, in particular, was surrounded by sycophants, leaving him no opportunity to approach Liang Jingyue’s table. Liu Hui chuckled silently and chatted intimately with Liang Jingyue on the side.

"Ah Hui, how did your tolerance suddenly become so amazing?"

"Heh heh, it's because you are by my side, dear. When I’m in a good mood, my drinking capacity naturally skyrockets!"

"I notice you have quite a future, Ah Hui. If you quit the hospital, you could become a master toast-deflector. See, someone even invited you just now!" Liang Jingyue teased Liu Hui.

"Heh heh, even if I were to deflect toasts, it would be for my little Jingyue. I don't care for anything else. Wait a minute, aren't you implying I'm just a drunkard who only knows how to drink?" Liu Hui laughed.

"Ah Hui, I suspect Lin Dao planned tonight's reunion," Liang Jingyue suddenly said.

"Mmm, that's possible. Otherwise, everything is too coincidental. And do you think it's plausible for a class reunion to be held in such a high-end hotel, with the entire venue booked out?" Liu Hui had already begun analyzing the situation.

"Ah Hui, I feel like I’ve caused you trouble again. If I hadn't come, you wouldn't have encountered Lin Dao, and I fear something bad might have happened between you two. And I was too trusting of an old friend; I never expected her to change so drastically after entering society," Liang Jingyue worried greatly.

"It’s fine, your class reunion has been quite interesting, actually. Besides, this is the first audience to witness the debut of my 'Liu the Wine Immortal'!"

Those who knew of Liu Hui's terrifying drinking capacity dared not approach them, allowing Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue to chat leisurely nearby. Lin Dao, however, had miscalculated; all the people he had arranged to ply Liu Hui with drinks were now intoxicated, leaving him trapped and unable to move, forced to watch Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue being affectionate without any recourse.

The class reunion lasted until ten o'clock, and people gradually began to leave. Liu Hui and Liang Jingyue also departed the hotel, and Liu Hui drove Liang Jingyue home.

As always, those who enjoyed the reading, please give plenty of recommendations and favorites! Qian Yu thanks you all again.