Li Yundong and Su Chan hailed a cab. The driver in front glanced sharply at Su Chan in the rearview mirror, immediately whipping his head around, staring at her slack-jawed. "Holy cow, are you some movie star?"

Li Yundong, being a university student who didn't bother with productive labor, had no concept of how hard it was to earn money. He didn't take the seventy-odd thousand seriously. Hearing someone praise Su Chan like this, he was instantly so delighted his every pore seemed ready to burst with joy—a hundred times happier than if someone had praised him.

"Stop the chatter and drive, drive! To Hongsheng New District!" Li Yundong waved his hand with smug satisfaction.

After the two drove off, the sales associate at the door finally pulled her gaze back, sighing wistfully. "Ah, if only I had a man who was both rich and handsome like that, I could die without regrets!"

The receptionist next to her chuckled suggestively. "A man who would work himself to death for you?"

The sales associate playfully retorted, "Go on! In this day and age, is it hard to find a man willing to exhaust himself for you? Men these days are all lechers! As long as you're pretty, one little flick of a finger, and they'll come running like dogs! What’s rare is a man willing to ruin his family for you!"

The receptionist snorted and laughed, "If that man ruined his family for you, would you still stay with him?"

The sales associate raised an eyebrow and declared without hesitation, "Stay, why wouldn't I? Do I look like such a heartless person? I believe he'd make a comeback!"

The receptionist countered, "Are you willing to eat steamed buns and pickles with him every day, drink cold water, live in a rental without air conditioning, inhabit a dismal neighborhood, face endless housework when you get home, and squeeze onto stinking buses daily?"

The sales associate got goosebumps from the description. "Hey, is it really that grim?"

The receptionist pressed, "Even if it’s that grim, you’d still follow him?"

The sales associate fell silent; the raised eyebrow gradually dropped, finally settling into an expression of profound sighing regret.

The two women exchanged a look, about to lament how difficult it was to find a good man these days, when suddenly they heard Shen Hui, who had been spaced out nearby, stomp her foot and declare hatefully, "What's so good about that kind of man? I will expose his beastly true colors sooner or later!"

With that, she stormed out angrily.

Li Yundong had intended to take Su Chan straight to the Shengyuan Grand Hotel, but upon seeing the large bags and packages in his hands, he felt it was utterly inappropriate. How could they look so dazzling while carrying things like migrant workers? It wouldn't do.

The two returned home, dumped their haul of treasures onto the sofa, and immediately rushed off again to the Shengyuan Grand Hotel without delay.

Su Chan sat in the car. The driver in front, just like the previous one, kept stealing glances at Su Chan in the rearview mirror. Li Yundong grew impatient, tapping the seat in front of him. "Hey, hey, watch the road! What if there’s an accident?"

The driver reluctantly pulled his gaze away.

Su Chan clutched Li Yundong’s arm and pleaded softly, "Yundong, I’m starving to death!"

Li Yundong checked the time; it was nearly eight o'clock. They were already late. He and Su Chan had been running around outside for nearly three hours; even an iron man would be hungry.

Li Yundong smiled at Su Chan. "When we get to the banquet, you can eat to your heart's content! Eat as much as you want!"

Su Chan instantly became ecstatic, her face blooming with joy. "Really? You won't say I eat too much?"

Li Yundong laughed heartily. "It's not my cooking, and I’m not paying! Eat as much as you want, as much as you can eat!"

Su Chan’s eyes shone brightly, and saliva nearly drooled from the corner of her mouth.

The two finally managed to arrive at the Shengyuan Grand Hotel. As they got out of the car, the attendant who opened the door stared at Su Chan with wide, fixed eyes, making her feel unnerved. She timidly tugged Li Yundong’s hand. "What if they kick us out again?"

Li Yundong threw his head back and laughed loudly. "I’d like to see who dares to kick me out!"

With that, he pulled Su Chan inside. Just as they reached the lobby, a foreigner walking out while dragging a suitcase caught sight of Su Chan. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He kept turning his head to look while walking, failing to notice the glass entrance and slamming right into it, immediately clutching his nose and squatting down.

Li Yundong was inwardly delighted: Serves you right for looking!

Before he could finish his thought, he saw several people around him bump into each other, resulting in chaos and overturned bodies everywhere.

Li Yundong glanced around with a touch of petty triumph, extended his hand, and motioned for the young girl to link her arm through his, whispering, "See? They're all looking at you!"

Su Chan giggled secretly, a mix of excitement and timidity in her voice. "I'm so nervous!"

Li Yundong chuckled. "Don't be scared, I’m here! Once you see the food, you won't be nervous anymore!"

The mention of imminent food caused Su Chan's stomach to rumble thunderously. She yanked Li Yundong’s arm hard. "Let's go, let's go! My stomach is going to collapse from hunger!"

Li Yundong laughed and chided her, "You really perk up when food is mentioned. Are you a pig?"

The two boarded the elevator under the shocked gazes of everyone around them. As the elevator doors closed, murmurs and whispers erupted in the lobby.

"Which young master and lady are those?"

"I don't know, I've never seen them before!"

"Doesn't that one look a bit familiar?"

"If you ask me, judging by their demeanor and presence, they look like the young master and lady from the Shen family!"

"Hmm, possibly, very possible! Only the Shen family could produce such elegant talents!"

While Li Yundong and Su Chan were ascending, in a corner of the banquet hall, Ding Nan was arguing with a young man. "Young Master He, I must say, how could you drive away the guests invited by Zhou Qin?"

This "Young Master He" was the same young man who had previously driven Li Yundong away with sharp, mean words at the entrance. He replied dismissively, "Who are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."

Ding Nan said furiously, "The two beggars you chased away earlier—I checked with the service staff on this floor! They were friends invited by Zhou Qin!"

Young Master He curled his lip. "Zhou Qin's taste is getting increasingly vulgar. Why associate with people like that? Inviting beggars to a banquet—isn't she afraid of shaming the Zhou family?"

In the past, Ding Nan would have wholeheartedly agreed with Young Master He. But recently, Li Yundong seemed like a completely different person. The old Li Yundong was dull and easily lost in a crowd.

But the current Li Yundong was dazzling, capable of becoming the focal point wherever he stood! One could no longer judge him by old standards.

"You..." Ding Nan stomped her foot, about to speak, when Zhou Qin approached with a smile. "What are you two discussing here?"

Ding Nan glared hatefully at Young Master He. "Ask him yourself!"

Zhou Qin looked at Young Master He with a gentle smile, saying nothing. Her tranquil gaze and smile held a compelling, arresting power.

Young Master He became uncomfortable under Zhou Qin's steady gaze and subconsciously averted his eyes, chuckling, "Qin Qin, you look stunning tonight!"

Zhou Qin was wearing a red cheongsam today, her long, fair legs tantalizingly glimpsed through the high slit. Holding a transparent crystal glass, she seemed not to hear Young Master He’s compliment, taking a small sip before turning her gaze back to Ding Nan. "Why don't you tell me?"

While Zhou Qin spoke with Young Master He, several graceful gentlemen approached to toast her, praising her beauty and temperament.

Zhou Qin responded to everyone politely and appropriately, appearing completely composed. Yet, her eyes seemed to be searching for something, her focus slightly unfocused.

Ding Nan let out a cold huff. "Didn't you just ask me why Li Yundong hasn't arrived yet?"

Upon hearing Li Yundong’s name, Zhou Qin immediately became intensely focused, her slightly vague gaze sharpening. "Yes? Why?"

Ding Nan glanced at Young Master He and said coldly, "Are you sure it's appropriate for me to say?"

Young Master He snorted. "Hmph, Zhou Qin, I have to say, you should choose higher-class friends! Daring to bring people dressed like peasants to a place like this!"

Zhou Qin's gaze gradually turned icy. "You drove him away?"

Young Master He scoffed, "I didn't drive him away. I just told that shabby brat that this isn't a place for people like him!"

Zhou Qin’s face was like dark water, revealing no trace of joy or anger, her composure deep and profound, like that of a middle-aged woman of forty, utterly unlike a mere nineteen-year-old girl. She simply stared at Young Master He for a long time without speaking.

That look was like biting frost. Not only did Young Master He feel a chill run down his spine, but even Ding Nan, who knew Zhou Qin best, found the atmosphere horrifyingly cold.

After a moment, Zhou Qin suddenly smiled and snapped her fingers at a passing waiter circulating the banquet.

"May I be of service to you, Miss?" The waiter obviously knew Zhou Qin was the guest of honor that evening and spoke to her with utmost deference.

Zhou Qin pointed to the wine glass in Young Master He’s hand and said, "Please take this gentleman's glass and escort him out."

Young Master He was shocked and enraged. "Zhou Qin, have you gone mad?"

Ding Nan’s eyes widened too, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She frantically tugged Zhou Qin’s arm. "Zhou Qin, you don't need to make such a huge scene! It will be hard to explain to Elder Master He!"

Zhou Qin shot Ding Nan a cold sneer, scaring her into retracting her hand. Then, she turned her icy gaze back to Young Master He. "Did you not understand what I said?"

Young Master He and Zhou Qin both came from prominent official families; they had grown up together, and their families were close allies. He had never been publicly humiliated by Zhou Qin like this before.

His face flushed purple from shame and anger, and the hand holding the wine glass trembled. "Fine, fine! Zhou Qin, you’re turning against me over some low-class pretty boy!"

Zhou Qin said coldly, "Anyone who disrespects my friend disrespects me. Anyone who disrespects me, I disrespect in return! Young Master He, please leave! I won't see you out!"

Furious, Young Master He instinctively wanted to smash his glass, but Zhou Qin’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. "Try smashing a glass and disrupting my birthday banquet!"

Young Master He trembled, his raised hand unable to drop.

Ding Nan quickly tried to smooth things over. "Young Master He, that's enough. Zhou Qin is just emotional right now. Once she calms down..."

Before she could finish, Zhou Qin snapped sternly, "Ding Nan, do you want to leave with him?"

Ding Nan was immediately silenced, forced to give Young Master He a helpless look.

Young Master He’s face turned pale from rage. He viciously downed the wine in his glass, then tossed it into the arms of the waiter, who was already sweating profusely. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Zhou Qin, I’ll remember this! You’re falling out with me over some pretty boy! But I’m telling you, a pretty boy like that, if he starts low-class, he’ll always be low-class!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound of a glass shattering echoed sharply through the banquet hall.

Ding Nan flinched. Who shattered a glass at such a precise moment?

The sound drew the attention of everyone present. They all looked toward the entrance to see a waiter staring blankly at the doorway. The tray in his hands had slowly, unintentionally tilted, and the glasses upon it were sliding off...

Clang! Another series of breaking glasses followed.

These sounds were jarringly loud in the banquet, yet everyone stopped paying attention to the shattered glass. Their gazes were frozen on the entrance. For a moment, the grand hall fell utterly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

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