"A photo?"
"What photo?"
Hearing Xu You's words, everyone present was stunned.
Seeing their curious expressions, Xu You no longer hid anything and revealed the photo he had taken of Lin Xiao Tian on the street that day.
In the photo, Lin Xiao Tian was dressed in tattered clothes and wore a straw hat with a corner missing, looking exactly like a migrant worker entering the city.
"Everyone, look. This is the photo I took that day. There's absolutely no Photoshop involved," Xu You said, glancing at everyone present, a smug curve unconsciously forming on his lips.
"This… this is indeed Xiao Tian. He looks completely different from how he looks now!" someone exclaimed in surprise.
"Xiao Tian, this is you, isn't it?" Xu You looked at him triumphantly.
Seeing this, everyone turned to look at Lin Xiao Tian. The female classmates who had been mesmerized by Lin Xiao Tian moments ago now looked at him with anxious expressions.
They were afraid Lin Xiao Tian would nod!
"It is me," Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
"Haha, I knew it!" Xu You's face was full of smiles.
"Have you all seen Zhao Ben Shan's skit? What did he say? 'Don't think I won't recognize you just because I've taken off my vest!'" the sycophant Tian Qian Xing immediately chimed in, picking up from Xu You's words.
Looking at the happy smile on Xu You's face, Tian Qian Xing felt that he had truly flattered the right person this time.
"This… I don't believe it. This is definitely Photoshopped!" some female classmates refused to believe it and lost their temper on the spot.
In their eyes, Lin Xiao Tian should have been perfect, whether in high school or now!
"What are you still struggling for? He's already admitted it himself. What more do you want? Are you waiting for him to whisper it in your ear?" Tian Qian Xing deliberately made a gagging gesture.
"Everyone, you can't talk to Xiao Tian like that. After all, his attire today also shows his sincerity. These clothes, from top to bottom, are all designer brands. Just renting them would cost at least a few thousand yuan, right?"
"Yeah! Xiao Tian, tell us, how much did you spend on all this?"
Several male classmates who stood with Xu You, now disregarding any sense of decency, began to constantly belittle Lin Xiao Tian.
In their view, the cost of offending Lin Xiao Tian was too low.
A farmer versus the future CEO of a listed company. It was an easy choice!
Of course, some people chose to remain silent.
Among them was Lin Xiao Tian's ex-girlfriend, Fang Xiao Wen.
On one hand, she felt guilty towards Lin Xiao Tian and wanted to say something. On the other hand, she didn't want to offend Xu You and the others.
Besides these two types of people, there were those who felt indignant on Lin Xiao Tian's behalf.
"What are you saying? Don't go too far!" Seeing everyone squeezing Lin Xiao Tian like this, Wei Long couldn't stand it and was about to step forward to argue.
"Forget it!" Lin Xiao Tian pulled him back.
"Everyone, this photo is real, but the clothes I'm wearing today aren't rented; I bought them myself," Lin Xiao Tian replied calmly.
"Still pretending to be rich? Brother Tian, if there were an Oscar for acting, you'd definitely win Best Actor." Tian Qian Xing looked at Lin Xiao Tian mockingly.
The atmosphere immediately became more awkward. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
A waiter pushed a food cart in, bringing the dishes for the evening.
"Alright, we're all classmates. Let's talk about anything privately later. Let's eat first. Jinyuan Grand Hotel is the best five-star hotel in Jiangcheng. We mustn't let Mr. Xu's kind intentions go to waste!" Fang Xiao Wen quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
With the goddess intervening, and everyone's anticipation for a star-rated hotel, the previous matter was quickly put aside.
Wei Long was still somewhat angry, but Lin Xiao Tian pulled him aside.
"Xiao Tian, these people have gone too far, exposing your shortcomings in public. I think this pathetic gathering isn't worth attending. Come with me, I'll take you somewhere else to eat!" Wei Long said indignantly.
"Never mind, Fatty. Since we're here, it would be awkward to leave now. Besides, weren't you really looking forward to Jinyuan Grand Hotel's whole fish banquet? If we leave now, you won't get to eat it." Lin Xiao Tian looked at him.
Wei Long was a foodie. He had mentioned how much he was looking forward to Jinyuan Grand Hotel's cuisine in their WeChat chat, especially the whole fish banquet that had recently become popular in Jiangcheng.
Lin Xiao Tian hadn't arrived at the private room immediately earlier because he had spoken to Xue Zi Yan, wanting Wei Long to experience the whole fish banquet.
"Sigh! What whole fish banquet? I saw the menu when I came. It's just the most ordinary dishes. I thought Xu You was being so considerate! But after seeing it, I realized he doesn't think much of us at all!"
"Did you know?"
"The dishes on our three tables are all different. I chatted with the waitress just now. The dishes on our two tables combined aren't even half the price of Xu You's table!"
Wei Long became more and more indignant as he spoke.
"Forget it, we won't endure this. Let's go eat out!" Wei Long grabbed Lin Xiao Tian, wanting to leave.
Fortunately, Lin Xiao Tian stopped him in time.
"Who said there's no whole fish banquet? The dishes haven't all been served yet!" Lin Xiao Tian said with a slight smile.
"How can you still smile? You've been bullied so much." Wei Long rolled his eyes at Lin Xiao Tian.
Just then, the waiters began serving dishes to each table.
Each table had two bottles of wine, followed by various dishes. The most eye-catching among them was the sizzling perch.
Wei Long calmed himself down, then picked up a piece of perch and brought it to his lips.
The next moment, Wei Long's eyes lit up.
"This… this fish?" Wei Long seemed to be electrocuted.
"How does it taste? Not good?" Lin Xiao Tian asked him.
"No… it's not that at all. It's too delicious! I swear, I've never eaten such delicious fish in my life! Xiao Tian, you should try it too!"
At this moment, not only Wei Long, but everyone else present, after tasting the sizzling perch, let out similar exclamations.
"Is this perch? How is it so delicious?"
"Oh my god, am I dreaming? Were all the perches I ate in the past few decades fake?"
Seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, Xu You couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
What a bunch of unsophisticated people. They get so excited over ordinary sizzling perch?
If they were to taste the perch at his table from the whole fish banquet, wouldn't they go crazy?
Xu You found it increasingly amusing as he thought about it.
Just then, there was another knock at the door.
Tian Qian Xing immediately ran to open it. Following him, Xue Zi Yan, dressed in a qipao, walked in.
As soon as Xue Zi Yan entered, she immediately captured the attention of all the men present.
So beautiful!
No other words could describe her!
"Please enjoy your meal. These few bottles of Maotai are my见面礼 (meeting gift) to all of you." After speaking, Xue Zi Yan instructed Xiao Zhi behind her to send the Maotai to each table.
"Ms. Xue, how could we possibly impose on you? I'll pay for these Maotai bottles. We can't let your hotel lose money." Xu You appeared flustered and flattered.
At the same time, he was very puzzled as to why Xue Zi Yan would send him Maotai wine.
Although his company had a partnership with the hotel, he wasn't a major client for the hotel. There was no reason for Xue Zi Yan to give him anything.
Moreover, this was not an ordinary item. Xu You had glanced at it earlier; each bottle of Maotai wine was priced at fifty thousand yuan.
"It's alright, there's no loss. You are Xiao Tian's friends, so you are also my friends. Since we are friends, what are a few bottles of wine?" Xue Zi Yan smiled sweetly.
"How can we accept this..." Xu You started to say polite words, but halfway through, he suddenly felt something was amiss.
"Wait, who did you just say? Xiao Tian? You don't mean Lin Xiao Tian, do you?"
Xue Zi Yan nodded. "Of course! Who else could it be? Don't you agree, Xiao Tian!"
After speaking, Xue Zi Yan's gaze fell on Lin Xiao Tian's side.
The next moment, everyone suddenly turned their heads and looked at Lin Xiao Tian.
Xu You was dumbfounded.
What did she mean?
Could it really be this Lin Xiao Tian?