The alumni event concluded hastily, and everyone gravitated towards the counter.
"Wang Hao, you're paying," Er Zhu said naturally, pointing to the counter not far away. His words, however, caused everyone's hearts to clench.
After being so thoroughly humiliated today, Wang Hao was expected to settle the bill too? Was Er Zhu out of his mind!
"Pay the bill? After all this, I'm supposed to pay!"
Wang Hao was so furious he jumped, his eyes wide and his body trembling as he roared at Er Zhu.
To be beaten, to be toyed with like this, and to be swindled out of ten thousand yuan, and now he had to pay the bill! What did this guy take him for, a sucker!
"Wang Hao, didn't you say you were treating today? Why are you yelling at Er Zhu?"
Just as Er Zhu was about to speak, Yao Na stepped in front of him, her voice filled with righteous indignation as she defended Er Zhu.
Wang Hao was instantly silenced, at a loss for words to refute her. As for the other classmates, Wang Hao had lost all face today. How could they possibly help him now? Besides, if Wang Hao didn't pay, the cost would be split equally. Compared to splitting the bill, it was much better for someone to treat.
"Fine, I'll pay!"
Seeing that no one would speak up for him, and feeling the lingering stench on his body, Wang Hao could only give in again. He wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible, without any further thought.
"You don't need to, sir. Our boss has waived the bill for you."
Behind the counter, a woman in uniform offered a polite smile and bowed deeply to Wang Hao. Although the woman's demeanor was gracious, Wang Hao noticed her slightly furrowed brow and the flicker of disdain in her eyes.
Damn it, he was actually being looked down upon by a hotel waitress! Wang Hao's face burned, and he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground. But in the next instant, he seemed to recall something, a glint of triumph flashing in his eyes. He had only met Miss Wang, the hotel owner, once, and she was waiving his bill! A smug smile spread across Wang Hao's lips, a surge of pride welling up.
Hearing this, the other classmates looked at Wang Hao with shock and envy. Rich kids really had it good; even after losing all face, someone would instantly help them regain it!
A hint of dejection crossed Yao Na's eyes, and a bitter smile touched her lips. What was the point of standing up for Er Zhu? With just one word about his status, Wang Hao could instantly revive his pride.
Er Zhu, however, remained calm, as if none of this concerned him.
"See? I am always Wang Hao, and you will never be as good as me!" Wang Hao put away his bank card and slowly walked towards Er Zhu, his eyes full of smugness.
"Boss!"
Just as Wang Hao was about to continue mocking Er Zhu, a waitress at the counter spoke up.
"Miss Wang, thank you..."
Wang Hao turned abruptly, ready to thank the boss, but to his surprise, the boss walked past him and headed directly towards Er Zhu.
Er Zhu looked up at the beautiful woman approaching him, a slight smile playing on his lips. He hadn't expected this hotel to belong to Wang Xiaomei!
"Er Zhu, why didn't you tell me you were coming here to eat? I would have arranged something better for you!" Wang Xiaomei clasped Er Zhu's hand tightly, her face beaming as she spoke.
"Mm, just accompanying my girlfriend to an alumni reunion." Er Zhu subtly withdrew his hand and gently hugged Yao Na, who was beside him.
Just as Wang Xiaomei was about to say something, she witnessed this scene and the words caught in her throat. Girlfriend? Er Zhu actually had a girlfriend! And it wasn't Li Mei! A flicker of regret crossed Wang Xiaomei's eyes. If she had known, she would never have left him! She had had her chance, but it was her own timidity and cowardice that had driven Er Zhu into someone else's arms!
While Wang Xiaomei was lost in her own misery, Wang Hao and the others watched this unfold in stunned silence, especially Wang Hao. So, the hotel owner wasn't giving him face, she was giving Er Zhu face! This guy actually knew Miss Wang! And judging by Miss Wang's fawning attitude, she seemed to like Er Zhu too! The cascade of shocking revelations shattered Wang Hao's worldview. He clenched his fists, his eyes wide with disbelief! Everything that had happened today replayed in his mind like a movie, his anger boiling to a point where it felt ready to explode! He was actually worse off than a simpleton!
Beside him, Yao Na looked at Er Zhu's hand on her shoulder, then at Wang Xiaomei, whose eyes were red-rimmed. A hint of confusion flickered in her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes lit up as if she had figured something out. Miss Wang liked Er Zhu! Tsk, tsk, Er Zhu really had good luck with women; so many beautiful women liked him! Yao Na's eyes darkened, and a bitter smile touched her lips. Although Er Zhu's words had excited her earlier, she knew he had said them intentionally, just as she had...
"Then I wish you happiness. I'm busy, so I'll be going." After a long pause, Wang Xiaomei, her eyes red, managed a smile. With that, she turned to leave.
"Er Zhu, you're really amazing, knowing Miss Wang!"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, Er Zhu. What we said earlier was just a joke, don't mind us."
"Er Zhu, I think I've had too much to drink. Can you take me home?"
...
As soon as Wang Xiaomei left, those female classmates who had previously admired Wang Hao rushed to Er Zhu, showering him with flattery. One of them even threw herself at him. Seeing this, Wang Hao, fuming, turned and stormed off! Today was the most humiliating day of his life! Er Zhu, just you wait!
Watching Wang Hao's retreating back, Xu Yong and the others also slunk away, leaving only Er Zhu and a few others in the large living room.
"Xiao Na, let's go home." Without even glancing at the female classmates who were preparing to deploy all their charms, Er Zhu, with Yao Na in his arms, walked out, completely ignoring them. Looking at Er Zhu and Yao Na's intimate display, the female classmates gnashed their teeth in frustration! Just because she was pretty, what was so great about that!
They walked in silence. After Er Zhu safely escorted Yao Na home, he also returned to his own house.
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. Wang Hao had not bothered Yao Na again and seemed to have vanished into thin air.
One day, a group of village women were sitting by the village entrance, enjoying the cool evening breeze, when they suddenly saw a white car speeding towards them.
"Who are they looking for now? Don't tell me it's for Er Zhu again," Auntie Wang said, fanning herself with a grin, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"Of course not. Do you think only that simpleton in our village knows rich people?" Auntie Wang's words were barely out of her mouth when a dark and plump woman chimed in. Hearing this, the other village women nodded in agreement. They truly found it hard to believe that this simpleton knew so many wealthy individuals!
"Let's go take a look, we're not busy anyway!" On the other side, Sister Lin, who loved to watch a good spectacle, stood up and pointed at the receding white luxury car.