Ruan Tiancheng: ...
Ruan Tiancheng: So are you coming or not? Everyone is already at the restaurant.
Ruan Tiancheng: [Location]
Ruan Tiancheng: I've sent you the location, call me when you get here.
Su Fan looked at the message and gave a wry smile.
He hadn't even been given time to refuse.
Su Fan wasn't that close with his high school classmates; he had focused all his energy on studying back then and didn't form deep bonds.
However, since they had invited him, it wouldn't be appropriate to refuse.
Su Fan tidied himself up and drove to the location Ruan Tiancheng had sent him.
...
"Young Master Xu, I've already notified Su Fan. I believe he'll be here soon," Ruan Tiancheng said with a fawning smile to Xu Shaoqing.
"Why do we have to wait for Su Fan? I don't want to see him," a beautiful woman in a formal dress, with her entire back exposed, said unhappily beside Xu Shaoqing.
"Jiaxin, Su Fan is our classmate after all. How can we not wait for him? Besides, didn't you like him in school? Don't you want to see him?" Xu Shaoqing said, embracing Lu Jiaxin.
Lu Jiaxin frowned.
"I'm yours now, why are you bringing him up?" Lu Jiaxin playfully hit Xu Shaoqing's chest, embarrassed.
Ruan Tiancheng watched the two of them flaunt their affection and felt a bit disgusted.
If Xu Shaoqing's family wasn't rich, he wouldn't bother talking to these two lovebirds.
"Sister-in-law, Young Master Xu is just trying to show you that your choice was the right one. I heard Su Fan was just fired from his company and is currently unemployed," Ruan Tiancheng said with a forced smile.
"Tiancheng is right. When Su Fan arrives, you can vent your anger at him. I'm sure he won't dare to say anything," Xu Shaoqing said dismissively.
At this point, other classmates also started arriving. To maintain his image, Xu Shaoqing stopped discussing Su Fan.
"Young Master Xu."
"Young Master Xu."
"Young Master Xu is truly a hidden talent, you've even captured the class beauty."
"Only Young Master Xu can win the favor of Lu Jiaxin now. Who else in our class can catch the eye of the class beauty?"
...
Regardless of whether they were close or not, all these classmates flattered Xu Shaoqing.
The main reason was Xu Shaoqing's family wealth. Especially after graduation, their family business grew larger and larger, now becoming a leading enterprise in Xinshi.
Xu Shaoqing basked in the flattery, filled with confidence.
...
Su Fan, driving his beast of a car, quickly arrived at the location Ruan Tiancheng had sent: the Crescent Moon Grand Hotel.
A five-star hotel, where even the most basic expenses would start from tens of thousands of yuan.
Su Fan parked his car at the entrance. The doorman, seeing such a magnificent luxury car, immediately stepped forward.
"Sir, would you like me to park it for you?"
Su Fan handed over the keys.
"Thanks."
After getting out of the car, Su Fan called Ruan Tiancheng.
"Hello, I'm here. Where are you guys?"
"Room 888 on the third floor."
Su Fan hung up and headed upstairs.
Upon arriving at Room 888, it was already full. Most of the classmates were there, except for those not in Xinshi. Xu Shaoqing sat at the head of the table.
Seeing who was beside Xu Shaoqing, Su Fan was momentarily stunned. Lu Jiaxin, the class beauty, someone he had liked in the past, and he knew she had also had feelings for him back then.
However, they were both focused on their studies at the time, and neither had confessed their feelings.
"Su Fan is here. Let me introduce you, my girlfriend, Lu Jiaxin," Xu Shaoqing said with a smile, spotting Su Fan entering the room.
Su Fan smiled faintly.
"Mm."
He simply responded with a soft hum, showing no emotion.
This displeased Xu Shaoqing, who had hoped to see Su Fan looking dejected and sad.
"Su Fan, don't you recognize her? She's our class beauty, Lu Jiaxin. She used to like you, have you forgotten?" Xu Shaoqing continued.
Xu Shaoqing's words not only surprised Su Fan but also silenced the surrounding classmates. It was obvious to everyone that Xu Shaoqing was targeting Su Fan.
Lu Jiaxin's expression was particularly bad; she hadn't expected Xu Shaoqing to bring up these matters in front of so many people.
"Well, thank you, Young Master Xu, for taking over. I'll toast you!" Su Fan said with a smile, picking up a glass of water and signaling to Xu Shaoqing before drinking it down.
Xu Shaoqing's face immediately changed. He never expected Su Fan to speak to him like that.
"Su Fan, how can you talk like that! We're all classmates, how can you speak to Young Master Xu like this!" Ruan Tiancheng stood up, displeased, and said to Su Fan.
"Oh, so how should I say it? Didn't he just take over my leftovers? Am I wrong?" Su Fan spread his hands innocently.
"We're all classmates, let's not make things awkward. Let's eat first," the class monitor said, trying to mediate.
Xu Shaoqing remained silent for now; continuing would not benefit him.
When all the dishes were served, Xu Shaoqing subtly signaled to Lu Jiaxin.
"Go and toast Su Fan."
Xu Shaoqing said to Lu Jiaxin.
Lu Jiaxin frowned.
"What are you trying to do now?"
"Just go when I tell you to, why so many questions?" Xu Shaoqing said impatiently.
Lu Jiaxin reluctantly stood up and walked towards Su Fan to toast him.
"Su Fan, I'll toast you," Lu Jiaxin said with a smile.
Su Fan was someone she had liked in the past, and that affection still lingered in her heart.
"To toast, you need sincerity. Go pour him a drink," Xu Shaoqing said, looking displeased at Lu Jiaxin.
Lu Jiaxin frowned and glanced at Xu Shaoqing, unsure of what he was trying to achieve.
Under Xu Shaoqing's oppressive gaze, she walked to Su Fan's side and poured the wine in front of him.
"Su Fan, for our high school friendship, I'll toast you."
"I'm sorry, I drove here, so I'm not drinking," Su Fan politely declined. No matter what Xu Shaoqing's plan was, he wouldn't drink this wine; he had to move soon.
"Su Fan, Sister-in-law is toasting you, why not drink? Aren't you being a spoilsport?" Ruan Tiancheng said sarcastically from the side.
"Alright then, I'll use tea as a substitute for wine." Su Fan picked up his tea and drank it down.
Lu Jiaxin said nothing and downed her wine.
"Sister-in-law has great stamina! Unlike some people who don't even give face to a drink," Ruan Tiancheng continued to be sarcastic.
Su Fan couldn't be bothered to deal with him; there were no more than five people here he could actually talk to.
On the other side, Xu Shaoqing gave Ruan Tiancheng a look.
Ruan Tiancheng understood and nodded.
As Lu Jiaxin finished her drink and prepared to return, she suddenly stumbled. Wearing high heels, she lost her balance and swayed to the side.
Su Fan, quick as lightning, instinctively grabbed Lu Jiaxin's hand.
"Th-thank you..." Lu Jiaxin thanked Su Fan, her voice filled with relief.
If she had fallen, she would have at least sprained her ankle.
Su Fan smiled, not making a big deal of it.
"Su Fan, what are you doing? Why are you touching Lu Jiaxin like that? Young Master Xu is right here!" Ruan Tiancheng said indignantly to Su Fan.