The family of three entered the restaurant. Although they had come here before, they had stopped at the entrance, so this was their first time actually inside. Jiang Yurou was still stunned by the decor. As expected of one of Liyang’s most luxurious hotels, it was incredibly opulent.
Jiang Yurou looked around.
"What are you looking for?" Chen Bufan asked, knowing the answer already.
"I wanted to see if Tang Jing was still here; otherwise, it would be too awkward," Jiang Yurou said.
"Don't worry, she’s definitely not here anymore," Chen Bufan said with certainty.
"How are you so sure?" Jiang Yurou asked.
"Didn't she say so herself last time?" Chen Bufan chuckled.
"But we aren't exactly big shots who booked the whole place," Jiang Yurou rolled her eyes.
*Silly girl, if you didn't book the place, who else would have? Do you really think Tang Jing is so kind-hearted that she begged us to come back just to save your face?* Chen Bufan shook his head inwardly.
"Yurou! You’re here!"
A voice rang out, and Yin Xue walked over in high heels. She was wearing a burgundy camisole skirt, her long, wavy hair cascading down her snow-white back. The cleavage revealed by her top was striking; she had a fiery figure, looking like a professional auto show model.
The men in the restaurant couldn't help but steal glances, struggling to swallow their saliva. Noticing the heated gazes, Yin Xue’s smile grew even brighter; she thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention.
She arrived in front of Jiang Yurou and the others, a waft of perfume preceding her. Chen Bufan frowned slightly, his expression indifferent. No beauty could compare to Yurou, and there was a cheap, tawdry quality to Yin Xue that lowered her standing even further.
"Yin Xue, you look so beautiful today, just like a big star," Jiang Yurou said enviously.
"What beauty? I’m just getting old and faded," Yin Xue said, though her face beamed with delight. Back in school, Jiang Yurou had been the campus belle, with all the boys’ eyes on her. But times had changed; now, standing in front of Jiang Yurou like a celebrity, Yin Xue finally felt she had surpassed her.
After Yin Xue arrived, two more women showed up—old college classmates they hadn't seen in a long time. They exchanged greetings.
"Yurou, everyone has been waiting for a long time. Why are you only showing up now?" a woman with short hair asked.
"Taxis were hard to find; it took a bit of time," Jiang Yurou explained.
"Taking a taxi? Yurou, you must be joking. Since when did the Jiang family lady become so low-key?" the short-haired woman said with an exaggerated tone.
Jiang Yurou looked awkward. It wasn't as if they didn't know her situation; wasn't this clearly mocking her? Another girl with yellow hair nudged the short-haired girl with her elbow and whispered something.
"Ah, so Yurou was kicked out of the Jiang family?"
The voice was so loud that nearby patrons turned to look.
"That’s all in the past," Jiang Yurou said, embarrassed.
"Alright, let's stop talking about it. We’re finally reunited, let’s get into the private room," Yin Xue played the peacemaker, and the group headed inside.
Three men were already sitting in the room, chatting away in a friendly atmosphere.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is our former college campus belle and Liyang’s number one beauty, Jiang Yurou."
"Nice to meet you! Nice to meet you!" The men spoke up one after another, their eyes scanning Jiang Yurou up and down. They had to admit, Jiang Yurou was stunning. Even in plain clothes, her pure features and outstanding temperament were captivating.
"And this is..." Yin Xue’s gaze shifted to Chen Bufan.
"My husband, Chen Bufan," Jiang Yurou introduced him generously, a touch of pride on her face. Even if he wasn't as wealthy as the others, in her heart, he was irreplaceable.
The three men scrutinized Chen Bufan. Seeing his very ordinary attire, their eyes flashed with disdain. Though they offered polite greetings, they were clearly just going through the motions, their eyes quickly returning to Jiang Yurou. Yin Xue then introduced the other spouses, and the introductions were finished.
"Alright, don't just stand there, everyone sit down," Yin Xue invited.
There were four families in total. Besides Chen Bufan’s family, the short-haired woman had also brought her child. Yin Xue and the yellow-haired woman had only brought their husbands.
"Five years have passed in a flash since graduation. Let’s toast to this reunion," Yin Xue proposed.
Everyone raised their glasses, touched them together, and began to chat. As with most reunions, especially among classmates, the talk soon shifted from the past to their current lives. It seemed like concern, but it was just digging to see who was doing well.
Yin Xue and the other two families were clearly very close; they talked about everything from cars and property to national development, projecting the air of successful people as if they were in a conference room. The women, meanwhile, chatted about cosmetics.
Chen Bufan sat there by himself, helping Sisi eat. No one paid him any mind, and he had no interest in talking to these people. They weren't his kind of crowd; there was no need to force it. He was only here to accompany Yurou. Jiang Yurou clearly felt out of place, only chiming in occasionally.
"Yin Xue, you really are amazing. Not only is your career going well, but you also found such a capable husband," the short-haired woman flattered.
"Oh, it’s nothing, just a small operation," Yin Xue chuckled.
"Yin Xue, you’re too modest. I just found out that Manager Guo is a big shot in the building materials industry. He opened a major materials market in Guangling, and business is booming. His annual income must be tens of millions," said the short-haired woman’s husband, a man in a suit wearing thick-rimmed glasses.
"Tens of millions a year!" Everyone was shocked and immensely envious.
"You're joking, it's just hard-earned money," Yin Xue’s husband waved his hand, tugging at the thick gold chain around his neck. He said to the glasses-wearing man, "Manager Huang, you’re a bank manager; you come into contact with so many major entrepreneurs. Our small business is nothing."
"And then there’s Mr. Xia, who works for the government. Who here isn't better off than me?"
More mutual flattery ensued. Suddenly, Yin Xue’s bald husband stared at Chen Bufan. "Come to think of it, I’m not even as good as this little brother here. He managed to marry Liyang’s number one beauty. What line of work are you in?"
In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to Chen Bufan.
"He..." Jiang Yurou tried to interject to smooth things over.
But Chen Bufan had already spoken: "I stay home to look after the child."
The atmosphere suddenly froze, followed by bursts of mocking laughter.
"Staying home to look after the child? You’ve got to be kidding, right?"
"Yurou, with your conditions, you could have found anyone better. Why did you settle for such a man?" the short-haired woman said with contempt.
"Yurou, I heard about your situation. I thought someone you picked would be excellent, but how..." The yellow-haired woman also chimed in, leaving her sentence hanging.
"I like him, and that’s enough," Jiang Yurou said, summoning her courage.
Chen Bufan didn't care about the opinions of outsiders, but hearing Jiang Yurou stand up for him made his heart warm.
"Liking someone doesn't put food on the table. You need to find a man you can rely on, not someone who only knows how to stay home with kids," the short-haired woman said, then turned her focus back to Chen Bufan. "And you, as a man, you married such a beautiful wife, yet you don't even try to earn money. How can you be so shameless as to stay home?"
"He's a freeloader," the bald man mocked, triggering more laughter.
Jiang Yurou took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. "He is my husband. Please, don't talk about him like that."
"A man with no skills is nothing but trash. Yurou, you don't need to defend him. Let us help you wake him up!" the short-haired woman said.
"Insulting my husband is insulting me. I’d appreciate it if you stopped right now." Jiang Yurou was truly angry; they had gone too far. She had only agreed to come for the sake of her classmates, yet they had disregarded her face entirely and publicly mocked Chen Bufan. How could she, as his wife, sit by and watch?
Seeing Jiang Yurou get angry, the group finally quieted down.
Yin Xue laughed dryly and said, "Yurou, actually, everyone just has your best interests at heart. This dinner was actually meant to help you out."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Yurou asked.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday that I was coming to Liyang to invest? My husband plans to buy shares in your Yunlu Group. In the future, all of Yunlu Group's building materials will be handled by my husband’s company. You work at Yunlu, right? From now on, you'll be working for us. I only invited you for the sake of old times, hoping you’d show some initiative, but I didn't expect..."
"I'm sorry, no thanks. I prefer to work honestly and don't need to use back doors," Jiang Yurou refused flatly.
Yin Xue’s expression turned cold instantly.
"Yin Xue, you had such good intentions, but this classmate of yours is so ungrateful," the bald man sneered, then looked at Jiang Yurou with a sinister expression. "Since you’re so capable, once the contract with Yunlu is signed, you should find somewhere else to work."
"Yurou, don't be foolish. Just apologize," Yin Xue advised.
"What have I done wrong?" Jiang Yurou found it ridiculous.
"I’m sorry, we have things to do. Bufan, let’s go!" Jiang Yurou rose to leave.
Sisi obediently left her seat, but in the process, she accidentally bumped into the short-haired woman’s child.
"Get lost, you poor brat, you dirtied my clothes!" The five or six-year-old boy pushed Sisi hard, nearly knocking her to the ground. Sisi burst into tears.
"Apologize!"
Chen Bufan, who had been silent until now, spoke, his voice ice-cold. If it weren't for Yurou disliking him being impulsive, he would have already exploded. These pathetic classmates had no respect for Yurou.
"Why are you being so fierce? Your kid bumped into mine; why should he apologize? I should be the one asking for an apology!" The short-haired woman exploded, standing up and glaring at Chen Bufan, completely unreasonable.
"I'm not apologizing! Blah, blah, blah!" The boy made a face and provoked him.
"You won't apologize?" Chen Bufan raised his hand.
*Smack!*
A slap landed on the boy's face, sending him flying. He crashed to the floor with a thud and began to wail.
"Waaah, Mom, he hit me..." Everyone was stunned. No one expected Chen Bufan to be so violent.
"You dare hit my son? I’ll destroy your daughter!" The short-haired woman rushed over like a madwoman.
"Damn it! You dare touch my son? You're finished!" The man in glasses also charged.
*Bang! Bang!*
Two figures flew through the air and slammed into the ground, groaning in pain, unable to get up for a long time.
"Bufan!" Jiang Yurou was terrified and quickly stopped him.
"If it weren't for my wife, you’d all be meeting your maker," Chen Bufan said ruthlessly, terrifying everyone in the room.
"Jiang Yurou, I was doing you a favor, but since your husband is acting like this, don't blame me for the consequences!" Yin Xue said coldly.
*Smack!* Chen Bufan slapped her, sending Yin Xue sprawling.
"You mother..." The bald man stood up, grabbing a wine bottle.
Chen Bufan pressed one hand onto the table.
*Boom!*
An overwhelming aura surged outward, and the dishes on the table shattered instantly. Even the wine bottle in the bald man’s hand exploded, the shards cutting his hand and causing blood to stream down. He howled in agony.
"How dare you! I am..." Another man tried to threaten him, but Chen Bufan’s gaze swept over him, and he sat back down, frozen in fear.
"Everyone, apologize to my wife!" Chen Bufan said coldly.
"Apologize my foot! You dared to hit us, just wait!" Yin Xue screamed.
"Fine, you won't apologize? Then your pathetic contract, your bank manager job, and your government position—just wait for them to disappear," Chen Bufan said. He picked up Sisi and took Yurou’s hand. "Let’s go home!"
After the family of three left, the private room erupted into chaos.
"Dammit! A poor punk dares to be this arrogant? I’ll kill him!" Manager Guo gritted his teeth in pain.
"Right! We have to destroy him. He beat my son like this; I won't settle for less than a million!" the short-haired woman shouted, her eyes vicious.
"And he threatened to make our contract with Yunlu disappear. Who does he think he is? That he can cancel the partnership with a word?" Yin Xue was furious as well.
"Jiang Yurou, don't blame me for not being a good classmate. I’m going to make your husband pay."
"He wants to get me fired? He doesn't even know what position I hold. Daring to cause a scene and hit people here—I’ll have him arrested before the day is out," the man in the government position blustered.
The dinner was ruined, and everyone left. Just as they were about to check out, the owner of Yanyu Jiangnan ran over, drenched in sweat. He was in such a hurry; he’d heard that the big shot who had booked the restaurant last time was here again. He couldn't afford to mess up again, or it wouldn't just be Tang Jing getting fired—his restaurant might actually go under!
"Everyone, you don't need to pay. This meal is on the house!"
"No need to pay?" Yin Xue was stunned. "Boss, you must be mistaken, right?"
"No mistake. You were dining with Mr. Chen, weren't you? For Mr. Chen’s sake, this meal is on me!" the owner hurried to say.
*Boom!*
The faces of Yin Xue and the others changed drastically.
"Boss, you really aren't mistaken? For Chen Bufan’s sake?" Yin Xue confirmed repeatedly.
"Of course not. By the way, where is Mr. Chen?" the owner scanned the room, finding no trace of him.
"Excuse me, Boss, what kind of person is Chen Bufan?" Yin Xue asked, her heart pounding.
"Honestly, I don't know his background either, but he is definitely someone I cannot afford to offend," the owner said sincerely.
Yin Xue and her group looked at each other, horrified. Even the owner of Yanyu Jiangnan couldn't afford to offend him? Who exactly was Chen Bufan?
"No, I have to find someone to investigate this guy’s background!" the man surnamed Xia said, gritting his teeth, and immediately called a friend to look into Chen Bufan.
…
On the way back, Jiang Yurou frowned. "Bufan, you were too impulsive."
"Should I have let them laugh at you and bully Sisi?" Chen Bufan countered. He had been very restrained; otherwise, none of them would have walked out of that restaurant.
Even if Jiang Yurou was angry, she couldn't argue with that.
"Yin Xue and the others were definitely going too far. Sigh, never mind!" She sighed. "Bufan, I’m sorry. I embarrassed you."
"Silly wife, what are you saying? Even if there was embarrassment, it would be my fault," Chen Bufan said gently.
"I don't blame you at all; this was my own choice," Jiang Yurou said firmly, her expression dimming. "It’s just that I might lose my job. If Yin Xue’s husband signs the contract with Yunlu, they’ll definitely fire me."
She had been so happy about becoming a department manager and getting a raise, but now she felt lost at the prospect of losing it all within days.
"Don't worry, Yunlu won't cooperate with Yin Xue’s husband, you won't be fired, and you might even get a promotion and a raise," Chen Bufan said confidently.
"What are you joking about? Not firing me, and a promotion and raise?" Jiang Yurou looked at Chen Bufan like he was a fool.
"Don't believe me?"
"I don't."
"What if I’m right?"
"You can have whatever you want."
"Then... unlocking a new skill?" Chen Bufan teased with a wicked grin.
"What are you talking about!" Jiang Yurou blushed and glared at him. Sisi was right there; he didn't know when to hold back.
"Alright, my fault. But do you dare to bet?" Chen Bufan laughed.
"I’m not afraid of you. It’s an impossible scenario anyway. But if you're proven wrong, you have to listen to me from now on," Jiang Yurou said.
"No problem," Chen Bufan agreed readily.
"Mom, Dad, Sisi is hungry," Sisi said pitifully.
"I think I’m a bit hungry too," Jiang Yurou said. She hadn't eaten much at the restaurant, so her stomach was basically empty.
"Let’s go, Daddy is treating!"
The family of three found a small restaurant and enjoyed a hearty meal.
…
Meanwhile, Chen Bufan took the opportunity to call Canglong and asked him to handle a small matter.
"Yes, I understand!" Canglong replied and hung up.
*Truly tired of living, to have someone dare offend the Palace Master!* He set off to do his job immediately.
…
At the Yunlu Company headquarters, Cao Huadong was still working in his office, thick smoke filling the air. Before him lay a pile of contracts. To save the company, he had no choice but to sell some shares and let the materials boss, Manager Guo, inject capital. It was effectively finding a new master for the company. Although he had sold a villa, those forty million had gone to employee wages and bank interest, leaving almost nothing! With suppliers breathing down his neck, he had to sell parts of his company to survive.
Having poured twenty years of his life’s work into this, Cao Huadong felt a deep bitterness. Barring any accidents, he would sign the contracts tomorrow.
"CEO Cao, someone is here to see you!" his secretary entered.
"Who is it?"
"A man around thirty; I’ve never seen him before."
"It’s late at night; tell them to come back tomorrow," Cao Huadong waved his hand, too busy to care.
"He said he could solve the urgent crisis facing Yunlu Company."
Hearing this, Cao Huadong’s eyes lit up. "Bring him in, quickly!"
A man entered the office.
"May I ask who you are?" Cao Huadong asked.
"One billion!" the man stated, cutting straight to the point, shocking Cao Huadong.
"What one billion?"
"I know Yunlu Company has management issues. I can provide one billion in funding."
Cao Huadong’s heart skipped a beat. "Friend, it’s late at night. You’re not here to mess with me, are you?"
"Do you think I’m joking with you?" the man’s tone was cold.
Cao Huadong realized the man was serious. "Even if there truly is one billion, we are strangers. Why help my Yunlu Company? What are you after?"
"I only require you to do one thing!" the man said.