The family of three entered the restaurant.
Although they had been here last time, they had stopped at the entrance. This was their first time actually stepping inside, and Jiang Yurou was still struck with wonder by the interior decoration.
It truly deserved to be called one of the most luxurious restaurants in Liyang; it was exceptionally extravagant.
Jiang Yurou looked around.
"What are you looking for?" Chen Bufan asked, knowing full well the answer.
"I wanted to see if Tang Jing is still here. Otherwise, it's going to be so awkward," Jiang Yurou said.
"Don't worry, she's definitely gone," Chen Bufan stated with absolute certainty.
"How are you so sure?" Jiang Yurou asked.
"Didn't she say so herself last time?" Chen Bufan smiled.
"But we aren't big shots who rented out the whole place." Jiang Yurou rolled her eyes.
*You silly girl, if you didn't rent the place, who else could it be? Do you really think Tang Jing is so kind-hearted that she cared about your pride and invited us back?* Chen Bufan shook his head inwardly.
"Yurou, you're here!"
A voice rang out, and Yin Xue was seen walking over in high heels. She wore a wine-red spaghetti-strap skirt, her long, wavy hair draped over her snow-white back. Her cleavage was prominent, and she had a very hot figure, resembling a car model.
The men in the restaurant couldn't help stealing a few glances at her, swallowing hard.
Noticing the burning gazes of others, Yin Xue's smile grew even more radiant, deeply enjoying the feeling of being the center of attention.
She quickly reached Jiang Yurou and the others, accompanied by a wave of perfume.
Chen Bufan furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze toward Yin Xue utterly calm. No matter how much of a beauty someone was, they couldn't compare to Yurou. Especially with Yin Xue, there was a vulgar, worldly air about her that only cheapened her grade.
"Yin Xue, you look so pretty today, just like a big celebrity," Jiang Yurou said with a hint of envy.
"What's so pretty about it? I'm already past my prime." Though Yin Xue said this, she was smiling happily.
Back in their school days, Jiang Yurou was the campus belle, with every boy's gaze fixed on her. Times had changed; standing before Jiang Yurou like a celebrity, she had finally overshadowed her.
After Yin Xue arrived, two other female classmates showed up. They were old college friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time and greeted one another.
"Yurou, everyone has been waiting for you for a long time. Why are you only just getting here?" a short-haired woman asked.
"Taxis are hard to get, so it delayed me a bit," Jiang Yurou explained.
"Taking a taxi? Yurou, you must be joking. When did the Jiang Family heiress ever become so low-key!" the short-haired woman said with exaggerated flair.
Jiang Yurou's expression turned awkward. Everyone knew her current situation—wasn't this obvious sarcasm?
Another woman with yellow hair nudged the short-haired woman with her elbow and whispered something.
"Ah, Yurou was driven out of the Jiang Family?"
The voice was loud enough to make nearby people turn their heads and stare.
"That's all in the past," Jiang Yurou said awkwardly.
"Alright, stop talking. We've finally reunited, let's hurry into the private room." Yin Xue smoothed things over, and the group headed inside the private room.
Three men were already seated inside, chatting amongst themselves in a harmonious atmosphere.
"Come, let me introduce you. This is our former campus belle, and also the top beauty of Liyang, Jiang Yurou."
"Long time no see! A pleasure!" Several men chimed in, their eyes continuously scanning Jiang Yurou.
One had to admit that Jiang Yurou was simply stunning. Even in ordinary clothes, her pure looks and extraordinary temperament made her stand out instantly.
"And this..." Yin Xue's gaze landed on Chen Bufan.
"My husband, Chen Bufan," Jiang Yurou introduced generously, a trace of pride on her face. Even though he wasn't as wealthy as other men, in her heart, no one could replace him.
The three fellows sized up Chen Bufan. Seeing his very ordinary attire, a look of mild contempt appeared in their eyes.
Though they exchanged polite greetings, it was clearly just a perfunctory gesture before their eyes drifted back to Jiang Yurou.
Then Yin Xue introduced the remaining family members in return, and the introductions were complete.
"Alright, let's not stand around. Everyone sit down," Yin Xue invited.
There were four families in total.
Aside from Chen Bufan's family, who brought their child, the short-haired woman had also brought hers.
Yin Xue and the yellow-haired woman had only brought their husbands.
"In the blink of an eye, it's been five years since college graduation. Let's make a toast to our reunion," Yin Xue proposed.
Everyone raised their glasses to clink them together, after which the conversation flowed and they began chatting.
A reunion, especially a class gathering, inevitably starts with reminiscing about the past before quickly returning to present lives.
What seemed like care for one another was merely probing to see who was living well and who wasn't.
Yin Xue and the other two families were clearly very close. From cars and real estate to national development, they exuded the aura of successful people, practically treating the place like a boardroom.
Meanwhile, the women were busy chatting about cosmetics and the like.
Chen Bufan sat there alone, feeding Sisi. No one paid attention to him, and he had no interest in chatting with these people either.
They weren't people of his circle, so there was no need to cozy up to them. He was simply here to accompany Yurou.
Jiang Yurou was clearly uncomfortable as well, merely chiming in politely to keep up the conversation.
"Yin Xue, you're still the capable one. Not only is your career thriving, but you've also found such a capable husband," the short-haired woman flattered.
"Not at all, just small-scale stuff," Yin Xue chuckled.
"Yin Xue, you're too modest. I just found out, President Guo is a well-known tycoon in the building materials industry. He opened a massive building materials market over in Guangling, and his business is booming. His annual income must be at least tens of millions," said the short-haired woman's husband—a man in rimless glasses and a tailored suit.
"Tens of millions a year!" Everyone gasped in shock, filled with envy.
"You flatter me, just earning hard-earned money," Yin Xue's husband waved his hand, tugging at the thick gold chain around his neck as he said to the bespectacled man, "President Huang here is a bank manager who deals with countless major entrepreneurs. What we do with our small business is nothing."
"And then there's Mr. Xia here, who works a government job. Which of them isn't better than me?"
After another round of mutual flattery, Yin Xue's bald husband suddenly fixed his gaze on Chen Bufan.
"Come to think of it, I'm even inferior to this little brother here, managing to win the hand of Liyang's top beauty. May I ask where you're currently employed?"
In an instant, all eyes turned to Chen Bufan.
"He..." Jiang Yurou wanted to step in and offer an excuse.
Chen Bufan had already spoken.
"Staying at home raising the child."
The atmosphere suddenly froze, followed by a burst of laughter.
"Staying at home raising the child? You've got to be kidding me, right?"
"Yurou, given your conditions, you could have found anyone. How did you end up with a man like this?" the short-haired woman said with disdain.
"Yurou, I've heard about your situation too. I thought that someone chosen by your discerning eye would be exceptional, but how..." The yellow-haired woman trailed off, leaving her sentence unfinished.
"As long as I like him, that's enough," Jiang Yurou mustered the courage to say.
Chen Bufan didn't care about the opinions of outsiders. Hearing Jiang Yurou step up to defend him instantly warmed his heart.
"Love can't put food on the table. You need to find a man you can rely on, not someone who only knows how to stay at home and raise kids," the short-haired woman said, before turning her hostility back onto Chen Bufan.
"And you, as a man—you marry such a beautiful wife, yet you don't even have the drive to make money. How do you have the nerve to stay at home raising a child?"
"Living off a woman, obviously," the bald man mocked, drawing another wave of laughter.
Jiang Yurou took a deep breath, struggling to control her emotions. "He is my husband. Please don't talk about him like that."
"A useless man is nothing more trash, Yurou. You don't need to defend him at all. Let us help wake you up!" the short-haired woman said.
"Insulting my man is insulting me. Do me a favor and stop right there." Jiang Yurou was angry now; these people had gone too far.
She had agreed to come to the reunion and even brought her family solely for the sake of old classmate ties. Yet they showed zero regard for her face, openly mocking Chen Bufan. How could she stand by and watch as a wife?
Seeing that Jiang Yurou was losing her temper, the others finally quieted down.
Yin Xue gave a dry laugh and said, "Yurou, everyone's just looking out for you. Especially with this dinner today—it's actually meant to pull strings and help you out."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Yurou asked.
"Didn't I tell you yesterday about investing in Liyang? Well, my husband plans to buy shares in your Yunlu Group, and all the building materials for Yunlu Group will be handled by his company from now on. Since you work at Yunlu Company, you'll practically be our employee too. I brought you to this dinner out of consideration for our old school ties, and I originally hoped you'd put on a better attitude, but I never expected..."
"Sorry, no need. My work is down-to-earth; I don't need to take the backdoor," Jiang Yurou refused flatly.
Yin Xue's face instantly chilled.
"Yurou, such good intentions wasted on you, and yet your classmate is so ungrateful," the bald man sneered, then looked back at Jiang Yurou with a sinister expression. "Since you're so capable, once my contract with Yunlu Company is signed, you'd better find yourself another place to work."
"Yurou, don't be ungrateful. Just apologize and let it go," Yin Xue advised.
"What do I have to apologize for?" Jiang Yurou found it ridiculous.
"Sorry, we have matters to attend to. Bufan, let's go!" Jiang Yurou said, standing up.
Sisi obediently got down from her seat. At that exact moment, she accidentally bumped into the short-haired woman's child.
"Get away, you poor person's kid, you ruined my clothes!" The five-or-six-year-old boy gave Sisi a hard shove, nearly knocking her to the floor.
Sisi burst into tears in fright.
"Apologize!"
Chen Bufan, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up, his tone ice-cold.
If Yurou hadn't disliked him being impulsive, he would have blown his top long ago. These damn classmates had not an ounce of respect for Yurou.
"Why are you being so fierce? Your kid bumped into mine, why should *he* apologize? It's already nice of me not to make *your* kid apologize!" The short-haired woman instantly blew her top, jumping to her feet with a loud slap of her hand, glaring viciously and unreasonably at Chen Bufan.
"I won't apologize, bleh bleh bleh..." The boy made a face and said defiantly.
"Not apologizing, are you?" Chen Bufan raised his hand directly.
*Slap!*
A heavy blow landed on the boy's face.
He was sent flying straight out of his seat.
With a *bang*, he hit the floor and wailed loudly.
"Wuu wuu, Mommy, he hit me..." Everyone was stunned. No one expected Chen Bufan to be so violent.
"You dare hit my son? I'll kill your daughter!" The short-haired woman instantly lunged forward like a madwoman.
"Damn it, you dare hit my son? You're finished!" The bespectacled man rushed forward as well.
*Bang! Bang!*
The result was simply two figures flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground and 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's sake, you lot would be heading straight to see the King of Hell!" Chen Bufan said fiercely, terrifying everyone in the room.
"Jiang Yurou, I gave you face, but your husband is raising hell! Don't blame me for the consequences!" Yin Xue said coldly.
*Slap!*
Chen Bufan backhanded a slap across her face, sending Yin Xue flying on the spot.
"You motherfu—" The bald man instantly stood up, grabbing a wine bottle.
Chen Bufan pressed a single hand onto the table!
*Boom!*
An overwhelming aura surged outward, and the plates and dishes all over the table instantly shattered into pieces.
Even the wine bottle in the bald man's hand was instantly blasted to bits, the shards piercing his hand and causing blood to stream down as he howled in agonizing pain.
"Such audacity, I am—" Another man tried to utter a threat.
Chen Bufan's gaze swept straight over him, scaring him so badly he sat back down and didn't dare to move.
"Everyone, apologize to my wife!" Chen Bufan said coldly.
"Apologize my foot! You dare hit us? Just wait!" Yin Xue screamed.
"Fine, not apologizing, is it? Your damn contract, your bank manager position, and your government job—just wait for them to vanish." Chen Bufan picked Sisi up in one arm and took Yurou's hand.
"Let's go home!"
It wasn't until Chen Bufan's family of three left that the private room completely erupted.
"Scumbag! Just some stinking poor punk, yet he dares to act this arrogant. I'm going to finish him!" President Guo winced in pain, his face contorted.
"Right, we must finish him! He beat my son like this, there's no settling this without a million yuan!" the short-haired woman shrieked, her eyes venomous.
"He even threatened to make our contract with Yunlu vanish. Who does he think he is, canceling a partnership with just a single sentence?" Yin Xue was furious as well.
"Jiang Yurou, don't blame this old classmate of mine for not giving you face. I'm going to settle accounts with your husband properly."
"He wants to get me fired? He has no idea what position I hold. Daring to smash things and raise hell here—I'll turn around and have people lock him up." The official named Mr. Xia blustered.
A perfectly good gathering had gone completely south, and everyone packed up and left.
Just as they were preparing to settle the bill, the boss of Yanyu Jiangnan came running over, sweating profusely.
He was in such a rush because he had learned that the big shot who had rented out the entire restaurant last time was back. He had rushed over by car at the very first moment.
He hadn't served him well last time, and he couldn't afford to miss out again. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be a matter of firing Tang Jing—his restaurant might genuinely not survive!
"No need for you folks to pay, this meal is on the house!"
"No need to pay?" Yin Xue looked bewildered.
"Boss, did you make a mistake?"
"No mistake at all. Weren't you dining together with Mr. Chen? Out of respect for Mr. Chen, this meal is my treat!" the boss said hastily.
*Boom!*
The expressions of Yin Xue and the others shifted drastically.
"Boss, you really didn't make a mistake? Out of respect for Chen Bufan?" Yin Xue confirmed repeatedly.
"Of course not. Huh, where is Mr. Chen?" The boss searched the room, but saw no trace of him.
"Excuse me, Boss, just what background does that Chen Bufan have?" Yin Xue asked, suppressing her pounding heart.
The contract is void!
"To be honest, I have no idea what background this Mr. Chen has, but it's certainly not someone I can afford to offend," the boss answered honestly.
Yin Xue and her group looked at each other, their expressions horrified.
Even the boss of Yanyu Jiangnan couldn't afford to mess with him!
Just what was Chen Bufan's background?
"No way, I have to find someone to check out this guy's background!" Mr. Xia said through gritted teeth, pulling out his phone on the spot to call a friend and investigate Chen Bufan.
...
Meanwhile, on the way back, Jiang Yurou furrowed her brows. "Bufan, you were too impulsive."
"Were you supposed to let them mock you and bully Sisi instead?" Chen Bufan retorted.
He had already exercised great restraint; otherwise, none of them would have walked out of that restaurant alive.
Even though Jiang Yurou was angry inside, hearing Chen Bufan say this left her speechless.
"Yin Xue and the others really went too far. Ah, whatever!" She sighed. "Bufan, I'm sorry. I made you lose face along with me."
"Silly wife, what nonsense are you talking about? Even if I lost face, it's my own fault," Chen Bufan said gently.
"I don't blame you at all. This was my own choice," Jiang Yurou said firmly, her expression suddenly darkening. "It's just that I might lose my job. If Yin Xue's husband officially signs the contract with Yunlu Company, he'll definitely have me fired."
She had just been promoted to department manager with a salary raise, making her extremely happy. Yet in less than a few days, she was facing dismissal, leaving her deeply dejected.
"Don't worry, Yunlu won't cooperate with Yin Xue's husband, you won't get fired, and who knows, you might even get a promotion and a raise," Chen Bufan said confidently.
"What kind of joke are you playing? Not fire me, and even give me a promotion and a raise?" Jiang Yurou looked at Chen Bufan as if he were a fool.
"Don't believe me?"
"I don't."
"What if I'm right?"
"Whatever you want."
"Then... unlocking a new skill?" Chen Bufan smiled mischievously.
"What nonsense are you saying!" Jiang Yurou's face turned red as she glared fiercely at Chen Bufan. Sisi was right here; he didn't even know how to restrain himself.
"Alright, my fault. So, do you dare to bet?" Chen Bufan smiled.
"I'm not afraid of you at all. It's an impossible thing anyway. But if it turns out you're wrong, you'll have to listen to everything I say from now on," Jiang Yurou said.
"No problem," Chen Bufan readily agreed.
"Mom, Dad, Sisi's stomach is hungry," Sisi chimed in pitifully.
"I feel a little hungry too," Jiang Yurou said. Having barely eaten a few bites at Yanyu Jiangnan, her stomach was essentially empty.
"Let's go, Daddy is treating!"
The family of three quickly found a restaurant and treated themselves to a hearty meal.
...
Meanwhile, Chen Bufan seized the opportunity to call Canglong and have him handle a small matter.
"Yes, I understand!" After listening to the instructions, Canglong hung up the phone.
"How utterly suicidal, there are still people daring to provoke the Hall Master!"
He immediately set off to handle the task.
...
At the headquarters of Yunlu Company, Cao Huadong was still working in his office. Clouds of smoke drifted around him as he furrowed his brows deeply.
Before him lay a stack of contracts.
For the sake of the company's survival, he had no choice but to sell off a portion of its shares, letting building materials tycoon President Guo inject capital—effectively finding a new major owner for the company.
Although he had sold off a villa, those forty million yuan had gone toward paying employee salaries and clearing bank interest, leaving almost nothing behind!
Suppliers had been pressing hard these past two days. To keep the company alive, he had no choice but to sell off a portion of it piecemeal.
Having poured twenty years of heart and soul into this enterprise, reaching this point left a very bitter taste in Cao Huadong's mouth.
Barring any accidents, once the paperwork was sorted out tonight, the contract would be signed tomorrow.
"Director Cao, someone is here to see you!" At that moment, his secretary suddenly walked in and said.
"Who is it?"
"A man in his thirties, looks very unfamiliar."
"In the middle of the night? If it's business, talk about it tomorrow," Director Cao waved his hand. How could he possibly have the mind for that right now?
"The person said they can resolve the urgent crisis facing Yunlu Company."
Hearing the secretary's words, Cao Huadong's eyes lit up.
"Invite him in immediately!"
Soon, a man entered the office.
"May I ask who you are?" Cao Huadong inquired.
"One billion!" The man minced no words, dropping a sum that instantly startled Cao Huadong.
"What one billion?"
"I know Yunlu Company has run into operational troubles. I can provide one billion in capital to help."
Cao Huadong's heart gave a violent thud.
"My friend, in the middle of the night, you aren't here to toy with me, are you?"
"Do you think I'm joking with you?" The man's tone was indifferent.
Only then did Cao Huadong realize the man was being dead serious.
"Even if there really is one billion in capital, we are total strangers. Why would you help Yunlu Company? What on earth are you plotting?"
"I only require you to do one thing!" the man said.