Chapter Thirteen: So He Was the Hotel Chairman All Along

Today, Zhang Chengwei seemed determined to provoke Chen Yang. He burst out laughing. “I heard you’ve been delivering takeout ever since you graduated from high school?”

Chen Yang could see Zhang Chengwei was deliberately targeting him. Narrowing his eyes, he replied, “Zhang Chengwei, what’s your problem? This is a class reunion—do you have to ruin the atmosphere like this?”

Zhang Chengwei arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t invite you today. You showed up on your own, and now you won’t even let me say a word about you?”

At that, a cold smile curled at the corner of Chen Yang’s mouth.

Sitting beside Chen Yang, Lu Baiming finally couldn’t stand it anymore. He glared at Zhang Chengwei angrily. “We’re all classmates—is this really necessary?”

“Lu Baiming, I organized this reunion. I didn’t invite him. You’re the one who brought him, aren’t you?” Zhang Chengwei shot back.

Back in their senior year, Lu Baiming and Chen Yang had shared the same desk. Chen Yang excelled at his studies while Lu Baiming lagged behind. But whenever Lu Baiming struggled with anything, Chen Yang would patiently help him. So Lu Baiming felt a genuine loyalty toward Chen Yang, and with a disgruntled look, he admitted, “Yeah, I’m the one who invited Yang to come.”

“Oh, and I also heard that our class’s former top student has been delivering takeout since graduation, and even became a live-in son-in-law. Living a life worse than a dog, isn’t that right?”

Zhang Chengwei had never run into Chen Yang before, and now that he finally did, he couldn’t suppress his urge to belittle him.

Lu Baiming clenched his fists, his anger mounting. “Zhang Chengwei, are we going to eat or not?”

Zhang Chengwei raised his brow. “Eat? Of course, we eat. But what I said is just the truth.”

In reality, Chen Yang’s college entrance exam scores were outstanding. He could have easily gotten into a top university. But at the time, his mother fell gravely ill, and Chen Yang had no choice but to forgo college and stay to care for her. After she passed away, he married Qin Muxue, became a live-in son-in-law, and worked as a food deliveryman for five years.

Seeing that Zhang Chengwei was set on making things difficult for him today, Chen Yang narrowed his eyes and smiled. “Zhang Chengwei, do you really have it out for me today?”

Zhang Chengwei sneered. “Why are you so sensitive? You are a live-in son-in-law. What’s wrong with me pointing that out?”

Suddenly, Chen Yang stood up, still looking at Zhang Chengwei. “If you’re a man, face the issue head-on. Tell me, are you dead set on making trouble for me today?”

Zhang Chengwei raised his brows. “Oh, so you noticed.”

Chen Yang suddenly threw his head back and laughed. “Zhang Chengwei, Zhang Chengwei, I was in a good mood today, but you just had to pick a fight.”

Zhang Chengwei paid no mind to Chen Yang’s anger, his expression still wicked. “I called you a live-in son-in-law. Am I wrong?”

“You’re not wrong,” Chen Yang replied. “But I’m not your average live-in son-in-law.”

As soon as Zhang Chengwei heard this, he slapped his thigh and laughed uproariously. Several of his friends joined in, mocking Chen Yang. Only Lu Baiming frowned, anxious for Chen Yang.

The private room was filled with laughter at Chen Yang’s expense.

At that moment, a waiter in a gray vest approached, carrying a bottle of wine worth a hundred thousand yuan. With a smile, he walked up behind Chen Yang and addressed him softly, “Chairman, here is the Purple Noble wine you ordered.”

“Good, just leave it on the table,” Chen Yang replied indifferently.

The waiter smiled and carefully placed the bottle on the table, handling it as if it were a priceless treasure. After all, if anything happened to this hundred-thousand-yuan wine, he’d be paying with at least a year’s salary.

As the waiter placed the wine, the classmates at the table all stared at Chen Yang in disbelief. They had all clearly heard the waiter address Chen Yang as “Chairman.”

“All set, Chairman. Please enjoy,” the waiter said with a smile before stepping out of the room, deference written all over his face.

At that moment, the room fell utterly silent.

After a moment, Lu Baiming was the first to break the silence, exclaiming in surprise, “Yang, are you the chairman of this hotel?”

Chen Yang smiled at him. “Why, do I not look the part?”

Lu Baiming shot to his feet, shock, excitement, and disbelief all mingling on his face.

Chen Yang smiled faintly, then picked up the bottle of Purple Noble wine. “Originally, for this reunion, I wanted everyone to try what a hundred-thousand-yuan bottle of wine tastes like. But thanks to someone, my mood’s been ruined.”

The classmates were stunned once more.

How much?

A hundred thousand a bottle?

Although these former classmates had all done fairly well over the years, they were still middle-class at best. A bottle of wine worth a hundred thousand? They’d never even heard of such a thing, let alone tasted it.

The person whose face looked the worst at that moment was, of course, Zhang Chengwei. His face was flushed as if he’d just stepped out of a hot bath, the embarrassment written all over him.

“Yang, I always said you were a genius in our senior year. You were so smart—of course you’d go far. I was right about you,” Lu Baiming said happily.

Chen Yang smiled at him, then continued, “How about this—I’ll cover tonight’s dinner. But I’d like a certain someone to leave first. Anyone who wants to try this hundred-thousand-yuan wine, stay. If not, you’re free to go.”

Zhang Chengwei knew full well Chen Yang was targeting him now. At least he had enough self-awareness to stand up and say, “Chen Yang, you’re impressive.”

“Oh, and by the way, parking at my hotel isn’t free. If you were a friend, I’d let it slide. But for you—please pay your parking fee on your way out,” Chen Yang said coldly.

Fuming, Zhang Chengwei swept his sleeves and left.

Once he was gone, Chen Yang smiled at the remaining classmates. “Everyone, eat and drink to your heart’s content tonight. It’s all on me.”

“Yang, you’re awesome!” Lu Baiming said excitedly, genuinely happy for Chen Yang.

Back in their senior year, the two of them had shared a desk for a year. Chen Yang had helped him countless times, and Lu Baiming had never forgotten it. He was a man who knew how to be grateful.

Chen Yang laughed, and soon they were all eating and drinking together with abandon.

The meal lasted well past ten o’clock. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely.

After dinner, Chen Yang led the group out of the private room and down to the lobby together.

Throughout the evening, his classmates were naturally curious about how he’d become the chairman of Lijing Hotel. Chen Yang didn’t offer many details. He didn’t like to brag about his wealth, knowing there was nothing to gain from flaunting it. No matter how successful he became, Chen Yang understood the importance of humility.

In the end, everyone left the dinner happy and satisfied.

Chen Yang and Lu Baiming led the group out of the hotel. Seeing that Chen Yang was now the chairman of Lijing Hotel, Lu Baiming said earnestly, “Yang, you’re a success now. If I ever need anything, don’t get annoyed with me.”

“Of course not. But I don’t like being in the spotlight—you know what I mean?” Chen Yang replied.

Lu Baiming nodded respectfully. “Don’t worry, Yang, I’m not the type to gossip. You should know that.”

“Hmm... Qin Muxue?”

As Chen Yang chatted and laughed with Lu Baiming, he happened to glance over and saw Qin Muxue standing at the entrance of a nearby restaurant, surrounded by three older men. One of them, a pot-bellied man, was speaking to her with undisguised desire. Qin Muxue frowned, clearly displeased.

Chen Yang knew she had business tonight, but he hadn’t expected her to be out dining with a business partner. The pot-bellied man kept trying to hug or hold Qin Muxue’s hand, but she deftly avoided him. It was obvious she was being harassed.

A chill flashed in Chen Yang’s eyes, but he didn’t make a scene. Turning to his classmates, he said, “All right, that’s enough for tonight. I had a great time with everyone. Next time, I’ll get everyone together again—don’t let anyone be absent!”

“Yang, will there be another hundred-thousand-yuan bottle of wine next time?” a female classmate asked with a laugh.

Chen Yang raised an eyebrow. “Of course. If I’m in a good mood, we’ll up the ante—two hundred thousand a bottle, even.”

“You’re so cool, Yang!” another pretty girl gushed, stars in her eyes.

Chen Yang had no time for chit-chat. Turning to Lu Baiming, he said, “I have some things to deal with. Let’s keep in touch.”

“Definitely,” Lu Baiming replied, all sincerity.

Chen Yang quickly headed toward Qin Muxue. As he approached, she noticed him, and at the same time, he heard the pot-bellied man say, “President Qin, you look so much like my first love. I just want to hug you—is that so wrong?”

“Oh, a hug? How about I hug your wife—would you like that? Is your wife someone I can defile?” Chen Yang’s cold voice cut in from behind, just as the man finished his sentence.