Chapter 15: Setting Up a Hongmen Banquet

Chen Yuwan: "So that’s what happened. I thought you two were together. But seriously, Yang Chen, why did you start driving rideshares?"Luna: "What’s going on? Yang Chen, are you driving rideshares now?"

Wu Tao: "Yang Chen, what’s up with you? Why’d you start driving rideshares? Weren’t you working at some advertising company before?"

Xia Yurou: "Yang Chen, we are top students graduating from Finance University, no matter what, you shouldn’t be driving rideshares. Otherwise, weren’t those years in college a waste?"

Xu Xiaowan: "Maybe he’s having a hard time, or just transitioning for a while. Yang Chen was always very ambitious in school, I don’t think he’d be content with just driving rideshares, he must have a plan. @Yang Chen, come out and explain to everyone, don’t let them misunderstand."

...

Wang Lixin was instantly dumbfounded. My goodness, everyone’s focused on Yang Chen driving rideshares; no one cares that she’s about to get heatstroke on the bridge.

Wang Lixin: "Isn’t your discussion missing the point? I’m about to die from the heat, you guys should tell him to hurry up and pick me up. I really can’t walk anymore, my heart is racing, my body is trembling a bit, I might really have heatstroke."

Wu Tao: "@Yang Chen, you’re really too much. After all those school days together, even after being scolded by you, she didn’t mind, and now you’re being difficult. @Wang Lixin, hold on, I’ll come get you now."

Back when they were in school, Wu Tao was incredibly skilled at working the scene and was well-liked throughout the entire Economics College.

Some people got ahead due to their personal skills.

Others got ahead by sucking up to people.

Wu Tao was the latter type.

He would flatter the most popular person in every class to become acquaintances.

Every year at the grade or college meetings, he would greet and chat with those people, showcasing his many connections.

Back in the day, Wu Tao liked two people.

The first was Wang Lixin.

But Wang Lixin liked Yang Chen, she didn’t even look his way.

Later, Yang Chen harshly scolded Wang Lixin, truly hurting her pride, and she swore to never find a partner in their class, seeking men from other classes or even from society, so Wu Tao never got to taste her.

By junior year, the girls began to learn how to put on makeup and dress up.

The former plain-looking class president Xu Xiaowan, after putting on light makeup, surprisingly looked stunning and quickly became a famous beauty in the college.

Wu Tao confessed to Xu Xiaowan, but alas, he was repeatedly rejected.

Back then, Xu Xiaowan mentioned she liked someone, but wouldn’t say who.

Wu Tao thought Wang Lixin, now stranded on the bridge, surely needed some comfort and help.

If he could show up in time, he could definitely win her heart.

Whether he could become her boyfriend wasn’t important, as long as he could taste her seductive body.

Seeing Wu Tao’s message saying he’d come pick her up, Wang Lixin quickly replied.

"@Wu Tao, thank you Brother Tao, I knew you were the best."

Wu Tao was instantly elated and replied: "@Wang Lixin, it’s nothing. Send me your location, I’ll head right over."

Wang Lixin: "@Wu Tao, okay, I’ll DM you."

At this time, Yang Chen, who had been silent, sent a message to Wu Tao.

"@Wu Tao, are you interested to see how ugly her boyfriend is? It’s been over a year since we graduated and you’re still the same, trying to suck up to others. Aren’t you embarrassed picking her up with her boyfriend? In what capacity are you going?"

Wu Tao: "@Wang Lixin, are you with your boyfriend?"

Wang Lixin: "Yeah! Brother Tao, hurry here, I’m about to die from the heat, I’ve tried hailing several cars but none stopped."

Wu Tao: "@Wang Lixin, uh, sorry, I suddenly remembered I have a meeting later, so I can’t pick you up."

Chen Yuwan: "Haha..."

Li Liu: "I didn’t want to laugh, but I couldn’t hold it."

Xia Yurou: "Oh, Wu Tao, you said you’d pick her up, you can’t back out now. Picking one up or two, it doesn’t make much of a difference."

...

Wu Tao was hugely embarrassed, wishing he could just leave the group chat.

To deflect his embarrassment, Wu Tao quickly sent a message to Yang Chen.

"@Yang Chen, what’s wrong with you? How did it come to this, driving rideshares? And leaving Wang Lixin on the bridge, you’re something else."

Yang Chen paid at the store, bought a bottle of water from a nearby kiosk, and got back into his car.

Within such a short time, Wang Lixin had already @ him in over a dozen messages, all accusing him.

Of course, classmates were also very curious why he had started driving rideshares.

Back then, he easily won all sorts of scholarships at university, and now driving rideshares surprised everyone.

Yang Chen took a sip of water and replied seriously.

"I quit my job a few days ago, and broke up with my girlfriend, felt great, and currently don’t want to job hunt, so I’m driving rideshares temporarily. You all know I’m not someone who just lazes around; though I need to adjust my mood, I can’t really do nothing. I think driving rideshares suits me for now. Besides, as long as I’m not stealing or robbing, there’s really no issue with driving rideshares. So, don’t look down on me. But if you really feel embarrassed being my classmate, we can pretend not to know each other when we meet, I won’t hold it against you."

Xu Xiaowan, who had just defended Yang Chen, immediately sent a message.

"I told you he might have his reasons and is just transitioning temporarily, wasn’t I right? Yang Chen, don’t overthink it, we’re all classmates, there’s no discrimination. So why did you leave Wang Lixin and her boyfriend on the bridge? Surely there’s some misunderstanding."

Before Yang Chen could reply, Wang Lixin immediately complained again.

"What misunderstanding! From the moment I got into the car, he just looked at me with disdain."

Yang Chen knew that arguing with Wang Lixin would lead nowhere, so he straightforwardly shared the recording he had submitted to customer service for review into the group chat.

Yang Chen: "Here’s the recording, I also have a video. If needed, I can share it in the group. I won’t explain, you all can make your own judgment."

In the recording, Wang Lixin and her boyfriend pressed relentlessly, and Yang Chen kept giving in; even in the end, he apologized, yet she wouldn’t let him off, prompting Yang Chen to finally strike back.

Xu Xiaowan: "@Wang Lixin, you’re going too far. Back then, Yang Chen only warned you not to pester him, when did he call you dirty names? You’re really making it up. Secondly, despite repeatedly yielding and accepting your wrong accusations, even apologizing, you still wouldn’t let him go. Isn’t this a bit too much? In what way does his driving rideshares bother you? Are you just trying to assert your presence before him?"

With the class president speaking, others hurriedly criticized Wang Lixin too.

Xia Yurou: "In all honesty, Wang Lixin, you’ve gone too far. It’s obvious you’re looking down on Yang Chen for driving rideshares and intentionally humiliating him. Your boyfriend was even about to hit him, that’s bullying."

Luna: "It was you who asked him to drop you off, it’s not his fault. As a rideshare driver, of course, he’ll follow the passenger’s request. You’re like the villain who cries foul first."

Wu Tao: "Indeed, from the recording, it’s clear Wang Lixin, you and your boyfriend were out of line, blatantly disrespecting Yang Chen while trying to shift the blame onto him."

...

Seeing classmates all criticizing her, Wang Lixin nearly fainted from anger.

Initially, she had wanted to slander Yang Chen to make him ashamed to meet the classmates in the future.

But it backfired, now she was the one ashamed to face anyone.

Just as a taxi passed by, Zhang Jiankun used his body to hail it, and the two hurriedly got in, finally able to escape the bridge quickly.

Breathing heavily, Zhang Jiankun said fiercely, "That classmate of yours, if I don’t make him pay, I’ll take his name! Damn it!"

Wang Lixin complained, "Oh no, he posted the recording in the class group chat, and now everyone is blaming me. How am I supposed to face them in the future?"

Zhang Jiankun took Wang Lixin’s phone and quickly browsed through the group messages.

He then comforted her, "Don’t worry, I’ll handle it. Are there many classmates of yours staying in Hai City?"

Wang Lixin shook her head, "Not many, about ten or so."

Zhang Jiankun nodded. The number wasn’t large; he could manage it.

Then, Zhang Jiankun pretended to be Wang Lixin and sent a group message.

Wang Lixin: "@Everyone, after seeing everyone’s criticisms, I deeply apologize. I’ve realized my mistakes, and I’m now formally apologizing to Yang Chen. I hope you’ll forgive me given our classmate bond. To make up for my mistakes and express my apologies, my boyfriend and I will treat everyone at Baoqing Restaurant on Sunday. Any classmates in Hai City are welcome to come. Of course, if convenient, you can bring your family along, let’s all get to know each other. How does that sound?"

Zhang Jiankun showed a confident smile, saying, "As long as he dares to come, let’s see how I embarrass him in front of your entire class!"

Basically, Zhang Jiankun planned to use the class reunion as an excuse to trick Yang Chen into coming.

He prepared some people in advance to mess with Yang Chen at the event.