179: True group favorite

It couldn't be said that everyone in this circle knew each other, but they generally knew most of the faces. The people Kane Bailey invited were all big shots; even a forty-five-year-old would be considered young here. Someone like Lu Qingyu couldn't possibly have been invited.

Simon guessed that Lu Qingyu, like Lu Jin, had used someone else's invitation to come and network. After all, quite a few people did that every year.

Since Lu Qingyu didn't even have an invitation, what did he have to fear?

Lu Qingyu said, "You're the one who bumped into me on purpose. If you spilled wine on yourself, what does that have to do with me?"

Seeing that Lu Qingyu actually dared to challenge him, Simon's voice immediately rose, attracting the attention of many nearby.

"Do you know who I am? Me, splashing you on purpose? Are you out of your mind?"

Lu Qingyu replied, "Is there some connection between you intentionally splashing me and your identity?"

Lu Jin sneered from the side. "Lu Qingyu, this is the young master of the Max family, a man worth hundreds of millions. His outfit is a $350,000 custom-made piece. Do you think he would trouble himself just to mess with an insignificant person?"

What was $350,000? His own clothes were haute couture.

Lu Qingyu said, "Then you should thank yourself, because my outfit is haute couture and costs $3 million."

Simon looked incredulous. Was this guy crazy? Wearing $3 million haute couture to a private banquet? Did he think he was walking a red carpet?

Lu Jin was speechless. He couldn't even tell what brand Lu Qingyu's clothes were. "You say it's haute couture just because you say so? I think you're just trying to scam people."

Simon added, "I've seen plenty of people like you. Didn't you come here today just to suck up to others? And look at your clothes—I can tell just by the fabric that they can't compare to mine."

"You're the first person I've seen try to pull a scam in a place like this."

Lu Qingyu glanced at Lu Jin. They hadn't seen each other in so long; couldn't he just live his life in peace? Why did he have to go around fanning the flames everywhere?

"So, what do you want?"

Simon put his hands on his hips. "I won't make it too hard for you. Pay a $100,000 dry cleaning fee, and then get the hell out of this banquet."

Lu Qingyu replied, "A hundred thousand for dry cleaning? Are you rich people really that short on cash?"

Simon's face flushed with anger at Lu Qingyu's sarcasm.

"Who are you calling short on cash? I think you're the one who's broke."

Lu Jin added, "Lu Qingyu, Simon is already being very merciful by not making you pay for the whole suit."

Simon demanded, "Give me the money right now and get out, or I'll have someone throw you out."

Lu Qingyu asked, "You want me to leave, so I should just leave? On what grounds?"

Simon snapped, "Are you really going to act like a rogue here?"

Lu Jin said, "Lu Qingyu, this isn't a place just anyone can enter. You need an invitation to get in. Do you have one?"

Lu Qingyu replied, "Whether I have an invitation or not is none of your business."

Lu Jin didn't believe Lu Qingyu had an invitation; he was just trying to test him. But Lu Qingyu's answer confirmed it—he definitely didn't have one.

Lu Jin said, "Lu Qingyu, if you're kicked out, you're the one who will look bad."

Lu Qingyu challenged, "If you're so capable, then have someone kick me out."

Simon laughed out of anger. "Fine. You won't learn your lesson until you're faced with the consequences."

Simon knew the butler here, so he immediately turned to go find him.

Lu Jin leaned to the side, waiting for the show to begin. He pulled out his phone, planning to film Lu Qingyu being kicked out. Once he posted it on the internet in Dragon Country, the news of Lu Qingyu being thrown out of a banquet would surely go viral.

However, instead of the butler coming to kick him out, it was the young master of the Bailey family, Moray, who arrived.

As soon as Moray saw Lu Qingyu, he was like a Golden Retriever seeing its owner, looking like he wanted to pounce on him.

"Lu, when did you get here? Why didn't you tell me?"

Simon was stunned. When he had gone to tell the butler about the situation, Moray happened to be coming over. After seeing Lu Qingyu, Moray had rushed straight toward him. Simon thought Moray was going to personally kick the guy out, but he never expected Moray to actually know Lu Qingyu.

And from the look of it, the two of them were very close.

Lu Qingyu said, "I haven't been here long. But... this gentleman just said he was going to kick me out."

Moray's originally warm gaze suddenly became as sharp as a knife.

"You want to kick him out?"

Simon didn't dare offend Moray. He immediately said, "A misunderstanding, it's a misunderstanding! I didn't mean that."

Moray's gaze shifted to Lu Jin. "Then was it you?"

Lu Jin also hadn't expected Lu Qingyu to know Moray. "No, no."

Moray snorted coldly. This was his home. To be so insolent in his house and dare to touch his guest—they should be beaten and thrown out.

Just then, Kane Bailey also came out.

Since the host had appeared, everyone gathered around. Every word Kane Bailey said was important to them.

Kane said with a smile, "Today's gathering is just for everyone to get together casually. You should all just relax and enjoy yourselves. Additionally, I'd like to introduce someone to you all."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Kane curiously. For Kane to personally introduce someone—what an honor that would be!

Could it be that Kane had a woman he liked and was going to introduce the future lady of the house?

Or did Kane have some relative? Did he want to train an assistant for his son?

Everyone watched Kane, only to see him beckon to Lu Qingyu.

Lu Qingyu also hadn't expected Kane to introduce him to everyone.

As Lu Qingyu walked to Kane's side, Kane said, "This is Lu Qingyu. Though he is very young, he is an excellent investor. He is like a son to me, so please look after him in the future."

Hearing Kane introduce Lu Qingyu this way, everyone immediately began to take Lu Qingyu seriously.

"Like a son"—that was no ordinary level of importance. Kane only had one son, and they all knew how much he doted on him.

Simon felt like he had caused a disaster. He hadn't expected Lu Qingyu to have such a background.

Thinking about how Lu Jin had egged him on, Simon couldn't help but want to curse him.

"It's all your fault. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have offended him."

Lu Jin didn't speak, but the look in his eyes as he watched Lu Qingyu was practically bloodshot with envy.

Why? Why did Lu Qingyu always end up doing better than him?

Where exactly was he lacking?

At that moment, Lu Qingyu was surrounded by the crowd. Chester, who had ignored Lu Jin's attempts to greet him earlier, was now patting Lu Qingyu's shoulder and praising him for being young and promising.

Lu Jin didn't understand why things were like this!

Lu Qingyu received quite a few business cards and couldn't be bothered with Lu Jin at all. These business cards were more precious than money; they represented his acceptance into this circle. Furthermore, now that everyone knew he had Kane as a backer, anyone who wanted to move against him in the future would have to think twice.

Moray followed him like a little tail; wherever Lu Qingyu went, he followed.