The private room was filled with a somber atmosphere.
An unexpected turn of events had completely unsettled a group of people.
Li Si, who was usually a dominant figure in Yunqing City, had first forcefully suppressed a group of indignant male classmates, and then, out of deference to Lin Fan, had offered apologies and spoke words of appeasement.
The drastic difference between his previous demeanor and his current one shocked everyone.
Jin Peng, ever observant, had already offered his seat to Wang Ying.
Wang Ying was the only woman at the table, yet no one dared to object.
After all, she was someone Li Si had addressed as Director Wang, fawning over her with every word!
"Xiao Fan, how do you have such influence?"
Jin Peng's face, eyes, and heart were filled with envy.
Could it be true, as Zhang Liang had suggested, that Lin Fan and Zhou Yi were involved in something illicit?
No, that couldn't be it!
If that were the case, then what was the deal with this woman of extraordinary status, Wang Ying?
Lin Fan smiled faintly. "I met her once before. She's a friend of a friend."
He was being generous to Li Si by saying this.
If the truth were told, Li Si was merely a small business owner dealing in earthwork and gravel. He was nowhere near the same level as Zhou Yi, the chairman of Xinghe Group.
Not a single person touched their chopsticks, nor did anyone break the silence.
They appeared nonchalant, but their minds were all busy calculating.
Jin Peng mused, "A friend of a friend..."
"I wish I had friends like that too..."
Jin Peng inadvertently met Wang Ying's gaze, and then smiled, "Sister-in-law, you're amazing!"
"What's so amazing about me?"
Wang Ying said, while placing a piece of fish onto Lin Fan's plate.
Seeing this, Jin Peng felt a surge of jealousy, like a flooding river.
Damn it!
The heavens were truly unfair!
"I can't even find a girlfriend, and Lin Fan was bedridden for a year, yet he gets such incredible luck?"
Wang Ying took out a business card from her bag and handed it to Jin Peng, smiling. "Here's my card. Perhaps it will be useful someday."
"Thank you, thank you."
Jin Peng quickly stood up and took the card.
He had been curious about Wang Ying's identity for a long time, so after receiving the card, he immediately focused on it.
"Construction Bureau, Construction Planning Management Section, Wang Ying, Section Chief."
After reading it aloud, he looked up at Wang Ying abruptly and exclaimed, "So you really are a section chief!"
"Shh."
Wang Ying made a shushing gesture.
However, the male classmates had all heard her clearly.
Their faces showed shock as they all turned to look at Wang Ying.
They couldn't believe it!
Such a beautiful woman, who seemed so devoted to Lin Fan and was at most twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, was actually a section chief at the planning bureau!
Especially since she was in charge of the highly influential Construction Planning Management Section. It was incredible!
"Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Wang Ying smiled sheepishly, then linked her arm through Lin Fan's and said, "I'm here as his family member. Everyone should eat and drink as usual."
"Oh, right, right."
"Come on, let's keep eating."
Whether it was genuine or feigned, a group of people picked up their chopsticks and began to attack the now lukewarm dishes.
At this moment, an elegant young woman walked over from the table of female classmates.
The young woman was Cai Yan.
Cai Yan raised a glass of wine and said gratefully, "Lin Fan, if it weren't for you today, I'm afraid... Thank you."
Lin Fan waved his hand and smiled. "We're all classmates, no need to be polite. It was just a small gesture."
He was about to reach for his wine glass when Wang Ying stopped him. "Our Xiao Fan doesn't drink."
Cai Yan gave an awkward smile. "It's okay, I'll drink it myself."
She finished her beer in one gulp.
In front of Wang Ying, she dared not say more, and then sat back down, disappointed.
The male classmates, who had initially intended to get closer to Lin Fan, now began to have second thoughts.
With such an influential and beautiful woman sitting beside him, they didn't even dare to strike up a conversation.
Gradually, laughter and merriment filled the private room.
However, compared to the beginning, there was an indefinable awkwardness.
Cai Yan, who had previously been so good at livening up the atmosphere at the female classmates' table, remained silent, only offering brief responses when others spoke to her.
She occasionally glanced at Lin Fan at the male classmates' table, thinking, "Among the classmates from back then, someone like him actually emerged!"
"Unconsciously, he has become an important figure!"
It's a shame...
She believed her looks and figure were no less than Wang Ying's.
However, the gap in their status was too immense!
She gave a wry smile, now fearing that even if she proactively tried to get closer, he might not be interested.
Why would she invite humiliation?
Half an hour later, Lin Fan suggested ending the class reunion.
There was nothing they could do; after what had happened, no one had the mood to have fun anymore.
"Xiao Fan, Sister-in-law, see you around."
"Keep in touch when you have time."
"Let's gather again next year."
"Xiao Fan, don't forget to send an invitation when you get married."
The group of people bid farewell to Lin Fan one after another.
Lin Fan waved goodbye and smiled, "Everyone, goodbye."
He patted Jin Peng's shoulder and smiled again, "Jin Peng, come find me when you have time."
"Yes, definitely!"
Jin Peng grinned, thinking, "This class reunion was definitely worth coming to!"
He kept his right hand in his pocket, clutching Wang Ying's business card as if it would fly away if he let go.
After the group of people had escorted Lin Fan out of the restaurant, Zhang Liang quietly sidled up to Tang Yu and said, "Let me give you a ride home."
"No need. My dad is already coming to pick me up."
Tang Yu stood by the roadside, not even looking at Zhang Liang.
Zhang Liang, oblivious to the seriousness of the situation, grinned and said, "That's too much trouble. It would be much better if I drove you home."
"I already said I don't need it!"
The night wind was particularly cold, but it was no match for the coldness in Tang Yu's voice. "Not today, and not in the future. No, there is no future."
"Xiao Yu, what do you mean?"
Zhang Liang was stunned, completely disbelieving what he was hearing.
Tang Yu finally turned her head, her gaze falling on the slap mark on Zhang Liang's face. She said with disgust, "I mean, we're over!"
"Xiao Yu, I, what have I done wrong to you? Is there anything I've done incorrectly?"
Zhang Liang was both anxious and angry.
From the beginning until now, he had spent a lot of money on Tang Yu, and his feelings were genuine, with no ulterior motives.
Yet, he hadn't expected to be met with such a result!
Tang Yu scoffed, "You haven't done anything wrong. If anyone's to blame, it's your lack of ability. I've thought it through. I, Tang Yu, don't need a useless boyfriend like you."
"I... I..."
Zhang Liang felt a lump in his throat, unable to speak.
"Goodbye."
Tang Yu really didn't want to see Zhang Liang, so she walked forward along the road alone.
Seeing this, Zhang Liang immediately chased after her. "Xiao Yu..."
And so, the two chased each other, and Tang Yu's angry scolding echoed in the empty street.
Accompanied by the scolding were Zhang Liang's pleading cries.