Volume One, Chapter 32: Attending a Class Reunion with Beautiful Female Classmates

The next evening, at the Tianchen International Hotel, Zhou Yang attended a class reunion at the invitation of Bai Lu.

There were nine people in attendance, all close friends of Bai Lu: six women and two men. The two men were polar opposites. One, nicknamed "Big Bear," was a physical education student. Standing about 1.9 meters tall, he was powerfully built, though his looks left much to be desired—perhaps the women felt a sense of security in his company. The other was petite, around 1.6 meters tall, with a slender build, fair, delicate skin, and permed curly hair. Had Bai Lu not mentioned it, Zhou Yang would have mistaken him for a woman. His name was Han Xu, and the group treated him like one of the girls.

As for the other six women, aside from Bai Lu, three were quite attractive, while the other two were merely background figures. Regardless, they were all dressed quite provocatively, their fair, shapely legs reflecting the chandelier light and dazzling the eyes. Furthermore, one woman with an American-style curvy figure and a low-cut top sat directly across from Zhou Yang; every time she leaned forward to pick up food, Zhou Yang was treated to quite a view.

The group was generally friendly, with the exception of Big Bear, who looked down on Zhou Yang and kept making snide, mocking remarks. Bai Lu whispered to Zhou Yang, "Big Bear is unemployed right now and hangs out with loafers, so he’s a bit rough around the edges, but he’s incredibly loyal to his friends. If anything happens, he’s the first to step up."

Zhou Yang nodded, though it was hard to imagine that a sweet, well-behaved girl like Bai Lu would have a "street" friend like Big Bear.

"Zhou Yang, nice to meet you. Let's have a drink!" Big Bear said, raising his glass.

"Bear, I have to drive later, so I'll substitute with a soft drink," Zhou Yang replied.

Big Bear’s brow furrowed, and he set his glass down coldly. "I’m initiating a toast, and you pull this? Is this supposed to be funny?"

Zhou Yang felt helpless. He didn't want to drink, and having promised Bai Lu that he would drive her and her friend home, he naturally couldn't. "It’s not about disrespect, Bear. I just can't afford to be impaired."

"Hmph!" Big Bear sneered. "People like you wouldn't last a second in our circle." He was, of course, referring to the street-smart underworld.

Zhou Yang simply shrugged and offered a faint smile.

I’m not in your circle, so who are you performing for? Zhou Yang thought. For the rest of the night, he ignored Big Bear, using his own handsome looks to mingle with the women and exchange WeChat contacts.

In the hallway near the restrooms, Bai Lu ran into Zhou Yang and teased, "I brought you to a party, and here you are, acting like you're picking a concubine!"

Zhou Yang joked back, "If I were going to pick, I’d pick someone like you, senior."

The remark made Bai Lu’s face light up with joy.

The party lasted over two hours, with some guests drunk and others tipsy. Fueled by the alcohol, Big Bear suggested they head to a KTV for more fun. Many of the girls present were karaoke regulars, and Bai Lu, who had been the head of the student union’s arts department in college, had a beautiful singing voice. The group agreed and set off for a KTV.

The Tianchen International Hotel was located in a bustling area, and the KTVs here were high-end, often operating as combined nightclubs, bars, and karaoke venues. "I know a club around here that's great—high class, perfect for singing, dancing, and drinking," Big Bear suggested. Lacking other ideas, the group followed him there. They booked a private room and ordered drinks and fruit platters.

Coincidentally, in the room next door, Xie Feng was enjoying himself with his new girlfriend. Sitting beside him was Liu Yan, who had also brought along a beautiful woman, their relationship clearly ambiguous. The four were drinking and playing, the two women posing provocatively while Xie Feng and Liu Yan occasionally discussed business.

"That bastard Zhou Yang—I’m going to finish him sooner or later," Xie Feng spat.

"Zhou Yang is the star of the sales department now. Other departments are buzzing about how he landed that billion-dollar client. Damn it, that client was a lead I brought in!" Liu Yan gritted his teeth in hatred. "Brother Feng, if we don't cripple that kid, I won't be able to swallow this bitterness."

The two had bonded over their shared enemy. Xie Feng had connected with Liu Yan through his new girlfriend, Zhao Ziying, who worked in the sales department. Xie Feng ran a human resources company; because his father, Xie Yong, was the HR Director at EPS, he used that connection to run a project, funneling candidates into EPS in exchange for exorbitant fees.

Because of this, Xie Feng knew many people inside EPS. Everyone knew him as an "EPS scalper," but because of his father's protection, no one dared to speak up. Yesterday, when Zhao Ziying saw Lyu Wei looking for Zhou Yang, she remembered that Lyu Wei used to be Xie Feng’s girlfriend. After digging for information, she discovered Lyu Wei was Zhou Yang’s ex and had recently broken up with Xie Feng.

Zhao Ziying saw an opportunity and reached out to Xie Feng. Xie Feng was never one to turn down a beautiful woman, and Zhao Ziying—being a saleswoman—was articulate, knew how to manage people, and provided emotional value, unlike the abrasive Lyu Wei. Plus, she had a curvaceous, womanly figure that Xie Feng found very appealing. However, Zhao Ziying was highly calculating; while they were officially a couple, she refused to let him kiss her, let alone sleep with her. She was a master of manipulating the male psyche.

It was through this relationship that Xie Feng had teamed up with Liu Yan. Knowing Liu Yan’s hatred for Zhou Yang, he had invited him out to drink, plotting a pincer move to ruin him.

At that moment, Zhao Ziying returned from outside and said to Xie Feng, "Brother Feng, I think I just saw Zhou Yang in the room next door! I was on the phone in the hallway and saw him arrive with a group of girls, including Bai Lu, the front desk receptionist from our company."

Bai Lu was a top beauty at the company; everyone passed the front desk on their way to work, so the entire staff knew her. Hearing this, Liu Yan’s teeth itched with rage. He had used his status as the top salesperson to pursue Bai Lu for a year, only to be ignored. Now that Zhou Yang had arrived, Bai Lu was going on dates with him and even coming to nightclubs with him. Liu Yan could not bear the sense of failure, which quickly morphed into bottomless fury.

"Brother Feng, you know this place well. Since he's here, this is the perfect opportunity. We have to take him down tonight!" Liu Yan urged.

Xie Feng nodded, gritting his teeth. "He’s practically begging for death."

Xie Feng was a VIP at the club, and he had even shared drinks with "Boss Long," who ran the security for the venue. Even if he crippled Zhou Yang here, he had the means to clean up the mess.

"Brother Feng, when are you going to make your move?" Liu Yan, knowing he was no match for Zhou Yang, pinned all his hopes on Xie Feng.

"What's the rush? I'm calling in some people first," Xie Feng replied.