We agreed not to date, so why are you crying now that I've become the richest man?

Zhao Peng snorted, gritting his teeth.

"Did you see that? Isn't this blatant kidnapping?"

"He's using his father's influence to act all high and mighty!"

Ye Chen leaned back in the cheap plastic chair, smiling broadly.

Let him pretend.

"Going to the Yingbin Hotel for dinner is indeed quite interesting."

Memories of my past life flooded my mind instantly.

In June 2010, a minor news story occurred in this small county town.

The owner of Yingbin Hotel absconded with huge debts incurred from gambling on football matches.

The restaurant's supply chain completely collapsed, and the kitchen was using inferior ingredients, such as dead pig meat and gutter oil, to fool customers.

Judging by the timeline, it should be within the next two days.

Li Hao's choice to go to the Yingbin Hotel to show off at this time is like an old man eating poison; he's tired of living.

Zhao Peng took a bite of the chicken wing and gasped for breath from the spiciness.

"I originally wanted to go too, since we'll all be going our separate ways in the future, and every get-together will be one less time we have."

He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Ye Chen.

"But I have a feeling that Li Hao is up to no good, he's definitely going to use this meal to target you."

Ye Chen nodded and clapped his hands in a serious manner.

"Great, congratulations, your brain is finally starting to develop."

Zhao Peng almost threw the chicken bone in his hand at it.

"Chenzi, why have you been so sharp-tongued lately?"

"The college entrance exam lets you unleash your true nature; there's no other way."

Ye Chen shrugged and smiled innocently.

Zhao Peng rolled his eyes and continued looking down at his phone.

A few seconds later, he abruptly stopped typing.

Holy crap.

"Lin Wanqing has posted."

Ye Chen didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to eat his barbecue.

Zhao Peng read it out word by word.

Lin Wanqing: I will go.

The moment those three words were uttered, the previously quiet penguin colony erupted in a frenzy.

"The goddess has arrived!"

"We absolutely have to go! We'll sell everything we own to scrape together those eighty yuan!"

"Brother Hao has such great influence; he even managed to get Wanqing to come!"

"You'd be missing out if you didn't go for this meal!"

Zhao Peng glanced at Ye Chen cautiously, his tone tinged with a hint of probing.

"Chenzi, it's normal if you don't want to go."

"Anyway, that guy Li Hao will definitely make fun of you for failing to confess your feelings, so we don't need to put up with that."

Ye Chen picked up a skewer of mutton and slowly took a bite out of the meat.

The meat was tender and grilled to perfection.

"Beep beep beep—"

Zhao Peng's phone vibrated again.

After looking down at it, his face instantly turned extremely ugly.

"Damn it, that bastard Li Hao really needs to be taught a lesson!"

He turned the screen around and shoved it right in front of Ye Chen.

In the group chat, Li Hao sent a separate message.

Li Hao: [@Ye Chen, where's the great Casanova Ye? He won't be too scared to come tomorrow, will he?]

Li Hao: [Don't worry, we're all classmates. Even though you were rejected, no one will laugh at you.]

Li Hao: [If you really can't come up with eighty yuan, just tell me, and I'll cover it for you!]

As soon as the message was sent, the group fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was watching the show from behind their screens.

The students at the table next to the barbecue stall were still loudly toasting, their youthful exuberance echoing in the night sky.

Zhao Peng was so angry that he slammed the plastic cup heavily on the table.

"Damn it! I'm going to curse him out in the group chat right now!"

"Need not."

Ye Chen wiped his hands, his smile growing even brighter.

It was a smile of extreme confidence and complete control.

It's like a seasoned hunter watching a foolish rabbit jump into its own trap.

"Reply to him."

Zhao Peng was taken aback, his fingers hovering over the keyboard.

"What are you going to say back? Insult his ancestors for eighteen generations?"

Ye Chen picked up the chilled white pear, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

The cool liquid flowed down my throat, refreshing my entire body.

"Just say, I'll go."

"Also, could you add one more sentence for me?"

Ye Chen looked at Zhao Peng, a cunning smile curving his lips.

"Tell him that since he's so rich, I, Ye Chen, will give him a chance to pay for tomorrow's bill."

Zhao Peng gasped.

"Holy crap, Chenzi, are you crazy?"

"That's a prestigious hotel! A meal there would easily cost two or three thousand. If you ask him to pay, he'd tear you apart!"

Ye Chen stood up and patted the cumin powder off his hands.

"Send it as I say."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to see a good show."

He raised his head and looked up at the night sky.

The night sky in this small county town isn't as dazzling as in Shanghai, but it exudes a wild, untamed energy.

Wealth, status, dignity.

All of this will begin at tomorrow's gathering, and he will utterly trample it under his feet.

"Ye Chen is with me; he's gone."

"But he said since you're so rich, he'll give Li Hao a chance to pay the bill tomorrow."

Zhao Peng sent the message to the QQ group, typing away furiously. After sending it, he slammed his phone on the table with a smug look on his face.

The moment the message popped up, the once bustling and lively QQ group, which was flooded with messages like a marketplace, fell into a deathly silence.

The screen was completely blank; not even a single person sent an emoji to smooth things over.

Clearly, the entire class, including Li Hao on the other side of the screen, was completely stunned by this unexpected turn of events.

Time ticked by, and the group remained dead silent for a full half minute.

Just then, Zhao Peng's phone, which was face down on the table, suddenly vibrated violently, breaking the silence.

Zhao Peng quickly flipped through the book, his eyes widening instantly, and he burst out laughing: "Holy crap! Chenzi, that bastard Li Hao is back!"

Sitting across from him, Ye Chen took a bite of the sizzling, oily grilled pork belly, a bright and cheerful smile on his face.

He slowly picked up the chilled white pear and took a sip: "What's the rush? Read it aloud and let's see what our sucker has to say."

Zhao Peng cleared his throat and began to read aloud Li Hao's message in the group chat with great expression:

Li Hao: [Hehe, Ye Chen, you're really shameless. Fine! We're classmates, and since you can't even come up with eighty yuan, I, Li Hao, will cover the entire bill for the Peony Hall tomorrow night! Consider it a donation to help the poor!]

Li Hao: [As long as you have the nerve to come and freeload tomorrow night, Brother Hao won't miss your chopsticks! Eat whatever you want!]

As soon as these words were spoken, the QQ group exploded again, with a bunch of followers immediately starting to spam the chat.

"Brother Hao is awesome!"

"Brother Hao is so magnanimous! His vision is amazing!"

"Following Brother Hao, you'll eat a feast every day!"

Zhao Peng stared at the screen, gritting his teeth in anger, and slammed his phone on the table.

"Damn! That bastard is such a hypocrite! He's obviously trying to put you on the spot! Tomorrow night, in front of the whole class, especially in front of Lin Wanqing, he'll pay the bill and treat you like a beggar. Isn't that just disgusting?"