Chapter 144: What Right Do You Have to Sit in the Seat of Honor?
Cheng Yuan scratched his head in embarrassment. "Don’t worry, I won’t make the same mistake twice."
"Good."
With that, Lin Ruoxi quickly walked out the hotel’s main entrance.
Xu Ke looked from Lin Ruoxi to Cheng Yuan, his face a mask of gossip. "Brother Yuan, what’s the deal? Didn’t you say last time that beauty wasn’t your girlfriend? Why’s she telling you to be home before ten?"
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Ruoxi isn’t my girlfriend. She’s my wife."
W-wife?!
Xu Ke’s eyes widened as he stared at Cheng Yuan in disbelief.
"Brother Yuan, that’s not the kind of thing you joke about!"
"Who’s joking? We just got the certificate a few days ago. Actually, I have it on me. Here, take a look."
As he spoke, Cheng Yuan actually pulled out his marriage certificate.
With physical evidence right in front of him, Xu Ke had no more doubts. He handed the certificate back to Cheng Yuan and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Brother Yuan, you’re a fucking legend! The rest of us brothers are still virgins, and you’ve gone and gotten married without a peep! I worship you!"
"Hahaha."
"Say no more. The guys and I will have to make you treat us to a feast to soothe my wounded heart."
"No problem."
"No wonder you don’t care about Bai Xuening at all, Brother Yuan. Your wife is in a completely different league!"
...
Joking and laughing, the two stepped into the elevator.
「Champion Scholar Pavilion.」
Everyone had already taken their seats, divided between hosts and guests.
Originally, today’s gathering was organized by the squad leader, Pan Gang, so he should have been in the seat of honor.
However, Pan Gang’s father was a supplier for Tang Mingcheng’s father’s company.
How could Pan Gang dare to take the seat of honor in front of Tang Mingcheng?
At the insistence of Pan Gang and the other classmates, Tang Mingcheng "reluctantly" took the seat of honor, and Bai Xuening naturally sat to his right.
Pan Gang didn’t dare have the slightest objection. Instead, he had to put on an obsequious smile, endlessly praising Tang Mingcheng and Bai Xuening as a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.
He didn’t dare harbor even a hint of resentment.
It was as if Pan Gang had never pursued Bai Xuening before.
Tang Mingcheng and Bai Xuening were quite satisfied with this. They exchanged a look—since Pan Gang was so tactful, they wouldn’t target his family’s business.
"Pan Gang, my old man just landed another big contract. Your family’s factory will need to increase its production capacity."
"Don’t you worry, Young Master Tang."
As the two were talking, Cheng Yuan and Xu Ke walked into the Champion Scholar Pavilion.
Tang Mingcheng had investigated Bai Xuening. He knew she had never been in a relationship, but during her freshman year, she had pursued a guy.
However, that guy later went to prison.
Tang Mingcheng recognized Cheng Yuan, and his eyes flickered. ’I have to teach this kid a lesson later!’
Pan Gang keenly spotted an opportunity to curry favor with Tang Mingcheng. Moreover, Pan Guang had long been displeased with Cheng Yuan. It was because Bai Xuening could never forget Cheng Yuan that Pan Guang had pursued her for years to no avail.
Pan Gang stood up and said with displeasure, "Cheng Yuan, Xu Ke, you two are late. You’ll have to drink three glasses as a penalty!"
Xu Ke immediately grew angry. "How are we late? We arrived right after you, and the food isn’t even here yet! Pan Gang, are you deliberately trying to stir up trouble?"
Pan Gang craned his neck stubbornly. "Stirring up trouble? Everyone else is already seated. How is that not late?"
Cheng Yuan stopped Xu Ke, who was about to argue further. He gave Pan Gang a cool glance. "Since Pan Gang doesn’t welcome us, let’s just leave."
With that, Cheng Yuan pulled Xu Ke and turned to leave.
Bai Xuening and Tang Mingcheng immediately grew anxious. Cheng Yuan couldn’t leave! If Cheng Yuan left, who would they show off for?
Tang Mingcheng quickly stood up to smooth things over. "Pan Gang, what are you doing? We’re all classmates here, what’s this about being late? Hurry up and apologize to our two classmates, and invite them to the table!"
Not daring to disobey Tang Mingcheng’s command, Pan Gang scrambled to his feet and forced a smile that was uglier than a crying face. "Cheng Yuan, Xu Ke, please don’t mind me. I was just joking."
Cheng Yuan remained noncommittal, but Xu Ke said coldly, "Since you, our great Squad Leader Pan, love to joke so much, let me tell you a joke too. How about you take three penalty drinks? If you do, we’ll stay!"
"You!"
Pan Gang was so angry he nearly exploded.
"What ’you’? Can’t take it? If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out. Goodbye, don’t let the door hit you on the way out!"
Saying this, Xu Ke pulled Cheng Yuan and turned around again.
Seeing that the two were really about to leave, Tang Mingcheng let out a heavy cough.
Pan Gang’s heart lurched. He knew this was a warning from Tang Mingcheng. If the two really left, his family’s factory would be finished!
Pan Gang clenched his jaw and forced a dazzlingly fake smile.
"It’s just three penalty drinks, right? I’ll drink them!"
With that, Pan Gang downed three glasses in a row. GLUG GLUG.
Fortunately, it was only beer. Although he felt a bit bloated, he wasn’t drunk.
Pan Gang turned his glass upside down. "Is this good enough for you?"
Only then was Xu Ke barely satisfied. He looked at Cheng Yuan with a grin. "Brother Yuan, shall we take our seats?"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly.
Pan Gang swallowed his humiliation and made a perfunctory gesture with one hand. "There are two seats over here. Cheng Yuan, Xu Ke, hurry up and sit down."
Cheng Yuan picked an unremarkable seat and plopped down.
Pan Gang was quite satisfied with this. ’At least Cheng Yuan knows his place, taking an unimportant seat.’
Tang Mingcheng, however, was a little displeased. ’With Cheng Yuan sitting so far away, it’s not convenient for me to mess with him.’
Tang Mingcheng pointed with a smile to the seat on his left. "I heard our classmate Cheng Yuan is the class heartthrob. Any objections to letting our heartthrob take the guest of honor’s seat?"
Since Tang Mingcheng had spoken, even if anyone had an objection, they had to pretend they didn’t.
"Of course not! Cheng Yuan is qualified to sit there."
"I’m all for it!"
...
Pan Gang knew what Tang Mingcheng was up to. He looked at Cheng Yuan with a mocking gaze. "Cheng Yuan, Young Master Tang is inviting you to the seat of honor. What are you standing there for? Get over there, quick!"
Xu Ke shook his head slightly, signaling for Cheng Yuan not to fall for it. ’Tang Mingcheng was definitely not up to any good.’
But Cheng Yuan ignored Xu Ke’s hint, slowly stood up, and ambled over to Tang Mingcheng.
Tang Mingcheng’s smile was radiant, but inwardly he was full of contempt. ’A poor bastard is a poor bastard. All I had to do was call and he came running. Is that all there is to him? I really don’t know what Xuening ever saw in him.’
"Classmate Cheng Yuan, have a seat."
Tang Mingcheng pointed to the seat beside him, his tone tinged with condescension. His expression seemed to say, ’If it weren’t for my charity, you’d never have the chance to sit here.’
In Tang Mingcheng’s mind, Cheng Yuan should be falling over himself with gratitude.
Unfortunately, Cheng Yuan’s reaction was completely beyond his expectations.
Cheng Yuan didn’t sit. Instead, he looked at Tang Mingcheng with an indifferent gaze. "If I’m not mistaken, today is our class gathering. Young Master Tang, you’re just a guest. What gives you the right to sit in the seat of honor? Please move."