Chapter 6: Have you never attended a class reunion?

The next day, Ye Xingchen and Liu Ruyan followed their plan to attend the auto show and a class reunion, respectively.

Ye Xingchen had intended to pick out a few cars that caught his eye, but before he could properly browse, he received a call from a slightly anxious Liu Ruyan, urging him to come to the hotel where her class reunion was being held.

When Ye Xingchen arrived at the private room, the atmosphere was already lively and somewhat noisy. Liu Ruyan sat in a corner with an unpleasant expression, surrounded by several gaudily dressed female classmates. They appeared to be chatting warmly, but their words were laced with an uncomfortable edge.

"Ruyan, it’s been so long! I heard you got married, yet you didn't invite us old classmates to the wedding. Don't tell me you married someone so unimpressive that you were too embarrassed to let us know?" a female classmate wearing designer labels and heavy makeup sneered. As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Liu Ruyan’s relatively simple attire, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Exactly," another classmate with wavy hair chimed in, wearing a mocking smile as if she had seen through everything and decided Liu Ruyan had married beneath her station. "Back in school, you were the center of attention, with so many people chasing after you. How did your taste become so poor? Your husband looks so ordinary—what exactly does he do for a living?"

Liu Ruyan forced a smile and explained, "It’s not like that. We just wanted a simple ceremony with close family and friends, so we didn’t make a big announcement."

"Oh, a 'simple' ceremony? I see, the groom must be quite average then," another classmate in a short skirt and towering heels added, covering her mouth to giggle. The sound was grating, and others in the room joined in, focusing their scrutinizing and mocking gazes on the couple.

A male classmate wearing a thick gold chain and several large gold rings walked over with a glass of wine. Looking at Ye Xingchen with drunken arrogance, he said, "Brother, I heard you married our class beauty. But looking at how you're dressed, you don't look like someone who can give Ruyan a good life. You’d better work hard—don't let our old classmate suffer." He shook his glass, nearly spilling the drink, acting as if he were a successful titan dispensing wisdom.

Ye Xingchen frowned and sat down next to Liu Ruyan. She tugged his sleeve and whispered, "Xingchen, let's not argue with them. We'll leave soon." Ye Xingchen nodded, thinking it best to avoid unnecessary trouble.

However, the group became even more emboldened. The heavily made-up woman continued, "Honestly, Ruyan, marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime event; how could you be so sloppy? Look at us—everyone here had a grand wedding with luxury car convoys and five-star hotels. Look at you; it’s too low-profile. I suspect your husband just didn't have the means."

A man in a sharp suit with slicked-back hair added, "True. In this society, you need money. Love and romance must be built on material foundations. Brother, don't let Ruyan suffer with you. If you don't have the ability, don't hold her back." He straightened his tie with an air of superiority, as if he were at the peak of life while Ye Xingchen was a wretch struggling at the bottom.

Ye Xingchen could take no more. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and shouted, "You’re all so impressive, aren't you? What are you showing off for? Do you think having money makes you something special? Let me tell you this: don't look down on people!"

The room fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter. The makeup-clad woman mocked, "Getting angry now? Show us what you can actually do instead of just wagging your tongue."

Ye Xingchen let out a cold laugh and dialed his phone. "Hello, Secretary Wang? Yes, it's me. Contact the owner of this hotel immediately. I want to buy it. Yes, do it now. Price is no object."

The group was stunned, assuming he was bluffing. The drunken man laughed, "Oh, buying the hotel? Do you think this is a corner store? Keep dreaming."

But shortly after, the manager entered the room, bowing respectfully to Ye Xingchen. "Mr. Ye, our owner has agreed to the transfer. The paperwork is being processed. As of now, you are the new owner of this hotel."

A deathly silence filled the room. The classmates stared in disbelief. Ye Xingchen looked at their expressions and felt a surge of satisfaction. "Why so quiet? You were all so talkative a moment ago."

A few remained unconvinced, assuming it was a coincidence. The slicked-back businessman stood up and said, "Hmph, buying a hotel doesn't mean anything. If you're so capable, show us some real professional success."

Ye Xingchen smiled and made another call. "Assistant Li, check the companies owned by these classmates. I want to acquire all of them. Spare no expense—I want them to know today what it means to be truly outclassed."

Before long, those classmates received news that their companies had been acquired. Their faces turned deathly pale, and their legs gave out. They never imagined that the Ye Xingchen they had looked down upon possessed such terrifying power.

Ye Xingchen looked at their pathetic state and laughed, "Not so confident now? Weren't you mocking me for having no skills? See who really has no skills now."

One classmate still refused to give up. "Hmph, so what if you have money? If your character is bad, it means nothing. Who knows how you got that money?"

Just as Ye Xingchen was about to retort, the roar of engines echoed outside. He walked to the window and saw over thirty luxury cars—top-tier sports cars and limousines—parked in a magnificent line outside the hotel.

He returned to the room and said, "Come, everyone, go outside and take a look. Let's see if my money can buy these things. Stop showing off and looking down on others."

The group followed him outside, their eyes widening at the sight of the fleet. They were filled with regret; had they known Ye Xingchen was this powerful, they would never have dared to be so arrogant.

"Today was supposed to be a reunion to catch up," Ye Xingchen said. "But you chose to compare and belittle others. Look at you now—slapped in the face by reality. I despise people like you. Whether someone is rich or poor, it’s their own life; what right do you have to judge?"

The classmates kept their heads down, wishing they could disappear. Liu Ruyan walked over and took his hand. "Xingchen, let it go. They are old classmates, after all."

Ye Xingchen smiled at her. "Fine, I’ll listen to you. But they needed a lesson." He turned to the group. "I won't pursue this further. I hope you learn to live your own lives and stop this obsession with comparison. True ability isn't something you brag about with your mouth. Drinks are on me for the rest of the day. Consider it an apology for the shock."

With that, Ye Xingchen led Liu Ruyan into a Rolls-Royce and drove off, leaving the others in a mix of complex envy and awe.

Inside the car, Liu Ruyan looked at him, half-annoyed and half-amused. "You really made quite the scene. But wasn't that too impulsive? What if they go around gossiping?"

Ye Xingchen shrugged nonchalantly. "Let them talk. I just couldn't stand their faces. I had to teach them a lesson today. They won't dare look down on anyone for a long time."

Suddenly, Ye Xingchen asked the system, "How can I go back?"

The system replied, "You can go back now."