Chapter 180 Alumni Meeting
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This was an opulently decorated club whose colorful lights could be seen from afar under the night sky.
When Yuan Li and her two companions arrived, a group of classmates had already entered a large private room.
The private room was similarly adorned in grandeur, with about twenty people—men and women—seated inside. Most were around their thirties, with two women who appeared to be just over twenty sticking close to a couple of men who were starting to show a touch of corpulence.
The table was laid with snacks and bottles of beer.
A man with a classic "parted 70:30 hairstyle" sprawled on the long couch, taking up at least three people's space, and looking very ostentatious.
A woman on the stage was singing a love duet with a man.
Seeing Yuan Li and Su Qi walk in, the ostentatious man's eyes lit up. He sat up in his seat and waved Yuan Li over, saying, "Classmate Yuan Li, why have you just arrived? Come, sit over here."
"Yeah, Yuan Li, why are you so late? Without you, even Director Cui doesn't feel like singing or drinking." Someone chimed in, egging her on.
"If Director Cui isn't in the mood for singing or drinking, that's a question for all of you in the capital, isn't it? Why turn it around on someone from a small place like me?" Yuan Li responded with a laugh and then pulled Ge Dongxu to a seat on the side.
As Yuan Li sat down with Ge Dongxu, people in the room realized she had brought someone with her, and a good-looking man at that. Some who had been keen to tease held back, and Director Cui's face darkened noticeably. He looked at Yuan Li and forced a smile, "Old classmate, you brought a friend and haven't introduced us?"
"That's right, that's right. Classmate Yuan, you've got a handsome friend in the capital and only brought him out now? Not cool! Hurry and introduce him," some people started jeering again, with one or two women sounding particularly sour upon seeing the young and handsome Ge Dongxu.
"You misunderstand, Sister Li. My name is Ge Dongxu, also from Changxi County. Because I happened to come to the capital this time, I joined in for some fun," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up.
Hearing that Ge Dongxu was a fellow townsman of Yuan Li, a number of people in the room displayed a smirk that carried a touch of disdain. Director Cui, even more, slouched back into the couch, patted his belly and pointed toward Ge Dongxu, "Little Ge, both you and Su Qi are late with Yuan Li, shouldn't you make some sort of gesture?"
Director Cui's right, let me suggest something. One drink for each lady, but Little Ge here, a man should tough it out a bit more, so make it a bottle," said a man, balding a tad although he was just in his thirties.
"Great idea, I second that!" Many voiced their approval.
"How is that okay? What era are we living in? We should advocate for gender equality!" Yuan Li spoke up for Ge Dongxu.
"Since Yuan Li suggests gender equality, I find it very sensible. Women are no less capable than men, so let's go with a bottle each." The balding man said, rising to his feet and opening three beers on the table.
The men laughed at his antics, calling him as mischievous as he had been in university, while a few of the women who had a good relationship with Yuan Li and Su Qi spoke up on their behalf, questioning why it should be the women who have to match the men's drinking, and not the other way around.
Amidst the laughter and liveliness, Ge Dongxu couldn't get a word in and somehow ended up being penalized a whole bottle, while Yuan Li and Su Qi each had to drink a glass.
Drinking was no issue for Ge Dongxu, so he simply downed a bottle.
"Great! Great!" Seeing Ge Dongxu's straightforward manner, everyone cheered him on, except for Director Cui, who felt somewhat irked. After Ge Dongxu set down the bottle, he suggested, "Ge, since you're the new guy here and the youngest of us all, shouldn't you toast the older brothers and sisters seated here?"
With Director Cui's suggestion, many joined in to cheer, while some slightly frowned but no one spoke up to object.
But Yuan Li wouldn't have it. A slight anger showed on her pretty face, and just as she was about to speak, Ge Dongxu had already picked up a bottle of beer, popped it open with a smile, and said, "No problem, good things come in pairs, I'll toast everyone with another bottle."
With that, Ge Dongxu chugged down another bottle.
After all, it was a class reunion, and since he had come to be the shield, Ge Dongxu didn't want to make it difficult for Yuan Li or spoil the mood for everyone.
When Ge Dongxu finished another bottle, everyone cheered again, and Director Cui also called out in approval, even though his expression was rather gloomy, clearly not pleased. This was particularly true when he saw that as soon as Ge Dongxu had finished the bottle, Yuan Li immediately pulled him to sit and quickly offered him peanuts and beef jerky to eat—this made Director Cui feel even worse.
"You fool, they obviously want to see you make a fool of yourself, why would you still drink? Eat something quick, fill your stomach." Yuan Li pulled Ge Dongxu to her side and whispered, her eyes filled with emotion. She was not oblivious to the fact that Ge Dongxu was doing all this to keep her from being put in a difficult position.
"I just had Peking duck at Quanjude, just what I needed for my thirst," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.
"All you do is boast! You think you're a German or what, drinking beer like water," Yuan Li scolded with a twinkle in her eyes and lightly pinched Ge Dongxu.
"Heh, when it comes to drinking, even the Germans can't outdrink me!" Ge Dongxu boasted.
"Keep boasting, but I'm warning you, take it easy later. These folks have been rolling around in the workplace for years, each of them slicker than the last," Yuan Li couldn't help but give Ge Dongxu another eye roll as she whispered.
"Don't worry, Sister Li, I know what I'm doing," Ge Dongxu whispered into Yuan Li's ear reassuringly.
"Now, Yuan Li, that's not quite right. We're all classmates here, and you two lovebirds are only busy whispering to each other. That won't do, that won't do, we have to separate them, or we can't continue this reunion," the balding man started railing against Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.
"Boss Zhang, Boss Li, why don't you lead the way!" After scolding Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li, the balding man turned towards two obviously well-fed men sticking close to two seductive-looking women, and said.
"Damn, this Zhou Xialiu, you really are the worst! Nowadays people say it's too expensive to pay for prostitutes, too tiring to date, it's better to have a class reunion, breaking up one couple after another. It seems like that saying started with you," Boss Zhang and Boss Li laughed and pointed at the balding man, then gently patted the women beside them and said, "Didn't you hear Manager Xie's words? Go on, find that handsome guy and let President Yuan go."