As the Communist Youth League branch secretary back at the university, Tang Wantian still more or less commanded some authority. Qin Guiyue might not have shown Xiao Luo due respect, but she definitely wouldn’t do the same to Tang Wantian. She pouted and sat down.

  Meanwhile, Xiao Luo paid no attention to Qin Guiyue and simply continued shelling seeds for the little girl. The way he saw it, there was no need to explain anything. After all, he wouldn’t have any interaction with Qin Guiyue after this gathering.

  Guo Qinghe smiled and said, “Wantian is right. Everyone came here happily for the gathering, so let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Guiyue, I heard that your boyfriend is a department manager of the Haid Group Co. Limited?”

  He changed the topic so that the atmosphere wouldn’t descend into awkwardness.

  Speaking of her boyfriend, Qin Guiyue showed a joyful smile. “Yeah, he is the manager of the publicity department. He earns a yearly salary of $300,000.”

  When she said that, her expression was proud. It was as if she was earning $300,000 a year and not her boyfriend.

  A yearly salary of $300,000?!

  Everyone was shocked. Since these people had just graduated three years ago, $300,000 was a big sum of money that they could only dream of.

  “Guiyue, you have found yourself a rich man,” Hu Shuiping jokingly said.

  After he spoke, many of the women expressed their envy, saying that Qin Guiyue was fortunate to meet such an excellent man.

  Qin Guiyue enjoyed it very much. She said with a smile, “Nah, he’s just meh, nothing much. Moreover, the prices of houses along the coast are sky-high. With his salary, we need to work hard for two years before we can afford a house.”

  “It’s just two years. For people like us, we might not even be able to afford it after working hard for 10 years.” A female classmate was both envious and jealous.

  Qin Guiyue was incredibly happy. She loved the feeling of being the center of attention.

  They ate the food served and drank liquor. Perhaps it was because of the alcohol, or because what Qin Guiyue had said provoked them, they all began talking about their own lives. Some were happy, and some were not so much.

  Some hated their bosses for being incredibly stingy, always asking them to work overtime yet paying them a pitifully low salary.

  Another said that his fiancée was the daughter of an upper-level manager at a well-known company. He was about to open the door to the peak of his life by marrying the rich and pretty girl.

  More of them were going through difficulties in their lives, using alcohol to numb themselves. They readily shared their stories with their ex-classmates.

  \r \r \r

  Compared to them, Xiao Luo was rather quiet, silently helping the little girl eat.

  Like him, the little girl loved meat. She shook her head vigorously when Xiao Luo gave her vegetables. As for the meat, be it beef, pork, mutton, or anything else, she never said no to it. Instead, she immediately opened her mouth and ate, quickly getting grease all over her mouth. She quietly sat behind Xiao Luo, unlike other children who made a lot of noise.

  Zhang Dashan initially wanted to say that he was in upper-level management at Luo’s Workshop, but he dismissed his intentions to do so after seeing how Qin Guiyue showed off. He agreed with what Xiao Luo had said earlier. One shouldn’t make a class gathering the place to show off.

  Of course, that didn’t stop him from asking the other people about work.

  “Old Guo, what are you doing in Xiahai?”

  “Just toiling away. My life isn’t as vibrant as you guys.” Guo Qinghe lifted his cup and took a sip. He shook his head and humbly laughed.

  Hu Shuiping immediately made fun of him. “Enough of that. You came here on a first-class flight. For ordinary people like us, we would have to consider it before even buying an economy-class ticket, let alone first-class.”

  “Let me tell you all, our class head is a lecturer, teaching classes about entrepreneurship specifically in Xiahai. He is the teacher for many entrepreneurs and receives at least $50,000 for a lesson.” A lady who knew Guo Qinghe well told them the truth.

  $50,000 for one lesson?

  Hearing that, everyone gulped instinctively and was deeply shocked. Most of them had a fixed salary that hardly exceeded $10,000 per month, yet their classmate was earning $50,000 from a single lesson. How had money ever been so easy to earn?

  Guo Qinghe pretended to be angry and gave the lady a look. She said with a smile, “I can only say that I’m lucky to have gotten into the right industry. If anyone here is having difficulties or feel that their job right now isn’t a good fit, feel free to visit me in Xiahai. I will definitely help you all to the best of my abilities.”

  “That’s great, Old Xiao is going to develop his business in the city of Xiahai next year, so you can help each other out,” Zhang Dashan casually said.

  “Help each other out my ass. He is just a dickhead. How can he even help our class head out, heh?”

  Qin Guiyue angrily looked at Xiao Luo and softly mumbled to herself.

  Zhang Dashan put down his chopsticks and angrily said, “Qin Guiyue, Old Xiao has a good temper, but you know me. If you continue to spout f*cking nonsense, don’t blame me for breaking old friendships!”

  He was a badly-behaved student back in university, giving the teachers headaches. It was common for him to get into fights. When he put on an angry expression, Qin Guiyue didn’t dare say anything more.

  Guo Qinghe comforted earnestly him, saying, “Alright, Dashan, don’t be angry. We have been classmates for four years. It isn’t easy to get everyone to meet up.”

  “I know it isn’t easy to meet up, but some people just love to spout bullsh*t,” Zhang Dashan said. “It’s very annoying to the ears.”

  “Zhang Dashan, you……”

  Qin Guiyue was extremely angry and glared at him.

  “Alright, both of you need to take a few steps back,” Guo Qinghe reprimanded them. “Guiyue, you are partially at fault too. It’s a gathering, so it would be great if you could stop gossiping.”

  Qin Guiyue pouted and angrily turned her head.

  “Eh, what’s wrong? Come, come, everyone, cheers.” Hu Shuiping raised his glass and invited everyone to a toast.

  His suggestion immediately received everyone’s support and response.

  “That’s right, come, cheers, drink away all the unpleasant stuff.”

  Everyone rose and clinked their glasses of liquor, tilted their heads back, and downed it in one shot.

  “Xiao Luo, are you really coming to develop your business in Xiahai city next year?” Guo Qinghe asked.

  Xiao Luo nodded. “Yes.”

  “Which industry are you planning to join?” Guo Qinghe enthusiastically asked.

  “The baking industry,” Xiao Luo honestly answered.

  Guo Qinghe seriously said, “Alright, come and find me. I am quite well-connected in Xiahai, and I think I can help you.”

  Xiao Luo smiled and said, “Thanks.”

  Guo Qinghe waved and righteously said, “There’s no need to be so formal about it. We are all from the same class. It’s only right for us to help each other.”

  “Class Head, I also want your help!” Hu Shuiping pretended to look pitiful.

  “Class Head, me too.”

  “I’m so broke I’ll have to eat grass soon! Class Head, is your company still taking in people?”

  “I also want to fly first-class!”

  Everyone cheered each other on. Of course, they were the only ones who knew whether they were actually telling the truth or lying.

  Guo Qinghe waved and confidently said, “Alright, as long as you all come over to Xiahai, I promise that you can all become winners in life.”

  “See, this is how a successful person would speak. Class Head, I’ll drink to you.” Hu Shuiping sucked up to him.

  “Class Head, we’ll drink to you too.”

  The rest of the people also hurriedly drank to Guo Qinghe.