C111 Entering the Room Liu Jianghee Did Not Know How to Restrain Himself

Lin Dong breathed a sigh of relief.

Being around Zhang Xinrui often left him feeling the pressure.

She had a habit of deducting points frequently, forcing Lin Dong to ingratiate himself with her.

Despite being a billionaire, Lin Dong was still a student.

His parents, who hailed from rural areas, had lofty aspirations for him to achieve great success.

His father, having regretted not passing the college entrance exam, hoped Lin Dong would fulfill his own unmet ambitions and earn a university degree—a task Lin Dong was determined to complete.

Crossing Zhang Xinrui, his classroom teacher, was not a smart move.

With time on his hands, he decided to help out and take the opportunity to unwind.

Before long, the Volkswagen Beetle reached the venue, a three-star restaurant with an expansive parking lot.

The fact that Zhang Xinrui's family could dine and gather here was a testament to their comfortable lifestyle.

After parking, Zhang Xinrui led Lin Dong into the restaurant and towards a private room reserved for the gathering.

"Just say a few words when you go in, but remember, you're an employee at a company. You can mention any company, really! And you're 25 years old this year," Zhang Xinrui briefed Lin Dong as they walked.

"Why not say 26, the same as Ms. Zhang?" Lin Dong asked, surprised.

Zhang Xinrui shot him a glare and retorted, "I am only 25, and I haven't even celebrated my 26th birthday yet! Besides, you'll do as I say!"

"Okay!" Lin Dong quickly agreed.

His question had been offhand, but he hadn't anticipated such a strong reaction from Zhang Xinrui. Age, it seemed, was indeed a sensitive subject for women.

Zhang Xinrui went on to explain that it was her maternal grandmother's birthday and the whole family would be there, giving Lin Dong a heads-up.

Lin Dong nodded in understanding.

It all made sense now why Zhang Xinrui had brought him along to play the role of her boyfriend.

At a gathering full of relatives, Zhang Xinrui, still single and without a boyfriend, was bound to face a barrage of questions.

Lin Dong firmly resolved to stick to his role and not utter a word out of line.

Upon reaching the private room, Zhang Xinrui pushed the door open and stepped inside. Lin Dong, trailing behind her, was greeted by the sight of many people already gathered there. The majority were older, a mix of men and women, including an exceptionally elderly lady dressed in festive red attire—Zhang Xinrui's maternal grandmother.

"Happy birthday, Grandma!" Zhang Xinrui called out joyfully as she entered.

Her grandmother looked up, her toothless grin spreading across her face. "Rui Rui's here! Come sit by your grandma!" she exclaimed.

"Xinrui's arrived! And who's this young man with her?"

"Could he be Xinrui's boyfriend?"

"Look at that, Little Rui has brought her boyfriend!"

"I was going to suggest a match for Rui Rui today, but it seems she's already found someone!"

"Come on, Little Rui, introduce us!"

The elders around the table were abuzz with excitement and curiosity.

With a demure smile, Zhang Xinrui addressed them, "Dear elders, I'd like to introduce you to Lin Dong, my boyfriend."

"I'm Lin Dong, twenty-five years old, and I work at Lin's Group," Lin Dong recited, sticking to the script Zhang Xinrui had given him.

Zhang Xinrui flashed Lin Dong a sweet smile and gave him a playful pinch. She whispered teasingly, "Can't you be a bit more spontaneous? You're not delivering a lecture here!"

Lin Dong nodded hastily, wincing as Zhang Xinrui's grip tightened on the skin of his lower back—a sharp pinch indeed! She released her hold, and Lin Dong was warmly ushered to a seat.

"Xinrui, your mom must be over the moon that you've found a boyfriend!"

"Indeed, why aren't your parents here?"

"This young man is quite the looker, like a movie star! Let your auntie have a closer look!"

"Very impressive, working at Lin's Group. That's a respectable job!"

"Little Rui, you've got great taste!"

A bevy of female relatives chatted with Lin Dong, showering him with praise until he was nearly spinning from the attention.

These older women had a soft spot for handsome young men, swooning over them at first sight.

This was particularly true when Lin Dong accompanied Zhang Xinrui. As her boyfriend, he was met with adoring glances that one might reserve for their own son.

Meanwhile, the elder men were largely ignored.

A middle-aged man handed Lin Dong a glass of water and inquired, "Lin Dong, what's your role at Lin's Group? The company has a variety of positions, after all."

Lin Dong found himself at a loss for words.

Could he really reveal his entitlement to an inheritance worth 30 billion?

Yet, without admitting that, he couldn't specify his actual job title.

"Enough, Third Uncle, let's not grill him. Lin Dong is the assistant manager in the marketing department. He's still new to the company and getting acclimated," Zhang Xinrui interjected.

Lin Dong quickly agreed, "Exactly, that's the case."

Third Uncle grunted, "An assistant, huh? I thought you were a manager. You're far behind my son, Jianghe! He manages construction projects and drives a Mercedes-Benz E300!"

Liu Jianghee?

Lin Dong's brow furrowed.

The apple didn't fall far from the tree, boasting just like his father!

Lin Dong immediately lost any desire to continue the conversation with Third Uncle.

Just then, the door to the private room swung open once more.

In walked a man with a greasy complexion and a paunch, wearing a Rolex Submariner.

It was none other than Liu Jianghee, whom Lin Dong had briefly encountered earlier.

Upon entering, he boomed with laughter, "Looks like everyone's here. Haha, sorry for my tardiness!"

"You're not late! Son, come sit by your father! Take a look at Little Rui's boyfriend; he's the assistant manager in the marketing department at Lin's Group!" Third Uncle called out.

Liu Jianghee glanced over at Lin Dong, a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "I've already had the pleasure of meeting Brother Lin Dong. He's quite down-to-earth. Cousin Xinrui even bought him a new outfit, spending over a thousand yuan!"

Instantly, all eyes turned to Zhang Xinrui.

No one had anticipated that Lin Dong's attire was courtesy of Zhang Xinrui!

Wasn't this essentially subsidizing him?

Zhang Xinrui's eyes widened as she clenched her teeth, making an audible click.

Lin Dong was feeling quite incensed.

Liu Jianghee had crossed the line. It was bad enough that he had looked down on him at their first meeting.

But to continue his arrogance at the party and blatantly undermine Zhang Xinrui's efforts was just asking to make her lose face.

Liu Jianghee seemed oblivious to Zhang Xinrui's disapproving look.

He turned to Lin Dong and taunted, "Kid, don't tell me you don't even have a grand to your name. What kind of man lets his girlfriend foot the bill for clothes? Unlike me—I buy whatever I want. I've got the cash to drive a luxury car, and I can afford anything! Oh, and I brought my girlfriend along, too. She's a high-flying executive with a PhD!"

Lin Dong glared at Liu Jianghee.

It was clear he was doing this deliberately.

He aimed to embarrass Zhang Xinrui and flaunt his wealth, once again taking a jab at Lin Dong!

Such a person was truly loathsome!

Lin Dong had already warned Liu Jianghee, hoping he would tone it down, but to no avail.

Now, Lin Dong was truly livid!

"Ding! Host has triggered a random mission: Punish the Troublemaker!"

"Patience is reserved for the courteous. In the face of those who are unreasonably disruptive, punishment is necessary to put a stop to their antics!"

"Reward for completing the mission (???)"

"Let the show begin!"

The system alert chimed in.