C57 A Joyful Place

Pei Qiuyu pulled up to the front of the Japanese restaurant.

"Changye House Japanese Cuisine, we're here."

After parking the car, everyone stepped out.

Upon entering, they were greeted by flower baskets lining the corridor, celebrating the grand opening.

An elegantly carved wooden sign welcomed the university alumni at the entrance of the main hall.

Guo Zipeng was busy receiving his classmates and friends, who came bearing gifts to wish him well.

"Two stunning ladies!" Guo Zipeng exclaimed as he caught sight of the radiant Pei Qiuyu and Xu Wanhua.

He beckoned them over with a wave and quickly approached.

Pei Qiuyu smiled warmly, "Guo Zipeng, congratulations on your new venture. Here's a little something from my husband and me."

"Oh, you're too kind, really."

Guo Zipeng graciously accepted the Ukiyoe print with a smile, though he refrained from unwrapping it.

Then, Xu Wanhua chimed in with a smile, "Look at you, Boss Guo, all upscale now, huh?"

"Ha! It's all thanks to everyone's support. I'm just scraping by," Guo Zipeng chuckled.

Known for his sociability since his school days, Guo Zipeng had no trouble mingling with the ladies.

Xu Wanhua presented her gift, saying, "Okay, old friend, I didn't shop around much. These are enamel craft bottles from Italy, hoping they bring prosperity to your business!"

"Ha! I'll take that good fortune! Wanhua, your gift is far too generous!"

Guo Zipeng accepted the enamel bottles, then urged, "Please, go ahead and find a seat inside. I've got a crowd of friends to attend to."

Throughout the entire exchange, Guo Zipeng hadn't spared Lin Xuan a single glance, acting as if he was invisible.

The corridor suddenly filled with laughter.

A man sporting a slick pompadour, clad in a sharp suit, was making his way through, flanked by a group of admirers.

"Director Lee is looking particularly radiant these days, the mark of a true magnate!"

"Absolutely! Director Lee, we're counting on you for our supply channels."

"Director Lee, you seem to be getting younger by the day. You've got to lend a hand to this old classmate of yours."

Everyone was fawning over the portly, somewhat greasy-looking Director Lee.

"Hahaha, it's all good, all good," Director Lee chuckled, basking in the adulation, his eyes crinkling into slits of joy.

This man was none other than Pei Qiuyu and Guo Zipeng's college classmate, Lee Baolai. Born into wealth, he leveraged his father's connections post-graduation to run a moderately successful trading company. Lately, he was on a roll.

Business-minded classmates were tripping over themselves to get on his good side.

"Oh, my old friend! How I've missed you!"

Guo Zipeng was already throwing his arms open in welcome before he even reached Boss Lee.

Wrapping Lee Baolai in a tight embrace, Guo Zipeng exclaimed, "I was just saying, if you hadn't shown up, today would've been a drag. I would have sent someone to fetch you if necessary, hahaha!"

Guo Zipeng's warmth seemed to genuinely elevate Lee Baolai's spirits.

With a dismissive wave, Lee Baolai said nonchalantly, "I even turned down a business deal to be here—nothing major, just a cool two million."

"Please, come in and sit down. Everyone's been eagerly awaiting the arrival of our esteemed big boss!" Guo Zipeng said, laying on the flattery thick.

"Hahaha."

Lee Baolai couldn't stop grinning as he handed over a hefty red envelope, saying, "I didn't bring much for the grand opening of your Japanese restaurant, just this generous red packet."

As Guo Zipeng accepted it, he laughed and said, "Ah, that's our big boss for you—always so lavish. Thank you, I really appreciate it!"

Noticing the Ukiyoe in Guo Zipeng's grasp, Lee Baolai inquired, "What's this? Who gave it to you?"

"Oh, just a painting. I haven't even had the chance to toss it yet. Probably picked it up for a hundred or two from some decor shop—it's not valuable."

"We're not picky, especially since Qiuyu's husband is just a poor schmuck."

"Qiuyu!"

At the mention of Pei Qiuyu's name, Lee Baolai's eyes sparkled.

"I pursued her back in the day. If it weren't for her focus on her studies, she might have accepted my advances," Lee Baolai boasted with a self-satisfied air.

"It's not a guess, it's a certainty!" Guo Zipeng praised, "You've really upped your game. Just look at you, the big boss, while her husband is just a deadbeat."

With a sly grin, Guo Zipeng added, "You've got to shine at this reunion. It's a golden opportunity."

"Uh... Hahahaha!"

They shared a hearty laugh.

Everyone had taken their seats.

No sooner had Lee Baolai sat down than he turned to Xu Wanhua with a grin, "Wanhua, are you looking to invest back home this trip?"

Xu Wanhua nodded, "That's right. I'm planning to leverage my international connections for a personal shopping business. For local channels, I'll be counting on the support of my classmates."

Guo Zipeng chimed in, "You've got to toast Director Lee then. A word from him to his dad, and you're all set, right?"

Xu Wanhua quickly responded with a smile, "Absolutely, I nearly forgot. Lee Baolai's father is in customs, isn't he? I recall he was part of the management team. He's been promoted since then, hasn't he?"

Lee Baolai gave a modest nod and boasted, "Deputy Director."

"Wow, that's impressive!"

Xu Wanhua eagerly lifted her glass, "Then I must give a proper toast to Director Lee. I'll be looking forward to your support in the future!"

"Hahaha, of course, of course," Lee Baolai replied, his eyes roving over Xu Wanhua's figure with barely concealed desire, as if he could hardly contain himself.

Her figure, her looks, were simply stunning!

He had already plotted how he would use his advantageous position to get closer to this gorgeous woman.

At that moment, a female classmate sitting beside him piped up anxiously, "Director Lee, my sister just graduated with a degree in customs. Could you possibly have your uncle put in a good word for her, maybe help with an internal recruitment?"

Lee Baolai gave the classmate a cursory glance. She was so plain he couldn't even recall her name.

Still, he nodded and promised, "It's a small matter. Have her send her resume to my email, and I'll speak to my dad. Shouldn't be a problem."

"Ah! That's very kind of you, Director Lee. Here's to you..."

She was cut off mid-sentence as Lee Baolai waved his hand, signaling he wasn't interested in sharing a drink with her.

His attention quickly shifted to Pei Qiuyu.

He had come to this gathering primarily to flaunt his success in front of his attractive former female classmates.

Naturally, Pei Qiuyu and Xu Wanhua, the two beauties of the campus, were at the top of his list.

With an air of arrogance, Lee Baolai turned to Lin Xuan, seated beside Pei Qiuyu, and inquired, "Qiuyu, what's your husband up to these days?"

"Should I have a word with my dad to see if we can line up a job for him?"

Pei Qiuyu responded with a smile, "There's no need, but thank you."

Undeterred, Lee Baolai pressed on, "Come on, no need for formalities with me. It's the least I can do."

Guo Zipeng chimed in with a chuckle, "Even with your connections, Qiuyu's husband wouldn't make the cut. He's just the stay-at-home son-in-law with no special skills or education, good only for laundry and mopping floors."

"Oh, is that so?" Lee Baolai feigned a realization. "Well, that's okay. I can easily find him a spot as a security guard or janitor in my company."

The table erupted in laughter at his remark.

Many were eager to ingratiate themselves with Lee Baolai and wouldn't miss this chance to join in the mockery.

Lin Xuan, however, remained unruffled and spoke calmly, "Taking care of my wife's laundry, cooking, cleaning, escorting her to and from work, and giving her massages brings me joy you couldn't begin to understand. It's truly delightful."