C10 Discussion and Ridicule!

No sooner had Xu Lin walked through his front door than his phone rang with a call from Yue Feng. He glanced at the caller ID with a slight furrow of his brow. His interactions with Yue Feng were limited, and not without friction. He vividly remembered the last encounter on the sports field where he had publicly bested Yue Feng, much to the latter's embarrassment.

Puzzled by the timing of the call, Xu Lin wavered momentarily before answering. Yue Feng's voice came through immediately, "Xu Lin, it's Yue Feng. Brother Xing is throwing a party in Room 258 at the Karaoke this afternoon, and he made a point of having me invite you. You've got to come!"

Gu Xing had briefly mentioned the party at school, and Xu Lin had no real desire to attend. But now, with Yue Feng reaching out personally, it seemed he couldn't dodge this social bullet. "I'm aware of the party, but I can't linger. I need to leave by five; I've got other commitments tonight." Xu Lin had resolved to make an appearance, but the thought of spending excessive time at the Karaoke with that crowd held little appeal. Beyond networking, he saw no value in it.

"You're free to leave whenever you wish, just as long as you show up," Yue Feng insisted, his tone firm. "But you must come alone, no plus-ones. If you're really concerned, you can bring someone, but they must stay in the room. Without Brother Xing's say-so, no one leaves."

Xu Lin couldn't help but scoff internally. Gu Xing's crew clearly underestimated him. He had taken on the toughest guys in the ninth grade and come out on top; a solo trip to a party was hardly intimidating. "I'll come by myself. There's no need for an entourage."

Yue Feng chuckled on the other end, "If you're flying solo, then all I can do is wish you luck. I'll see you this afternoon in the room."

The call ended, and Xu Lin tossed his phone onto the couch, a cold smirk playing on his lips. "So I've ousted Yu Chengjun and claimed the top spot in ninth grade, yet the big shots at Redwood High still see me as an easy mark. Well, today I'm curious to see what sort of stunts Gu Xing and his posse have up their sleeves."

In truth, Xu Lin was at a loss to decipher Gu Xing and his cohort's intentions. If Gu Xing merely wanted to test him, there was no need to splurge on a high-end venue like Cloud Karaoke; a simple test at school would suffice. Yet, Gu Xing's invitation to join them for karaoke seemed laden with ulterior motives, something Xu Lin was inclined to believe. Up to now, Xu Lin hadn't clashed directly with Gu Xing, only with his underling Yue Feng. But Xu Lin's rapid rise had caught the eye of Gu Xing, the so-called "King of the Campus," who had clearly laid a trap. Gu Xing was either looking to recruit him or to take him down—Xu Lin couldn't see any other reason for the setup.

With over two hours to go before the gathering, Xu Lin got a call from Xue Moye and they went off to have lunch together. Since Xu Lin's last encounter with Xue Gang, the latter had taken a strong liking to him. Had Xu Lin and Xue Moye not been juniors in high school, Xue Gang might have been planning their wedding by now. Xue Gang's favorable opinion had significantly softened Xue Moye's stance toward Xu Lin. Particularly during their date the day before, Xue Moye had repeatedly hinted at wanting to establish an official romantic relationship with Xu Lin, even going so far as to create a space for them as a couple online. However, Xu Lin felt the timing wasn't right and declined her proposal, leaving their relationship in a state of playful ambiguity.

Meanwhile, in an upscale neighborhood, Yue Feng was briefing Gu Xing on the phone call. "Brother Xing, Xu Lin says he'll be coming by himself this afternoon."

"How amusing. With all of us here, Xu Lin actually has the guts to show up solo?" Gu Xing said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Though he was unaware of the trials that had transformed Xu Lin from a submissive top student to a brazen youth, Gu Xing knew Xu Lin's social circle was limited. Today's gathering wasn't just for their school group; it included some tough characters from outside their circles, and Gu Xing was certainly not expecting Xu Lin to face them on his own.

Whether Xu Lin showed up or not, it wouldn't impact Gu Xing's party. The event wasn't tailored for Xu Lin; rather, Gu Xing organized it to network with Crismond's cosplay elite, all to secure the coveted host position for the upcoming summer break. A cosplay enthusiast, Gu Xing had previously been too busy vying for the title of Big Boss at Redwood High to attend any conventions. But with Grade 12 summer vacation here, snagging the host spot would make him a prominent figure in Crismond's cosplay community.

In Crismond, every cosplay influencer started as a rookie, yet Gu Xing was convinced he could bypass that stage entirely. With his substantial connections and his father's status as CEO of Hongxing Group, he believed his wealth could fast-track him to the top. After all, Gu Xing held the view that money could make anything possible, including persuading the big shots to hand over the host position to him.

Inviting Xu Lin was merely a strategic move, as Xu Lin had a modest reputation in the cosplay circle. Gu Xing had his own agenda. "We can't afford to screw up; this gathering is crucial for me. If Xu Lin doesn't show, so be it. But if he does, we'll keep him in check until Zhao Lin arrives. Then, I'll execute a plan to stir up trouble between them. Should Xu Lin cross Zhao Lin, he'll find himself out of Crismond's cosplay scene," Gu Xing declared, his strategy already mapped out in his mind.

Yue Feng flashed a thumbs-up at Gu Xing and grinned, "Brother Xing, you're a genius!" He had long harbored a grudge against Xu Lin but was no match for him. If Gu Xing's scheme worked, it would serve Xu Lin a hefty dose of humility.

"Let's hit Cloud Karaoke," Gu Xing said, a triumphant smile on his face as he led his crew to the venue. Room 258 was an expansive, opulent suite that could fit dozens, boasting the finest amenities the karaoke joint had to offer. Today's event was set to be an unforgettable bash.

After spending two hours with Xue Moye, Xu Lin hurried over to Cloud Karaoke. Though it was his first visit, Xu Lin was well aware of the establishment's opulence. Inside, even the standard drinks cost several times more than elsewhere, and the luxury private rooms commanded a rate of two thousand yuan per hour, with the suites demanding an even higher price. Gu Xing had reserved room 288 for six hours, racking up a bill of twenty thousand yuan. Including the pre-ordered drinks and snacks, the total expenditure exceeded thirty thousand yuan.

Xu Lin was convinced that a high-profile guest must be attending the gathering; Gu Xing wouldn't otherwise splurge such an amount. Yet, Xu Lin couldn't fathom why he had been invited or what Gu Xing's intentions were. Initially, a fifteen-minute walk would have taken Xu Lin to the KTV's doorstep, but lost in thought, he ended up taking half an hour.

The Cloud Karaoke's sign was perched high above, its neon lights twinkling incessantly even in the daylight, visible from a distance. At the entrance, two greeters in traditional qipao welcomed patrons with unwavering smiles. Some bold customers, impressed by the hostesses' looks and figures, brazenly flirted with them, but the ladies responded with only smiles, careful not to offend the wealthy and influential clientele that frequented the place.

Aside from the hostesses, a group of young men with dyed hair and eccentric clothes stood by the KTV. These local ruffians were a common sight, often loitering around Cloud Karaoke in hopes of chatting up pretty girls. They looked on in confusion as Xu Lin approached; his attire was strikingly out of place. Dressed plainly on top but sporting Redwood High school pants complete with a conspicuous logo, Xu Lin was an unusual sight. It was a first for these streetwise youths to see someone who looked like a student stepping into Cloud Karaoke.

"This kid's got some serious luck. He's gotta be a flunky for some rich kid. How else would he get into Cloud Karaoke?"

"Damn, look at him—dressed like he's broke. Even if he is a flunky, he's probably at the bottom of the totem pole. What kind of luck is that?" The thugs snickered among themselves. Xu Lin paid them no mind; he had no time to waste on their chatter.

Xu Lin didn't spot Yue Feng and the others outside the KTV. He figured they must have already headed up to one of the private rooms. Ignoring the comments from the thugs, Xu Lin made his way inside the KTV. Upon entering, he was politely greeted by two hostesses.

Inside Cloud Karaoke, the small, medium, and large private rooms were distributed across the first three floors, while the expansive luxury suites were on the fourth floor and above. Room 258 was on the fourth floor. As Xu Lin arrived at the fourth-floor staircase, he caught sight of a man in a suit cornering a strikingly attractive woman near the elevator, his hand already slipping inside her clothing. Passersby turned a blind eye to the scene, prompting Xu Lin to internally remark on how the wealthy seemed to have free rein to do as they pleased.

Xu Lin, too, chose to disregard the couple's display of affection and continued on his way to Room 258. Before he could enter, the sound of a girl's enchanting singing reached his ears. Pushing the door open, he strode into the room. The occupants turned their gazes toward the newcomer, and the singing girl fell silent.

The room's occupants, confronted with the sight of a plainly dressed student, all wore expressions of confusion.