Everyone's Losses

In Zhou Liang's plan, he would first lead Liu Shang to another table and separate him from Jiang Ruolin.

However, contrary to his expectations, Liu Shang did not become flustered upon suddenly arriving at such a grand occasion, nor did he let Zhou Liang manipulate him as he pleased. Instead, he smiled and declined Zhou Liang's guidance, standing there and waiting a few seconds for Jiang Ruolin to catch up.

After warning Tan Feng, Jiang Ruolin hurried inside. The moment she saw Liu Shang standing there waiting, she let out a long sigh of relief.

Then Jiang Ruolin smiled, linked her arm through Liu Shang's, and led him to a table she knew well and trusted.

"Ruolin, you finally made it!"

"Yeah, we've all been waiting for you!"

"Oh? Could this be the legendary one?"

"Haha, Ruolin, aren't you going to introduce him to us?"

There were mostly girls at this table. Aside from Liu Shang, there were only two boys, both the quiet and refined type.

Amid everyone's teasing, Jiang Ruolin graciously nudged Liu Shang a small step forward. "Here, let me introduce him. This is my boyfriend, Liu Shang."

At first, everyone had merely been teasing and joking around. But when Jiang Ruolin really introduced Liu Shang and openly announced that he was her boyfriend, it still caused a wave of startled cries and chaos.

No one could believe that the rumors were true. Jiang Ruolin, a true gem and campus-beauty material, had found such an ordinary, unremarkable, unknown boyfriend.

Forget the people around Tan Feng—even Jiang Ruolin's closest friends did not think much of her choice.

So, most of those seated only gave Liu Shang a polite smile before gathering around Jiang Ruolin to chat with her.

Liu Shang did not mind their behavior in the slightest. He simply sat there quietly, enjoying his own exclusive supreme treatment.

Perhaps worried that Liu Shang might feel uncomfortable in this setting, Jiang Ruolin, who was surrounded by everyone and had no chance to talk with him, quietly placed her hand over his.

However, the pleasant moment did not last long. Two girls seated not too far from Liu Shang took the initiative to speak with him, perhaps out of kindness.

Once they started chatting, they were quickly drawn in by the interesting topics Liu Shang brought up.

Combined with Liu Shang's conversational style—calm as a lake on the surface yet witty, humorous, and effortlessly stylish—the two girls were occasionally amused into laughter.

Before long, several people nearby were drawn over as well and joined the lively conversation. Liu Shang had completely livened up that section of the table.

Jiang Ruolin, who had secretly worried that Liu Shang would be nervous and bored in such an environment, could not help grumbling inwardly, This guy is even more popular with girls than I imagined!

At the same time, she playfully flicked his palm.

Seeing the change in atmosphere around their table, Zhou Liang, who had been watching from not far away, frowned to himself. Then he walked to the front of the banquet hall, formally drawing back the curtain on this war without smoke.

"Dear classmates and friends, good evening!"

"As tonight's banquet host, I'll keep this brief..."

"...In short, tonight's theme and goal is for everyone to have a great time!"

"Now then, let's eat!"

It had to be said that Zhou Liang was quite talented. Under his lead, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively.

Especially when he announced that the dishes were being served and it was time to eat, everyone cheered and applauded with smiles.

"Hehe, while the dishes are being served, I have another piece of good news to share."

"Our gathering tonight was originally going to be split equally, but our group leader, Tan Feng, has said that he'll be treating everyone and covering tonight's expenses. He also hopes everyone has a wonderful time."

"Now, let's give Tan Feng a round of warm applause!"

As expected, the banquet atmosphere surged even higher. Many people deliberately or casually shouted, "Young Master Feng is awesome!"

"Brother Feng is generous and mighty!"

At that very moment, the two refined-looking male students at Jiang Ruolin and Liu Shang's table, who were somewhat effeminate, suddenly became animated and began putting on a rehearsed routine together.

"Tan Feng truly deserves to be the group leader. He's so cool."

"Exactly. Looking at tonight's spending level, it must be several thousand at least!"

"Tsk, tsk, absolutely. Men should be like this—young and rich. That's the only way to win girls' affection."

"Exactly, exactly. Compared to those mediocre poor boys, someone like Brother Feng is far more worthy of being entrusted with a lifetime."

Perhaps because they had rehearsed it many times, and because they were nervous, the two went overboard with their emotional delivery. Everyone at the table got goosebumps.

Besides feeling disgusted, Jiang Ruolin frowned almost imperceptibly. What she had been worried about was finally beginning.

As for Liu Shang, he chuckled inwardly. So these two effeminate guys were plants specifically arranged for this?

Thus, seemingly absentmindedly, he gave the two of them an amused look.

"Could you two please lower your voices when you speak? If Tan Feng heard how nauseatingly you two want to entrust your lives to him, I'd wager he'd be so embarrassed that he'd immediately take back his offer to pay for everyone."

"That would be everyone's loss!"

Since Liu Shang had already gotten along with everyone at the table, their sense of rejection toward him had long vanished.

His words naturally reached everyone's ears without any deliberate filtering.

As a result, upon hearing his somewhat wicked yet extremely witty and humorous remark, the two girls drinking juice at the table immediately sprayed it out laughing.

The others were only slightly better off. A moment earlier, they had been disgusted by the two effeminate guys, and the next they heard Liu Shang's delightfully hilarious words. At once, everyone doubled over with laughter.

Even Jiang Ruolin, who had been rapidly thinking about how to deal with the situation, failed to hold it in and burst out laughing.

Still laughing, she rested her head against Liu Shang's arm and lightly punched him twice.

Seeing their reaction, the two effeminate boys, already nervous and mentally fragile, instantly felt humiliated by everyone.

Their anger flared. They slammed their hands on the table and stood up, and under everyone's astonished gazes, one of them struck an orchid-finger pose. "You people! So mean!"

After saying that, the two angrily flicked their hands, turned around, and strode away.

That only made everyone at the table laugh even harder. A few girls laughed until their stomachs hurt.