Before Li Xiude posted that message in the group, he sent Wang Xiaoliang a private message.
His tone was very polite: Second Brother, I've organized a little outing this weekend. You have to come.
Wang Xiaoliang replied with a voice message. "Boss, bad timing. We've already bought plane tickets to Fucheng. We booked them ages ago."
He followed it with an image, a screenshot of the flight booking.
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end before a typed reply came through: "Next time, then."
Wang Xiaoliang replied with a handshake emoji.
He wasn't lying. He really had plans.
He really was going to Fucheng. This trip had two main purposes.
One was Yang Qingyu's interview. Preparations for Wei Zijin's program were already in the final stages, and one of the planned episodes was about female entrepreneurs. Yang Qingyu had been among the first guests confirmed.
The other was to return a favor.
When Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin got married, Xie Hui had flown from Fucheng to Xicheng for the wedding, bringing Cui Wanqiu, Li Yongling, and several people from the Second Mom Cafeteria. Gu Junhao had also asked him to bring along his wedding gift money.
None of them had received invitations.
Yet each had given more generously than the last.
The couple had said at the time that they had to repay that kindness. They would take everyone out for a meal and prepare a gift for each person.
When the plane landed in Fucheng, Wang Xiaoliang's phone vibrated several times in succession as soon as it reconnected to the network.
The Jiang University alumni group.
He opened it for a look.
The screen was filled with pictures.
Someone had photographed a five-star hotel lobby, with its crystal chandeliers and marble floors; someone had