The moment those words were spoken, everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
As people striving to make a name for themselves in Zhonghai, they naturally knew Shilin Guomao Group's standing in the business world.
It was no exaggeration to say that in the field of small household appliances alone, Shilin Guomao Group was absolutely a top industry leader.
This showed just how terrifying the financial power behind the group was.
Even across all of China, its business capabilities ranked among the very best.
Now that the Zuo Family had such a major group backing them, it was no wonder everyone believed they were about to rise to prominence.
"Zuo Yikai..."
After hearing this, Qin Xueqing merely frowned slightly and showed no great reaction.
After all, she had already encountered someone far more powerful than him.
And that person was Lin Chen, the one she wanted to strive to catch up with.
Meanwhile, Cheng Gang, standing beside her, frowned tightly upon hearing that Zuo Yikai had latched onto a giant like Shilin Guomao Group.
He knew that Zuo Yikai, like himself, pursued Qin Xueqing with near-obsessive devotion.
Originally, judging by their family backgrounds, he might still have been able to compete with him.
But now, it seemed that hope had once again become slim.
"Zuo Yikai? I never expected that bastard to hook up with Shilin Guomao Group."
After hearing the news, Lin Chen also frowned slightly.
Of course, it was not because of Cheng Gang beside him, but because of himself.
Back in university, Zuo Yikai had mocked him more than once.
The two had clashed plenty of times because of it. Now that Zuo Yikai was cooperating with his own group, wasn't that practically slapping him in the face?
After today, I have to make the group cut off all cooperation with the Zuo Family.
Just as Lin Chen was considering how to have the group sever ties with the Zuo Family, the private room door opened again.
Bang!
Hearing the sound, everyone instinctively turned to look.
They discovered that the newcomer was none other than Zuo Yikai, the "main character" they had just been discussing.
Zuo Yikai was dressed in an extravagant black-and-white outfit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses as he swaggered inside.
"Oh, everyone came pretty early. Looks like I'm the last one here. Sorry about that."
Although he said he was sorry, there was not the slightest hint of apology on his face.
Clearly, in his eyes, it was only natural for ordinary people like them to wait for him.
A few quick-witted people immediately stood up with broad smiles and went to greet him.
At the same time, they showered him with flattery.
"Not at all, not at all. Even if Young Master Zuo were a few hours later, we wouldn't dare blame you."
"That's right, Young Master Zuo. With your status, who here would dare hold it against you?"
"Exactly. Young Master Zuo's willingness to attend this class reunion is already an honor for us."
Seeing everyone demean themselves just to curry favor with Zuo Yikai, even dragging everyone else down with them,
Lin Chen's brows knitted tightly.
He truly had not expected people to be this pathetic.
They were willing to throw away even their dignity just to flatter someone their way up the ladder.
Of course, the angriest person present was Cheng Gang.
He had paid to gather everyone here today in order to prepare for his upcoming confession.
Yet all the attention had been stolen by Zuo Yikai. On top of that, they were love rivals, so there was no way Cheng Gang could swallow this indignity.
But what could he do even if he could not swallow it?
Whether it was family background or the powerful backer behind him, Zuo Yikai was now stronger than the Cheng Family in every way.
That was why Cheng Gang could only glare helplessly at this moment.
At that moment, Zuo Yikai also noticed Cheng Gang seated not far ahead, staring at him.
Especially when he saw Cheng Gang's furious yet helpless expression, he felt an immense rush of satisfaction.
"Hahaha, isn't this our Young Master Cheng, Cheng Gang?"
"I have to say, Young Master Cheng, this is truly impressive. Even a class reunion has to be held at the Zhonghai Emperor International Hotel."
"I, Zuo Yikai, am truly both impressed and envious."
"If Young Master Cheng hadn't so generously treated us old classmates, I'm afraid even I, Zuo Yikai, wouldn't have had the chance to eat at the Zhonghai Emperor International Hotel."
Zuo Yikai seemed to be praising Cheng Gang, but anyone with half a brain could tell that he was mocking Cheng Gang for overestimating himself.
Even though the Zuo Family was now backed by Shilin Guomao Group, they had only eaten here a handful of times.
Yet Cheng Gang, whose family background and backing were both inferior to the Zuo Family's, actually dared to dine here. Truly impressive.
After hearing this, the classmates all instinctively turned to look at Cheng Gang.
When they saw his flushed face and trembling body, they all found it amusing.
They might have been classmates, but after several years of being tempered by society, they had long become extremely snobbish.
If they had not heard that Zuo Yikai was backed by the giant Shilin Guomao Group, they would never have mocked Cheng Gang.
After all, Cheng Gang's family was still fairly influential in Zhonghai.
But with Zuo Yikai in the picture now, everything was different.
After all, two tigers could not share one mountain.
Building a good relationship with Zuo Yikai would be far more helpful to their future careers than getting on Cheng Gang's good side.
"Zuo Yikai, don't go too far!"
Cheng Gang finally could not suppress the anger in his heart. He slammed his palm heavily on the table, then rose to his feet and glared at Zuo Yikai.
"I've gone too far? Young Master Cheng, I don't quite understand what you mean."
"Why don't you let our old classmates judge? Which part of what I just said was excessive?"
The moment he said that, several classmates who were adept at following the wind immediately changed sides.
They went from flattering Cheng Gang to becoming Zuo Yikai's lackeys.
"Exactly, Young Master Cheng. Which sentence Young Master Zuo said just now was excessive?"
"That's right. Young Master Zuo was expressing admiration and respect for you from beginning to end. How did it become 'going too far' when it reached you?"
"Sigh, if Young Master Zuo weren't so good-tempered and generous, someone else would have flown into a rage and started fighting after hearing that."
"Exactly, exactly. Young Master Zuo really has a good temper."
Everyone praised Zuo Yikai while putting Cheng Gang down, making Cheng Gang tremble uncontrollably with rage.
Not only was Cheng Gang angry, but even Qin Xueqing beside him had a flicker of anger flash through her eyes.
Of course, the only angry people were not those two. Lin Chen was angry as well.
He had deliberately lowered his own profile to make Cheng Gang look good today.
But Zuo Yikai had not only failed to show any tact, he had come over and viciously stepped on Cheng Gang instead.
Lin Chen had already felt somewhat guilty about taking away the Goddess Cheng Gang liked. After hearing those remarks, the rage in his heart was easy to imagine.
"You..."
Just as Lin Chen was about to stand and teach Zuo Yikai a lesson, Cheng Gang grabbed him.
"Lin Chen, don't act rashly."
"But he humiliated you in public. Can you really swallow this?"
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