One Mountain Cannot Accommodate Two Tigers

With those words, everyone collectively gasped.

As someone who had worked hard in Zhonghai, they naturally knew the Shilin Guomao Group's standing in the business world.

It was no exaggeration to say that in the small appliance sector alone, the Shilin Guomao Group was an absolute top-tier leading enterprise.

This showed how formidable the financial backing behind this group was.

Even looking at the entire Huaxia, their business acumen was second to none.

Now that the Zuo Family had such a large group backing them, it was no wonder people thought they were about to prosper.

"Zuo Yikai..."

Qin Xueqing's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing this, but she didn't have much of a reaction.

After all, she had already witnessed individuals far more powerful than him.

And that powerful individual was Lin Chen, whom she aimed to strive for and catch up to.

On the other hand, Cheng Gang, standing beside her, frowned tightly upon hearing that Zuo Yikai had hitched himself to the Shilin Guomao Group.

He knew in his heart that Zuo Yikai, like him, pursued Qin Xueqing with an almost obsessive devotion.

Originally, based on family background, he might have been able to compete.

But now, it seemed his hopes had once again become slim.

"Zuo Yikai? I didn't expect this guy to get involved with the Shilin Guomao Group."

Hearing this news, Lin Chen's brow also furrowed slightly.

Of course, it wasn't because of Cheng Gang beside him, but because of himself.

Back in college, this Zuo Yikai had mocked him quite a bit.

They had clashed over it more than once, and now he was cooperating with his own group – wasn't this slapping himself in the face?

"After today, I must make the group sever ties with the Zuo Family."

Just as Lin Chen was contemplating how to have the group cut off cooperation with the Zuo Family, the private room door was opened again.

Clang!

Hearing the commotion, everyone instinctively turned their heads.

They saw that the person who had entered was none other than the 'protagonist' they had just been discussing, Zuo Yikai.

Zuo Yikai was dressed in a luxurious black and white outfit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and swaggered in.

"Yo, you all arrived quite early. Looks like I'm the last one here, my apologies."

Although he said he was sorry, his expression showed no hint of remorse.

Clearly, in his eyes, making ordinary people like them wait for him was only natural.

Some quick-witted individuals, upon hearing this, immediately stood up and greeted him with beaming smiles.

At the same time, they showered him with flattery:

"Not at all, Young Master Zuo. Even if you were a few hours late, we wouldn't dare blame you."

"Yes, Young Master Zuo. With your status, who among us here would dare to blame you?"

"Exactly. It's an honor that Young Master Zuo would grace this reunion with his presence."

Seeing everyone demeaning themselves to curry favor and climb the ladder, even covering everyone else in their praise, Lin Chen's brow furrowed tightly.

He truly couldn't believe people could be so spineless.

They would even abandon their dignity just to flatter their way up.

Of course, the angriest person present was none other than Cheng Gang.

He was the one paying for everyone to gather today, all in preparation for his upcoming confession.

But now, Zuo Yikai had stolen all the spotlight. Moreover, they were rivals in love, so Cheng Gang absolutely could not swallow this insult.

But what could he do about it?

In terms of family background and the powerful backing he had, Zuo Yikai was far more formidable than his own Cheng Family.

This left Cheng Gang only able to glare helplessly.

At this moment, Zuo Yikai also saw Cheng Gang, who was sitting not too far ahead, looking at him.

Especially seeing Cheng Gang's exasperated expression, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

"Hahaha, isn't this our Young Master Cheng Gang."

"I must say, Young Master Cheng's gesture is truly grand, choosing to hold a class reunion at the Zhonghai Emperor International Hotel."

"I, Zuo Yikai, am truly both impressed and envious."

"If not for Young Master Cheng generously treating us old classmates, I, Zuo Yikai, probably wouldn't even get to taste the food at the Zhonghai Emperor International Hotel."

Although Zuo Yikai seemed to be praising Cheng Gang, anyone with eyes could tell he was mocking the latter's overestimation of his own abilities.

Even their Zuo Family, now backed by the Shilin Guomao Group, hadn't dined here more than a few times.

But here was Cheng Gang, with a family background and backing inferior to the Zuo Family, daring to come here to eat. Truly impressive.

Upon hearing this, the classmates present all turned to look at Cheng Gang subconsciously.

Seeing his face flushed red with anger and his body trembling, they all found it amusing.

Although they were all classmates, after a few years of societal tempering, they had become incredibly snobbish.

If they hadn't heard that Zuo Yikai was backed by the Shilin Guomao Group, they would never have laughed at Cheng Gang.

After all, his family was still quite decent in Zhonghai.

But now, with Zuo Yikai present, everything changed.

After all, two tigers cannot share one mountain.

Building a good relationship with the former would be far more beneficial to their future careers than building one with Cheng Gang.

"Zuo Yikai, you're going too far!"

Cheng Gang finally couldn't suppress the anger in his heart. He slammed the table heavily, then stood up and stared intently at Zuo Yikai.

"I'm going too far? Young Master Cheng, I don't understand what you mean."

"Let these old classmates be the judge. Where were my words excessive?"

As soon as he said this, some of the opportunistic classmates immediately changed their allegiance.

From flattering Cheng Gang before, they now became Zuo Yikai's lackeys.

"That's right, Young Master Cheng. Young Master Zuo's words just now were excessive."

"Exactly. Young Master Zuo was admiring and respecting you, Young Master Cheng, from beginning to end. How did it become excessive when it came to you?"

"Alas, if it weren't for Young Master Zuo's good temper and magnanimity, if it were someone else hearing those words, they would have probably flown into a rage and started a fight."

"Exactly, exactly. Young Master Zuo really has a good temper."

Everyone raised Zuo Yikai up and belittled Cheng Gang, causing the latter to tremble uncontrollably with anger.

Not only Cheng Gang was angry, but Qin Xueqing beside him also had a flicker of anger flash in her eyes.

Of course, the two of them weren't the only ones angry; Lin Chen was too.

He had deliberately lowered his status to highlight Cheng Gang today.

But Zuo Yikai, instead of having this awareness, had ruthlessly stepped on Cheng Gang.

Lin Chen already felt somewhat guilty for taking the Goddess that the latter liked. Now, hearing these remarks, his anger was understandable.

"You..."

Just as Lin Chen was about to stand up and teach Zuo Yikai a lesson, Cheng Gang pulled him back.

"Lin Chen, don't act rashly."

"But he's publicly humiliating you like this. Can you stand it?"