A Lifelong Lesson

"What about this one? What's this dish called?"

Lin Chen pointed at the two large yellow croakers on the platter.

Even when he had been poor, he had eaten this kind of large yellow croaker before, at least a little.

What drew his curious gaze, aside from the name of the dish, was naturally its decorative presentation.

The two enormous yellow croakers looked like freshly caught live fish, leaping straight into the air and suspended there.

Like a pair of rivals, they were tightly entwined with each other.

It was as though they were fighting over something important.

"Hello, sir. This is also one of our hotel chefs' signature specialties. It's called Two Fish Play Dragon Gate."

"Two Fish Play Dragon Gate?"

Lin Chen silently repeated the name to himself, before he could say anything else.

Cheng Gang immediately slapped the table and laughed. "What a brilliant Two Fish Play Dragon Gate! As expected of the imperial chef at Zhonghai's Emperor Hao Grand Hotel. This creativity is simply incredible."

"Although the fish have already been cooked, the chef's ingenious plating makes them feel as though they might come alive."

"From their leaping bodies to their posture as they compete to play at the Dragon Gate, every detail is brimming with creativity."

"I have to admit, the imperial chefs at Zhonghai's Emperor Hao Grand Hotel are truly skilled."

Everyone secretly nodded in agreement with Cheng Gang's words.

After all, these dishes were no longer merely dishes. They were like breathtaking masterpieces, making people gasp and marvel without realizing it.

Seeing everyone amazed by the hotel's food, Cheng Gang, as the organizer of this gathering, was especially pleased.

After all, there was great significance behind what he had done today.

Now that he had won everyone's approval, Qin Xueqing would naturally gain their approval as well.

However, where there were happy people, there were naturally unhappy ones—especially Zuo Yikai, Cheng Gang's sworn rival.

When he saw everyone satisfied with Cheng Gang's arrangements, he felt an indescribable discomfort in his heart.

"Hmph. The hotel chefs may be good, but Cheng Gang, aren't you taking everyone a little too lightly?"

"Everyone finally got the chance to come to such a grand hotel. We originally thought we'd be having rare delicacies from the mountains and seas."

"But in the end, you're serving everyone these ordinary home-style dishes? Isn't that a little hard to justify?"

"Of course, I don't mean anything else by it."

"I just don't understand why, since you chose to hold the class reunion at the Emperor Hao Grand Hotel, you wouldn't pick the hotel's most expensive dishes to treat everyone."

"Otherwise, it would have been more worthwhile to eat at some street stall outside."

"I wonder whether all of you classmates here agree with what I, Zuo Yikai, just said?"

It had to be said that Zuo Yikai's words were rather vicious.

Although he did not openly call Cheng Gang stingy, every word implied that Cheng Gang's hospitality this time was far too low-class.

He had even dragged everyone else into the conflict.

Under normal circumstances, no one would have thought much of it.

After all, the food was made by the Emperor Hao Grand Hotel. Even ordinary home-style dishes would be expensive and excellent.

Besides, they had only gotten the chance to dine here thanks to Cheng Gang.

Otherwise, they would never have had the opportunity to eat a meal here in their entire lives.

But this time was different. Zuo Yikai had spoken those words while relying on his family's backing from a powerful patron.

Every word was a warning to them that two paths now lay before them.

Would they choose Zuo Yikai, or Cheng Gang?

If they chose wrong, they could forget about getting by in Zhonghai in the future.

As soon as those words came out, everyone's expressions changed repeatedly.

They had fawned over Zuo Yikai for the sake of their future prospects, but being threatened so openly still made them uncomfortable.

But then again, what could they do even if they were uncomfortable?

They all came from ordinary families. How could they possibly challenge Zuo Yikai, the young master of the Zuo Family, which had the Shilin Guomao Group behind it?

After hearing those words, although everyone felt deeply uncomfortable, they still forced smiles and echoed his sentiments.

"Zuo Yikai..."

Cheng Gang stared fixedly at Zuo Yikai, his hands clenched so tightly that they crackled.

Clearly, his anger at Zuo Yikai's repeated provocations had already reached its limit.

However, just as Cheng Gang was about to completely fall out with Zuo Yikai, Lin Chen pulled him back.

"Don't be impulsive. Endure it a little longer."

"Since I, Lin Chen, promised you, I will definitely keep my word."

"Once this class reunion is over, I'll make sure he receives a lesson he'll never forget for the rest of his life."

"But..."

"Trust me."

Cheng Gang had originally wanted to say more, because he knew Lin Chen's family background perfectly well.

For Lin Chen to give Zuo Yikai a lifelong lesson was simply a fool's dream—harder than climbing to the heavens.

No matter what, he could not believe it.

But when Cheng Gang saw the firm look on Lin Chen's face, he began to hesitate.

He knew what Lin Chen was like. Lin Chen had always meant what he said and never bragged.

If anyone else had said such a thing, Cheng Gang would not have believed a word of it.

But if it was Lin Chen, it was truly different.

Moreover, Lin Chen had said this more than once today, and his eyes were so certain. Perhaps...

For a moment, Cheng Gang actually began to believe him a little.

Especially when he saw Lin Chen's current demeanor, his belief became even firmer.

"Lin Chen's entire presence is completely different from when we were in college. It's practically a world of difference."

"A person's aura doesn't change so easily unless they've spent a long time associating with important people..."

"It seems Lin Chen has probably met quite a few powerful figures while struggling in society over these past years."

"Those powerful figures might even have backgrounds more terrifying than the Shilin Guomao Group."

At that thought, the rage on Cheng Gang's face gradually began to fade.

Not far away, Zuo Yikai had been watching Cheng Gang from beginning to end.

When he saw Cheng Gang fly into a rage, a strange smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

As long as Cheng Gang lost his temper and dared to attack him, he would no longer have any reservations.

Even if Qin Xueqing stepped in to stop it, he could justifiably use the powerful backing behind him to completely erase Cheng Gang and his family from Zhonghai.

Yet what surprised him was that Cheng Gang's barely contained rage had actually been soothed by just a few words from Lin Chen.

He could not understand it.

They were too far apart, and Lin Chen and Cheng Gang had deliberately lowered their voices, so he had not heard what they said.

Of course, it was not just him. Even the old classmates sitting beside them looked confused and had no idea what was going on.

"This Lin Chen really is an eyesore."

"Such a perfect opportunity was ruined by just a few words from him."

"I have no idea what that kid said to Cheng Gang to make him hold himself back even while he was so furious."

"He really is detestable."