Liu Yong observed the situation with a calm demeanor, but he couldn't help but feel a hint of disappointment. Though he was not surprised, he couldn't believe that his former classmates still engaged in petty competitions and one-upmanship.
Despite their juvenile behavior, Liu Yong maintained his composure and simply smiled.
With a nonchalant attitude, Liu Yong knew that he was on a different level than his former classmates. As Hu Guangqiang acted as the leader and announced that the group would use the AA system, Liu Yong watched as the dishes arrived individually.
Hu Guangqiang raised his glass of wine, ready to share some "good news." "Starting today, I will be promoted from a former supervisor to a manager and manage a dozen or so people."
His arrogance and desire for superiority were palpable, and Liu Yong simply shook his head at the sight of it. Hu Guangqiang had stayed the same since their college days.
Licking Dog Guo Liangtian said, "Among our classmates, Brother Hu is the most powerful. We have only graduated for more than a year, and many people are still struggling for food and clothing. Our Brother Hu has already been promoted to manager."
Hu Guangqiang basked in the glory of his promotion, while Liu Yong knew he was not impressed by his former classmate's antics.
Guo Liangtian, aware of the shaky relationship between Liu Yong and Hu Guangqiang in college, prodded Liu Yong, "Liu Yong, our brother Hu is already a manager, and he manages a dozen people under him. How about you? Tell everyone about your recent situation."
The intention was clear: to embarrass Liu Yong before their former classmates. It was a cheap shot, and even a blind person could see it.
But Liu Yong remained unfazed. He regarded his former classmates as mere clowns, different from him in level and mindset.
Huang Guang, who had a good relationship with Liu Yong, spoke up in his defense. "I think it's better to forget it. Brother Yong finally came to dinner with us, why talk about these things?"
Zhang Xianmei, another female classmate, agreed, "Yes, what Huang Guang said is right. Since Liu Yong is unwilling to talk about it, let's forget it. Everyone, enjoy the food. Chunyan has carefully ordered these dishes."
Hu Guangqiang, however, was not ready to let Liu Yong off the hook. He gave him a meaningful look, and another classmate said, "Yes, let's talk about it."
Liu Yong could see through their scheme, and he gave them a small smile. They tried to make a fool out of him, but he would not stoop to their level.
Guo Liangtian, who had been eager to belittle Liu Yong, then suggested,
"Brother Hu has been promoted to manager. What can we do if we only have food but no good wine? We must have two bottles of Moutai."
Liu Yong watched as his former classmates eagerly agreed. Wei Chunyan and Zhang Xiaomei, however, inwardly sighed. They were not heavy drinkers, and two bottles of Moutai would be costly under the AA system.
Liu Yong couldn't help but notice the expressions of the two female students when he suggested ordering Maotai. He quickly said, "Let's forget about the Maotai, it's quite expensive, and we're splitting the bill equally, which would be unfair to the two of you."
Hu Guangqiang sneered at Liu Yong's suggestion, while Guo Liangtian had a different response. "Liu Yong, don't worry about the cost, if it's a financial burden for you, we'll cover the extra amount," Guo Liangtian offered.
Liu Yong chuckled at the suggestion. No one had ever accused him of being unable to pay before. "That's not necessary, it's just two bottles of wine. I can afford it," Liu Yong replied confidently.
Guo Liangtian didn't believe Liu Yong's claim and scoffed, "Hehe, who would believe that?"
Liu Yong didn't see the point in arguing with Guo Liangtian, especially since he felt it was beneath him. If they weren't classmates, he would have left already.
Huang Guang was furious and clenched his fists tightly, while Wei Chunyan looked apologetic. She had invited Liu Yong to join them and didn't expect this situation. She felt terrible that Liu Yong had been put in an uncomfortable position.
Guo Liangtian was about to order the two bottles of Moutai when a man who appeared to be the manager approached them with two waiters.
Wei Chunyan recognized the man as Manager Luo, the food and beverage manager of Ryder Resort Hotel, who was at the same level as her boss. She was puzzled as to why he was there.
Manager Luo approached them and asked loudly, "Which of you is Mr. Liu Yong?"
Liu Yong acknowledged him and said, "I am Liu Yong."
Manager Luo introduced himself politely, "Hello, Mr. Liu. I am the manager of the catering department, and my surname is Luo. Welcome to our Ryder Resort Hotel. This is a gift from our hotel," he said as he gestured to the two bottles of Moutai.
After finishing his speech, Liu Yong gestured to the two waiters, bringing out two exquisite dishes: one filled with king crab and the other with succulent tuna sashimi. These dishes were not inexpensive, costing at least a few thousand yuan.
Liu Yong couldn't help but ask, "Manager Luo, did you make a mistake?"
Manager Luo replied with a smile, "No, not at all. As part of our presidential suite package, we offer these two dishes to all our guests who stay in this suite. Since you booked a three-day stay, we included these dishes as part of your package. I hope you enjoy them."
After his explanation, Manager Luo walked away with the two waiters, leaving the table in complete silence.
Hu Guangqiang and Guo Liangtian were stupefied, staring at Liu Yong in disbelief. Liu Yong, a man they thought couldn't even afford a bottle of Moutai, was staying in the presidential suite!
The two female students at the table, Zhang Xiaomei and Wei Chunyan were the first to break the silence. Zhang Xiaomei, who worked in the hotel's room department, asked Wei Chunyan, "How much does the presidential suite cost per night?"
Wei Chunyan responded, "It costs twenty-eight thousand yuan per night."
Zhang Xiaomei was taken aback, realizing it would take her several months' salary just to stay one night in the presidential suite. Wei Chunyan was equally surprised and asked Liu Yong, "So you really are staying in the presidential suite?"
Liu Yong nodded with a relaxed expression, feeling somewhat relieved as he looked at Hu Guangqiang and the others, who were still in shock. "Yes, I just checked in this afternoon and plan to stay for three days. Maybe I'll stay for four or five days, or even a week, depending on my schedule."
Wei Chunyan was curious about Liu Yong's identity and asked him about it earlier. Liu Yong mentioned that he started a company a few months ago, but it was still in its early stages.
Wei Chunyan assumed that Liu Yong's company was a small startup with only a handful of employees. However, after seeing him staying in the presidential suite, she realized her assumptions were wrong.
The table was left in shock and awe after discovering Liu Yong's financial situation.
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