Chapter 1115: Chapter 481: The Engagement Banquet

October 1st, the school officially went on vacation.

It was also the day of Milk Tea Sister and Liu Dongqiang’s engagement, which was quite a big deal for the Jinling Business District. After all, Zhang Tianze’s family held a certain status in the business district, and Liu Dongqiang was a prominent businessman on a national scale. The union of these two families was indeed noteworthy, and it wasn’t an exaggeration to say it caused a stir throughout Jinling.

The venue was the largest and most luxurious Shangri-La Hotel in Jinling at the time.

Zhou Yuwen drove his newly purchased Porsche early in the morning to pick up Li Shiqi from Jinling University. Originally planning to wait downstairs for a while, he didn’t expect Li Shiqi to be eagerly waiting, already standing downstairs in her newly bought red dress, paired with nude high heels. The dress was a long gown, revealing just a portion of her slender, fair ankle, giving it an elegant and graceful look.

Standing prettily under the morning sun in front of the dormitory was truly a delightful sight.

Zhou Yuwen parked the car and asked, “Have you been waiting long?”

Li Shiqi smiled and shook her head, saying no, she had just arrived.

“Hmm.”

Zhou Yuwen responded, lightly stepping on the accelerator to prepare to leave, but glanced up to see three heads peeking out from the dormitory, watching them.

Zhou Yuwen was a bit embarrassed and said, “Uh, those three, they must be your roommates, right?”

If Zhou Yuwen hadn’t mentioned it, Li Shiqi wouldn’t have noticed. She saw them and laughed sheepishly, and Zhou Yuwen asked if she wanted to go say hello.

Li Shiqi said no need.

“They just want to take a look at you.”

“What’s there to look at? It’s not like they haven’t seen me before,” Zhou Yuwen chuckled as he started the car. Since Li Shiqi said there was no need, Zhou Yuwen didn’t insist on getting out.

He just didn’t understand what those three girls were doing peeking like that.

Li Shiqi told Zhou Yuwen that he was different from before now.

“Many students at our school really admire you.” Li Shiqi said this with a hint of respect.

Zhou Yuwen was somewhat surprised and laughed, “Really? You outstanding students admire me too?”

“No.” This comment left Li Shiqi unsure how to respond.

In today’s society, money talks, and although Zhou Yuwen’s academic credentials were not on par with Jinling University, likely no one from Jinling University would match Zhou Yuwen’s achievements.

So it’s normal for some to admire Zhou Yuwen.

Zhou Yuwen told Li Shiqi, “You shouldn’t be like them. You need to focus on studying hard.”

“Making money is something only people like me, with not-so-bright minds, resort to when they can’t study anymore. People like you, with a sharp mind, who don’t pursue academics for the betterment of the nation, it’s truly a pity.”

Zhou Yuwen’s words seemed a bit self-deprecating, and luckily, it was 2014, otherwise, Li Shiqi would have accurately described it with one word.

Versailles!

Yes, Zhou Yuwen was indeed being very Versailles in his statements.

Li Shiqi didn’t know how to respond, saying that if given the choice, she would rather be like Zhou Yuwen and make a lot of money.

She said it would be great if Zhou Yuwen could guide her.

There was a hint in her words that she wanted to join Zhou Yuwen’s company.

The girl clearly needed money, and although she had been given dealership rights for phone cards, her family circumstances made her endlessly eager to earn money. After all, her motivation for studying hard back then was merely to escape her family.

Zhou Yuwen told Li Shiqi, “Your future won’t lack money, really, your current task is to study. If you start earning money now, you might make a lot, but your life won’t progress further. But if you focus on your studies now, your future will be different.”

Li Shiqi found it amusing and said sometimes she herself doesn’t even know what tomorrow will bring.

How could she talk about life moving to the next level?

“If you need money, I could sponsor you.”

“Thanks, but I’d prefer to rely on my own abilities.”

With that, their conversation ended. Zhou Yuwen always hoped not to alter some people’s futures with his rebirth, but ultimately, they were changed by him.

Arriving at the Shangri-La Hotel, the luxury of the place completely overturned Li Shiqi’s expectations. The entire hotel was like a palace.

Liu Dongqiang and Zhang Tianze stood in the front hall welcoming guests,

19-year-old Zhang Tianze had her hair up and wore a red cheongsam, portraying a youthful girl yet carrying the charm of a wife. With her looks being internet-famous, Milk Tea Sister’s beauty was indeed striking, embodying the saying of natural beauty needs no adornment.

Of course, at the age of forty, Liu Dongqiang was impeccable himself, dressed in a suit and exuding confidence. The two stood together.

Whoever came by had to acknowledge the handsome couple.

Liu Dongqiang, with Zhang Tianze by his side, greeted everyone with handshakes and laughter.

Zhou Yuwen brought Li Shiqi along, and Liu Dongqiang was delighted to see Zhou Yuwen, greeting him warmly from afar and shaking his hand, saying, “I’m so happy you could come!”

Zhou Yuwen handed over his prepared red envelope, smiling, “Congratulations, Brother Dong, congratulations, sister-in-law.”

Previously, Zhou Yuwen had never referred to Zhang Tianze as sister-in-law; his sudden address left Zhang Tianze a bit flustered, her cheeks turning red as she said, “Ah, how could you call me that, you knew me first, right?”

Her adorable demeanor made both Liu Dongqiang and Zhou Yuwen laugh, and Liu Dongqiang said, “What you call her doesn’t matter.”

Zhou Yuwen then introduced Li Shiqi smoothly, saying she was a friend of his.

Liu Dongqiang glanced at Li Shiqi and looked at Zhou Yuwen with envy, saying meaningfully, “Youth is good.”

Zhou Yuwen said, “Brother Dong, you’re not old at all.”

“Sister-in-law is in her prime, you two make a perfect couple.”

Zhou Yuwen made a few flattering remarks, and after exchanging pleasantries for a bit, Liu Dongqiang had someone show Zhou Yuwen in to find a seat.

He told Zhou Yuwen to go in first and that he would come find him later.

In engagements like this, there weren’t that many people. Most were friends of the bride’s side, and on Liu Dongqiang’s side, besides some relatives from Su Bei, there were friends from the business sector in Jinling.

There were about thirty tables, and the hall was crowded with people.

There were many people Zhou Yuwen recognized.

Li Shiqi had just seen two big names and was momentarily overwhelmed. She might not be familiar with businessmen like Liu Dongqiang, but she knew Zhang Tianze.

Seeing Zhang Tianze in person, she thought Zhang Tianze looked even better than online, truly exuding an ethereal aura.

She wondered how such a girl could choose someone who could be her father.

Zhou Yuwen asked Li Shiqi what she was thinking about?

Li Shiqi shook her head and said no.

Zhou Yuwen chuckled. As he held Li Shiqi’s hand and walked forward with Liu Dongqiang’s subordinates, he said to Li Shiqi, “Do you know how much personal wealth that Brother Dong has?”

“How much?” Li Shiqi really didn’t know this.

Zhou Yuwen raised two fingers.

Having seen little of the world, Li Shiqi, who had now seen a bit more, blurted out, “Two hundred million?”

Zhou Yuwen said, “Twenty billion.”

“!” This made Li Shiqi gasp, unable to even imagine, and she even said, “Does that mean he has more money than you?”

Zhou Yuwen found this even more amusing. He said, “Isn’t that obvious? Not to mention him having more money than me, there are plenty of people in this room with more money than me.”

After all, having spent some time with Jiang Xinyi, he had met many successful people in Jinling. Now was a good time to tell Li Shiqi about them.

For instance, sitting there was the famous Furniture King of Jinling, with assets of at least seven or eight billion.

“And over there, the most famous head of a law firm in Jinling.”

Zhou Yuwen turned to introduce them to Li Shiqi, and each person’s identity and fortune made her heart race.

After he finished the introductions, Zhou Yuwen couldn’t help but think to himself that there were indeed so many wealthy people around.

He whispered to Li Shiqi jokingly.

Just then, someone came over to greet him, “Hey, Brother Zhou!”

“Brother Zhou, come sit over here!”

One familiar face after another proactively invited Zhou Yuwen.

At the time Zhou Yuwen broke up with Jiang Xinyi, there was already a rift between him and the local business circles in Jinling. Logically, these people shouldn’t really be paying attention to Zhou Yuwen.

But who would have thought that this fellow Zhou Yuwen could make so much money?

And it’s money from the financial sector.

Now, Zhou Yuwen suddenly became the hot commodity among these people.

Local businessmen may have money, but they don’t know how to make it multiply.

So they liked people like Zhou Yuwen, who knew how to make money grow.

Even if Liu Jing had already spread the word, saying she didn’t like Zhou Yuwen.

These people would still grin and come over to make friends with Zhou Yuwen.

They even warmly invited Zhou Yuwen to sit down and have a good chat with him.

“Mr. Zhou, even if you don’t give me face, surely you should give Mr. Zhu some face, right? I know you two are as close as siblings!” the person said, pointing at Zhu Hong, who was sitting there.

If he hadn’t mentioned it, Zhou Yuwen wouldn’t have even noticed Zhu Hong.

And there was Zhu Hong sitting elegantly, wearing a dark golden cocktail dress, with a pearl necklace around her neck. When she saw Zhou Yuwen looking over, she gave a slight smile.

Zhou Yuwen said, “Sister Hong, you’re here too?”

Zhu Hong laughed and asked, “Why, can’t I come?”

“Of course you can. I just figured most people here are local folks. Do you know Brother Dong as well?” Zhou Yuwen asked curiously.

Zhu Hong told Zhou Yuwen that she actually didn’t know Liu Dongqiang.

She came this time as a representative for her boss.

Oh, that made sense. In such a setting, Zhu Hong could network and make connections.

Zhu Hong looked at Li Shiqi behind Zhou Yuwen with interest and asked when he found a new girlfriend.

Li Shiqi lowered her head and said nothing.

Zhou Yuwen chuckled and said, what girlfriend?

“Just an old high school classmate, brought her along to broaden her horizons.”

“Oh, Mr. Zhou, when will you take me to broaden my horizons?” Zhu Hong’s words were still as sharp and tricky as ever.

Zhou Yuwen thought that wherever he sat, he’d just be sitting, so why not sit next to Zhu Hong, at least he’d have someone familiar to chat with.

But then the person guiding him told Zhou Yuwen that he should sit at the front two tables, which were for the groom’s friends and family.

“?” Zhou Yuwen was taken aback when he heard this.

This has to be a joke; he wasn’t part of the groom’s friends and family.

But the person insisted, “This was Director Liu’s instruction, Mr. Zhou, let’s sit up front.”

After hearing this, Zhou Yuwen glanced over at Zhu Hong sitting there.

Even Zhu Hong was quite surprised.

After all, Liu Dongqiang is now a prominent figure in the internet business circle. Who’d have thought he’d be on such good terms with Zhou Yuwen? Sitting at the friends and family table?

Zhu Hong was somewhat curious about how Zhou Yuwen and Liu Dongqiang came to know each other.

But she didn’t ask, and just smiled and said, “Since Director Liu wants you over there, then you should go. We can catch up anytime, today is Director Liu’s big day.”

Zhou Yuwen nodded and, holding Li Shiqi’s hand, said, “Sister, I’ll head over then.”

“Hmm.”

As Zhou Yuwen was leaving, he saw a woman in a black business suit, looking like a career woman, sit down beside Zhu Hong.

Zhu Hong was initially taken aback when she saw who it was, then she smiled.

She thought to herself, it made sense since half of Jinling’s business circle was here.

How could she not come?

“Quite a coincidence,” Zhu Hong muttered to herself.

“What?” The newcomer, who was quite familiar with Zhu Hong, was puzzled upon hearing this.

Zhu Hong smiled and said, “He just left, and you come in, wouldn’t you say that’s a coincidence?”