「Mingyue Tea House.」
A specialty teahouse in East Sea City, it boasted top-tier tea ceremonies and unique vegetarian cuisine, though it remained inaccessible to the common person. Entry required the company of a member. Becoming a member, in turn, demanded a certain social status. An individual with a personal net worth below one million yuan, or a family with assets under ten million, was simply not eligible to apply.
Ruan Tang technically qualified, but the annual membership fee of 100,000 yuan was enough to make her hesitate.
That was why she and Xu Lai were waiting at the entrance, needing Li Jie to escort them inside.
"Ruan Tang, everyone's arrived. We were just waiting for you," Li Jie greeted her, flashing his bronze-colored membership card. The security guard at the entrance let them pass, and two smiling women in cheongsams led the way.
「Private Room 17.」
Inside sat about twenty people, men and women alike. The moment Ruan Tang and Xu Lai entered, the room fell silent as all eyes turned toward them.
They all knew that Ruan Tang's rumored "boyfriend" would be coming. But after sizing him up, they seemed somewhat disappointed, and the flames of gossip gradually died down. His looks were ordinary. His clothes were ordinary. He lacked any distinct aura, looking for all the world like a perfectly average person.
This was Ruan Tang, a legendary figure at East Sea University who had rejected countless heirs of wealthy families and sons of high-ranking officials. Cold and aloof, she was like a proud black swan.
And she was won over by this unremarkable nobody? How absurdly laughable!
"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Xu Lai, Ruan Tang's fiancé," Li Jie announced cheerfully.
A few scattered "ohs" rippled through the room before everyone immediately crowded around Li Jie. They congratulated him on his new position as general manager of the Li Group, showering him with praise about his boundless future. Several of the women even shot him flirtatious glances.
Ruan Tang and Xu Lai were left completely isolated.
Only one plain-looking woman waved happily from a corner. "Over here, over here."
Ruan Tang smiled back, also happy. It was her college roommate and best friend, Xu Yaoyao, one of the few people she still felt she could confide in.
"These opportunistic scoundrels," Xu Yaoyao fumed. "Back when we graduated, they were all sucking up to you, begging you to help get them into their dream companies. Out of consideration for your time as classmates, you helped every one of them. Now that they've heard you were kicked out of the Ruan Family, they don't even bother with a simple greeting. They've completely forgotten who got them their job offers, who their benefactor was!"
Ruan Tang, who was long used to this, replied softly, "It's normal. People strive to move up, just as water flows down."
"I just can't stand their two-faced hypocrisy!" After her rant, Xu Yaoyao stared at Ruan Tang for a long moment, making her feel a little self-conscious. "Is there something on my face?"
"No, it's just... I suddenly feel like you've gotten even prettier. Your whole aura is better," Xu Yaoyao said in surprise. "What skincare products are you using? Quick, tell me."
"With our relationship, are you still going to be so formal with me?" Ruan Tang feigned anger. "Besides, you know I never use skincare products or anything like that."
"It's not about being formal, but... oh, never mind. Let's just drink our tea," Xu Yaoyao said with a helpless sigh.
"Hey, Ruan Tang. You were the last to arrive. Don't you think you should pour some tea for your classmates to show you're sorry?" a female classmate said, her words dripping with sarcasm.
Her name was Zhu Fang. With her excellent figure and attractive looks, she would have been considered the class beauty in any other setting. But in the same class as Ruan Tang, she was reduced to being the green leaf that made the red flower stand out. This had once filled her with rage and jealousy.
Today, however, Zhu Fang was triumphant. So what if Ruan Tang had been proud and aloof? Wasn't she now just an outcast from the Ruan Family, a woman people whispered about behind her back? Meanwhile, her own husband, Song Qin, had started a successful business after graduation. His career was thriving, and she had become a wealthy socialite, living a life that countless people envied.
"Zhu Fang, there are waiters here to pour the tea. Don't take it too far," Xu Yaoyao said indignantly.
"What? Was the former young miss of the Ruan Family too dignified to lower herself? And the Ruan Tang of today can't stoop either?" Zhu Fang sneered.
"Exactly. She shows up late without a word. Who does she think she is, giving us all that attitude?"
"Ruan Tang, Zhu Fang is just looking out for you. Just pour everyone a cup of tea."
The other classmates chimed in with malicious glee. Seeing the once high-and-mighty Ruan Tang brought low, where anyone could step on her, felt exhilarating.
"Zhu Fang, don't you forget! When Song Qin's business failed and he was on the verge of suicide, it was Ruan Tang who introduced him to the right people. You two only have what you have today because of her!" Xu Yaoyao's voice rose.
"Ridiculous. Everything I have, I earned through my own hard work," Song Qin, sitting beside Zhu Fang, adjusted his tie and snorted. "It has nothing to do with anyone else!"
Xu Yaoyao was stunned by the couple's shamelessness. She rounded on Li Jie. "And you, Li Jie! You told me you would love Ruan Tang for a lifetime and asked me to put in a good word for you. Aren't you going to help?!"
Li Jie's expression flickered as he watched the scene. "It's just pouring some tea," he said lightly. "It's not a big deal."
He could have stopped all of this. But Ruan Tang had rejected him time and time again. Combined with Xu Lai's appearance today, a deep dissatisfaction had taken root in his heart. The ridicule from their old classmates today was perfect. It would let Ruan Tang see herself clearly. She was no longer some untouchable goddess but merely second-hand goods who had already borne a child. The fact that he was still willing to marry her was her great fortune!
"Ruan Tang, let's go!" Xu Yaoyao stood up, exasperated. "I'm sick of this awful teahouse. Let's go get some rice noodles instead."
Ruan Tang smiled. Her smile was as warm as a spring breeze. Thank you, my dear old classmates, for once again showing me the fickleness of human nature. And for letting me see through Li Jie's gentlemanly facade. This tea... it had to be poured.
"Yaoyao, sit down." Ruan Tang's expression was placid as she reached for the teapot, only to find another hand had already picked it up.
It was Xu Lai.
"Give it to me," Ruan Tang said. She had endured far more humiliating things than this; pouring a little tea was nothing.
"I'll do it." As Ruan Tang watched him with a complicated expression, Xu Lai calmly filled each of the teacups.
And Li Jie? The man who had sworn he would give her a happy future, who promised he would be good to Yiyi... what was he doing? Just watching coldly from the sidelines. The sight made Xu Yaoyao so furious she nearly started cursing out loud.
"Alright, alright, we're all classmates. No need for things to get so tense," Li Jie said cheerfully, picking up his teacup. "We haven't seen each other in five years. Let's have a drink together."
"Come, come, cheers!" Cups clinked together, but aside from Xu Yaoyao, no one toasted Ruan Tang or Xu Lai.
Soon, the specialty vegetarian dishes were brought to the table. Everyone dug in heartily, the conversation still revolving around flattering Li Jie, punctuated by occasional mocking remarks from Zhu Fang and Song Qin aimed at Ruan Tang and Xu Lai.
"Young Master Li, this meal must have cost a fortune, right?" a classmate remarked.
"Not much, just a few tens of thousands," Li Jie said, putting down his chopsticks. He added with a hint of regret, "Mingyue Tea House has two VIP private rooms, Fenghua Pavilion and Snowmoon Pavilion. I had intended for us to gather in Fenghua Pavilion, but my uncle told me it was booked by someone important today. Otherwise, dining with a window overlooking the sea would have been incredibly atmospheric."
"You're too kind, Young Master Li," someone complimented.
"Your uncle works at Mingyue Tea House?" Zhu Fang asked, her eyes lighting up.
"Heh, my uncle is the manager here," Li Jie said, feigning modesty.
All the classmates were stunned, their gazes toward Li Jie filled with envy.
The owner of Mingyue Tea House was rumored to have an immense background. He was a complete mystery, as no one had ever laid eyes on him. Yet in all of East Sea City, from hedonistic young heirs to high-ranking officials, no one dared to cause trouble at Mingyue Tea House.
When members of ordinary wealthy families or government officials came to dine, the manager would never make an appearance. Only for the most distinguished guests—such as the heads of families with assets exceeding one hundred million, or the very top officials of East Sea City—would the manager personally appear to offer tea and wine on behalf of the owner. This alone showcased the owner's formidable background.
To be a manager in such a place was no simple feat; it meant one had already stepped into the true upper echelons of society.
"A Third Grade official at the Prime Minister's gate"—this saying was no empty platitude.
"The commercial building in the city center is being redeveloped. Although my family didn't win the main bid, my uncle put in a word with the teahouse owner, and we were able to get a piece of the action." Speaking of his uncle, Li Jie was filled with arrogance.
Song Qin, who was in the building materials business, had his eyes light up at these words.
Zhu Fang's eyes glinted. She raised her glass and sidled up to Li Jie with a coquettish smile. "Young Master Li, you simply must look after our Song Qin."