"You, Guodong!" Zhang Guodong shook hands with him. He smiled slightly, offering a handshake. He plopped down to Zhang Guodong's right, clearly intending to continue the conversation.

To be honest, Zhang Guodong's group was small, only four or five people. Zhang Guodong only now realized that the gathering wasn't just for students from classes four, five, and seven; there were also classmates and outsiders. However, no one paid much attention to this, treating the small gathering as a social circle—a social circle within the community.

Seeing this, Zhang Guodong's interest waned. While he understood everyone's dedication to their careers and their eagerness to advance and build connections, the involvement of outsiders at a class reunion distorted its essence, making it too mercenary. This left him somewhat disappointed.

"Where do you work, buddy?" Zheng Shuai asked enthusiastically, appearing quite forthright. A shrewd air emanated from him. Indeed, Zheng Shuai worked in the Comprehensive Department of Anchang District, but was currently unemployed and unappreciated by his superiors.

Zhang Guodong barely recognized the man, and simply smiled and said, "Just doing some small business to make a living."

"No way? You must be kidding me. You don't look like a small business owner, you seem like a big boss who's keeping a low profile!" Zheng Shuai looked at him with disbelief and suspicion.

The big boss? He himself didn't believe it. But since Zhang Guodong didn't say anything, he couldn't press further.

Pao Yan, standing next to her, was also a little skeptical. She remembered Zhang Guodong. Especially when she heard her friends gossiping about Zhang Guodong's crush on her, she felt uneasy. Back then, Zhang Guodong really didn't seem particularly outstanding. He'd changed a lot now, quite handsome, with deep eyes. He gave off a sense of security and was very attractive to women.

Fortunately, Zheng Shuai didn't press the matter further. Instead, he chatted with Bao Yan and her stylishly dressed companion, Liu Yun. He kept recounting gossip about officialdom, even complaining about his incompetent superior. This amused the two women, who listened curiously to the stories of official life.

Zhang Guodong could tell that Zheng Shuai was quite humorous.

However, in official circles, no one would dare hire him as a secretary to a leader. He has too much of a mouth; he dares to say anything. This is a major taboo in officialdom!

However, everyone was only about three years out of college, and none of them were particularly adept at these seasoned tricks. They were all trying their best to impress others. In no time, Zhang Guodong had figured out the professions of most of the people in the VIP room. What could he do? Even if the VIP room was large, could it really cover more than two kilometers?

After a while, when everyone had chatted casually enough, the host, Liu Tao, asked for everyone's opinions before announcing the start of the dance. This is considered one way to enhance relationships within a social circle.

Dim lighting, soft music, couples strolling into the dance floor. Zhang Guodong was somewhat disinterested. Besides, his dancing skills were really not that great. So he had no intention of getting up. Moreover, he had no one to invite.

The fat man invited a sweet and lovely girl to the dance floor. However, this girl was just a fellow student from the same school; they hadn't known each other before. Among the group, the girl was considered one of the three most beautiful. When the fat man embraced her, some people felt envy and jealousy, but dared not show it openly. People in officialdom, regardless of their rank, can generally intimidate many.

Another beautiful girl, Ye Keqin, was escorted onto the dance floor by a handsome young man dressed in luxurious attire. This man was none other than Ji Yunlong, a classmate of everyone else, an outsider invited by Liu Tao. With him were several spoiled-looking young men, but he was the leader.

The third person was Bao Yan. A young lady. Xu Jing wasn't bad either, but in terms of looks and figure, she was still a step below Bao Yan. Mainly because Bao Yan was not only beautiful but also academically gifted, leaving a deeper impression.

Zheng Shuai took the initiative to invite Bao Yan, an invitation that was hard to refuse. But unexpectedly, Bao Yan glanced at Zhang Guodong, a hint of disappointment in her eyes, before smiling and accepting Zheng Shuai's invitation, stepping onto the dance floor.

Time goes by.

"Get out of the way, what do you want?" Outside the VIP floor restroom, Bao Yan and Liu Yun came out of the VIP room, but encountered trouble after using the restroom. They were stopped by several men who reeked of alcohol.

"Haha. What are you doing? Little sister, I just want to get to know you!" The young man, who was somewhat drunk, grinned lewdly and reached out to lift Pao Yan's chin with his finger, but she dodged it.

But they were immediately surrounded by several of the other side's companions. Upon seeing this, Pao Yan and Liu Yun were terrified.

"It's your honor that Young Master Qin wants to get to know you. How about it? Have a drink with Young Master Qin and we'll let you go?" one of his companions said casually.

Upon hearing this, Qin Shao chuckled and leaned towards Bao Yan. He actually intended to catch her, but his footing was unsteady. He lost his balance and nearly fell.

The two women gasped in fright, but the space was limited. They were trapped in a corner with no way to escape.

"Slap! You scoundrel!" In the critical moment, Bao Yan was so frightened that she instinctively slapped Qin Shao across the face, and he immediately collapsed.

"Damn it. How dare you touch Young Master Qin?" Several companions, slightly regaining their senses, were immediately enraged and helped Young Master Qin up. They completely blocked Pao Yan and Liu Yun's path. From a corner, one of them snarled, "Young Master Qin, how should we punish these two little bitches?"

The slap brought Qin Shao back to his senses. Feeling the pain in his cheek, a ferocious glint flashed in his eyes. He roared, "Drag them into the room! How dare you hit me? See how I punish you!"

"Let us go, or I'll call the police!" Bao Yan's face paled instantly when she saw that the other party actually dared to come at her; she was genuinely frightened. The men, however, were incredibly audacious; seeing an opportunity for a good show, they chuckled and dragged the two women into a nearby room. Bao Yan's beauty and figure were truly rare; the woman beside her, while less stunning, dared to resist and was quite something.

"Save one, Wangxi!" But how could the two of them possibly overpower several of the other side? Bao Yan cried for help, but she only managed to utter one word before her mouth was covered by the other side.

Call the police? This is a VIP room; everyone here is important and influential. Ordinary people wouldn't dare interfere. The two were immediately pulled into an adjacent room. These usually audacious individuals, under the influence of alcohol, really do dare to do some things.

With a loud "bang!", the door slammed shut.

Zhang Guodong, who was in the VIP room, was somewhat uninterested, but suddenly his expression changed and he stood up.

"Guodong, what's wrong? Damn, it's really hot in here, haha, you guys chat first. I'm going out for some fresh air!" Fatty was pulled up by Zhang Guodong, who then greeted the people around him. The two left the VIP room.

Once outside, the fat man had drunk quite a bit; his face was flushed, and he staggered slightly as Zhang Guodong pulled him along. Seeing Zhang Guodong's serious expression, he immediately laughed and said, "Judging by your appearance, are you in a bad mood because no beautiful women are paying attention to you?"

But Zhang Guodong held onto the fat man tightly and walked silently toward the restroom.

"What's wrong?" The fat man also noticed that Zhang Guodong was acting strangely. Zhang Guodong's face was terribly gloomy. He had never seen him like this before.

Zhang Guodong quickly led the fat man to the room, where a waiter was already waiting. Upon seeing the two, the waiter smiled respectfully and said, "Gentlemen, is there anything we can do for you?"

Zhang Guodong glanced at him, then shoved him away with a bit too much force. The waiter, who seemed to be in good shape, fell to the ground instantly! The fat man was dumbfounded. Zhang Guodong had actually become so violent?

"What are you doing!" The waiter's backside hurt from the fall. But he couldn't care less; seeing Zhang Guodong's... door-opening movements, his expression changed slightly. This man had incredible strength! He seemed to have power. This guy was a regular VIP here; they wanted to teach those two women a lesson, but instead, they'd made him the doorman. Would those two discover something?

Zhang Guodong ignored him completely and prepared to knock on the door. Suddenly, the waiter shouted, "Someone's been assaulted! Someone's been assaulted!"

"Shut up!" Zhang Guodong said, annoyed, his eyes flashing coldly with murderous intent. But this was the VIP floor, so naturally there were plenty of waiters. They quickly gathered around, each one indignant and ready to attack. Seeing this, Zhang Guodong wasn't in a hurry.

"What happened? What's wrong?" everyone asked.

At this moment, people in Zhang Guodong's VIP room also noticed them, and soon a group of people arrived.

All of this happened in a very short period of time.

The waiter angrily accused Zhang Guodong of hitting him, which ignited the anger of the crowd.

"Guodong, this isn't the High-Tech Zone. We might get into trouble!" The fat man, now mostly sober, said with some confusion.

"Zhang Guodong, what are you doing?" Liu Tao, whose face was slightly flushed from drinking, shouted at Zhang Guodong, who was the one who caused the trouble.

This is just asking for trouble! He knows perfectly well that someone is protecting him here.

He has been here several times, and each time he has seen many bosses and leaders coming and going.

"I'm here to find them. Pao Yan and Liu Yun went to the restroom and were dragged into this room when they came out!" Zhang Guodong snorted coldly and said in a sneer.

"Shi Gang"

"Impossible!" A flicker of panic crossed the waiter's eyes as he vehemently denied it. "I've been here the whole time, and I haven't seen any woman enter this room!"

The fat man suddenly realized; he hadn't seen them earlier. But how long had it been? Maybe they were in the restroom?

“Bao Yan and Liu Yun did just go out,” Geng Hui interjected in a low voice.

Liu Tao was taken aback, but then said, "Then it might be in the restroom?"

"I'll go check!" Geng Hui said immediately, and she went into the women's restroom.

"Are you sure there aren't any of my classmates in this room?" the fat man asked the waiter coldly. His official air vanished instantly, leaving the waiter momentarily unsure of his intentions. But then he thought... Although Qin Shao's father wasn't in this district, he was a standing committee member and executive deputy director of the largest district in the provincial capital. These people were all quite young; how could they be more powerful than him? And who among Qin Shao's entourage wasn't a bureau chief, and what about all the ministers and other high-ranking officials' sons and grandsons?

"No!" the waiter denied categorically.

"Wang Kang, since they say no, maybe Bao Yan and the others are in the restroom? Or maybe they've gone out?" Liu Tao laughed upon seeing this. "No need to be so serious!"

"You, come here!" Just then, the handsome guy Liu Tao had invited beckoned to the waiter from the crowd.

"I'm friends with your Manager Qian. Who's staying in this room?" Ji Yunlong asked in a deep voice.

The waiter hesitated for a moment when he saw Ji Yunlong, but gritted his teeth and said, "It's Young Master Qin Jiang."

"Oh?" Ji Yunlong frowned, seemingly hesitant. He should have heard of Qin Jiang's name. His father was the executive deputy head of the High-tech Zone. He wasn't someone an ordinary person could afford to offend.

After that "oh," nothing more was said. Clearly, it wasn't worth offending them for such a small gathering. Liu Tao, standing beside him, whispered, "Brother Long, what's the background of that Young Master Qin?"

“His father is the executive deputy head of the High-tech Zone,” Ji Yunlong said. Liu Tao gasped, his eyes quickly lighting up. If only he could befriend this Young Master Qin!

"What are you doing?" Just then, Zhang Guodong made a move, stepping towards the door. The waiters rushed over to stop him.

"Zhang Guodong, stop!" Liu Tao shouted, his face darkening. He couldn't let anyone ruin the gathering he had organized. Besides, he was interested in befriending Young Master Qin, so he couldn't let Zhang Guodong make things worse.

"Get out of the way! Boom!" Zhang Guodong had been watching the room closely, and now he had to act. Any later, and Pao Yan and Liu Yun would be in trouble.

There really are reckless people under Zhang Guodong's feet, like that waiter who, in a moment of panic, actually used his body to block the attack. Zhang Guodong snorted coldly and kicked him anyway. The human bomb instantly smashed open the wooden door. Everyone around was surprised that Zhang Guodong would dare to do such a thing. That kick was too violent; one could imagine the waiter's fate—at least not dead, but seriously injured!

"There's no one in the restroom!" Geng Hui rushed out of the restroom anxiously, but her words came too late. The scene was chaotic due to Zhang Guodong's violent attack.

The scene inside shocked many: several half-naked men were undressing when the door was kicked open. Those inside froze, some pulling down their pants, others completely naked. Pao Yan and Liu Yun, however, were tearfully bound hand-to-hand, their mouths taped shut. Thankfully, their clothes were still intact. Only despair and resentment lingered in their eyes.

Zhang Guodong's timely arrival caused the two women to burst into joy and cry out.

Qin Shao had stripped down to his underwear, but the commotion enraged him after he'd just finished. He was about to get down to business when he was interrupted.

"What are you good for? Who let you in?" Qin Shao was clearly unaware of the current situation. He actually yelled at the waiter guarding the door first, and then glared at everyone as if he wanted to devour them.

"Ouch!" The waiter groaned, unable to get up. He struggled to answer, but his hand was stepped on by a foot. He screamed in pain, tears streaming down his face.

His intestines were about to rupture, his hand was about to break, and the nerve pain caused him immense psychological distress.

fear.

"Damn it! You beasts!" Qin Hao and Li Rulong, also from Class 4, were enraged at the sight. They grabbed their chairs and were ready to fight!

Zhang Guodong went over and untied the ropes from Pao Yan and Liu Yun, then tore off the tape. As soon as Pao Yan was free, she immediately threw herself at Zhang Guodong and burst into tears.

No one will call this ambiguous now; Pao Yan and the others were genuinely frightened!

Qin Shao and his companions had finished dressing by then.

"It's you again?!" Qin Shao was now completely sober, and upon seeing Zhang Guodong's face, he immediately roared angrily.

"Qin Jiang, you're dead this time!" The fat man finally spoke up, but his anger made his hands tremble slightly. If he weren't an official, he would have killed this bastard, but while he couldn't do it himself, he could use his power to make him pay!

Qin Jiang glanced at the fat man. His expression changed slightly, but he immediately burst into laughter, saying sarcastically, "I thought it was someone important, Secretary Wang? Oh, no, you're not a secretary anymore, you should be called Township Head Wang?"

"Fatty, you should leave first," Zhang Guodong said calmly to Fatty. But Fatty saw a cold glint in Zhang Guodong's eyes.

Note: It took quite a while to finish this chapter, which is 4,400 words. That's all for today. More tomorrow.

Thank you again, Lao Qingsheng, for the generous donation! I should have written more, but I felt it wasn't easy to write here. So I've been procrastinating until now. I've finally found a bit of inspiration, but time is limited, so this is the only chapter I have.

I hope you can understand! The more words there are, the harder it is to write towards the end. My writing skills aren't very high, hehe, so I'd rather sacrifice word count than rush it. Thank you everyone! (Version Reading!)