After talking with them, I learned that although Jiang Bo, Liu Jun, and Da Nao had also graduated from university, their circumstances were not very good.

Of the three, Jiang Bo and Liu Jun both attended junior colleges, while Da Nao Tou attended a private third-tier university. The three were about to graduate, but had not yet found any good jobs.

Back when everyone was in school, everyone was carefree, and the gap between rich and poor wasn't so obvious. For someone like Gao Qiang, a rich second-generation, people were at most envious of him for being able to use a good phone and wear designer clothes.

It wasn't until they left school and were brutally beaten down by society that they began to understand the gap between classes. Everyone fawned over Gao Qiang, while Da Nao and his friends formed a small circle and got together to drink.

After a few rounds of drinks, Gao Qiang clapped his hands and said, "Classmates, I have tens of thousands of yuan worth of liquor stored in a nearby bar. Since we're not having enough fun here, let's go somewhere else and continue our enjoyment."

Upon hearing Gao Qiang's shout, Liu Jun asked us, "Shenxing, Da Nao, shall we go check it out? I've heard that the bar across the street is expensive; a single visit must cost at least several thousand!"

"Don't you have any self-respect? This isn't our first gathering. When has Gao Qiang ever taken us to a bar before? Today, he's clearly showing off his wealth and asserting his superior status because he saw Shenxing was there! Bringing Shenxing there is just making him look bad, isn't it?"

Big Head glared at Liu Jun, then said to me, "Shenxing, Gao Qiang treated us to this meal, and I know you didn't feel well. How about this, let's take a taxi to the school gate, and I'll treat you to Aunt Li's fried skewers, which we used to go to often. Let's relive the feeling from our childhood, okay?"

At this moment, Gao Qiang had already stood up. Seeing Da Tou and the others talking over there, he said, "By the way, Duan Shenxing, I just heard that you have to work several jobs every day. Will going drinking with us affect your business? Maybe you shouldn't go!"

"Clang!"

While Gao Qiang was talking, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and a young man in a suit and tie walked into the room carrying an LV handbag.

"Oh, Mr. Zhao! What brings you here!"

Upon seeing the young man enter, Gao Qiang's imperious demeanor vanished instantly. He stood up to greet him, saying, "Did you hear I was eating here and come to say hello? This is my fault. If I had known you were here, I would have definitely gone to offer you a toast!"

"Xiao Gao? You're here too!"

When the monkey saw Gao Qiang approaching, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then, his gaze fixed on me, and his eyes became even more curious: "Young Master Duan, what's going on? Do you know President Gao?"

When Gao Qiang saw the monkey talking to me, he looked at the monkey with a puzzled expression: "President Zhao, you two... know each other?"

"Yes, he's the major shareholder of our company. In front of him, I'm just a gofer."

The monkey chuckled and said to me, "Young Master Duan, the preparations for the new company are complete. There's an authorization letter that you need to sign... Oh, right, I haven't introduced you yet. This is Gao Qiang, the general manager of an accounting firm. We'll be handing over the paperwork for our new company to them!"

Gao Qiang's attitude towards the monkey, and the monkey's attitude towards me, stunned everyone in the room.

When these people saw me, they looked at me as if I were a ghost in broad daylight, making the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Let's switch to another accounting firm."

Everything I've just experienced has made me completely disregard any so-called friendship with my classmates. I said to Big Head, "We just added each other on WeChat, right? If you're interested, you can come work at my company. I'll pay you the highest salary in the industry."

"No, Mr. Zhao... this, this, this... Shenxing! We're classmates, how can you just change jobs like that when it comes to company matters!"

Gao Qiang was completely devoid of his previous high spirits and was clearly caught off guard by this blow: "And how could you possibly be the boss of such a big company?"

A girl at the table, adept at reading the room, quickly changed her tune, saying, "Duan Shenxing, this isn't very nice of you! You're clearly a hidden big shot, why are you complaining about being poor? We haven't even had a proper chat yet! Come on, let me toast you!"

I ignored what the girl said: "This meal is on me. I have to take care of things at the company. Goodbye."

I had absolutely no interest in the atmosphere here, so I threw down a sentence and turned to leave.

"Wait! Wait!"

Seeing that I and Monkey were about to leave, Gao Qiang quickly chased after us, blocking the doorway, and pleaded with Monkey, "President Zhao, our cooperation agreement has already been signed. You can't do this! As you know, my company is facing a business crisis, and we're counting on this to turn things around. If the cooperation is terminated now, I'll be completely finished!"

"You heard it too, it's just my boss's idea, I'm just a gofer."

Although the monkey was unaware of the grievances involved, it maintained a very proper attitude: "I've read the contract we signed before. Since we breached the contract, we don't need the deposit we paid."

"No, can we discuss this again?"

Gao Qiang was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead, and he suddenly knelt down in front of me with a thud: "Duan Shenxing, I know I offended you when we were in school, and I apologize! Our conflict all started because of Gao Ya. If you agree to give me this business, I will break up with Gao Ya right now, give her back to you, and promise never to contact her again! I'm begging you, please! My family really needs this money to save their lives! If we can't repay the bank loan, my dad will go to jail!"

"Gao Qiang, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Upon hearing Gao Qiang's words, Gao Ya's expression changed instantly: "What am I to you? A dispensable toy?"

"Shut up!"

Gao Qiang yelled at Gao Ya, then looked at me nervously: "Duan Shen... no, Boss Duan! I really didn't know your identity before. I was too arrogant! Please forgive my rudeness and give me a chance. I promise I can complete this project perfectly! Business has been tough these past few years, and my family has a loan that's about to expire. If we don't get this business from you, my family will be completely ruined!"

"Duan Shenxing, if your purpose in doing all this was simply to humiliate Gao Qiang, then you have already achieved your goal!"

Gao Ya then walked up to Gao Qiang, looking at me angrily: "If you had even a shred of conscience, I would hope you could help him this once, out of consideration for our past as classmates, okay?"

"Did we have any past relationship? Sorry, I really can't remember... Also, if you think I came here to humiliate you, then you don't need to. If it weren't for this chance encounter, I would have forgotten about you long ago!"

I saw the disdain on her face, but I didn't explain anything. I just pointed to the bracelet on her wrist and said, "I forgot to tell you, this thing is made by etching with strong acid, injecting glue, and dyeing. It's not even a replica; it's a complete fake. You can buy it at the market stalls for no more than a hundred yuan!"