Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1144 - 1119: Encountering a College Classmate
Previously on Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group...
"Waiter, let's order." Li Yan summoned the waiter and declared.
Smiling warmly, the waiter approached and inquired, "Young Master Li, what do you wish to eat today?"
"Get a bottle of Lafite, one sirloin steak per person, vegetable salad—start with these. We'll add more if needed later." Li Yan ordered with a grin.
That Lafite alone carried a hefty price tag, aside from everything else. Li Yan shot Ye Chen a smug look.
"Young Master Li, so generous and lavish."
"Don't you know Young Master Li heads the Li Group? His family is loaded, of course."
"Absolutely, hanging with a guy like him really elevates us. Today, I have to savor that Lafite properly."
Li Yan's face glowed with pride amid the chorus of praises.
Song Xiaoxiao's lovely expression grew more sour by the moment; she realized Li Yan had no intention of treating them out of goodwill.
Without Ye Chen's insistence on coming, she wouldn't have bothered showing up at all.
Now the gathering had become Li Yan's stage, all aimed at humiliating and mocking Ye Chen.
"Ye Chen, what's your job these days?" Zhang Tao suddenly questioned.
As a genuine rich heir, Li Yan's circle was bound to be impressive too, wasn't it?
"My work doesn't measure up to yours, better not to mention it." Ye Chen dismissed with a wave.
Ye Chen's plain, everyday clothes marked him as far from affluent.
Right then, a suited young man entered from outside, smiling as he said, "Apologies for the delay; I was stuck in a crucial meeting today."
"No problem, Brother Liu—glad you made it." Li Yan replied cheerfully.
His tone was remarkably courteous now, a stark shift from his earlier haughtiness.
"Who's this guy?" Zhou Kai wondered, eyeing the newcomer.
"Meet Zhan Hua, or Brother Zhan—the heir to the Iris Group." Li Yan boasted proudly.
"Iris Group? That's a global powerhouse, and he's tied to it as their young master no less."
Everyone stared at Zhan Hua in stunned awe.
"Hey folks, feel free to call me Robin." Zhan Hua greeted with a smile.
Disdain flickered across Ye Chen's face; he thought, why act like that as a proper Huaxia man?
At that instant, Zhan Hua glanced over at Ye Chen in surprise: "Ye Chen? You here?"
Ye Chen had found the name odd earlier—Zhan wasn't common, and this Zhan Hua's pretentious vibe felt familiar somehow.
He once had a uni classmate named Zhan Hua, though years later, the memory had faded.
"Ye Chen, it's you! Long time no see, old classmate." Zhan Hua exclaimed excitedly, eyes on Ye Chen.
He'd spotted Ye Chen upon entering because amid the formally attired crowd, this one stood out in casual, simple garb.
Proper dress was essential etiquette for a Western restaurant.
Ye Chen gave a nod and smile, replying, "Hey, old classmate. I wondered if this master pretender could be my uni mate, but honestly, no strong recollection."
Zhan Hua kept smiling outwardly, though fury boiled within.
He had to uphold a refined image in such settings; any slip could tarnish Iris Group's name if word got out.
"Ye Chen, same as ever—humorous and sharp." Zhan Hua responded smilingly.
"Robin, you and Ye Chen were uni classmates? What a small world—I had no idea you knew each other." Li Yan exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yeah, back in school, Ye Chen seldom joined our hangouts, always buried in the library or classroom, super studious—unlike us slackers, eh Ye Chen?" Zhan Hua reminisced wistfully.
Ye Chen paid him no heed. Truth was, he and Zhan Hua had clashed since university days.
It wasn't Ye Chen's doing; he was just too handsome, gifted, top grades, girls flocking to him.
Meanwhile, uni-era Zhan Hua was overweight and unattractive—no girls gave him the time of day.
They'd started as uni buddies but split over a girl.
Ye Chen let it go, but Zhan Hua nursed the grudge ever since.
This encounter was prime payback time.
Still, Zhan Hua stayed level-headed; years apart meant no clue on Ye Chen's current status.
After years of real-world tempering, the present Zhan Hua had outgrown his former naivety. He understood that a person's true status couldn't be gauged merely by their clothing.
Zhan Hua would actively court friendship if Ye Chen held a lofty position.
However, should Ye Chen's current occupation prove mediocre, he would mock him viciously to settle old scores.
"By the way, Ye Chen, where do you work these days? I recall you entered a state-owned enterprise after graduation—are you still there?" Zhan Hua probed carefully.
"I resigned ages ago." Ye Chen replied evenly.
"Oh, and now?" Zhan Hua inquired once more.
Ye Chen ignored him completely, browsing news on his mobile.
Suspicion brewed in Zhan Hua's mind; Ye Chen's demeanor only deepened the oddity he sensed.
This fellow's job must be dismal—finally, the moment to ridicule Ye Chen had arrived.
"Robin, I just learned from a friend that Brother Ye is a delivery guy." Li Yan smirked mockingly at Ye Chen.
"A delivery guy?"
Li Yan's companions displayed shocked disbelief upon hearing the news.
How could a mere delivery guy be worthy of dining alongside them?
"Young Master Li, what's the meaning of this? Allowing a delivery guy to eat with us—if it leaks out, it'll drag down our prestige!" Zhou Kai complained irritably.
"I only just found out." Li Yan said, feigning grievance.
Actually, he'd already verified Ye Chen's background moments earlier, precisely to humiliate him before the crowd.
"All of you, shut your mouths—disrespecting my old classmate means you're not showing me face." Zhan Hua declared with false sincerity.
"Ye Chen, ignore those guys; they're all petty-minded. Jobs have no hierarchy—as long as you make a living through your own labor, there's no shame, right?"
Zhan Hua spoke to Ye Chen with that facade, but joy surged wildly within him.
"Ye Chen, oh Ye Chen, who'd imagine you'd stoop so low now. You acted all superior and distant back in university, but look at you—a delivery guy. The heavens truly see justice!"