Free Web NovelChapter 227: Chapter 196: The Spoiled Girl
The club’s banquet hall was already filled with laughter and lively chatter. While the party was bustling in person, people were also constantly sending messages in the group chat.
At gatherings like this, most people actually didn’t know each other.
But the relaxed, happy atmosphere was still delightful.
It was just like a wedding reception.
Huang Yuan scanned the crowd and spotted an acquaintance. He walked over, squeezed into a spot at the table, and picked up a wine bottle to take a look.
Tsk. Classy.
Young people these days were so generous. Much classier than Old Zhou.
"Uncle Huang, you came too!"
Zhou Luan looked pleasantly surprised to see Huang Yuan. She greeted him with a demure, sweet smile and even rose gracefully to her feet, a testament to her good upbringing.
As a ten-year veteran customer of the club and an old friend of her father’s, Zhou Luan naturally knew him.
"Mhm, of course I’d be here on such a lively day. Sit down."
Huang Yuan said, adopting the air of an elder and a somewhat more serious tone, "Where’s your father?"
Zhou Luan smoothed her skirt as she sat back down, replying with a polite smile, "He’s probably busy with work. He’s been in the Imperial Capital the last few days, still looking for financing."
"Mm."
Huang Yuan grunted a brief acknowledgment. He nonchalantly lit a cigarette and exhaled a long plume of smoke but didn’t pick up the conversational thread.
Zhou Luan slid an ashtray over to him.
If Lin Chu saw this, he would surely be speechless.
’These two...’
’A moment ago, one was wickedly wild, the other lethally beautiful.’
’But now one is demure and polite, and the other is mature and steady.’
’Son of a bitch, are they playing me?’
"So, what have you been up to lately, Uncle Huang?"
Zhou Luan ventured, trying to start a conversation.
Huang Yuan laughed. "Eating, drinking, and gambling."
Zhou Luan: ...
She covered her mouth and giggled. "You’re really living the good life, then."
...
Just then, Lin Chu walked to the front of the room and picked up the microphone a waiter had prepared.
"Testing, testing... Everyone, your attention, please! Before Big Beard gets down here, I just want to say three things."
"First, welcome, everyone! I’m so happy and honored to have you all here tonight!"
"Second, eat and drink to your heart’s content! And let’s not go home sober!"
"Third, all the gifts you’ve brought tonight... I’m going to calculate their cash value and give it all to Big Beard. Think of it as a ’get back on your feet’ fund, crowdfunded by his friends here. But let’s keep this under wraps for now. We’ll surprise him with it at the end."
"Alright, that’s all I’ve got. Let’s pop the champagne!"
After his brief speech, Lin Chu tossed the mic aside. Seized by a wave of frenetic energy, he shook the champagne bottle vigorously. POP! Foam erupted from the bottle.
The whole place turned into a wild party.
For a moment, many people were swept up in the mood.
But as the excitement settled and they thought back on Lin Chu’s words, a warm feeling grew.
’President Lin is a class act!’
Upon hearing this, Zhou Luan couldn’t help but look over at Huang Yuan. With a hint of cynical humor, she joked, "If he really wanted to help, why not just give him the budget for this whole banquet?"
Huang Yuan was taken aback.
The others at their table heard her too.
But seeing as she was just a young, pretty girl, they didn’t say anything, pretending not to have heard.
Society tends to be quite tolerant of young, pretty girls. Besides, it wasn’t anyone’s job to teach her a lesson.
Huang Yuan stared at her for a few seconds, then sighed. With a placid smile, he asked, "How old are you, kiddo?"
"I’m 21. I’m about to graduate from college."
"Uncle Huang, my dad told me a long time ago that he’s giving me this golf club when I graduate." freewebnσvel.cøm
She said this with a pout, her voice taking on a wheedling tone.
Huang Yuan replied offhandedly, "That sounds like a lot of work. A young lady like you shouldn’t bother with that stuff. Just enjoy spending money."
Zhou Luan jutted out her chin, her tone sharp with ambition. "I don’t want that! I’m determined to make something of myself."
"Sure, sure. Good luck with that."
Huang Yuan couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. He was suddenly starting to regret sitting at this table.
Thankfully, Lin Chu, who had started making the rounds with a wine glass to toast each table, had just made his way over to them.
"Brother Yuan! Well, well... I turn my back for one second and you’re already over here hitting on the young ladies..."
Lin Chu joked casually. ’That Old Bitch King is really something else,’ he thought.
"Whoa, whoa, watch what you’re saying! This is my niece. Don’t you recognize her?"
Huang Yuan said, beaming.
Everyone else was laughing.
Hearing the two men’s exchange, Zhou Luan felt a flicker of annoyance. ’Why are they joking about me?’
’So gross!’
"Of course I know her! My ex, President Zhou’s precious daughter. Alright, everyone, a toast! To Brother Yuan, and to Xiaoluan."
Lin Chu said nonchalantly, taking a sip of his wine. He’d pointed out Zhou Luan’s identity on purpose, saving her from some idiot who didn’t have the sense not to hit on her.
There weren’t many women at the event, and a beautiful girl like her at a gathering full of men was like a little white rabbit in a den of wolves.
Hearing this, Zhou Luan once again found his words grating.
’Who gave you permission to reveal my identity?’
’I just wanted to blend in like a normal person.’
"I don’t drink."
She said, a hint of petulance in her voice. She remained firmly seated, refusing to stand, and even turned her head away.
Lin Chu: ?
For a second, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Ignoring her, he simply smiled, clinked glasses with the others at the table, exchanged a few pleasantries, and moved on to the next one. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
’What a fucking moron.’
’If she’s Old Zhou’s only daughter, the Zhou Family is probably screwed.’
’When she was talking to me alone earlier, her attitude could have passed for that "feisty, fearless girl" vibe, like she wasn’t afraid of anything. But to pull that same crap in front of all these people? Go eat shit!’
