Classmate

Long Ming looked up and saw a young man in a white shirt and custom gray suit, a name-brand watch on his wrist, his hair styled with mousse, smiling warmly as he greeted him. The man was none other than Tang Ming, a classmate from Long Ming's university. Beside Tang Ming were a man and a woman. The woman, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and her hair in a ponytail, was named Sun Ran, also one of Long Ming's classmates. As for the other man beside them—tall and thin, with some dark spots on his face—Long Ming did not know him, and neither Tang Ming nor Sun Ran was particularly close to him. "Long Ming, long time no see." Sun Ran also politely greeted Long Ming. "Long time no see." Long Ming replied politely. "Tang-ge, who is this? How come we've never seen him before." The man beside Tang Ming looked Long Ming up and down curiously. Judging by Long Ming's somewhat worn clothes, he didn't look like someone of status at all. "Li Yin, let me introduce you. This is our old classmate—he was so capable in school, his studies were excellent. His family runs a hotel; that five-star Guangying Hotel belongs to his family and is well known in Shanchengshan Upper City. But ever since he graduated, he's disappeared without a trace; no one's seen him in the Upper City." A barely perceptible expression flickered across Tang Ming's face as he smiled and praised Long Ming. "So impressive. I wonder where Mr. Long Ming is employed." Hearing Tang Ming say this, Li Yin immediately extended his hand toward Long Ming. "I'm not employed anywhere. I'm currently a jobless drifter, living in the Lower City." Hearing Long Ming say he lived in the Lower City, Li Yin's body stiffened. Hesitantly, he withdrew his outstretched hand and looked at Tang Ming in confusion. Wasn't his family supposed to run a hotel? How had he become a commoner in the Lower City. Upon hearing Long Ming's words, Tang Ming's expression showed great surprise. "You live in the Lower City? No wonder we haven't seen you all these years. I heard your family's hotel changed hands. Did you run into some trouble? Why not ask us old classmates for help? Or I could help you find a good job." "No, thank you." Long Ming directly declined Tang Ming's so-called kindness. No matter how nice Tang Ming sounded, Long Ming didn't believe a word of it, and he couldn't be bothered to deal with him. Sun Ran beside him was also surprised, saying in astonishment, "Long Ming, did something happen at your family? Do you need help?" "No, thank you. I have something to do, so I'll be going first." Long Ming had no mood to reminisce with them here. Actually, back when his father was still alive, Long Ming's life had been quite good. But after his father passed away, the company's two partners claimed that his father had long neglected management, causing huge losses to the hotel, and had embezzled funds, thereby diluting his father's shares. And they made it clear that they weren't pursuing Long Ming and his family's responsibility only out of regard for their past friendship. "It's rare for old classmates to meet. Why rush off? Many more classmates will be coming later. Why not get together?" Tang Ming instinctively blocked Long Ming and enthusiastically invited him. "No thanks." Long Ming glanced at Tang Ming and refused, unmoved. "Oh, you're just as much of a killjoy as before." Seeing Long Ming refuse, Tang Ming was about to persuade him further when suddenly a commotion came from nearby. Long Ming and the others turned to look. They saw fifty or sixty people in different star café uniforms, their faces full of anger, walking over. The hostesses and security at the door stepped forward to stop them and said, "Who are you?" "I'm Zhao Chang, manager of Yue Lan Star Café." A burly man in a black leather jacket with rough skin spoke as he led them. "I'm from Yinghuo Star Café!" "I'm from Deep Sea Star Café!" The others also announced which star café they were from. "Oh, so you're competitors. I'm Mi La, manager of Xingyuan Star Café. Just tell me what's the matter." A beautiful woman emerged wearing a sexy black slip dress, her hair pinned up with a silver hairpin, her sexy red lips coated in deep red lipstick. "Hmph, do you people at Xingyuan Star Café know any rules?" Zhao Chang asked coldly. "What rules?" Mi La looked at Zhao Chang and the others with a smile. "There are already many star cafés on this street. We didn't say anything about you opening here, but you came in and immediately started half-price promotions. You don't observe any rules at all!" "Isn't it normal for our new store to have a grand opening promotion? You can run promotions too." "Damn impressive. Who's your boss?" Zhao Chang laughed in anger. He had never met anyone so brazen. "Who our boss is—you can go ask your own bosses. They surely know." Mi La replied, unmoved. Hearing Mi La's words, Zhao Chang and the others' expressions changed slightly. Anyone could tell they had met their match. But letting it go just like that wasn't realistic, after all, many people were watching. So they could only reply to Mi La: "Cut the crap. Bring out your boss!" "Do you think you can see our boss whenever you want?" Mi La replied with a light laugh. As a manager, if she couldn't handle even this and had to call the boss, she might as well quit. "Then we'll just wait it out." Zhao Chang and the others were also provoked. At that moment, a soft, pleasant voice came from behind Mi La. "Mi La, what's going on?" Everyone turned to look. A girl walked over wearing a white sweater, silver-white hair hanging to her waist, skin as white as snow, an absolutely beautiful face with a pair of blue eyes as beautiful as gems, and elegant and extraordinary bearing. Long Ming's expression shifted slightly. The girl before him was Luo Xue, his classmate from the neighboring class at university. Mi La and the others respectfully explained to Luo Xue, "Miss, these people are from nearby star cafés. They feel our grand opening promotion broke the rules." "I understand the situation now. If you have a problem, you can have your bosses come find me." After hearing this, Luo Xue turned to Zhao Chang and the others and said. Her tone was gentle, but her attitude was extremely firm. "Fine." Zhao Chang and the others, hearing Luo Xue say this, could only leave reluctantly. "Sorry everyone, the matter is resolved. Everyone can enjoy the half-price discount throughout the store!" Mi La smiled at all the onlookers and said. Hearing Mi La's words, everyone burst into applause. At that moment, Tang Ming saw Luo Xue. Forgetting Long Ming, he excitedly walked forward and shouted. "Luo Xue!" Hearing this, Luo Xue turned to look toward Tang Ming. Seeing Luo Xue look over, Long Ming put his hands in his pockets, slightly lowered his head, turned, and left.