"This is Qian Zi's car that I borrowed!" Qian Zi originally wanted to say it was Liu Yifeng's car, but Liu Yifeng spoke first.
Driving such a shabby car was already embarrassing enough, let alone borrowing it.
He didn't know how Yifeng managed to say it so righteously, without feeling any shame for driving someone else's beat-up van.
Gao Shuai raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Not bad, not bad, a car is just a means of transport after all.
But this car looks like it's about to be scrapped. Be careful on the road, lest the traffic police forcibly take it for scrap.
I know people at the 4S dealership. If you're looking to buy a car, you can come to me. I can help you save a lot of money!" His words sounded like he was looking out for his old classmate.
But anyone could hear the sarcasm in his words.
"Then thank you, classmate Gao. But it's almost 6:30, let's go in quickly, so we don't keep the homeroom teacher waiting." Liu Yifeng didn't want to waste time arguing with Gao Shuai here.
After so many years, he still liked to show off and flaunt, as if he were afraid others wouldn't know he was rich.
Gao Shuai raised his hand and looked at the luxury watch on his wrist, then said, "Oh my, it really is. I'm the host today, I absolutely cannot be late. Otherwise, they'll think I'm putting on airs!"
With that, he immediately looked at the security guard, "Help me park the car!"
The security guard saw that he wasn't driving an ordinary luxury car, and also that he was a classmate of Mr. Liu. He didn't dare to be negligent. He nodded and said, "Sir, please wait for me to park Mr. Liu's car first, and I'll park yours right after."
Gao Shuai couldn't believe what the security guard said. He was driving a luxury car worth 1.5 million yuan, while Liu Yifeng's car was a wreck that couldn't even be sold for 5,000 yuan.
Didn't he know whose identity was more noble and who should be served first?
This was simply a blatant slap in his face.
Seeing his crestfallen look, Qian Zi felt immensely pleased.
"Gao Shuai, everything has a time and order. We're both here to eat at the hotel.
They don't care who's paying, they only know that service also has a time and order. Don't worry, the security guard will help you park after he's finished with mine."
"That's only right. It's fine to park mine first." Although Gao Shuai was unhappy inside, he didn't want to lose his temper over such a matter, otherwise, it would make him seem petty.
As for the security guard parking Liu Yifeng's car first, he didn't think much of it. Perhaps it was because Liu Yifeng had arrived earlier than him.
Then, he turned off the engine and got out of the car, holding a gift box in his hand. As usual, it was probably a gift for Teacher Xiong.
Liu Yifeng and Qian Zi also took out their gift boxes.
Since they were all wrapped, no one knew what gifts they were.
"Then let's go in together!" Gao Shuai invited.
He completely disdained the gifts in their hands. People who were poor enough to drive broken cars and eat at five-star hotels couldn't possibly give very expensive gifts.
Looking at the crowded lobby, Qian Zi gasped, "My goodness, this hotel is so busy. How much money do they make every day?"
"You should see what kind of hotel this is. There are very few five-star hotels in the city. In addition, this hotel has recently introduced a batch of exceptionally delicious vegetables.
You can't get these vegetables anywhere else, no matter how much you spend. I've tried them once, and I don't want to eat vegetables from other places anymore.
You'll know when you try them later," Gao Shuai explained.
Qian Zi, who was listening, was about to say that these vegetables were grown by Yifeng.
But Liu Yifeng cut him off, "We will indeed have to try them properly later!"
"You guys are in for a treat today," Qian Zi said, and then walked upstairs first.
Seeing Liu Yifeng following, Qian Zi pulled him aside, "Why didn't you let me say it just now? Didn't you see how arrogant he was, as if he was bestowing charity on us by treating us to a meal?
If it weren't for Teacher Xiong, I wouldn't even bother with his meal."
Seeing Qian Zi's disgruntled expression, Liu Yifeng smiled, "There's a saying, 'the nail that sticks out gets hammered.' Let's keep a low profile!"
"You're too kind-tempered. I would have told him straight away and embarrassed him," Qian Zi said, but he didn't intend to say it anymore.
Before long, they arrived at a large private room with two large round tables, which could seat over forty people.
Perfect, as their class had forty-two people at the time, and with the homeroom teacher, they could all fit!
In the private room, almost all the classmates had arrived, surrounding Teacher Xiong, chatting and laughing.
When Gao Shuai entered, he immediately attracted everyone's attention.
"Everyone, I apologize. I got stuck in traffic on the way, so I'm a little late. I didn't keep you waiting, did I?" Gao Shuai apologized as soon as he entered.
He was paying for this meal today, so who would dare to be angry with him?
Besides, he wasn't that late, it was exactly 6:30.
"No, no, we also just arrived not long ago!" Everyone waved their hands, fearing that Gao Shuai might misunderstand.
Gao Shuai didn't pay them any mind and instead turned his gaze towards the teacher, walking over quickly. "Teacher Xiong, it's been many years, and you're still as elegant as ever!
Today is your birthday, and I didn't know what you liked, so I just picked a gift at random. I hope you won't mind!"
Teacher Xiong, who was over sixty, looked much older, with thinning hair and a bald head, aging at a visibly fast rate.
Li Yifeng still remembered Teacher Xiong's thick black hair and the few wrinkles on his face.
At that time, many people said that the teacher must have eaten a pill of immortality, otherwise how could a man in his fifties still be so young?
Who knew that time spares no one, it's just a matter of sooner or later.
Teacher Xiong looked at the gift Gao Shuai handed over and sighed helplessly, "If I had known you were calling me here to celebrate my birthday, I wouldn't have come back.
It's already rare for you all to get together after so many years, why bother spending money like this?
You all have families now, and there are many places where you need money. After dinner, take your gifts back with you.
See if you can return them. If not, give them to the elders in your families.
I have a retirement pension, I can buy whatever I want."
"That won't do, Teacher. How can we take back a gift that has been given? Besides, this isn't a valuable gift. If you don't accept it, it will break our hearts as classmates," Gao Shuai said, feigning sadness.
"Exactly. Teacher Xiong, you worked so hard to teach us back then, isn't it only right that we celebrate your birthday!
Besides, you're retired now. If we give you a gift, it won't be considered bribery, so don't feel any burden," said Zhang Shuixin, who had been Gao Shuai's sycophant for all three years of high school.
By following Gao Shuai, he had also benefited a lot.
For example, the branded clothes that Gao Shuai bought and then stopped wearing after a few times were all given to him.
Also, when they ate out or did anything, Gao Shuai always paid, and he didn't spend a penny.