Han Lie initially failed to notice anything amiss until he saw how carefully Pan Ge handled her bag. Only then did he remember to ask, "How much did this thing cost?"

"Over two million, I guess."

Pan Ge, meticulously applying her makeup, replied indifferently, "What about it?"

"What about the watch?"

"Over three million."

"And the necklace?"

"The necklace is cheap. I think it's around 1.8 million?"

Han Lie was speechless.

Good grief, she's really going all out to make a scene... Why not complete the set with earrings and a bracelet too?

Rack up ten million, and if anyone objects, just roll up your sleeves, flash it all, and blind them!

In stark contrast to her, Han Lie had purposely dressed down for the day—just an average cotton jacket, jeans, paired with a pair of Jordan 23s, and only the cheapest LV fashion watch on his wrist.

Showing off wealth to classmates who had graduated high school just six months ago was too lowbrow for Han Lie. He couldn't be bothered with such things. Pan Ge, however, was different—she was in the prime of her youth and cared much more about these matters.

By the time she finally finished applying her cunningly subtle no-makeup look, it was already 6:03 PM.

Then she grabbed her Birkin bag and dashed out, "Go, go, go, stop dawdling, let's go!"

Now she's turning the tables on me...

Han Lie followed behind her speechlessly, took the elevator, and headed to the restaurant on the second floor.

At this moment, the room named "Blossoming Wealth" was already buzzing with noise.

Having graduated just half a year ago, these young men and women were in a transitional phase. They still clung to the friendships formed during their three years in high school while also starting to embrace various new experiences and form new social circles. Gathering together now, they felt both exhilaration and a sense of unfamiliarity and reserve.

However, not much time had passed, and those who were once influential figures were still the center of attention.

—For the boys, Wen Yu and Niu Ben were at the core. For the girls, it wasn't Hu Jing, but the innocently beautiful Gu Yiyi who was at the center.

About twenty people split into two tables, forming four small groups.

As the conversation went on, someone casually asked, "Class rep, where's District Director Zheng?"

"Right! He was always the loudest in our group chat, rallying us for half a month. Is he not coming after all?"

Wen Yu's expression instantly became awkward.

"Changzheng... uh, apparently he slipped on the ice, knocked out his two front teeth, and is currently recuperating..."

Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted to that topic.

"What happened?"

"Geez, how unlucky can you get?"

"Shouldn't we find some time to visit him?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, how about we plan a day to go together?"

Hu Jing, upon hearing the boys excitedly discussing visiting District Director Zheng, couldn't help but sneer.

Wen Yu noticed and felt an inward groan, hastily opening his mouth to change the subject.

"During the New Year festivities, let's not dwell on unhappy things. Everyone check, has everyone arrived?"

"Almost, I think. Everyone who confirmed in the group chat is here!"

"All right, let's start the feast!"

Hu Jing glanced at the time, grew anxious, and blurted out, "Wait, Han Lie hasn't arrived yet!"

The room suddenly quieted at her words.

Many people were puzzled. "Han Lie? I didn't hear he was coming?"

Hu Jing explained, "He asked me earlier where the get-together was. That means he's coming, doesn't it? Why don't we wait a bit longer?"

That's when Niu Ben became unhappy.

"Damn! Are we all supposed to just sit here and wait for him? Who the hell does he think he is?"

Niu Ben was considered the "big brother" of their grade, and his ties with local thugs were no secret. Thanks to his brother's connections, he had become a minor head of security at the largest nightclub in Dream City.

This guy had always been at odds with Xiao Xiao and had pursued Hu Jing at one point. Since there were signs that something might develop between Hu Jing and Xiao Xiao, Niu Ben particularly couldn't stand her.

As for Han Lie, I can barely remember the guy.

Once Niu Ben led the charge, Wen Yu's buddies began to join in.

"Yeah! A pretty boy living off a rich woman, does he deserve for us to wait?"

"Changzheng and Wen Yu completely exposed him before. He still has the nerve to show up?"

"It's fine if he comes; it's not like we can't cover his share. But to knowingly be late, isn't he getting too full of himself?"

"Hold on! Let's wait a bit? I'm dying of curiosity about how he hooked up with a rich woman. Wen Yu hasn't made it clear..."

"I heard she's especially ugly, right, Wen Yu?"

"Wen Yu, you make the call. Do we wait a while, or do we just start and let him go to hell?"

Wen Yu, as the class representative and organizer, was continuously being put on the spot and was gradually getting overwhelmed.

Others might not be aware, but Wen Yu knew Han Lie's current status very well.

Watching his friends make increasingly outrageous remarks, he quickly coughed and interrupted.

"Ahem! Well, we're all classmates... Let's just wait a few more minutes. It won't make much of a difference..."

And so, they ended up waiting another five minutes.

The classmates' patience was wearing thin, especially among Niu Ben's group.

Wen Yu was inwardly complaining. Damn it, are you coming or not? Can't you just give a clear answer?!

He wanted to save face and was too embarrassed to explain to everyone that Han Lie was now so influential that he couldn't afford to offend him, so they should stop pressing the issue.

Everyone assumed Han Lie was just a plastic-surgery freak who had latched onto a wealthy woman, and discontent rose.

Just then, a waiter pushed the door open, and Han Lie entered with Pan Ge, appearing before everyone.

******

In light of the current situation, I previously wrote some content on ETF investments.

Instead of asking me in private messages, why not go back and review that chapter carefully?