131 Determined to Win

Lu Qiang was truly annoyed. He had been giving face to his girlfriend's classmates solely for her sake; he did not know a single one of them, and in any other setting, he would not have even bothered to acknowledge them.

Now that Xiao Yao and Chen Yuxi were making thinly veiled insults toward his girlfriend, he could hardly turn a deaf ear. Xiao Yao’s remarks had been only mildly mocking, not overly excessive, but Chen Yuxi’s insinuation that his girlfriend was a "green tea bitch" was simply intolerable. If he failed to react now, he would hardly be a man.

With a cold, grave expression, Lu Qiang looked at Chen Yuxi and said, "Miss Chen, is it? When we first met, I thought you were a beautiful woman, but the character you are displaying now is truly astonishing. If a person possesses only a pretty face but is spiteful and foul-mouthed, no amount of beauty can conceal an ugly heart. No one likes such so-called beauties. Don't you agree, Miss Chen?"

"Lu Qiang, right? You’re not a bad guy. Honestly, even though we’ve just met, I have quite a good impression of you," Chen Yuxi replied, unfazed and even showing a hint of admiration. "But I still advise you: as a man, it’s best not to meddle in women’s affairs. I have my reasons for saying what I said. You would be better off listening patiently and observing carefully, lest you be deceived and live to regret it."

Chen Yuxi turned her gaze toward Tan Songyun, her tone brimming with provocation. "If someone thinks I’m wrong, I welcome a rebuttal. The truth is only revealed through debate. Let’s argue it out—it’s a perfect opportunity for everyone to see exactly what kind of ugly face lies beneath that painted skin once the mask is stripped away!"

Tan Songyun deeply regretted coming to this reunion. Had she known that Yin Xiaoya and Chen Yuxi—those two little bitches—would be attending, she would rather have died than show up. The two had been her arch-rivals back in university, and even now, long after graduation, they still haunted her like ghosts. If anyone among their classmates knew the truth about her past, it was undoubtedly those two.

Her history was far from pristine. Before dating Lu Qiang, she had been with other boyfriends—more than one—and her relationship with Yang Yunlang was something Yin Xiaoya and Chen Yuxi knew better than anyone.

To Lu Qiang, she was a pure and self-respecting girl, and she had put in immense effort to maintain that image. Lu Qiang was a shrewd man; it had been no small feat to make him believe he was the first man in her life. Had she not misled him on that point, he never would have been so protective of her.

Her image in Lu Qiang’s mind was the key to her marrying into a wealthy family, and she was willing to do anything to achieve that ultimate goal. In this situation, she absolutely could not afford to get into a shouting match with Yin Xiaoya and Chen Yuxi. If they exposed her past, all her prior efforts would be for nothing.

She simply had to swallow her pride. Once she was officially married into the Lu family, she would have nothing to fear, and she would make sure both of them paid dearly.

Realizing she could not engage in a row, Tan Songyun feigned a haughty, refined air. "Lu Qiang, there’s no need to get angry. We are civilized people; we shouldn't start a scene just because of a minor conflict with one or two others. This is a class reunion. We are guests here, not here to wreck the place. If we are unhappy, we should just endure it; we shouldn't ruin the mood for everyone else. While we don't need to brag about our refinement, we should at least uphold basic etiquette."

Hearing this, Lu Qiang’s anger subsided slightly. After all, it was a reunion with so many people present; a scene would indeed look unsightly. After a brief pause, he said, "Songyun, your grace is truly something I cannot match, and others are even further behind."

"Very well. We shouldn't let personal conflicts ruin this gathering. Let's leave it at that. I won't say anything more. Everyone, please don't mind us; let's have a few more drinks shortly." Lu Qiang scanned the room, looking every bit the refined gentleman.

With the matter settled, Li Wenxuan quickly intervened. "The hot dishes are being served, and the glasses are full. We’ve all been busy since graduation; it’s rare to have such a great turnout. Let’s all toast to this first round together, and hopefully, we’ll have many more such gatherings in the future."

The unpleasantness, though a bit of a dampener, passed quickly. Everyone toasted, and among classmates, the atmosphere soon turned lively again. In this environment, Chen Yuxi and Yin Xiaoya were sensible enough not to provoke Tan Songyun further.

Tan Songyun, terrified that Yin Xiaoya might expose her past in front of her boyfriend, was even less likely to initiate conflict. Under their mutual restraint, the reunion should have ended on a pleasant note. However, once Xiao Yao decided that Yin Xiaoya was his target, he had no intention of letting Tan Songyun have her way.

The reunion was meant to be an inconsequential meal, but once Xiao Yao discovered Yin Xiaoya’s "pure yin" constitution, his attitude underwent a sea change. Her constitution was too important to him; he was a man with goals, and he was determined to have her.

Though he didn't have a formal relationship with her yet, he already considered her his own. Xiao Yao was a man who protected his own fiercely, and since Yin Xiaoya was now his, he would not let her suffer the slightest grievance. Since Tan Songyun dared to sully Yin Xiaoya’s reputation, she would have to face the consequences.

With just a few subtle suggestions from Xiao Yao, Tan Songyun was led to drink more than she intended. Unfortunately, her tolerance was poor—she could only handle a few ounces of liquor. While red wine had a lower alcohol content, it was deceptive, and the aftereffects were stronger when consumed in excess.

Before long, the three women had finished two bottles of red wine, with Tan Songyun consuming nearly half of it herself. She held her liquor well and maintained her composure; despite being quite drunk, she didn't make a scene—she only became a bit more talkative, appearing entirely sober.