“He Li, I spoke too loudly just now. I went too far. I shouldn’t have said those things.” Li Lingjie’s tone was stiff, and he nearly ground his molars to dust. He just couldn’t understand—He Li had embarrassed Liu Yuyan multiple times, and their relationship had clearly cooled. So why was Liu Yuyan treating him even better than before?
What the hell was going on?
Li Lingjie couldn’t figure it out, nor did he want to. As a simp, there was a truth he didn’t want to face—one that struck pain in the heart of every simp. No simp ever wants to face it… unless they absolutely have to!
He Li glanced at Li Lingjie with a smile. Though he wasn’t interested in dealing with this bunch, to be honest, it was pretty satisfying seeing someone who had just been mocking him suddenly lower their head and apologize. That reversal felt damn good.
But that didn’t mean he’d start being friendly.
“No need to apologize. I wasn’t here for your little party to begin with. You misunderstood.”
As soon as those words landed, many classmates quietly rolled their eyes.
“Tch, just keep pretending.”
“A broke student like you… if you’re not here for free food, are you here to actually spend money?”
“If you admitted it openly, I might’ve respected you.”
“But even now you’re still putting on a show?”
“Please, if Liu Yuyan wasn’t shielding you, who the hell would care?”
“How come we never noticed He Li was this kind of guy before?”
…
Though they didn’t say those words out loud, their looks of disdain made their thoughts clear to anyone watching.
He Li didn’t care. He turned and asked the receptionist, “I booked a Premium VIP Suite. My name’s He Li. The person who made the reservation should have informed you.”
The receptionist checked the system and, within seconds, looked up with a professional smile. “Yes, we have it. For three guests—please go to the ninth floor, left turn.”
“Thanks.” He Li nodded and left.
Watching the three of them go upstairs, the others were stunned.
“Holy shit… he really had a reservation?”
“My god, a Premium VIP Suite?”
“What does that even mean? Is that… some top-tier kind of room?”
“Top-tier? You don’t know? Premium VIP Suites are exclusive. Only premium members can even reserve them!”
“Those people are either government big shots or billionaires!”
“You still asking if it’s top-tier? You joking?”
“Wait… does this mean he’s even more badass than Li Lingjie?”
…
The classroom group chat exploded. Even Li Lingjie, frozen on the spot, was in complete disbelief.
He Li was just a poor student. Even if he’d gotten lucky selling umbrellas and made tens of thousands… entering a Tianzi room was still impossible.
Even his own father didn’t have the qualifications to step inside.
But He Li had just walked in like it was nothing. From what he said earlier, it even sounded like someone with power had invited him.
Snapping out of it, he stepped up to the front desk and cautiously asked, “Could I ask… who invited those three just now?”
“Or, who’s inside the Tianzi room?”
The receptionist glanced at him. “Why? You trying to cause trouble?”
She had seen everything at the entrance earlier. She felt the need to give this reckless guy a heads-up. After all, people who used Tianzi rooms were powerful. If this guy messed with them, he was doomed. Her conscience wouldn’t let her ignore it.
“We don’t disclose customer information,” she said. “But I’ll tell you this—those people are from Shennong Pharmaceuticals. You don’t want to mess with them.”
“I suggest you drop it. Otherwise, you’re in serious trouble.”
As she finished, Li Lingjie’s face turned ghostly pale.
Shennong Pharmaceuticals? Damn, that was an established enterprise! Their business stretched across the entire country, wielding immense power. With just one finger, they could crush his whole family.
“What the hell is going on?!”
“How the hell did He Li get tied to someone like that?”
Li Lingjie couldn’t understand, nor did he want to think about it anymore. Any bad intentions he’d had toward He Li instantly disappeared. And the other classmates—those who’d been eavesdropping—were equally shocked.
“Holy crap, He Li’s hit the jackpot!”
“With Shennong Pharmaceuticals backing him, his future is limitless!”
“I’m such an idiot—I never should’ve mocked him earlier.”
“Praying to all the gods above that Brother Li doesn’t hold a grudge!”
“Damn it! I missed a chance that could’ve changed my whole life!”
“If I’d spoken up for He Li earlier, maybe I could’ve ridden his coattails into Shennong Pharmaceuticals…”
…
Some classmates were terrified of revenge, others were slapping their own thighs in regret for not supporting He Li, and some were already scheming how to cozy up to him.
Meanwhile, Liu Yuyan’s eyes were glowing. She had no idea that He Li, without saying a word, had managed to climb the massive tree that was Shennong Pharmaceuticals.
That made her even more unwilling to let go.
“Even though He Li said he wasn’t here for the party… that must’ve been an excuse!”
“I mean, what are the odds? I’m having my birthday party here, and he just happens to be here on business?”
“He definitely picked this place on purpose.”
“He still cares about me and wanted to check on me.”
“He just didn’t want to admit it because of his pride.”
“Yeah, that’s got to be it—especially with those idiots like Li Lingjie mocking him earlier.”
“Who would want to admit they came for the party in front of them?”
“Now that he’s a hot commodity, I absolutely can’t let Miao Xiaoyu snatch him away!”
“Right, I also need to find a chance to get rid of Li Lingjie. That fool is way too annoying.”
“What if He Li misunderstands again because of him?”
With these thoughts swirling in her head, Liu Yuyan quickly adjusted her mood and happily invited everyone into the private room to continue the party. But after what had just happened, everyone was distracted.
The birthday party ended up falling short of expectations.
Liu Yuyan blamed it all on Li Lingjie.
The poor simp took the fall once again.
But that had nothing to do with He Li.
At that moment, in the Premium VIP Suite, He Li was finally meeting the representative sent by Shennong Pharmaceuticals.
His name was Li Wu, and he looked like he’d just graduated college. Polite, refined, and well-spoken… but his gaze kept drifting toward Miao Xiaoyu.
Was this guy interested in Miao Xiaoyu? He Li frowned, then switched seats so that Miao Xiaoyu was behind him, marking his territory. Miao Xiaoyu noticed his reaction, smiled sweetly, and her eyes sparkled like flowers in bloom.
Li Wu was startled—he realized He Li had misunderstood.
He wasn’t interested in Miao Xiaoyu at all.
He was just shocked, because he had recognized her—she was the daughter of Shuzhou’s richest man. For someone of her status to show up here was enough to surprise anyone who knew the truth.
And now she was accompanying He Li to negotiate over a batch of faulty medicine…
Li Wu was even more anxious.
Although the company had found out yesterday that the batch of tainted medicine was sabotaged by a rival firm, Miao Xiaoyu’s presence made him worry—what if she had something to say about it?
As the daughter of a tycoon, one phone call from her could cause Shennong Pharmaceuticals massive losses.
Li Wu had no choice but to take this seriously.
Which explained why, during the conversation, he kept glancing at Miao Xiaoyu to check her reaction before answering He Li.
Unfortunately, He Li completely misunderstood his cautious behavior…
Still, the rest of the negotiation went smoothly.
The issue was simple—He Li just had to provide the information he had and the batch of medicine he bought.
Li Wu offered a buyback at fifteen times the purchase price.
Why fifteen?
Because five of those times were out of guilt for staring at Miao Xiaoyu and making He Li unhappy.
But Li Wu didn’t dare complain. He was just thrilled to have escaped disaster and avoided angering Miao Xiaoyu. As they wrapped up, he even thoughtfully handed He Li a card.
It looked like a diamond membership card for Guanghui Hotel. He Li didn’t know what it was good for, but he figured he’d keep it just in case.
Who knew when it might come in handy?