Heartthrob, Your Image is Crumbling!

Chapter 556: All Walks of Life

Since it was right in the middle of the New Year period, booking a private room at Wangyue Restaurant was no easy feat. Fortunately, Zhou Guobin had built up some influence in this small county town and managed to book a room large enough for three tables on short notice.The private room featured a modern Chinese decor. Relatives from all over the country—including those from Zhou Yuwen's mother's side—were chatting enthusiastically about anything and everything, gesticulating wildly. It was clear they hadn't seen each other in a long time. It was thanks to Zhou Yuwen that they were all gathered here today. Whenever his name was mentioned, every single one of them gave a thumbs-up, declaring him the pride of the family. Some who had been away from home for a long time even spoke in heavily accented standard Mandarin, boasting, "Ah, when I go out now and tell people I'm Yuwen's second cousin once removed, they don't even believe me! And I tell them, how can you not believe it? I even held Yuwen when he was a little baby!"

"Do you all remember? I even came to Yuwen's one-month milestone celebration."

"I remember, I remember! I recall during Yuwen's hundred-day drawing ceremony, he grabbed a pen and an abacus. Didn't that mean he'd be highly educated and great at business?"

"Yes, exactly!"

Zhou Yuwen's original plan had been to drop Li Shiqi off at home first. However, with so many relatives suddenly gathering, he couldn't just slip away. He had no choice but to bring Li Shiqi and Liu Shuo along. Zhou Yuwen asked Li Shiqi if she wanted Liu Shuo to drive her home first.

Li Shiqi shook her head, indicating that it wasn't a problem.

Zhou Yuwen was a little concerned. He told her that this banquet probably wouldn't be ending anytime soon.

Just as they were talking, Zhou Yuwen's mother, Yang Lirong, came over and pulled him away, saying that all the relatives were seated and he needed to hurry over and say a few words.

Zhou Yuwen didn't really know what to say. Having lived two lifetimes, there were some relatives he had barely any impression of even by the time he turned thirty in his previous life, yet here they were suddenly popping up.

What could he even say? He hadn't thought about these things in the past, and as someone about to become a major estate owner, he hadn't planned on giving them a leg up either. Still, under the urging of his father and mother, he greeted everyone politely and drank all the required toasts without complaint.

After a few rounds of drinks and several courses of food, the conversation naturally shifted to business. For instance, the crowd started asking Zhou Yuwen what kind of business he was currently running.

Zhou Yuwen explained that he was currently running the Shared Bicycle Project.

Shared?

Bicycle?

What on earth was that?

These relatives were all in their forties, and their grasp of modern information was already a generation behind. Zhou Yuwen broke it down for them, explaining that it was like leaving a bicycle on the street where anyone who wanted to ride it could just take it.

Hearing this, many furrowed their brows. "What if they ride it away and never return it?"

"And if they do take it, what happens if they break the bicycle?"

Zhou Yuwen shook his head, saying that wouldn't happen. The cost of a single bicycle wasn't very high, and their original intention for this project wasn't just making money, but to provide convenience for others.

The relatives frowned even deeper at this, insisting that this was a terrible idea.

"Yuwen, your uncles know you are talented and that you've been making money."

"But really, you're still too young."

"This society is very complicated. There are some people out there—the better you treat them..."

"...the more they love to take advantage of you."

"Haven't you heard the saying? Give a bowl of rice and you make a friend; give a sack of rice and you make an enemy."

"You're letting them ride for free now, but in the future, if something goes wrong with the bikes, they'll come looking to cause trouble for you."

"Exactly, exactly! Yuwen, your uncle is absolutely right. You need to listen to this. We might not be as good at making money as you are, but we are older and can see through things much clearer than you can."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuwen smiled and nodded, though he didn't offer any counterarguments.

Seeing Zhou Yuwen seemingly accept their advice, they couldn't help but feel a surge of smug satisfaction. They were probably thinking, 'This billionaire isn't all that special after all—ultimately, he's still just a child lacking real-world experience.'

Then they continued probing. "Hey, Yuwen, where is your company's headquarters?"

"How many people do you have in your company now?"

"How do you go about hiring people?"

"You can't just keep relying on outsiders. It's much safer to use your own family."

"Look at Zhu Yuanzhang from the Ming Dynasty. When he went to war, he used his adopted son and biological son. Why? Because family is connected by blood. Others just can't be trusted in the same way."

"As it happens, your nephew is graduating next year."

The moment the topic of hiring came up, the floodgates opened. One after another, everyone wanted to recommend their own kids.

But when Zhou Dagu heard this, she quickly shouted for everyone to stop. She scolded, "Look at all of you! You don't even know what majors your kids are studying. Yuwen runs a massive company! Do you think he can just let any random stray cat or dog in?"

"Eldest Cousin, I don't even want to talk about you."

"Your son dropped out before even finishing vocational school. The third brother found him a job, and he ran away after half a month because it was too tiring. And you actually have the nerve to show your face and bring him up now?"

Zhou Dagu pointed them out one by one, managing to retort so sharply that the entire group of relatives was left speechless. They wanted to argue back, but she was notoriously formidable.

After Zhou Dagu had thoroughly dressed down everyone in the room, she finally concluded, "So, you all want to go work at Wenwen's company?"

"My Xiaoyong returned from a study abroad program. And when Yuwen was little, my Xiaoyong was the one who practically raised him, taking him out to play all the time! Even Xiaoyong hasn't had the nerve to ask Wenwen to arrange a job for him. How can any of you have the cheek to ask?"

"Right, Wenwen? If you really are going to arrange jobs, you should definitely set up your older cousin first."

As Zhou Dagu spoke, she looked pointedly at Zhou Yuwen.

Zhou Yuwen simply chuckled upon hearing this. Seeming to address both his aunt and the rest of the room, he said, "Right now, the company just finished its autumn recruitment, so there aren't really any vacant positions. However, the last time I came back, I partnered with the city to set up a logistics park, and we're actually quite short on hands there. Eldest Cousin, if you think it's a good fit, you are more than welcome to send me a copy of your child's resume. I can take a look and see if we can find a suitable position for him."

"Oh, oh, wonderful! Then, Yuwen, should we add each other on WeChat?" the eldest cousin asked cautiously.

Zhou Yuwen nodded. At this, the other relatives immediately craned their necks and chimed in, "Let's add each other on WeChat too!"

"Me too, me too!"

"Let me scan your code."

Zhou Yuwen simply held up his QR code and let everyone scan it. In the blink of an eye, he had over a dozen new friend requests. Too lazy to tap and accept them one by one, he took the easy way out.

He handed his phone directly to Li Shiqi, who was sitting beside him.

At the moment, Li Shiqi was still wearing a striking red OL uniform. Already inherently graceful, her bright attire and light makeup naturally made her the center of attention among the relatives.

Zhou Yuwen handed his phone to Li Shiqi and asked her to help accept all the new friend requests.

Li Shiqi nodded, obediently taking the device and handling the task.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuwen continued to smile and casually engage in chatting with his relatives.

Seeing how polite Zhou Yuwen was to everyone, the elder relatives were thoroughly satisfied. They murmured among themselves, "No wonder our Yuwen is so good at making money. Just look at his attitude."

"Yuwen must have made tens of billions by now, right?"

"He's a true boss."

"I heard he's even building a skyscraper in Jinling."

"That guy I knew before was nothing compared to this. He barely made a few tens of thousands, yet he swaggered around acting like he didn't know anyone anymore."

In truth, these relatives didn't have much of substance to discuss with Zhou Yuwen. Most of them were just using this opportunity to join the lively gathering. And when they ran into old acquaintances amidst an abundance of food and alcohol, heavy drinking was inevitable.

Zhou Yuwen handled himself well, carefully pacing his alcohol intake. No matter who came up to toast him, he simply took a small, polite sip.

By the end of the feast, while the group was thoroughly flushed and intoxicated, Zhou Yuwen still managed to stay completely sober.

Naturally, Liu Shuo hadn't held back on the drinks.

Zhou Guobin hadn't spared the relatives either, pouring them plenty of liquor until his own face was completely red.

Zhou Guobin was typically a man of few words. The relatives here were mostly elders, so they couldn't exactly gang up to force drinks down a younger generation like Zhou Yuwen. Consequently, they all ended up directing their toasts at Zhou Guobin instead.

Zhou Guobin himself was genuinely thrilled, so he drank more than a few glasses, eventually ending up lying prone on the table.

Zhou Yuwen asked Liu Shuo if he was still holding up.

Even though Liu Shuo was clearly three-quarters of the way to being completely drunk, he flashed an "OK" sign, insisting that this amount of alcohol was nothing.

Liu Shuo always loved showing off. The crowd had originally come over to toast Zhou Yuwen, but when they noticed a little brother around the same age sitting next to him, they naturally asked who he was.

Zhou Yuwen had introduced him, explaining that he was a high school classmate he used to hang out with, and now they were doing business together.

The moment the relatives heard Zhou Yuwen's introduction, they instantly perked up. Stepping eagerly into their roles as Zhou Yuwen's elders, they insisted on having a few drinks with Liu Shuo, praising him with, "Our Wenwen owes part of his success today to your help!"

Because Zhou Yuwen had introduced him this way, even Zhou Guobin felt the need to chat with Liu Shuo. He instructed Mother Zhou, "Pour a glass. I want to have a drink with little Shuo. I remember you."

Zhou Guobin added, "I remember you were in the same class as little Wen during high school."

This single remark instantly left Liu Shuo feeling deeply flattered, and he hastily raised his wine glass with both hands.

Zhou Guobin said, "Our little Wen wouldn't be where he is today without your support."

"Uncle, please, you absolutely mustn't say that! It's me who wouldn't be where I am today without my brother's help!"

And so, it went—one glass after another.

Liu Shuo was undeniably drunk, but he was also genuinely happy. He felt a profound sense of validation and acceptance.

It wasn't just Liu Shuo. In fact, some relatives had tried to share a couple of drinks with Li Shiqi, but Zhou Yuwen quickly intervened and blocked them.

Among the table full of relatives, Li Shiqi indeed looked incredibly stunning.

An older relative asked, "You must be Wenwen's girlfriend, right?"

"She definitely is. Just look at how beautiful she is."

"Ah, Wenwen, you have such a great eye. Your younger cousin is over thirty, and he still hasn't managed to find a girlfriend."

Someone sighed heavily.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuwen just smiled and stayed silent.

Later, the relatives continued to pry into Li Shiqi and Zhou Yuwen's relationship.

Zhou Yuwen simply stated that she was his girlfriend, a former high school classmate who was now working as his assistant at the company.

Hearing this, everyone felt even more strongly that Zhou Yuwen was immensely successful. Ultimately, having money really did mean having it all.

Someone raised their glass and asked if Li Shiqi knew how to drink.

Zhou Yuwen waved his hand dismissively. "She doesn't drink."

The relative then nodded along with Zhou Yuwen's words. "Ah, yes. It's better for girls to drink less anyway."

As the evening progressed, fewer people actively sought out Zhou Yuwen for a chat; they were all busy conversing amongst themselves.

Zhou Yuwen glanced at Liu Shuo's half-dead state and asked him how he was holding up.

"Want to step out for a smoke?"

Zhou Yuwen asked.

At the mention of a smoke, Liu Shuo perked right up and nodded enthusiastically.

In reality, Zhou Yuwen almost never smoked. It was mostly that the private room had become too stuffy, and he just wanted a change of scenery.

Similarly, Li Shiqi had no desire to stay cooped up in the room.

Seeing Zhou Yuwen step out, she immediately followed suit.

Zhou Yuwen and Liu Shuo made their way to the corridor outside the room, standing by the window.

Liu Shuo couldn't wait any longer. He quickly lit a cigarette and began to puff on it. "Brother, your relatives are seriously passionate!"

Zhou Yuwen held the cigarette a relative had handed him earlier but didn't light it. Instead, he gazed out at the scenery beyond the window and smiled faintly.

He turned to Li Shiqi. "Liu Shuo and I have both been drinking, so neither of us can drive. Should I call a cab for you so you can head home on your own?"

Li Shiqi nodded, assuring him that she would be fine.

"You've drank quite a bit. Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Even though Li Shiqi hadn't been intimate with Zhou Yuwen yet, she was still playing the role of his girlfriend. She offered soft, comforting words as she reached out to gently embrace his arm.

Zhou Yuwen shook his head. "I'm alright. He drank the vast majority of it."

Zhou Yuwen pointed at Liu Shuo.

Liu Shuo chuckled, boasting, "I'm totally fine. I'm full of energy!"

Just as they were speaking, Zhou Yuwen's mother stepped out into the hall looking for him.

"Yuwen."

"How did you slip out in the blink of an eye? Everyone's looking for you!" Yang Lirong's face was glowing red; clearly, she was having a wonderful time today as well.

After eighteen years of raising a child, wasn't this exact moment what every parent hoped for?

"Looking for me? It seemed like they were all perfectly happy drinking without me," Zhou Yuwen replied.

Yang Lirong admonished him. "You are the star of today's gathering. How could you just sneak out?"

Pulling Zhou Yuwen closer, she whispered in his ear, "Your father has gotten a bit drunk. Go over and try to talk some sense into him."

Zhou Yuwen tilted his head to look inside and saw that his father had indeed drank a little too much.

He signaled for Liu Shuo to follow him back in.

As they walked through the door, he happened to spot his older cousin, Peng Xiaoyong.

Peng Xiaoyong looked exactly the same as always—quiet, brooding, and wearing heavy black-rimmed glasses.

He had shown up today, but it was painfully obvious that today wasn't about him. Not knowing what to say, he had maintained a strict, low profile the entire time.

Just a few moments ago, when no one was paying attention, his mother—Zhou Dagu—had lectured him. She scolded him for being too stiff and clueless about how to present himself. "Just look at everyone else!" she had hissed.

"This younger cousin of yours has completely developed his fortune."

"If he just lets a tiny bit slip through his fingers, it would be enough to feed you for the rest of your life."

"Go say a few nice things and offer him a few toasts."

Though she had spelled it out so clearly, Peng Xiaoyong was still terribly unaccustomed to this sort of social setting. In reality, he found the relatives' laughter and dramatic banter utterly laughable. These people kept tossing around phrases about being bound by blood, but at the end of the day, it was all just driven by personal gain.

Zhou Yuwen was familiar with Peng Xiaoyong. Seeing him sitting there all alone, he walked over and patted him on the shoulder, signaling for him to stand up.

Peng Xiaoyong stood up, a curious look on his face.

"Have you been drinking?" Zhou Yuwen asked him.

Peng Xiaoyong shook his head. "No."

"My dad has gotten a bit drunk," Zhou Yuwen told him. "Could you drive him home later? Does that work for you?"

Peng Xiaoyong nodded immediately. "Yeah."

Zhou Yuwen gave an affirmative nod and then led both Peng Xiaoyong and Liu Shuo over.

At that moment, Zhou Guobin was still drinking heavily with several familiar relatives.

Seeing Zhou Yuwen approach, the relatives paused their conversation and warmly greeted him.