Chapter 1161: Ma Yili and Han Zaiyin, best friends, appear together.

At noon that day.

Guangzhou Hotel, Jing'an District, Shanghai.

The elegant private room on the second floor was already bustling with activity.

As the carved wooden door was gently pushed open, Wang Dayong, covered in a light dust of travel, stepped in. He wasn't wearing a police uniform; a black leather jacket accentuated his tall and straight figure, and a hint of the sharpness of someone rushing on their journey lingered between his brows.

"I'm so sorry! I really apologize to all my old classmates!"

As Wang Dayong closed the door behind him, he strode quickly toward the round table, his face full of apologetic smiles, his gaze sweeping over the familiar yet aged faces.

"Today was supposed to be a special day to celebrate my son's one-month birthday, but I ended up being the one who was late. The bureau suddenly had a big case, and they busted a drug trafficking gang. I've been busy until now and only just managed to get away. Sorry to keep everyone waiting!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ma Yili, who was sitting by the window, waved her hand with a smile, her eyes filled with a gentle and familiar smile: "It's not late, it's not late. Dayong, you have 'official business' to attend to. Besides, Lin Lang hasn't arrived yet either. You're not the last one."

Class monitor Bai Mengfan, sitting next to the main seat, joined in the banter upon hearing this, her tone full of sincere congratulations.

"Dayong, this is truly a double celebration for you!"

"He was just promoted to captain of the criminal investigation team, and now he's welcomed a big, healthy baby boy. Life is going incredibly smoothly, congratulations!"

Wang Dayong scratched his head, revealing a somewhat simple-minded expression, and said sincerely, "Congratulations to you all! It's all thanks to everyone."

"But you, class monitor, are getting married next month. I'll definitely arrive early and help you with everything!"

This remark drew laughter from those around the table. Wang Liqin put down his teacup and said with feigned "grievance," "Alright, alright, you're all so capable. Some got promoted, some got married, some had babies—you all beat me to it!"

"Me? I'm still single, I haven't even seen a glimpse of a girlfriend yet. It's true what they say, classmates have such different fates!"

Han Jae-in laughed and replied, her teasing tone revealing her familiarity, "Isn't that because you're a world champion in table tennis? Your standards are too high. How could an ordinary girl catch your eye?"

"Our classmates will help you find someone suitable, and we guarantee you'll find someone you'll be happy with!"

Amidst the laughter and conversation, Zhang San, who was sitting on the other side, stood up, took out a brand-new red envelope from his briefcase, and handed it to Wang Dayong with a sincere smile on his face.

"Dayong, congratulations! This is a red envelope for my son's one-month celebration. I wish my nephew a healthy and successful life, just like his father!"

As soon as Zhang San handed over the red envelope, Wang Dayong immediately reached out and waved his hand repeatedly, his smile still on his face, but his tone became more serious.

"No, no, no! I appreciate your kindness, Third Brother, but I can't accept this red envelope!"

Wang Dayong glanced around at his high school classmates who were getting up to take out red envelopes, and explained in a softer tone: "I am now the captain of the criminal investigation team, a public official in all my right."

"Today, I'm using the excuse of celebrating my son's one-month birthday to invite everyone together for a lively gathering. If I were to actually accept any gifts from you all, that would be a violation of the rules and a mistake, and I can't cross that line!"

Female classmate Liu Yan said, "Dayong, you have to give me a gift when I have a baby. I can't give nothing when you have a son!"

Wang Dayong replied, "It's different. You're a self-employed individual, while I'm a public servant. I appreciate everyone's kindness."

"Let's just treat this as a class reunion today. I'll treat everyone to a drink at the wedding and share in the joy of the baby's arrival. Absolutely no money should be given as a gift. Accepting it would make me make a mistake!"

Bai Mengfan held the red envelope in her hand and smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Dayong, this is just a small token of our appreciation. How can we attend a baby's one-month celebration without giving a gift? Besides, we're all old classmates, not outsiders, so it's not against the rules, is it?"

"Why doesn't it count!" Wang Dayong waved his hand, his tone firm yet tinged with a playful earnestness. "Don't force me to make a mistake. Put the red envelopes away, or I won't be able to enjoy my drink!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, their red envelopes hanging in mid-air, at a loss for what to do.

At this moment, Zhang San was the first to put the red envelope back in his pocket and spoke with a smile.

"Da Yong is right!"

"As a lawyer, I'm here to give you all a little legal advice. It's okay for public officials to hold a full-month celebration for their child, but accepting gifts is definitely against the rules. At best, they'll be given a public reprimand; at worst, it will affect their future career. We can't cause trouble for Dayong!"

As he spoke, he winked at the others, saying, "Put them away, everyone. Among us classmates, friendship is more important than anything else. We don't care about this little red envelope."

Han Jae-in said with a smile, "Everyone should really congratulate Dayong. Just have a couple more drinks with him!"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood, and their previous hesitation vanished. They smiled and took back their red envelopes.

"Zhang San is more knowledgeable; he almost made a mistake!"

"That's right, we can't put Dayong in a difficult position!"

"Quickly put away your red envelopes, let's just focus on drinking and having fun today!" The atmosphere in the private room became lively again, but without the constraints of monetary gifts, there was more pure camaraderie among classmates.

Just then, Lin Lang, dressed casually and carrying two bottles of high-end red wine with the Lafite label removed, pushed open the door and walked into the private room.

"Hey, my old classmates are here. I don't think I'm late, am I?"

When Lin Lang arrived, more than a dozen of his high school classmates stood up to welcome him, as if they had met the world's richest man. They all greeted Lin Lang warmly.

This scene vividly portrays the human tendency to admire strength and the complexities of human relationships.

Not wanting to steal the show, Lin Lang glanced at his high school classmates and said with a smile, trying to keep a low profile, "Everyone, please sit down. The last class reunion was in 2000. More than three years have passed in the blink of an eye. I really miss you all."

The students were very excited to see Lin Lang, but they were also a little reserved, since it wasn't easy to meet such an important person as Lin Lang.

When Wang Dayong saw that Lin Lang had brought two bottles of red wine with the labels torn off, he guessed that the wines were not cheap. He said somewhat awkwardly, "Brother Lang, you've already come, why did you bring wine?"

Lin Lang patted Wang Dayong on the shoulder and replied with a smile, "Dayong, this wine isn't for you. It's for my godson's one-month celebration, and I'm treating our classmates to this celebratory wine."

Zhang San took the red wine from Lin Lang's hand, opened it with a wine opener, and said with a smile, "Boss, what you said makes sense. There's no explicit legal provision that says you can't bring your own drinks to a banquet."

Zhou Jin, a girl, said with a smile, "If our class's top lawyer says there's nothing wrong with it, then it definitely doesn't violate the rules."

Upon hearing this, Wang Dayong chuckled and said, "Alright, alright, everyone sit down, Brother Lang, please take the seat of honor."

Lin Lang said, "No, please. You're hosting our son's one-month celebration today. Please take a seat."

"Brother Lang, you were the matchmaker for me and Wang Qian. Without you as my matchmaker, I wouldn't even have a wife, let alone an eldest son!" As Wang Dayong spoke, he forcibly pulled Lin Lang to sit in the main seat.

Lin Lang said with a smile, "Alright, I am the godfather after all, so it's not wrong for me to sit in the main seat and drink with my godson at his one-month celebration."

Zhang San opened both bottles of red wine and, while circling around to pour wine for his classmates, said, "Today's full moon celebration isn't just for our high school classmates at this table; Dayong's relatives and friends are also in another private room. Let's all toast Dayong first to express our congratulations, and then let Dayong go and greet the relatives and friends at their table."

Wang Liqin stood up, picked up another bottle of red wine, and poured wine for Zhou Jin, a female classmate sitting next to him.

Zhou Jin quickly declined, saying, "I have to host a TV program tonight, so I can't drink."

Wang Liqin advised, "Drink only a little, it'll be fine."

Zhou Jin was too embarrassed to say anything more, so he could only smile and say, "Pour me less."

Ma Yili turned to Zhou Jin and whispered, "Let's have some Lafite wine, which costs over 20 yuan a bottle, and savor it."

"Oh?" Zhou Jin smiled and said, "Then I'll have to have some!"

Bai Mengfan handed Lin Lang a cigarette and tentatively asked, "Lin Lang, why didn't Zhou Mengyao come?"

Lin Lang politely declined, saying, "Half of the students in the private room are female, so let's all stop smoking. Mengyao is at home taking care of her kids; the twins are so naughty and clingy to their mother."

Upon hearing this, female classmate Tao Lingna exclaimed in surprise, "How come I never heard that Mengyao got married? How come she already has a child?"

"Uh..." The students present were a little embarrassed and unconsciously looked at Lin Lang.

Ma Yili changed the subject, saying, "Tao Lingna, you went to teach in the Northwest for three years and just returned to Shanghai to teach. Of course you don't know that Mengyao has given birth."

Tao Lingna asked gossipily, "Am I the only one who doesn't know that our school beauty Zhou Mengyao got married? Who is her husband?"

Just when everyone was feeling a little awkward, Lin Lang replied generously and humorously, "Look at me, look at me!"

Tao Lingna asked in surprise, "Uh... Lin Lang, didn't you marry Chu Yiren, the beautiful chairwoman of the Chu Men Group?"

Before Lin Lang could answer, Han Zaiyin said generously, "Chu Yiren is the first wife, Mengyao is the fifth wife, and I am the third wife."

Ma Yili really wanted to say that she was the twelfth wife, but because she was a star actress, she remained silent and looked at Lin Lang with a hint of mockery on her face.

The high school students present had already heard about it, but they were surprised that Han Jae-in admitted it so readily.

"Uh..." Tao Lingna was shocked and laughed awkwardly, "Forgive me for being so out of touch, Lin Lang, you're really lucky with women!"

Zhang San, trying to smooth things over for his boss Lin Lang, jokingly said, "Tao Lingna, you're not pretty enough, otherwise you might have had a chance to give birth to Lin Lang's son."

"Hahaha..." Everyone burst into laughter after hearing this.

Lin Lang raised his glass and said, "Come on, let's raise a glass together to congratulate Dayong on the birth of his son, cheers!"

"Congratulations...congratulations..." Everyone raised their wine glasses.

"Congratulations to you all! Thank you to all my old classmates for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate my son's one-month birthday. I'll drink this, you can drink as you please."

After finishing his drink, Wang Dayong said with a smile, "Excuse me for a moment. Please enjoy your meal and drinks. I'll come back and have a few more drinks with you all after I've finished entertaining my friends and family in the other private rooms."

Bai Mengfan said with a smile, "Go quickly!"

Wang Dayong left the private room with a smile.

The waiter began to serve the dishes.