Chapter Ninety-Six: Showing Off Gets You Struck by Lightning

"If you were genuinely impressive, it wouldn't matter if you bragged in front of everyone. But the key issue is that these fools have achieved a little something and now they're strutting around in front of their classmates, blowing themselves up to be gods. At this rate, keep boasting and not even a dinosaur could stand it."

"Let me give you a piece of advice: don't act tough, karma will strike you down." Ling Tian said with a cold smirk.

Luo Jun was fuming with anger, but he didn't dare to lose his temper. This was the Nangong family's hotel, after all. If he disrupted the Nangong family's family gathering, the consequences were something he, a mere manager, couldn't bear. The Nangong family had assets worth nearly ten billion, with countless businesses under their belt. They had dozens of general managers alone, and there were over a hundred small managers like Luo Jun. So Luo Jun was one of those whose presence was entirely dispensable.

"Ling Tian, can I take this as you being jealous of me?" Luo Jun adjusted his emotions, doing his best not to flare up, then struck back.

Ling Tian wagged his index finger at Luo Jun and said contemptuously, "You're wrong. Why would I be jealous of you? I'm living a happy life right now."

Luo Jun continued, "I can tell you're jealous. Jealous that I'm doing better than you. I have a car, I have a house, I have status and standing. You're just a nobody in some dead-end job right now. I bet you can't even bear to eat out. And speaking of which, this is your first time in a high-end place like this, isn't it?"

Ling Tian said, "That's right, this is my first time in a place like this. But I'm not bragging, and I'm not putting on airs."

Now Luo Jun realized that Ling Tian was like a hedgehog — there was nowhere he could bite in. What the hell? Ling Tian was completely unpredictable, leaving Luo Jun absolutely speechless.

Seeing Luo Jun choked into silence, the classmates all gave Ling Tian the thumbs up. They had been holding back for a long time but never dared to stand up against Luo Jun. What could they do? They had no money, no standing, and no confidence to go head-to-head with a successful man like Luo Jun.

Now, Ling Tian had spoken their minds!

Zhao Ming poured a glass of wine and handed it to Ling Tian, saying, "Bro, well said. I'll toast to you."

Ling Tian laughed heartily and said, "A man has to be himself. Brother, I hope you find yourself again soon. The difficulties you're facing are nothing. They'll pass sooner or later. You have to look forward — you have to have confidence."

A few simple words. Had they been spoken at any other time, Zhao Ming probably would have just let them go in one ear and out the other. But under this atmosphere, they struck a deep chord with him. The pent-up boldness in his heart burst out all at once, as if he had become a different person. His spirits were high, his back was straight, and his eyes gleamed with a confidence that had been absent for a long time.

Luo Jun was so choked he nearly passed out. It took a swig of beer before he could breathe again. He pointed at Ling Tian and growled viciously, "Ling Tian, one meal I buy costs more than you make in a month. What right do you have to run your mouth in front of me?"

"Tsk, tsk, that's not necessarily true. Do you even know what my monthly salary is before you shoot your mouth off? Aren't you afraid you'll talk big and end up biting your own tongue?" Ling Tian said with a grin.

The wealth-flaunting had failed, the attitude had been put in check, and he couldn't win a war of words against Ling Tian either. Luo Jun realized he had absolutely no way to handle this guy. The kid was totally unpredictable, and the usual tricks Luo Jun relied on were completely useless.

"Ling Tian, just you wait. Tomorrow I'll call the president of Qingcheng Group and have you pack your bags and get the hell out!" Luo Jun threatened. In truth, Luo Jun had never even laid eyes on Mu Qingcheng, let alone had her number. He was just trying to scare Ling Tian and win back some momentum.

But the one who got scared wasn't Ling Tian — it was Zhao Ming.

In Zhao Ming's eyes, the conflict between Ling Tian and Luo Jun was all because of him. Zhao Ming tugged at Ling Tian's sleeve and whispered, "Ling Tian, stop going at him. Don't lose your job over something this trivial."

Ling Tian laughed heartily and said, "Not only does he not know the president of Qingcheng Group — even if he did, she wouldn't know him. Besides, Mu Qingcheng is my wife. Do you think she'd fire her own husband?"

The moment those words left his mouth, not only were the classmates at the reunion stunned, but even the surrounding guests were completely dumbstruck. Their eyes fixed on Ling Tian were filled with shock and disbelief. The kind of people who could dine at a place like this all had some standing and had seen something of the world. Even if they'd never met Mu Qingcheng, they'd certainly heard her name.

The youngest, most beautiful, and most aloof female CEO in Yunhai City — her reputation was enormous, practically a celebrity in Yunhai City.

Even Zhao Ming, who lived at the very bottom rung of society, had heard of her.

Of course, to the vast majority of people, Mu Qingcheng, with her beauty and wisdom, was untouchable — a goddess.

After Ling Tian said that, an awkward silence fell over the room.

After a long moment, bursts of mocking laughter erupted from all around, everyone laughing at Ling Tian for his delusions and daydreaming.

Luo Jun especially — he laughed so hard tears flew from his eyes, clutching his aching belly as he said to Ling Tian, "Hahaha, this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Ling Tian, this is a classic case of a toad lusting after swan meat — no wait, I misspoke. Calling you a toad is already a compliment."

A few classmates who were close to Luo Jun chimed in: "Mu Qingcheng is your wife? You actually dared to say that? You're even better at blowing smoke than we are. At most, we exaggerate a bit, but you're straight-up telling lies through your teeth!"

Zhao Ming, who had snapped out of his daze, didn't find it funny. As the one closest to Ling Tian, he knew his character very well. Ling Tian's greatest trait was his pragmatism — he never did anything without being sure of it, and he never bragged.

"I believe you. But when do I get to meet the sister-in-law? I've always heard that Mu Qingcheng is the embodiment of beauty and wisdom. I really want to see her for myself." Zhao Ming said to Ling Tian with utter sincerity.

"You'll see her when the time comes." Ling Tian said with a faint smile.

Luo Jun continued to mock, "You're killing me, Ling Tian. Have you lost your mind? Want me to take you to the hospital for a checkup?"

Ling Tian looked lazily at Luo Jun and said, "Luo Jun, didn't you just say you were going to call my wife tomorrow? Don't wait for tomorrow. Call her right now. I'll watch you do it."

Luo Jun immediately pulled out his phone and put on a show of about to make a call. "Ling Tian, considering we're old classmates, I don't want to make things too awkward."

"Enough with the nonsense. Go ahead and call." Ling Tian urged.

Not only did Luo Jun not have her number, he'd never even seen Mu Qingcheng. He could only stand there frozen, holding his phone like an idiot.

"Why aren't you calling? Don't tell me you don't have her number?" Ling Tian shot back.

"I just don't want to. I don't want to burn the bridge between us." Luo Jun said, forcing himself to hold his ground.

Ling Tian snorted contemptuously. "We've come this far, and you're still putting on airs. I want to see how long you can keep up the act. Call her right now. Prove you weren't just bullshitting."