Chu Ge shook his head, "No, just an ordinary friend."

"Ordinary friends can become girlfriends, you know. It's about time you find someone. If she sounds that sweet, she probably looks good too. If she's suitable, you should make an effort."

Chu Ge laughed, "She's in the entertainment industry, I can't even dream of it."

The girl who had just sat back down after greeting Zhu Youcai was also curious. She blinked and asked, "In the entertainment industry? Who?"

Chu Ge casually replied, "Chen Jiatong."

If it were a superstar of the caliber of "Brother Fa" or "Star Master," Chu Ge naturally wouldn't have mentioned it. But in his eyes, neither Chen Jiatong nor Xu Jingyuan was anything remarkable. Even if they were somewhat famous, it likely wasn't to the extent that everyone knew them, so there was nothing to hide.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, the girl who had asked nearly spat out the juice she had just sipped, and her look at Chu Ge bore an amused expression she couldn't suppress.

"Chu Ge, I must say you've become quite the comedian. Chen Jiatong is a well-known internet celebrity here in Lidu. Since entering the entertainment industry, she's at least a second-tier actress now! You... you said she called you? And you didn't have time to see her? Do you think you're a big director she desperately wants to trade favors with?"

Then another girl laughed too, "Chu Ge, is it possible that in a bit, Chen Jiatong's bestie, Xu Jingyuan, who also started with online streaming and then moved to the entertainment industry, will call you as well?"

Chu Ge laughed and scratched his head, "Well, you never know."

Hearing Chu Ge say this, everyone around laughed even louder. But honestly, no one meant any harm; they just thought Chu Ge was joking with them.

"Chu Ge, I remember you said you were just a small-time driver earlier? This boast of yours is getting out of hand, isn't it? Chen Jiatong and Xu Jingyuan took the initiative to call you? Why not say that the recent visitors to Lidu, Brother Fa and Star Master, came just to see you too?"

Amidst the laughter, Guan Rui's voice, clearly tinged with sarcasm, sounded. As he spoke, he snorted lightly, unwilling to let go of such a prime opportunity to mock Chu Ge.

As Guan Rui made such a sound, the laughter in the room diminished significantly, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

And at this moment, Zhu Youcai, who hadn't taken a seat since entering the room, stood by the less populated table, adding a comment with a half-smile.

"Chu Ge, it's been years since we've seen each other. I'm wondering why you're so reluctant to acknowledge me. Turns out even someone like Chen Jiatong wants to kiss up to you. For someone like me, who can only be a small section chief at the industry and commerce bureau, you surely don't care."

Compared to Guan Rui, Zhu Youcai was more disgruntled with Chu Ge. After all, he had been beaten up by Chu Ge more than once when they were kids. Even though it was always because he bullied younger children, he didn't care about that. He kept a tab of every score against Chu Ge in his heart.

Moreover, now he is a section chief in the industry and commerce bureau, mainly responsible for individual businesses. While his position isn't high, like Liang Jinjiang's, there are obviously more people who want to curry favor with him, given how many individual entrepreneurs there are these days. His power allows him to throw his weight around.

With such a status, Zhu Youcai naturally acts incredibly cocky. That's why Stone and others are so enthusiastic when they see him.

If faced with someone like Cao Xu, who is doing much better than him, he would naturally act humble and polite. But since he knows Chu Ge is just a driver now, he feels no need for such concerns.

By this point, the room was completely silent. Cao Xu glanced at the smug faces of Guan Rui and Zhu Youcai, "bang," and placed his glass heavily on the table, his brows furrowing.

However, just as Cao Xu was about to stand up for Chu Ge, Chu Ge patted his leg under the table, giving him a look that said, "It's fine."

Tomorrow is Shi Tong's big wedding day. Chu Ge didn't want any unpleasantness at today's gathering.

Moreover, Zhu Youcai got one thing right: someone like him really wasn't worthy of Chu Ge's attention.

Never mind that he's a section chief in the industry and commerce bureau; even if the bureau's head, Liu Yuan, or Liu Yuan's son, Liu Weijiang, came, they would still have to respect Chu Ge. What does Zhu Youcai amount to in front of Chu Ge?

At this point, Liang Jinjiang was also quite angry. But compared to Cao Xu, he had a better temper. Seeing that Chu Ge didn't want to dwell on it, he smoothed things over, "Chu Ge, Guan Rui and Youcai were just joking with you."

Chu Ge gave a faint smile, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Seeing Chu Ge silent, Zhu Youcai assumed it to be a sign of submission, making him feel even more smug and quite pleased with himself.

Raising his chin, Zhu Youcai pretentiously said, "Chu Ge, considering we grew up together, I'll give you some advice. We're adults now, and we should act like adults. When we speak or do things, we need to use our brains. Otherwise, a minor slip might make us a laughingstock, and a major one could bring big trouble. Get it?"

Even though he said that, Zhu Youcai's subtext was, "Aren't you quite the fighter? Aren't your fists tough? Why don't you try hitting me again? Now I'm the one with power, and you're just a lowly employee. I'm doing better than you, and whatever I say, you'd better listen up!"

"Chu Ge, every word from Section Chief Zhu is golden wisdom. Most people don't even get the chance to hear it, so be sure to remember it well."

As Zhu Youcai finished speaking, Guan Rui immediately chimed in, completely playing the role of a sycophant.

Watching these two with their petty triumph, Chu Ge nodded with an amused smile, "Thank you for the guidance, Section Chief Zhu, I got it."

Having received flattery from Guan Rui and stomped on the once-feared Chu Ge, Zhu Youcai felt utterly pleased.

Nodding at Chu Ge, Zhu Youcai affected a condescending tone, "Chu Ge, since you're so humble, my advice didn't go to waste. If you ever want to open a fruit shop or a dumpling stand, feel free to find me. For the sake of old times, I'll help you out."

When mentioning "fruit shop" and "dumpling stand," Zhu Youcai deliberately emphasized these words, making his provocation and smugness as obvious as could be.

"Great, in case I ever get fired by my boss, I won't fear unemployment. Thanks," the more Zhu Youcai flaunted, the more boring and amusing Chu Ge found it, so he just went along with it.

Seeing Chu Ge being so compliant in front of everyone, Zhu Youcai felt even more glorious, as if he possessed that legendary domineering aura, and it seemed like with just a wave, people would come admiring from all directions.

Yet even so, he still felt unsatisfied. His eyes darted around, glancing at Chu Ge's seat, then looking at Shi Tong, "Stone, I've been here for a while, shouldn't you find me a place?"

Upon hearing Zhu Youcai's words, not just Cao Xu, even the well-tempered Liang Jinjiang couldn't stand it. This guy was going too far!

Cao Xu clenched his fists, Liang Jinjiang furrowed his brows, and everyone turned their gaze to Chu Ge, making the atmosphere a bit tense.

After all, given Chu Ge's temper as a child, in such a situation, he would definitely throw a punch right at Zhu Youcai's face without hesitation.

Actually, at this point, Zhu Youcai was a bit regretful, feeling he might have gone overboard. It's said a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him, and if Chu Ge really lost his temper and gave him a beating, it would really not be worth it.

However, words once spoken are like water poured out; since he had said it, there was no point in regretting it now, so he braced himself, eyes on Shi Tong with his peripheral vision on Chu Ge, planning to run if Chu Ge made a move, but outwardly still acting arrogant.

Among those present, the most embarrassed and at a loss was tomorrow's groom, Shi Tong. He wasn't stupid and could naturally hear the insinuation in Zhu Youcai's tone, knowing Zhu was clearly trying to embarrass Chu Ge by taking his seat.

But... doing this is quite uncalled for, isn't it? Bullying someone shouldn't be like this; it's just heartless!

This table is clearly roomy enough, and he had already reserved a seat for Zhu Youcai, yet Zhu Youcai turned a blind eye to it.

With great discomfort, Shi Tong forced a smile, raised his hand, gesturing politely at the empty seat he had saved, "Section Chief Zhu, I've already saved a place for you."

By rights, Shi Tong had said that, Zhu Youcai should have taken the cue and gone to sit, but he secretly observed Chu Ge for a while and saw no sign of him blowing up, which restored some of Zhu Youcai's confidence.

Looking at the troubled Shi Tong, Zhu Youcai, with a slightly dissatisfied tone, said, "Stone, the place you've saved for me seems a bit cramped, huh?"

Hearing Zhu Youcai's words, Shi Tong felt even more awkward. Even if his friendship with Chu Ge in childhood was just ordinary, even if he wanted to avoid offending Zhu Youcai, he simply couldn't bring himself to utter something so lousy as to chase Chu Ge away.

After all, Chu Ge had indeed been quite generous, despite only being a driver with presumably not a high income, yet he gave such a hefty red envelope!

Though these are favours to be returned in the future, this sentiment is undoubtedly precious.

Just when the atmosphere was getting somewhat stagnant, Shi Tong's face was filled with awkwardness, Cao Xu was ready to act, and most others planned to step in, Chu Ge, after being repeatedly provoked by Zhu Youcai, stood up from his seat.

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