Chapter 9: Brother Yu

"Hey, it's Chen Yuyi!" A surprised exclamation came from one of the students in the hall.

Chen Yuyi entered, pushing a cart of red wine, his expression calm and collected.

The previously lively hall fell silent in an instant.

Fan Wenbin narrowed his eyes. "So our Beggar Prince really showed up. But isn't this an unconventional way to make an entrance?" He burst into loud laughter.

Many classmates quickly joined in, laughter echoing through the room.

"No wonder you said you'd attend our banquet, Chen Yuyi. Turns out you're working here as a waiter," sneered Fan Ling. Though she didn't laugh as loudly as the others, the mockery in her eyes was unmistakable.

"Being a waiter here isn't bad at all! This is a five-star hotel, pretty upscale. And you get to smell dishes you can't usually afford, maybe even lick a few leftover plates, ha ha!" A few male classmates, close friends with Fan Wenbin, laughed uproariously.

"Plus, you can broaden your horizons! Like those bottles of red wine you're carrying—do you even know what they are? 1987 Lafite, over twenty thousand yuan a bottle. You'd better be careful, break one and you'll never pay it off, ha ha..."

"To be honest, Wenbin is really generous. You know, we've already drunk ten bottles before you arrived, and now you're bringing ten more. Since we're all classmates, why don't you put work aside and join us for a toast?" Some of the female classmates spoke up, a hint of sympathy in their voices.

"That's right. Wenbin is on great terms with your lobby manager. In fact, the manager came in to toast us earlier. Just a word from Wenbin and it won't affect your job," they added, though their admiration for Fan Wenbin was evident.

Fan Wenbin, caressing Fan Ling's hand with a look of satisfaction, said, "They're right. As long as I have a word with your lobby manager, not only can you sit and drink with us now, but he might even look after you in the future."

Fan Ling stood up, her tone teasing, "Why don't you sit down and have a drink with us, Chen Yuyi? It won't delay your work. Besides, if anything happens, my Wenbin will sort it out for you."

"Alright," Chen Yuyi replied. After placing the wine on the table, he actually sat down.

Fan Wenbin raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Fan Ling—they hadn't expected Chen Yuyi to have the audacity to accept.

"Since that's the case, I won't be shy," Chen Yuyi said. His stomach really was a bit empty, as he'd barely eaten at lunch. Pouring himself a glass of red wine, he lifted it to his lips. "Thank you, Young Master Fan." With that, he downed the wine in one gulp and began to eat heartily, as though no one else was there.

Fan Wenbin's expression twitched with irritation. Inwardly, he cursed Chen Yuyi for being so shameless.

Some of Wenbin's close friends looked as though they wanted to grab Chen Yuyi by the collar, appalled at his lack of shame.

The girls shook their heads, thinking that at the very least, Chen Yuyi should have toasted Fan Wenbin instead of drinking alone.

Fan Ling, eyes filled with disdain, suddenly changed her expression and said, "Chen Yuyi, why didn't you bring that girl you met today? Or was she just someone you found to put on a show for me?"

Chen Yuyi couldn't even be bothered to smile. How imaginative Fan Ling was—did he really need to put on a show for her? And to what end?

"Actually, he did appear with a girl on the school forum today," a classmate suddenly interjected. "And this girl isn't ordinary—she's been called the most beautiful campus belle in our school's history!"

Some of the boys immediately asked, "You mean Zuo Qianhui?"

"Who else could it be?"

With that, everyone took out their phones and opened the school forum. At the top was a striking headline: Who's Standing So Close to Our Most Beautiful Campus Belle? Beneath was a profile shot of Zuo Qianhui, speaking closely with a male student. The boy's face was blurry, clearly an accidental capture, as the photographer had focused on Zuo Qianhui. The post marveled at how the campus beauty, who had never shown interest in any male student, was seen chatting so intimately with a boy—its tone was sour and accusatory toward the unidentified male.

The students compared the photo to Chen Yuyi. Though the boy's face wasn't clear, after years as classmates, they all instantly recognized him. A chorus of astonished exclamations followed, "It's really him!"

Fan Wenbin and Fan Ling checked as well. Fan Ling, already certain, bit her lip. Fan Wenbin's temples throbbed. "So what? What does it prove? What's so interesting about this?"

The others put away their phones. "Yeah, it's just a boring post—doesn't mean anything."

Fan Wenbin stared at Chen Yuyi, mocking him. "A beggar gets a rare moment of attention from a beauty, and now the rumors are flying. If you have the guts, why not bring the most beautiful girl in our school's history here for us to see?"

"Chen Yuyi, I don't know how you convinced that young lady to put on such a performance with you, but I know your motive. You just wanted to get at me and Wenbin, didn't you? I never thought you could be so malicious," Fan Ling spat, her face dark.

"If he really had what it takes, he'd be off enjoying life with our campus belle, not working here. Ignore these rumors, they're nothing but baseless gossip," sneered Wenbin's friends.

"Exactly. Rumor has it her family is incredibly wealthy. Why would she ever look at our Beggar Prince? Ha ha!"

"A beggar is always a beggar; a prince is always a prince. You will only ever be a beggar, never a prince, and you'll never be good enough to compete with me!" Fan Wenbin's eyes flashed coldly as he walked over to Chen Yuyi, still eating and drinking.

Crash!

He dropped his wine glass by Chen Yuyi's feet, the glass shattering, wine spraying everywhere.

Everyone was taken aback.

"Manager! I want to file a complaint! How can your hotel's waiters be so unprofessional?" Fan Wenbin shouted toward the door.

The lobby manager arrived promptly.

"What happened, Young Master Fan?" The manager glanced around the scene, his gaze settling on Chen Yuyi.

"This waiter is truly unprofessional. Out of consideration for our old classmate, I invited him for a drink when he brought the wine, but he didn't even care for the gesture. Not only did he eat and drink, he got drunk and broke a glass in front of everyone!" Fan Wenbin smirked, clearly reveling in his control over the situation.

His cronies immediately chimed in, adding to Chen Yuyi's supposed faults.

The manager's face darkened. He'd already been annoyed earlier at the door. "Since when are you allowed to sit at a guest's table and eat or drink while on duty? And now you're making a scene? Pack your things and get out—you're fired!"

Chen Yuyi calmly took out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and looked around at his former classmates before finally turning to the manager. "So you're firing me?"

Fan Wenbin and Fan Ling looked at him as though he were an idiot—still pretending at a time like this.

Some classmates felt much the same, even thinking it shameful to have ever called him a classmate. Others shook their heads in private, sighing. They didn't all bear Chen Yuyi ill will; they simply thought he should have been more tactful, flattered Fan Wenbin a little, and he wouldn't have ended up like this.

"Someone like you—should I keep you on? Now pack your things and go. Don't expect a penny in wages!" The manager, furious, pointed toward the door.

"Well, since you said it, it's not like I'm quitting on my own," Chen Yuyi replied, unexpectedly seeming quite happy to be fired.

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

The manager was even more taken aback.

"Manager He," Fan Wenbin stepped forward, feigning concern, "Since we are classmates, isn't firing him a bit harsh?"

"Young Master Fan, you needn't speak for him. Our hotel has its rules. Someone like him must be fired!" The manager was nearly beside himself with anger at Chen Yuyi's arrogance—he'd never met such a brazen waiter.

Fan Wenbin held Fan Ling's hand and smiled silently. Fan Ling lifted her chin, gazing at Chen Yuyi as if to say, "Come on, beg me—if you do, maybe I'll have Wenbin say a few kind words for you."

The hall grew quiet, all eyes on Chen Yuyi.

He slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

A strange sense of pressure seemed to fill the air, making it difficult for anyone to breathe, until Chen Yuyi shook his head and prepared to leave, at which point they all felt relief.

"Brother Yu, so you were here all along!"