111: Why aren't you laughing anymore?

Three days later, the weather in Harbin was still sunny.

But a trace of oppressive heat had already settled in the air.

A flight from the Capital City landed at Taiping International Airport.

Zhou Xingcai and her second brother, Zhou Bingsheng, set foot on this Black Soil.

Zhou Xingcai had come this time with a family mission.

The Zhou Family was preparing to enter the real estate business and had set their sights on Harbin, a piece of virgin land waiting to be developed.

Moreover, her father, the old master Zhou, was suffering from a strange illness that was getting worse and worse. She had heard there was a miraculous doctor here who could even cure the terminal illness of the Zheng Family's old master. She had to find this person.

The two of them checked directly into the most luxurious foreign-related hotel in Harbin at the time—the Sheraton Hotel.

In those days, being able to stay in such a place wasn't just about having money; you also needed Foreign Exchange Certificates, making it a mark of noble status.

At noon, luxury cars gathered at the hotel entrance.

A row of Santanas, Crowns, and Audi 100s were parked there.

A group of young people, wearing Floral Shirts, Bell-bottoms, or dressed in Suits and Leather Shoes, were gathered at the entrance, chatting and laughing merrily.

Many of them were Zhou Xingcai's classmates, studying at universities in the capital.

These people also had their own circles. For this gathering, Zhou Xingcai had said she wanted to make many friends, so she had them invite all the buddies they knew.

Now, the place was packed with young masters from the Northeast who had status and influence—the so-called second-generation circle.

"Ah, Miss Zhou, you've become even more beautiful!"

"She's the Campus Belle of the Capital University of Finance and Economics! That aura, those under-eye bags, simply perfect!"

"A young lady from the Capital Circle is just different!"

Standing in the center of the crowd, Zhou Xingcai wore a white Haute Couture Dress, her hair up in a bun, revealing her long, Swan-like Neck.

A faint smile graced her face, neither overly intimate nor lacking in proper courtesy.

That noble and aloof aura turned the usually arrogant young masters around her into a bunch of Simpering Admirers.

"Miss Zhou, if you ever need anything in Harbin, just say the word!"

"That's right! We might not have many other skills, but in Harbin, whether it's Getting Approvals or finding people, we can make things happen!"

Zhou Xingcai gave a slight nod, her voice cool and pleasant:

"Then I'll thank all my classmates in advance."

"In the future, when my family starts development here, we'll inevitably have to trouble everyone, especially with matters like demolition and relocation. We'll have to rely on you all."

She saw things clearly in her heart.

Although these people were good-for-nothings, their families all had connections. In the future, when dealing with real estate, if any Stubborn Residents refused to move, she could just use these Thugs to handle it.

Right at that moment.

Lin Chuan was looking at reports in his company when the mobile phone on his desk rang.

It was Zheng Yun, the head of the Zheng Family.

"Hello, Sister Zheng." Lin Chuan answered the phone, his tone relaxed.

"Brother Lin! Are you busy?"

Zheng Yun's voice was very enthusiastic.

"It's like this. I'm hosting a banquet at the Sheraton today at noon; some friends from the Imperial Capital are here."

"They're all offspring of major families in the capital. I was thinking, since you want to expand your business, sooner or later you'll have to enter the capital market."

"So, I thought I'd act as an intermediary and introduce you."

Lin Chuan's heart stirred.

In this era, connections in the capital were extremely important.

In the future, whether it was acquiring land, obtaining permits, or going public, nothing could be done without capital connections.

Zheng Yun was genuinely paving the way for him.

But he didn't know that these so-called capital friends were precisely Lin Chuan's mortal enemy from his past life—Zhou Xingcai, the woman who had caused the death of his Ex-wife!

"Alright, since Sister Zheng is organizing this, I'll definitely be there."

Lin Chuan hung up the phone, stood up, and straightened his suit.

"Long Wu, get the car ready. We're going to the Sheraton."

...At the entrance of the Sheraton Hotel.

Zhou Xingcai was chatting with a few classmates.

These classmates were also prominent figures, returning home for summer vacation, each with considerable status.

Just as everyone was chatting animatedly.

"Vroom——!!"

A low, deep, and powerful engine roar came from the distance.

Immediately after.

A pitch-black, shiny, wide-bodied, and imposing sedan drove into the hotel's carriageway.

The massive chrome grille, the iconic three-pointed star hood ornament.

Glistened dazzlingly under the sun, almost blinding.

"Holy shit!!"

A young master in the crowd who knew cars exclaimed in shock.

"A tiger head benz!! W140!!"

"And it's an S600!! V12!!"

These words caused an uproar.

Everyone here was a second-generation heir; their families were wealthy too. But at this time, having a Santana or an Audi was the absolute peak for any family.

A mercedes-benz? That was a legend!

And it was the latest tiger head benz!

"My god, this car must cost over a million, right?"

"Over a million? Dream on! This car costs nearly two million all-in! And you can't even buy it even if you have the money!"

"You need a foreign trade quota! And you have to pull some serious strings to get it through customs!"

"There can't be more than a few of these in the entire Harbin, right?"

"This must be someone from the Chu Family! Or a young master from the Zheng or Han Families!"

Even the usually composed Zhou Xingcai showed a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes upon seeing this car.

Although she was used to luxury cars in the capital, in the Northeast in 1992, anyone who could afford such a car was absolutely a top-tier big shot.

Harbin truly had Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers.

The car stopped steadily in front of the red carpet.

Everyone held their breath, craning their necks, wanting to see which influential figure would step out from the driver's seat.

If they could befriend such a person, wouldn't they be able to walk sideways in Harbin from then on?

The car door opened.

A long leg in sharply pressed suit trousers stepped out.

Immediately after.

Lin Chuan's face, with its distinct angles and handsome features, appeared before the crowd.

He wore a well-tailored dark suit, his hair meticulously combed, his gaze deep and calm.

"Huh?"

Upon seeing this face, the crowd fell silent for two seconds.

Then, a wave of incredulous exclamations erupted.

"Lin... Lin Chuan?!"

"Holy crap! Isn't that the poor student from our college who always took first place?!"

"That country bumpkin Lin Chuan?!"

No one could have imagined that the person stepping out of this top-tier luxury car was actually that Lin Chuan who usually dressed shabbily and was only known for munching on steamed buns while studying in the library!

The contrast was just too great!

"How is this possible?"

"Isn't his family from the countryside? They even had to scrape together his tuition. How could he afford a tiger head benz?"

Just as everyone was utterly perplexed.

The passenger door opened.

Long Wu, with his burly build and dressed in a blue suit, got out from the passenger seat.

Long Wu's muscular physique made it clear he was not someone to be trifled with.

After getting out, he stood to the side, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. His posture was exactly like that of a Gangster bodyguard or a big boss.

But, seeing this scene.

These young masters' thought processes instantly clicked.

"Phew!! You scared the hell out of me!"

A young master wearing a checkered shirt, called Young Master Liu, patted his chest, his face full of disdain.

"I knew it! How could this poor bastard afford a big Benz!"

"So, after all that, he's just a driver!"

"Look, that big guy in the passenger seat is clearly the big boss or the head bodyguard! What a build!"

The crowd's expressions instantly shifted from shock to contempt and mockery.

There was even a bit of anger at having been fooled.

A lousy driver, driving his boss's car around, acting all high and mighty?

Making us think about currying favor earlier!

What bad luck!

At this moment.

Zhou Xingcai also saw Lin Chuan.

Her brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

She had an impression of Lin Chuan.

After all, Lin Chuan was handsome and ranked first in the entire college academically. Although he was poor, he was still somewhat of a notable figure.

And he had helped her with many difficulties regarding her thesis.

She had originally thought this poor kid from the countryside could change his fate through knowledge. Perhaps in the future, he could become an executive in a big company.

Never did she expect.

He had fallen this low?

For a bit of vanity, driving his boss's car to show off in front of her?

Zhou Xingcai let out a soft sigh, that superior, lecturing posture surfacing again.

She looked at Lin Chuan walking over, shook her head, and spoke in a tone as cold as meltwater on an iceberg:

"Lin Chuan."

"I really didn't expect to run into you here."

Lin Chuan had originally just intended to go inside for the banquet, not expecting so many people blocking the entrance.

He looked up.

That face he hated to the core in his past life, the one he dreamt of tearing apart, came into view.

Zhou Xingcai!

Lin Chuan's pupils contracted sharply; the killing intent in his heart almost broke free.

But after all, he was a reincarnator, with profound composure.

Soon, he regained his calm, even curling the corner of his mouth into a playful smile.

So, the capital friends Old Brother Zheng mentioned were you!

Damn it!

Truly, enemies cross paths.

"It is quite a coincidence," Lin Chuan replied indifferently.

Seeing Lin Chuan's nonchalant demeanor, Zhou Xingcai felt even more uncomfortable.

Shouldn't a driver, whose identity has been exposed, feel ashamed?

Still putting on an act?

"Lin Chuan, we are also alumni, so I'll say something you might not want to hear."

Zhou Xingcai crossed her arms, adopting a 'for your own good' posture.

"Being poor isn't scary."

"What's scary is being driven by vanity."

"Driving for your boss is also a legitimate job; there's no shame in earning a living through labor."

"However."

Zhou Xingcai pointed at the tiger head benz.

"Driving your boss's car out to put on a show in front of old classmates is just pointless."

"You're too vain!"

"Instead of this, you should focus on improving yourself, read more books, and be down-to-earth in the future. Only then can you truly earn people's respect."

"Not like now, relying on borrowed authority and making a fool of yourself."

These words were spoken with great righteousness and high-sounding principles.

The surrounding young masters chimed in agreement.

"Exactly! Miss Zhou is right!"

"Lin Chuan, listen! That's what you call vision!"

"Miss Zhou is a young lady from the capital, yet she's willing to give you a few words of advice. That's your good fortune!"

"Hurry up and thank Miss Zhou!"

The checkered-shirt Young Master Liu, eager to show off in front of the goddess, even jumped forward.

He walked up to Lin Chuan, looked him up and down, and sneered sarcastically:

"Tsk tsk tsk."

"Lin Chuan, oh Lin Chuan, look at you now."

"Dressed in a suit, hair slicked back like a dog licked it."

"What's the deal? Now that you're a driver, you think you're all that?"

"Gotta admit, with this skin on, people who don't know might really think you're somebody!"

"But in reality?"

Young Master Liu stretched out a finger, extremely arrogantly poking towards Lin Chuan's chest.

"You're just a lousy driver!"

"We, your classmates, are having a gathering here. Park the car over there! Don't be an eyesore!"

"If you behave well after we finish eating, maybe we'll give you some leftovers!"

"Hahaha!!"

The surrounding classmates burst into loud laughter.

The laughter was full of contempt and humiliation towards this former top student.

In their circle, they needed to step on others to elevate themselves.

And Lin Chuan was the perfect stepping stone.

Lin Chuan looked at this foul-mouthed Young Master Liu before him, then glanced at Zhou Xingcai standing not far away, her face cold and arrogant as if watching a show.

He frowned.

These people, truly disgusting in both past and present lives.

"Finished talking?"

Lin Chuan asked calmly.

"How could I be finished!"

Seeing that Lin Chuan didn't dare retort, Young Master Liu thought he was scared and became even more aggressive.

"Lin Chuan, let me tell you, it's only because we're classmates that I'm being polite."

"Otherwise, with your status, you wouldn't even be qualified to stand..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

A gust of fierce wind was heard beside him!

Long Wu, who had been standing silently behind Lin Chuan, moved.

The boss being cursed at right to his face?

If he could tolerate this, then Long Wu might as well not be in the underworld!

"Looking for death!!"

Long Wu roared angrily, like a sudden clap of thunder.

Immediately after.

His foot, clad in a large leather shoe, shot out like a battering ram, landing squarely on Young Master Liu's chest.

"Thud!!!"

This kick landed solidly on Young Master Liu's chest.

No fancy moves.

Just absolute, overwhelming force!

"Pfft!!"

Young Master Liu didn't even have time to scream before a mouthful of blood sprayed out.

His entire body flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

He flew a good five or six meters!

"Crash!"

He landed heavily on the marble steps at the Sheraton entrance, tumbling several more times before stopping.

"Cough... pfft..."

Young Master Liu clutched his chest, spitting out several more mouthfuls of blood on the ground. His face instantly turned deathly pale, and he rolled his eyes in pain.

At least three ribs were broken!

The young masters who had been laughing just moments ago instantly fell silent, as if someone had grabbed them by the throat.

They stared wide-eyed, terrified, at the burly man who resembled a god of slaughter.

This was too brutal!

Resorting to violence over a few words?

And kicking someone so far? To the point of vomiting blood?

This was truly Gangster behavior!

"Ah!! Murder!!"

Some timid female classmates screamed.

Zhou Xingcai was also frightened, her face pale, subconsciously taking two steps back.

She never expected that the bodyguard Lin Chuan brought could be so savage!

Lin Chuan remained standing where he was, not even glancing at the dog-like Young Master Liu.

He reached out and patted the nonexistent dust off his suit.

Then he raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

Finally, it settled on Zhou Xingcai's somewhat pale face.

"Is this what you call the upper-class circle?"

Lin Chuan's tone was flat, yet it carried a chilling coldness that made hearts tremble.

"None of you can take a hit!"

"Remember, think before you speak."

"Otherwise, the consequences will be worse than his."

Long Wu took a step forward, his fierce eyes glaring:

"Who else wants to laugh?"

Dozens of rich second-generation heirs present didn't dare make a sound, not even daring to breathe heavily.

They all lowered their heads, trembling.

Are you kidding!

One kick broke ribs. Who would dare step forward?