After work, Ye Xiong returned to the construction site dormitory. Five minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom a completely different man. He was about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a designer shirt and trousers with imported leather shoes. His hair, less than an inch long, was spiked up, making him look like a celebrity.
"That was fast. You're already dressed?" his dormmate, Wang Tong, said incredulously.
"If a gun was pointed at your head and being slow was a death sentence, you'd be just as fast as me."
Wang Tong was already immune to Ye Xiong's flights of fancy. The guy had been at the construction site for nearly half a year. One minute, he'd claim to be an ex-hitman or a bodyguard; the next, he'd boast about traveling to a dozen European countries and sampling the charms of women from ten different nations. His most outrageous claim was that he'd once been buried underground for a month and survived.
If he were that impressive, would he be working as a construction worker for Xinyi Group? After all, that's what they both were: mere construction workers. You'd have to be crazy to believe a broke construction worker had tasted the charms of women from ten different countries.
Fortunately, aside from his occasional delusions, Ye Xiong had a decent personality. He was generous, loyal, and treated his friends well. For example, when Wang Tong mentioned he had never eaten at the Dongfang Hotel in his entire life, Ye Xiong said an old classmate was holding their wedding there and offered to take him along.
The Dongfang Hotel was the most luxurious hotel in Jiangnan City, and it was fully booked for the night. Yang Xinyi, the President of Xinyi Group, and He Haodong, the Executive President of Haoyang Group, were holding their wedding there. It was the biggest event in Jiangnan City today.
Speaking of Xinyi Group, one had to mention its president, Yang Xinyi. She was the "it girl" for every eligible bachelor in Jiangnan City—beautiful, intelligent, and the only daughter of the group's chairman, Yang Dingguo. Marrying her was equivalent to acquiring the entire Xinyi Group. Countless scions of wealthy and influential families had pursued her relentlessly, but in the end, He Haodong of Haoyang Group had won her over.
However, this had absolutely nothing to do with Ye Xiong. He didn't even know Yang Xinyi; he was just there to crash the party for a free meal.
"Brother Xiong, do you really know Yang Xinyi?" Wang Tong asked, finding it hard to believe.
One was the president of Xinyi Group, while the other was a "glorious" construction worker on a team under that very same group. The difference in their statuses was like heaven and earth; it was impossible to imagine they knew each other.
"We were elementary school classmates."
"Why don't you ask her to help you find a job?" Wang Tong asked, puzzled. "With such an influential classmate, a single word from her could land you a cushy job, way better than construction work."
"I love this job. Just think about it—watching skyscrapers rise from your own two hands. How fulfilling is that!" Ye Xiong declared, looking up at the sky with a proud expression.
He's nuts.
The two of them walked into an elevator. Just as the doors were about to close, a pleasant female voice called out, "Hold on, please!"
A woman stepped in, wearing high heels and a black evening gown. She was in her mid-twenties, about 1.7 meters tall, with wavy, curly hair and red-framed glasses. Her eyes were like tranquil autumn pools, her eyebrows as fine as willow leaves, her nose slender and elegant, and her thin lips were touched with a light lipstick. Both her aura and her looks were superb.
"Miss, what floor?" Wang Tong greeted her.
Wang Tong was short and skinny, looking almost malnourished. Standing next to the woman in her high heels, he was shorter by a head. Yet, he had an innocent-looking baby face. Who would have guessed he was actually a creep?
"The eighth floor, thank you," the beautiful woman replied, her voice devoid of any arrogance.
"Are you here for the wedding too?" Wang Tong asked.
"Yang Xinyi is my classmate," she responded.
"You're Yang Xinyi's friend too? What a coincidence! My friend here was her classmate."
Only then did Xiao Fangfang notice the man standing next to her, and she was secretly amazed. This man has an incredible presence! He was about 1.8 meters tall with sharp features and a captivating aura, projecting an air of elegant dominance.
Wang Tong glanced from Ye Xiong to the beautiful woman and suddenly felt they were a perfect match. Of course, that was only if you ignored Ye Xiong's profession.
So, Yang Xinyi, you've been hiding such a handsome classmate from me. Just you wait, I'll deal with you later, Xiao Fangfang thought.
"I'm Xiao Fangfang. It's a pleasure to meet you," she introduced herself proactively.
"Ye Xiong. Ye, as in the character for 'leaf', and Xiong, for 'heroic'."
Xiao Fangfang flashed a row of pearly white teeth. "Mr. Ye, when were you and Xinyi classmates?"
"Elementary school."
"You went to First Elementary too?" Xiao Fangfang asked, surprised. "How come I don't remember you?"
"Back then... I was like the ugly duckling. I didn't really have a presence."
"Which class were you in?"
"Ah... the eighth floor. We should head in," Ye Xiong said, changing the subject and gesturing for her to go first.
What a gentleman!
"Shall we sit at the same table?" Xiao Fangfang suggested.
"We've already made plans with some friends, but maybe we could buy you a drink after dinner?"
"It's a deal."
With that, Xiao Fangfang clicked away on her high heels and left.
Ye Xiong breathed a sigh of relief. That was a close call. I could just slap Wang Tong. Why did he have to start a conversation for no reason?
The hall was filled with over a hundred banquet tables, creating a bustling and extraordinarily grand scene.
"Brother Xiong, where should we sit?"
Xiao Fangfang's appearance has ruined my plan. If she asks Yang Xinyi about me, I'll be exposed. The most important thing now is to find a small private room so she can't find us. We'll eat and get out of here. With thousands of guests at this banquet, she can't possibly check them one by one, right?
After reaching the eighth floor, Xiao Fangfang immediately spotted Yang Xinyi, surrounded by people like a princess, and hurried over.
"My dear bride, you look absolutely stunning! I'm so jealous."
Yang Xinyi wore a purple wedding dress with a sheer, tantalizing veil that gave her an air of mystery. Her makeup was so light it was almost unnoticeable. However, a subtle sadness lingered in her eyes, a stark contrast to the joyful excitement typically seen on a bride's face.
"You came alone again? You're really letting me down," Yang Xinyi said, feigning disappointment.
"You have the nerve to talk? You've been hiding handsome classmates from me! I'm officially unfriending you!"
"Oh, please," Yang Xinyi retorted. "I've introduced so many good men to you, but you're the one who never likes any of them!"
Yang Xinyi was truly at a loss when it came to her best friend. Despite countless introductions, Xiao Fangfang had yet to take a liking to anyone. By now, everyone in their circle knew that Yang Xinyi's best friend, Xiao Fangfang, was an older, single woman with impossibly high standards.
"That's because someone is hoarding all the premium catches and refusing to share!" Xiao Fangfang huffed, stepping closer. "Fess up. Are you hiding some tall, rich, and handsome guy as a backup?"
Yang Xinyi gestured to all the men in the venue. "All my friends and classmates are here. Take your pick."
"What about that Ye Xiong? Don't tell me you don't know him," Xiao Fangfang pressed.
"Which Ye Xiong?"
"He's about 1.8 meters tall, wears glasses, and he's your elementary school classmate."
"The only elementary school classmate attending this wedding is you. Could a friend be playing a joke on you?"
Xiao Fangfang's face darkened. Recalling the scene in the elevator, she had an epiphany. "Xinyi, we've run into a freeloader!"
Hearing this, Yang Xinyi's brow furrowed.
"Crashing for a free meal is one thing, but I'm worried he has ulterior motives." As the President of Xinyi Group, Yang Xinyi was a meticulous thinker. She pondered for a moment before saying, "I'll assign two security guards to you. Find him, but make sure you don't alarm the other guests."
"I will definitely find him, and then I'll beat him so badly his own mother won't recognize him."
Xiao Fangfang was both mortified and furious. For the first time in her life, she had felt a flicker of interest in a man, only to find out he was a con artist. The feeling of being deceived left a bitter taste in her mouth.