Return to the City: The Strongest King
Chapter 344 - 345 Song Xiaodong Steps Forward

Chapter 344: Chapter 345 Song Xiaodong Steps Forward

Zhou Peng listened to Su Yao’s words and felt even more displeased, saying, "Su Yao, I don’t blame you for breaking up with me. It’s my fault for not being capable enough to keep your heart, but you..." Zhou Peng pointed angrily at Song Xiaodong, "You actually compare me to him? You compare me to a porter, isn’t that just an insult to me?"

Song Xiaodong replied, "Zhou Peng, you’re really overthinking it. Su Yao just said that in the heat of the moment. I could never compare to you."

Zhou Peng snorted and said, "Su Yao, you always used to tell me that I only cared about small, immediate gains and was satisfied with the status quo. But you see it today, don’t you? Two groups of friends have added dishes for me. What did they add? These lobsters are over a thousand a piece, and these abalones together cost five to six thousand. Can ordinary people afford to do that? If I didn’t have good relationships, would they have added dishes for me? My network has grown, and given some more time, I’m sure I’ll be able to expand my business even further through these connections."

Su Yao shook her head and said, "Zhou Peng, this is also one of the reasons I want to leave you. You clearly don’t have such ability, and these dishes clearly weren’t added for you. You insist on puffing up your face to look fat, taking credit for it, what’s most important for a person is self-awareness. You’re just too proud, and that’s really going to cost you."

"What? You’re saying these dishes weren’t added because of me?" Zhou Peng suddenly felt unsure, as Su Yao’s words implied she knew for whom the dishes were added.

All these classmates knew each other well, often drinking together, and the only person they were less in contact with was Song Xiaodong, about whom they didn’t know much. Moreover, Song Xiaodong had just walked in with Su Yao. Could it be that Song Xiaodong was really someone of significant status?

"Haha... I say, Su Yao, you’re making quite the joke there," Wang Yuming said with a laugh, "Everyone here knows each other, are you saying these dishes were added because of Song Xiaodong?"

Cui Yujiao burst out laughing, "If a porter can get someone to add such dishes, then I might as well eat this whole table." She was quite a status-conscious woman and looked down on Song Xiaodong from the bottom of her heart, so her words were particularly harsh.

Su Yao was immediately displeased when she heard this; now that she was Song Xiaodong’s secretary, she naturally sided with Song Xiaodong. She was about to retort when Song Xiaodong pressed her leg under the table.

Su Yao was startled, realizing that Song Xiaodong didn’t want to make the situation too stiff and swallowed the words she was about to say.

Song Xiaodong gave her a smile and then removed his hand from Su Yao’s leg, while Su Yao felt somewhat shy inside. Song Xiaodong had touched her thigh, and although it wasn’t meant to take advantage, a part of her felt inexplicably happy. She quickly told herself she shouldn’t think this way and sat up straight.

Wang Yuming, seeing the atmosphere turning awkward, quickly turned to a male student beside him and said, "Sun Xiaotao, you just happened to run into some trouble, right? Tell Zhou Peng about it quick. Zhou Peng has connections with people in the underworld now, he can settle it for you easily."

Sun Xiaotao, who had been keeping his head down, seemed distracted. During the earlier exchange, everyone’s attention was on Zhou Peng and Su Yao, and nobody had noticed him.

Zhou Peng glanced at Su Yao, then confidently patted his chest and said, "Sun Xiaotao, what’s the matter? Tell me about it."

After hesitating for a moment, Sun Xiaotao explained the situation. He had recently had a conflict with someone and ended up hitting the person. It was just a couple of slaps and a kick, nothing serious, but then that person got someone from the underworld involved, demanding a compensation of fifty thousand yuan, or they would make endless trouble for him.

It was clearly extortion, but Sun Xiaotao didn’t know anyone in the underworld. These past few days, the other party had come looking for him several times with a few people, looking fierce and menacing. He reported it to the police, but the police couldn’t do much since they hadn’t physically harmed him.

Zhou Peng immediately said, "Sun Xiaotao, tell me where those people are from so I can help you talk to them."

Sun Xiaotao quickly responded, "His name is Zeng Kai, everyone calls him Brother Kai."

Zhou Peng immediately took out his phone and dialed a number, saying, "Brother Bing, it’s Zhou Peng... Yes, I just had dinner with you the other day... There’s a little thing I hope you can help me with. A friend of mine has some trouble with Zeng Kai, and the guy is demanding fifty thousand yuan in compensation. Could you see if you can help settle this matter... Oh, you can’t talk to Zeng Kai either? Then, do you have any other way to help?... Alright then, I won’t bother Brother Bing anymore."

Everyone could clearly hear what Zhou Peng was saying, and they all understood that Zhou Peng couldn’t resolve the issue.

Sun Xiaotao’s expression grew even uglier as he said, "Then it’s over, tomorrow is the deadline. If I don’t pay, he said he’ll break my legs."

Zhou Peng’s face was quite embarrassed as he suggested, "Well... if we can’t do anything else, let’s try to gather the money for you first. We can’t just let you get your legs broken."

It seemed that was the only option left. Song Xiaodong sighed quietly to himself and said, "Forget it, let me try."

"You want to try?" Everyone looked at Song Xiaodong with a strange gaze, while Su Yao felt a surge of excitement inside. Song Xiaodong was finally going to reveal his identity, something she had been looking forward to for a long time.

"Oh, right, Dongzi was quite impressive back in high school, and he knew some people. Maybe he can have a word too," one classmate reminded them.

"Yes, yes, Dongzi, you should try finding those people you used to know. If all else fails, we all chip in some money and treat them to a meal," another classmate chimed in.

Song Xiaodong cracked a smile and replied, "Alright, I’ll try my best."

As he was about to make a call, several people knocked on the door and came in, led by Chen Zixu.

Zhou Peng and the others didn’t recognize Chen Zixu and his group at all. They looked at each other, not understanding what these people were here for.

"Brother Song, I’ve come to toast you," Chen Zixu went straight to Song Xiaodong’s side, raising his glass.

Zhou Peng and the others’ eyes widened in surprise, all thinking the same thing, "These people must have mistaken him for someone else."

But seeing Song Xiaodong stand up and clink glasses with Chen Zixu, he said, "Thank you for the extra dishes."

Chen Zixu laughed heartily and responded, "What’s there to thank me for? I was thinking about picking up your whole tab."

"No need for that. By the way, my classmate has run into a bit of trouble. Some guy named Zeng Kai is bullying him. Is he one of your guys?"

Song Xiaodong then asked nonchalantly.

The classmates’ eyes widened in shock. "What? One of his guys? Doesn’t that mean this dude is someone extremely powerful?"