Chapter 31: The Unpleasant Dispersal
Chapter 31: The Unpleasant Dispersal
“Drank it.”
Gao Jing also clinked his bottle with Zheng Xing’an’s.
Zheng Xing’an tilted his head back and drank all the beer in his bottle in one go.
After finishing, he glanced at Song Xue again.
This time, it was very obvious.
Yet Song Xue seemed completely unaware of his presence, whispering to her friends as if nothing was wrong.
She practically treated him like thin air.
Zheng Xing’an’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant, clearly annoyed.
What was all this about?
Gao Jing exchanged a look with Zhang Hongyuan. The latter laughed and said, “Brother Zheng, want to sit down and have a few more?”
“Alright.”
Zheng Xing’an didn’t stand on ceremony, pulling over a round stool and sitting down.
His expression quickly returned to normal, but a slight flush from the alcohol appeared on his face.
Clearly, his alcohol tolerance wasn’t great.
“Bud.”
After a moment of silence, Zheng Xing’an picked up a pistachio, cracked it open, tossed it into his mouth, chewed, and asked, “So, what line are you in?”
Gao Jing didn’t care much for his flippant tone and replied lazily, “Not in any line. Freelancer.”
Zheng Xing’an’s mouth twitched in a smirk. “Heh. Freelancer’s not bad. Free and carefree. Not like me, managing dozens of people company-wide. The pressure’s really a bit much…”
He tried to make his words sound off-hand.
But the condescension in his voice was obvious to anyone.
This time, Song Xue finally turned her head and looked at him.
While Zheng Xing’an was speaking to Gao Jing, his attention was entirely focused on Song Xue.
Song Xue’s single glance instantly energized him like a shot of adrenaline. He perked right up: “Xiao Xue, long time no see. How’ve you been lately?”
Gao Jing actually heard a hint of resentment in his voice.
Was that for real?
Zhang Hongyuan shot him a helpless look: I’m also so hopeless!
Song Xue frowned and replied irritably, “I’m fine. Zheng Xing’an, please call me by my full name from now on.”
Zheng Xing’an was immediately speechless.
V508 private room slowly turned quiet. No one was singing anymore.
A thick atmosphere of embarrassment hung in the air.
Gao Jing leaned back against the sofa cushion, really feeling like he wanted to rant.
Meanwhile, Zheng Xing’an’s girlfriend, sitting opposite him, had flushed bright red. Blue veins stood out on her fair forehead.
In the next moment, she snatched her bag up from beside her and left the private room without a word.
Clearly unwilling to stay and be humiliated further.
Zheng Xing’an seemed oblivious.
It seemed Song Xue was the only person in his eyes right now.
“Lili, sorry, I need to go.”
However, Song Xue had also had enough. She stood up and left as well: “Goodbye, everyone.”
As she left, she gave Gao Jing and Zhang Hongyuan a nod.
It was her way of expressing an apology.
Zheng Xing’an opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
He just sat there stock-still.
His utterly crestfallen look wasn’t lost on others. Several of the girls, including Zhu Lili, exchanged subtle looks.
Comparison is the worst.
Though decked out in name brands and a designer watch, whether in looks or presence, Zheng Xing’an was instantly crushed when placed next to Gao Jing, who was wearing head-to-toe street market clothes.
They couldn’t help but think: if only the strengths of these two could be combined, that would be perfect!
Even Zheng Xing’an having just half of Gao Jing’s good points would be an improvement.
Don’t say girls’ thoughts are too realistic.
Because reality is too harsh.
Though Yuncheng couldn’t compare to super-metropolines like the Imperial Capital, Magic City (Shanghai), or Seashade, its development had been incredibly swift over the last decade.
The influx of migrants had driven property prices and cost of living ever higher.
These days, without four or five million, you could forget about buying a decent apartment in Yuncheng’s city center.
Without an apartment, how can you settle down and build a career…
Live a happy life?
With things having come to this point, no one felt like partying anymore. They called it a night and went their separate ways.
A couple of the girls added Gao Jing on Wechat before they left.
Probably, they still had a little bit of a thought about him.
Actually, they were overthinking it.
“Old Gao, let’s find another place for a few more drinks.”
Zhang Hongyuan went to settle the bill and came back looking apologetic. “How about hitting a bar?”
Everyone had been having a good time. No one imagined things would turn out like this.
He was feeling awful and truly sorry towards Gao Jing.
“Not necessary.”
Gao Jing patted his shoulder with a smile. “You just got back today. Head home and rest early. I’m tired too.”
“Alright then.”
Zhang Hongyuan didn’t push it. “We’ll hang out another day.”
He still seemed reluctant. “You’re really sure you won’t go back to Gold Radiance?”
“Nope.”
Gao Jing answered decisively. “I absolutely won’t go back.”
Only then did Zhang Hongyuan give up completely.
After saying goodbye to Zhang Hongyuan and his wife Zhu Lili, Gao Jing hailed a taxi at the roadside.
Because this gathering ended early and unpleasantly, when he got back to the Urban Village, it was just past nine o’clock.
Shops on both sides of the street were still open. People strolling or cooling off outside were everywhere.
As Gao Jing passed a street corner, he noticed quite a few elderly men and women gathered together.
They looked excited, chatting animatedly!
“Oh dear, none of you saw it. I was right there!”
“The blood was flowing everywhere, right into the gutter!”
“Serves him right, I say! Heaven sees everything above your head. Those who do evil bring destruction upon themselves!”
“Last time, those two dogs of his terrified my granddaughter. She woke up crying for several nights afterwards!”
“Truly, Heaven has eyes! I’ll go to the City God Temple tomorrow and offer high incense!”
“Everything’s really alright this time…”
Gao Jing was startled. He hadn’t imagined Big Gold Chain had gotten bitten up so badly.
But he felt no pity or guilt whatsoever.
Big Gold Chain usually swaggered around the Urban Village, bullying honest people, kicking down widows’ doors at night. He was vicious and cunning.
Yet the guy skirted serious lawbreaking; the worst he did only landed him in jail for a few days at a time.
And with his money, he was genuinely hard to deal with.
Now he was truly silenced.
Big Gold Chain got exactly what he deserved.
What truly surprised, even delighted Gao Jing, was something else. Hearing those elderly folk thanking the gods and heaven, a large amount of Power of Faith suddenly materialized inside the Bronze Anchor!
This could work too?
Actually, back at the KTV, Gao Jing had sensed something off.
The Power of Faith inside the Bronze Anchor had been steadily increasing.
He thought it was leftover heat from that Bilibili video and winning the marathon race.
Now he finally understood the real reason.
The problem was: regarding the Big Gold Chain incident, no one but Gao Jing himself knew he was behind it.
People weren’t thanking Gao Jing. So why was he still getting Power of Faith?
And such a large amount, so pure!
This made Gao Jing realize his previous understanding of how and from where Power of Faith originated had been quite mistaken.
The facts proved that as long as he was the “cause”, he could gain the “effect”.
Gao Jing’s perspective suddenly expanded!
He hurried excitedly back to his rented room and booted up his laptop.
He logged onto Bilibili.