Chapter 152 Birthday Banquet

Chapter 152 Birthday Banquet

Zheng Bin also received the birthday banquet invitation, tossed it casually onto the dining table and left it at that.

Since that night at the dinner party until now, he hadn't contacted Jiang Luo even once.

Zheng Bin felt awkward and a little sulky—what the hell, gay!? How could his best friend be gay?

He called Wang Chuang, "I know, I've known for a while. Back then, he was even struggling with whether to be with Huo Zongzhuo or not."

Zheng Bin: "..."

Zheng Bin then called You Junyu, who was extremely busy and shot back at him: "Young Master, you may not be busy, but I am, okay? What is it?"

"Yeah, Jiang Luo is with Huo Zongzhuo. I realized it two years ago. Why else do you think they lived together in a villa at Silver Lake in Shenzhen?"

"You and I are close too, but do you see me sharing a hotel room?"

"Come on, it's really not a big deal. I'm hanging up."

Zheng Bin: "..."

Zheng Bin: !!!

No one understands him!

The whole world doesn’t understand him!

Zheng Bin didn’t even know what he was so bothered by, but ever since he found out Jiang Luo was gay and with President Huo, he just felt uncomfortable all over.

Feeling unsettled and too restless to stay idle, he went out to find some people to hang out with, and that’s when trouble started—

While playing basketball with a few other young masters, during a break, he overheard someone sitting on a bench by the court say, "...just fucking asses, just so disgusting."

"Yeah, totally gross."

"Selling his butt, otherwise how would his business have gotten so big?"

"I used to respect him, but now I see how disgusting he really is."

"Do you think he’s slutty in bed? With a face like that, getting railed…"

"What are you talking about?! What did you just say!?"

Zheng Bin spiked the basketball onto the ground, stood up, and pointed at the group gathered nearby, "Which one of you motherfuckers hasn’t partied with Jiang Luo before? Which one of you hasn’t sought Jiang Luo's help in business?"

"And now you fatherless, motherless pieces of shit have the nerve to say this shit!?"

"Fuck your mothers, you assholes!"

Zheng Bin swung his fists and lunged at them...

In Suzhou, a multi-story private residence resembling a restaurant had round tables and chairs set up on every floor. Inside, many people were busy moving tables and putting chair covers on, bustling with activity both inside and out.

Huo Zongzhuo’s secretary Wen and Jiang Luo’s secretary Xiao Lu were both there, double-checking the number of seats and the guest list floor by floor.

Not far away, Xue Zhizhong was also sweating buckets, personally directing people to move things.

Secretary Wen, while busy, noticed Xue Zhizhong and went over: "President Xue, don't trouble yourself. Xiao Lu and I can handle it."

"No problem, I’m just helping out. I’ll leave soon."

Xue Zhizhong, with a familiar attitude, called out to workers nearby: "Handle it carefully, be careful!"

Soon after, he directed people to hang decorations on the wall and ceiling, "Over there, over there! I said over there! Are you deaf?!"

Xiao Lu and Secretary Wen exchanged glances, both sharing a knowing, amused look.

Xiao Lu, being younger, used the guest list to cover his mouth and whispered to Secretary Wen, "President Xue really is something. Wherever there’s a chance to curry favor with President Huo and President Jiang, he’s there."

"Don’t let how he is now fool you."

Secretary Wen whispered back: "Back in the day, he somehow offended President Huo. His biggest club, called 'Oriental No. 1,' got investigated and closed for six months. It was a huge loss, and he was kneeling at the club’s entrance crying."

"Later, if it weren’t for your President Jiang finding him useful and keeping him around, he’d probably be carrying bricks at some construction site now."

Secretary Xiao Lu: "He knows how to suck up—to President Jiang, to President Huo, buttering up both at once."

"Who can outdo him at sucking up?"

Xue Zhizhong received a phone call and immediately stopped directing, stepping aside to answer it, bowing obsequiously to the person on the other end: "Yes, yes, that red backing paper was something I found. President Huo, do you think it’s acceptable..."

Jiang Luo arrived at the hospital, walked in and saw Zheng Bin sitting on a chair, having his arm held by a nurse who was dabbing iodine, making him wince in pain.

"Well!"

Jiang Luo teased as he approached: "Did the Young Master go reclaim America? What’s all this?"

"Fuck off!"

Zheng Bin turned and saw Jiang Luo, cursing immediately, then let out a loud "Ah!!" and yelled: "Nurse!! Be gentler!!"

The nurse, a fifty-something woman, showed no mercy, applying the iodine with broad, heavy-handed swipes. "Stay still, I missed a spot."

"Ah!!!"

Zheng Bin let out a sound like a stuck pig.

After everything was taken care of—iodine applied, bandages applied—the nurse left, leaving Zheng Bin and Jiang Luo alone in the treatment room.

Jiang Luo walked over, looking down at Zheng Bin with his usual laid-back attitude. "What happened? Got into a fight with Wang Chuang and the others?"

"I thought you loved hanging out with them."

Zheng Bin rubbed his bandaged forehead and glared. "Love hanging out with them, my ass! If I ever play basketball with them again, I’m a dog!"

Jiang Luo chuckled.

Zheng Bin glared at him. "You’re still laughing!"

Who did he do it for?

Couldn’t Jiang Luo tell?

He asked immediately: "What did they say about me?"

Zheng Bin fell silent, just rubbing his forehead.

Jiang Luo said leisurely: "That I’m disgusting?"

"Do you think I'm disgusting?" Jiang Luo added.

Zheng Bin glared at him again.

That glare brought out all of Zheng Bin's grievances.

His eyes reddened instantly as he blurted out, "We're so close—why does Wang Chuang know, You Junyu know, but I'm the only one who doesn't know?"

"If it hadn't been exposed that day, were you gonna keep it from me forever?"

"Out of the four of us, why am I the only one who didn't know? Are you guys excluding me?"

Jiang Luo laughed, "Who's excluding you?"

"I told Wang Chuang myself—he's my childhood friend and has always known."

"You Junyu picked up on it himself. You didn't notice, and now you're blaming him for finding out earlier? Blaming me for not telling you?"

Zheng Bin exclaimed, "Damn it! But you can't let me find out the same way everyone else did—only hearing those words played over the speakers! What am I to you?"

"What are they to you?"

"Finding out at the same time as them—am I not your best friend!?"

Jiang Luo said, "Oh," "So that's what's bothering you?"

He grinned, looking at him, "I'm gay. Doesn't that disgust you?"

"Hell no," Zheng Bin cursed. "Damn you, man, keeping it from me for so long. I tell you everything, but you tell me nothing."

Obviously still bothered, he repeated, "Four people! Four! And I was the only one who didn't know!"

Jiang Luo snorted, "Alright, are you a kid? Crying about this?"

He added, "Who hit you? I'll take care of them later."

"Damn you," Zheng Bin kept cursing, "I treat you like a brother, and you didn't even tell me. Damn you!"

"Enough," Jiang Luo said, trying to calm him, "The highway from Haicheng to Jiangsu is still closed, not open yet. I'll take you racing in a couple of days."

Zheng Bin's eyes lit up instantly, "Really?!"

He stood up, "You said it! You said it!"

The two left the hospital with their arms around each other's shoulders.

Jiang Luo asked him, "Did you get the birthday banquet invitation?"

"Got it," Zheng Bin said offhandedly, "Yeah, next weekend, right?"

"Alright, don't worry, I'll definitely be there."

The birthday banquet was held at a private residence in Suzhou—a six-story, courtyard-style building. That evening, cars flowed continuously outside the private residence, lining both sides of the road, stretched far into the distance. A nearby parking lot designated for guests was also completely full, filled with cars.

At the main entrance on the first floor of the private residence, Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo were present, along with Secretary Wen, Secretary Lu, and several executives from Zhikun and Shengfei. They were all busy greeting the continuous flow of arriving guests.

"President Jiang, President Huo."

Chairman Qiu arrived, accompanied by his wife, his eldest son, and his youngest daughter, Qiu Xin.

"Chairman Qiu."

Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo went to greet them, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Chairman Qiu, his wife, and the others.

His wife commented, "So the birthday banquet is being held in this building today? This isn't a hotel, is it?"

"It's a private residence," Huo Zongzhuo explained. "We borrowed it from a friend."

He added, "There are a lot of guests today. If we've overlooked anything, please excuse us."

Meanwhile, Qiu Xin looped her arm through Jiang Luo's and pulled him aside to whisper, "You're really something. I thought after being exposed, you'd have to keep a low profile for a while."

She then leaned in closer, covering her mouth as she murmured, "I heard that idiot Wang Chaohai was so scared in Japan that they say he’s even seeking treatment from a neurologist in the UK."

"You really are something..."

Qiu Xin was annoyed: "If we want to get back at him, let's keep him in Hai Cheng. We're all here, aren't we? Do you think we can't settle this score?"

"With so many of us, dealing with just one person should be a piece of cake."

Jiang Luo found it amusing: "Miss, you still say that."

"Who else would invite both of us to their birthday party?"

"If you hadn't invited him, he wouldn't have clashed with me, and none of that would have happened."

"Oh."

Qiu Xin felt guilty, "I was counting on you to teach him a lesson at my birthday party."

"How was I supposed to know he'd lose his mind and dare to..."

"Xin Xin!"

Mrs. Qiu called from a distance.

"Let's talk later."

Qiu Xin turned around.

Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo continued to entertain the other guests.

Inside the building, Xue Zhizhong held a guest list and was also greeting the guests: "Mr. Chen, Mr. Chen, your seat and Mrs. Chen's are on the third floor. Please follow this staircase, yes, that's right."

"Once you go up, there will be someone to guide you."

The entire building was bustling and lively.

As everyone entered, they noticed the building had been newly decorated with flowers and ornaments everywhere, with red carpets laid on the floor. The setup was so lavish, it could've been a wedding.

Oddly enough, as they found their assigned seats, they saw each table was stocked with premium cigarettes and top-shelf liquor, and at every seat was a fancy box of chocolates.

The cigarettes and alcohol weren’t surprising, but the chocolates… this…

At one table, guests picked up the chocolates, exchanging looks of surprise.

Qiu Xin picked up a chocolate, then burst out laughing—"Wow, you really outdid yourself—typical Jiang Luo!"

At the entrance, Jiang Luo and Huo Zongzhuo were also catching up with many old acquaintances: You Sen, You Junyu, Zheng Bin, Zheng Bin’s parents, Zheng Bin’s sister and brother-in-law, Yu Dong, Chen Xin, Wang Chuang, Mo Wanzhen, Zhang Ningfu, and others.

Everyone was chatting and laughing at the entrance, exchanged greetings, and then made their way inside.

When Wang Chuang arrived with Mo Wanzhen and the twins, Jiang Luo asked, curious, "Your parents didn’t come?"

"They didn’t come with us," Wang Chuang replied. "They should be here soon."

"Uncle!"

The little sister of the twins really liked Jiang Luo and immediately wanted a hug as soon as she saw him.

Jiang Luo picked her up, said gently, "Mumu, eat a lot today, okay?"

Huo Zongzhuo also reached out and gave a gentle pinch to Mumu’s pink, soft little cheek.

Soon after, Bai Ting and Wang Junwei arrived together.

"Jiang Luo! President Huo!"

Bai Ting beamed, wearing makeup and a dress.

Jiang Luo noticed immediately that Bai Ting didn’t look well. After greeting them, he asked, "What’s wrong? You seem worn out, Auntie."

Wang Junwei paused, but Bai Ting quickly said, "No big deal, just swamped with work lately and not getting enough rest."

Bai Ting added, "We’ll go on in now, so we won’t keep you. You must be busy."

"Alright, it’s upstairs on the second floor," Jiang Luo directed them. "Wang Chuang and the others are already here—you’re at the same table."

Just then, a figure approached: "President Jiang!"

Jiang Luo turned and saw it was Zhang Zhiqiang from the Wencheng doll factory years ago.

"President Zhang!"

Jiang Luo stepped forward with a smile, shaking his hand. "Look who’s here, so good to see you."

Zhang Zhiqiang was equally delighted: "You invited me, of course I’d come. It’s a rare chance to catch up."

Jiang Luo introduced Zhang Zhiqiang to Huo Zongzhuo: "This is President Zhang, who collaborated with me back in Wencheng."

…

The guests kept arriving throughout the evening, and the atmosphere was joyous. From a distance, the building where the birthday celebration was held was all lit up and decorated—so much so that anyone unaware might have mistaken it for a lively wedding banquet.