Chapter 121: What a Coincidence!

Lin Yang didn't say much, and Li Dong didn't press further.

After Lin Yang finished changing his clothes, the two chatted a bit more. As it grew later, Li Dong suggested, "How about we have dinner together tonight?"

Lin Yang quickly shook his head and smiled, "You've already helped me out today, old classmate, so let me treat you instead."

Before Li Dong could decline, Lin Yang added, "I can't afford a five-star place, but if you don't mind, how about we go to a street stall for some barbecue and beer?"

Since Lin Yang insisted, Li Dong couldn't refuse. Seeing him nod, Lin Yang also invited Zhou Haidong and Zheng Long to join them.

However, Zhou Haidong and Zheng Long both politely declined. Li Dong, wanting to chat privately with Lin Yang, said, "Let's not force it. They have something to do later, so we can plan for another time."

Lin Yang didn't push further, feeling secretly relieved. It wasn't that he didn't want to be hospitable, but he was strapped for cash.

When he went out, he only had 200 yuan on him, just enough for a meal for two. If it had been four people, it would've been tight. And as for withdrawing money, his bank card was with his girlfriend, and the 200 yuan he had was his spending money for the week.

…

Lin Yang was quite familiar with Beijing, leading Li Dong through a few turns to a bustling street lined with street stalls and snack vendors. They found a relatively clean-looking spot and sat down.

When it came time to order, Lin Yang was nervous, afraid Li Dong might order something that would exceed the money in his pocket. But Li Dong only ordered a grilled fish and some snails, nothing more. After calculating the price, Lin Yang ordered a few skewers and a case of beer. The total came to about 150 yuan, and Lin Yang finally relaxed, knowing he wouldn't embarrass himself.

Old classmates naturally catch up over a meal. As soon as they sat down, Lin Yang began reminiscing about their middle school days, especially talking about their female classmates. Lin Yang spoke enthusiastically, "Old classmate, do you remember Xie Mengya? She's really grown up beautifully. Back then, she had braces that made my teeth hurt just looking at them, but guess what…"

"Last year, I went back to my hometown and saw her—she's stunning now!"

Li Dong: "…"

"Do you remember Fat Kai? He was the most scolded kid in class. Even the teachers said he wouldn't amount to much, but guess what—he's worth hundreds of thousands now!"

Li Dong: "…"

"And the class beauty, Qi Yue, do you remember her? She's married now, to a civil servant no less! She's in her forties, but she's managed to nab a younger guy!"

Li Dong: "…"

Li Dong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He wondered if Lin Yang would kill him if he told him he wasn't really his classmate.

Not daring to let Lin Yang continue, Li Dong quickly interrupted, "Let's drink, and we can talk more after."

"Old classmate, you know me so well!"

Lin Yang laughed and drank heartily, then enthusiastically pulled Li Dong along to drink with him. Li Dong wanted to ask what Lin Yang was doing in Beijing and why he had been beaten up. But Lin Yang didn't give him a chance, either urging him to drink or changing the subject. After several attempts, Li Dong stopped asking, realizing there must be something Lin Yang didn't want to talk about.

After they'd had their fill, Li Dong offered to pay, but Lin Yang insisted on covering the bill. Li Dong, seeing this, didn't argue further, just sighed quietly.

He had noticed how careful Lin Yang had been when ordering, a far cry from the Lin Yang he had known. Back when Li Dong first met him, Lin Yang had been full of confidence, bold and generous, completely different from the person he was now.

Ultimately, it's true that money makes a man bold; without it, you're powerless. Now, Lin Yang was broke, not at all the company's top salesman he would become in a few years.

After they settled the bill, Li Dong said, "Let's head back to my place. Your clothes should be dry by now."

Hearing this, Lin Yang quickly agreed. He was still wearing Li Dong's clothes, and he didn't want to explain it to his girlfriend if she saw.

When they returned to the hotel, as soon as they stepped into the lobby, Lin Yang's face showed surprise. Then he turned to Li Dong and said, "Today is really full of coincidences!"

Li Dong looked puzzled.

Lin Yang didn't explain but instead walked straight to the front desk, with Li Dong following behind.

…

"Hu Yue!"

Hu Yue, who was getting her room key, turned around when she heard someone call her name.

She stared at Lin Yang for a moment before exclaiming with joy, "Lin Yang!"

"Haha, I knew it was you! I thought you looked familiar. I almost missed you if you hadn't turned around!"

Lin Yang was excited too, and then he pulled Li Dong over and said to Hu Yue, "Hu Yue, do you recognize who this is?"

Li Dong and Hu Yue exchanged confused looks, both completely lost.

Li Dong was almost cursing his luck. This was a case of the real deal running into the imposter—what rotten luck! By now, if he didn't realize Hu Yue was Lin Yang's actual middle school classmate, he'd be an idiot!

Before Li Dong or Hu Yue could say anything, Lin Yang introduced them with a big smile, "This is Li Dong! You don't remember? Our middle school classmate. It's been years since we last saw him."

Hu Yue racked her brain but couldn't recall who Li Dong was. She prided herself on her good memory, but who was this Li Dong?

She forced a smile and said, "Yes, it has been many years."

Li Dong was speechless. He didn't want to say anything, afraid Lin Yang would kill him if he learned the truth.

Originally, Li Dong was just joking, but now the joke had gone too far. Who would've thought that by sheer bad luck, he'd run into one of Lin Yang's real classmates? No wonder Lin Yang said it was a coincidence—this was too much of a coincidence!

They didn't linger at the front desk. Instead, they found a place to sit in the lobby. As soon as they sat down, Lin Yang asked, "Hu Yue, what brings you to Beijing?"

"Don't even ask. My boss is on a business trip, and as a secretary, I had to come along," Hu Yue replied.

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yang teased, "Oh, so you're a secretary now! You know what they say, 'If there's work, the secretary does it…'"

"Shut up!"

Hu Yue playfully scolded him, then explained, "My boss is a woman, and to top it off, she's either my aunt or great-aunt, something like that—a distant relative."

"So, it's a female boss!"

Lin Yang shook his head in disappointment, clearly not the outcome he was hoping for. Since the boss was a woman, there wasn't much more to joke about. Lin Yang then said, "It seems like you've all done better than me. Li Dong stays in a five-star hotel on his business trip, and you're also staying in a five-star hotel. Meanwhile, I've never even stayed in a three-star hotel."

Hearing Lin Yang talk about Li Dong, Hu Yue looked at him curiously. She still couldn't remember who he was, but since Lin Yang said they were middle school classmates, she went along with it.

Thinking about it, she asked, "Li Dong, are you staying here too?"

Li Dong nodded, and Hu Yue asked again, "What's your room number? We could visit each other if we're free."

After all, if they were classmates, it was polite to say so since they were in the same hotel.

Li Dong was nearly in tears. He didn't want to visit you at all!