Chapter 25: You're Not Going, I'm Not Going Either

  Don't mention the middle-aged boss's strange mind.

  Still in high spirits, Zhang Zhonglin spoke to Ren Li Juan again, "How much longer will Mr. Ren live? I have always admired him from afar, unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him. If possible, I would like to go and congratulate him on his longevity being greater than that of Mount Nanshan, but I don't know if there will be such an opportunity."

  He was particularly eager to attend Ren Lao's birthday banquet, and that day would be a gathering of the powerful and noble. Anyone who could get in would definitely be considered a figure with face in Xinjiang. Since he helped Ren Li Juan choose this yellow rosewood chair together, when Ren Li Juan sent it out, Bi Lao remembered his name with relish, which was absolutely a wonderful thing for him.

  Taking a step back, even if he can't catch Bi Lao's attention at that time, in such an occasion, just casually making friends with one or two people would be extremely beneficial for him. Moreover, through this matter, he could also naturally maintain contact with Ren Li Juan and have sufficient reason to further get close to her, truly a multi-benefit move.

  He had been wanting to speak up before, but the timing wasn't right. Now that he has bought this chair and left a good impression on Ren Lijuan, it would be natural for him to bring it up again.

  This situation is probably hard for anyone to refuse, after all, they just helped her with something, and now the thing being proposed is just going to pay respects to her grandfather. Even if the other party wants to refuse, it's probably difficult.

  As expected, with this sentence, Ren Lijuan suddenly flashed a hint of hesitation on her face.

  She really can't refuse, but if she just agrees like this, it's also not quite right.

  My grandfather is celebrating his birthday, and as the Ren family's status in Xinjiang is high, many people will definitely go to congratulate him, but that doesn't mean anyone who wants to go can go, without a certain identity or status, even if you want to go, you won't be able to.

  In fact, this birthday banquet has already started preparing. At that time, only those who received the invitation letter will have the qualification to enter the Ren's house.

  Although Ren Lijuan might have easily obtained a few invitation letters, she had never thought about this issue before. Now if only one young man of the opposite sex, Zhang Zhonglin, is invited to celebrate Grandpa's birthday, it will inevitably lead to some misunderstandings from others.

  After a slight hesitation, Ren Lijuan finally spoke with a smile, "Dandan, Director Zhang, Mr. Zhou, thanks to your help today, I was able to decide on the gift. My grandfather's birthday is next Tuesday, if everyone has time, why don't we all go together and make it lively?"

  She couldn't refuse Zhang Zhonglin, but it wasn't good to invite him alone, so she could only invite everyone present.

  As soon as the words fell, Zhang Zhonglin was overjoyed and became ecstatic. Ren Lijuan couldn't refuse such a request after all, which was equivalent to giving him a great opportunity, how could he not be happy about it?

  However, in the midst of excitement, Zhang Zhonglin unexpectedly glanced at Zhou Ming, this guy was really lucky, standing there doing nothing and yet getting all the benefits, it was simply too fortunate. He himself had worked hard to achieve his goals, but Zhou Ming just happened to be brought along by chance.

  After all, it's not the moment when I just arrived. After this brief contact, Zhang Zhonglin naturally saw that Ren Lijuan and Zhou Mingluo were not familiar with each other. If he hadn't brought up the matter himself, Ren Lijuan wouldn't have been embarrassed to invite only him, so Zhou Mingluo would never have had such an opportunity.

  But the other two who were invited were also somewhat astonished at this time, how did they themselves get invited in a daze?

  Yang Dan first glanced at Ren Lijuan, then turned her head to look at Zhou Mingluo. She still had a hint of yearning and curiosity about such a top-notch banquet, and wanted to take a look, broaden her horizons.

  Although she was somewhat moved, she also felt some trepidation and couldn't make up her mind.

  This is also a common human sentiment, perhaps every person at the bottom of society will fantasize that one day they can become an upper-class person, shuttling back and forth between top-level banquets all day. But if one day this opportunity suddenly comes when you are not mentally prepared at all, I'm afraid more than 90% of people will feel anxious, and those who can be calm and composed are absolutely a minority. Wanting to go but being nervous is also a very normal emotion.

  If she were to go alone, she wouldn't dare, even if she knew that Ren Lijuan was there at the time. The problem is that Ren Lijuan couldn't always be with her, and when she went to receive other guests or see other elders, she would inevitably leave her alone.

  She was curious about such occasions and wanted to take a look, but she didn't have enough courage to face them alone.

  If Zhou Ming and Luo also went, it would be more reassuring.

  It's like someone who has never been abroad suddenly having to go overseas, entering a completely unfamiliar environment, feeling tense and nervous is inevitable, but if there's a friend who has known you for over ten years accompanying you, you'll feel much more at ease.

  Under Yang Dan's gaze, Zhou Ming Luo was a depressed mess.

  Why go to congratulate a complete stranger? He didn't even have the pleasure of meeting Ren Li Juan for the first time, and this encounter wasn't particularly pleasant either, ending up with him being distrusted by everyone.

  This might be a heaven-sent opportunity in the eyes of Zhang Zhonglin who has been trying to make progress, and indeed it is.

  Because he also understands that attending such a banquet, casually getting to know one or two friends, can be extremely helpful for people in the lower classes of society, and may even allow them to struggle less for several years. However, he is also aware that in such places, even if you get to know people, it's still necessary to have capital; without sufficient capital, people may not take you seriously when you go there. And now, he is precisely in this situation, so he really isn't very interested in it.

  "Sorry, I think I won't go after all." The next moment, Zhou Ming Luo directly showed a hint of apologetic smile and firmly refused.

  But these words made Zhang Zhonglin, who was just admiring his good luck, stare with wide eyes. No way, this fool actually refused?

  He couldn't believe there was such a fool, but in his shock, Zhang Zhonglin suddenly became excited. This guy, such a good opportunity, actually gave up voluntarily, but he didn't go, so he could get closer to Ren Lijuan and Yang Dan.

  Even Yang Dan on the side was shocked, seemingly not expecting Zhou Mingluo to refuse, but afterwards, she also smiled strangely and said, "You're not going, then I won't go either."

  She alone didn't have enough confidence.

  "Ah~" Ren Lijuan was taken aback for a moment. Zhou Mingluo's refusal was nothing, but Yang Dan not going was out of the question. Otherwise, it would be like she had only invited one male friend to attend her elder's birthday banquet, which would easily lead to misunderstandings.

  Of course, even if Yang Dan really didn't want to solve this problem, it wouldn't be difficult. At most, she could invite some other people to go with Zhang Zhonglin in the next few days. The problem is that apart from Yang Dan, there aren't many friends who are close to her. If she had to choose someone she would like to go with, it would still be Yang Dan.

  "There's nothing much, just go together to liven things up. Dandan, you can't not go." Then, Ren Lijuan reluctantly began to persuade Yang Dan.

  Facing Yang Dan's persuasion, she was clearly moved, but didn't immediately agree. Instead, she turned to Zhou Ming Luo and said, "Zhou Ming Luo, aren't you going? Why don't we go together?"

  She was trying to get everyone to go together, but Zhou Ming Luo really didn't want to go and once again politely declined.

  As a result, Yang Dan also slightly rejected Ren Lijuan with a hint of disappointment.

  Things have come to this, Ren Lijuan also understood that she wanted to persuade Yang Dan to go, and Zhou Mingluo was the key. Anyway, whether Zhou Mingluo went or not had nothing to do with her. "Mr. Zhou, you and Dandan are old classmates who have known each other for over ten years, can you really bear to refuse her? If you're free at that time, why don't we all go together?"

  "Yeah, let's go have some fun together." Yang Dan chimed in.

  This scene made Zhang Zhonglin's eyes widen in shock, and he cursed loudly in his heart. This was too unreasonable! He had worked so hard to get this opportunity, but Zhou Ming didn't cherish it, which was expected since he was blind and stupid beyond salvation. But how could it be that now two beautiful women were begging him to go instead?

  Thinking of Zhou Ming's dubious taste in art appreciation, he was already disappointed today and now looking at his current treatment, he almost got angry to the point of vomiting blood.

  ;