Chapter 52: Banquet

"I'll go back and change clothes first!" Saying this, he snatched his belongings from Liu Dong's hands and darted back to his room, slamming the door shut.

Looking at the tightly closed door, Liu Dong was taken aback for a moment. After a while, he retracted his right hand, touched his nose, and felt a bit confused. It seemed that in the past, he was always the one who fled back to the house first after being teased by Wang Qiang.

Shaking his head, he looked at the shopping bags on the sofa. Although Liu Dong did not regret buying so many things, spending over 100,000 yuan on these clothes and shoes still made him, who had never been so extravagant, feel a bit heartache.

After he put the clothes back in his room, he was troubled again because, apart from the bed, bookshelf, and the writing desk by the window, there was no proper wardrobe to store these clothes. In the past, his few clothes were stored in an old suitcase under the bed, but now it was clearly not enough!

"Never mind, I'll put them on the bed for now. I'll deal with it when I get a wardrobe later!" After placing the shopping bags on the large bed, Liu Dong took off his black suit. Wearing such formal attire for the first time made him feel a bit uncomfortable, and with the fan not turned on, the thick clothes made him feel too hot.

Looking at the alarm clock on the bed, it was already 7:10. He originally wanted to go and wake Wang Qiang, but after taking a few steps, he stopped, thinking about Wang Qiang's unusual behavior earlier.

"Never mind, I'll talk to her later! Anyway, it's just an old spoon's banquet, and it's fine not to attend!" Recalling the scene in the department store, Liu Dong thought to himself.

"Xiao Dong, are you ready?" Just as Liu Dong was about to sit on the bed and take out the notebook given by Old Li to read, Wang Qiang knocked on his door.

"Ready, Sister Wang!" He replied, quickly picked up the new clothes from the bed, and opened the door. He immediately saw Wang Qiang, who had changed into a white long dress and a pair of white high-heeled sandals, exuding a fresh and elegant aura. Her black hair, hanging behind her slender shoulders, added a touch of beauty. She wore a diamond-encrusted white necklace, which made her look even more regal.

Although they had been living under the same roof for nearly half a year, every time he saw her, Liu Dong was always amazed. This time was no exception.

"Let's go, or we'll be late!" At this moment, Wang Qiang's mood had calmed down, and her expression had returned to its usual calmness.

"Okay," Liu Dong said, closed his door, and followed Wang Qiang out of the house, holding the clothes.

The Sofitel Yinzuo Grand Hotel is located in the commercial and financial center of Quancheng City, just a stone's throw away from the International Convention and Exhibition Center, Baotu Spring, Daming Lake, and other scenic spots.

This 51-story ultra-high building, with its luxurious five-star hotel featuring a classic European-style and cultural atmosphere, was established in 1999. The hotel stands 200.25 meters tall, with 51 floors above ground, 326 guest rooms, and offers Chinese, French, and Japanese restaurants. It integrates fitness, health care, and entertainment, making it the first international five-star hotel in Quancheng City.

Of course, it is also the most expensive place in Quancheng now. To be blunt, even the cheapest set of chopsticks here would cost several times more than usual. Moreover, if one is not dressed well enough, they might not even be allowed in.

Today, the company banquet of Dingfu Jewelry was held here. The usually frugal Xie Zhonglin decided to splurge on the venue to showcase his company's strength in front of Han Lei and, more accurately, to gain more benefits from Han's jewelry company.

In the year 2000, night life in Quancheng was no longer a rarity. Every evening at 8:00, when the city lights came on, the entertainment venues in the city center were filled with people. The same was true for the first international five-star hotel in Quancheng, with the spacious parking lot already filled with various luxury cars, including world-class brands like Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Lamborghini.

When Liu Dong got out of the passenger seat, he couldn't help but be amazed by the prosperity here. Although he had been in Quancheng for three years, he had mostly been struggling to survive in the city. Therefore, these luxurious venues in the city center were only occasionally glimpsed on his way home. This was his first time coming here so close.

"Alright, Xiao Dong, we should go! And don't look around like that, or people will laugh at you!" After locking the car with the electronic lock, Wang Qiang saw Liu Dong's curious gaze and scolded him.

"Hehe, I know, Sister Wang!" Liu Dong touched his nose, realizing that his appearance just now was no different from a country bumpkin. Feeling a bit embarrassed after hearing Wang Qiang's words, he stopped looking around and quickly walked around the car to Wang Qiang's side.

"Xiao Dong, remember, once we go in, don't talk or look around randomly, or people will look down on you, okay?" Wang Qiang instructed carefully.

Hearing this, Liu Dong pouted, "Whether they look down on me or not, what does it have to do with me? I don't owe them anything!" His long-term experience of living alone had not only forged his strong will but also made his personality somewhat introverted. Therefore, he never cared about others' gazes unless they were related to him. His motto was always, "Walk your own path and let others talk!"

It was precisely because of this that he dared to secretly drop out of school and come to the bustling Quancheng alone, and instead of choosing the easier construction site job, he chose the more challenging path of carving.

"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you!" Seeing Wang Qiang's tense face, Liu Dong quickly surrendered.

Hearing his words, Wang Qiang's anger turned to joy. Her lips, painted with rose-colored lipstick, curled up, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in her eyes as she nodded.

"Also, if someone asks inside, you pretend to be my boyfriend, to help me...!"

Before she could finish, Liu Dong asked with surprise, "Sister Wang, are you agreeing to be my girlfriend?"

Hearing this, Wang Qiang couldn't help but blush and glare at the guy beside her, who was taking advantage of the situation, and said, "You wish! Didn't you hear me say 'pretend'?"

"Pretend what, wouldn't it be better if it were real?" Liu Dong muttered, feeling a bit disappointed.

"What did you say?"

"Hehe, nothing! I said we should go in!" Liu Dong laughed, admitting that such playful banter had never happened between them before. He was already very satisfied with today's outcome. Liu Dong believed that as long as he tried a bit harder, he might win her heart.

Looking at Liu Dong's tall and straight back as he walked ahead, a mix of annoyance and joy flashed in Wang Qiang's eyes. She took a few quick steps forward and held Liu Dong's left arm with her right hand.

"Since you helped me today, I'll let you have a little advantage!"

Although Wang Qiang tried to maintain a calm face, Liu Dong, who was close to her, could see the slight blush on her cheeks and the shyness in her eyes. He didn't say anything but tightened his arm around her soft, white arm, and his smile grew wider.

As they stepped into the hotel lobby with the respectful welcome of the doorman, Liu Dong was once again amazed by the opulent and gilded interior. However, after Wang Qiang's reminder and his inherent dislike for such ostentatious luxury, he only glanced around briefly before following a hotel attendant to the sixth-floor banquet hall via the elevator.

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