Return of the Celestial King

Zhou Kexin couldn’t be bothered to listen to her mom’s nagging. She rolled her eyes and ducked into her room.

Wu Qingmei excitedly pulled out her phone to call and book a private room at a hotel restaurant.

”Dahai, I’m booking a nice place right now. As soon as they get here, we’ll go out to eat. We need to properly butter up your old Class Monitor and his family!”

Zhou Dahai shook his head helplessly but didn’t try to interfere.

Qin Tuo and his parents arrived at the villa’s entrance.

For some reason, Qin Hongguo’s heart began to pound with nervousness.

After knocking on the door, Qin Hongguo quickly straightened his clothes.

The door opened. Zhou Dahai and Qin Hongguo locked eyes, and their faces instantly lit up with excitement.

”Haha, my old Class Monitor!”

”Dahai!”

The two men embraced deeply, holding on for a long moment.

”Old friend, it’s been so many years! Why haven’t I heard from you?”

Zhou Dahai was overcome with emotion.

Qin Hongguo’s expression was also one of world-weary sentimentality.

”Ah, Dahai, it’s a long story. To think you were just a greenhorn back then... I never expected you’d turn into an old man too, haha!”

Just then, Qin Hongguo quickly introduced his son, Qin Tuo, to Zhou Dahai.

”Dahai, look. This is my good-for-nothing son. His name is Qin Tuo. He still hasn’t found a decent job yet!”

Zhou Dahai’s eyes lit up as he sized up Qin Tuo.

”Hello, Uncle!”

Qin Tuo greeted him quickly.

Zhou Dahai laughed heartily.

”You’re a handsome young man, the spitting image of your father when he was young! Come, come, let’s go inside and talk!”

Zhou Dahai warmly welcomed the three of them into the house.

At that moment, Wu Qingmei hurried over with a plate of washed fruit.

”Oh my, so the old Class Monitor is here!”

Her face was plastered with a sycophantic smile as she offered a warm greeting.

”Come, come, have some fruit. Please, make yourselves at home.”

”You’re too kind, really.”

Qin Hongguo smiled sheepishly.

Hm?

Suddenly, Wu Qingmei’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at the three of them.

The family of three was dressed very plainly, and they completely lacked the air of a family with a government official.

’What’s going on? Are all officials this low-key nowadays?’

Wu Qingmei wondered silently to herself but didn’t dwell on it.

They had just sat down when Wu Qingmei, unable to contain her curiosity, asked hurriedly:

”Old Class Monitor, I heard you became a civil servant right after graduation. After all these years, you must have a very high-ranking position by now!”

Qin Hongguo gave an awkward laugh.

”You’ve misunderstood. I retired from that long ago.”

Beside him, Luo Xianglan also smiled awkwardly.

Wu Qingmei was a bit surprised and quickly pressed,

”Hm? That’s not right. You’re still young, old friend, how could you have retired already? What was your rank before you retired?”

Zhou Dahai frowned and shot Wu Qingmei a harsh glare.

”Qingmei, why are you asking so many questions?”

As a businessman, Zhou Dahai had dealt with plenty of officials over the years.

From the moment Qin Hongguo’s family walked in, he could tell that his old Class Monitor completely lacked the aura of an official.

It didn’t take much thought to figure out what was going on.

But his wife, Wu Qingmei, was a snob. By interrogating them like this, she was likely to offend the old Class Monitor and his family.

Wu Qingmei glared right back and retorted.

”I’m just showing some concern for the old Class Monitor you’re always thinking about, finding out what his situation is. What are you glaring at me for?”

Anger flared in Zhou Dahai’s heart. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Hongguo quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

”Dahai, don’t be angry. She’s just curious. The truth is, I was fired back then. And for the past two years, my son was in prison. Our family has been in dire straits. Now that my son just got out, I was hoping to find him a decent job.”

The atmosphere immediately became awkward.

The enthusiastic smile that had been plastered on Wu Qingmei’s face vanished in an instant, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

’And here I thought he was some high-ranking official. Turns out he was fired long ago, and his son was even in prison. What bad luck!’

Wu Qingmei thought irritably.

Hearing this, however, Zhou Dahai showed an expression of deep pain.

”Old friend, so you’ve had it this rough for the past two years. Why didn’t you ask me for help back then?”

Qin Hongguo waved his hand, speaking in a free-and-easy manner.

”Dahai, what’s the use of talking about all that? It’s all in the past. Now that my son is out, I was hoping I could ask you to help him find a job. Do you think that’s possible?”

Before Zhou Dahai could answer, Wu Qingmei’s sharp, sarcastic voice cut in.

”Oh? An ex-convict? What company would hire him now?”

Her tone was completely different from before, as if she were a different person.

Even Zhou Dahai, upon considering this point, wore a troubled expression.

It was clear that it wasn’t that he was unwilling to help, but that Qin Tuo’s situation was indeed tricky.

Qin Tuo sat to the side, silent.

But on Luo Xianglan’s face, a look of anxiety appeared.

Qin Hongguo was momentarily stunned, but seeing the situation, he quickly forced a smile and said,

”It’s alright. If it’s too much trouble, then forget it. We can’t force you, after all, or put you in a difficult position.”

Zhou Dahai said apologetically,

”You don’t know, old friend, but my company has been having some cash flow problems recently. If we can’t get through this period, we’ll probably go bankrupt. Bringing Qin Tuo in now would just be holding back his future.”

Hearing this, Qin Hongguo’s expression changed. Only then did he realize his old classmate’s situation was also so difficult.

He quickly asked,

”Dahai, what’s wrong with your company?”

Wu Qingmei chimed in sarcastically from the side.

”Whatever problems the company has, it’s not like you can solve them. You’re just an ordinary person, what’s the point of asking?”

Qin Hongguo’s old face instantly flushed red with embarrassment.

Qin Tuo, however, frowned slightly. He was displeased; the woman’s attitude was far too rude.

Zhou Dahai turned his head and couldn’t help but scold her.

”Why don’t you say a little less!”

Then he turned back to explain to Qin Hongguo.

”It’s like this. A company owes us a huge debt and has been dragging its feet on repayment. My company’s cash flow is completely tied up right now, which is why we’re in this situation.”

Only then did Qin Hongguo understand. He said comfortingly,

”Dahai, you have to hang in there. I’m sure these difficulties will pass. In that case, we won’t disturb you any longer.”

With that, he prepared to stand up and take his leave.

Zhou Dahai quickly stopped him.

”Wait, old friend!”

He then immediately went into a room and called out his daughter, Zhou Kexin.

Zhou Kexin came out looking completely reluctant. She had been in her room and had already overheard their conversation, so she knew just how far this family of three had fallen.

She walked out without even a greeting and even shot Qin Tuo a disdainful glance!