"Sorry, sorry, I just remembered another joke. My apologies." Lin Yu once again apologized to everyone at the table.

  "Tianyi, forget it. Don't lower yourself to his level. Deputy Mayor Zeng and the others are looking this way," the man in the tailcoat quickly reminded Zheng Tianyi.

  Zheng Tianyi finally sat back down, shooting Lin Yu a hostile glare.

  "Let's not talk about this anymore. How about we discuss the Qilin Building fire? From what I know, it was the largest fire in Qinghai City in recent years. My dad was there with Deputy Mayor Zeng directing the rescue efforts," said a scholarly-looking young man, visibly proud when mentioning his father working alongside Zeng Shujie.

  "Oh right, I heard quite a few people died—at least double digits," a girl chimed in, holding up her fingers to emphasize the number.

  "After such a major incident, Qinghai's reputation should have taken a hit. But instead, it actually improved. Do you know why?" the tailcoat-clad man said mysteriously.

  "I know! It's because of that anonymous hero who saved the little girl. Because of his heroic act, the whole country praised Qinghai," the scholarly man jumped in. "My dad said Mayor Xie even wanted to commend him, but the guy turned it down."

  "Exactly. His identity is still a mystery. The news channels have locked down all information about him. Aside from the top city officials, no one knows who he is," the tailcoat man nodded in agreement.

  "I'm actually quite curious about his identity," Xue Qin, who had been quiet until now, suddenly said with interest.

  "That's easy. I’ll ask my dad to look into it for you," the tailcoat man immediately offered, eager to please.

  Zheng Tianyi tensed up upon hearing this. This seemed to be the first time Xue Qin had ever shown interest in a man. He sensed a hint of danger and couldn’t help but scoff, "So what if he saved a little girl? It’s not that big a deal."

  "Oh yeah? If you're so amazing, why don’t you go save one yourself?" Xue Qin rolled her eyes, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

  "Qin’er, if it had been me that day, I would’ve rushed in without hesitation!" Zheng Tianyi quickly vowed.

  "You? Please. You’d probably collapse from fear before even making it to the second floor," Xue Qin sneered.

  "Hahahaha…"

  The table erupted in laughter. Zheng Tianyi’s face turned red, but he didn’t dare lash out. He just slumped back into his seat.

  Xue Qin knew a bit about the fire.

  Afterward, when firefighters went to clear the scene, they found the 18th and 19th floors almost completely destroyed, with no survivors. How that anonymous hero had managed to save the little girl remained a mystery—nothing short of a miracle.

  Because of this, Xue Qin felt both admiration and intense curiosity toward the unknown hero.

  As the dinner wound down, people in the banquet hall began circulating to toast each other. However, most stayed within their own circles. The innermost tables—especially the one where Mayor Xie Changfeng and Deputy Mayor Zeng sat—were off-limits to casual approaches.

  A few men in black suits stood guard around their table. Anyone who tried to approach for a toast was stopped before they could get close.

  "Man, imagine being important enough to toast at the table with Qinghai’s top leaders. That’d be something," the tailcoat man mused while cracking melon seeds.

  "Xue Qin could probably do it, right?" a girl beside Xue Qin said enviously.

  "Of course! Her grandfather’s sitting right there," another girl replied, her tone slightly sour.

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  Old Man Song had been invited to sit at the same table as Xie Changfeng and Zeng Shujie. Given his status, his presence in Qinghai naturally warranted the highest level of courtesy.

  Zheng Jiacheng and Shen Hanshan were also at that table, along with a few others Lin Yu didn’t recognize—all clearly influential figures in Qinghai.

  Xue Qin ignored the chatter around her, scrolling through news articles about the Qilin Building fire on her phone. She seemed genuinely fascinated by the anonymous hero.

  Lin Yu grew uneasy as she browsed, worried some article might expose his photo.

  "Honestly, I could probably go over and toast them too," Zheng Tianyi declared, standing up with his glass, eager to impress Xue Qin.

  He wasn’t entirely boasting. His father was a prominent entrepreneur in Qinghai, seated at the third table inside, and their family had distant ties to Zeng Shujie.

  "Right, Tianyi! We forgot you’re related to Deputy Mayor Zeng. Go ahead and toast them—give our table some face!" the tailcoat man urged excitedly.

  "Yeah, Tianyi! Show them what our table’s made of!"

  "Don’t forget to toast on our behalf too!"

  Others chimed in. Toasting at the deputy mayor’s table would indeed be a status boost.

  "Alright, I’ll represent our table!"

  Buoyed by their encouragement, Zheng Tianyi shot a smug glance at Xue Qin and confidently strode toward Zeng Shujie’s table.

  Everyone watched with anticipation—only to see him stopped by two bodyguards before he could get close. After a brief exchange, Zheng Tianyi trudged back, dejected.

  "What happened, Tianyi?" the tailcoat man asked, puzzled. Given Zheng Tianyi’s family connection, this shouldn’t have been an issue.

  "Oh, my uncle and the others were discussing some confidential matters. I’ll try again later," Zheng Tianyi lied smoothly.

  The group accepted this and told him to try again soon.

  Lin Yu hesitated, unsure if he should attempt a toast. Both Old Man Song and Zheng Jiacheng had noticed him, glancing his way repeatedly. Not going over might seem rude—but if he tried and got stopped like Zheng Tianyi, it’d be embarrassing.

  "What’s wrong? Not feeling well?" Xue Qin asked, noticing Lin Yu’s discomfort and giving him a sidelong glance.

  "Do you think I should go toast at that table?" Lin Yu asked awkwardly.

  The group followed his gaze—straight to Zeng Shujie’s table—and gasped.

  "Brother, may I ask what your family does?" the tailcoat man ventured cautiously.

  "Sells baozi," Lin Yu answered honestly.

  Silence. Then uproarious laughter.

  "Are you kidding me?"

  "You gonna toast them with steamed buns?"

  "Is this guy for real? How did he even get in here?"

  "Xue Qin brought him."

  Once they realized Lin Yu was Xue Qin’s guest, the mockery died down—though a few girls still whispered, smirking.

  Lin Yu flushed under the ridicule, regretting speaking up. He abandoned any thought of toasting. Getting stopped now would only make things worse.

  Just then, Zheng Jiacheng noticed Lin Yu hadn’t come over. Smiling, he excused himself from the leaders’ table. "Pardon me, gentlemen. There’s a young friend I must greet."

  He walked straight to Lin Yu’s table and patted his shoulder warmly. "Xiao He, long time no see. Let me toast you."

  The entire table fell silent, stunned.

  Zheng Jiacheng—one of Qinghai’s most respected businessmen, seated at the deputy mayor’s table—had just personally come to toast a young man?

  Not just their table—nearby guests gaped in shock, wondering who this unassuming young man could be.

  Even Xue Qin was taken aback. As a businesswoman, she deeply admired Zheng Jiacheng and had always wanted to learn from him.

  Lin Yu turned, surprised. "Mr. Zheng! I’m so sorry—I wanted to toast you earlier, but I saw no one could approach your table, so I didn’t dare."

  "Haha! I wondered why you never came. If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain. This toast must happen!"

  Zheng Jiacheng clinked glasses with Lin Yu and downed his drink in one go.

  "Mr. Zheng, I—I’m Zheng Tianyi. May I toast you—" Zheng Tianyi, recognizing the automotive magnate, eagerly poured a drink, desperate to ingratiate himself.

  "Friend of yours?" Zheng Jiacheng asked Lin Yu.

  "No," Lin Yu answered truthfully.

  "Ah. Well, Xiao He, enjoy the rest of the banquet. Don’t leave right after—wait for me. We have much to catch up on."

  Without even glancing at Zheng Tianyi, Zheng Jiacheng turned and walked away.

  Zheng Tianyi stood frozen, glass still raised, humiliation burning his cheeks.

  "You know Zheng Jiacheng?" Xue Qin tugged Lin Yu’s sleeve. "How?"

  She couldn’t fathom how someone like Lin Yu could possibly be connected to such an elite businessman.

  "I treated him once. That’s how we met," Lin Yu replied simply.

  "Don’t think knowing Zheng Jiacheng makes you special! Who knows what underhanded tricks you used to cozy up to him!" Zheng Tianyi, smarting from the rejection, lashed out bitterly.

  "Then why don’t you try cozying up to him too?" Xue Qin shot back coldly. She was starting to realize that compared to Lin Yu, this show-off Zheng Tianyi was far more irritating.

  "Whatever! I’ll just have my dad introduce me later!" Zheng Tianyi huffed.

  The table exchanged glances, smirking. Still boasting? Hadn’t he embarrassed himself enough already?

  "Tianyi! Your uncle’s coming over!"

  The tailcoat man’s eyes lit up as Zeng Shujie approached their table.

  Everyone turned, excitement bubbling. He really was heading their way!

  "See? My uncle must’ve noticed I got stopped earlier. He’s coming to invite me over!" Zheng Tianyi beamed, puffing out his chest. He threw Lin Yu a triumphant look, oozing挑衅.