Starting Off By Confessing To My Classmate's Mother

Gu Wanzhou had always been generous toward Li Zhiyan.

In her social circle, where most acquaintances were modest business owners or people with some savings, typical gifts for occasions like these would range around one thousand yuan. Yet, for Zhiyan, she had prepared three thousand yuan without hesitation.

"Thank you, Gu Auntie," Li Zhiyan said warmly, accepting the thick red envelope without pretense.

Li Meifeng followed suit, handing over a red envelope, albeit with a smaller amount—one thousand yuan.

"Thank you, Li Auntie," Zhiyan said, nodding politely.

Rao Shiyun then stepped forward, her envelope noticeably heavier. As she handed it to him, Zhiyan felt the weight of her thoughtfulness—it likely held five thousand yuan.

"Thank you, Rao Auntie," he said, a hint of gratitude and admiration in his voice.

Even Zhang Hongbin and Wang Shengli, trying to maintain appearances, contributed their own envelopes, each containing one thousand yuan.

"Thank you, uncles," Zhiyan said with a polite smile, though he felt no particular warmth toward them.

From his seat at the back, Li Shiyu couldn't help but gape in admiration.

This is why he's the legendary "Yan Bro," he thought. While I'm here dreaming about free sodas and late-night gaming, Yan Bro is rubbing elbows with high-profile women and businessmen!

And those women? One was their classmate's mother, and the other, the unattainable goddess every man secretly desired. What a legend!

"Shall we move to Xin Yuan Hotel?" Zhiyan suggested. "It's almost time for dinner. Allow me to treat everyone as thanks for your support."

"Sounds good," Wang Shengli replied, a scheming glint in his eyes. "We can discuss how to turn this internet café around during dinner."

Gu Wanzhou and Rao Shiyun exchanged a subtle glance, their thoughts aligning for once. Neither wanted Zhiyan to lose his savings over this risky venture.

---

At Xin Yuan Hotel, the group settled into a private dining room.

Zhang Hongbin quickly pulled out a chair for Gu Wanzhou, eager to sit beside her. "Come, sit here," he offered, his tone all too familiar.

But Gu Wanzhou declined with a graceful smile. "I'll sit with Zhiyan. The boy is still young and might feel uncomfortable otherwise."

Her words were polite, but the rejection was clear. Zhang Hongbin clenched his fists under the table, his mood souring.

Young? This 'boy' clearly knows how to pursue a woman older than him!

Wang Shengli, not to be outdone, extended an invitation to Rao Shiyun. "Come, miss, sit here. We'll have a great conversation."

Rao Shiyun smiled politely but instead chose the seat on Zhiyan's right. "I'll sit with Zhiyan. It's been a while since we've had a proper chat."

And just like that, Zhiyan found himself flanked by the two most stunning women in the room. Their subtle fragrances mingled with the delicate scent of their skin, creating an intoxicating atmosphere.

Across the table, Zhang Hongbin and Wang Shengli exchanged bitter glances. Though they longed to be near the two women, neither dared make a scene.

Li Meifeng, ever the source of levity, plopped herself down beside the two men. "Don't worry, I'll keep you company," she said with a grin.

The two men managed polite smiles but felt utterly deflated. Compared to Rao Shiyun and Gu Wanzhou, Li Meifeng was unremarkable. She wasn't unattractive, but for men like Zhang and Wang, she didn't hold the same allure as the other two women.

Meanwhile, Gu Wanzhou couldn't help but feel nostalgic. This very restaurant had been the setting of her first misunderstanding with Zhiyan. At the time, she had thought he was a cunning youth, deliberately orchestrating encounters to get close to her. But now, she understood—fate truly had a hand in their meetings.

---

Throughout the meal, Wang Shengli attempted to impress with stories of his business acumen, though his intentions were clear. "Miss Rao," he said, leaning slightly toward her, "you're divorced, right? With your beauty and elegance, you could easily find someone far wealthier."

Rao Shiyun, already weary of his advances, replied flatly, "I'm planning to reconcile with my husband by the end of the year."

Her gaze drifted to Zhiyan as she spoke, a faint ache tugging at her heart. Was she saying this for his sake?

"Well," Wang Shengli pressed, "sometimes it's better not to look back. If it was meant to work, you wouldn't have divorced in the first place. You deserve better."

Rao Shiyun remained silent, her patience waning. She turned to change the subject. "How about we focus on the café? Do you have any advice for Zhiyan?"

"Of course!" Zhang Hongbin chimed in. "Wang Shengli here has turned struggling cafés into thriving businesses. I'm sure he can help Zhiyan."

With a smug nod, Wang Shengli began to outline his ideas.

"To succeed, you need strong Marketing," he said, the English word sounding awkward on his tongue.

"Do you mean Marketing, Uncle?" Zhiyan interjected smoothly.

Both women turned to him, their gazes filled with curiosity.

"Marketing?" Rao Shiyun asked, tilting her head slightly.

Zhiyan explained, "Marketing is more than just advertising. It's about understanding customer needs, exploring market potential, and innovating business models to meet demand."

Both women's eyes sparkled with admiration. Zhiyan's knowledge and eloquence were truly impressive.

Wang Shengli, however, felt a pang of discomfort. Was this kid undermining him?

"Yes, exactly!" he said hurriedly. "Let me tell you, with my strategies, I've turned cafés in worse locations than yours into money-making machines."

For the next hour, Wang Shengli rambled on, blending sound advice with self-aggrandizing anecdotes.

Meanwhile, under the table, Rao Shiyun gently placed her hand over Zhiyan's, as if to comfort him amidst the discussion of his café's bleak prospects.

Not to be outdone, Gu Wanzhou quietly took his other hand.

Zhiyan could feel the warmth of their hands, each soft and comforting in its own way. The faint scent of their perfume filled his senses, and for a moment, he felt caught in a tug-of-war between two forces of nature.

What's happening? he thought, bewildered.

The silent rivalry between the two women was palpable, though neither said a word.

---

By the time the group returned to the café, it was past one in the afternoon.

Wang Shengli was still prattling on about his so-called foolproof strategies, blissfully unaware of the growing exasperation around him.

Rao Shiyun, unable to bear it any longer, leaned toward Zhiyan. "Zhiyan, let me invest in your café. If there's profit, we'll split it, and if there's loss, I'll bear part of the burden. You shouldn't have to shoulder this alone."

Gu Wanzhou, unwilling to be left out, added, "Count me in too. Let me invest as well."

The silent battle between the two women had escalated.

Before Zhiyan could respond, a commotion erupted near the entrance. A large group of customers—mostly teenagers—had begun to flood the café.

"Net café, open all afternoon!"

"Three bottles of soda too!"

The noise was almost deafening as the crowd grew.

Li Shiyu stood dumbfounded. "Yan Bro... you're a genius! You said the café would boom, and now look at this!"

Even Wang Shengli was left speechless. Everything he had suggested over the past hour had just been rendered irrelevant.

The café wasn't just alive—it was thriving.

"Zhiyan, how did you do it?" Gu Wanzhou asked, her tone equal parts amazement and curiosity.

With a confident smile, Zhiyan began to explain, earning not just admiration but an unshakable respect from everyone in the room.