Capítulo 782: Chapter 782: Birthday Banquet
Chen Shanshan said, “It costs a lot to have a birthday party, doesn’t it? With your family background, can you really afford such an expensive birthday?”
Other classmates chimed in, “Yeah, Liang Yin, aren’t you studying on a scholarship? Where did you get the money for a birthday party?”
“You can’t even afford the tuition. If it weren’t for the national scholarship, you wouldn’t even be able to attend college.”
“No way, is Liang Yin using the scholarship to host a birthday party? That’s just too extravagant and wasteful!”
Huo Zijin remarked, “Wasn’t my scholarship revoked?”
Upon hearing this, Chen Shanshan smiled smugly.
The last time, she colluded with the dorm supervisor to lock Huo Zijin out of the dormitory for a night, causing her scholarship quota to be canceled.
Now, she should be struggling financially.
That time she saw Liang Yin’s foster parents come to the school, and figured that Liang Yin was working so hard for the scholarship, taking on tutoring jobs outside of school, just to earn money to send back home.
After the scholarship was canceled, the foster parents couldn’t wait to come to school to pressure Liang Yin to drop out.
What a pity—
Her goal ultimately wasn’t achieved.
Originally, Chen Shanshan thought that without this scholarship, Liang Yin wouldn’t be able to continue her studies and would have to drop out. Unexpectedly, she managed to stay on.
Now, hearing her say she wants to have a birthday party, the classmates couldn’t help but wonder if she’s using the scholarship money for it.
Isn’t that wasting national educational aid resources?
Huo Zijin smiled, “This year’s birthday is being celebrated by my mom and dad.”
As soon as she finished speaking, some classmates couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Liang Yin, you’re just so thoughtless!”
“Last time when your mom and dad came to the city, we all saw them. They should be farmers, right?”
“Not really, more like ordinary workers from a small town. What money could they possibly have to celebrate your birthday?”
“Liang Yin, you shouldn’t live a life that doesn’t belong to you just because of your vanity. It’s all impractical. Everyone knows about your family’s situation, so there’s no need to put on airs.”
“Exactly. Celebrating a birthday in the city is expensive. Renting a hotel, just the cake costs hundreds, unlike back in your hometown.”
Ye Ling frowned.
Even she, with her rough nerves, could hear the mockery and sarcasm in those words.
She said, “Liang Yin, thank you for inviting me; I’m willing. By the way, have you arranged for a cake? I know a cake shop with particularly delicious cakes; I’ll prepare it for you when the time comes.”
Huo Zijin replied, “No need, my mom and dad will prepare it for me.”
Seeing Huo Zijin still trying to hold up, Chen Shanshan couldn’t help but say, “Liang, why did you only invite Ye Ling and not other classmates?”
Since she wants to put on a façade, let’s see if she can afford to invite one Ye Ling and the whole class too.
Inviting classmates to a birthday party surely means booking a hotel.
The more guests, the more tables you have to book.
In most cases, it’s ten people per table, and each table costs thousands.
With so many people in the class, you’d need at least three tables, amounting to over ten thousand.
Can she afford it?
Huo Zijin turned around.
Looking at Chen Shanshan, her eyes were clear and lucid. After a moment, she smiled, “If classmates are willing, they’re welcome anytime.”
Chen Shanshan said, “How do you know if they’re willing or not if you didn’t invite them? Our class is famous for being united and friendly. If you invite them, no one would be unwilling to come, right?”
As she spoke, she looked around.
Huo Zijin smiled gently, “Alright then.”
She turned around and asked, “If everyone’s willing to come celebrate my birthday, I can treat everyone to a meal.”
While having breakfast, her mom and dad said, no matter how many classmates she invites, even if she invited the whole school, their home could accommodate it.
Huo Tingdong mentioned that if there were enough people, they could set up a fancy buffet on the lawn and backyard at home, allowing everyone to take as they please.
Ye Ling was a bit surprised, “Liang, are you going to invite the entire class to your birthday party?”
Before Huo Zijin could respond, Chen Shanshan interrupted first, “Isn’t it inappropriate to invite only you and not us? If she invited just you privately, it would be different. But since she’s asking you in front of everyone, it would imply you’re her only friend among us, wouldn’t it?”
Huo Zijin smiled, “How could that be? I treat all my classmates the same.”
Chen Shanshan said, “Alright, I think since Liang is personally inviting, no one here would be unwilling to come, right?”
The class immediately responded with sparse agreements, “Yeah, since Liang is personally inviting, we won’t refuse.”
“Exactly. Otherwise, not going would make you seem unsociable, wouldn’t it?”
“It’s just that so many people might cost Liang a lot.”
Huo Zijin smiled, “No, it’s my honor if you all want to come celebrate my birthday.”
Chen Shanshan’s lips twitched, and she changed the topic, “Which hotel do you plan to book?”
Huo Zijin replied, “My parents said they want to have the birthday party at home.”
Everyone was suddenly stunned.
A home?
A rented house?
Her whole family is from Yan City, not locals, and with Beijing’s current housing prices so expensive, how could they afford a house big enough to accommodate so many people for a birthday?
She’s boasting again!
Chen Shanshan said, “Alright, no matter where you have it, just send the location in our group chat, and we’ll come ourselves.”
Huo Zijin said, “Okay.”
Chen Shanshan added, “Oh right, your place shouldn’t be remote, right? My family’s driver is only used to city roads, not rural ones.”
Huo Zijin thought for a moment, “I think my place isn’t remote.”
Chen Shanshan said, “Alright then.”
Stop pretending.
It seems unlikely that the family would temporarily rent a large house to save face for their daughter’s birthday.
These days, renting a villa for a party is trendy, but renting one in Beijing isn’t cheap, and most of these villas are just two or three hundred square meters, costing tens of thousands a day, poorly decorated, not as decent as booking a hotel.
Ye Ling pulled Huo Zijin aside and said kindly, “Liang Yin, can’t you see… that Chen Shanshan is deliberately trying to embarrass you.”
Huo Zijin said, “I can see it.”
Ye Ling asked, “Then why are you playing into her hands?”
Huo Zijin replied, “Ye Ling, it’s fine; just come to my birthday party when the time comes.”
It was her lack of foresight. If she’d known earlier, she would have just quietly invited Ye Ling. She really didn’t want to invite Chen Shanshan, but since she’s so insistent on coming, she doesn’t mind that much.
When the time comes, she’ll be celebrating her birthday with her brother, and in front of Huo Linzhou, Chen Shanshan wouldn’t dare cause trouble at her party.