Chapter 147: Could He Be a Rented Boyfriend?

Although she harbored the same thought, saying it out loud would make her seem like those shallow, money-grubbing girls. Naturally, she had to deny it.

"Oh, stop pretending! These days, if a girl meets a wealthy boss, she’d be tripping over herself to throw herself at him!"

"You know Yu Xiawei from the dorm across the hall, right? Her boyfriend last semester drove a BMW. Then, right at the start of this semester, she found a tall, rich, and handsome guy who bought her a watch worth two hundred thousand!"

"And then there’s Qiu Shan, who changes boyfriends faster than she changes phones. She’s a fashion blogger now, making tens of thousands a month. Out of everyone in our dorm, you’re the one with the most potential! So, you absolutely have to ask your boss tomorrow if his company is hiring any female streamers."

The three girls began to act coquettishly toward her. Zhang Yichen gave a noncommittal laugh, saying they would see once Lin Fan arrived tomorrow.

At noon the next day, the four girls arrived at the Dihao Hotel right on time. A classmate was celebrating her birthday, and she had invited girls from two different dorms. Their class had few women—only nine in total—and seven were attending the party; the other two couldn't make it due to prior commitments.

Upon entering the private room, the four of them realized that four men had also joined. One was the class monitor, and the other three were not from their class, but rather the boyfriends of the other girls. One was the boyfriend of the birthday girl, Liu Yimeng, and the other two belonged to Yu Xiawei and Qiu Shan.

The room was on the second floor, offering a view of the bustling street traffic below. Once the four girls were seated, the class monitor, Yuan Minghao, made a few joking remarks to break the ice.

"Wow, why are you all dressed so beautifully? Is this an audition? I feel so out of place dressed like someone from a village in the city!"

"I feel quite awkward sitting in the middle. Even though I’m the class monitor, it feels more like I’m here to serve you all, doesn't it?"

"Zhang Yichen, why hasn't your boss arrived yet? You mentioned before that he owns several companies and is even a shareholder of the Dihao Group. You aren't just bragging, are you?"

Hearing this, the bespectacled girl beside Zhang Yichen quickly interjected, "Monitor, don't talk nonsense! He is not just Yichen’s boss; he is also her boyfriend!"

Zhang Yichen’s expression turned awkward. The term "boss" was far too easily misunderstood, often implying that she was someone’s kept woman.

At this, a tall girl with a plump figure, wearing a diamond-encrusted watch, let out a disdainful huff.

"What’s the point of covering it up? Shanghai is full of rich people. Calling him 'boss' is normal enough, but calling him 'CEO' would just make the misunderstanding even worse..."

Zhang Yichen cast a silent glance at the girl. This girl was being passive-aggressive at every turn, practically shouting that Zhang Yichen was a mistress. Any girl here who had a partner was essentially in the same position, anyway.

This girl, with her hot figure and a somewhat tawdry, model-like appearance, was the Yu Xiawei the girl in glasses had mentioned. She was a notorious socialite in their class, frequently seen in high-end hotels and clubs. Recommended by an ex-boyfriend, she had become a model for a certain website, though her photos were always quite provocative. Her current boyfriend was a photographer from a family in the trading business—a man of modest wealth.

"Do you call your boyfriend that too? You’re really something!" the bespectacled girl retorted, refusing to back down. She and Yu Xiawei had a history of friction; Yu Xiawei often mocked her for being frumpy, and the bespectacled girl had bad-mouthed her in return. Girls being catty behind each other's backs was nothing new, and even the smallest conflict could lead to long-held grudges.

"What I call him is none of your damn business! If you like calling men 'boss,' go downstairs and find one. Everyone who can afford to spend money here is a boss, aren't they?" Yu Xiawei snapped back without reservation.

The bespectacled girl pursed her lips. When it came to arguing, she was no match for this loud-mouthed gold digger. Though she was left speechless, her two roommates stepped in to help.

"She wasn't even mocking you, do you have to yell like that? Who else would enjoy calling men 'boss' like you do?"

"Exactly. Your 'boss' is completely different from Yichen’s. Yichen’s boss drives cars worth millions. Don't go around putting on airs just because you’re wearing a two-hundred-thousand-yuan watch..."

Seeing the two of them launching a verbal assault on Yu Xiawei, Zhang Yichen quickly tried to stop them. But once the conflict was ignited, it wasn't easily extinguished. Yu Xiawei stood up, pointed at the man in the T-shirt beside her, and said, "My boyfriend’s family isn't poor, okay? He was the one who pulled strings to book this room. This is a VIP suite at the Dihao Hotel; you have to book it in advance!"

"Four-eyes, can your boyfriend book a suite like this? No, right? Your boyfriend is clearly the worst off here. I heard his monthly salary isn't even six thousand—he can barely survive in Shanghai. If you want to dump him for someone rich, I can introduce you to someone."

The bespectacled girl’s face turned pale. No one could handle the big-chested girl when she went on a rampage. Zhang Yichen and her other two roommates didn't dare to intervene, especially since Yu Xiawei still had an accomplice waiting in the wings.

However, Yu Xiawei fell silent after a few more barbs; the birthday girl was Liu Yimeng, and she didn't want to ruin the mood.

Just then, Lin Fan arrived, fashionably late. The moment he walked in, he noticed the atmosphere was off, and judging by the seating arrangement, the four girls were being deliberately ostracized by the others.

*Could it be another scenario where a gold digger tries to show off and gets roasted?* Lin Fan’s eyes swept across the room, and he vaguely guessed the situation. He had encountered such scenes a few times before.

"Sorry for being late. Let me introduce myself—I’m Yichen’s manager and boss. It’s an honor to attend Liu’s birthday party today. Please, take care of me..."

Lin Fan spoke with refined grace and nodded with a smile. Zhang Yichen had told him on the way over that it was Liu Yimeng’s birthday, so he addressed her as "Classmate Liu" to appear humble.

Seeing Lin Fan’s extraordinary articulation and pleasant demeanor, the three girls—including the one with glasses—were instantly smitten.

"Wow, Yichen, your boss is so well-spoken. Flawless and polite, with such an extraordinary aura! Unlike me, who gets bitten by certain people for saying the wrong thing."

"When I saw his photo earlier, I thought he looked pretty average, but in person, he has such a refined air! He might not be as flashy as those 'tall, rich, and handsome' types, but you can tell just by looking at him that he’s a second-generation heir from a wealthy family."

"Yichen, tell us the truth, do you have a crush on him?"

After whispering among themselves, the three girls began to shower Lin Fan with praise. Meanwhile, Yu Xiawei’s boyfriend leaned over to her and whispered, "Look at his suit—there’s still a price tag on it. I suspect he rented it..."