106 Why are some people willing to be the villain?

Two young women were talking to Liu Xiaomei, while two little girls seemed more interested in talking to Zhang Pa. Looking at the large bag he was carrying, they asked, "What kind of presents are those?"

Zhang Pa replied, "Toys."

"Can I take a look?" one of the little girls asked.

Zhang Pa smiled and replied, "No." Seeing the disappointment on her face, he added with a smile, "When it's your birthday, I'll give you one too."

"Really?" The little girl held out her small hand. "Pinky promise?"

Zhang Pa hooked his pinky with hers. The other little girl chimed in, "I want one too."

"You'll get one as well," Zhang Pa said.

"It's a deal, then," the little girl said, putting on an air of grown-up authority.

They soon climbed to the fourth floor and entered the lobby. Just as Zhang Pa was about to head to the service desk to ask for the room number, a woman in a qipao approached them. "Excuse me, are you guests here for little Ye Chen’s birthday party?"

She was addressing the three women and two children behind him, but Zhang Pa spoke up first to confirm.

"This way, please," the qipao-clad woman gestured, leading them to the right.

As they walked past, another woman in a qipao stepped out from inside and stood at the service desk, waiting to greet the next set of guests.

The entire fourth floor was a restaurant, and there were at least two wedding banquets taking place. However, those weddings didn't seem to have this level of service; it really came down to the level of awareness and the effort put in by friends and family.

The small banquet hall was tucked away at the far end, quiet and equipped with its own private restroom.

When the doors opened, children were singing karaoke inside, and many others were playing games. The adults were either standing or sitting, some watching the activities, some chatting quietly, and most keeping a close eye on their own children.

Just as Liu Xiaomei had said, everyone was dressed to the nines, treating the birthday party as a stage to showcase themselves.

As soon as Liu Xiaomei entered, many parents flocked to her to exchange greetings. They also greeted the two young women and, of course, Zhang Pa, whose presence was met with warm, enthusiastic hospitality.

There were fifty-five children in Liu Xiaomei’s class—more than in a standard school class. With nearly forty children present, plus their parents, the banquet hall was practically full.

Ye Chen’s parents were both there, busy greeting guests, and they made sure to prioritize Liu Xiaomei. Zhang Pa handed over the gift, and Ye’s mother thanked him and invited him to take photos.

At the entrance of the banquet hall was a square table with a guestbook where every child had to sign their name. Ye Zi was manning the station. A photographer stood nearby, taking pictures of the children as they signed in, followed by photos of the children with Ye Zi, and finally, group shots of parents and children together.

Zhang Pa took advantage of being with Liu Xiaomei to get in on some photos with Ye’s mother and Ye Zi.

Just then, Ye’s father walked over. He was in charge of the male guests and invited Zhang Pa to go inside and take a seat.

Under normal circumstances, this small banquet hall wouldn't be able to fit so many people. But on a Sunday, any half-decent restaurant would be fully booked. Being able to host the party here was a testament to how much status Ye Chen’s parents had.

These small banquet halls were usually reserved for executives or VIPs. The room’s original layout consisted of a semi-circle of sofa chairs with two large eighteen-person round tables in the center. Today, those had been cleared out and replaced with long tables—the kind Zhang Pa used when taking his students out for barbecue. Three rows of long tables were set up; one for the children and two for the adults.

The tables were already covered with various cold dishes and fruit platters, waiting for the guests to be seated so the meal could be served on time.

Ye’s father led Zhang Pa to the table at the very front. Only four other men were seated there, along with six or seven grandmothers chatting together.

It was the first time Ye’s father had met Zhang Pa, and not seeing any children with him, he asked with a smile, "Where are the kids? Are they with your wife?"

Zhang Pa laughed. "You’ve misunderstood. I’m a classmate of your Ye Zi, and Liu Xiaomei is my teacher."

"Oh?" Ye’s father’s expression of surprise was quite something. He didn't quite grasp the situation, so he made a few polite remarks and went back to ask Ye’s mother about it.

A while later, Ye’s father returned with a business card. "I’m so sorry, I had no idea you were Teacher Liu’s boyfriend. Here is my card—let’s stay in touch."

"I don't have a business card," Zhang Pa said.

"Just leave your phone number," Ye’s father said with a smile. "You’ve got talent. Teacher Liu is so beautiful—from what I’ve seen, at least three people have gone to the school to pursue her, and none of them stood a chance. Since you managed to win her heart, you must have some extraordinary abilities. We really should stay in touch."

Zhang Pa gave a bitter smile and said, "You’ve put me in a position where I don't even know how to respond." He recited his phone number.

"No need to respond. Let’s have a few drinks later; I need to go greet more guests."

Zhang Pa agreed and looked down at the business card. He was startled for a moment and nearly laughed out loud: Ye Liangchen. So, this gentleman was the legendary "Liangchen." He looked much more pleasant than the version online, though.

He tucked away the business card, nodded to the fathers nearby, pulled a fruit platter toward him, and picked up a slice of watermelon.

This guy was truly his own person, with a personality to match.

After a while, the guests had all arrived, and the children had finished signing in. A headcount confirmed there were forty-eight children, with only seven absent for various reasons.

Ye Zi’s mother took the stage to give a speech, expressing her gratitude and suggesting a group photo. Everyone lined up in three-and-a-half rows for a big, happy commemorative picture.

One observant parent suggested starting a parent group chat for everyone to stay in touch. Since the children who took dance lessons with Liu Xiaomei came from at least middle-class families, the suggestion was met with immediate support, and a group was created on the spot.

After the photo, everyone returned to their seats, and the waiters began serving. First, a cake cart was wheeled out. As soon as the tall, massive, snow-white cake appeared, the lights went out, leaving only the flickering candlelight to illuminate the room.

Ye Zi, dressed in a princess costume and wearing a tiara, watched happily as the cake drew nearer.

The birthday song played softly, and everyone joined in the well-wishes.

What followed was simple. Ye Zi’s parents weren't fools; they wouldn't host a banquet that only showcased their child, nor would they turn it into a talent show. After the birthday song, it was time to eat.

There was nothing else—just giving the children space to have fun while the adults sat on either side, eating, chatting, and keeping an eye on the kids.

The children’s menu was different from the adults’. There was no fried food; instead, it focused on greens, soy products, fish, and shrimp.

The restaurant had clearly put in a lot of effort for this meal, or perhaps Ye Zi’s parents had paid a premium. Even while hosting wedding banquets, the restaurant managed to make this table look whimsical and cartoonish. Many of the mothers took photos with their phones before letting the children start eating.

The drinks and food for the adults were standard banquet fare. To ensure the children’s safety, there was no hard liquor at the party, only a few bottles of red wine—just enough for everyone to have a small taste.

When Ye’s father had told Zhang Pa to "have a few drinks" earlier, it was just a reflex—a habit from his usual social routines.

There was plenty of soda and pure fruit juice, however, which both the kids and adults drank.

A child’s birthday party is, at the end of the day, all about the child’s happiness. A group of little ones chatting, laughing, and playing together was enough. Any performances or opening presents could wait for another time; for now, all of that was cast aside.

The meal lasted an hour and a half. Once the children had worn themselves out, the parents began to take their leave, and the banquet concluded.

Ye’s father and Ye Zi stood at the door to see the guests off. The phrase he said most often was, "Let’s stay in touch."

By the time Zhang Pa left, Ye’s father said it again: "Let’s stay in touch. The timing wasn't right today, so we couldn't really enjoy ourselves, but let’s have a proper drink another day."

Zhang Pa agreed and thanked him for the hospitality. Once Liu Xiaomei had also said her goodbyes, the two of them headed downstairs.

"So?" Liu Xiaomei asked with a smile. "How was it? How do you feel?"

Zhang Pa shook his phone and said, "It was quite productive. I met a lot of outstanding people," referring to the parent group chat.

"Where should we go now?" Liu Xiaomei asked.

"Where do you want to go?" Zhang Pa replied.

"Are you pig-headed?" Liu Xiaomei said. "I asked you that, so you’re supposed to give me an answer, not ask me back." She paused, then added, "You must have never dated anyone, or your brain wouldn't be this slow."

Zhang Pa chuckled. "Want to see a movie?"

"Fine," Liu Xiaomei said. "But you have to carry me on your back."

Not far from the international hotel was a famous shopping mall with a cinema inside.

Looking toward the mall from the intersection, Zhang Pa said, "Good thing it’s not far." He then half-squatted and said, "Get on."

Liu Xiaomei took a step back, ran forward, and leaped, riding on Zhang Pa’s back like a horse, shouting, "Giddy-up!"

Zhang Pa stretched his neck back and gasped, "You’re trying to strangle me!"

Liu Xiaomei giggled. "My mistake." She moved her arms forward, wrapping them around his torso.

So, they went to the movie. Before they even entered the theater, Zhang Pa refused to let Liu Xiaomei get down.

When they first entered the cinema complex, Liu Xiaomei tried a few times to get down, but seeing that Zhang Pa wouldn't hear of it, she continued to "ride the horse," happily and intently, even while buying tickets and popcorn.

Such a striking sight made them the center of attention, especially Liu Xiaomei. Many people looked over again and again, with someone inevitably sighing, "Pretty girls are always taken."

While buying tickets, Zhang Pa said he wanted to see the movie that was about to start. The clerk asked two quick questions through the glass. Zhang Pa heard them vaguely and just nodded. It wasn't until the movie started that he realized what the clerk had asked.

The opening scene was filled with eerie, terrifying atmosphere. Ten seconds later, a huge, grotesque severed head suddenly filled the entire screen...

It was a horror movie! Zhang Pa stole a glance at Liu Xiaomei, only to find that the young lady actually had the leisure to eat popcorn... Well, it seemed he was the only one who was scared.

He lowered his head, closed his eyes, calmed his heart, and tried to sleep.

The movie had sound effects that crawled into Zhang Pa’s brain with a terrifying rhythm, forming entirely unrelated, nightmarish images in his mind...

He quickly tried to divert his attention, thinking of the sky, the earth, beautiful women—ah yes, long legs... Just as he was deep in thought, Liu Xiaomei gave him a light nudge. Zhang Pa jumped up, his eyes fixed on her hand.

Liu Xiaomei was startled. "What are you doing?"

Zhang Pa sat back down slowly. "What are *you* doing?"

"I thought you were asleep," Liu Xiaomei asked. "Why do you have your eyes closed?"