Being forced to grow like a pig? But I'm immune to the consequences!

Upon hearing this, Cheng Mingyuan sighed softly: "Live a peaceful and stable life? I really don't know whether to say your idea is simple or difficult."

The vehicle traveled for a while and soon arrived at its destination.

Before me lay a clear lake.

Unlike the foul-smelling river water in the outer city, the lake here is crystal clear and shimmers in the night.

In the middle of the lake is an artificial island, connected to the shore by an exquisite stone bridge. In the center of the island stands a building with a strong religious style, radiating a warm orange-yellow light, appearing exceptionally noble and elegant.

Without a doubt, this is the "Royal Gardens".

The two got out of the car, and Cheng Mingyuan led Wu Sheng onto the small island in the middle of the lake. The air along the way was exceptionally fresh, no longer smelling like the stinking ditches of the outer city. Occasionally, they could see groups of very elegantly dressed ladies walking together, chatting and laughing softly.

"How is it? Is the place I chose okay?" Cheng Mingyuan asked.

Wu Sheng nodded: "That's good. Very good. I never even dared to dream of a place like this before."

Cheng Mingyuan patted him on the shoulder: "You'll have everything you need in the future."

……

Meanwhile, in the lobby of the Royal Garden.

Liu Zhen was leading a group of people gathered here.

Ellis, Xu Fei, and several other students who were among the top eight in either the boxing or ring competitions were sitting in the waiting area, while Liu Zhen was talking to a waiter at the front desk.

The venue Liu Zhen chose for the gathering was none other than the Royal Garden.

At this moment, however, he had a hint of helplessness on his face.

The restaurants within the Royal Garden offer four dining options: a main hall, private rooms, a second-floor open-air viewing platform, and a separate pavilion extending over the lake.

Liu Zhen's preferred choice was naturally the viewing platform or the pavilion.

But the waiter, dressed in an elegant suit, shook his head apologetically: "I'm sorry, sir. We only accept reservations for observation decks and pavilions through special channels for people with special status. You can only choose the regular lobby or a private room."

Liu Zhen was aware of this rule. The so-called "special status" referred to descendants of nobles or martial artists. Ordinary people were not qualified to dine at those two places.

But he also knew that these two places were usually not full—there would always be vacancies.

So, Liu Zhen discreetly pulled out a few banknotes from his pocket, quietly slipped them to the waiter, and said in a low voice, "Friend, please do me a favor. We're all from the newest batch of students at the martial arts academy this year, and we're among the most talented. We might just become future martial artists. We just finished our first assessment today and are having a get-together. Could you do me a favor?"

Liu Zhen is a shrewd person; at least he knows that asking for favors requires spending money.

The waiter shook his head again, his attitude firm but his tone polite: "Sir, I'm sorry. These seats are almost fully booked for today. According to regulations, we must reserve a few in case of unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, we cannot reserve them for you."

He made it very clear—even if there were empty seats, he couldn't give them out. He couldn't afford to be unable to provide a seat if noble descendants or martial artists came to dine there later.

Seeing this, Liu Zhen knew that this couldn't be forced. He sighed and prepared to have the waiter arrange a private room.

Just then—

Cheng Mingyuan led Wu Sheng over.

Liu Zhen spotted Wu Sheng immediately, along with the distinguished young man beside him.

"Brother Wu!" Liu Zhen greeted him.

Wu Sheng nodded in response.

Liu Zhen glanced at Wu Sheng, then at Cheng Mingyuan, somewhat surprised: "You guys... you're here to eat too?"

Wu Sheng nodded: "That's right."

He didn't explain much. If Liu Zhen could guess that he didn't attend the dinner because he had an appointment with Cheng Mingyuan, that would be best; if he couldn't guess, he didn't care.

Liu Zhen then looked at Cheng Mingyuan and tentatively asked, "Brother Wu, who is this?"

Wu Sheng couldn't think of a way to introduce himself for a moment.

Friend, does he and Cheng Mingyuan count as such?

He opened his mouth, intending to say, "This is the student I'm sparring with"—but before he could speak, Cheng Mingyuan spoke first.

"Cheng Mingyuan," he said calmly, his tone neither humble nor arrogant, "a student at the advanced training ground. A friend of Wu Sheng, and also his employer."

The word "friend" coming from Cheng Mingyuan's mouth carried an inexplicable sense of trust.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhen quickly extended his hand: "My name is Liu Zhen, and I was one of the top four trainees in the training ground assessment."

Cheng Mingyuan casually extended his hand and shook hands with him.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Cheng Mingyuan ignored Liu Zhen and instead asked Wu Sheng, "Where would you like to eat? The pavilion in the middle of the lake, or the viewing platform upstairs?"

Wu Sheng thought for a moment and said, "The observation deck, then. I like the feeling of looking down from a high place."

Cheng Mingyuan smiled: "What a coincidence, I like it too."

He turned and walked towards the waiter, took out a card from his pocket, and showed it to the waiter.

The waiter glanced at it, then immediately took it with both hands, looked at it respectfully, and then returned it with both hands: "Gentlemen, please follow me."

He stepped aside to lead the way, taking Cheng Mingyuan and Wu Sheng upstairs.

He stepped aside to lead the way, taking Cheng Mingyuan and Wu Sheng upstairs.

Wu Sheng turned around and nodded to Liu Zhen as a farewell, then disappeared at the end of the stairs with Cheng Mingyuan.

Liu Zhen stood there, watching the two figures disappear into the distance, a complex and strange look flashing in his eyes.

At that moment, Iris and her group walked over.

They also witnessed what had just happened.

"That guy named Wu Sheng, I remember he was also in the top four in both punching power and ring presence, right?" Ellis said thoughtfully.

A fellow student nearby scoffed, "It was just good luck; he got a bye in the final round of the tournament. Otherwise, it's questionable whether he could have made it into the top four."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fei immediately reacted as if he had seized upon something, speaking in a sarcastic tone:

"No wonder—no wonder they wouldn't eat with us. Turns out they've latched onto the students from the advanced training ground. They're from the outer city, all they've got is this little scheme."

He scoffed, "Tch!"

He was extremely displeased that Wu Shengneng was walking with the students from the advanced training ground. He was even more insanely jealous that Wu Shengneng was eating at the observation deck.

A thoughtful look flashed in Liu Zhen's eyes as he listened to Xu Fei's words.

Logically, he should have explained—Wu Sheng had mentioned earlier that there was a sparring session tonight, and Cheng Mingyuan had just said that he was the "employer." Anyone with eyes could see that it was Cheng Mingyuan who brought Wu Sheng here.

For some reason, Liu Zhen didn't speak.

He simply acquiesced to Xu Fei's words.

But then again, even if Wu Sheng really did intentionally choose to have dinner with Cheng Mingyuan instead of attending their dinner party, so what?

To be honest, isn't it a form of abandoning their original circles and currying favor with the powerful when these so-called "top eight" get together for a meal?

"Let's go to the private room." Liu Zhen snapped out of his thoughts, waved his hand, and led everyone towards the private room inside.