Everyone in the Qin family tried to persuade Qin Mengxue, but she refused to make the call.
"Fine, if he won't call, I will. I'll put my pride aside and give it a shot," the Qin family patriarch said helplessly.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Qin family patriarch dialed Zhou Hong's number.
Zhou Hong had just finished class and was standing in the hallway, chatting with Liu Hua and others.
The phone rang. Zhou Hong saw it was an unknown number and answered immediately.
"Who is it?" Zhou Hong asked after picking up.
"Zhou Hong, it's me, the Qin family patriarch," the patriarch's voice came from the other end.
Zhou Hong frowned. He seemed very surprised to receive a call from the Qin family patriarch. That old man had called a family meeting and expelled Zhou Hong from the family.
"Why are you calling me? Are we close?" Zhou Hong sneered.
"Heh, I know you're still angry with me for kicking you out of the Qin family. I officially apologize for my actions back then. We deeply regret it now. I'm calling you today to invite you back to be Mengxue's fiancé. What do you think?"
"Sorry, a good horse doesn't eat its leftovers," Zhou Hong refused without hesitation.
"Zhou Hong, you can't blame the entire Qin family for driving you away. If you hadn't made a mess at the company, you wouldn't have been kicked out. I'm humbling myself today to ask you to return. I hope you'll consider it carefully. You've seen how beautiful Qin Mengxue is and how good her figure is. Please come back."
"Click!"
Zhou Hong hung up the phone directly, not wanting to waste any more words.
Qin Mengxue felt complicated. She couldn't bring herself to call Zhou Hong to come back, but she also hoped he would give her another chance. Hearing his immediate refusal, she felt a pang of melancholy.
At this moment.
At the Qiao family, Qiao Wanli had also received the news.
"Hahaha!" Qiao Wanli laughed until tears streamed down his face.
"Zhou Hong, well done." After laughing for a while, Qiao Wanli started crying again, but these were tears of happiness.
"Tonight, I'll book a five-star hotel and invite all the Qiao family disciples to celebrate in grand style," Qiao Wanli thought to himself. He immediately sent a text message to Qiao Xiaoyu, asking her to relay the message to Zhou Hong.
Qiao Xiaoyu saw her grandfather's message and pursed her lips. She was also very happy. She immediately went to Zhou Hong's desk, her face flushed, and called out, "Zhou Hong."
"What is it, wifey?" Zhou Hong called out with a chuckle.
"My grandfather just texted me saying that tonight we're going to the Oriental Fortune Hotel and calling all the Qiao family disciples to celebrate," Qiao Xiaoyu said.
"Celebrate what?" Zhou Hong asked, confused.
Qiao Xiaoyu looked speechless, thinking Zhou Hong was pretending.
"Of course, it's to celebrate you becoming the eighth genius of the Martial Cultivation Academy."
Zhou Hong was speechless. Was it really that big of a deal? It was as if defeating Yu Tao had instantly turned him into an amazing person.
"That's what Grandpa said. Grandpa has already booked the hotel and notified all the family disciples."
"Alright, alright. When school's out, we'll go to the hotel together," Zhou Hong nodded helplessly.
"Mhm."
Soon, school was over.
Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu headed to the Oriental Fortune Hotel together.
Indeed, when they arrived at the entrance of the Oriental Fortune Hotel, an LED screen was scrolling a message: "Warmly celebrating Qiao family's son-in-law Zhou Hong, becoming the eighth genius of the Martial Cultivation Academy of Jinzhou University."
"Speechless." Zhou Hong looked at the scrolling text on the huge LED screen at the hotel entrance, feeling utterly speechless. The Qiao family didn't feel embarrassed, but Zhou Hong himself felt embarrassed. Such a trivial matter was being made into such a sensation.
Unfortunately, Zhou Hong didn't know that because of this message, many prominent families and large corporations, whom the Qiao family had never been able to associate with, had sent congratulatory gifts.
"Zhou Hong, this is a momentous occasion! Why do you feel speechless? This Oriental Fortune Hotel is the most luxurious and busiest hotel in Jinzhou City. My grandfather must have given it careful consideration before publicizing this matter," Qiao Xiaoyu said with a giggle.
"Whatever," Zhou Hong smiled helplessly. Such a small matter could make Qiao Wanli celebrate like this. If they knew Zhou Hong's true capabilities, they would probably be announcing it on television.
"Grandpa, we're here." Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu got out of the car and arrived at the hotel entrance. Qiao Wanli and others were waiting at the entrance, as if more guests were expected.
"Zhou Hong, my good grandson-in-law." Qiao Wanli saw Zhou Hong and hurried over, as if he wanted to kiss him.
"Grandpa, isn't this a bit much?" Zhou Hong said, looking helpless. Even if they were to celebrate, a dinner at home would have sufficed.
"Zhou Hong, you becoming the eighth genius of the Martial Cultivation Academy is the most glorious event in our Qiao family's history! How could we be casual about it? I originally just planned to have a family celebration at this Oriental Fortune Hotel, but unexpectedly, many prominent families in Jinzhou City learned of it. When they knew I was holding a ceremony here, they sent people to give gifts. Some even said they would attend tonight, so I had to add ten more tables at the last minute," Qiao Wanli said with a wry smile, but his heart was blooming with joy.
"Yes, your grandfather is overjoyed right now. Many business partners who were arrogant towards us before have completely changed their attitudes. Even families we once thought were unattainable have called to congratulate us," Qiao Xiaoyu's father, Qiao Yannian, also couldn't stop smiling.
This time, they finally knew they had struck gold.
Zhou Hong also didn't expect that merely defeating an eighth genius would cause such a stir.
Thus, the Qiao family held a grand celebration at the Oriental Fortune Hotel. Some prominent figures from Jinzhou City also attended, though "prominent figures" was relative to the Qiao family.
At precisely eight o'clock, the banquet officially began.
Zhou Hong, out of obligation, had to hold his wine glass and accompany Qiao Wanli to entertain guests.
At every table, people fawned over Zhou Hong, praising him for reaching the thirteenth stage of a martial artist at such a young age, for having a limitless future, and for asking him to take care of them in the future, which almost made Zhou Hong want to flip the table.
He himself didn't know his own stage, so why insult him by saying he was only at the thirteenth stage of a martial artist?
Finally, at ten-thirty in the evening, the celebration concluded, and all the guests departed.
"Zhou Hong, let's go home too," Qiao Wanli called out to Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu after settling the bill.