The moment Nikolai and Nikita entered the room it felt like a different world. Music played in the background, people's voices faded and the bragging of Daiki and Mari became silent.
"So hot..." Mari's microphone echoed her whisper.
This one small outburst caused almost everyone to turn in her direction with shocked looks on their faces. Before seeing the flames practically blowing from Daiki's mouth as his face became bright red.
However, despite most people looking worried, the people sitting at the table [4] seemed quite amused.
"Hahahaha!" Jin Soo-Hyun burst into laughter as he lifted his glass towards Nikolai, the latter noticing the gesture before waving with a wry smile.
"He looks even better than back then. How does he still look so amazing?" Hana muttered while checking her face in the mirror, her lips curling into a bitter smile.
"Don't be jealous, Hana; you are the most beautiful woman to me." Jin Soo-Hyun complimented his wife, stroking her cheek while motioning for Nikolai to sit with them.
"Hahaha! He looks stronger than back in university!" Daewon's loud bellow almost overpowered the music as Nikolai held Nikita's hand, the pair walking together in perfect sync. "That's my soulmate!"
"Daewon, you are biased because Nikolai is the only one who stayed to help you practise after lectures!" Jin Soo-Hyun gave a bitter grin.
Nikolai's movements shocked many other students. In the past, he might have been well-liked because of his looks.
However, he lacked finesse and elegance yet now. Like the king of beasts, he walked with a regal aura and partnered with the girl called Beast Princess. The pair seemed to have walked out of a fantasy world.
"Hello, everyone," Nikolai bowed politely as he sat Nikita on her seat before pushing her chair slightly and sitting down himself. "I am sorry for the delay."
"Nikolai, you have truly changed." Jin Soo-Hyun complimented the pair as the waiter placed a plate of food in front of them.
"Oh? I'm just the same, though?"
"No, Jin is right. You've become confident and no longer look down when around our class!" Daewon added while Hana and Nikita nodded together.
"Haha, let's leave it at that. I am more interested in you three, to be honest. It's been far too long."
***
Meanwhile, watching Nikolai in his neat and expensive-looking suit, many of the women who shopped at Verface noticed the genuine product instantly.
So the whispers of his fake suit or watch made them sneer inside.
Although some people outgrew their youthful errors and ways, there were quite a few who couldn't do that, which made accepting Nikolai tonight impossible.
"Heh, it's probably because he's banging the rich girl Nikita."
"Oh! Nikita's family are as rich as Daiki, who could forget her Fenrir group."
In reality, her mother ran a legitimate front business that, although smaller than the Scarlet Group or the huge vampire clans, could be included in the top 100 of all companies in the S-Kingdom.
"Tsk, so he's just a useless home husband?"
"Well, it's not like he's ugly."
"True, but it's a shame. With his looks, he could have done much better."
"I heard his father was a useless drunk who beat his wife to death, and perhaps he wants to follow in his father's footsteps."
Many opinions and rumours flowed through the room, most of the negatives close to tables [1] and [2], where Daiki still looked as if Mari had betrayed him. His angry gaze focused on Nikolai.
"Tsk, that bastard dared to turn up putting on heirs! It's a good thing that my guest tonight will make even that little gangster bitch look pathetic."
"Oooh!"
"That's our Daiki!"
"He really is the best!"
Daiki's words caused a stir as people looked towards the entrance, the guards blocking the door from the outside. He could now text the executive who hired him for a contract with the Scarlet Group to show how much he surpassed everyone else in the class.
'Just you watch, Nikolai, Eun-ji, Nikita and that laughing clown Min-Jae Park who always pretended to be poor despite being one of the richest members and Eun-Ji's older brother.' Daiki thought while looking at the empty seat next to him.
"So, are your friends not showing up?" Min-Jae asked, his tone dripping with venom and his expression full of ridicule.
To be honest, Min-Jae wanted to rush to Table [4] the moment he saw Nikolai. They used to train together with Daewon and study with Jin Soo-Hyun.
Although they knew each other's backgrounds, there was still a social etiquette to their world, and thus, because of the invites, they didn't act uncivil because of their schoolyard dislikes and fights.
"It doesn't matter, they will come eventually. Don't doubt me, Min-Jae." Daiki Kwon's smile was fierce as he typed a message on his phone with a restless look on his face. "They are just running late." He added.
"Ah, I see. Then, how about we continue the greetings and start the reunion while waiting?" Eun-Ji Park's lovely voice sounded as she spoke for the first time since coming. She was still the goddess she was five years ago, yet the slight touches of maturity now add to her charm.
***
"Haha, I'm glad you got married. I hope you can forgive me for not coming back then. I was too stupid and felt inferior..." Nikolai honestly spoke his feelings, and felt as if massive weight began to fall from his shoulder.
"It might be late... But here is a late gift and my congratulations." Nikolai handed over a black envelope, the golden border and name both exquisite and tasteful.
[Sarah Maddison again... she's an outstanding employee.]
'Yes, nothing more than that. Other than friendship. You're learning, Eliza.'
Jin Soo-Hyun was about to refuse the envelope when Hana snatched it from him and opened it on the spot. Her lips were curled into a half smile until she saw the notes inside and froze.
"J-J-Jin Soo! This is more than the entire wedding gifts we received back then?!"
"Is it too much?" He asked while scratching his head.
"N-no, it's just too generous." Jin Soo-Hyun sighed as he shook his head. Hana's pale face showed that the money wasn't fake. There was $100,000 inside.
Nikolai couldn't help but thank the ATM and his upgraded card having no withdrawal limit at certain places.
The Imperium was one of them.
[Withdrew $150,000 Cash]
[Current Account Every day balance: $5,481,055]
"Ahem! May I have your attention? We got sidetracked earlier, and now everyone is here. Should we start the reunion with a bang?" Mari spoke with an accent as she removed her jacket, revealing her C-cup breasts that were a little artificial.
"Nikolai, Nikita~ it's a pleasure to have you both after so many years!"
"Nikolai... that woman, can I kill her?" Nikia asked, her hand squeezing Nikolai's while he could only smile brightly and pinch her inner thigh to stop her thoughts completely.
"Behave, and I'll kiss you."
He resorted to blackmail!
"Fine~"
'Good girl.'
Nikita's pouty lips twisted into a smile while the pair watched Mari, whose eyes seemed to glare at them for a moment before she began to introduce everyone attending and their current status.
'It feels like some snide thing to dig at those who aren't as successful...'
"Hehe, then let us begin! First, we have Eun-Ji Park. Heir to Park Industries that everyone knows!"
"Daiki Kwon, heir to the Kwon Empire and a partner of the famous Scarlet Group!"
'Oh?' Nikolai's eyes shone dark red in the darkness as the lights and sparkling lights focused on Daiki and Mari, his wicked smile only seen by Hana, who, like a rabbit facing a wolf, began to tremble in fear, almost dropping her wine on the floor.
Like this, she went through most of the class, being excited and lashing praise at the richer people while skimming past the ones below a certain threshold.
"Hana Kim, the famous fashion model and Jin Soo-Hyun's wife and support! Let's not forget Jin Soo-Hyun himself works as the financial strategist for the Faust family! A hard worker who went from zero to hero!"
"Hehe, and lastly, Nikolai and Nikita. I'm sure many of you want to know what happened after Nikolai left university, and our little demon's true identity?"
The crowd became excited, while Nikita began grinding her teeth and almost growling, only kept in her seat because Nikolai stroked her thigh, gently soothing her.
"Behold! The eldest daughter of the Fenrir Group, a former thug turned princess before our very eyes... And the useless and jobless house husband Nikolai Volkov at her side!"
"Hahaha!"
"What a joke! The guy looks like he can barely afford his watch. Tsk, I knew it, all a sham."
"What did he say?" Nikita's eyes grew cold as her hand left Nikolai's and grabbed the armrest, her nails digging into the metal, deforming it like clay.
"Calm down, my little Nikita," Nikolai whispered in her ear, causing the lovely werewolf's body to tremble as she became like slime in the chair, slipping back with a delightful smile.
'So I am both jobless and useless? Hahaha, okay then Mari.'
Nikolai might have been too upset to continue in the past, yet after fighting to the death with Sebastián, these words felt ridiculous. It was not even worth his time; instead, he filled the cup for Nikita and played along for now.
'No matter what these idiots and monkeys say, I know that in a year, I will surpass them all.'
[Good, that's our Nikolai!]
Their first plot to embarrass him seemed to have failed.