Chapter 97: Reunion at The Celestial Pavilion

Unsurprisingly when Saturday arrived, the shop remained fully booked for nearly every single hour slot, leaving virtually no room for walk-in customers hoping to test the viral sensation for themselves.

Origins VR Cafe was now generating nearly 10,000 BC in daily revenue.

Only Donape was aware of the shop’s true financial standing, as the System registered the earnings as Gold Coins before converting them directly into Blue Star Credits in his personal bank account.

Despite the shop’s high revenue and his 3% dividend commission, Donape didn’t get to enjoy absurd wealth just yet.

The System’s rules imposed a strict cap of $30 per transaction once sales exceeded 2,000 BC—a mechanic similar to his previous 1% dividend structure. Still, even with the cap, he was reliably earning 80 to 120 BC per day.

With the afternoon rush winding down, Donape checked the time. It was nearly 5:30 PM, giving him just enough time to get ready and travel to Sector 1.

He informed Ga-Eun that he would be leaving the shop in her hands for the rest of the evening.

After all, the shop’s protection system was absolute—even if an expert of high caliber tried to force their way through, they would still be powerless against the shop’s system authority and instant blacklist function.

Donape stepped outside Origins VR Cafe wearing the simple $400 black-and-white suit he had previously bought for the Baek Family’s birthday banquet.

Since he still had plenty of time before 7:00 PM, he chose the cheapest and most convenient option: public transportation.

When he boarded the bus, several passengers turned to look at him with a hint of awe. He didn’t look like a flashy corporate tycoon, nor did he resemble the ragged, desperate man he had once been. He simply looked clean, sharp, and unassuming.

While he wasn’t strikingly handsome like an idol or an actor, his physical transformation from reaching the Bone Forging Realm and becoming a 1st Circle Apprentice Mage had reshaped his frame.

Now standing at a well-proportioned 181 cm with an extraordinary posture, his presence was entirely different from before.

Dressed in formal wear instead of his usual casual hoodie, sweatpants, and sandals, his tall, balanced figure naturally drew every eye on the bus.

Ignoring the glances, Donape stood comfortably in the aisle without holding onto the handrail, as all the seats were taken.

His effortless balance as the bus navigated the city streets quickly became a quiet topic of discussion among the passengers, especially a few teenage girls whispering nearby.

"Look at him," a high school girl in a uniform whispered to her friend, nudging her elbow. "He’s not even holding the overhead strap! The bus just took that sharp turn, and he didn’t even sway an inch!"

"Wait, is he wearing a suit?" her friend whispered back, adjusting her glasses. "He looks like one of those low-key bodyguards from a corporate drama... or maybe a young CEO hiding his identity?"

"Stop daydreaming! But seriously, his posture is crazy good. It’s like he’s rooted to the floor!"

"Hey, do you think he’s an actor?" one girl muttered, holding up her phone without taking a photo. "He doesn’t have that super flashy idol face, but... I don’t know, his energy feels different. He looks so calm, like nothing in the world could bother him."

"Right? Most guys in suits on the bus look exhausted and beaten down by their bosses. But him? He looks like he’s just taking a peaceful stroll, even while crammed in a crowded bus."

Hearing the girls’ hushed praise thanks to his enhanced senses, a faint blush rose to Donape’s cheeks. Still, he didn’t dwell on such mortal flattery and simply enjoyed the peaceful bus ride toward his college reunion.

The Celestial Pavilion sat prominently in Sector 1’s commercial core, surrounded by manicured courtyard gardens and valet attendants in gold-trimmed uniforms.

As Donape stepped off the bus in his clean, simple dark suit, he took in the sleek glass-and-marble facade.

Even from the entrance, he could hear the faint murmur of soft classical music and polite corporate laughter floating down from the reserved private lounge on the top floor.

Holding his smartphone with the digital invitation code, Donape made his way up the grand escalator. The moment he passed through the gilded doors of the VIP Hall, the rich aromas of aged wine, roasted prime-cut meats, and expensive perfumes filled his senses.

Two long buffet tables stretched across the center of the hall, laden with premium delicacies that usually cost small fortunes—marbled Baek Empire beef, imported sea truffles, and vintage dark wines.

’At least Song Tae-Jun didn’t cheap out on the menu,’ Donape thought, his frugal eye instantly calculating the spread’s sheer value. ’A single plate here easily runs 500 BC. Finally, a change of pace. Even if the taste and benefits can’t compare to the F&B at Origins VR Cafe, it’s a nice change of routine. Definitely worth the bus trip.’

He grabbed a silver plate, stacked it neatly with prime cuts and roasted appetizers, and retreated toward a quiet corner table near the floor-to-ceiling glass window, perfectly content to enjoy his high-end meal in peace.

"Wait... Donape? Is that really you?"

A voice broke his quiet sanctuary. Donape looked up to see a tall young woman in a tailored gray suit holding a glass of champagne, flanked by two familiar faces from his university days.

It was Go Youn-Jung, the former Class Representative, alongside two guys who used to run in Young Master Song’s inner circle.

"It really is you!" Youn-Jung chuckled, stepping closer while eyeing Donape’s simple suit and leather shoes. "Where have you been hiding for the past four years? I thought you moved out of S City entirely!"

"I’ve been around," Donape replied calmly, taking a slow bite of his steak.

"Wait, where are you living these days?" one of the former classmates asked, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk. "Ah, right, you don’t own property in the city, do you? Still renting a room? Well, that’s a wise choice. Everything here is absurdly expensive. Must be tough grinding every day in the hope of striking it rich in the capital."

Youn-Jung patted Donape on the shoulder with an air of polite patronization. "Ignore him, Donape. These bastards still haven’t learned proper manners even after entering corporate society."

"It’s fine," Donape said with a faint, amused smile, completely unbothered by the subtle condescension. "The food is good."

"Haha, right?! Just eat your fill of free food and make sure to thank Young Master Song later," the classmate laughed, clearly amused by Donape’s apparent obliviousness to the insult.

Youn-Jung shook her head, turning back toward the center of the hall. "Alright then, enjoy the buffet! Let us know if you ever need a job referral. As old classmates, we ought to look out for one another."

As the group walked away, Donape caught the soft whisper under one of their breaths: "Some people really never change. Four years out of college and he’s still sitting in a corner eating scraps like a nobody..."

Donape simply took another sip of his chilled beverage, his expression utterly serene.

If these people only knew that he earned around $100 daily in passive income, or that one of his regular customers was Baek Ji-Hong—the top young master in all of S City... they would probably faint on the spot and curse the universe for its blatant injustice.

Song Tae-Jun might be the wealthiest heir at this reunion, but compared to Baek Ji-Hong—who casually dropped 150,000 BC just for VR in-game currency—he was nothing more than a small-time player in front of a true Young Master.

The Song Family merely belonged to the lower tier of noble society, whereas the Baek Family stood at the absolute apex of S City alongside the Jin and Nam Families. Thus, the spectacle of renting out a hall at The Celestial Pavilion failed to impress Donape in the slightest.

If he were being completely blunt, this entire reunion wasn’t even fractionally as grand as the Baek Family’s birthday banquet he had attended previously—where every single guest radiated true high-society prestige.

"Donape? Hey, man! Is that really you?" A hearty voice called out from near the dessert table.

Donape turned to see a tall, burly man with his sleeves rolled up, flanked by a quiet woman holding a plate of fruit.

It was Han Jin-Soo and Lee Soo-Bin.

Back in their university days, the two of them had never hesitated to hang out with Donape despite his mixed-blood heritage.

"You two," Donape said, a genuine smile breaking across his face. "Long time no see."

"Sigh... We really thought you wouldn’t show up," Jin-Soo said with relief, patting Donape’s shoulder warmly.

"Where have you been all this time? I tried reaching out to you back then, but the calls never went through," Soo-Bin added gently, setting her plate on the table and giving him a warm, friendly nod.

Donape simply offered a subtle, apologetic smile.

Ever since graduation, he had intentionally cut off contact with everyone from college. Still, standing here now, he felt glad he had decided to come—it was worth it just to reconnect with the few people he could truly call friends.

As the three of them stood there reminiscing, a shadow fell over their quiet corner. Park Min-Woo, Jun-Ho, and four others who used to torment Donape approached, spotting him alongside Jin-Soo and Soo-Bin.

"Hey, Alexander?! I didn’t think you’d actually have the nerve to come," Min-Woo sneered casually, acting as though his hands were clean of the past.

Meanwhile, Jun-Ho and his lackeys stood completely frozen, their eyes locked onto Donape.

In an instant, vivid memories of being helplessly beaten late at night at the restaurant near the S University campus rushed back into their minds.

Jun-Ho’s face was drained of color. He instinctively reached up and covered his mouth, the phantom sting of Donape’s brutal slaps burning across both cheeks.