Her words stung, but before I could respond, Bradley, acting as if I didn’t even exist, casually draped his arm around Courtney’s shoulders. “Relax, Courtney,” he said with a smirk. “None of us are short of money. Even if Jordan smashes the whole private room, we can cover it.”
Then he glanced at me, his eyes flicking to his arm resting on her, and added with a sly smile, “Hey, Jordan, don’t worry about it. We’ve known each other forever—like family. A shoulder bump is nothing. But if it bothers you, I’ll make sure to watch it next time.”
Before I could say anything, Courtney laughed and brushed him off. “Bradley, ignore him. He’s stingy with money and jealous when it comes to love!”
Courtney wrapped her arm around Bradley’s waist, her eyes locking onto mine with a provocative gleam. “Do you have any objections?” she asked, daring me to respond.
I shook my head, keeping my expression calm despite the knot tightening in my chest. In a steady, measured tone, I replied, “No objections. And if you two are willing to keep the show going, I wouldn’t mind seeing something more… exciting.”
As I spoke, I took the lead and walked into the private room. But before I could fully step inside, Courtney suddenly shoved me from behind. When I turned around, she was glaring at me, her expression ice cold.
“Jordan, what did you mean by that just now?” she demanded.
Before I could answer, Bradley chimed in with a mocking grin. “Come on, Jordan, we’ve all been friends since childhood. You’re not seriously jealous, are you?”
One of Courtney’s friends laughed lightly, adding, “It’s not really his fault. He wasn’t raised in a big, influential family like us. He just doesn’t understand how we interact.”
Another voice echoed, laced with condescension, “It’s the class gap. Can’t blame him.”
They spoke with polite smiles, but every word dripped with superiority, treating me like an outsider—a lesser man unworthy of their world.
I didn’t bother responding to them. Instead, I turned to Courtney and, with a quiet calm, said, “It didn’t mean anything. Like you said, this is how your circle gets along. I don’t understand it, but I respect it.”
Courtney’s brows furrowed in frustration. “Jordan, we’re adults now. Can you stop causing trouble?”
I sighed, feeling a helplessness wash over me. “Alright, I won’t cause trouble anymore. I was wrong,” I replied, my voice soft with resignation.