Chapter 78: Hotel Incident
The next second, Li Mujing and Wang Han burst out laughing in unison, while Wang Jianguo's face flushed with embarrassment.
Does that mean these things are worth three to four million? What a joke! Our family's total assets, including the company, are only about eight or nine million! These few items are worth half our fortune?
After she finished laughing, Wang Han shook her head and said with heavy sarcasm, "Zhao Dong, what else can you do besides brag and show off?"
Li Mujing shot Zhao Dong a disdainful look. "Han, it's a good thing your mother had the foresight to end that childhood engagement and let you date Zhou Chongming. You're lucky you didn't end up with Zhao Dong; otherwise, your life would have been ruined."
Zhao Dong simply shook his head. "If you don't believe me, so be it."
Li Mujing's anger flared. "You dare talk back? Fine! I'll force you to face reality today! As it happens, I have a friend who's a collector. I'll send him photos right now and expose your lies!"
With that, she took a few pictures of the bracelet and the painting and sent them off before tossing the items back at Zhao Dong. "They're just fakes, worth a few hundred at most! We don't want them! Take them and go fool someone else! Wait, no! I can't let you scam other people!"
Then, Li Mujing actually smashed the bracelet on the ground, shattering it instantly. She tore the painting to shreds and stomped on the pieces for good measure.
Zhao Dong's lip twitched; it was too late to stop her.
Wang Han shouted from the side, "Zhao Dong, don't even think about harming anyone else! It's one thing to bring fakes, but claiming they're worth millions is just shameless!"
Zhao Dong shook his head and said faintly, "You'll regret this."
"Regret, my ass! Why would we regret something worth a few dozen bucks? Do you really think this junk is some kind of treasure?" Li Mujing snorted.
A helpless Wang Jianguo cut in. "Mujing, Han, that's enough! No matter how much it was worth, it was a gift from Dong. You've gone too far."
He then turned to Zhao Dong. Although he didn't believe the tea was that valuable—thinking it was worth a few thousand at most—he still tried to smooth things over with a smile. "Dong, your uncle will gladly accept this tea cake. Thank you."
"Thank him for what? Who knows where he bought such a low-quality product! It's probably full of additives and pesticides. Throw it out! It's not like you have no other tea to drink!"
Li Mujing snatched the tea cake from Wang Jianguo's hand, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it. The once-perfect tea cake was instantly crushed and rendered worthless.
Wang Jianguo gasped, quickly gathering the broken pieces. "That's enough, Mujing!" he said angrily. "What kind of behavior is this? Whether it was valuable or not, it was the thought that counts!"
"I just can't stand watching him deceive people. He deserved it!" Li Mujing declared, glancing contemptuously at Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong gently shook his head, sighing inwardly. I've seen fools before, but never one this foolish. How did I never realize how stupid Li Mujing was? It's true what they say: a woman's character can make or break a family.
At that moment, the Wang family had no idea that if they had sold those gifts, the several million they'd have earned could have easily saved their company from its crisis.
Feeling utterly helpless, Wang Jianguo gave Zhao Dong a bitter smile. "Dong, don't mind your aunt; that's just her personality. Ignore her. Come on, let's go eat."
Zhao Dong glanced at Li Mujing one last time before walking out the door without another word. He knew it wouldn't be long before she was in tears.
Wang Jianguo used some of the crushed leaves to brew a pot of tea. Holding his cup, he stood up and turned to Zhao Kangyou and Zhang Cuimei apologetically. "Brother Kangyou, Sister Cuimei, Mujing was out of line today. I apologize on her behalf. Please don't hold it against her."
Zhao Kangyou sighed and waved his hand. "Forget it. It was our son's fault, too. He took so long to get to the point that he scared his mother and me."
He gave a wry smile. In truth, he had also been startled by his son's claims. While they trusted Zhao Dong, the idea that any one of those items was worth millions was just too shocking. The old couple figured that if their son wasn't lying, then he must have been the one who was scammed.
Wang Jianguo smiled. "Let's not talk about it anymore. Come on, let's go eat. It's been too long since we brothers had a proper chat."
The group left Wang Jianguo's home and headed for the East Sea Hotel.
They soon arrived at the hotel, where the general manager, Zhang Wei, was standing in the lobby. He was from a branch of the Zhang Family, not the main lineage. Thanks to his competence, he managed some of the family's businesses, including this very hotel.
He paid Wang Jianguo's group no mind upon their arrival, but the next second, he saw Zhao Dong trailing at the back, and he froze.
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Isn't that Mr. Zhao? The man who brought the Patriarch of the Zhang Family to his knees? He had been at the Zhang residence that day and seen Zhao Dong's face. The sight of him here made his legs nearly give out. Zhao Dong owns half of the Zhang Family's assets; that makes him my ultimate boss!
Zhang Wei instinctively started forward to greet him, but he immediately checked himself. What right do I have to greet someone like Mr. Zhao?
He quickly slipped into a nearby private room and frantically dialed Zhang Longbo's number.
"Patriarch! Big news! Mr. Zhao is here at our hotel!"
Zhang Longbo was stunned. "Mr. Zhao? You mean Zhao Dong?"
"Yes! And it looks like he's with his... relatives."
Zhang Longbo swallowed hard and ordered without hesitation, "Immediately, give them the highest level of service we offer! The hotel will cover all expenses. You must serve Mr. Zhao perfectly, or you can pack your bags!"
Zhang Wei nodded frantically. "I understand, Patriarch! Should I go greet him?"
Zhang Longbo was silent for a moment. "He didn't inform me he was coming, which means he doesn't want a fuss or for us to know. You can greet him, but don't do it publicly. The guests he is with might be important."
"Understood, Patriarch! I will make sure Mr. Zhao is taken care of!"
After hanging up, Zhang Wei took several deep breaths, grabbed his walkie-talkie, and spoke in a low, urgent voice. "All departments, listen up! The party that just entered the lobby is to be received with the hotel's highest standard of service! Everyone must give this their absolute focus! This person is a hundred times more important than I am!"
Instantly, all hotel departments began to discreetly watch Zhao Dong's group.
Wang Jianguo walked up to the front desk with a smile. "Excuse me, which private room is ours? I made a reservation under the name Wang."
The receptionist, having heard the order on her earpiece, replied with the utmost respect, "Mr. Wang, your reservation is for Room 888 on the eighth floor!"
Wang Jianguo was taken aback. "No, that can't be right. Isn't Room 888 the best suite in the entire hotel?"
"Yes, sir. It is our finest private room, reserved especially for your party today."
Wang Jianguo stood there in a daze. Li Mujing and Wang Han were equally surprised. They knew that Room 888 at the East Sea Hotel was impossible for ordinary people to book. It was reserved for top officials and dignitaries—booking it was a symbol of prestige in East Sea. How on earth did they get it?
Many other people in the lobby were also surprised and began casting envious looks in their direction.
A wave of vanity washed over Wang Han. Seeing the admiring stares from everyone around, Li Mujing's pride swelled.
She tugged on Wang Jianguo's arm and chuckled, "Jianguo, who cares why? Since it's ours, let's enjoy it. I've never been in a top-tier suite like this. I'm going to take so many videos today."
Wang Han looked at Zhao Dong with immense arrogance. "Zhao, if we hadn't brought you here today, you'd never get to come to a place like this in your entire life."
Zhao Dong remained silent. But I can't shake the feeling that everyone in the hotel is looking at me strangely.
Soon, they arrived at the private room. Wang Jianguo cleared his throat and addressed the waiter, "Waiter, the menu, please!"
The waiter gave a gentle smile. "Mr. Wang, your menu has already been arranged. The kitchen will be prioritizing your dishes."
Wang Jianguo froze. The menu was already chosen? He felt dizzy. What is going on? Everything feels so strange.
Zhao Dong watched silently from the side, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
Soon, one exquisite dish after another began to arrive, leaving Wang Jianguo completely stunned. There were all sorts of top-notch delicacies: abalone, shark's fin, lobster... Bottles of top-shelf Maotai and other imported liquors were brought to the table, each costing tens of thousands. Wang Jianguo secretly drew a sharp breath.
What is happening? I can afford a nice meal, but not something this luxurious! This whole spread must cost two or three hundred thousand!
He couldn't stand it anymore. He quickly stopped a passing waiter. "Excuse me, what is all this? We never ordered any of these things!"
The waiter smiled faintly. "It was all arranged by a gentleman."
Stunned, Wang Jianguo hurriedly asked, "Which gentleman? Who is wealthy enough to arrange all this?"
The waiter smiled, and her gaze shifted to Zhao Dong.