Chapter 79: The Bragger
Just then, Wang Han's cellphone suddenly rang. She immediately stood up and said, "Quiet, everyone! It's Chongming calling!"
She answered the call and said cheerfully, "Why are you calling me? Weren't you giving me the cold shoulder?"
"Han, I know I was wrong," Zhou Chongming's voice came from the other end. "Please give me a chance. Where are you? I'll come find you now."
Seeing Zhou Chongming apologize, Wang Han's face lit up with joy. "That's more like it! I forgive you. I'm at the East Sea Grand Hotel in Private Room 888. Come on over. My parents are here too."
Zhou Chongming was stunned. What gives the Wang family the right to dine in Private Room 888? Even my Zhou Family doesn't have that privilege!
He asked doubtfully, "Han, are you sure it's 888?"
"Of course! What's wrong?"
Zhou Chongming was puzzled but didn't press the issue, only chuckling. "Nothing. I'll head over then. By the way, who else is there?"
Wang Han glanced at Zhao Dong and rolled her eyes. "Zhao Dong is here with his family—the one who beat you up last time. Come over, and oh, bring some nice gifts to show these people what real valuables look like."
"Okay, I got it."
After hanging up, a cold expression flashed across Zhou Chongming's face. Damn it, you bitch, Wang Han! Hooking up with that Zhao Dong again. If it weren't for my family's cash flow problems, I wouldn't be wasting my time on your damn face!
Zhou Chongming had originally wanted to break up with Wang Han. But he had lost several million gambling, and his family's company was also tight on funds, so they wouldn't clean up his mess. He was scared. Then, a thought struck him. Wang Han had once mentioned that Wang Jianguo had savings of at least six million yuan, so Zhou Chongming immediately started eyeing that money. As long as he could get back together with Wang Han—even if it was just for a superficial engagement—he could have her coax two or three million out of her father. That wouldn't be a problem. If it weren't for those savings, he would have dumped her long ago.
Thinking of this, Zhou Chongming smirked with disdain. Bring gifts? As if your family of country bumpkins would recognize anything valuable! I could bring fakes and you wouldn't even know! With this in mind, he went to an antique market and bought a counterfeit painting for a few thousand yuan. He also bought a 'Super A' replica watch for over ten thousand yuan that would be indistinguishable from the real thing to anyone but a professional.
Carrying these two items, Zhou Chongming quickly arrived at the East Sea Grand Hotel.
Meanwhile, back in the private room, the waitress had left without another word after the earlier interruption. Wang Jianguo was still completely baffled. She had said a 'Mr.' had arranged everything, but he had no idea who that could be.
Just then, the door to the private room opened. Zhou Chongming walked in, a radiant smile on his face, gifts in hand. Upon seeing him, Wang Han's face lit up, and she hurried over to greet him. Even the normally cold Li Mujing broke into a wide smile.
"Chongming, you're here! Come, come, sit down!" Li Mujing greeted him warmly.
Zhou Chongming glanced at Li Mujing, a flicker of heat in his eyes. She's even prettier than Wang Han and at the peak of her feminine charm. She's so well-maintained she looks to be in her late twenties. Combined with her beautiful face and curvy figure... her smiling red lips are enough to make my heart melt.
He cleared his throat, avoiding Li Mujing's gaze, and chuckled. "Uncle, Auntie, I came in a rush, so I didn't have time to prepare proper gifts for you both. This is just a little something. I hope you'll accept it."
"You came all this way, why be so formal?" Wang Jianguo said with a laugh. "Quick, have a seat."
Li Mujing, beaming, enthusiastically took the gifts. "Look at you! I don't know what to say! So kind and so thoughtful! Hurry and sit down!" After opening the package, she gasped, "Oh, a watch and a famous painting! These must be worth quite a bit, right, Chongming?"
"It's not much," Zhou Chongming replied with false modesty. "Just over a million yuan for the pair."
Li Mujing was ecstatic, her smile so wide it seemed it would split her face. "Wonderful, just wonderful! So much better than the few-thousand-yuan fakes some people bring."
Zhou Chongming's heart skipped a beat, a wave of guilt washing over him.
Li Mujing continued, "Zhao Dong, do you see this? *This* is a real gift, unlike the junk you brought to fool us!"
Zhao Dong remained silent, a mocking look in his eyes. Li Mujing is going to regret this soon. He had seen instantly that the items were fake. As a Cultivator, he could sense the utter lack of Spiritual Energy emanating from them. He could only sigh internally. For someone so beautiful, Li Mujing is remarkably foolish.
Zhou Chongming sat next to Wang Han, a constant smile plastered on his face. His eyes soon fell upon Zhao Dong, and a trace of resentment flared within them. Zhao Dong merely gave Zhou Chongming a passing glance before looking away. A person of this caliber wasn't even worthy of his extended attention.
The atmosphere at the table was pleasant enough, but Zhou Chongming couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned over and whispered to Wang Han, "Han, about this Room 888..."
Before he could finish, Wang Han smiled proudly. "Chongming, this Room 888 is impressive, isn't it? Ordinary people can't book it. I bet even your family can't get a reservation here!"
Not wanting to lose face, Zhou Chongming bluffed, "It's alright. I've eaten here a few times. The general manager is a friend of my dad's, so a reservation is just one phone call away."
Wang Han froze. Wang Jianguo, who had overheard, was also taken aback. The next second, Wang Jianguo slapped his forehead as if in sudden realization. "Chongming! I get it now! You booked this room and this entire meal, didn't you?"
Glancing at Zhou Chongming, Li Mujing exclaimed, "That's right! I understand now! The waitress said a gentleman arranged everything. I was wondering who had enough influence to make the hotel do all this. It was you all along, Chongming!"
Wang Han also asked with curiosity, "Was it you, Chongming? You can really get the hotel to arrange all this?"
Zhou Chongming was completely bewildered. Since when do I have the power to get the East Sea Grand Hotel to arrange a meal like this in such a room? I was just bluffing!
On the side, Li Mujing nodded to herself. "It has to be Chongming! Who else here knows the general manager? Only Chongming does! Who else could it be?"
"Chongming," Wang Jianguo said with emotion, "I didn't expect you to be so capable, yet so discreet. Uncle will remember this favor!"
Wang Han stared at Zhou Chongming in amazement, her eyes sparkling. "Chongming, you're incredible! I'm starting to worship you!"
Buoyed by their praise, Zhou Chongming's vanity and confidence soared. He waved his hand grandly and said with a laugh, "It's nothing, really. Just a room and a meal, easy enough to arrange. The important thing is that everyone enjoys themselves."
"Having such a wonderful son-in-law is truly a blessing for our Wang Family, Chongming! Auntie is growing fonder of you by the minute!" Li Mujing gushed.
CLATTER.
The chopsticks in Zhao Dong's hand slipped, falling onto his plate. Everyone immediately turned to look at him.
Zhao Dong just smiled. "Sorry, my hand slipped."
Seeing this, Li Mujing's anger flared. "Zhao Dong! Look at yourself, and then look at Chongming! He's the same age as you, but he has money and status. Did you hear that? The only reason you're eating in this room today is because of Chongming. Without him, you'd never set foot in a place like this in your entire life! Aren't you going to toast him?"
Zhao Dong frowned. Me, toast him? Besides a few old commanders from the army and Zhao Kangyou, no one else was qualified to receive a toast from him. He simply pretended not to hear and continued eating. Li Mujing's face flushed with humiliation, alternating between red and white.
Wang Han added with displeasure, "Zhao Dong, you have no manners. You're eating his food and enjoying his generosity, but you won't even offer a simple toast. You should learn to swallow your pride. Without Chongming, you wouldn't even be qualified to be here. You're so clueless."
Wang Jianguo tried to smooth things over. "Alright, that's enough! Zhao Dong has a low tolerance for alcohol; he can't drink anymore. We'll drink."
"Useless at everything else, and he can't even hold his liquor," Li Mujing muttered, her disdain for Zhao Dong growing.
Zhao Dong couldn't be bothered to argue with them. He wiped his mouth and made an excuse to use the restroom.
Just as he stepped out of the private room, he saw a figure approaching. It was Zhang Wei.
"Mr. Zhao!"
Zhao Dong stopped, looking at the man with a puzzled expression. "You are...?"