Chapter 5: Drive Them All Away
As soon as the waiter finished speaking, the atmosphere in the private room plummeted, stifling enough to make one feel suffocated.
Zhao Minghui's eyes bulged with rage; he seized his glass of red wine from the table and smashed it to the floor.
“Say that again, I dare you!”
He stormed up to the waiter, clearly ready to get physical.
Startled, the waiter took two steps back, only to find two security guards standing behind him.
With backup at his side, the waiter grew bold and quickly replied, “Mr. Zhao, your food will not be served. Please leave Tianlan Hotel immediately.”
What the hell?
What did that mean!
Everyone in the room, family and guests alike, were stunned. The waiter had used the word “please,” but the message—veiled or not—was clear: get out.
“Damn it, you really have the nerve!”
The first time, back in the main hall, they could chalk it up to a mishap; even when they were moved to two other private rooms, it was still understandable. But this was the second time now—plainly a slap in the face.
As the eldest son of the Zhao family, Zhao Minghui was used to getting his way. Never before had he suffered such humiliation. Taking a few steps forward, he intended to teach the waiter a lesson.
The waiter, no fool, retreated behind the security guards as soon as he saw Zhao Minghui approach.
“Get out here! Don’t think I won’t touch you just because you’re hiding behind these guard dogs!” Zhao Minghui, seeing the two security guards standing motionless, jabbed his finger at them in fury. “Move! If you know what’s good for you, step aside. You’re nothing but lowly security, not even as good as dogs in my eyes, and you dare block my way?”
One of the guards’ faces darkened. “Watch your mouth. If you have the guts, say that to our boss. Right now, our job is to ask you to leave the hotel.”
“Damn you, a bottom-feeder like you dares to act tough? Believe me, one phone call and you’ll never find a job again!” Zhao Minghui, knowing he couldn't win against security, could only rage impotently.
Lin Shufeng, embarrassed by her husband’s foul mouth, stepped forward and asked, “Minghui, what do we do now? Can’t we talk to their manager? Surely they won’t throw out our whole family before we’ve even eaten?”
Zhao Minghui forced down his anger. “Don’t worry, Xiaofeng, it’s a minor issue. You all just sit and wait for the food.”
“Mr. Zhao, this is a direct order from the boss…”
“Order my ass! Go tell your boss I am Zhao Minghui from the Zhao family of Yulong!”
“So you want me to leave? Fine. Bring your boss here.”
“I want to see if he’s lost his mind today!”
Zhao Minghui had reached his limit.
Just moments ago, he’d been beating his chest, assuring everyone this was just a minor matter. If he actually got thrown out now, how would he ever show his face at the Lin family again?
His father-in-law, Lin Jiahua, worried aloud, “Xiaohui, don’t make things worse. I think we should just go somewhere else.”
Zhao Minghui waved him off. “Don’t worry, Dad. The owner of Tianlan Hotel used to grovel before my family—there’s no way he’d dare throw us out!”
“Of course! Who would dare disrespect the Zhao family?” his second aunt chimed in, clapping her hands. “Everyone, just eat and drink as you please. With Minghui here, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Reassured by Zhao Minghui and his second aunt, the guests relaxed and continued drinking, though the waiter was at his wits’ end. With only two security guards, they couldn’t possibly throw out so many people.
Besides, even if they could, none of them dared try.
---
Both the waiter and the guards had witnessed Zhao Minghui’s earlier bluster.
He didn’t even respect the hotel’s owner; what could mere employees do? If they really tried to force these people out, there would surely be trouble the next day.
With no other choice, the waiter hurried off with the guards to find the manager.
“Manager, those two private rooms you mentioned—just as you said, the guests refuse to leave, and now they want to see the boss.”
“Damn it! They want to see the boss? If that happens, I’ll be packing my bags tomorrow!” The manager had already tried reasoning with the guests, only to be showered with insults. Now, with Zhao Minghui refusing to budge, he couldn’t help but curse.
“That brat thinks he’s untouchable just because of his family?”
“Even if his father were here, I’d still throw them out if I wanted. Go to Security, call everyone over to those two private rooms, and get those people out—no exceptions.”
Now that the owner had assured him, the manager no longer cared about Zhao Minghui.
If the sky fell, the boss would take the hit. He was ready to do whatever it took.
With new orders, the security team charged into the private rooms Zhao Minghui had booked.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”
The guests had just started to enjoy themselves again, but now, seeing a squad of security guards barge in, panic set in.
Zhao Minghui, furious, smashed yet another glass and stood up, unafraid as he confronted the guards.
“What the hell, why are so many guard dogs here? If you want bones, wait till we finish eating and then sit quietly at the door.”
Security guards had little patience for cocky playboys like him. With orders from above, they didn’t bother to be polite.
“Watch your mouth. I’m still being courteous because you’re a guest. But if you refuse to leave, we might have to…”
“If you guard dogs have the guts, try it!” Zhao Minghui cut him off before he could finish. “Tianlan Hotel is a business—I paid to eat here. Who are you to throw me out? I’ll give you ten seconds to leave, or you won’t live to see tomorrow!”
“Who are you trying to scare?”
“We tried being reasonable, but you just won’t listen, huh? Brothers, let’s go!”
Enraged, the guards moved in. Two of them grabbed Zhao Minghui by the arms, ignoring his struggles.
“Get your hands off him, you bastards!” Lin Shufeng, as Zhao Minghui’s wife, couldn’t just stand by. Lifting her gown, she rushed forward.
“Stop!” shouted a guard. “Come any closer and we won’t hold back just because you’re a woman!”
“Go on, touch me if you dare! Do you know who I am? I’m the eldest daughter of the Lin family, Zhao family’s daughter-in-law!” Lin Shufeng, undaunted, clawed at the guard’s face with her long, sharp nails.
The guards, reluctant to hurt a woman but unwilling to let themselves be scratched, shoved her aside.
“Ow—” Lin Shufeng landed hard on the floor. Before she could curse them out, several female guards hauled her to her feet.
“What the hell is going on?”
“A birthday banquet, and it’s come to this—what a disgrace.”
“All that boasting earlier… If I’d known, I would’ve left back in the main hall.”
…
Soon, all the guests and Lin family relatives were forced out by security.
---
They had arrived in high spirits, but left crushed and resentful. Lin Jiahao’s family sighed and kept their heads down, while the Lin family patriarch—today’s birthday celebrant—was so furious he could barely stay upright. Never in his life had he been so humiliated.
A birthday banquet!
Just a simple celebration, yet they’d been herded out of the hotel like sheep or dogs—an unbearable disgrace.
Meanwhile, outside Tianlan Hotel, a red carpet had been rolled out, complete with cones and cordons, and even police tape around the perimeter.
“Damn, Old Li, you got thrown out too? You’re the chairman of a listed company!”
“Don’t mention it. I was dining with President Chen of Fule Group, and who knew Chen Tiancheng would lose his mind and throw us out too?”
“We’re lucky, though. Didn’t you see the Lin family patriarch get tossed out? He was in the middle of his birthday feast.”
“Heh, I’ll admit, seeing the old man thrown out made me feel a little better. But what’s really going on today?”
“Supposedly some big shot is coming.”
“No way, not in Fengzhou! With such a spectacle, it has to be a top-tier VIP from up above.”
More and more onlookers gathered at Tianlan Hotel. The expelled upper-class guests, already humiliated, were now simply curious to see what kind of person could warrant such treatment.
Tianlan Hotel had just offended a host of heavyweights from both government and business. If the person Chen Tiancheng was awaiting didn’t have the clout to match, the hotel might as well close its doors tomorrow.
The Lin family stood among the crowd, with Zhao Minghui vowing revenge on Chen Tiancheng, while the Lin women jostled for a better view of the approaching dignitary.
Suddenly, a chorus of engine roars approached from afar, growing louder and closer. Heads turned down the street in anticipation.
“No way, is this really necessary?”
“A Bugatti Veyron, a Rolls-Royce… What’s that? An armored car?”
“Must be bulletproof.”
“This is definitely for a true VIP—thank heavens I didn’t insist on staying earlier.”
The elite of Fengzhou’s political and business circles were left gaping in awe, no different from ordinary folk. Lin Shufeng and her sisters gawked in disbelief, while Zhao Minghui—so vocal a moment ago—fell silent at the sight.
In no time, the armored car’s door opened slowly.
Hotel staff, managers, and department heads stood at attention on either side. As soon as a long leg appeared from the car, they all bowed deeply.
“Welcome, Young Master Yu.”
…
“Welcome, Young Master Yu!” the crowd thundered in unison.
But the young man who stepped from the armored car remained utterly unmoved, even suppressing a laugh at the spectacle.