Chapter 64: Did You Ask Me?

“What?”
“Did I just hear that wrong? What on earth does Zhang Tian mean by this?”
“I know what Chairman Zhang means. He said he’s not giving Xiao Hui face, so he must be giving the Zhao family face. Everyone, don’t get anxious.”
“Damn it! Hong Yu, that useless wretch, is making trouble again!”
“What does he mean, asking questions like this at a time like this?”
“If it’s not for Xiao Hui’s sake, it can’t be for his either. Hong Yu, get lost!”
The Lin family members were panicked and furious, nearly all shouting for Hong Yu to leave immediately.
Zhang Tian’s face looked grim at the scene, but without Hong Yu’s signal, he had no choice but to remain where he was.
The old master anxiously asked, “Chairman Zhang, what do you mean by this? Clearly, you invited us here for the banquet, so why are you answering such pointless questions from Hong Yu?”
Zhang Tian shook his head. “You’ll understand in due time. It’s not convenient for me to say more right now.”
Lin Shufeng quickly tugged at Zhao Minghui’s sleeve and whispered, “Husband, what’s happening here? Zhang Tian said he’s not doing it for your sake—then whose sake is it? Your father’s?”
Zhao Minghui, clearly frustrated, replied perfunctorily, “Probably. Who else would he be honoring? As for the Lin family’s so-called backer, if he hasn’t shown up by now, he probably never will. Who else would bother involving themselves in the Lin family’s mess?”
Lin Shufeng said nothing, knowing Zhao Minghui was in a foul mood, so she redirected her anger at Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu.
She snapped, “Fine, fine! You two are truly ungrateful!”
“Don’t forget how much you’ve benefited from the Lin family. Lin Shuyu, do you know how many good words I put in for you so you could return to the family?”
“Never mind being ungrateful, but Hong Yu, you worthless wretch—how dare you come here to ruin things? Get out! Get out right now! I won’t allow you to stay here another moment!”
Hong Yu sneered, “Oh? Just because you say so? Is the Tianlan Hotel yours?”
Lin Shufeng shot back, “Still so stubborn? Don’t think I won’t call security to throw you out right now. Do you really think you belong in the Number One Sky Suite? What does ‘Sky’ or ‘Number One’ have to do with you?”
Hong Yu was about to reply when he noticed Chen Tiancheng at the door with several security guards, peeking in to observe the situation. Hong Yu smiled and waved him over.
But before Hong Yu could speak, Lin Shufeng’s eyes lit up and she rushed over.
In a sweet voice, she said, “Mr. Chen, you’re just in time.”
“This scoundrel actually dared to cause a scene at the Tianlan Hotel—please, throw him out at once.”
“Haha, Mr. Chen is so clever, even bringing security with him.”
Chen Tiancheng could barely suppress the urge to slap Lin Shufeng across the face.
Damn it, if you want to bring disaster on yourself, don’t drag me down with you!
Why did I bring so many security guards? It’s because I was afraid you people might lay a hand on Hong Yu!
Chen Tiancheng didn’t respond; he just glanced at Hong Yu.
Hong Yu gave him nothing—just a look, leaving Chen Tiancheng to handle it as he wished.
After a brief hesitation, Chen Tiancheng decided it was best to keep things neutral, so he said, “Don’t misunderstand. I brought the guards because there’s another issue elsewhere in the hotel. I just happened to pass by and heard the commotion, so I came in to see what was going on.”
With that brief explanation, Chen Tiancheng made to leave this den of trouble.
But Lin Shufeng, already half-crazed with anger, grabbed him.
“What’s the meaning of this? Isn’t this your hotel? Now there’s trouble, someone’s causing a scene, and you just want to walk away?”
A cold gleam flashed in Chen Tiancheng’s eyes. “Let go, or don’t blame me for being rude.”
Zhao Minghui hurried over, saying, “Wife, let go. Let’s talk this through.”
“What are we afraid of?” Lin Shufeng raged. “If he won’t show us any respect, then we don’t need to care about him. He’s just a hotel owner—what’s so great about that?”
Zhao Minghui cautioned, “Dear, this isn’t an ordinary hotel. This is the only five-star hotel in Fengzhou!”
“So what? A hotel is still a hotel. If he were really so capable, he wouldn’t be running a hotel at all!”
She turned to Chen Tiancheng with a vicious glare. “With the power of the Zhao family and the Lin family, we could shut this rundown hotel down at any time. Don’t ruin yourself—kick Hong Yu out, now.”
Chen Tiancheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.
He never expected to encounter someone so utterly foolish.
He laughed in his fury. “You say you’ll shut down the Tianlan Hotel? Just the so-called Lin family and the Zhao family off in Yulong?”
Lin Shufeng raised her chin. “That’s right. Do we really need some big shot to deal with a shabby little hotel like yours?”
Chen Tiancheng looked at Zhao Minghui. “I won’t even comment on the pitiful Lin family. As for the Zhao family?”
Zhao Minghui hesitated. “Mr. Chen, let’s each take a step back. If you kick Hong Yu out, won’t that be the end of it?”
Damn it!
Kicking Hong Yu out—that really would be a disaster!
“Enough, enough, I won’t waste any more time arguing with you!” Chen Tiancheng suddenly grabbed his phone, dialed a number, and after a few words, walked over to Zhao Minghui. “Here, your father wants to speak with you.”
“My father?” Zhao Minghui blinked in surprise, but before he could react, Lin Shufeng snatched the phone from him and began sobbing into it. “Dad, you have to stand up for me!”
“I’m at the Tianlan Hotel having dinner with the family, and some lunatic barged in. I asked the hotel owner to throw him out, but he actually—”
“You shameless woman, shut your damn mouth!”
Lin Shufeng was cut off by a furious roar from the other end of the line.
It was so loud that Zhao Minghui, standing beside her, quickly grabbed the phone.
“Dad, it’s me. Whatever happened, you don’t need to yell at Xiao Feng like that.”
But the voice on the other end only grew louder. “You little bastard, I told you to stay out of this mess, and now you’ve stirred up even more trouble, haven’t you?”
Zhao Minghui, flustered, glanced at Chen Tiancheng, then took the phone to a quiet corner and lowered his voice. “Dad, I didn’t want this either, but you know, if I don’t do anything, how can I ever hold my head up in front of the Lin family?”
“Hold your head up? Lin Shufeng, that gold-digging wretch—I told you to get rid of her long ago. Isn’t this the perfect opportunity?
Don’t bother telling me anything else. Get back to Yulong immediately. You dare offend Chen Tiancheng? Do you know what he used to do?”
Zhao Minghui asked carefully, “What did he do? Dad, didn’t he come begging our family for help before? Shouldn’t the Zhao family be able to handle him?”
“You’re utterly hopeless!
He wanted to develop in Yulong—so what if he checked in with the local bigwigs? Who told you he was begging us?
As for what he’s really about, I can’t discuss that over the phone. Just remember, if you offend him, I won’t help you. If you want to die, do it far away and don’t drag the Zhao family down with you!”
Zhao Minghui trembled from his father’s tirade.
Everyone from the Lin family looked at him, waiting to see what he would do next.
To their surprise, Zhao Minghui handed the phone back to Chen Tiancheng, then took Lin Shufeng by the hand. “Xiao Feng, something’s come up at home. Come back with me now, will you?”
“What? What happened, Xiao Hui? Don’t scare me!” Lin Shufeng gasped in shock.
“It’s nothing. My father’s sick, or he wouldn’t have yelled at you just now.” Zhao Minghui made up an excuse, then turned to the Lin family and spoke loudly, “Dear relatives, enjoy your meal and drinks tonight. I have an urgent matter and must return to Yulong.”
Without waiting for their reaction or attempts to stop him, he grasped Lin Shufeng’s hand and turned to leave the Number One Sky Suite.
But just then, Hong Yu, who had been watching the whole spectacle, suddenly stepped forward and blocked their path.
“Leaving?”
“Did you ask my permission?”