Chapter Eighteen: With Your Abilities, Who Do You Dare to Challenge?

Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling both wore expressions of utter disbelief. Of course, they had never imagined that Chen Yang would actually call a Rolls-Royce to pick them up. After tipping the bellboy, Chen Yang turned to Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling and said, “Aunt, Xiaoling, let’s get in the car.”

The bellboy hurried to open the rear door for them, giving them the finest service reserved for the most distinguished guests. Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling stepped into the fragrant interior of the Rolls-Royce, feeling deeply gratified.

Once Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling were seated in the back, Chen Yang slid into the front passenger seat. The Rolls-Royce glided forward, immediately drawing all eyes along the way. Naturally, Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling both felt a surge of pride written clearly across their faces.

After a while, Su Xiaoling joked to Chen Yang, “Chen Yang, how much did you get from Sister Xue to rent this car?”

Chen Yang merely smiled. “First of all, this is all my own money. Second, do you really think anyone can just rent a luxury car of this caliber whenever they like?”

Su Xiaoling gave an embarrassed laugh. She had meant to tease him, but his reply left her at a loss for words.

Han Xiang also asked, “So you’re saying you need the right connections to rent a car like this?”

“Exactly,” Chen Yang replied earnestly. “Aunt, it’s not that simple. This time, I wanted to give you both the highest level of welcome. How is it? Not bad, right?”

Han Xiang nodded in approval. “Yes, you did well this time.”

Chen Yang chuckled. “You’ll see; you’ll appreciate me more and more as time goes on.”

“I don’t care how you treat us, just be good to Xiaoxue. Don’t upset her,” Han Xiang said coolly.

“How could I?” Chen Yang replied at once. “I only wish for Muxue’s utmost happiness.”

Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling both smiled. After just a brief conversation, both women sensed that Chen Yang had changed—and dramatically so. He was no longer the shy young man he’d been five years ago.

When Chen Yang brought Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling home, Han Qin and Qin Guoshan greeted them warmly. Han Qin took Su Xiaoling by the hand to chat on the sofa. After a while, Su Xiaoling suddenly remembered the Rolls-Royce and said to Han Qin, “Aunt, Chen Yang came to pick us up today in a golden Rolls-Royce.”

Both Han Qin and Qin Guoshan looked at Chen Yang in astonishment. Using a golden Rolls-Royce to fetch Han Xiang and Su Xiaoling—Han Qin would never have imagined such a thing. Still, she thought Chen Yang had done well; at the very least, it showed he cared.

Han Qin smiled at Chen Yang. “You certainly know how to make an impression.”

“Of course,” Chen Yang replied. “Mom, that golden Rolls-Royce isn’t something just anyone can rent. You need the right connections.”

“That’s just like you,” Han Qin chided, but it was clear she was quite pleased. Even if it was a bit extravagant, it was certainly something to be proud of.

Han Xiang then turned to Han Qin with a smile. “Sister, Chen Yang really does seem different these days.”

“Different how?” Han Qin scoffed. “He’s still the same as ever.”

“Is he still delivering takeout?” Han Xiang asked.

Han Qin looked embarrassed. “Of course he is.”

After that, the sisters lowered their voices, speaking so only they could hear, whispering together. Chen Yang mused to himself that whenever these two got together, it was always about family gossip—nothing of interest to him. Though they might gossip about him, he didn’t care, and let them chatter away.

Chen Yang then said, “Mom, Aunt, you two go on chatting. I’m off to work.”

Han Qin glanced at him. “Yes, you’d better go. Don’t just stand around here.”

“I’m going, aren’t I?” Chen Yang replied, striding out the villa’s front door.

That evening, since Han Xiang was visiting, Han Qin insisted on treating her to dinner, having already reserved a private room at an upscale hotel. At seven o’clock, Han Qin, Chen Yang, Qin Muxue, Han Xiang, Su Xiaoling, and Qin Guoshan all set out for the hotel.

But when they arrived at the hotel’s reception and Han Qin gave her reservation number to the young man with the buzz cut at the counter, he apologized, “Sorry, Auntie, the Gourmet Room has already been booked by someone else. Please choose another room.”

“Already booked?” Han Qin was immediately flustered. The Gourmet Room was the luxury private room she’d reserved, and the hotel staff had assured her it was available. She’d hoped to impress her guests with this high-end room, but now it had been taken. Han Qin felt she’d been deceived and erupted, “I reserved that room from the start!”

The young man smiled apologetically. “Perhaps the person who took your call didn’t know the situation.”

Han Qin frowned. “No, this isn’t acceptable. Your restaurant is cheating me. I insist on having the Gourmet Room tonight.”

The young man looked embarrassed. “Auntie, the room’s already been booked by a big boss.”

He had meant to intimidate Han Qin by mentioning a “big boss,” but he had no idea what kind of person she was dealing with. Han Qin glared at him. “Oh, so a big boss can just cut the line? The big boss doesn’t have to follow the order of reservations?”

“Exactly!” Han Xiang chimed in. “Isn’t your restaurant being unreasonable?”

The young man looked increasingly uncomfortable and quickly called his manager.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a suit appeared, frowning as he approached Han Qin and Han Xiang. “What’s all this commotion? Are you trying to cause trouble in my hotel?”

Han Qin looked him in the eye. “You’re the manager?”

“That’s right. What’s the problem?”

“I booked your Gourmet Room, and your staff promised me it was available. So why has it been given to someone else?” Han Qin demanded.

He replied coldly, “Yes, the Gourmet Room’s been reserved by Mr. Hai of Hailian Group. So what?”

“So Mr. Hai gets to jump the queue?” Han Qin was clearly displeased.

“Yes. If you have money, you get priority. That’s the rule in my hotel,” the manager replied.

Han Qin clutched her chest in anger. “You’re just bullying people.”

The manager frowned, evidently irritated by the disturbance. “If you’re not satisfied, you’re free to eat elsewhere. Don’t interfere with our business.”

“This is outrageous,” Han Qin said, her anger plain for all to see.

Han Xiang, equally incensed, said to her sister, “Let’s go somewhere else. I wouldn’t want to eat in a place like this anyway.”

“Oh, so you think you’re so high and mighty?” the manager mocked Han Xiang.

She glared at him. “Say that again if you dare!”

Su Xiaoling added, “This is the first time I’ve seen a hotel run like yours—what poor business sense.”

The manager, now thoroughly impatient, snapped, “If you don’t like it, leave. Don’t affect our business.”

Bang!

As soon as he finished, a loud crash rang out as a large round table toppled to the floor in the hotel lobby. Everyone turned to see Chen Yang standing beside the overturned table, smiling. “Ah, so sorry—didn’t realize my own strength and knocked the table over.”

Of course, the hotel manager, Xie Renming, didn’t believe for a second that this was an accident. He jabbed a finger at Chen Yang. “Do you know who owns this hotel? You dare cause trouble here? None of you are leaving today.”

He turned to the buzz-cut youth. “Erzi, call security. Tell them someone’s making trouble in the hotel.”

The young man nodded quickly.

Xie Renming’s face was icy. “None of you are leaving until you pay for the damage.”

Han Qin now blamed Chen Yang. “Why did you flip the table?”

Chen Yang protested, “Mom, I’m on your side!”

Han Qin frowned, feeling heartsick.

Qin Muxue stepped forward, brows knit. “How much do you want for compensation? I’ll pay.”

Xie Renming replied coldly, “One hundred thousand. At least. The exact amount will be decided when my superior arrives.”

One hundred thousand?

Han Qin and Han Xiang both turned pale. For one table, that was daylight robbery.

Han Qin immediately retorted, “Why not just go out and rob people?”

At this, the buzz-cut youth added coldly, “The one hundred thousand isn’t just for the table. It’s also for the loss of business you’ve caused.”

Han Qin bristled. “If you’d kept your word, none of this would have happened!”

“It’s pointless to argue now. Not a cent less than one hundred thousand,” Xie Renming said coldly.

Both Han Qin and Han Xiang were seething.

Soon after, a sharp-faced, monkey-like middle-aged man in an expensive suit, smoking a cigarette and trailed by bodyguards, strode into the hotel. He approached Xie Renming and squinted, “Who overturned a table in my hotel?”

Xie Renming immediately pointed to Chen Yang’s group. “All of them had a hand in it.”

A chill flashed in the newcomer’s eyes. “If you’re a man, step forward. Who flipped the table?”

“I did,” Chen Yang said, stepping forward, making Han Qin nervous for him.

“Come here,” the man said, eyes narrowed.

“Sorry, my legs are a bit numb. I can’t walk over,” Chen Yang replied coolly, thinking, Who do you think you are to order me around?

A murderous light appeared in the man’s eyes as he and his men strode coldly toward Chen Yang.

Qin Muxue’s eyes were full of helplessness. Why had Chen Yang provoked them? Why?

She wanted to avoid conflict, but she didn’t know how.

The man’s eyes gleamed with menace, as though he was determined to make Chen Yang pay.

But just as he reached Chen Yang, a voice called out from the hotel entrance, “Hou Tianbao, you dare lay a finger on anyone here?”