C29 Country Dog?

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Chen turned away, his face etched with a look of resignation.

"You!"

Yee Qingsong was utterly infuriated.

He had planned to flaunt his status, only to have his moment spoiled by Zhang Chen's audacity.

Lee Fengqin's voice rose again in anger, "Zhang Chen! Enough! You're making a fool of yourself! Apologize to Qingsong, now!"

Zhang Chen spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "Why should I apologize? I was only trying to help him."

"You!"

Lee Fengqin's rage intensified.

Yee Qingsong's chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing, his plans shattered, his thoughts in disarray.

"Auntie, it seems that with Mr. Zhang Chen here, the Lin family doesn't require my assistance."

"With that, I'll excuse myself."

Yee Qingsong declared, standing up and making his way to the door.

Lee Fengqin, desperate, rose quickly and grasped his arm. "Qingsong, please, don't be hasty. He's just full of hot air. The Lin family is in dire straits. Without you, who will be there for Zhiqing?"

Hearing Lin Zhiqing's name, the fire in Yee Qingsong's eyes dimmed slightly.

"Rest assured, Auntie. Tomorrow, I'll come for Lin Zhiqing and introduce her to some connections at Dafu Group. I just can't bear to stay here any longer."

Yee Qingsong inhaled deeply, struggling to get the words out.

Then, he headed straight for the door.

Lee Fengqin breathed a sigh of relief and called out anxiously, "Hold on, Qingsong, let me walk you out."

She hurried after him, still speaking.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chen's face was a portrait of helplessness.

Looking up, he found himself caught in Lin Zhiqing's icy stare.

Zhang Chen paused, taken aback. What now?

Before he could ponder further, the sound of rapid footsteps reached his ears.

Turning, he saw Lee Fengqin standing before the sofa, hands on hips, her expression thunderous.

"Zhang Chen, you've embarrassed us enough! You're useless at everything else, but when it comes to boasting, you're in a league of your own!"

"You claim to know Director Chen? That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard!"

"If Director Chen knows you at all, it's only because of your notoriety as a failure! Do you have any idea how much you've jeopardized our affairs?"

Lee Fengqin's voice cut through the air like a burst from a machine gun.

Zhang Chen's mouth twitched uncontrollably, his heart sinking further into helplessness.

All he did was speak a bit of truth. Why did everyone think he was boasting?

Why didn't anyone believe him?

Looking up, Zhang Chen caught Lin Zhiqing signaling him with her eyes.

Does she want me to leave?

His eyes widened in surprise, and without hesitation, he bolted for the bedroom.

"Stop right there!" Lee Fengqin bellowed in rage.

But Lin Zhiqing quickly interjected, "Mom, I'm visiting Dafu Group tomorrow, aren't I? Will I get to meet someone as influential as the Godly Doctor?"

Back in his room, Zhang Chen let out a deep sigh of relief.

Night had fallen, and with nothing to occupy him, he gradually drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, the roar of an engine in the courtyard jolted Zhang Chen awake.

He looked out to see Yee Qingsong arriving to fetch Lin Zhiqing.

After a quick wash, his phone's ring pierced the silence. Another unknown number. Zhang Chen pondered for a moment before answering.

"Hello."

A woman's voice promptly responded, "Young Master Chen, there's a staff meeting at the hotel today. If you're free, we'd appreciate your presence."

Zhang Chen paused, recognizing the voice as that of the female secretary.

With time to spare, he replied, "Sure."

Once ready, Zhang Chen left the villa and took a taxi to Hongtai Hotel.

But curiosity nagged at him – where had Loong San gone? Why wasn't he by his side anymore?

After surveying the area, Zhang Chen made his way into the hotel.

He was barely at the entrance when he was halted.

"Excuse me, sir. We cannot allow entry to those improperly dressed," stated a waiter in a frosty tone.

Zhang Chen was taken aback.

Since when was this a rule? He hadn't encountered such a requirement in his previous visits.

And what an odd policy it was.

Zhang Chen's brow furrowed as he gave the waiter a cursory glance. His tone laced with dissatisfaction, he inquired, "You're new here, aren't you?"

The waiter's own brow creased as he replied coolly, "Yes, sir. Today, our hotel's chairman is conducting an inspection, so we cannot allow entry to those who are not properly dressed."

Am I not the chairman?

With a sigh of resignation, Zhang Chen shook his head; he had no time to spare. "I am the chairman. You may return to your duties. We won't have such policies moving forward."

With that, he strode off.

Yet the waiter blocked his path once more, his demeanor turning frosty. "As I've already stated, those who are improperly dressed are forbidden entry!"

"I've been courteous with you; why do you persist in this manner?"

"I'm baffled. Don't you country folk have any sense of self-awareness?"

At these words, a sharp glint flashed in Zhang Chen's eyes.

Country folk?

Zhang Chen turned sharply, his voice icy, "For that remark alone, you should be punished!"

No sooner had he spoken than a snide laugh erupted.

The waiter mocked unabashedly, "You? Really?"

"You country people really have no shame, do you? With your filthy look, aren't you concerned about soiling our hotel?"

Zhang Chen just smiled.

It was then that a man's voice echoed through the hotel, "What's the situation here? What are you doing? Get back to work, now!"

Seeing the newcomer, the waiter quickly bent into a respectful bow. "Manager, this individual is improperly dressed and insists on entering!"

Another manager?

Zhang Chen shook his head in disbelief. One manager exits, another enters, just as problematic.

This hotel certainly has no shortage of "talent."

The manager eyed Zhang Chen with scorn, his voice dripping with revulsion, "In the future, don't waste time with such matters. Directly turning someone away could tarnish our hotel's reputation if witnessed by others."

"Simply call security next time. Don't bother with these types."

A fierce chill sparked in Zhang Chen's gaze.

The waiter nodded earnestly, "Understood, manager!"

Then, turning to the side, he called out loudly, "Security! We have a disturbance here!"

Before long, four uniformed security guards, batons in hand, charged over swiftly.

Zhang Chen was actually quite pleased with their promptness.

The manager spoke with palpable revulsion, "Get this guy out of here. And from now on, be on the lookout for this sort of riffraff and kick them out immediately. They're revolting."

With that, he even pinched his nose with a dainty gesture, as if to ward off a foul odor.

Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel repulsed by the action.

A sneer curled at the corner of the nearby waiter's mouth as he looked down on Zhang Chen with disdain.

"Yes, sir!"

The head of security responded with deference, then swiftly turned to locate Zhang Chen.

He was just about to speak when he froze in place.

The manager and the waiter were newcomers; they didn't recognize Zhang Chen.

But the security guards did!

If it hadn't been for Chen Dafu's presence in the private room that day, things might have escalated to blows!

The manager's brow furrowed in annoyance. "What's the holdup? Are you dragging your feet on purpose, or do you not care about keeping your jobs?"