From rejecting the beautiful female CEO to becoming extremely powerful

The hall was silent for two seconds.

Sun Ting laughed first.

"Lu Yunzhou, you didn't even read the bill properly before you dared to take the blame?"

Tang Li crossed her arms and gave the security guard at the door a wink.

"Over 700,000 yuan, you can't settle that with just words. You can rent that Porsche, and you can put on this show, but where does the money come from?"

Bai Manning pushed the consumer agreement forward.

"It's not too late to admit your mistake. The three of you should offer Zhou Kai a toast and record an apology video, and I might let it go."

"No need."

Lu Yunzhou picked up the bill from the table and handed it to the waiter.

"Check the actual expenses and prepare to swipe your card."

Sun Ting raised her hand to stop the waiter.

"Let's make this clear first, I'm going to take a bet."

She pointed to the food on the table.

"If tonight's expenses exceed 600,000, and you can pay for it with your own money, Tang Li and I will apologize to Cheng Ye in public."

"If you can't produce it, then admit that the Porsche was rented to make a show of things, and that this whole charade tonight was just to show off."

Tang Li was taken aback for a moment, and seeing that everyone was looking at her, she could only respond.

"Okay, I'll gamble too. Borrowing money, putting it on credit, or having someone else pay for it don't count."

Cheng Ye leaned on the edge of the table and stood up.

"Boatman, ignore them. They're after me; it's not worth letting you spend your money."

Lu Yunzhou pressed down on his shoulder.

"Sit down. Someone owes you an apology, and you have to pay it tonight."

He took a black card from the inside pocket of his coat and placed it on the tray in the waiter's hand.

The card has a subtle pattern, with only a cloud-shaped mark in the center; there are no other words on it.

Use this one.

The waiter picked up the card, his hand, which had been reaching for the card reader, froze in mid-air.

She flipped the card over and looked at it several times under the chandelier, straightening her back as she did so.

"Sir, is this card registered in your name?"

"right."

"I need to request financial verification authority. Please wait a few minutes."

The waiter placed the card into the card holder, held it firmly with both hands, and quickly left the banquet hall.

Tang Li stared at her retreating figure and snorted.

"They dare to take out items without a card number; a custom-made card online only costs a few dozen yuan. The clerks are afraid to swipe it, probably because they're afraid of damaging the machine."

Sun Ting took Bai Manning's phone and pointed the camera at Lu Yunzhou.

"I recorded this beforehand, just in case someone turns on me later. Don't say I was joking if you can't come up with the 600,000."

Pang Wei kicked the chair back.

"What's the rush, you two? The verification results haven't come back yet."

Zhou Kai sat in the main seat with a wine glass in his hand, and only then did he speak.

"Checking a card takes forever. Tianhao's service is getting worse and worse. Manning, let's find another hotel later and not waste time here."

Bai Manning nodded.

"I'll listen to you."

Not long after, the banquet hall doors opened from the outside.

The waiter who had just left was walking behind, and in front of him was a man in his forties.

His suit jacket wasn't buttoned up properly, his forehead was sweating, and his name tag on his chest read "General Manager He Qiming".

The two security guards by the door quickly stood up straight.

"Mr. He."

He Qiming ignored them and looked at the tightly closed double doors first.

"Who told you to lock the door? Open it."

"It was Ms. Bai who told us..."

"When did the hotel begin allowing guests to be detained? Open the door and go back to wait for processing."

The two security guards quickly unlocked the door and stepped back.

He Qiming took the card holder and looked at Lu Yunzhou's face.

"Are you Mr. Lu Yunzhou?"

"it's me."

He Qiming returned the black card with both hands.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. The identity information and account photo have been verified and all match."

Tang Li couldn't help but ask, "Manager He, what kind of card is this? It doesn't even have a number, how could it swipe 600,000?"

He Qiming turned and glanced at her.

"This card is connected to the Cloud Peak Club's VIP settlement channel. Cardholders do not need to pre-deposit and there are no single transaction limits like those of ordinary bank cards. The backend shows the highest level of access, and Tianhao Hotel has no authority to set a spending limit."

Sun Ting held her phone, her arm resting on the table.

"Highest level?"

"right."

He Qiming turned to face Lu Yunzhou again.

"Mr. Lu, all expenses tonight can be charged to the hotel. The dishes on the table have gotten cold, so I'll have the kitchen remake them and bring a few bottles of rare wine as a token of Tianhao's hospitality to you and your friends."

Lu Yunzhou shook his head.

"I agree to pay the bill, so I'll settle at the normal price."

He pushed the agreement that Bai Manning had presented towards him.

"Who determined the fees for early departure compensation and VIP reception losses?"

He Qiming opened the agreement and saw the supplementary content at the end, a line appearing between his brows.

"These two charges are not in the hotel's system. The additional information was not confirmed by Tianhao, so it cannot be included in the bill."

Bai Manning's face darkened.

"Manager He, I booked the Yunhai Hall, and I also set the rules."

"Ms. Bai, you can only decide on the banquet guest list; the hotel charges are not something guests can increase on their own."

He Qiming closed the agreement and reached out to the waiter.

"Bring me the system bill."

The waiter handed over a tablet.

He Qiming glanced at it a few times and then reported the amount.

"The hall fee, food, drinks and service fee total 564,000. To re-prepare a table at the listed price of 48,000, the total is 612,000."

Lu Yunzhou placed the card next to the card reader.

Settle according to this number.

The machine beeped once, and the ticket was quickly dispensed.

The waiter confirmed the receipt, his voice a few decibels lower than before.

"Mr. Lu, the settlement of 612,000 yuan has been completed."

No one spoke in the hall.

Lu Yunzhou put away the black card and gestured with his chin toward Sun Ting and Tang Li.

"Cheng Ye is here, it's your turn."

Sun Ting slowly put down her phone, her face flushed red.

She hesitated for a few seconds before turning to Cheng Ye.

"It was wrong of me to stop you from smoking and bring up your job. I'm sorry."

Tang Li gripped her bag strap and whispered a reply.

I also apologize to you.

Cheng Ye leaned back in his chair.

"I accept your words. From now on, don't use your status to assign seating to others. Even if this leg is unstable, my bones can still straighten."

Pang Wei picked up his teacup and took a big gulp, his shoulders relaxing as a result.

He Qiming then asked, "Mr. Lu, should we call these security guards back? What other arrangements are there for the banquet? Please give us your instructions."

Zhou Kai, who was in the main seat, put down his wine glass.

The bottom of the glass hit the table, and the wine sloshed over the rim.

"He Qiming, have you forgotten who I am?"

He Qiming turned around.

"Mr. Zhou, I recognize you."

"It's good that you recognize it."

Zhou Kai straightened his cuffs.

"My dad is in charge of coordinating key projects in Nanhe District. Tianhao's expansion next year, fire safety review, business receptions—which of these doesn't require dealing with the district?"

He raised his hand and pointed at Lu Yunzhou.

"I don't want him eating here today. Get him out of here now, and that's the end of it."

He Qiming didn't respond to that question, but turned to ask Lu Yunzhou instead.

"Mr. Lu, the kitchen has begun preparing the food. Shall we continue the banquet, or move to another hall?"

Zhou Kai gripped his wine glass and stood up.

"Fine. Tonight, I'm going to stand up to that guy surnamed Lu to the bitter end. If you dare to side with him, you'll share the consequences."