Vice President Wang glanced at Luo Yi, whose face had turned visibly grave, and reiterated, "There's no mistake—the person I came to receive is indeed Mr. Li."
This was someone that Mr. Mo, Vice President of Shengshi Group, had personally requested be treated well — how could anyone with the Luo surname even compare?
"Mr. Li, right this way, please…" Vice President Wang extended the invitation with utmost deference.
Li Bochen, arrogant and aloof, escorted Luo Ningxi into the lobby of the Changlong Hotel.
Luo Ningxi felt as though she were walking on cotton, floating ever so slightly.
The wealthy woman he knew — was she really this formidable?
They had actually managed to get a Supreme private room!
"Dad, are we still going in?" asked Luo Zhiqin, who had been left standing to one side, her heart pounding with dread.
Luo Yi's face had gone beyond ashen — it was so dark and gloomy it looked as though water might drip from it. He ground his teeth and said, "Of course we're going in! That pretty boy went through all that trouble to get us a private room — wouldn't it be a waste not to use it?"
Yet at the same time, he couldn't help harboring a quiet suspicion — anyone who could make Deputy Director Wang fawn over him like that was no ordinary person. Was this man truly just some poor kid from the countryside?
……
Top floor. The Supreme VIP private room.
Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, neon lights flickered.
The moment Luo Ningxi stepped inside, she was struck with awe — the décor and furnishings here were on an entirely different level from an ordinary VIP private room.
The paintings adorning the walls were exquisite works from the brushes of celebrated masters of the Tang and Song dynasties, their frames gilded with gold leaf. Even the fruit platter on the dining table had been carved from pure Lantian jade — translucent and luminous from end to end, a picture of incomparable luxury.
"Esteemed guests, our Supreme VIP private room hosts no more than one hundred guests per year. Everything is guided by a single principle: to deliver the most perfect experience to each and every client. We hope you will be satisfied." Vice President Wang said with a respectful smile.
Although no one knew Mr. Li's true identity, he was someone the head of Shengshi had personally requested be well looked after — he was certainly no ordinary person.
Luo Ningxi feigned composure. "We are very satisfied."
Shortly after, Vice President Wang whispered a few words to a server.
In less than two minutes, the waiter returned — only this time, he was carrying a bottle of 1982 Lafite.
Deputy General Manager Wang presented the bottle of Lafite with utmost reverence, offering it to Li Bochen with both hands. "I had no idea you would grace us with your presence, Mr. Li. I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting downstairs earlier — please accept this bottle as my apology, and I do hope you won't find it too trifling an offering."
"Lafite '82?!" Luo Zhiqin exclaimed aloud.
This is something you can't buy on the open market no matter how much you're willing to pay—and Deputy Director Wang just handed it over, just like that?
Li Bochen's piercing gaze swept across the name badge on Deputy GM Wang's chest. For someone who knew how to play the game, he was not stingy with his praise. "I'll remember you."
Deputy Director Wang was instantly overjoyed. To be remembered by Mr. Li—if he could then put in a few good words on his behalf with Director Mo, why would he ever worry about missing a chance at promotion and a raise?
"Mr. Li, please go ahead and order. If you need anything, just let me know."
The waiter brought over the ordering tablet. Li Bochen glanced at Luo Ningxi, and the waiter, reading the room, walked over to her and invited her to order first—but Luo Ningxi's mind was full of questions.
Even if Yaya knows this wealthy woman, the fact that Deputy General Manager Wang would go out of his way to curry favor with her — isn't this woman's background a little too formidable?
"What are you standing there in a daze for? Order something." Li Bochen looked at Luo Ningxi's astonished expression, laughing inwardly.
Only then did Luo Ningxi come back to her senses and begin to order.
Across the table, Luo Yi, Jiang Jingya, and the rest of their party sat stone-faced the entire time, seething with rage they had nowhere to direct.
Once the dishes were ordered and Deputy General Manager Wang and the others had stepped out, Luo Yi could no longer contain himself. "Who exactly are you? And how do you know Deputy General Manager Wang?!"
Li Bochen replied in a cold, dismissive tone, "I'm just an ordinary person — what kind of background could I possibly have? Strictly speaking, I can't even say I know anyone with the surname Wang."
"Nonsense! If you don't know him, why did he walk straight up to you and call you Mr. Li?" Luo Yi was convinced he was lying, and flew into a fury of humiliated rage.
Luo Zhiqin sincerely hoped that Li Bochen had neither talent nor connections — ideally some pitiful nobody, the kind destined to spend his whole life ground under Yu Chengnan's heel. She said with honeyed insincerity, "I heard Deputy Director Wang only shot up in the last few years — used to wash dishes at a restaurant back in the day. Surely you haven't been waiting tables here yourself, brother-in-law?"
Jiang Jingya didn't believe Li Bochen had any powerful connections either. She deliberately feigned displeasure: "Zhiqin, stop talking nonsense—Bochen most likely just has some business dealings with Deputy General Manager Wang."
"I'm indeed not particularly close to Deputy General Manager Wang." Li Bochen watched their little performance in silence, lips parting with cool detachment. "But his superior and I — we're alumni."
"So they were schoolmates after all…" Luo Zhiqin said with a meaningful expression, continuing to fan the flames. "Dad, by that logic, my brother-in-law used to be quite outstanding back then. But schoolmates are schoolmates—they're not family, only friends. And friendships, well, there always comes a day when they run their course…"