"Henry Zhang! Are you out of your mind? Can't you see people haven't gotten in the car yet? Where are you driving off to? Get back here!"
Derek Zhang was practically shouting into his phone, his tone especially fierce.
Derek Zhang was burning with rage. He'd run ahead to the White Dragon Mountain Resort Hotel, hoping to book Villa No. 2 first, but failed. Then he tried for Villa No. 3—also failed. Only after much effort did he finally secure Villa No. 4.
Next, he went to talk with Henry Zhang about maybe getting the resort's stretch Lincoln to pick them up, but Henry shot him down.
Getting rejected was annoying, but Derek knew that with his status, he really couldn't order Henry Zhang—the lobby manager at White Dragon Mountain Resort Hotel—around.
After all, out here in the mountains, Henry Zhang wasn't someone he could boss around.
Just now, when Neil Kong and the others arrived, Derek saw Henry Zhang drive out the stretch Lincoln and even greet him as "Manager Zhang" first at the entrance, which gave Derek plenty of face.
Derek didn't really get what was going on, but at least he looked good in front of all these classmates of Joy Zheng—major face boost.
But one thing after another, Henry Zhang kept hitting his face—each move looked casual, but it stung.
After those blows, Derek felt like he'd lost face all the way to the Western Paradise.
"Oh, Manager Zhang, my car's full—can't fit anyone else," Henry Zhang answered lazily over the phone.
"Full? That car could fit at least ten more people!" Derek Zhang shouted.
"Manager Zhang, that's not how it works. I know this car better than you do. If I say it's full, it's full. And no, I'm not crazy. By the way, don't say I didn't warn you—if you want to get to the resort, there are cars right at the entrance."
With that, Henry Zhang hung up without a second thought.
"Cars at the entrance!" Derek Zhang was grinding his teeth in frustration after getting hung up on, but he couldn't blow up. He quickly turned, plastering on a smile for Neil Kong.
"Hey, Old Zhang, your guy is really something. He just ditched all of us and drove off with Joy Zheng and Lucy Lu?" Stella Cui complained from the side.
"Sorry, sorry! I didn't expect to run into such a lunatic! Once we get to the resort, I'll go straight to his general manager—don't worry, I'll make sure you all get an explanation!" Derek Zhang promised, his face dark.
"We'll see," Neil Kong snorted, his mood already in the gutter.
They strode toward the train station entrance.
Neil Kong glanced around, then suddenly froze. "Derek Zhang, the 'cars' he mentioned... don't tell me he meant these?"
In front of the train station, all that was parked there were those old, beat-up electric three-wheelers, each one driven by a weathered, middle-aged man.
Those vehicles looked as cheap as cheap could get—not even as good as the open-air tourist buggies!
"Hey, bosses, need a ride? Only ten yuan a trip!"
The three-wheeler drivers spotted the big crowd and all swarmed over, grinning widely at them.
The faces of Neil Kong and the others turned ugly as they thought about that stretch Lincoln speeding off ahead of them—they were grinding their teeth with envy and frustration.
Meanwhile, Henry Zhang drove at a leisurely pace around White Dragon Mountain, and Yolanda Fang was the first to pull a small cooler from under the seat. She popped open a bottle of wine and poured everyone half a glass, her face full of excitement.
Looking out the window at the scenery, the ride felt downright relaxing.
The car was smooth and steady all the way up. When they reached the resort’s main gate, Henry Zhang quickly got out to open the door for them.
"Careful getting out! I've already prepared fruit and snacks by the pool. If you want something to eat, just help yourselves. And if you want to swim, you can pick out swimsuits in the changing room inside the resort," Henry Zhang said with a beaming smile, attentive to every detail.
"Are you Xiao Zhang?" As she got out, Lucy Lu glanced at Henry Zhang and asked.
"Yep, just call me Xiao Zhang," Henry Zhang nodded quickly.
While driving, he'd been listening to the conversation in the back—he knew everyone in the car was close with Evan Lin, and Evan was friends with Summer Mu. Compared to that, Derek Zhang was basically a nobody in Henry's eyes.
If not for the fact that Derek Zhang worked for the Summer Group, and because Henry didn't want to make trouble in front of Evan Lin, he would have had someone beat Derek up right then and there for all that attitude.
"Xiao Zhang, I'm curious—why are you treating us so well?" Lucy Lu asked as she got out. Joy Zheng also looked at Henry, puzzled.
Before Henry could answer, Lynn Chen spoke up: "It's all because of Evan Lin."
"Evan?" Lucy Lu and Joy Zheng both stared at Evan Lin, surprised.
"Right, Evan's friends with Summer Mu, so of course I treat you well. If Evan needs anything, just let me know," Henry Zhang said, nodding eagerly.
"Who's Summer Mu? Evan knows this guy?" Joy Zheng frowned, worried Evan might be mixed up with the wrong crowd.
"Mom, Summer Mu is the son of the man I saved—the one I mentioned before." Evan Lin explained.
Before Joy Zheng and Lucy Lu could ask anything else, a few electric three-wheelers finally chugged up to the resort, their engines sputtering as they struggled up the hill.
Each three-wheeler could barely fit one or two people, and most of White Dragon Mountain was uphill. The electric motors kept stalling, threatening to toss people right out of the seats.
All the way up, Neil Kong and his group couldn't help but feel bitter. They'd come here expecting luxury, but before even reaching the resort, they were already suffering.
It wasn't just physical torture—their butts were numb from all the bouncing. It was psychological, too.
Joy Zheng only had to say a few words, and before they could even respond, it was a total faceplant for the group.
Sharon Chen's usually cool face was now pale.
When the three-wheeler finally stopped, she got out, legs shaking from the rough ride.
When Derek Zhang saw Henry Zhang laughing and chatting with Joy Zheng and the others inside the resort, his face turned dark and he shouted, "Henry Zhang! What kind of service is this? Are you just ignoring me now?"