Only fools make enemies everywhere. Since Cliff Fu had hinted at wanting to befriend him and wasn’t pursuing the matter of Ian barging into the resort, Ian naturally went along and agreed.
Seeing Ian agree so readily, Cliff Fu was especially pleased and immediately ordered his staff to prepare a banquet at the highest standard.
The Imperial Suite, the most prestigious private dining room at Redleaf Resort, is reserved only for those of the highest status. As a result, it’s rarely opened.
But just now, the restaurant manager at the resort received a personal call from Cliff Fu, ordering him to open the Imperial Suite and prepare a banquet to the highest standard.
Very few people in Riverstone City qualify to use the Imperial Suite, and even fewer warrant a personal call from the boss. So the manager knew that the guests this time were definitely extraordinary.
He didn’t dare slack off for a moment. He immediately gave orders to the kitchen to start preparing the dishes, and repeatedly instructed the eight hostesses assigned to the Imperial Suite to serve the guests with utmost care—these guests were no ordinary visitors.
Becoming a hostess at Redleaf Resort isn’t easy. The resort has five requirements: a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, sweet looks, age under twenty-six, height above 1.6 meters, and unmarried status.
Even with such high standards, there’s still a huge rush to apply, since the pay is excellent: 8,000 yuan a month during probation, 12,000 after passing, plus room and board.
After three years of service, the resort gives a generous bonus when you leave.
Secondly, Redleaf Resort is frequented by powerful officials and wealthy elites. If a hostess catches the eye of one, whether she’s married off or becomes his lover, it’s still far better than working an ordinary job.
It’s hard enough to become a hostess at Redleaf Resort, but being one of the exclusive hostesses for the Imperial Suite is even tougher. All eight women are beautiful, sweet-looking, and have graceful figures.
Of course, the pay matches the difficulty—basic salary is twenty thousand yuan per month.
Lily Yu was one of the exclusive hostesses for the Imperial Suite. She was only twenty, had just graduated from college, and joined Redleaf Resort as a hostess. Because of her outstanding performance, after only three months as a regular hostess, she was promoted to the Imperial Suite team.
She’d only been an exclusive hostess for a month, and in that time, the Imperial Suite had only been opened five times.
None of those five times had Manager David Chan ever given instructions as carefully as he did today, so Lily was extremely curious—just which big shot was coming to the Imperial Suite today?
Finally, after waiting five minutes, Cliff Fu arrived leading a group of people.
Besides Cliff Fu, there were six others in the group: two were his personal bodyguards, and one was Miss Hai, a frequent visitor to the resort. Rumor had it she was interested in Cliff, the diamond bachelor.
The remaining three were a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy and two girls.
Judging by their clothes and manner, they looked pretty ordinary to hostesses who were used to seeing powerful officials and wealthy guests.
"Could the VIPs invited by the boss really be those three teenagers?"
As soon as the boss appeared, Manager David Chan greeted him with a smile: "Good evening, Boss, Miss Hai, and our three distinguished guests."
"Old Chan, is everything ready?" Cliff Fu asked with a smile.
"Everything is fully arranged, Boss," Manager Chan replied respectfully.
"Thank you for your hard work," Cliff Fu said with a smile. Then he turned to Ian Song: "Mr. Song, Miss Song, Miss Su, please come in."
Manager Chan discreetly sized up the three, thinking to himself that anyone who could make the boss so enthusiastic must be from a powerful family. After all, the Fu Family was one of the top clans in Tianhe State, so he became even more respectful.
"You’re too kind, Mr. Fu," Ian said with a smile and a nod.
Once inside the Imperial Suite, Ian glanced around and saw that the private room was extravagantly decorated—truly luxurious.
"Mr. Song, please take the seat of honor," Cliff Fu said respectfully.
The eight hostesses who followed in to serve were stunned to hear the boss invite a teenage boy to the seat of honor. Just how important was this guest, for even the boss to treat him so respectfully?
Ian smiled and waved his hand. "Mr. Fu, you’re too polite. I’m the youngest here, so I shouldn’t sit at the head."
"The seat of honor belongs to the most accomplished. Please, Mr. Song, don’t stand on ceremony," Mr. Fu insisted.
"If you insist, then I'll accept!" Seeing Cliff Fu's sincerity, Ian stopped protesting and took the seat of honor, with Shelly Song and Zoey Su sitting to his left and right.
As soon as they sat down, the attentive and beautiful hostesses brought hot towels and fragrant tea.
"Mr. Song, let me offer you tea in place of wine to thank you for showing mercy to Uncle Yong and Uncle Li!" Cliff Fu raised his teacup with a smile.
"No need, you’re too polite!" Ian quickly replied. Though Uncle Yong and Uncle Li had attacked him fiercely before, their moves weren’t meant to kill—otherwise, he wouldn’t have just sent them flying so lightly.
After some polite conversation, the enticing aroma of dishes filled the room as the food was served. A hostess brought over a bottle of Thousand Leaf Reserve; Cliff Fu personally poured drinks for Ian and his companions, then raised his glass in a toast.
Seeing all this, the eight hostesses were even more shocked, though none of them showed it.
Even so, Cliff Fu noticed their unease and sent them out of the private room.
After three rounds of drinks and five courses, Cliff Fu casually asked, "Mr. Song, if you don’t mind me asking, what happened today?"
After a brief pause, Ian decided to be open with Cliff Fu. He explained how he offended Justin Nangong, how the Nangong Family ruined his uncle’s career, and how Old Xing tricked Yvonne Yang and Shelly Song.
Hearing that Ian Song had clashed with the Nangong Family, Cliff Fu was secretly delighted.
In Tianhe State, the Nangong Family was the most powerful. The Fu Family and Hai Family, both slightly weaker, were eager to topple them and take their place.
Now, with the Nangong Family offending an Innate-Rank Master, Cliff saw an opportunity. The Nangongs had three Innate-Rank Masters, while the Fu and Hai Families each had only two.
If he could draw Ian Song to the side of the Fu and Hai Families against the Nangongs, it would be five against three—the odds of victory would be over eighty percent.
With this in mind, Cliff quickly exchanged a glance with Helen Hai, who nodded slightly.
Cliff Fu then said loudly, "Mr. Song, my Fu Family has some influence in Tianhe State’s official circles. If you don’t mind, let me handle your uncle’s case. I can’t guarantee he’ll become Education Bureau chief right away, but I can certainly restore him to his previous position."
Ian knew that there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and that Cliff Fu would surely expect something in return. Still, he couldn’t refuse, so he nodded and said, "Thank you, Mr. Fu."
Seeing Ian agree, Cliff Fu was overjoyed and quickly said, "Mr. Song, please wait a moment while I make a call."