"What's more, some people just have such hard fates that they curse their entire families to death. Living under the same roof with someone like that, you'll be dragged down sooner or later."
Liu Xuemei spoke as if she had witnessed it all firsthand.
Lin Ce narrowed his eyes slightly. Strictly speaking, Ye Xiangsi was his sister-in-law, which made Ye Xiangsi's relatives his own relatives as well.
Liu Xuemei could even be considered an elder.
Yet this elder had clearly come with an agenda, and every word she uttered carried a barb.
Just as he was about to speak, Ye Xiangsi suddenly shoved Liu Xuemei aside.
"Auntie, if you keep talking like that, don't blame me for getting angry."
"Little Ce, don't take her to heart. That's just how she is."
Liu Cuixia hurriedly rushed forward to steady Liu Xuemei.
"Xiangsi, have you completely forgotten your manners toward your elders? She is your aunt, yet you're actually taking the side of an outsider to go against her?"
Ye Xiangsi let out a cold snort. Her aunt?
Was she really looking out for her? Where was this aunt when their family suffered through their darkest hour?
Now that their family had moved into a villa and she had become the president of Beiyu Group, this aunt had popped right back up out of nowhere.
Ye Xiangsi took a deep breath and said, "Auntie, you must have a reason for coming here today. Just spit it out."
Liu Xuemei glanced sideways at Lin Ce and said with a smug smile, "Fine, since you asked, I'll tell you."
"You should all know that my husband is quite a prominent and influential figure in Zhonghai, and I frequently move in high-society circles."
"I have a friend whose family holds assets worth hundreds of millions. In Zhonghai, he practically commands the wind and the rain."
With that, she purposefully stole a glance to gauge Lin Ce's reaction.
So what if you bought a villa?
Compared to people like that, what on earth are you?
However, Lin Ce didn't seem to react at all.
Ye Xiangsi chimed in as well, "Auntie, if you have something to say, just say it. Why waste time beating around the bush?"
Liu Xuemei was momentarily speechless. Good grief, she actually knew a billionaire worth hundreds of millions, yet not a single one of them could show her a shred of respect?
She gave a dry cough and said, "The reason I came here today is specifically to deliver a match made in heaven for Xiangsi."
"My friend's family has a son—young, wealthy, and talented, and he still doesn't have a girlfriend."
"I figured we're all close family. Even though Xiangsi was married once, they never even shared the bridal chamber. Besides, she's a renowned great beauty in Zhonghai no matter how you look at it, so I decided to introduce Xiangsi to that young master."
"And let me tell you, that young master has been deeply admiring Xiangsi for a long time. What do you call this? This is a heaven-sent romance!"
"I'm here to tell you to hurry up and arrange a meeting so Xiangsi can marry into wealth and live the life of a rich lady. Why suffer as some so-called female CEO? Your whole family can live in luxury and feast on the best, and you won't have to live in a villa bought by someone else and swallow your pride."
These words carried a heavy undertone of scolding the monk while bald-headed — a clear jab at Lin Ce.
Ye Xiangsi froze in place. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected Liu Xuemei to come here to set her up on a blind date.
How could she possibly do that? Her husband had passed away not long ago, and she had a brand-new project to launch; she simply couldn't spare the time.
Besides, her heart still belonged to Lin Wen; she had zero desire to find a new boyfriend.
"No way!" Ye Xiangsi flatly refused.
"You silly girl, why not? This is the kind of golden opportunity you won't find even if you search with a lantern!"
"Back then, latching onto Lin Wen wasn't a bad move either, but the Lin Family collapsed. Now that another young master has set his sights on you, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance," Liu Cuixia chimed in anxiously.
Ye Xiangsi was practically at a loss for words.
"Mom, what do you take me for? Some kind of traded commodity? When I was with Brother Wen, it wasn't because of his money, but because of who he was as a person."
"Xiangsi, why are you so stubborn? Do you honestly think Beiyu Group has any future? The Four Great Families are eyeing you like tigers watching their prey, and they've already targeted you. If you keep running around with this jinx, something bad is going to happen sooner or later. Your aunt is only doing this for your own good."
"If you won't think of yourself, at least think of your parents. They're getting old. Do you really want to watch them bury their own child?"
Lin Ce finally understood the situation. With Liu Cuixia and Liu Xuemei playing off each other like this, it was blatantly obvious they were reading from a pre-arranged script.
"Have you both quite finished?"
At that moment, Lin Ce spoke up calmly.
"Kid, what kind of attitude is that? Our family affairs have nothing to do with you."
Lin Ce glanced at Liu Xuemei. Just a moment ago, she claimed to be worried that the Four Great Families would pose a threat to Ye Xiangsi—so wouldn't that rich young master be in danger too?
Ye Xiangsi had only just become the president of Beiyu Group, and immediately a wealthy heir sent someone to play matchmaker.
Whether he coveted Ye Xiangsi's beauty or wanted to swallow up Beiyu Group's assets remained to be seen.
Even without all these convoluted schemes, Lin Ce had no intention of watching his sister-in-law suffer any grievances.
Some things were non-negotiable; if she wasn't willing, no one could force her.
He had an obligation to take care of Ye Xiangsi well on his brother's behalf.
"She is my sister-in-law, so her affairs do concern me. With me, Lin Ce, around, the Zhonghai Four Great Families wouldn't dare lay a hand on her."
"As for Sister Xiangsi's safety, you don't need to worry about it."
He waved a hand, not wanting to lower himself to Liu Xuemei's level. After all, she was Ye Xiangsi's relative, and making too ugly a scene wouldn't do.
"Xiangsi, listen to the kind of nonsense he's spouting! What on earth is going on in your head? Do you intend to let us watch you stay a widow for your dead husband for the rest of your life?"
"Cuixia and Ye Huai are getting older too, and they still want to hold grandchildren. If you really care about your sister-in-law, you should let her go out and date!"
Lin Ce said calmly, "I don't need outsiders sticking their noses into what I do. If you're so eager to marry, you should go marry him yourself. You still have some lingering charm after all; who knows, maybe that young master might actually take a fancy to you."
"You... you... is that any way for a human to talk?"
If that young master had genuinely taken a liking to her, she wouldn't have minded divorcing her husband in the slightest.
The catch was that she was already past her prime—how could she possibly catch the eye of a wealthy young master?
Ye Huai let out a sigh and said, "Oh, forget it. If Xiangsi isn't willing, let's drop this matter for now."
Who would have thought that Liu Xuemei would fling her arm back and shriek harshly, "Drop my foot! This can't be delayed for even a minute!"
"The man has already set his sights on Ye Xiangsi, so don't you dare bite the hand that feeds you! In front of him, your Beiyu Group isn't even worth a fart!"
"Young Master Cui made it crystal clear: if you don't agree today, he'll bring people here and flatten this pathetic little villa of yours!"
She wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. She had already given her absolute guarantee that she would pull this off, and the attitude on the other side was exceptionally firm.
If Ye Xiangsi didn't know what was good for her, forget about Ye Xiangsi—even she would be completely finished.
Lin Ce raised an eyebrow slightly. Originally, he had planned to let this matter slide.
But the moment he heard someone had the audacity to threaten Ye Xiangsi, he suddenly developed a bit of interest.
He genuinely wanted to see which young master in Zhonghai was so devoid of sense that he dared set his sights on his sister-in-law.
By the way, he could also kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, letting the people of Zhonghai know that Ye Xiangsi wasn't a widow who could be bullied by just anyone.
"Very well, Sister Xiangsi, let's go together and meet this young master."
Liu Xuemei and Liu Cuixia exchanged glances, both wearing a trace of disdain.
"Ha, and here I thought he was some big shot. Looks like he was scared shitless after all."
Liu Xuemei smiled smugly. "At least you know what's good for you. Don't worry, I'll put in a few good words for you when the time comes. Who knows, Young Master Cui might feel merciful and take care of you."
"Little Ce, let's not go. I'm really not interested."
"It's fine, going to take a look won't hurt. We've got nothing better to do anyway."
Liu Xuemei immediately made a phone call to make arrangements, and soon received confirmation.
"Let's go. Young Master Cui is already waiting at the hotel. If you're late, you won't be able to bear the consequences — Young Master Cui is a very busy man."
Chattering amongst themselves, the group left the villa.
Half an hour later, Zhonghai Hongtian Hotel.
This was the only five-star luxury hotel in Zhonghai City, decorated in a lavish and high-end style.
Upon reaching the entrance, Ye Xiangsi halted her steps, her expression turning rather ugly.
Meanwhile, the faces of Liu Cuixia and Ye Huai took on a disgruntled look.
"Why are we meeting here?" Liu Cuixia asked speechlessly.
"What's wrong?"
"This is where Brother Wen and I held our wedding banquet."
Lin Ce was momentarily stunned. He recalled that not long ago, Lin Wen's family had been overjoyed with celebration, only for them to be separated by the netherworld a mere blink later. Even he couldn't help but feel a twinge of emotion.
"What are you standing around for? Don't keep Young Master Cui waiting. Hurry up and follow me inside."
"Let's go in. As it happens, I also have a few words to ask the owner of this hotel."
Lin Ce spoke indifferently and walked straight inside.
"Hello, are you dining with us today?" As soon as several of them stepped into the lobby, a beautiful receptionist dressed in a cheongsam walked over.
"Of course we're here to eat, do you even need to ask? Absolutely no situational awareness. What are you standing there for, why aren't you leading us to the luxury section upstairs?"
"I'm terribly sorry, madam, but the luxury section requires membership. May I ask if you hold a membership card for our Hongtian Hotel?"
The beautiful receptionist maintained a polite smile with utmost professional decorum.
Membership required?
Where on earth would Liu Xuemei get a membership card for Hongtian Hotel? She well knew that getting a membership card here cost a pretty penny, something she could never afford.
However, Young Master Cui was definitely a member here.
"We're here to see someone—you know Young Master Cui, Cui Liang, right? He's waiting for us upstairs. If we're late, you won't be able to bear the responsibility. Step aside!"
She originally thought that simply dropping Young Master Cui's name would make the receptionist wave them right through.
Instead, the receptionist smiled and shook her head.
"I apologize, madam. You can make a phone call to your friend upstairs and ask him to inform the front desk, and we will gladly let you in."
"What a stubborn blockhead! No wonder you're just a receptionist. With an attitude like yours, you're destined to spend your entire life serving tea and carrying water!"
Liu Xuemei instantly felt she had lost face, especially in front of Lin Ce, where she had been hoping to put on airs. She never expected to drop the ball the moment they arrived.
"What's wrong, Xuemei? They won't let us in?" Liu Cuixia hurried over to ask.
"It's fine, I'll make a call."
Liu Xuemei dialed Young Master Cui's number, but frustratingly, the line kept ringing without anyone picking up; no matter what she tried, she couldn't get through.
Throughout it all, the receptionist kept smiling at her, making her feel even more awkward.
"What are you staring at? Hurry up and let us in! Young Master Cui is busy with something and doesn't have time to answer his phone. If you ruin our meal, you won't be able to shoulder the responsibility!"
The receptionist was aware of Cui Liang, and he indeed was a member here, but the hotel had its rules and they couldn't be broken.
Right at that moment, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses walked over.
"Madam, Hongtian has its own rules. If you want to dine in the luxury section, pull out a membership card. If you don't have one, then I'm very sorry, but you can have Young Master Cui come down to escort you. If you dare make a scene here again, don't blame me for calling security."
The person who had arrived was none other than Tian Qiu, the general manager of Hongtian Hotel.
He had managed to secure this position by the age of thirty-five, so he naturally had extraordinary capabilities.
If everyone could just stroll into the luxury section by casually making up an excuse, how could Hongtian Hotel stay in business?
When Liu Xuemei saw the title of general manager written on Tian Qiu's name badge, her expression instantly turned somewhat unsightly.
"You run an open business—aren't you afraid of offending Young Master Cui?"
Tian Qiu let out a disdainful chuckle. "So you're saying you're friends with Young Master Cui? How is it that friends of Young Master Cui don't even have a single membership card?"
"Did you really think I'd buy your tall tales?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, Liu Xuemei was instantly left speechless.
Liu Xuemei didn't dare to have a direct falling out with Tian Qiu either; given her status, she was no match for Hongtian's general manager.
Instead, she vented all her frustration squarely onto Lin Ce.
"Ha! Didn't someone claim to be wealthy? How come you don't even have a membership card? With a place this high-end, you've probably never even set foot in a place like this before, have you?"
Beside him, Qili frowned. This stinking woman actually dared to ridicule the Dragon Head like this; she truly didn't know what was good for her.
Ye Xiangsi also felt a surge of annoyed anger. You were the one who insisted on coming here, and now that we're here, we can't get in, yet you're blaming everyone else?
Tian Qiu let out an even more mocking laugh. This family was truly a joke, puffing out their cheeks to look like fat men, yet insisting on going to the luxury section. If you don't have the strength to back it up, why bother humiliating yourself?
Lin Ce, on the other hand, remained completely unbothered. He simply wanted to get to the bottom of why the Cui family was pestering Ye Xiangsi.
If the Four Great Families were pulling strings behind the scenes, he wouldn't let a single one of them off the hook.
"Forget it. Go get a membership opened."
"Yes!"
Qili acknowledged the order, turned on her heel, and walked straight toward the front desk.
"Tsk tsk, keep putting on an act. Go ahead, pretend harder. Aren't you embarrassed enough yet?"
Liu Xuemei sneered sarcastically. "Do you have any idea how much the monthly membership fee is just to open a card here?"
"Fifty thousand! A full fifty thousand!"
However, less than two minutes later, Qili returned holding a card, handed it straight to Tian Qiu, and said, "Can you let us in now?"
"Pfft, let you in my foot. I bet you couldn't even afford the lowest-tier card," Liu Xuemei scoffed with utter contempt.
Yet, the very next second, Tian Qiu's expression abruptly shifted to one of absolute alarm, transforming into panicked reverence.
"This... this is the highest-tier Supreme Membership Card!"
A Supreme Membership Card required a lump-sum deposit of twenty million just to activate, and not just anyone was qualified to hold one.
The holder had to have achieved significant accomplishments in political, commercial, or military circles.
Take Zhonghai's business world, for example—those holding this card numbered fewer than the fingers on one hand, and every single one of them was someone he couldn't afford to provoke.
Moreover, he had witnessed with his own eyes that Qili was the one who went to the front desk to process this membership card, so there was no way this supreme card could be fake.
Yet how on earth could this young woman possibly meet the criteria for a supreme card?
It was impossible. She looked far too young; she didn't resemble a wealthy business tycoon, nor did she look like someone navigating official political circles.
Could it be...
The moment that thought crossed his mind, he shrank his neck, squeezed out a smile, and said, "Madam, starting from this moment, you are our hotel's most esteemed guest. Please forgive us for any offense we may have caused."
When Liu Xuemei and the others laid eyes on that purple Supreme Membership Card inlaid with sparkling crystals, a look of profound shock washed over each of their faces.
Even Ye Huai and his wife, though well aware that Lin Ce had some money, were utterly staggered. Dropping twenty million just to casually pick up a membership card was simply too outrageously wealthy.
They had seen people who were bad with money, but they had never seen anyone throw it away quite like this.
Liu Xuemei stepped forward in utter disbelief, took the membership card to inspect it closely, and stammered, "This... this really is a Supreme Membership Card! How on earth did you manage to get one?"
Qili offered Liu Xuemei a look of utter contempt and a cold smile.
"By paying for it, of course. Lord, let's head inside."
Lin Ce looked at Qili, feigning mild dissatisfaction, and said earnestly, "I told you to just go and casually get a regular card, why did you have to go and get a supreme one? How many times do I have to tell you to keep a low profile?"
Qili played her part to perfection, offering a faint smile as she replied, "They said that people like me get a promotional discount on cards, and they even knocked fifty percent off. I was just trying to save you some money, you see."
Hearing those grating words, Liu Xuemei's chest heaved violently with rage.
She couldn't even afford to apply for a regular membership, yet this fellow could effortlessly afford a supreme one.
And he had the nerve to call it saving money?
To her, this was clearly nothing more than a blatant excuse — a direct, stinging slap across her face!
She let out a cold snort and marched straight toward the upper levels.
Once she found Young Master Cui, she'd make sure he taught them a lesson.
Liu Cuixia also muttered with bitter dissatisfaction, "Lin Ce, it's plain to see you don't know how to live within your means. You probably blew all your little savings just to get this card. Even when you're putting on airs, there has to be a limit."
With that, she grabbed Ye Xiangsi and dragged her upstairs.
Watching Lin Ce, Qili, and the others head upstairs, Tian Qiu frowned, sensing that something was amiss. He immediately hurried over to the front desk to inquire.
"What's the situation? What was the identity of the person who just applied for the Supreme Membership Card?"
The receptionist's eyes sparkled with excited awe as she blurted out, "General Manager, when I was processing her card just now, I mentioned our hotel's special promotional policy, and she actually pulled out her official credentials."
"What kind of credentials could possibly meet the discount criteria for our supreme card? You couldn't possibly have made a mistake, could you?"
The receptionist smiled wryly and said, "General Manager, how could I possibly make a mistake? Those were the credentials of a Three-Star General of the Northern Territory!"
What?
The Northern Territory, a Three-Star General!
That young girl?
Tian Qiu's breathing turned ragged. Once he confirmed there was no mistake, he didn't hesitate for a second and dashed straight toward the chairman's office.
Hongtian Hotel's membership card system was established specifically to forge connections with high-ranking officials and distinguished elites.
The discounts were especially generous for military personnel from the various war zones.
After all, those people held real power; even a minor military instructor was someone they had to treat with utmost caution and dare not offend under any circumstances.
And the higher the tier of the membership card, the greater the status and standing of the individual holding it.
In his wildest dreams, he never expected a Three-Star General to suddenly appear in Zhonghai. This matter had to be treated with the utmost importance!
Meanwhile, inside the Hongtian chairman's office.
A middle-aged man dressed in a crisp, tailored suit stood overlooking the scenery of Zhonghai outside the window, lost in deep thought.
Right there on his desk sat a blood-stained garment!
"Lin Wen, oh Lin Wen, brother here originally wanted you to celebrate your wedding right inside my hotel — it would have been quite the joyous occasion. I never imagined things would turn out like this."
"I have no idea what kind of powers your Lin Family managed to offend. It's a shame your brother here has a family to feed and didn't dare stick his nose into your affairs. You mustn't hold a grudge against me."
"This blood-stained garment is the one you wore when you died. I've kept it safe all this time, wondering whether or not I should hand it over to your younger brother."
"If he uses this blood-stained garment to track down the truth and something goes wrong, wouldn't I be letting down Brother Wen?"
For days, Liu Hongtian had been keeping a close eye on the shifting tides of power in Zhonghai.
Whether it was the return of Beiyu Group, Lin Ce purchasing the Guhua District plot in North City, or even the large-scale gang brawl in the shantytown, he was generally aware of it all.
Yet the more he knew, the more he worried that Lin Ce's days were numbered.
"Being overly high-profile is hardly a good thing. If I were to make contact with Lin Ce right now, I'm afraid I might get dragged into the mess as well."
Right at that moment, a sudden knock sounded at the door.