Tianhua Hotel
Inside a luxuriously decorated suite, two men—one tall and one short—stood with their heads lowered, respectfully facing another man.
The man looked like someone of high status. He was wearing a bathrobe and sitting on the sofa. The upper part of the robe hung loosely open, revealing his firm and fair chest.
He had just finished showering, and faint moisture still lingered on his body. His short hair had been combed back, exposing his smooth forehead.
This scene of a handsome man fresh out of the bath, full of tempting allure, was now overshadowed by a heavy, oppressive atmosphere. The man’s cold yet devilishly handsome face showed no expression, and his long, deep-set eyes carried a chilling glint.
Even though it was still the blazing heat of summer, the two men standing before him could not help but feel a shiver run down their spines.
Li Ziqing kept his head lowered and did not dare make the slightest movement. As the Chief Assistant to his own president, the incident that had happened was a clear failure on his part.
At some point, the man sitting on the sofa finally spoke. One hand pressed lightly against his forehead as his low, hoarse, and lazy voice sounded.
“Have you found out who did it?”
Li Ziqing had been waiting for this moment. He immediately replied respectfully, “President, we’ve found out. It was Wan Jinsan.”
“Continue.”
“Wan Jinsan found out that you would be staying at this hotel. He bribed a waiter here and had him drug your wine. His intention was to make you sleep with the niece he had arranged to send to your room.”
Wan Jinsan was the boss of Wanwu Group. In his early years, he had made his fortune by selling construction materials and was a classic example of a nouveau riche businessman. His vision was sharp, and he had long recognized that Song Jingting was no ordinary person. He had been trying to win him over in order to expand his own business empire.
Wan Jinsan.
Li Ziqing narrowed his eyes as he recalled the slick and greasy man from last night. No wonder someone who was supposedly on a business trip in S Province had suddenly appeared in B City. It turned out everything had been planned in advance.
“President, how should we deal with Wan Jinsan?” If one had to name the most untouchable person in B City, it would undoubtedly be their president. Otherwise, how could he have built such a powerful business empire at such a young age? It required not only extraordinary ability but also a ruthless heart.
Song Jingting poured himself a glass of red wine. He gently swirled the glass in his hand before letting out a cold laugh.
“Wan Jinsan’s Bincheng Project… isn’t it still lacking investors?”
“Yes. Recently Wan Jinsan has been visiting many companies to seek investment for that project, but most companies think the project is too difficult and have rejected him. At this point, if Wan Jinsan cannot secure new investors, the project will fail, and all the money and effort he previously invested will turn to nothing.”
“Special Assistant Li,” Song Jingting said calmly, “find someone to become Wan Jinsan’s investor. Since Wan Jinsan gave me such a big ‘gift,’ I should return one just as generous.”
“Yes, President.”
Li Ziqing had worked beside the president for many years and understood his intentions perfectly.
Now they only needed to wait for the net to close.
“President, there is another matter. The manager of Tianhua Hotel has already retrieved the surveillance footage as you requested.”
Wang Wei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead nervously. He quickly opened his laptop and placed the surveillance video in front of Song Jingting.
“President Song, this is the surveillance footage. Please take a look.”
Wang Wei regretted not praying before leaving his house that morning. Of all the days for him to be on duty, the hotel’s most distinguished guest had encountered trouble during his shift. He had no idea how he would explain this to his boss. His boss would probably skin him alive.
Wang Wei had long heard about President Song’s reputation. He was ruthless, cold toward others, and extremely powerful. Many people tried to curry favor with him. Yet despite his high status, his personal life was astonishingly clean. No one had ever seen a woman by his side.
And precisely because he maintained such a disciplined lifestyle, being drugged and framed was a huge taboo.
It wasn’t as though no one had ever tried to seduce him before, but the results were predictable—none of them succeeded. Yet this time, he had fallen into Wan Jinsan’s trap.
“President Song, we deeply apologize that something like this happened to you in our hotel,” Wang Wei said nervously. “Whatever compensation you require, the hotel will fulfill it. As for Wan Jinsan, we have already placed him on our blacklist. He will be permanently banned from staying at any Tianhua Hotel branches.”
“And that waiter?” Song Jingting stared at the screen with a faintly amused expression.
Wang Wei was momentarily stunned. He had expected punishment, but instead the president was asking about the waiter.
“President Song, that waiter is still in the hotel. Our staff are currently holding him.”
“Bring him here.”
“Ah?… Yes, please wait a moment.”
Wang Wei hurried to the side to make a phone call. Meanwhile, Li Ziqing noticed something unusual in the president’s expression and could not help asking, “President, did you discover something?”
At that moment, the surveillance video was showing the scene of a woman running out of the president’s room.
“Special Assistant Li,” Song Jingting said calmly, “do you have a photo of Wan Jinsan’s niece?”
“Yes, President. I’ll send it to you immediately.”
Because of the incident, Li Ziqing had already instructed the company’s information department to investigate Wan Jinsan’s entire family background.
Song Jingting opened his phone and glanced at the photo Li Ziqing had sent. After one second, he closed the screen. Resting his chin on his hand, he continued watching the video while tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table.
“Heh. Interesting.”
Li Ziqing felt confused by that remark. When the president said “interesting,” was he referring to the person in the video?
Not long afterward, the waiter was brought in by two men.
Lin Wei had been exposed for what he did. He now looked terrified and uneasy, not knowing what punishment awaited him. The unknown was the most frightening thing of all.
“You’re the one who drugged me?” Song Jingting leaned back against the sofa and asked calmly.
Lin Wei had never seen the face of the person he drugged, but he had come to this room once before. Anyone staying on this floor was either wealthy or powerful. Now that he had offended someone he should never have provoked, his legs gave out and he knelt on the ground, begging repeatedly.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Wan Jinsan told me to do it! I was forced! If you want to blame someone, blame Wan Jinsan. I don’t know anything!”
Wang Wei angrily kicked him. “Forced? You think I’ll believe that nonsense? Don’t think we don’t know Wan Jinsan paid you fifty thousand to drug the wine. Our hotel treated you well—why did you betray us like this?”
“Manager, I was blinded by money. Please spare me! I’ll return the money to Wan Jinsan immediately!” Lin Wei scrambled up and grabbed Wang Wei’s pant leg, begging desperately.
Wang Wei kicked him away with a snort. “Now you’re begging for mercy? Too late.”
Song Jingting had no interest in watching his performance any longer. He only asked one question.
“The person you sent into my room last night—where did you find her?”
Lin Wei shrank his neck and answered honestly.
“Last night, Wan Jinsan’s people told me they had brought the girl and that she was waiting near the elevator on the fifth floor. They asked me to bring her upstairs. When I got there, I only saw one person standing by the elevator, so I assumed she was Wan Jinsan’s niece. I brought her to this room.”
He secretly glanced at Song Jingting before continuing nervously.
“I really don’t know anything about what happened afterward. Wan Jinsan said that as long as I brought the girl into the room, he would give me fifty thousand.”
Song Jingting had already obtained the information he wanted and did not intend to waste any more time.
“Manager Wang,” he said calmly, “I’ll leave this person to you. I trust you won’t disappoint me.”
Wang Wei was more than happy to handle it. Of course he understood the meaning behind President Song’s words—as long as he dealt with the waiter properly, the president would not pursue the matter further.
Wang Wei ordered his men to take Lin Wei away. He had planned to remain behind to await further instructions, but Song Jingting said, “Manager Wang, you may go about your work.”
“Understood. If President Song needs anything, please feel free to contact me.”
After Wang Wei left the room, Song Jingting stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city below.
After a long silence, he spoke to Li Ziqing beside him.
“Assistant Li, investigate the person in the video.”
Li Ziqing was surprised. “President, isn’t the person in the video one of Wan Jinsan’s people?”
Song Jingting cast him a sidelong glance.
“Too many questions. Bring me a clean set of clothes. We’re returning to the company shortly.”
Li Ziqing did not dare say anything further. Lowering his head, he replied, “Yes, President. I’ll arrange it immediately.”