Chapter 81: What Is His True Identity?

At Lily’s words, everyone couldn’t help but glance at Xia Yu and Zhao Sijie, their expressions a little odd.

Zhao Sijie’s face was unsightly. She was an honest girl without much guile. Earlier, she had thought Lily’s repeated jabs at Xia Yu were just in jest, but now Lily was even making a joke of her own home.

Even someone slow on the uptake could sense the humiliation in Lily’s words, but since what she said was technically true, Zhao Sijie had no way to refute her—she could only stand there, ashamed and at a loss.

“Hey, haven’t you had enough?”

Xia Yu’s face darkened. He could endure insults himself, but if those close to him were hurt because of it, that was a different matter.

“If you want to swap rooms, just say so. What’s the point of all this talk?”

“What did I say? I’m simply stating the facts, is that wrong?” Lily retorted forcefully. “Is it forbidden to mention someone’s poverty? If you don’t like it, then you should be more capable.”

“Yu…Yu, let’s just let it go. Switch with her,” Zhao Sijie said hastily, not wanting a small matter to escalate and cause embarrassment. She tugged at Xia Yu’s arm.

Seeing this, Wang Dong quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, that’s enough from everyone. It’s just a change of rooms, don’t ruin the mood.”

Lily snorted coldly and said no more.

She felt secretly pleased, having managed to put Zhao Sijie in her place. Her heart was much lighter.

“That loser even dares show dissatisfaction. If it weren’t for him leeching off everyone today, would he get to play in such a fancy place?”

“Exactly, someone earning just a few thousand a month still dares to pick and choose. The nerve!”

A few people continued to glance at Xia Yu, snickering as they whispered.

Zhao Sijie went over and exchanged room cards with Lily, after which everyone headed upstairs to rest.

“Come on, Yu,” Zhao Sijie called.

“You go up first. I’ll have a smoke, so I don’t bother you with the smell,” Xia Yu said with a smile.

“You’re annoying,” she replied, rolling her eyes, then went upstairs.

Xia Yu sat down on a sofa to the side, pulled out a cheap pack of Red Golden Dragon cigarettes, and lit one.

“Tsk tsk, that guy’s pretty pitiful, yet he still feels like smoking.”

“Yeah, if I’d been talked to like that, I’d have left already. His girlfriend’s really pretty, though—how did she end up with such a useless boyfriend?”

“He can only come here by riding everyone else’s coattails, ha ha…”

“Shh, keep your voice down. Don’t let him hear.”

Two receptionists couldn’t help but cover their mouths and giggle as they watched Xia Yu.

He glanced at them, and they quickly fell silent, though their eyes remained full of scorn.

“Mr. Qin, Mr. Fang.”

Suddenly, from another corridor, two middle-aged men appeared. The two receptionists immediately stood up and bowed respectfully.

The men nodded slightly, chatting as they walked forward.

“Eh, Yu—Young Master Yu!” Suddenly, one of the men noticed Xia Yu sitting alone on the sofa, smoking, and called out in surprise.

Xia Yu looked up and smiled when he saw who it was—an acquaintance, Qin Peng.

“Mr. Qin.”

“Young Master Yu, what brings you here?!” Qin Peng approached with enthusiastic excitement. Fang Yun, beside him, paused in surprise; from Qin Peng’s reaction, it was easy to guess the young man’s extraordinary identity.

Qin Peng was not only a major shareholder of the hotel and the whole scenic area, but also a tycoon in luxury fashion. For someone of such high status to address this young man as “Young Master Yu” was astonishing.

When working among the wealthy, one’s perceptiveness was crucial, so Fang Yun quickly followed.

“I came here with some friends for fun. What about you?” Xia Yu nodded from the sofa.

Most people, upon meeting someone of Qin Peng’s stature, would at least stand up to greet him, if not try to shake his hand. But Xia Yu remained seated, and Qin Peng didn’t mind in the slightest—he stood there, respectful, as if waiting for Xia Yu’s signal to sit.

This only deepened Fang Yun’s curiosity about Xia Yu’s background—what kind of man could command such deference from Qin Peng?

Not far away, the two receptionists were utterly dumbfounded.

That… that useless man actually knew the owner? And the boss was bowing and scraping to him… If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they would have thought it was an illusion.

“Haha, Young Master Yu, I have a stake in the scenic area and hotel. I just came by for an inspection,” Qin Peng replied with a smile.

“Sit, let’s talk.” Xia Yu offered a cigarette. “Smoke?”

“Of course! It’s an honor to share a cigarette with you, Young Master Yu.” Despite the cigarettes being cheap, Qin Peng accepted with delighted reverence.

Never mind that the Xia family’s business empire spanned half of Asia—even Xia Yu’s personal aura was enough to inspire awe. In front of this man, all of Qin Peng’s own achievements felt insignificant.

The King of the Northern Territories, once the leader of the most fearsome black-ops battalion—if the nation’s wealthiest man were present, he too would have to bow his noble head.

“Mr. Qin, may I ask, who is this?” Fang Yun asked respectfully as he sat beside them.

“Oh, let me introduce you. Young Master Yu, this is Fang Yun, the general manager of this hotel,” Qin Peng said, then hesitated a moment before continuing, “He… he is Xia Yu.”

“He’s my friend. In short, no matter when he comes, Young Master Yu must be given the highest level of service. Not the slightest neglect is permitted.”

“Of course, absolutely,” Fang Yun nodded repeatedly, reaching out his hand. “It’s a pleasure, Young Master Yu.”

Xia Yu shook his hand briefly.

After finishing a cigarette, Qin Peng, knowing that Xia Yu was here for leisure, didn’t want to disturb him further. He instructed Fang Yun to see to Xia Yu’s needs, then bade farewell and left.

Afraid that Zhao Sijie might be waiting too long, Xia Yu also got up to head upstairs.

“By the way, Young Master Yu, which room are you in? I’ll have someone send a few bottles of fine wine up for you to try,” Fang Yun called after him, eager to please.

“Hmm, I think it’s the smallest room,” Xia Yu replied.

“What?!” Fang Yun was shocked. “Why would you choose the smallest room?”

“They said only the small rooms were left,” Xia Yu said, pointing at the receptionists.

“Damn it, what are you two doing here?” Fang Yun turned and berated the two receptionists furiously. “Isn’t Presidential Suite No. 1 vacant? Why did you say only the small rooms were available?”

The two receptionists were nearly in tears, terrified by Fang Yun’s outburst. They stammered, “Mr. Fang, didn’t you say Suite No. 1 is not open to the public, only for super VIPs?”

“Then look carefully—Young Master Yu is our most important guest! Open it immediately!” Fang Yun barked.

The two girls trembled, staring at Xia Yu in disbelief. Who on earth was this man? Had he heard what they whispered just now?

“Forget it, Mr. Fang, don’t make a fuss. I don’t want the trouble. Just remember to send up a couple bottles of good wine later,” Xia Yu said.

“Young Master Yu, how can we let you stay in such a small room…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Xia Yu said, waving his hand casually as he headed upstairs.

Fang Yun could only drop the matter.

The two receptionists stared, dumbstruck, then finally let out a sigh of relief—thank goodness their voices had been low earlier, or they could have landed themselves in serious trouble.