"Tch, where did this bumpkin come from? Don't you know the rules of the Emperor's Grand Hotel?"
"You say you booked a spot?"
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhonghai let out a contemptuous laugh.
With a face full of disdain, he said,
"To reserve a spot on the top floor garden of the Emperor's Grand Hotel, you need a VIP Black Card."
"Only five such VIP cards have ever been issued."
"Take a look at yourself in the mirror, do you look like a VIP?"
"I think you're less than nothing!"
As he spoke, he childishly gave Song Qiao the middle finger.
"You..."
Seeing this guy so shamelessly insulting Song Qiao, Xia Xueqing's heart immediately boiled with rage.
She had witnessed Song Qiao using a VIP card to slap Wang Jian in the face before.
How could she suppress her temper when facing Wu Zhonghai's provocation?
Just as she was about to explain, Song Qiao reached out and stopped her.
"Xueqing, there's no need to waste words on someone with such prejudiced eyes."
Saying that, he calmly took out the gold card that Secretary Gao had given him from his pocket.
He gently placed it in front of Wu Zhonghai.
With a smile, he asked, "I wonder, young master Wu, are you referring to this card?"
"Don't try to fool me with some card you picked up off the street..."
Wu Zhonghai disdainfully picked up the gold card. The next second, his expression froze on the spot.
"Supreme Gold Card?"
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible, how can you have a Supreme Gold Card?"
Wu Zhonghai vigorously rubbed his eyes.
"Let's go, Teacher Du, we're going up."
Song Qiao, too lazy to bother with him, gestured for Du Qin beside him.
Du Qin had only recently arrived in Yang City and didn't know the rules of the Emperor's Grand Hotel that well.
Although Song Qiao had produced the Supreme Gold Card, she thought he had merely borrowed it from some hotel insider to show off.
She snorted coldly and pulled Xia Xueqing towards the stairs.
Wu Zhonghai felt resentful, but he couldn't act out in front of Du Qin, so he had to follow grudgingly at the back.
As soon as he entered, he seemed to remember something.
He looked at Xia Xueqing with feigned sincerity and asked indifferently,
"Xueqing, I haven't asked where you live yet. Have you bought a place in Yang City?"
Xia Xueqing didn't want to engage with him at all.
She shook her head gently and said, "As a student, how could I afford to buy a house? I'm living with my parents right now."
She deliberately didn't mention the villa, clearly not wanting her teacher to know.
"That's too inconvenient."
"Girls should have a place of their own."
Wu Zhonghai sighed with feigned pity and glanced mockingly at Song Qiao.
He took a key from his pocket and solicitously offered it to Xia Xueqing.
"I've picked out a villa for you. Consider it a gift for our first meeting."
"No, how can that be?"
"We've only just met, how can I accept such a valuable gift?"
Xia Xueqing quickly got up to refuse, looking at her teacher, Du Qin, with confusion.
What was this Wu Zhonghai up to?
He was giving her a villa on their first meeting, this wasn't a blind date at all.
It felt like they were getting engaged tomorrow.
She wondered if her teacher was aware of any of this.
However, Du Qin seemed not to have seen this, giving her no response at all.
"Xueqing, are you treating me like an outsider?"
Wu Zhonghai deliberately took another step forward, acting like a brash young man.
"Young master Wu, your gesture is too stingy."
"This villa you're gifting is so ordinary, how could Xueqing possibly want to live there?"
"The one I have at the Lakeside Resort is more than enough for her."
Song Qiao, unable to watch any longer, spoke up to help Xia Xueqing out of the awkward situation.
"Hmph, what an arrogant boastful fellow."
"Lakeside Resort, you're bragging after paying off your mortgage?"
Wu Zhonghai clearly didn't believe Song Qiao, and before he could finish speaking, he retorted with a sneer.
"You..."
"You dog-eyed snob!"
Xia Xueqing could no longer stand it and was about to lose her temper.
"Cough, cough."
Just then, Du Qin suddenly coughed.
Silence fell over the entire private room.
She first gave Xia Xueqing a warning look and said indifferently,
"Young Master Wu, gifting a villa on the first day is a bit too abrupt. Let's put this off for a couple of days."
"However, you are thoughtful. You're certainly better than some people who just run their mouths."
As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept over Song Qiao.
The implication was obvious.
With a single sentence, she rebuked two people, and it was clear she was more displeased with Song Qiao.
Hearing Du Qin's refusal, Wu Zhonghai's expression flickered.
He hadn't expected his gesture of goodwill to displease Du Qin.
After he realized what was happening, he dared not say anything more.
He could only dejectedly put away the villa key.
"Teacher Du, aren't you here in Yang City to discuss a project? Today, I can use this opportunity to introduce you to a prominent figure."
After his attempt to win favor with the villa failed, Wu Zhonghai devised another plan.
"Oh?"
Hearing that Wu Zhonghai was going to introduce her to a local big shot, Du Qin raised an eyebrow and immediately became interested.
What she needed most right now was to quickly befriend some local powers.
Only then would she have the leverage to interfere when the branch leader positions were up for election.
"His name is Sui Jiangchuan. He should be arriving soon."
Seeing Du Qin's interest, Wu Zhonghai was ecstatic.
He spilled everything about Sui Jiangchuan's background and history to Du Qin like beans from a bamboo tube.
As Du Qin listened to his exaggerated praise, her interest grew.
"Zhonghai, you've truly put in the effort this time."
"It's rare to see a child who pays so much attention to detail. Entrusting Xueqing to you makes me feel at ease."
Du Qin's praise made Wu Zhonghai feel a sense of elation.
Just then, his phone rang.
"He's here."
"Let's go and greet him quickly."
He glanced at the number and stood up from his seat with excitement.
Du Qin and Xia Xueqing dared not be negligent either.
Wu Zhonghai had described the person as even more influential than the provincial governor.
Such a person must not be offended.
However, as everyone else got up, Song Qiao calmly remained seated.
Leisurely sipping his tea.
"Kid, what are you dawdling for?"
"Hurry up and stand to greet him."
Seeing that he hadn't moved, Wu Zhonghai shouted anxiously.
"So impolite, so uncultured."
"If you offend that big shot later, don't expect me to protect you."
Du Qin also glared fiercely at Song Qiao, her impression of him worsening.
"Song Qiao, what are you doing?"
Xia Xueqing was also startled by his behavior and quickly stepped forward to pull him up.
However, Song Qiao remained unmoved.
He gently patted her hand and softly comforted her.
"Don't panic, don't panic."
"The person who is coming, I don't deem him worthy of me standing to greet him, nor can he bear it."