Chapter Twelve: The Grand Jinje Hotel (Part One)

As soon as Ye Feng and Xia Ling arrived home, a rich aroma of black-bone chicken soup greeted them. This double-boiled pot really was something—the soup set to cook at noon was ready by evening, and if started in the evening, it would be done by morning. Such convenience. Ye Feng collapsed heavily onto the sofa, while Xia Ling sat to the side, inspecting her spoils of the day.

"Jinjie Grand Hotel? The best hotel in BD City! My little brothers sure are generous. We're all meeting there at eight-thirty tonight—my little brothers are treating both you and me!" Ye Feng spoke with exhaustion written all over his face.

Honestly, shopping with a woman was truly exhausting; Ye Feng doubted even a half-day of hard physical labor would tire him so much.

"Not going," Xia Ling replied, not even looking up.

"Hey, don't leave me hanging! They want to invite their sister-in-law, too," Ye Feng said, crestfallen. Bringing Xia Ling along would surely earn him face—after all, others would see that he'd won over such a beautiful woman, and his little brothers would surely admire him for it.

"What good is face? Once I recover, I’ll kill all of you to avenge how you’ve taken liberties with me," Xia Ling said lightly, as if murder were nothing out of the ordinary.

Ye Feng remembered how his little brothers had called her sister-in-law all day, and Xia Ling hadn’t protested. He thought she was attracted by his looks and strength—who would have thought she still held that grudge? "Ling’er, let me tell you a story. It's called 'The Farmer and the Snake.' Once, there was a farmer who, on a cold winter’s day, found a snake frozen stiff. Feeling pity, he picked it up and tucked it carefully into his coat, warming it against his body. The snake, revived by the warmth, slowly came back to life. But the moment it was fully awake, it revealed its true nature, sinking its sharp fangs into its benefactor and inflicting a deadly wound."

To his surprise, Xia Ling didn’t interrupt; she listened to the story in its entirety.

"Come on, let’s go together."

"Not going."

"If you don’t go, there’ll be no dinner! But if you come, you can eat well. Jinjie Grand Hotel is the best in BD City, bar none," Ye Feng said, almost pleading.

"Not going. I’ll be fine with the chicken soup." With that, she turned and walked toward the master bedroom. "Come here."

Ye Feng’s eyes widened. Was she calling him into her bedroom? Was she planning something indecent?

He sprang up from the sofa and followed eagerly. "Ling’er, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Something that requires strength?"

"Strength? Then, Ling’er, you’ve found the right man! Whether it’s stamina or endurance, I’m exceptional—I guarantee..." Ye Feng said, swallowing excitedly.

"Throw this disgusting quilt out. I bought a new one today, and I want to replace it," Xia Ling pointed at the neatly folded quilt on the bed. Ye Feng’s bedding had never been so tidy.

"Disgusting? Ling’er, let me tell you a story called 'The Farmer and the Snake'..." Ye Feng, seeing her ingratitude, felt he needed to purify her soul.

"Get moving!"

Ye Feng scooped up the quilt, and a faint, delicate fragrance drifted from it.

They say that when a young woman matures, she naturally emits a subtle scent—not strong like perfume, but gentle and comforting.

Ye Feng was entranced; his nostrils flared as he took a deep breath.

Seeing Ye Feng so shamelessly intoxicated, Xia Ling’s cheeks flushed.

"Out!" Xia Ling tossed the rest of Ye Feng’s things out, replacing them with her own purchases. She even had Ye Feng stick up some new wallpaper, transforming the room into a pink princess’s chamber.

"It’s beautiful!" Ye Feng hadn’t expected his home could be made so clean and lovely. Looking back, he realized how much he’d wasted such a fine room; compared to before, it was as if he’d been living in a garbage heap.

Xia Ling took pleasure in the compliment, though her face showed no hint of a smile.

"Ling’er, help me tidy up my room too, won’t you?" Ye Feng now understood the difference a clean room made to the spirit.

"Impossible! Out with you!" Xia Ling issued her eviction order without hesitation.

Ye Feng shook his head helplessly. "Ling’er, let me tell you a story. It’s called 'The Farmer and the Snake'..."

"Be home early tonight!" Xia Ling glanced at him as she spoke.

Ye Feng, whose heart had grown cold, felt a sudden warmth at her words. Was she flirting so openly with him?

"Tonight, tend to my injuries," Xia Ling added, closing the door behind her.

Bang!

Ye Feng was shut out of the room.

"Ling’er, I actually hadn’t finished my story just now..." Ye Feng muttered as he wandered into the master bedroom. Looking at his now dingy quilt, he thought perhaps it was time for a change.

"Never mind, I’ll deal with it later." Ye Feng soon drifted off to sleep.

When he next awoke, night had already fallen.

"It’s eight o’clock! I’m late!" Ye Feng’s anguished cry came from the guest bedroom.

He emerged to find Xia Ling quietly sipping her chicken soup at the dining table.

"Why didn’t you wake me?" he complained as he gathered his things.

"What does it have to do with me?" Xia Ling savored her soup, unbothered.

"Ungrateful wolf!"

"The soup is delicious. I want more tomorrow!" Though she sounded eager, her expression remained unchanged.

"Tasty, isn’t it? This double-boiling method really concentrates the nutrition in the soup..." Ye Feng launched into an explanation, pleased by her appreciation.

"Time’s almost up," Xia Ling reminded him.

"Ah, then I’m off. Sorry, but this is the last of the chicken—if you want more, there’s none left!" As Ye Feng finished, his phone rang.

"Hello, I’m your Dida Carpool driver. I’m downstairs now; you can come down," a polite voice said.

"Alright, I’ll be right down," Ye Feng replied and hung up.

"I called a car long ago! Much more convenient!" he said with a grin.

Xia Ling said nothing.

"Bye-bye~ I’ll bring back more black-bone chicken tonight!" Ye Feng called as he left.

"So this is what it feels like to be cared for?" Xia Ling murmured to herself. "He’s only like this because I’m pretty."

...

Jinjie Grand Hotel, in a private room. Hong Tian and a tableful of companions sat waiting for Ye Feng’s arrival. Without him, they dared not start the meal; only a few cold dishes were laid out, neatly arranged.

"What’s going on? Boss, isn’t this guy acting a bit high and mighty? It’s nearly nine already," grumbled a man about Hong Tian’s age, though much heavier. His words stirred a ripple of discontent around the table.

"Hong Di!" Hong Tian shot the man a glare.

"I’ll say this one last time: Ye Feng is my big brother! Even if we have to wait until morning, we’ll wait. If anyone complains or does anything to embarrass me when he gets here, don’t blame me for turning against you!" Hong Tian said angrily.

Instantly, the table fell silent. At that moment, the door swung open and a junior member rushed in, flustered.

"Boss, Boss is here. No—Big Brother Ye Feng is here!"

"Wait here, I’ll go greet him!" Hong Tian sprang up and hurried out, the junior in tow.

From a distance, Hong Tian spotted Ye Feng’s figure.

"Big Brother, right this way!" Hong Tian greeted Ye Feng with excitement, gripping his hand. He couldn’t be happier—Ye Feng’s arrival meant he truly accepted the position of their leader.

If the others knew their boss had begged Ye Feng to take charge, they’d be shocked; when had a leader ever humbled himself to recruit a big brother? But they didn’t understand Ye Feng’s strength. Only those with true power could be sought out to be called leader.

In some places, bosses rise through brute force—beat someone up today and they have to call you big brother. But such leadership is forced; when trouble comes, the boss is usually the first to be betrayed. Being begged to take the role—that is the highest level of leadership.

"Sorry I’m late," Ye Feng said apologetically. He offered no excuses—no talk of traffic or sudden matters. Those things may save face, but the result was the same: he was late. Besides, as a leader, arriving fashionably late gave him a bit of gravitas; if he came the first time he was called and right on time, no one would respect him.

Hong Tian led Ye Feng into the private room, bowing respectfully as he ushered him in.

This was clearly a large suite—much bigger than the standard rooms, with a long sofa inside.

Everyone could tell at a glance that this young man, about twenty, was the big brother Hong Tian had spoken of.

"He’s so young, and he’s to be our big brother?" Hong Di grumbled, not loudly, for Hong Tian had already warned them, but Ye Feng heard him clearly.

"So, someone doesn’t accept me," Ye Feng thought.

Of course, Hong Tian had seen his fighting skills firsthand, but just word of mouth about Ye Feng’s prowess was less convincing—especially since he was so young. People tend to respect age; how could they look up to someone so youthful?

Ye Feng had no intention of just sitting back and accepting their superficial respect. If they pretended deference but inwardly refused to accept him, Ye Feng would have none of it. Besides, it would make things difficult for Hong Tian.

"Call him Big Brother!" Hong Tian signaled the group.

They complied, but their voices lacked conviction.

Ye Feng waved his hand lightly. "I know you don’t accept me, and I have no need to make you. I’m just Hong Tian’s big brother—I won’t meddle in your internal affairs."

At this, Hong Di snorted, "You’re the boss’s boss, and you won’t get involved? Sounds nice!"

"I won’t meddle in your affairs, but if anyone has a problem with me, they can challenge me at any time. For example, you..." In a flash, Ye Feng appeared before Hong Di, his right hand locking around Hong Di’s throat, lifting him single-handedly off the ground.

The others stared in shock—what strength! Hong Di was even heavier than Hong Tian.

With Ye Feng’s icy gaze fixed on him, a sense of death pressed on Hong Di’s heart as his throat tightened, breath growing thin.

Hong Tian saw that Ye Feng was asserting his dominance, and he knew Ye Feng wouldn’t really harm Hong Di—just scare him a little. This would make things easier for him as well.

"I yield!" Hong Di choked out. Only then did he find his breathing returning to normal as Ye Feng released him.

"Anyone else not convinced?" Hong Tian, seeing Ye Feng’s show of strength, could read the change in his followers’ faces.

"Big Brother!" The chorus this time was much louder.

Just as the shout died down, noise from the next room filtered through. Despite the hotel’s excellent soundproofing, it was no match for a crowd shouting in unison.

"Yun Yun, drink up! Yun Yun, drink up!"

Male and female voices chanted together, urging someone on.