Chapter 12: The Troublesome Guest

Yunan Group’s flagship store in Yangcheng was situated right across from the Galaxy Building, bearing the name Yunan Wellness Center. The entire building had six floors; the first to third were business areas, while the fourth to sixth served as the headquarters office for Yunan Group.

Lu Feng entered the wellness center’s lobby with Qilin at his side, and was immediately intercepted by security.

“Sorry, sir, pets aren’t allowed here.”

Lu Feng had heard before coming that city folk had many rules, and sure enough, it was true. Since pets weren’t permitted, he didn’t press the issue, simply patting Qilin on the back and pointing outside. Qilin, clever as ever, trotted out and sat obediently by the door, tongue lolling as he looked toward Lu Feng.

Seeing that Lu Feng hadn’t brought his dog inside, the security guards ceased their obstruction and gestured for him to proceed.

Lu Feng walked up to the front desk.

The receptionist wore a red cheongsam with a teardrop neckline. She was reasonably attractive—her makeup earned her an eighty, though without it she might drop ten points, but it was still impressive.

She smiled and asked, “Hello, sir. How may I assist you?”

At a glance, the receptionist noted that Lu Feng’s clothes weren’t expensive. They weren’t street market fare, but Adidas was common and considered low-end in Yunan Wellness Center, where the clientele were generally wealthy and health-conscious.

Hearing that Lu Feng was seeking someone and not here to spend money, her enthusiasm waned, though she remained polite. “Who are you looking for?”

“Su Dao’an.”

Su Dao’an?

The name sounded familiar to her, but she couldn’t immediately place it. After a moment’s thought, she realized Su Dao’an was the chairman. Such a person couldn’t just be seen on a whim; one had to schedule an appointment with the chairman’s assistant, and it wasn’t the receptionist’s responsibility.

She scrutinized Lu Feng again, recalling that the chairman only had two daughters—not a son. This young man seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

“I’m sorry, our chairman is very busy. If you wish to meet him, please arrange an appointment with his assistant. If you need other services, feel free to inquire,” she responded firmly.

“I have to make an appointment to see him? Does that old man think he’s so important? Hurry up and call him down,” Lu Feng replied, tapping the counter with impatience.

“I’m sorry, you cannot see the chairman. If you have no other business, please leave. Otherwise, I’ll have to call security,” the receptionist said coldly, her smile gone, suspecting Lu Feng was here to cause trouble.

Lu Feng scratched his head, baffled by the recurring obstacles whenever he sought Su Dao’an.

“I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Just call Su Dao’an and tell him Lu Feng is here. He’ll come down,” Lu Feng said.

“If you don’t leave, I’ll call security,” the receptionist said, waving to the two guards in the lobby.

The guards, who had been watching Lu Feng ever since he brought his dog in, hurried over, flanking him on either side.

“Sir, please leave,” one said.

Lu Feng sighed. “Are you sure you won’t call Su Dao’an for me?”

With the guards at her side, the receptionist grew bolder, mocking, “The chairman isn’t someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can meet. You’d better go. Yunan has a strong background; if you want to make trouble, you’ve picked the wrong place.”

“Alright, since you insist, I’ll just call him myself,” Lu Feng said, pulling out his phone.

He’d bought the phone at the mall yesterday. Assistant Chen had given him a number, reciting it aloud. Lu Feng wasn’t well-acquainted with Chen and hadn’t planned to trouble him, so he only memorized the number and didn’t save it.

Fortunately, Lu Feng’s memory was sharp. He dialed the number as Chen had given it.

When the call connected, Lu Feng said, “Assistant Chen? I’m in the wellness center lobby. Tell Su Dao’an to come down and see me.”

His tone was somewhat commanding.

The receptionist and the guards suppressed laughter, thinking his act was poor.

“Alright, you’ve called. Can you leave now?” the receptionist said, barely containing her amusement.

A minute later, Su Dao’an rushed out of the elevator, Assistant Chen trailing behind.

“Xiao Feng, what brings you here? Why didn’t you come upstairs?” Su Dao’an grasped Lu Feng’s hand warmly.

The receptionist and guards were stunned. Even if a family member visited, the chairman wouldn’t personally come down to greet them. What was going on?

“They wouldn’t let me,” Lu Feng said casually.

Su Dao’an glanced at the receptionist and guards, guessed what had happened, and his face darkened. “The three of you need not come to work tomorrow.”

Their faces fell. Working at Yunan paid only an above-average wage, but the tips from wealthy clients amounted to four figures every month. Losing this job meant losing a golden opportunity.

“Chairman… please don’t dismiss me, I can’t be without work,” the receptionist pleaded, grabbing Su Dao’an’s arm.

Rumor had it Su Dao’an was a single man, widowed for years and never remarried, so pretty female employees often hoped to catch the eye of this eligible bachelor. Yet Su Dao’an had never shown special interest in anyone.

Now, with a young man addressed as “Xiao Feng” so intimately, the receptionist’s imagination ran wild—could this be the chairman’s illegitimate son? Perhaps he had a mistress outside the company, which explained his lack of interest in the female staff.

The two guards hurried to explain, “Chairman, we were very polite to Young Master Feng. We didn’t make things difficult for him.”

“Chairman… please, don’t fire me,” the receptionist begged.

Su Dao’an’s face remained cold, unmoved.

Assistant Chen signaled the receptionist and gestured toward Lu Feng.

The receptionist, quick-witted, let go of Su Dao’an’s arm and switched tactics, clinging to Lu Feng and whining, “Young Master Feng, I really didn’t mean it. I didn’t know you. Let me buy you a drink to make amends, please don’t hold it against me.”

While she acted coy, she pressed Lu Feng’s arm against her chest.

Lu Feng felt goosebumps and quickly shook her off. “Forget it. Losing your job over a small matter like this is too much.”

Seeing Lu Feng’s leniency, Su Dao’an relented. “Alright, you three reflect on this and be more alert in the future.”

“Yes, yes… thank you Chairman, thank you Young Master Feng…” the three nodded vigorously.

“Xiao Feng, let’s go upstairs,” Su Dao’an said, pulling Lu Feng into the elevator. Once inside, he asked, “Why did you come today?”

Lu Feng thought before replying, “Regarding the Thousand Gold Formula, I represent my sect. I need to clarify what you’re using it for. Otherwise, when I return to Yunshan, I’ll have no answer for the old master.”

“That’s easy. Let Assistant Chen show you around later,” Su Dao’an said seriously, always attentive to matters concerning the sect.

He led Lu Feng to the top-floor office. Barely three minutes after they sat down, the lobby manager hurried in and knocked.

“Chairman, a guest insists on seeing you.”

“Can’t you see I have visitors?” Su Dao’an replied.

“Chairman, it’s Ms. Fang, a loyal client. After her wellness steaming, her face developed red spots. She claims our secret formula is faulty,” the manager explained rapidly.

The reputation of Yunshan’s Thousand Gold Formula could not be tarnished. Lu Feng said, “Let’s go take a look.”