After exiting the station, they got into the seven-seater van arranged by the hotel. Xu Ke had Xu Zhentai take the front passenger seat, only to turn around and discover that Xu Zhenmin and Xu Feng'an had already claimed the two middle seats. After sitting down, Xu Feng'an even shot Xu Ke a smug look.

Seeing this, Xu Ke's expression immediately turned cold. He had intended to save those two seats for his parents. But before he could say a word, Shen Fen tugged at his sleeve, forcing him to swallow his anger. The family of three then squeezed into the last row's three seats.

The van set off toward the hotel Xu Ke had booked.

On the way, Xu Feng'an grew restless. "Xu Ke, what kind of hotel did you book for your aunt? I remember Qing He saying that the Wang Family owns several star-rated hotels."

"So? Did you manage to get us a free stay?" She had come to Tianhai fully intending to take advantage of everything she could.

Sitting in the back seat, Xu Ke replied indifferently, "No."

Xu Feng'an glared. "How could you not? Isn't it a waste of money to book something else?" It wasn't that she was actually afraid of wasting money. She just knew in her heart that the hotel Xu Ke had booked for her was bound to be nothing special, so she'd much rather sponge a stay at one of the Wang Family's high-end hotels.

Xu Ke sneered, "Since you think booking a hotel for you is a waste of money, you might as well pack your bags and go back to Tianhai right now."

"You!" Xu Feng'an was furious. "You little scoundrel, what are you talking about?"

Just as the two were about to start arguing again, Xu Zhenguo shouted, "Enough! Xu Ke, apologize to your aunt. Stop making a scene in the car. What kind of behavior is this?"

Second Uncle Xu Zhentai, watching the whole scene in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but shake his head.

Xu Feng'an immediately perked up. "Hurry up and apologize, your dad said so! Also, change our booking to a five-star hotel. I want to stay for free!"

Knowing his father couldn't stand to see him argue with his elders, Xu Ke apologized readily. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said your husband was impolite."

The triumphant look on Xu Feng'an's face vanished. She wanted him to apologize for the hotel situation and change the booking. Why did his apology suddenly seem to be about what happened back at the high-speed rail station?

But before she could cause another fuss, Second Uncle Xu Zhentai changed the subject. "Fourth Sister, what was that you said on the train? Which hotel is Qing He eating at? Didn't you say everything was arranged and we were all supposed to go?"

At the mention of her son, Xu Feng'an forgot about arguing and began to boast, "Oh, Qing He said he's having lunch with his company's boss and some business partners. I hear it's at the very exclusive Felice Grand Hotel. I wonder how far this shabby place Xu Ke booked is from there. Why don't we just head over there first?"

After she spoke, the expressions on Shen Fen and Xu Zhenguo's faces grew even more unpleasant. Xu Feng'an shot a contemptuous glance at Xu Ke from the corner of her eye and called out to the driver, "Driver, how far are we from the Felice Grand Hotel? Why does it feel like we're driving deeper into the middle of nowhere?"

The driver, who had been focused on the road, replied, "This van is the Felice's own guest shuttle. We're heading to the Felice right now!"

His words fell, and Xu Feng'an's face instantly stiffened. What did that mean? Was the driver saying Xu Ke had booked them into the Felice Grand Hotel?

Third Uncle Xu Zhenmin was stunned. "We're going to stay at the Felice?"

"Yes," the driver nodded.

Xu Zhenmin gasped. Xu Ke has this much money now? Just a moment ago in the car, Xu Feng'an was going on about how a night at the Felice costs thousands, even tens of thousands. She even mentioned that Nie Qinghe had stayed there once on the company's dime and how comfortable it was... And now Xu Ke has booked this very hotel? With his own money?!

Even Xu Zhentai couldn't hide a flicker of surprise.

Xu Feng'an's expression, however, turned completely sour. Doesn't this mean her own son has been outdone?

But Shen Fen couldn't help feeling a pang of distress and whispered, "How much did you spend? Do you have enough?" She assumed Xu Ke had specifically booked the Felice because he was afraid Xu Feng'an would find fault with anything less.

Seeing this, Xu Ke just smiled. "It's fine, Mom. I have the money."

Xu Zhenguo, however, remained silent. Xu Ke didn't earn this money himself, he thought. Wong Qifu must have given it to him.

At that moment, the same thought occurred to Xu Feng'an, and she started chirping, "You have money? What money? You must have spent Wong Qifu's money. Given that you had to empty the family coffers just to buy an apartment after working for two years, you're putting us up in this hotel? What a joke! Could you afford even one night here on a month of your own salary?"

Having said her piece, Xu Feng'an felt a wave of relief. My son hasn't been outdone! If it weren't for Xu Ke's dumb luck getting him kept by Wong Qifu, how could he possibly compare to my son?

When Third Uncle Xu Zhenmin heard this, his surprise vanished. That's right! If it's Wong Qifu's money, what's so surprising?

This time, Xu Ke didn't bother arguing with Xu Feng'an. From the train station until now, he knew that as long as his father was present, it would be impossible to argue her into silence.

Seeing Xu Ke fall completely quiet this time, Xu Feng'an felt as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders, and she relaxed completely. Doesn't his silence just prove we were right? And now, I get to sponge off Wong Qifu's money and stay in such a nice hotel... Coming to Tianhai was definitely the right choice!

After exchanging a glance with Xu Zhenmin, they both leaned back comfortably in the middle seats and began to doze. Meanwhile, the family of three in the back row simply had to make do for the rest of the journey.

Soon, the van arrived at the Felice Grand Hotel. As they got out one by one, Xu Zhenmin stood before the hotel entrance, utterly dumbfounded. "This place is way too luxurious! Are these walls inlaid with diamonds? Why are they glowing?" He felt an urge to pry up the floor tiles right there at the entrance. They must be worth a lot of money!

His voice, still loud, drew several odd looks from passersby.

"Can you at least try to act like you've seen something of the world?" Xu Feng'an snapped irritably. How embarrassing! If I can meet Wong Qifu later, getting a whole hotel like this will be a piece of cake!

"Mister Xu, I'll take your luggage up first," the driver said, now speaking with Xu Ke.

"Thank you, that would be a great help." Xu Ke nodded and, seeing that no one was looking, discreetly slipped the driver a handsome tip.

The driver's face lit up with a delighted smile. "Thank you!" With that, he took his leave.

Seeing the driver leave with their luggage, Xu Zhenmin exclaimed, "My suitcase is valuable! It's not going to get stolen, is it?"

This time, even Xu Feng'an couldn't be bothered to respond to him. "Let's go. We're heading up. Qing He said he's eating in a private room in the second-floor tea restaurant. He already booked another private room for us to wait for him in!" she declared, raising an eyebrow with a look of pure triumph. Now, it was her son who had made the reservation and was playing host! This was completely different from Xu Ke, who had to rely on Wong Qifu's money to save face.

"Qing He is so considerate. Let's head up, then," Second Uncle Xu Zhentai said coolly, striding ahead once more.

The others quickly followed. Shen Fen, however, hung back with Xu Ke and whispered, "Xu Ke, don't argue with your aunt anymore. Just endure it if you can. It's beneath you to bicker with a woman like that."

"Okay, Mom." Xu Ke nodded.

Shen Fen patted his hand and sighed. "You've been wronged."

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