"Family Head, I... I know I was wrong!" Wang Conghu stepped forward, his shoulders trembling almost imperceptibly.

He had to secure his position! If he kept being stubborn, who knew if Wong Qifu would escalate his violations to the heavens...

"You shouldn't be saying this to me," Wong Qifu said coolly. "Apologize to the person you've wronged!"

Wang Conghu's expression instantly stiffened. Apologize to Xu Ke? How is that possible!

When Wang Conghu had the upper hand just a moment ago, he had managed to "politely" drive Xu Ke away with a smile on his face. But to make him bow and apologize to Xu Ke now... That's even harder than killing him!

However, seeing Wong Qifu's gaze, Wang Conghu didn't dare to act out of turn.

He walked up to Xu Ke, bowed, and said, "Mister Xu, I'm sorry."

"I was in the wrong tonight. Please forgive me."

"I will take you upstairs now!"

But Xu Ke didn't accept it, merely looking at Wang Conghu coldly. "Apologize to my parents and my second uncle!"

Wang Conghu's face turned ashen. Wong Liqing had told him that Xu Ke's parents were just ordinary people who ran a pig farm in Jiang City.

Xu Ke is really pushing his luck! And he still expects an apology for this? The shame in Wang Conghu's chest was about to erupt.

The atmosphere tensed up immediately. Seeing this, Shen Fen wanted to tell her son it was fine and that they didn't need to apologize. But before she could speak, Wong Qifu turned her head. "What? Is there a problem with taking responsibility for your mistake?"

In the end, Wang Conghu lowered his head. "To the three elders of the Xu family, I am very sorry!"

"Our hotel is willing to cover your losses. Please forgive my error!"

At his words, Wong Liqing's face, who was standing to the side, had already turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Is Wong Qifu making Wang Conghu apologize? She's slapping my face! Everyone knows Wang Conghu and I have a good relationship. Forcing Wang Conghu's head down to apologize to Xu Ke is the same as forcing my head down to apologize to him!

"It's okay, it's okay..." Seeing Wang Conghu apologize, Shen Fen hurriedly waved her hand. Xu Ke's mother didn't want the atmosphere to become too stiff, either!

When Wang Conghu saw that Shen Fen had given him an out, he immediately stood up and looked at Wong Qifu, who then said, "Alright. Now let's discuss your punishment."

Wang Conghu's eyes widened. There's still a punishment?

"Wang Conghu," Wong Qifu said calmly. "As the head of the Wangjiang Hotel, you have demonstrated poor management and lax administration. Your planned promotion is now pending. You will re-enter a one-month observation period. In one month, you will undergo a second assessment."

At her words, Wang Conghu's face went deathly pale. He thought he'd be safe with Wong Liqing's support, but he never expected this. This time, I've really fallen! He knew exactly what the observation period meant within the corporation... Not only was his path to promotion blocked, but he was also under the constraint of what was nominally an observation period, but in reality a danger period.

Seeing his man taken down by Wong Qifu, Wong Liqing's eyes widened. "Isn't this punishment a bit much?"

Wong Qifu looked at him. "I haven't even gotten to your problems yet!"

"What problems do I have? I just disapproved and said a couple of words, that's all!" Wong Liqing relied on his seniority, assuming he couldn't possibly get into trouble.

But Wong Qifu simply said coldly, "Wong Liqing, the hotel does not fall under your scope of management. This matter has nothing to do with your job duties. You overstepped your authority. Such a violation cannot set a precedent in the Wang Family Corporation. Therefore, your punishment will be decided after tomorrow's meeting. Come to the corporate office tomorrow!"

At her words, Wong Liqing's expression finally changed dramatically. "Wong Qifu, I just said a few words! How is that overstepping my authority?! Are you going too far to protect Xu Ke?!"

But Wong Qifu's face remained cold. "The rules and regulations have been laid out for you in detail. Conduct yourself accordingly."

Wong Liqing's face stiffened, and a chill ran through him. Wong Qifu... she was truly showing no mercy this time. If she really pushes this accusation of overstepping my authority, I'm going to suffer a huge loss!

After she finished speaking, Wong Qifu turned directly to Xu Ke. "I've handled it. Let's go. We'll eat somewhere else."

Even though the Wangjiang Hotel held great significance for her, it was now just a source of frustration for Xu Ke's parents. No matter how much she wanted to eat there, she had to change venues.

"Alright," Xu Ke nodded.

Wong Qifu looked at Xu Zhenguo, Shen Fen, and Xu Zhentai. "Uncle, Auntie, I'm sorry to trouble you to make another trip."

"It's no trouble at all. It won't interfere with your important matters, will it?" Xu Zhenguo asked.

Wong Qifu offered a gentle smile. "No, it won't. Let's go!"

With that, Xu Ke and Wong Qifu walked out.

As their group departed, the lobby of the Wangjiang Hotel remained deathly silent. Wong Qifu's merciless and direct attack on Wong Liqing had shocked everyone. Wong Liqing was not only Wang Jiangnian's cousin but also a veteran figure in the family. He was practically royalty. No one had expected Wong Qifu to go to such lengths for Xu Ke. It was truly a surprise to them all.

This, however, only made the others look down on Xu Ke even more. Before Wong Qifu arrived, Xu Ke was helpless. After she arrived, he was just riding her coattails, flaunting her power. What was the point of that? What a spineless man... He might as well just kill himself!

After Xu Ke, Wong Qifu, and their family had truly left, Wong Liqing returned to Wang Conghu's office. He violently smashed a vase on the ground, his roar shaking the room. "Xu Ke, I'll fucking drive you out of the Wang Family!"

Wong Qifu and Xu Ke got into one car, while Xu Zhenguo and the other two took another.

In the car, Xu Ke drove. Since there wasn't a spare driver and Wong Qifu didn't want to use anyone from the Wangjiang Hotel, he took the wheel.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Wong Qifu sighed. "I'm sorry. He found someone to delay me, so I was late."

"It's okay. It's not your fault," Xu Ke said, shaking his head. This had nothing to do with Wong Qifu. It's because I'm too weak!

"I'm sorry," Wong Qifu said softly.

Xu Ke turned to look at her, a teasing glint in his eyes. "No need to apologize. You should be thinking about whether you're going to call them 'Mom' and 'Dad' with me later!"

Wong Qifu looked into his ink-black eyes. She knew Xu Ke was deliberately teasing her to divert her attention and dispel the negative feelings carried over from the Wangjiang Hotel.

But her expression remained unchanged. "I'll call them whatever you want me to."

Xu Ke's face stiffened for a moment before he broke into a laugh. "What are you even saying?" Her words made him feel much better, dispelling his gloomy mood.

"Isn't that what you wanted to hear?" A faint smile touched the corners of Wong Qifu's lips. Seeing his mood improve, she finally let out a silent sigh of relief.

Xu Ke smiled and said nothing more.

After they'd driven for a while, the car fell into silence. A moment later, Wong Qifu spoke again, her voice slightly subdued. "The Wangjiang Hotel is very important to me."

"It didn't always have this name."

"It was the hotel my parents took me to for the first birthday I remember celebrating. I bought it later and renamed it."

Xu Ke's hands tightened on the steering wheel.

He could imagine how disappointed Wong Qifu must be that they couldn't dine at the Wangjiang Hotel. She had been so uncharacteristically anxious this afternoon, asking all those questions... Didn't she bring him to the Wangjiang Hotel so her deceased parents could witness the moment she was discussing marriage?

But now...

Xu Ke's face turned ashen, and rage threatened to erupt from his chest. If he could kill Wong Liqing, he absolutely would!

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