Rebirth: The Villainous Young Master in a Novel

Chapter 15: The Substitute

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The two extended luxury cars drove along the wide city roads and finally arrived at a five-star hotel in the commercial district.

Fenghua Grand Hotel.

This hotel was also quite familiar to Song Shicheng, as it was frequently mentioned in the novel. After all, in urban cliché stories, dining venues are often the perfect setting for the protagonist to show off, humiliate others, and make influential connections.

At the same time, this hotel was owned by Fenghua Group and was one of the most prestigious and well-known hotels in Huahai City. Song Shicheng remembered writing about how the young master Song often used it for his wild parties, and one of the presidential suites was exclusively reserved for him.

As the doorman respectfully opened the car door, the hotel’s general manager and various department heads rushed out, bowing in unison, their greetings echoing in the air.

“Chairman, welcome!”

“Young Master Song, welcome!”

“Mr. Shen, welcome!”

Shen Guotao walked over and joked, “Put the meal on my tab. Even though the hotel is yours, since I’m hosting, I should at least follow the proper etiquette.”

“We’re all family. No need to be so formal.”

Ji Jing smiled and brushed it off, not paying much attention to these trivial details.

After all, Qingmao Group and Fenghua Group had been closely collaborating for years. Any expenses incurred at each other’s establishments were usually settled through accounts.

For example, Song Shicheng’s long stay in the VIP ward of Qingmao Hospital hadn’t been mentioned in terms of payment.

In short, the two families had been working together for over a decade, and their interests were deeply intertwined.

The group entered the hotel accompanied by the hotel manager and others. The lobby was filled with enthusiastic greetings, making Song Shicheng feel somewhat uncomfortable. Fortunately, he had already mentally prepared himself for his privileged status and managed to remain composed.

Once inside the elevator, only the restaurant manager stayed to serve them, while the others returned to their respective duties.

As the elevator ascended, Ji Jing inquired about the hotel’s recent performance. After hearing the restaurant manager’s report, she shook her head slightly.

It was clear that the hotel’s current business situation wasn’t ideal.

Song Shicheng also began to ponder.

He naturally understood why Fenghua Group was struggling.

Ever since Old Man Song was shot dead by an unpaid construction worker, scandals about Fenghua Group exploiting laborers had spread like wildfire. The group’s reputation had plummeted, and netizens had even launched a boycott campaign against Fenghua Group, severely impacting its hotel and real estate businesses!

The original intention behind writing this part was to weaken the antagonist’s power and give the protagonist a chance to rise. But now, Song Shicheng had to start filling in the holes he had dug, or else he wouldn’t have the capital to live luxuriously in the future.

When they reached the private room on the top floor, the waiter opened the door, revealing a dazzling, opulent environment that once again caught everyone’s attention. The room spanned nearly 200 square meters and was divided into several areas by screens depicting court ladies: a reception area, a lounge, a tea-tasting area, and a large rotating dining table.

The two walls facing the southeast corner were floor-to-ceiling windows. The restaurant manager rushed over to draw the curtains, immediately revealing the bustling cityscape of Huahai. Standing by the window, one could feel a sense of superiority, as if looking down on the world.

“Come, Xiaoyan, sit next to Ah Cheng.”

Shen Guotao deliberately arranged the seating.

Shen Xiaoyan was naturally unwilling but didn’t dare to defy her father. She reluctantly sat next to Young Master Song.

Seeing this, both Ji Jing and Ye Wensheng frowned slightly. They were increasingly sensing that Shen Guotao’s banquet might have some hidden agenda.

Song Shicheng also noticed something unusual and patiently waited to see what Shen Guotao was up to.

However, as he sat down and caught the refreshing fragrance wafting from beside him, he couldn’t help but glance over a few more times.

Although they had seen each other almost daily in the hospital, being this close now made him even more aware of the female protagonist’s stunning beauty. Especially since Shen Xiaoyan was no longer in her usual white lab coat. Instead, she wore a soft, sleeveless, waist-cinching white dress that not only didn’t hide her snow-white complexion but accentuated her pure and elegant beauty, like a magnolia flower on a snowy mountain. Her graceful demeanor exuded a noble and refined aura.

Her slender, jade-like legs, arms, and swan-like neck, along with her smooth, flowing hair and radiant, delicate features, were all captivating.

Unfortunately, before he could admire her for long, Shen Xiaoyan shot him an icy glare, then turned her head away and began absentmindedly fiddling with her fingers.

Song Shicheng smiled wryly but wasn’t discouraged. Instead, he became even more enthusiastic about figuring out how to steal her away.

He suddenly realized that, as a villain, snatching the woman from the protagonist’s grasp could be quite an interesting endeavor.

Soon, the dishes were served one after another. During the meal, aside from Ji Jing and Shen Guotao’s casual chit-chat, everything remained uneventful.

“By the way, Ah Jing, have you thought about the cooperation project I mentioned last time?” Shen Guotao suddenly brought up a serious matter.

Ji Jing probed, “Are you talking about the senior care base project?”

Shen Guotao nodded, “Exactly. I plan to build four large senior care bases in the top four cities in the country, including Huahai. They’ll integrate medical rehabilitation, cultural entertainment, and leisure vacations.”

“I’ve looked into it carefully, and to be honest, do you really think this project will be profitable?” Ji Jing asked cautiously.

“Of course it will be profitable—extremely profitable!” Shen Guotao exuded the confidence of a seasoned businessman. “You see, the medical industry is almost saturated, but with the increasing proportion of elderly people in the country, the senior care industry will undoubtedly become one of the hottest and most lucrative sectors in the future. Right now, the top four cities have the largest elderly populations and the strongest economic power. If we join forces, once the senior care bases are built, they’ll be cash cows!”

Ji Jing was tempted but still had reservations. “It sounds promising, but the group’s current strategic focus is on several real estate projects, and our cash flow is tight. Taking on such a large project all at once might face resistance from the board…”

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I believe others will also see the potential here,” Shen Guotao said, clearly aware that Ji Jing’s influence on the board was limited, so he didn’t push too hard.

After moving past this topic, Shen Guotao changed the subject, “By the way, when Brother Song was still alive, we agreed that our families would form a marriage alliance. Although Brother Song is no longer with us, a promise is a promise. Now that Shicheng has recovered and our project collaboration is about to begin, why don’t we hold an engagement banquet for the two children in a few days? What do you think?”

Hearing this, Ji Jing, Ye Wensheng, and Song Shicheng all changed expressions.

Song Shicheng was inwardly panicking and anxious.

Ji Jing and Ye Wensheng, on the other hand, were pleasantly surprised. Just as they were noticing the Shen family’s wavering attitude and fearing the marriage alliance might fall through, Shen Guotao had unexpectedly brought it up himself!

“I have no objections. Besides, Ah Cheng has been through a lot recently. It would be good to have a celebration to ward off bad luck,” Ji Jing agreed, seeing this as an excellent opportunity to inject some much-needed morale into the group. However, she was puzzled as to why Shen Guotao hadn’t brought his eldest daughter, Shen Yixian, to discuss the marriage alliance, instead bringing his illegitimate daughter.

“Great, it’s settled then. From now on, I’ll call you ‘in-law,’” Shen Guotao said with a beaming smile. Then he turned to Shen Xiaoyan, who was drinking water, and said, “Xiaoyan, did you hear that? Hurry up and greet your future mother-in-law.”

*Clang!*

The water glass fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.