Chapter 163 The Waiter
The banquet began, and all the wealthy figures of Jiangbei took their seats.
At the head table.
Besides Murong Yuan and Zhang Pangzi, Song Ruyu was also present. Logically, Song Ruyu shouldn't be seated there, but Murong Yuan, intending to promote his niece, had her sit beside him.
Everyone knew of Murong Yuan's relationship with the renowned Master Chen, so no one dared to comment.
Meanwhile, Chen Xuan stood two meters away from the head table, responsible for pouring wine for the guests at the main table.
He was dressed in a waiter's uniform and wore a cap; no one recognized him.
At this moment, Murong Yuan looked at the empty main seat, his expression growing increasingly anxious. "Zhang Pangzi, what's going on? Where is Master Chen?"
Zhang Pangzi was also bewildered, scratching his head. "I don't know either. I brought Master Chen in through the back entrance to the banquet, and then I went to talk business with Zhao Feilong."
"You still dared to abandon Master Chen to discuss business? If anything happened to Master Chen, I won't forgive you!" Murong Yuan huffed and puffed, scolding loudly.
"Mr. Murong, please stop talking. I've sent someone to check the surveillance."
Zhang Pangzi was full of regret. If he had known, he would have stayed by Master Chen's side without leaving. Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret in the world. He had already secretly sent someone to check the surveillance to find Chen Xuan's whereabouts.
Song Hongyu, hearing their conversation, felt an increasing sense of unease for some reason.
But that young man was dressed in ordinary clothes and even helped him move wine. How could he be Master Chen?
At this moment, many wealthy figures from Jiangbei came to toast with their wine glasses. However, whenever Master Chen was mentioned, Zhang Pangzi and Murong Yuan exchanged glances and could only find excuses, claiming Master Chen would arrive shortly.
Just then, Zhao Feilong, the proprietor of Tianhao Hotel, arrived with his son, Zhao Jiaming, scurrying along.
Zhao Feilong smiled and said, "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Murong, Zhao is honored to be able to host this grand feast and thanks everyone for gracing us with their presence."
"Mr. Zhao, you are too kind. If there's nothing else, you may return now."
With Chen Xuan's disappearance and whereabouts unknown, Zhang Pangzi had no intention of socializing with them and dismissively replied.
"We don't know where Master Chen is. The Zhao family father and son would like to meet him?" Zhao Feilong was stunned and didn't leave, looking around. However, Master Chen was not at this table.
Zhang Pangzi's face sank, and he said coldly, "Master Chen has something to attend to and may return later."
A flash of displeasure crossed Zhao Feilong's face.
You good-for-nothing Zhang Pangzi, I gave you a lot of benefits just now, and now you're pushing back when I ask you to introduce Master Chen.
However, Zhao Feilong was a shrewd man. Before he could curry favor with Master Chen, he dared not offend Zhang Pangzi. He immediately regained his composure and smiled, "Then Zhao will toast everyone here first!"
At this moment, Zhao Jiaming saw that Murong Yuan's wine glass was empty. He glanced at Chen Xuan beside him and coldly shouted, "Waiter, look at your attentiveness. Aren't you going to quickly pour wine for Mr. Murong! I think you're asking for a beating!"
At this moment, Zhao Jiaming suddenly regretted letting Chen Xuan serve the head table. He had purely wanted to show off his status. With Chen Xuan's lack of attentiveness, if he served them poorly, their Zhao family would also be implicated.
"I will pour wine for you now."
Chen Xuan walked forward expressionlessly, picked up the wine pot, and poured wine for Murong Yuan.
Murong Yuan took the wine glass and, by chance, glanced at Chen Xuan's face, and his expression immediately changed drastically!
Then, with a "whoosh," he stood up!
His face pale, he stared at Chen Xuan, holding the wine glass with utmost respect.
"Uncle Murong, why are you standing up? He's just a waiter." Zhao Jiaming frowned.
Zhao Feilong, seeing this, was also puzzled.
You waiter, your sister!
Your entire family are waiters!
Murong Yuan now wished he could skin the Zhao father and son alive.
Seeing Chen Xuan wearing that waiter's uniform, he had already guessed that the Zhao family was likely involved in this matter.
He bowed, glanced at Chen Xuan, and softly asked, "Why are you here?"
Chen Xuan glanced at Zhao Jiaming and said faintly, "Young Master Zhao said Tianhao Hotel was short of waiters and gave me a tremendous opportunity to serve the guests at the head table and witness Master Chen's demeanor. Of course, I had to cherish this opportunity."
Upon hearing this, Murong Yuan's face suddenly darkened, and he looked fiercely at Zhao Jiaming. Damn it, this guy wants to die?
Zhao Jiaming stared at Chen Xuan and said coldly, "Cherish your ass! Is this how you serve the guests at the head table? Fine, you're fired. Get out!"
*Slap!*
Murong Yuan's eyes were red as he directly slapped Zhao Jiaming hard in the face, sending Zhao Jiaming falling to the ground.
"Uncle Murong, why are you hitting me? I was just teaching a waiter a lesson."
Zhao Jiaming held his swollen, red cheek and said blankly.
"Mr. Murong, what do you mean by this?" Zhao Feilong asked, confused.
"You are the waiter, your whole family are waiters, all your ancestors for eighteen generations are waiters! This is Master Chen Xuan!"
Murong Yuan looked at Chen Xuan, cupped his hands, and his voice resounded!
When he mentioned the words "Master Chen," a look of reverence appeared on his face!
"Ah?"
Zhao Jiaming looked at Chen Xuan, his eyeballs almost popping out. Zhao Feilong was also stunned.
How could this guy be Master Chen?
And Song Hongyu beside them had her lips parted into an 'o' shape, staring intently at Chen Xuan.
He is really Master Chen?
She seemed to have told the Master Chen she longed to meet in person that she liked him?
For a moment, her pretty face burned.
The key was that she had made the Master Chen she dreamed of meeting go and move wine... Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and she just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"Mr. Murong, have you made a mistake? He's just a handyman?" Zhao Jiaming couldn't help but say.
"How dare you insult Mr. Chen? Are you looking for death?" Zhang Pangzi slammed the table and was about to slap Zhao Jiaming again.
"Enough!"
Chen Xuan waved his hand to stop Zhang Pangzi and said faintly, "It's such a grand banquet, why get angry over a trivial person!"
Only then did Zhang Pangzi stop, saying indifferently, "The matter of your Zhao family seeking Master Chen's protection is canceled!"
Zhao Feilong's face immediately turned ashen. He looked at Zhao Jiaming, increasingly angry. He had intended to take this opportunity to curry favor with Master Chen, but it was all ruined by his oblivious son!
He angrily raised his arm and slapped Zhao Jiaming several times. Then, his legs went weak, and he knelt straight in front of Chen Xuan, pleading, "Master Chen, our Zhao family knows we were wrong. It's all my son's fault for not having eyes. Given that he didn't know your identity, please spare our Zhao family this once!"
Chen Xuan's face was expressionless, and he said coldly, "Scram!"
The Zhao father and son dared not linger, lest they be an eyesore, and turned to flee in disarray.
Seeing this scene, the wealthy figures of Jiangbei knew the Zhao family was finished and quickly sent messages to sever their interests with the Zhao family.
"Master Chen, you truly are magnanimous. A prime minister's belly can accommodate a boat." Zhang Pangzi praised.
Chen Xuan looked at his waiter's uniform and realized it wasn't suitable for the occasion, so he changed back into his own clothes.
As Chen Xuan sat down at the banquet, Zhang Pangzi raised his wine glass with a look of guilt. "Master Chen, I am truly sorry. This is all my fault."
Chen Xuan waved his hand, not taking it to heart, and raised his wine glass, drinking it down in one gulp.
Murong Yuan felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
While Chen Xuan was changing, he had already understood the truth of the matter.
He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Xiao Yu, if it weren't for you, Master Chen wouldn't have suffered this humiliation. Hurry up and apologize to Master Chen."
Song Hongyu's pretty face felt as if it were burning, and the roots of her ears turned red. She didn't even dare to look at Chen Xuan, saying nervously, "Master Chen, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were Master Chen. If I had known you were Master Chen, I would never have let you move wine."