C12 12] Centurion

Holding a Centurion bank card requires a minimum of one million in assets. For a Captain card, the bank demands a five-million-dollar deposit. And for a Major General card, the balance must not dip below ten million!

Su Hai's net worth hovered around thirty million, though the bulk of it was tied up in real estate and stocks.

He had scrimped and saved for four to five years to qualify for this prestigious card.

It was a symbol of both status and wealth. Now was the perfect time to flaunt it.

Xu Xiaorou couldn't help but give Su Hai's bank card a second look when she saw it. While the Xu Family was wealthy, two-thirds of their fortune was in antiques.

The remaining funds were firmly under her father's control.

Aside from her antique acquisitions, Xiaorou had less than ten million at her personal disposal.

To afford Sky City, she would need to liquidate her collected treasures from the past two years.

Basking in Xiaorou's attention, Su Hai couldn't hide his smug grin.

He instructed the waiter, "Go ahead and run the card, but leave that table's bill separate."

Su Hai gestured dismissively toward Chen Yang's table, where the Su family's fringe members sat. Alienating them was of no concern to him.

"Why didn't I invite you to dine?" Su Hai rose to address them. "Blame Chen Yang. He's the reason you're all snubbed. His ignorance of basic etiquette, failing to offer Director Xu his seat, has slighted our honored guest. Without the full story, some might think I'm being stingy, but I'm willing to tarnish my reputation today to teach this loser a lesson about respect."

At the drop of his words, all eyes turned to Chen Yang, their gazes ablaze with resentment.

Unfazed, Chen Yang maintained an air of indifference.

"Humph, utterly useless," Su Hai scoffed, turning to Xu Xiaorou. "Director Xu, my apologies for this embarrassment."

Xu Xiaorou simply smiled, offering no comment.

Handing his card to the waiter, Su Hai continued, "Director Xu, you're a fan of 'Sky City,' aren't you? I have quite a few connections. I'll make some inquiries and should be able to help you acquire it!"

Su Hai certainly wouldn't pass up the chance to curry favor.

He made the promise upfront. Whether or not he could deliver, Xu Xiaorou would owe him a favor—a classic case of hitting two birds with one stone.

"Thank you," Xu Xiaorou responded graciously.

"You're too kind. It's the least I can do," Su Hai replied with a smile. But before he could lay on more praise, a waiter hurried over, bowed deeply, and said, "Excuse me, Sir, but you'll need to use another card to settle the bill."

"What?" Su Hai was taken aback. "You're asking me to use a different card to pay?"

"Yes, Sir. The balance on this one is insufficient for the charges."

Su Hai erupted before the waiter could finish, "There's 10.5 million in my account. How could it possibly be insufficient?"

"I'm sorry, Sir, but your total expenditure this time is 32.2 million."

Chen Yang nearly choked on laughter at the waiter's revelation.

He had noticed earlier when the wine was served that it was the 1945 vintage Dry Red Wine from Mu Tong Winery. While not as renowned as Lafite or Romani Conti, a bottle had fetched a whopping $23,000 at a Garth Auction House event in 1997. Two decades later, such a bottle could easily command over a million.

With over twenty bottles per table, the math was clear.

Chen Yang thought to himself, Su Hai got what he deserved. A few compliments and he'd lost all sense of direction.

"You must be joking," Su Hai said, his composure slipping. He stood up, addressing the waiter, "The Su family and guests total two hundred people. Even at ten thousand per head, that's barely over two million. How could it possibly exceed twenty million? This is fraud. Get your manager. I want to make a complaint."

In a bind, the waiter had no choice but to summon the manager.

The manager, a man in his twenties, approached Su Hai and greeted him, "Hello, Sir. Is there something you're questioning?"

"Questioning?" Su Hai jabbed a finger towards the manager's nose. "Explain to me how we could possibly rack up a bill of 32 million? This is fraud. Would you believe me if I said I'll take this to the media?"

Unruffled, Ren Rann bowed slightly and replied, "Please, Sir, take a moment to calm down. I'll retrieve your bill and you'll see for yourself."

The bill arrived promptly. Handing it to Su Hai, the manager explained, "Sir, here is an itemization of your expenses. The food for twenty-eight tables came to five hundred thousand. The remaining 31 million yuan is for the beverages."

"Do you think I'm that gullible? What kind of wine costs thirty-one million yuan?" Su Hai's fury now fully unleashed, he seized the manager by the collar. "You'd better give me a satisfactory explanation today, or this isn't over."

"Sir, let's resolve this without resorting to physicality," the manager said, maintaining his composure as he stepped back. "The wine you ordered is a top-tier 'limited edition' red from Mu Tong Rothschild Winery in Bordeaux, France. With a global annual production of just one thousand bottles, each is priced at 1.26 million on the market. You ordered twenty-eight bottles, and we've even given you a discount."

"When did I ever ask for such expensive wine?" Su Hai fumed. "This establishment is swindling its customers. I'm going to file a complaint."

The manager regarded Su Hai with a cool detachment. Despite his youth, he was no stranger to the influential figures of Xichuan City, but this was his first encounter with someone feigning affluence.

His disdain for Su Hai was clear, yet his professional demeanor remained intact as he smiled and said, "Sir, I urge you to remain calm. Firstly, you specifically requested the most expensive wine, and we have evidence to support that. Secondly, all our wines are sourced directly from Mu Tong Rothschild Winery in Bordeaux, France, which I assure you is genuine. And thirdly, please refrain from hurling insults and show some respect."

No sooner had the manager finished speaking than a group of imposing men burst in from outside.

They were a uniform sight in their black suits and sunglasses, broad-shouldered and imposing.

As the security team for the Dynasty Hotel, the only six-star establishment in Xichuan City, few would dare to stir up trouble on their watch.

The influence of the Dynasty Hotel's owner was well-known throughout Xichuan City. Only someone with real guts would risk causing a scene here.

Behind these imposing figures stood a man in his thirties, clad in a traditional Tang suit, idly toying with a pair of carved lion heads.

This was none other than Zhou Youming, the proprietor of the Dynasty Hotel.

The arrival of Zhou Youming and his security detail sent a wave of panic through the Su family.

Despite his benign appearance, Zhou Youming's reputation for ruthlessness was legendary in Xichuan City. To cross him was to risk more than just a bruising.

Su Hai felt a chill of sweat down his back at the sight of Nishikawa's formidable overlord.

The presence of the boss had the manager standing tall and assertive, "The Su family is known in Nishikawa as a prominent third-rate clan. Surely you don't intend to renege on your order of wine?"

"It's a misunderstanding!" Su Hai hastily bowed and scraped, "There's been a mistake. We would never dream of not paying our bill."

Yet, with only 10.5 million on him and a shortfall of 21.5 million, he couldn't possibly cover the debt, not even if he sold himself.

What to do? Without payment, he might leave this place horizontally rather than vertically.

In desperation, Su Hai turned to Old Madame Su, scrambling to her feet and pleading, "Grandma, please help me."

With a heavy sigh, Old Madame Su rose with assistance and approached Zhou Youming, bowing shakily, "Director Zhou, the fault lies with our family. My grandson is young and thoughtless, and I have failed in my guidance. Please accept my apology on his behalf. We will settle the bill immediately."

Watching Old Madame Su humbly apologize to Zhou Youming was a bitter pill for the Su family's younger generation. They blamed Su Hai for his pretensions of grandeur, ordering the priciest wine without the means to pay.

Some of the Su family members had even confirmed online that the wine indeed cost over a million per bottle.

After Old Madame Su had finished her apologies, Su Hai and the younger members of the Su family approached Zhou Youming, repeatedly expressing their regret. They were clearly worried that any displeasure from him might result in them being detained right there.

Chen Yang, however, refrained from joining them. After observing the scene for a short while and growing bored, he stood up and made his way to the exit.

Chen Yang couldn't help but marvel at how the once ordinary man, who had pleaded for a partnership at the Chen family's doorstep, had risen to become the top tycoon of Xichuan City. Indeed, fate was full of twists and turns.

His investment of half a million yuan hadn't been in vain, and he hadn't misjudged the man—Zhou Youming truly was talented.

Preferring not to acknowledge Zhou Youming in such a setting, he discreetly bent over and slipped toward the door.

Just then, a voice halted him: "Young friend, please wait a moment!"