Chapter 31: Warning

Hotel.

After sending a message to Shen Anyu, Lin Ting headed to the bathroom to wash up. Halfway through, Shen Anyu called.

She pressed answer.

"Do you really want to send Xiang Zheng away?" Shen Anyu asked. "I've reviewed the materials you gathered. It’s going to implicate quite a few people—the hotel management, and almost the entire staff in the capital will need to be replaced."

"That’s perfect," Lin Ting replied. "I’ve been in charge of the hotel for quite a while now. It’s time for a shake-up; otherwise, they’ll think I’m a pushover."

Shen Anyu fell silent for a moment, thinking to herself: *Ever since the day she took over, no one has ever truly thought she was easy to bully.*

"But..." Shen Anyu continued, "moving that many people at once won't stay hidden. People will take advantage of this to target the hotel."

"Then we’ll use this opportunity to bring our rivals to heel as well," Lin Ting said. "Kill two birds with one stone."

Shen Anyu remained silent.

"Shang Moting has returned to the capital," Lin Ting noted.

"Oh?" Shen Anyu asked. "He was still at the hotel this morning. Why the sudden move? Did something happen in the capital?"

"I checked; I haven't heard of anything," Lin Ting replied.

"What are your plans?" Shen Anyu asked.

"I’m heading to the capital as soon as possible," Lin Ting said. "I’m worried that if I wait until September, Shang Moting will have forgotten all about me."

"I doubt that," Shen Anyu said. "You’re Lin Ting. Think of how many people are obsessed with you."

"But he is Shang Moting, and I’m just a passerby he happened to meet in Jiangcheng," Lin Ting said. "Never mind ten days—in just a few days, he could easily find someone new."

"But Shang Moting is known for not being close to women," Shen Anyu countered. "It’s common knowledge."

"Don't listen to those rumors," Lin Ting said. "In the few days I've spent with him, he is definitely close to women—and, well... he’s been close to quite a few."

"I see. Rumors are only half-true, after all," Shen Anyu sighed.

Lin Ting instructed, "Handle the matters regarding Xiang Zheng and Song Zhiyuan exactly as I said. I’ll hold things down in the capital and make the necessary arrangements."

"Understood," Shen Anyu agreed. "Based on the evidence you’ve gathered, if we send them in, they likely won't be coming out."

"They won't have the chance to," Lin Ting replied.

"Got it," Shen Anyu said. "Once I finish this, I’ll request a transfer to the capital."

"Good."

After hanging up and finishing her routine, Lin Ting spent time in her room organizing documents related to the Interstellar Hotel and reviewing the staff files.

***

Capital City.

Near noon, Shang Moting’s car pulled up in front of the Shang family’s ancestral estate. The drive from Jiangcheng to the capital took over a dozen hours, but since Elder Shang had called early in the morning claiming he wasn't feeling well, Shang Moting had taken a private jet back.

The ancestral estate was located outside the city center. Designed with traditional gardens, it spanned a vast area. Though it appeared secluded, the estate was bustling with an uncountable number of servants.

Shang Moting walked through the main gate, past the gardens and rockeries, finally reaching the main hall. The elder was under the veranda, teasing a parrot and teaching it to speak.

"Say, 'Great-grandfather is auspicious, Great-grandfather is auspicious,'" Elder Shang coaxed.

The parrot remained silent.

Shang Moting approached. "Grandfather."

Elder Shang wore a traditional long gown. He stood tall and his eyes were sharp; one would never guess he was over eighty. He glanced at Shang Moting and asked, "You’re back?"

Wei Zhishu and Fang Cheng stood a short distance away, close enough to hear but careful not to intrude.

"Are you feeling better?" Shang Moting asked.

"My blood pressure was a bit high this morning, but it's stable now," the elder said, continuing to tease the bird.

Shang Moting wasn't surprised. If the elder had been in any real danger, the butler’s voice would have been trembling on the phone. That was why he hadn't rushed back—he simply obeyed when asked.

The elder went back to the parrot. "Say, 'Great-grandfather is auspicious, Great-grandfather is auspicious.'"

Still, the bird stayed quiet.

Fang Cheng and Wei Zhishu exchanged glances. This wasn't just pressuring him to marry anymore; it was blatant pressure to have children.

"It doesn't want to speak," Shang Moting remarked.

"And what about you?" the elder asked, looking at him.

"Me? Why would I lower myself by a generation?" Shang Moting replied.

"You know that’s not what I meant," the elder said.

"I have my own plans," Shang Moting stated.

Elder Shang stared at him for a beat, then asked, "Is it that little girl from Jiangcheng?"

Shang Moting’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

"I don't approve," the elder said.

Shang Moting remained silent.

"She has a poor reputation," the elder continued. "I saw some videos of her at the Lin family’s reunion banquet. She’s a clever girl, certainly, and has her ways, but she is not suitable for the Shang family."

Shang Moting tilted his head slightly toward Fang Cheng and Wei Zhishu. Receiving the signal, Wei Zhishu turned and left, while Fang Cheng waited where he was.

"Moting," the elder pressed on, "you are the sole heir of the Shang family. Your wife must be perfect."

Shang Moting did not respond.

"Qingyuan is the best candidate," the elder said. "You have known each other since childhood, and she is fond of you..."

Approaching footsteps interrupted the elder. He looked up to see Wei Zhishu bringing someone over.

As they drew near, the elder looked at them, then back at his grandson. "What are you doing?"

"Grandfather, you should recognize this person," Shang Moting said.

The elder stared at him.

"Three months ago, when I was at the estate, you approached him and gave him money to report my affairs to you," Shang Moting said.

The elder stayed silent.

"I understand. You worry about your grandson, and I can understand you placing someone by my side," Shang Moting continued.

The man Wei Zhishu had brought over was shaking so violently he couldn't stand and collapsed to the ground. Shang Moting had known from the very moment the elder bribed him. Throughout this time, he had kept this man close, knowing the elder meant no harm and was merely monitoring his life.

"But..." Shang Moting’s voice turned cold, "he overstepped."

The elder glared at him, understanding perfectly that Shang Moting was really telling *him* that he had overstepped.

"You taught me since I was a child," Shang Moting said, "that one cannot employ an unfaithful man."

The elder’s expression turned grim.

Shang Moting looked at Wei Zhishu. "Since he is so fond of snitching, let him be silent forever."

"Mr. Shang, I was wrong! I was wrong! I won't do it again, I promise!" the man screamed.

Wei Zhishu swung his fist, striking the man in the throat. The man collapsed, clutching his neck, unable to make a single sound.

The elder narrowed his eyes.

Wei Zhishu gave the man a kick—he had long despised such traitors—and dragged him away.

"Shang Moting, are you threatening me?" the elder asked.

"No, I’m simply dealing with a traitor," Shang Moting replied.

"What is so special about that girl that she matters more than anything else to you!" the elder demanded.