Chapter 138 The Entire Bill… Paid by Old Master Lu

Chapter 138: The Whole Night Is on... Old Master Lu

Lu Lin had never hosted a banquet before; this was his first time sending out invitations far and wide.

When the news got out, the entire business community was rocked.

No one who received an invitation was absent.

No one wanted to miss this chance to get closer to the Lu family's patriarch.

Even though he was emotionally unstable, quick to anger, and prone to outbursts.

Moreover, the venue for this banquet was the most exclusive hotel in the city. People outside were offering a fortune just for an entry pass.

Even the usually feuding members of the Lu family showed up, all dressed to the nines—women dripping with jewelry, men in sharp suits, every single one arriving on time.

Smiles plastered on their faces, but each had their own hidden agenda.

The banquet hall was ablaze with lights.

A massive crystal chandelier hung from the dome, lighting up the entire hall like daytime.

Long tables were covered with snow-white tablecloths, filled with exquisite pastries and fine wines.

Servers in uniform moved through the crowd, the champagne on their trays shimmering with an amber glow under the lights.

Guests signed in one by one, chatting and laughing, clinking glasses.

Perfume and silk created an atmosphere of opulence.

When the last person stepped into the banquet hall—

Bang—

The heavy doors slammed shut.

The people inside froze for a moment but quickly shrugged it off and continued their conversations.

After all, with so many wealthy and influential families present, who would be so audacious as to lock them all inside?

Old Master Lu sat at the head of the table, surrounded by people.

He wore a dark-colored robe, his silver hair meticulously combed, and fingered a string of sandalwood prayer beads in his hand, a benevolent smile on his face.

Those usually arrogant business tycoons were now all bowing at the waist, flattering smiles plastered on their faces, scrambling to utter the most sycophantic remarks.

"Old Master Lu, your vigor is truly admirable—a role model for our generation."

"The Lu family's current glory is all thanks to your strategic brilliance, Old Master Lu."

"Old Master Lu... when will Mr. Lu be arriving?"

"Old Master Lu..."

Old Master Lu leaned on his cane, basking in the awe and flattery of the crowd, his smile becoming even more benevolent.

He nodded occasionally and responded with a few words, maintaining an air of superiority.

While he was having tea, a servant leaned in and whispered to him,

"Sir, Lu Lin hasn't arrived yet."

Old Master Lu's hand, which had been toying with the prayer beads, paused for a moment, then he waved his hand dismissively.

"When has he ever arrived on time? Let's wait a little longer."

That "little longer" stretched all the way into the second half of the event.

The banquet had been underway for over an hour, the toasts and pleasantries completed.

Many guests kept glancing toward the entrance, whispering among themselves.

"Where's Mr. Lu?"

"Who knows? Maybe something came up."

"Let's wait a little longer."

Eventually, someone wanted to step out for some fresh air. He walked to the doors, only to find they wouldn't open.

"What's up with the door?"

"Is it locked?"

A few people tried pushing it together, but the heavy, ornate doors didn't budge.

Everyone fell silent. Could it really be that someone had locked them all inside the banquet hall?

Who? Lu Lin? Had he gone crazy?

The news spread quickly, and the crowd descended into chaos.

Old Master Lu narrowed his eyes, about to speak up.

The servant hurried over again and bent down to whisper in his ear.

"Sir, the banquet hall doors have been locked. No one can get out now!"

"What!"

Old Master Lu slammed the table and rose to his feet, his cane thudding heavily on the floor, startling everyone nearby.

His brow furrowed, the benevolence on his face instantly wiped away by a dark scowl. His face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

"Quick! Head back to the Lu mansion!"

"But the doors are locked..."

"Contact the hotel! Ask them what the hell is going on!"

He was trembling with rage, and his attendants rushed over to calm him, patting his back.

The guests were in complete uproar.

"What the hell is going on? Why are we locked in here?"

"Where are the Lu family members? Come out and explain yourselves!"

"Are they out of their minds?"

A few young gentlemen clamored to call the police, but when they took out their phones, they found no cell service.

Another half hour passed.

Just when everyone was on the verge of losing patience, the hotel manager finally appeared.

He was dressed in a sharp suit, with a practiced smile on his face, and walked over to Old Master Lu with a composed stride.

Behind him followed two servers, one holding a POS machine and the other holding a check.

"Hello, Old Master Lu," he said.

He gave a slight bow, his demeanor impeccably respectful, but his voice held no hint of flattery:

"This is the total bill for tonight's banquet."

He presented the bill to Old Master Lu with both hands.

Old Master Lu glanced down at it but did not take it.

He looked up, staring at the manager, a shrewd glint flashing in his aged eyes:

"What's going on with the door?"

The hotel manager's smile remained unchanged:

"The door is having some trouble and is being repaired. Perhaps..."

He paused, his tone still calm:

"Once you pay, the door will open."

Old Master Lu trembled with rage. How could he not understand the hotel manager's implication?

The door was perfectly fine; without payment, you simply weren't getting out.

"Lu Lin is the host tonight. Go ask him for the payment!"

The hotel manager did not reply.

He just smiled at Old Master Lu, still holding the bill out, without budging an inch.

The crowd around began to get restless.

One of the guests impatiently urged:

"Old Master Lu, just sign it already! We're all waiting to get out!"

"It's just a meal bill, isn't it? Can the Lu family really not afford it?"

"Get on with it! Look at the time!"

"What difference does it make whether CEO Lu pays or you do?"

More and more people chimed in.

Those business elites who had been bowing and scraping to Old Master Lu moments ago had all put on different faces.

Old Master Lu was in a tight spot.

He gritted his teeth, took the bill, and glanced down.

Fifty million.

His eyes shot wide, and his wrinkled face went from green to white, then red, finally black as a thundercloud.

He threw the bill onto the floor in fury:

"Where's the owner of this hotel?! What the hell costs fifty million for one night?!"

The room burst into an uproar.

Everyone looked around. The tables were loaded with exquisite food and drink, but it could hardly be worth fifty million.

Everyone there was sharp as a tack; they instantly understood that the manager was deliberately making things difficult for Old Master Lu.

A mere hotel manager daring to mess with the Lu family patriarch—you didn't need to be a genius to know he had someone pulling the strings.

Old Master Lu's face was livid. He glared at the manager, who still wore that infuriating smile.

Lu Lin.

He'd been set up by Lu Lin again!

From the moment the invitations were sent out, from the moment everyone walked cheerfully into this banquet hall, they'd already been caught in the trap.

The young men who knew the door was locked grew impatient watching Old Master Lu dawdle and urged:

"Can you sign the bill already? Do you want to keep all of us stuck here with you?"

"Any fool can see you've been set up! Don't waste our time!"

"Just sign it! We don't want to be stuck here till dawn!"

Each sentence was harsher and more cutting than the last.

Old Master Lu shot them a sidelong glance.

That look was ice-cold and instantly shut the young men up.

He took the bill the servant had retrieved, then took the pen, and with gritted teeth, signed it.

The second the payment went through, the banquet hall doors swung open.

The guests had mixed feelings. Seeing Old Master Lu's livid face, they didn't linger—after all, dropping fifty million just to open a door was pretty stupid...

Just as everyone was about to leave, the hotel manager picked up a microphone, and his voice rang clearly through the hall:

"I'm sorry for wasting your valuable time. The door lock malfunctioned and gave everyone a bad experience."

He paused, his smile still perfectly in place:

"To make it up to you, our boss has said that anyone who signed in may host a free banquet here next time, with no limits on venue or drinks. You'll always be our most welcome guests!"

As his words fell, the guests, who had been complaining, suddenly changed their tune.

Free banquet?

Unlimited venue and drinks?

That was way too generous a compensation.

The Lu family members looked at each other with mixed expressions.

Old Master Lu's face was as black as coal.

With a dark scowl, he leaned on his cane and hurried toward the door.