People like this were either rich or noble, and not just ordinarily rich or noble.
This hotel was actually an investment property under the Tianshi Mansion's name, and for Mei Fang to be in this position, she naturally had some connection with the Tianshi Mansion.
However, this time, the Tianshi of the Tianshi Mansion himself had issued an order, making sure she absolutely had to host Mr. Ning well.
What kind of order was this?
This was a direct command from the current Tianshi of the Tianshi Mansion.
Furthermore, it included the words "absolutely must."
This showed how influential this Mr. Ning was, even the Tianshi was trying to appease him.
"Manager Mei, have you eaten yet? Why don't you sit down and join us?"
Ning Beichen said to her.
"No, no, no, thank you for Mr. Ning's kind offer. I am just an employee of the hotel, how could I be qualified to share a meal with the esteemed Mr. Ning Beichen?"
Mei Fang quickly refused.
"What esteemed and so on. I say you are, so sit down. I'm bored eating alone."
Ning Beichen said to her.
"Then... then I will gratefully accept."
Mei Fang no longer refused, and sat down generously.
She was an extremely intelligent woman with high emotional intelligence, knowing at what point she could make a guest happy. Refusal was her duty, but she had to gauge it carefully so as not to be annoying.
If it were an ordinary guest, even a high-ranking official or a young master from a wealthy family, she wouldn't need to consider their feelings, nor would she need to come out to entertain them herself.
But the young man before her was different. He was someone even the Tianshi had to appease. How could Mei Fang dare to offend him?
Moreover, she saw purity in this young man's eyes. He genuinely wanted to invite her to have dinner with him, or perhaps he just needed company, with no other intentions.
"Mr. Ning, this is the top-grade Bordeaux red wine our hotel has in its collection. It tastes sweet and mellow. Would you like to try some?"
Although Mei Fang sat down, she more or less put herself in the position of a maid.
"Manager Mei, don't trouble yourself. I'll do it."
Ning Beichen flicked his finger at the glass bottle, and the cork flew out, requiring no opener. He then poured a glass for her first, and then for himself.
"Manager Mei, cheers."
Ning Beichen raised his wine glass. Mei Fang immediately picked up her glass and clinked it with his.
Ning Beichen took a casual sip of the red wine, put down the glass, and said, "Wine is a part of the dining culture. However, I'm not much of a drinker. No matter how good the wine, it's like 'plucking a peony to feed a cow' to me."
"Mr. Ning is joking. A little wine is nothing to you. Only those who don't understand wine will desperately praise and elevate its value, forcefully adding all sorts of titles and singing its praises.
"Mr. Ning is free-spirited, has a deep family heritage, and is well-traveled. You must have long seen through those hypocritical facades and understood that wine is just wine. Naturally, you wouldn't care about those forcibly added halos. Therefore, Mr. Ning is drinking wine, while most people are just drinking the culture of wine, the praises of wine."
Hearing Mei Fang's words, Ning Beichen was a little dazed. Was that what he meant?
However, this woman's mind was indeed sharp. Even he felt a bit flattered by her praise, let alone others.
"Manager Mei spoke very well. I don't understand these things. Since that's the case, then let's not talk about culture today and just drink. Let's 'pluck a peony to feed a cow' together."
Ning Beichen picked up his wine glass with a hint of embarrassment and clinked it with hers again.
"Alright, then I will take advantage of Mr. Ning's light and 'pluck a peony to feed a cow' together."
Mei Fang looked at Ning Beichen with sparkling eyes. Under the light, her eyeshadow shimmered like stars.
Mei Fang could tell if someone was truly free-spirited. This Mr. Ning before her was definitely that kind of person. She wondered what incredible background he had that even the Tianshi would treat him with such importance.
The key was that this Mr. Ning was so young, looking only about twenty-one or twenty-two years old.
In reality, she didn't know that after Ning Beichen became a 'Fallen Mortal,' he had a sign of rejuvenation, looking several years younger than before.
However, as they were eating, a sudden "Miss Mei" interrupted the silence.
She saw a middle-aged man leading a few people walking towards her.
"Miss Mei, it really is you. I thought I was mistaken."
This middle-aged man walked straight to Mei Fang and said with surprise.
"It's Director Zhou."
Mei Fang stood up and nodded in greeting.
"Miss Mei, it's better to meet than to miss an opportunity. I've booked a table here. May I have the honor of inviting Miss Mei to join me for dinner?"
The middle-aged man completely ignored Ning Beichen, as if Ning Beichen didn't exist.
This Director Zhou's rudeness startled Mei Fang. She secretly glanced at Ning Beichen, then quickly refused him.
"I'm afraid not, Director Zhou. I am entertaining a guest, so I cannot accept your invitation."
"A guest? Him?"
Zhou Zhao glanced at Ning Beichen and saw that he was a young man, his expression turning displeased.
He had long coveted Mei Fang, considering her his private property, and would not allow anyone else to touch her.
"Young man, you've eaten your fill. You should leave. Your meal is on my tab."
Zhou Zhao said to Ning Beichen impolitely, or rather, threateningly.
Ning Beichen didn't even glance at him. Mei Fang, however, was terrified by Zhou Zhao's actions. Ning Beichen was a distinguished guest that the Tianshi himself had ordered her to host well.
And who was this Zhou Zhao?
In the eyes of the Tianshi, Zhou Zhao wasn't even qualified to see him.
"Director Zhou, please respect my guest, and please leave immediately. You are not welcome here."
Mei Fang's expression turned cold.
She was the manager here, so she naturally had the right to drive him away.
"Miss Mei, what did you say?"
Zhou Zhao thought he had misheard. Mei Fang was actually asking him to leave for this kid.
"I said, you are not welcome here. Please leave immediately."
A chill emanated from Mei Fang.
She was only polite and respectful to Ning Beichen; it didn't mean she was a harmless woman. If she didn't have some skills, how could she manage such a large hotel?
"How dare you! Who do you think you are, to speak to our Director Zhou like that?"
The people who had come with Zhou Zhao immediately shouted at Mei Fang.
This woman was merely relying on her looks. It was her good fortune that Director Zhou fancied her; she really thought she was an immortal fairy.
The commotion here attracted the attention of the hotel staff, and soon, staff members came over to Mei Fang.
"Manager Mei."
"Call security down and escort these people out of our hotel. They are not welcome here."
Mei Fang instructed the staff.
"Yes, Manager Mei."
The staff only recognized Mei Fang and didn't care who Director Zhou and the others were. They immediately used their walkie-talkies to notify security.