Chapter 372 — The Return

"That works too. I was staying at the Douglas Hotel before—I'd already boarded the plane just now when I got a call from the higher-ups, so I'm heading back. If you get there first, wait for me," Yang Yanzhou said.

"All right, see you in a bit." Liu Yu didn't waste words and agreed at once.

After hanging up on Liu Yu, Yang Minlan turned to Jinniu and gave the order: "Let's go. Back to the hotel."

"Yes, Mr. Yang." Jinniu nodded, started the car, and drove back the way they had come toward the Douglas Hotel.

When they reached the hotel, the front desk clerk found it a little odd. He didn't know exactly who Yang Juehuan was, but anyone the boss treated with such deference was surely no ordinary man, so the moment he saw Yang Ce, he immediately telephoned Bartleton.

Bartleton was in an extraordinarily good mood, playing games with his secretary in his office... Since Yang Cenbin's visit, he had established a fairly harmonious relationship with Yan, and even the family head Kaike had begun to regard him with new eyes. His position in Las Vegas, he figured, was now as secure as secure could be—no one in the family could possibly replace him!

Not only that, he had won the absolute friendship of the Flying Car Party. In the past, Bartleton's relationship with the Flying Car Party had rested purely on mutual interest; if he hadn't paid them a fixed sponsorship fee every month on schedule, their relationship would never have been what it was.

But from now on, not only would Bartleton no longer have to pay the Flying Car Party a single cent—the party had actually grown more enthusiastic than ever. The moment Yang Ce left, the party's old leader, Old Lange, had invited him to dinner that evening.

From here on, his social standing in Las Vegas would rise with the tide as well.

At the thought, Bartleton's heart surged all the more.

"Ring—" A telephone rang right at that moment.

"Who now?" Bartleton frowned. He hadn't wanted to answer—Yang Ce had already left, and Bartleton had breathed a sigh of relief. But then he remembered how he had nearly offended Yang Ce before simply for not picking up the phone, and he snapped to attention. Better answer this call—what if something important had come up again?

So, reluctant as he was, Bartleton picked up the phone.

"Hello? Who is this?" Bartleton asked.

"Boss, this is York, the front desk clerk downstairs. Mr. Yang has come back!" York was a newly hired clerk; the previous one had been promoted.

"What?" At York's words, Bartleton jolted all over. "What did you say? Mr. Yang is back? Which Mr. Yang are you talking about?"

"The same Mr. Yang Ce as before, Mr. Yang!" York said. "He's come back with another gentleman who's staying in the luxury suite on the top floor..."

"Ah!" Bartleton was instantly wide awake. "I'm coming down right now!"

With that, he paid no more mind to his secretary, threw on his clothes, and flew down the stairs.

As Yang Ce walked into the hotel lobby, he also noticed York on the phone and knew he was notifying Bartleton, but he didn't mind. After all, as a hotel clerk earning his living under Bartleton, if he hadn't informed Bartleton the moment Yang Ce returned, he would soon have been fired.

"Is my room still being held from before?" Yang Ce asked York with a smile as he walked up to the front desk.

"Yes, Mr. Yang. Please wait a moment—I'll get your room card." York answered at once and went to find Yang Ce's room card. A man the boss revered so deeply was naturally one York revered deeply as well. Surely the boss wouldn't blame him for making this decision on his own?

Just then, the elevator doors opened and Bartleton stepped out. Seeing that Yang Ce really was here, he hurried over at a jog: "Mr. Yang, it really is you! Why have you come back?"

"What, am I not welcome?" Yang Hengye teased.

"Of course not!" Bartleton said. "I was just a little surprised. If you wish to come, Mr. Yang, I'm naturally more than delighted—I'd want you to stay here permanently!"

Bartleton meant what he said. With Yang Ce here, everything went unbelievably smoothly for him, and in time even the family head would look at him with greater respect.

"Something came up at the last minute, so I came back," Yang Hengye said. "All right, go about your business. No need to mind me."

"How could I do that!" Bartleton shook his head again and again. "Mr. Yang, shall I take you up?"

"It's not as if I can't find the way. Come now, I told you to go about your business, so go." Yang Hengye smiled.

"Then... all right..." Yet Bartleton did not leave; he merely stood deferentially to one side. Yang Shuoxuan said nothing more.

He took out his phone and dialed Liu Yu's number. "I've arrived at the Douglas Hotel. Where are you?"

"I got here long ago!" Liu Yu said. "The hotel I'm staying at is close to yours—less than a kilometer away."

"So you were already here." Yang Ce understood at last; he had thought Liu Yu hadn't arrived.

"That's right. I've already checked in—room 4106. Come up and find me?" Liu Yu said.

"Fine, wait for me, then." After noting the room number, Yang Ce hung up.

He first told Jinniu to return to the room on the top floor, then Yang Duoji went up to the fourth floor to find Liu Yu.

Standing before the door of room 4106, Yang Ce knocked. After a moment, he saw someone peer out through the peephole, and then the door was opened.

"Hello, Mr. Yang! Please, come in!" Having confirmed that it was indeed Yang Ce, Liu Yu opened the door and said warmly.

He was by nature a proud man, and as the ace of the field team, a certain pride was only to be expected. This was precisely why, when Xia Yan had spoken with Yan about the matter, he had hinted that Yang Cenbin was not an easy man to get along with!

And yet, proud as Liu Yu was, he admired Yang Ce all the more. For one thing, Yang Juehuan's skills were no weaker than his own; for another, Yang Juehuan's mastery of acupoint striking commanded Liu Yu's admiration.

So toward a man of real ability like Heng, Liu Yu would naturally never be arrogant.

Yang Ce entered Liu Yu's room and looked around. It was a standard twin room—tidy and clean enough, but in terms of class it was plainly not a patch on Yang Juehuan's luxury suite on the top floor.

"Mr. Yang, I've already checked carefully—there are no listening devices or surveillance equipment," Liu Yu said. Seeing Yang Ce glance about, he assumed Yang Ce was inspecting for such things and explained directly.

Yang Jincong smiled—clearly Liu Yu had misunderstood. "I wasn't checking for that, just looking around... This is no place to talk. Let's go upstairs—I'll get you a different room!"

"A different room?" Liu Yu was taken aback, somewhat puzzled by Yang Juehuan's meaning. "Why change rooms? There's nothing wrong with this one?"