Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 1419: Chapter 146: Fainting

“Mysterious owner?”

“Yes, I’ve heard that the true identity of the grand hotel’s owner has never been publicly revealed. It’s said that even most of the old employees in the hotel have never met the boss behind the scenes.”

This was a tale shared by Jin Zhongyuan during idle chat with Boss Luo and the maid about the Alec Grand Hotel—after they declined Mr. Dillons’ invitation to join them.

In fact, though they declined Dillons’ invitation, Boss Luo and the maid later took a stroll and ended up in the artificial lake area behind the hotel.

There’s even a hunting range set up here—though it requires a fee and accompanying personnel.

They wandered around outside the hunting zone.

“Mr. Jin knows quite a lot.” Boss Luo chuckled… Often, this is how impressions of a person begin.

Of course, there’s also the first impression… and that’s most people.

“I just know a little more.” Jin Zhongyuan gave a casual smile, glancing appropriately at Boss Luo—though the number of times his gaze fell on the maid could be counted on one hand.

It’s not that he wasn’t amazed or moved by the beauty, he just clearly knew he shouldn’t be abrupt… Who doesn’t have some improper thoughts?

But while in hopes, real life awaited him—this lady, though the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, to be honest, probably wasn’t as practical as the reward he’d get for acting as a guide this time.

The compensation from Chen Peter was quite high; just a simple day’s service equaled nearly a month’s income.

“Since the hotel’s boss is unknown, how is the hotel usually managed?”

Perhaps due to Jin Zhongyuan’s proper manners, the maid occasionally chatted with him… or asked a few harmless questions.

He dared to look at the beautiful lady—though he had no improper thoughts, appreciating someone so beautiful never hurt.

“I’ve heard there’s an attorney who handles matters and comes regularly every month.” Jin Zhongyuan casually remarked, “But I don’t know such a big shot. However, I get along well with a few of the doormen here.”

Boss Luo smiled, “I think whoever you meet, you’ll get along just fine with them.”

Jin Zhongyuan laughed heartily, “That’s overestimating me. At least I still can’t get to know the chef in this grand hotel, or that stodgy Miss Tiffany. But they say her skills as a floor manager are top-tier, and many hotels outside have tried high salaries to poach her, but she remains here.”

The hotel chef’s skills had already been tried by Boss Luo and the maid—and even without meeting him, the chef received high praise from the maid.

“Is this Miss Tiffany quite impressive?” the maid asked casually.

Jin Zhongyuan replied, “I’ve heard that even when Her Majesty the Queen comes here for vacation, she would specifically request Miss Tiffany’s personal service… So, Young Master Qiu, it’s truly a shame you gave the presidential suite to Mr. Dillons.”

Upon mentioning the impressive Queen, Boss Luo glanced at the maid beside him and smiled slightly.

The maid thought the owner probably remembered something about the dictionary.

At this moment, Jin Zhongyuan suddenly stopped in his tracks, staring at a certain spot on the lakeside walking path below the small slope, surprised, “Ah, how does that saying go in Hua Country, speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives… Isn’t that Mr. Dillons?”

Indeed, it was him… that corpulent figure always left a deep impression.

He had said during the meal that he would take a stroll here… so it wasn’t all that surprising.

“Since we’ve run into him, let’s go say hello.” Boss Luo smiled slightly.

…

…

At this time, Mr. Dillons was fishing.

He was nearly crushing the beach chair beneath him, but he had a very happy expression on his face, seemingly unconcerned about the chair.

The bucket beside him held no spoils—and the fishing bobber floating on the lake showed no signs of movement either.

Mr. Dillons didn’t mind. He probably felt thirsty, so he took a bottle of cold cola from the cooler next to him, bit off the cap, and drank it like that.

He must have heard footsteps, so he clumsily turned his head to glance, finding it was that young couple from before, and cheerfully waved a greeting.

He seemed not to mind at all that they had refused his invitation, but here they were again.

In truth, Mr. Dillons didn’t think too much. He just felt particularly comfortable when interacting with this young couple—he knew he was out of place in this high-end and traditionally prestigious hotel, and others looked at him as if he were a rude lumberjack.

But they were different.

Willing to discuss how to eat chicken feet in a high-end gourmet restaurant with him, how could such people be bad?

“Just started fishing, Mr. Dillons?” Boss Luo glanced at the fish bucket, commenting casually, “Doesn’t seem like you’ve had much luck.”

“No, I’ve gained a lot.” Mr. Dillons laughed heartily, then laboriously bent down to take something out of the cooler to offer, “Would you like something to drink? I seem to have bought too much, can’t finish it on my own… I actually planned to finish them all, but decided against it after all.”

Perhaps because seeing Mr. Dillons struggling made him uneasy, or perhaps from a desire to please, Jin Zhongyuan kindly stepped forward to help.

Mr. Dillons didn’t mind, speaking like with an old friend, “My wife told me, once I can’t even bend over, I should stop asking to sleep with her, and she’ll find a healthier sow for me.”

Doesn’t it sound quite crude?

At least that’s what Jin Zhongyuan thought—even in front of that fairy-like beautiful woman beside Young Master Qiu, it seemed improper.

“Your wife must love you very much.” Boss Luo chuckled.

Mr. Dillons didn’t hesitate, proudly affirming, though his wife did nag sometimes… That’s the look every man of his age has when they talk about the woman they’ve spent the first half of their life loving.

Jin Zhongyuan brought some drinks for Boss Luo and the maid at this point.

But Mr. Dillons suddenly stood, starting to pack up his things as if intending to leave.

Boss Luo looked at the Happy Water in his hand, took a sip, and then asked, “Heading back already without catching any fish?”

He casually replied, “Yes, it’s getting late. I still have to try the spa and the jacuzzi here… and there’s an event tonight, so today’s schedule is quite tight.”

He picked up the bucket, then shouldered his fishing rod, finally lifted the cooler, and stumbled back… The wooden boards above the water creaked ominously as Mr. Dillons walked, and Jin Zhongyuan genuinely worried whether Mr. Dillons might suddenly break through the boards and fall into the water.

Unexpectedly, what he imagined didn’t happen, but Mr. Dillons did collapse onto the ground.

His face turned pale, cold sweat pouring down, as if about to faint… grasping his chest with force.

Jin Zhongyuan was shocked, abandoning any thoughts, rushing forward, “Mr. Dillons? Mr. Dillons?”

“Pills… I forgot to take my pills… My heart’s not good…”

Just as Mr. Dillons finished speaking, he closed his eyes and lost consciousness.

…

Later, Jin Zhongyuan contacted the hotel, and after Mr. Gusfu, the butler responsible for the presidential suite, learned of it, he immediately sent people to take Mr. Dillons back to his room.

The Alec Grand Hotel has its own licensed doctor – whether this doctor is as famous as the chef or Miss Tiffany is unknown for now.

They successfully found the medication mentioned by Mr. Dillons in his suitcase – it was personally opened by Mr. Gusfu.

As a butler… Even as an ordinary hotel doorman, it is a major taboo to open a guest’s suitcase without permission, but the situation didn’t permit him to worry too much, so after a brief hesitation, Gusfu decided to do it himself.

As for a high-end suitcase containing a worn-out old leather case, although Mr. Gusfu was deeply puzzled, he said nothing.

But just as he was about to close the suitcase, he inadvertently noticed a very subtle mark on the side of the old leather case, and his expression changed slightly.

With a quick glance, he closed the suitcase and took out the medication he found.

The hotel’s doctor stated that the medication was meant for a heart disease patient to take daily, and it was safe to consume.

The doctor did a simple check-up and preliminarily confirmed that Mr. Dillons indeed had a heart condition, though the specifics are likely only known to Mr. Dillons himself at the moment.

“Thank you very much, sir.” Mr. Gusfu now approached Jin Zhongyuan, “You helped me avoid a stain in my career, Mr. Jin.”

What else could Jin Zhongyuan say?

The butler is a high-ranking employee in the grand hotel, someone he always wanted to know, but found challenging to meet, so now it was time to engage him properly… Oh, basically get to know him better.

“Seems like it’s over,” the maid said softly in the owner’s ear, looking from far away at Mr. Dillons after he took the medicine.

Boss Luo nodded and his gaze landed on a brown notebook placed on the table, casually saying, “But it looks like Mr. Dillons will miss quite a few of the originally planned activities.”

You Ye said nothing, only casually surveying the suite’s decor, then smiled and said, “Renovations here shouldn’t have been done too long ago… The style is quite standard.”

Standard is already a high evaluation… Boss Luo thought.

At this point, he teased, “Seems like I shouldn’t have let this suite be used.”

The maid chuckled lightly, “If we’re really being honest, there isn’t a need to insist on staying… Plus, over time, things do get worn out. Although the style is acceptable, after all, it’s not the original taste.”

The owner and maid whispered outside the room, and shortly after, Jin Zhongyuan and Mr. Gusfu came out. The butler expressed gratitude again and promised that Alec Grand Hotel would send some gifts as thanks – Jin Zhongyuan also happily received Mr. Gusfu’s business card.

“By the way, did I hear there’s a banquet tonight?” Jin Zhongyuan mentioned offhandedly.

Mr. Gusfu nodded, “Yes, indeed there’s a banquet – a mysterious guest called to book it about ten days ago, hoping we can host a birthday party tonight and invite all guests to participate… Oh my! I’m actually in the middle of preparing for it!”

Mr. Gusfu now had a good reason to interrupt their conversation – Jin Zhongyuan quickly promised he’d attend tonight.

“We will also participate,” Boss Luo agreed after thinking.

The mysterious guest’s birthday party is at 7:30 PM… and it’s now 3 PM, with over four hours left.

Finally, they left behind the doctor and a nurse, along with a doorman to care for Mr. Dillons, who hadn’t fully come to his senses yet.

The boss and maid headed to the shopping area to choose clothes for the banquet, as a way to pass the time.

…

…

“Did you… see it clearly?”

Miss Tiffany was trying on clothes with her friend in a shop… She planned to attend the tonight’s hotel banquet, hence selecting a suitable evening dress – of course, rented.

“I’m sure I saw it clearly, Aunt Tiffany,” Mr. Gusfu stood nearby her with his head bowed, “It indeed was that private mark.”

Aunt Tiffany frowned and said, “I haven’t received any notice from Attorney Zieg.”

Mr. Gusfu replied, “Perhaps there are some things Attorney Zieg is unaware of.”

She pondered briefly and said, “How is Mr. Dillons now?”

Mr. Gusfu replied, “I heard he’s awake and in good spirits… seems like he’ll attend the party tonight.”

“Oh… is that so,” Aunt Tiffany said thoughtfully.

Her friend then emerged from the fitting room, laughing, “Darling, how does this outfit look on me?”

Aunt Tiffany, smiling warmly, said, “Darling Lant, believe me, you’re the most beautiful.”

“I’ll be attending the party tonight too, arrange it,” Tiffany whispered, then she joined her friend, discussing details about the dress.

Mr. Gusfu left quietly.

…

Inside the room, after fully coming to his senses, Mr. Dillons felt hunger again… but seemed to be fasting as per the doctor’s advice, so he had no choice but to pour himself a glass of milk.

He drew the curtains, and as the sunset streamed in, he yawned before reaching to the side of the desk and flipping through a brown notebook placed on it.

Each page had the same entry.

…

…

Dedicated vehicle transport.

…

Arrival by helicopter.

…

Presidential suite.

…

Menu.

…

Oh, by the way, a small check mark was drawn behind each of them.