3 Feet Tall but I’m the Dragon God

Chapter 6- The cover charge

The next morning, the Su family villa was a whirlwind of expensive perfume and frantic yelling. Madam Su was barking orders at the maid, while Su Hao was practically doing a victory lap in the living room, his fully healed hand flexing as he showed off to his friends on the phone.

Lin Fan, meanwhile, was sitting at the kitchen island, quietly eating a bowl of plain oatmeal. He was wearing his only "nice" outfit: a slightly faded gray button-down shirt and a pair of black slacks that he had to have hemmed three times because they kept dragging on the floor.

His burner phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the text from Secretary Yan.

*Boss, the acquisition is complete. The Golden Lotus Catering Group is 100% yours. The funds were routed through three shell companies. Awaiting your instructions for the Zhao family gala.*

Lin Fan took a slow sip of his oatmeal, his thumb hovering over the screen. He didn't want to ruin the food completely—that would be too obvious—but he wanted to make sure Zhao Feng’s precious night was just a little bit flawed.

*Replace the imported Beluga caviar with the cheap domestic stuff, but keep the original tins. And water down the top-shelf champagne by ten percent. Oh, and make sure the air conditioning in the main hall is set to exactly 64 degrees. I want the guests to feel a slight chill.*

He hit send, slipped the phone back into his pocket, and went back to his breakfast.

A few minutes later, Su Qing walked down the stairs, and the entire room seemed to stop. She was wearing a stunning, form-fitting crimson evening gown that hugged every curve of her tall, elegant frame. Her hair was swept up in an intricate updo, and a pair of diamond earrings caught the light. She looked like a goddess.

And then she looked down at Lin Fan, who was currently trying to wipe a spot of oatmeal off his chin.

Su Qing’s eyes softened just a fraction, a complex mix of pity and guilt flashing across her face. She walked over and crouched down slightly so she was closer to his eye level.

"Lin Fan," she said, her voice dropping to a gentle whisper so her mother and brother wouldn't hear. "I know you want to come to the gala to support me, but... Zhao Feng specifically banned you. If you show up, he’ll make a scene. He’ll humiliate you in front of the entire city’s elite. Please, just stay home today. Watch TV. Order whatever you want for dinner. I’ll make it up to you, I promise."

Lin Fan looked at his beautiful wife. He could see the genuine stress in her eyes. She wasn't trying to be cruel; she was just trying to survive the shark tank her family had thrown her into.

"Don't worry about me, Qing'er," Lin Fan said, offering a small, reassuring smile. "I’m not going to the gala. I’ll just stay here and guard the house. Have fun with the rich people."

Su Qing let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding and gently patted his cheek. "Thank you. You’re... you’re a good man, Lin Fan. Better than you let on."

She stood up, grabbed her clutch, and walked out the door with her mother and brother, who didn't even bother saying goodbye to him.

The moment the front door clicked shut, Lin Fan’s gentle smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating smirk. He walked to the back door, stepped out into the alley, and climbed into the back of a waiting, heavily tinted Maybach.

Kui Gang was waiting in the driver's seat. "Boss. To the Grand Horizon Hotel?"

"Drive," Lin Fan said, adjusting the collar of his cheap shirt. "Let's go crash a party."

***

An hour later, the entrance of the Grand Horizon Hotel was a blinding display of wealth. Flashbulbs popped endlessly as town celebrities, business tycoons, and socialites stepped out of their luxury cars, walking down the red carpet.

Su Qing stepped out of her Porsche, looking every bit the icy CEO, though her stomach was tied in knots. Madam Su and Su Hao flanked her, immediately putting on their most obnoxious, entitled smiles as they greeted the minor nobles of Jiang City.

Standing at the top of the red carpet, holding court like a king, was Zhao Feng. He was wearing a custom-tailored tuxedo that cost more than Lin Fan’s entire bloodline, a smug, predatory grin on his face.

"Qing'er!" Zhao Feng called out, spreading his arms wide. "You look absolutely breathtaking. The crimson really brings out the fire in your eyes."

"Thank you, Young Master Zhao," Su Qing said, her voice polite but distant. "Let's just get inside. I have a lot of potential investors to speak with."

"Of course, of course," Zhao Feng chuckled, stepping aside to let her pass. But as he did, his eyes flicked to the street, and his smirk widened into a cruel sneer. "Wait. Where is your little mascot? Did you finally realize he’s too embarrassing to bring in public?"

Madam Su immediately chimed in, laughing loudly. "Oh, we left the dwarf at home, Young Master Zhao! We couldn't risk him wandering off and chewing on the furniture. He’s safely locked in his little doggy bed."

Su Hao snorted, slapping his knee. "Good riddance. The place smells better without him."

Su Qing’s jaw tightened, her hands balling into fists at her sides. She hated how they talked about him, but before she could defend her husband, the massive, uniformed head bouncer at the hotel entrance stepped forward, holding up a hand to stop Su Qing.

"Excuse me, Miss Su," the bouncer grunted, looking down his nose at her. "Mr. Zhao’s guest list is strictly VIP. You and your family are on the list. But the rules state no plus-ones, no children, and absolutely no pets. Since your husband is... well, you know... we need to verify his credentials at the side entrance."

Su Qing’s face flushed with anger. "He is my husband! And he is not a pet! Let him through, or I’m leaving right now!"

"Qing'er, don't be ridiculous!" Madam Su hissed, grabbing her daughter's arm. "You can't throw away the Su Group's future just because your pride is hurt! The dwarf can wait in the car!"

Zhao Feng stepped forward, playing the role of the benevolent savior. "Now, now, let's not fight," he said smoothly, though his eyes were dancing with malicious amusement. He looked at the bouncer. "Tell you what. Since Miss Su is my special guest today, I’ll make an exception. But the dwarf stays outside. In fact, if he really wants to come in, he can crawl through my legs right now, and I’ll let him sit under the buffet table."

The surrounding socialites burst into laughter, covering their mouths to hide their snickers. Su Hao was laughing the loudest, egging it on.

Su Qing’s eyes filled with furious tears. She was about to tell Zhao Feng to go to hell, but suddenly, the heavy glass doors of the hotel lobby flew open.

Mr. Jin, the notoriously arrogant owner of the Golden Lotus Catering Group—the man who supplied all the food and wine for the city's elite—came sprinting out. He was sweating profusely, his expensive suit disheveled, looking absolutely panicked.

"Where is he?!" Mr. Jin yelled, his voice cracking as he scanned the crowd. "Where is the new owner? The supreme tycoon who just bought my entire company for five hundred million cash?!"

The crowd went dead silent. Zhao Feng’s smug grin instantly vanished, replaced by a look of sheer, unadulterated shock. Five hundred million? In cash?

Mr. Jin pushed past a stunned socialite, his eyes locking onto the red carpet. He started running straight toward the Su family.

Zhao Feng immediately puffed out his chest, adjusting his bowtie and stepping forward with a confident, arrogant smile. He assumed the catering boss was here to greet the main sponsor of the event.

"Ah, Mr. Jin!" Zhao Feng boomed, spreading his arms. "Welcome! It’s an honor to have the Golden Lotus Catering at my—"

*SLAP.*

The sound of the slap echoed across the red carpet like a firecracker. Mr. Jin had literally backhanded Zhao Feng across the face, sending the young master stumbling backward into a decorative ice sculpture.

"Get out of my way, you broke, irrelevant little bastard!" Mr. Jin roared, his face red with fury. "I don't have time for local trash! I’m looking for the goddamn dragon who just bought my life!"

Mr. Jin shoved past the groaning Zhao Feng, his eyes scanning the crowd frantically until they locked onto a small, unassuming figure standing quietly near the back of the Su family group.

Mr. Jin’s furious expression instantly melted into one of absolute, groveling terror. He dropped to his knees right on the red carpet, sliding a few feet on his expensive leather shoes, and stopped exactly two feet away from Lin Fan.

"Boss!" Mr. Jin wailed, bowing his head so low his nose touched the pavement. "I didn't know you were here! If I knew the Supreme Dragon God was attending, I would have prepared the eight-course imperial banquet! Please, spare my life!"