Rise Of the Poor Son-in-law

Chapter 2: Dragon and Phoenix Hotel

Chapter 2: Dragon and Phoenix Hotel

In the heavy snow, Alfred Lucas stood on the roadside. In the past, he didn't care about one hundred thousand at all as he could easily bring it out and give it to beggers on the roadside. But now, he couldn't even take out few hundred dollars from his body to pay for the goods he damaged. It was a type of humiliation Alfred wasn't used to which pissed him off the more he thought about it.

Suddenly a phone call came in, breaking his thoughts.

He lowered his head and saw it was from his wife, Jennifer Zhao. It seemed that his mother-in-law had exaggerated.

“Sighhhhhhhh, I almost thought what usually happens in son-in-law novel is about to happen to me. A mysterious man call and tell me I'm the lost child of a powerful clan and bam, billion dollars deposited to my account." He mutters sarcastically.

Taking a deep breath, he answered the phone.

"Hello, Jennifer, you..."

"I heard that you had a rear-end collision with Elon Mu's goods in the supermarket, is it true?"

Listening to the sweet voice of Jennifer Zhao on the phone, his heart sank.

"Yeah I did? I guess you're angry with me right?" Alfred Lucas replied in a low voice.

"... Alfred Lucas, I'm really disappointed in you." Then Jennifer Zhao hung up the phone.

****

At first, she was expected that Alfred Lucas would feel ashamed of himself and apologize, but she didn't expect that he would instead show no remorse or shame for what he has done and even spoke in such a casual tone after ruining a goods worth 1000 dollars.

Should they really get divorced?

She thought, suddenly considering her mother's proposal.

****

Looking at the black screen of his phone, Alfred Lucas was at a loss about what to do. At this time, his phone vibrated again and he immediately picked it without checking the number.

"Big bro Alfred, someone is interested in our project. Maybe we will soon get investment."

"Finally! Who and where should meet?."

"In the Dragon and Phoenix Hotel tonight, Manager Destiny of the Benson Group invited us to meet. She said that the founder of the company which is you must come meet her."

Benson Group? He seemed to have heard from Elon Mu bragging about the Benson Group, could it be them?

"Okay, see you tonight."

In the evening, Jennifer Zhao was about to go home. She had just changed her clothes, and before she left the hospital, a strange number called.

It was Elon Mu.

Elon Mu greeted her and asked her to have dinner in the Dragon and Phoenix Hotel.

Jennifer Zhao still cared about her image of being a married woman. Although her relationship with Alfred Lucas had been subtle since they got married for a year, it was the first time that is about to have dinner with another man and didn't know how to react to it.

But in order to repay him for not making her mother pay for his damage goods, she decided to invite him to dinner.

The Dragon and Phoenix Hotel was a high-class hotel in the city.

Even if Elon Mu had some family background, he couldn't book a private room. He could only reserve a table near one of the private lounges.

Earlier that day, he’d gone to a flower shop and bought a bunch of red roses.

Now, dressed in a suit and tie, Elon Mu stood at the entrance of the Dragon and Phoenix Hotel, pacing with his phone in hand, rehearsing lines in his head for when Jennifer arrived.

But before Jennifer Zhao made it, someone else entered the frame of his vision.

Alfred Lucas.

Elon's eyes narrowed immediately.

Beside Alfred was a middle-aged man in a formal suit—Mr. Feng—and Alfred himself was dressed sharply in an elegant dark suit. The snow had melted from his shoulders, his hair slicked back with precision. He looked... unrecognizably refined.

Elon’s smug expression twisted.

"What a coincidence," he muttered to himself with venom, adjusting his tie nervously.

The woman Elon was about to court tonight—was about to see her own husband arriving at this very hotel with another woman?

"Elon Mu?" Alfred Lucas stopped, frowning slightly as his eyes met Elon’s.

The tension was instant like an electric.

Alfred blinked a few times, trying to regain composure. Previously, he’d overheard Elon mention something about the Benson Group. Now he was here at the same prestigious hotel? Was Manager Destiny of the Benson Group crazy enough to invite both of them?

"Well, well, well,” Elon said with a sneer. “You hit someone’s goods, can’t afford the compensation, but somehow you can afford to come to the Dragon and Phoenix Hotel?”

"Where I go is none of your business," Alfred replied coldly, his voice steady and calm.

“Oh? So bold today. But I’ll remind you, not everyone can just walk into this hotel.”

Their voices had drawn attention. Several guests passing by paused, subtly glancing in their direction.

"You two,” a hotel hostess in a red cheongsam approached with a practiced smile. “This gentleman is right. The Dragon and Phoenix requires prior reservation for all dining areas. Do you have an appointment?"

Alfred gave Mr. Feng a glance.

Mr. Feng stepped forward. "Miss Destiny has booked a private room under her name."

"Miss Destiny?" The hostess was momentarily taken aback. "Please wait. We’ll need to confirm the reservation through the linked mobile number."

Elon Mu crossed his arms and chuckled mockingly, loud enough for Alfred to hear. “This’ll be good. You sure you’re not just bluffing your way through like always?”

He watched Alfred with the smugness of a man convinced he was about to win another round of public humiliation but he felt that wasn't enough, as a business man he was shrewd enough to have another backup.

He took a subtle step back, raised his phone to his ear pretending to make a call but instead of dialing, he subtly switched to camera mode.

Elon held the phone angled just right, as Alfred and Mr. Feng were still standing near the hostess.

At that moment, a tall, elegant woman in a black pencil skirt and navy blouse approached them—Manager Destiny.

She exchanged a firm handshake with Alfred and gave him a warm smile. Alfred nodded politely.

Snap.

Elon quietly took several photos—just the right angle, just the right moment—Alfred and Destiny walking side by side, faces clear, Destiny looking at him while smiling.

“Perfect,” Elon muttered to himself with a twisted grin. “Let’s see what Jennifer thinks of that while waiting for you to get humilated by the waitress right in front of this lady.”

He thought, feeling things were smoothly going his way tonight. The confirmation he waited for came a moment later.

“Mr. Lucas, Mr. Feng. Your room is ready. Please follow me,” said the hostess, now respectful after verifying the number.

Alfred and Mr. Feng followed Manager Destiny into the hallway leading to the private lounges, completely ignoring Elon Mu like he never existed.

Elon stood there with his mouth slightly open, watching them disappear through the corridor.

He stared at the doorway until Alfred’s silhouette vanished, his fists unconsciously tightening.

He turned to his seat and sat down slowly, his expression flickering between rage and disbelief.

Who the hell was this Destiny woman?

She wasn’t just beautiful, she was commanding. Confident. High-class.

And clearly, Alfred was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her, not like a lapdog, but as an equal.

“Who is she?” Elon muttered, his throat dry.

Did Alfred land a sugar mommy behind Jennifer’s back?

Was this what he was doing while pretending to be broke? Did he come here for business... or for fun?

It must be fun. It has to be. Jennifer hadn’t let Alfred touch her for a year. Surely, he’d found comfort somewhere else. That woman was too elegant, too close, too polished to be anything else and can even be said to be on per with Jennifer in terms of beauty and higher in terms of elegance.

Elon’s clenched jaw relaxed. A smirk returned to his lips.

If Jennifer Zhao saw those pictures, she’d flip.

She’d assume the worst.

Elon’s face, which had just turned blue and red with fury, slowly returned to a relaxed pink. He straightened his collar and reached into his pocket to check his phone again, ensuring the photos were crisp.

Tonight, he wouldn't just win her affection.

He’d blow Alfred’s marriage to pieces.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting."

Suddenly a.sweet voice echoes besides him, Elon Mu's Adam's apple moved involuntarily as he looked at the speaker.

He looked up at Jennifer Zhao and took a deep breath as his eyes lit up. She was still as beautiful as before.

He, Elon Mu, had played with a lot of women. If his plan succeeded tonight, then Jennifer Zhao would be his new collection from now on.

"What's wrong?"

Jennifer Zhao smiled faintly. She did not like the way Elon Mu looked at her but didn't want to ruin the mood instantly.

However, unknown to her at this moment, not only Elon Mu but also the men around the tables were staring at Jennifer Zhao. When they saw her, they couldn't take their eyes off her her snow like skin.