The lobby manager wanted to take Jiang Fei to the police station—not because he was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him or protect Cui Dayuan.
He was simply doing what he should be doing.
Cui Dayuan was definitely injured, and it looked pretty serious. You could tell from his expression and from how his hand had been twisted somewhat out of shape. Even if it wasn’t as bad as Cui Dayuan feared—it probably wouldn’t end up permanently disabled—there was no avoiding a good deal of pain, and a hospital visit would confirm the injury.
Given how badly Cui Dayuan was hurt, he definitely wasn’t going to let this slide. If the lobby manager wanted to avoid getting caught up in this mess later and being blamed for it, then following proper legal procedures was always the safest bet.
“How can you be like this!” Li Wen glared at the lobby manager in dissatisfaction. “If hitting someone means they have to go to the police station, then this Mr. Cui has been harassing me non-stop and has even injured my hand. Shouldn’t he go to the police station with us as well?”
With that, Li Wen held out her right wrist for everyone to see. On her fair skin, a clear red mark from where she had been grabbed was plainly visible.
“Well…” The lobby manager didn’t know what to say.
Li Wen pressed her advantage. “If he’s not going to the police station, then we’re not going either. Let’s just pretend today never happened—call it even!”
Jiang Fei stood beside Li Wen, not having a chance to speak, and could only watch her.
This long-legged supermodel really had a great personality—just like her looks and demeanor, she wasn’t weak at all. She carried herself with a heroic spirit that wouldn’t yield to any man. Even in a situation like this, she wasn’t afraid. She stepped up decisively to speak for Jiang Fei, which made it worth it for him to have helped her out earlier.
“Police station! We’re all going to the police station! You think you can just sweep this under the rug today? No way!” Cui Dayuan shouted angrily, clutching his injured hand.
By now, he had thrown all pretense of gentlemanly behavior and discretion out the window.
Having his hand nearly crushed by Jiang Fei had already filled him with rage. And now, to protect that bastard, Li Wen—whom he had been pursuing for months—publicly accused him of “sexual harassment,” showing him no face and giving him no way to back down gracefully. How could he possibly let this go?
Since his hand was injured, he was going to make Jiang Fei pay dearly and regret this deeply!
“Cui Dayuan, don’t go too far!” Li Wen glared at him.
Whether he couldn’t be bothered to answer or was in too much pain to speak, Cui Dayuan simply shot Jiang Fei and Li Wen a look filled with hatred and anger, then let out a cold snort.
Outside the hotel, countless reporters armed with cameras and microphones had no idea about the commotion inside, but they weren’t about to leave.
At this time of day, high-profile celebrity guests were arriving at the hotel one after another, and there was plenty of news to dig up. Staying put was definitely necessary.
Just moments ago, an Oscar-winning actress who had recently gone public with her relationship made an appearance, drawing nearly every reporter over. They practically surrounded her, and even with bodyguards clearing the way, it was hard for her to move forward.
Right then, a Bentley Flying Spur—which looked like just an ordinary luxury car—slowly pulled up outside the hotel.
Although this luxury car was no small expense, for celebrities who weren’t short on cash, it wasn’t too outrageous. Perhaps the only unusual thing was that this Bentley Flying Spur was custom-made—bulletproof!
The sound of the car engine caught the attention of some reporters, who instinctively glanced back. But they didn’t think much of it and almost immediately turned their attention back to interviewing the new Oscar-winning actress.
However, this lasted for only about three or four seconds. Then, some of the reporters who had glanced back suddenly seemed to remember something and snapped to attention.
After that, those who had realized what was happening abandoned the highly newsworthy Oscar-winning actress without hesitation, rushing like mad toward the Bentley.
Some reporters who hadn’t caught on yet watched in bewilderment, completely shocked.
Sure, there were a few top-tier superstars in the world who were more captivating than this Oscar-winning actress, but they could be counted on one hand. And even the most captivating celebrity couldn’t be so much more attractive than an Oscar winner that reporters would drop her without a second thought to go interview someone else.
This was just too strange!
A reporter who wasn’t from Britain but from another country asked in confusion, “Whose car is that Bentley? Why is it so appealing?”
Next to him was a Hollywood journalist who had earlier introduced himself as the world’s foremost celebrity gossip expert. But now, he shook his head in bewilderment and said helplessly, “No idea. I have absolutely no recollection. I’ve studied the cars of famous celebrities all over the world, and I’ve never heard of any star driving a Bentley Flying Spur. This car is way too formal—it’s more of a businessman’s car. Celebrities usually prefer sports cars.”
A local British reporter overheard their conversation and shouted back while running, “You guys really have no clue! That’s the official car of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the first in line to the British throne!”
The reporters around him were stunned.
Prince Charles, the first in line to the throne?
That handsome, globally famous prince was also attending this fashion show?
That couldn’t be right, could it?
If it were true, then this was huge news—the biggest scoop of all!
And so, once the news spread, the reporters who had been so enthusiastically questioning the Oscar-winning actress just moments ago scattered, leaving hardly anyone behind, all swarming toward the Bentley.
Even the Oscar-winning actress herself found the situation a bit unusual.
But the reporters didn’t care about that. No matter how crowded it got, they all surged forward.
They had thought this was just an ordinary fashion show related to the entertainment industry, involving celebrities and models. Who would have guessed that even a prince like Charles would show up?
After all, a prince held an exalted status. Even if they appeared frequently in the media, it was usually in official outlets or during state visits. Princes were seen on the stage of international diplomacy.
Who had ever heard of a prince attending a fashion show like this?
It was absolutely unheard of! Compared to that, even the biggest Hollywood stars paled in comparison.
There was no way they could miss a story like this.
——-
Inside the custom bulletproof Bentley.
It wasn’t just Prince Charles—who was globally well-known, had visited many countries, and had made many public appearances—sitting inside. There was also his ever-present wife, Princess Anna.
“Do we really need to make a special trip to attend this fashion show? Is the organizer this year backed by some top-tier conglomerate?” Princess Anna asked her husband in confusion.
Prince Charles shook his head. “No. This fashion show is no different from the ones held in previous years.”
“Then why did you suddenly decide to come to this fashion show? If we show up at an event like this, those reporters from The Times will probably have a field day, saying we’re living it up in luxury and decadence again,” Princess Anna remarked.
Just a short while ago, they had finished attending an important meeting and were about to head back to the palace. But after Prince Charles received a phone call, he suddenly told the driver to change course and head to the hotel where the fashion show was about to take place.
In Britain, the prince’s status was undeniably noble. Officials treated him with great respect wherever he went, and he received high-level treatment during state visits abroad.
However, Britain was still a country that valued human rights—at least on the surface. Everyone was supposedly free and equal, with the right to voice their opinions. That meant many newspapers didn’t hold back and published whatever they thought, regardless of whether it concerned the royal family or government officials, who had no power to stop them.
Take finances, for example. The British royal family wasn’t particularly wealthy and often found themselves strapped for cash.
Hadn’t the media reported a while back that the royal family didn’t even have enough money to maintain and repair the palace? They had to resort to all sorts of fundraising methods. These days, the royal family’s annual budget was set by law, and once the money ran out, the government wouldn’t give them any more.
Times were tough, even for the royal household.
And yet, countless newspapers kept their eyes fixed on every move made by every royal family member. If any member of the royal family was perceived as being even slightly wasteful, someone would inevitably jump out and accuse them of living off taxpayer money while gallivanting around instead of doing real work, launching fierce criticisms.
While Prince Charles was born into privilege and enjoyed a status that everyone envied, the responsibilities and obligations that came with his image were far greater. His conduct was held to an even stricter standard than that of celebrities.
If a celebrity made a mistake, they could just retire from the entertainment industry.
But have you ever heard of a prince stepping down from the royal family?
“Although this year’s fashion show organizer is no different from previous years, this time there’s someone special attending—someone worth my time to meet,” Prince Charles said with a meaningful smile.
Princess Anna’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are there not only celebrities at this fashion show but also some important political figures?”
Ordinary celebrities, no matter how famous, weren’t important enough for the two of them to make a special trip just to meet. At most, they might shake hands and exchange greetings at some event, but going out of their way to see a star would be inappropriate.
Unless, of course, the members of the Beatles had come back to life…
“But, whether it’s the United States or any other country, it’s highly unlikely that their political leaders would attend a fashion show like this,” Princess Anna said with a slight frown.
“Our special guest this time isn’t a political figure. You’ll see when we get there,” Prince Charles said with a smile.
The car finally came to a stop outside the hotel. Under the protection of numerous royal guards, a clear space was cleared around the Bentley Flying Spur to allow Prince Charles and Princess Anna to step out safely.
Click, click, click!
As soon as the door opened, the sound of camera shutters filled the air. The blinding flashes were intense, and the crowd of reporters erupted into a frenzy of screams and exclamations.
When they had first spotted the Bentley with the special license plate, the reporters had recognized it as Prince Charles’s official car. But their rational minds had kept telling them that the prince wouldn’t show up at a place like this, so surely the person inside couldn’t actually be him.
Now that the doors had opened and the prince and princess stepped out, the reporters were certain.
It really was Prince Charles, arriving with his princess!
“Oh my god! Prince Charles is actually here! Why would he come to a fashion show like this?”
“This is unbelievable! Is there something special about this fashion show? Some unique segment that would attract Prince Charles to make a personal appearance?”
“Prince Charles is so handsome! And Princess Anna is absolutely stunning! Together, they’re an even more eye-catching couple than David and Victoria Beckham!”
…
The reporters buzzed with chatter, while many of those at the front tried to break through the royal guard’s cordon, hoping for a close encounter or even a hug with the royal couple. But the royal guards were no slackers—each one was highly skilled, forming an impenetrable barrier around the prince and princess, keeping everyone at a distance.
Left with no choice, the reporters stretched out their microphones and arms, shouting questions about anything they were curious about.
Prince Charles wore a warm, approachable smile but didn’t answer any of the questions. Holding his wife Princess Anna’s arm, he walked calmly into the hotel under the protection of his guards.
As he walked with poise, he said with a smile, “Don’t ask about today’s visit just yet. You’ll find out tomorrow why I came here, and I’ll let everyone know then.”
Despite the reporters’ excitement and enthusiasm, they couldn’t stop the prince and his party from entering the hotel in short order.
As for the hotel’s fashion show security staff, when they saw the commotion and realized Prince Charles and Princess Anna had arrived in person, even without an invitation, who would dare to stop them?
Did they want to get themselves blacklisted?
Some of the security personnel nervously and respectfully welcomed the royal couple, while others rushed ahead to notify the relevant people in charge.
The reporters were stunned to see Prince Charles.
But the security staff were just as shocked!
They hadn’t received any prior notice that the prince would be attending today’s event.
Inside the hotel lobby, Jiang Fei—with the firm support of the three celebrity models Li Wen, Gao Qinyuan, and Li Lu—was locked in a standoff with a furious and irrational Cui Dayuan. The lobby manager was caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, someone came in and whispered something in the lobby manager’s ear. His face immediately changed, panic flooding his eyes. Forgetting all about the dispute and commotion, he turned and hurried away.
Cui Dayuan, whose pain had subsided somewhat but who was still pretending to be in agony, panicked. He rushed to block the manager’s way and shouted angrily, “Where are you going? You can’t leave! You haven’t arrested anyone yet!”
Just then, Prince Charles and his princess walked in, surrounded by an entourage and wearing warm smiles on their faces…
