Chapter 92: Cancelled Performance

At Tianhu Grand Hotel, the first five-star hotel to open in Pingchuan.

Hu Yong had booked a luxury suite at Tianhu Grand Hotel for Li Qian, with a daily rate of 1888 yuan.

When Li Dong arrived, Hu Yong was anxiously pacing in front of the room door.

Seeing Li Dong, Hu Yong was about to speak when Li Dong waved him off.

Without asking any questions, Li Dong immediately began banging on the door.

A woman's impatient voice came from inside, "Manager Hu, I've already said that Qianqian is really sick!"

"Open the door!" Li Dong commanded.

The room was silent for a moment, and after a while, the door finally opened.

A woman in her thirties looked at Li Dong with some surprise and asked, "Who are you?"

Hu Yong hurriedly said, "This is Mr. Li from Yuandfang."

The middle-aged woman smiled slightly with a hint of reserve and nodded, "Oh, it's Mr. Li. Nice to meet you."

Li Dong's face was grim as he spoke after a long pause, "I want to see Miss Li!"

"Qianqian is sick, and it's inconvenient..."

Li Dong stared at her coldly and said, "Stop with the excuses. I'm asking you, will Miss Li see me or not!"

Su Man's expression grew colder as she replied, "Mr. Li, Qianqian is really sick and it's not convenient for her to see guests."

Li Dong, fuming and smiling, nodded, "Alright, you're something else!"

Turning to Hu Yong, he continued, "Cancel tomorrow's commercial performance. Have them compensate Yuandfang for the loss according to the contract. If they refuse to pay, sue them!"

Having said this, Li Dong turned and left, showing no intention of continuing to argue.

What a joke, claiming to be sick the day before the commercial performance, and expecting him to believe it!

If they wanted more money, they had no chance!

Seeing that Li Dong was really leaving, Su Man hurriedly asked, "Mr. Li, what do you mean by this?"

Li Dong turned back, glanced at her coldly, and sneered, "What do I mean? I should be asking what you mean!"

"Qianqian is really sick…"

Li Dong was becoming impatient, "Stop talking nonsense! I can tell if it's true or not. Let me in to see her now. If she's truly ill, I can postpone the performance."

If she was truly sick, Li Dong wouldn't hold it against her.

But if she was pretending to be sick to threaten him, Li Dong would not be intimidated by a small celebrity!

Even if the commercial performance was important, Li Dong wouldn't care about any huge losses.

At this point, Su Man had no choice but to relent.

Unable to refuse any longer, Su Man opened the door, allowing Li Dong to enter.

As soon as he walked in, Li Dong was infuriated.

Pointing at Li Qian, who was leisurely sipping coffee, he asked Su Man, "This is your idea of being sick?"

Before Su Man could reply, Li Qian stood up with a smile and said, "Mr. Li, who says sick people can't drink coffee?"

This was Li Dong's first time meeting Li Qian, and contrary to his expectation of a neutral appearance, she was actually a very charming woman.

Seeing Li Dong silent, Li Qian continued with a smile, "Besides, I just have a slight sore throat. I'll be fine in a few days."

"A sore throat? So that means you can't sing?" Li Dong asked with a frown.

Seeing Li Qian nod, Li Dong turned to Hu Yong and asked, "Does the contract allow for a breach of agreement just because of a sore throat?"

Before Hu Yong could speak, Su Man angrily said, "Mr. Li, this has nothing to do with the contract! Qianqian's livelihood depends on her voice. Are you really going to make her perform while sick? It could ruin her career!"

Li Dong found it very amusing. Breaking the contract was only natural, and now it was being made out as if he was the unreasonable one.

The commercial performance had already been publicized, and everything was prepared. At this juncture, Li Qian saying she couldn't perform—who would be responsible for Yuandfang's losses?

More importantly, a sore throat was such a convenient illness!

Li Qian drinking coffee with a sore throat?

As a singer, she should know that coffee is a stimulant. Li Dong would never believe it!

With a sigh, Li Dong said with some impatience, "Let me ask you one last time: can you go tomorrow or not?"

Li Qian frowned, and Su Man, with a cold face, questioned Hu Yong, "Manager Hu, is this how your company treats its guests?"

Hu Yong looked awkward, glancing at Li Dong, and stammered, "Mr. Li, Miss Li might really be sick. How about we…"

Li Dong gave him a cold glance and, after a long pause, said, "Hu Yong, if you don't want to work, then get lost! I'm paying you to get things done, not to act like a fool!"

Hu Yong's face turned pale as he felt a mix of shame and embarrassment, keeping his head down in silence.

Li Dong snorted. He had thought well of Hu Yong before, but now it seemed this guy was just useless!

It was a small matter, but after all this trouble, they couldn't even get inside the room!

This was a hotel where Yuandfang had paid for accommodation, providing good food and drink, not that they had invited an ancestor.

Ten thousand yuan for the appearance fee, plus the hotel expenses for a few days—over ten thousand yuan in total, and now they were told it wasn't possible!

Li Dong now understood why Hu Yong, despite his good abilities, had changed jobs several times within a few years.

This guy was useless when it came to big matters, soft and weak like a pushover!

Without looking at Hu Yong anymore, Li Dong turned to the surprised Li Qian and Su Man, and said, "You have two choices: First, go and complete the commercial performance honestly tomorrow. Second, cancel the contract and compensate for the losses. You decide."

He was truly fed up with this, as if leaving them was not an option.

They were not big names. If they wanted, Li Dong had many ways to make it difficult for them in Pingchuan.

These days, it was all about money and power, and a bit of fame meant nothing.

Su Man and Li Qian clearly didn't expect Li Dong to openly confront them. Li Qian's previously smiling face became stiff and somewhat embarrassed as she said, "Mr. Li, but the performance has already been advertised."

"Stop with the excuses! Do you really think you're so important? Do you believe that I could create a discount event that would be a hundred times more effective than your performance?"

"Trying to use this small threat on me is simply absurd!"

Li Dong looked disdainfully at their childish tactics, not impressed by their attempt to intimidate him.

If he were really that foolish, even with his rebirth experience, he wouldn't be able to sustain Yuandfang.

"Stop wasting my time. Give me your answer before eight o'clock tonight. If you can't perform, then pay the compensation honestly!"

Too tired to argue further with these self-important fools, Li Dong left with his final words.

Hu Yong was left in a dilemma, unable to decide whether to stay or follow.

After changing his expression several times, Hu Yong chose to chase after Li Dong.

Finding a good job these days wasn't easy, and considering his high position at Yuandfang now, giving up the job for the sake of face was too regrettable.

Once they had left, Li Qian looked at Su Man and said hesitantly, "Sister Man, maybe I should go tomorrow after all."

Su Man gritted her teeth, making up her mind after a long while, "No, we won't go. If we give in now, how will we ever survive in this industry?"

It wasn't just about the money anymore; it was about saving face.

She thought for a moment and added, "Even if he sues us, it's okay. It might even increase our fame."

Li Qian was still worried, "But if this kind of thing spreads, our reputation will be ruined."

Raising the price at the last minute might be unpleasant if a big star did it, but ordinary businesses wouldn't dare to offend easily.

However, Li Qian had some self-awareness. She knew she wasn't a big star. If the news about the price increase spread, no one would hire her for commercial performances in the future.

For small-time artists like them, commercial performances were their main source of income.

If no one hired her, who would remember Li Qian in a year or two?

Su Man was also concerned but tried to stay optimistic, "He won't dare sue us. He's just a small businessman. What can he do?"

Although Li Qian was still worried, she eventually nodded in agreement and remained silent.