Chapter 170: Insomnia
Darkness shrouded the city, but Qintai Road, the busiest street in central Huangcheng, was ablaze with lights. It had always been Huangcheng's liveliest area, home to five-star hotels and many famous restaurants. Strings of lights covered the upturned eaves and arched beams of every gold shop and restaurant along the old-fashioned street, while the upscale bars on the street behind it drew practically every kind of car and glamorous figure in Huangcheng.
By comparison, however, one hotel with grand European and American-style decor stood proudly apart from the rest of the block. One glance at its exterior and the luxury cars parked outside was enough to establish its leading position on Qintai Road.
Anyone who had lived in Huangcheng for a good many years knew the saying, "Lakeside outside, Jinghua inside," referring to the city's two uncrowned kings among establishments.
"Lakeside outside" naturally meant the Lakeside State Guesthouse at Barrier Lake, while "Jinghua inside" referred to this Jinghua Mingting hotel. Built in 1996, it had now been open for seven years and undergone several renovations. It was renowned locally as the most luxurious venue, mainly used to entertain high-ranking officials, dignitaries, and Huangcheng's various celebrities.
Even those who could afford to frequent the upscale establishments around Qintai Road were not necessarily qualified to become honored guests at Jinghua Mingting. The hotel was primarily a property of Qingshan Real Estate, Huangcheng's largest private enterprise. With the company's boss backed by two major figures, Xu Changcheng and Zhou Zhaofeng, Jinghua's connections were easy to imagine. There was good reason it had prospered for so many years.
At that moment, several local officials, prominent businesspeople, and even the boss of Qingshan Real Estate were seated in one of the hotel's private dining rooms. In the seat of honor sat Huangcheng's