The elevator stopped at the twelfth floor, and Qi Baotan stepped out.
"I’m sorry, really sorry. Let me wash it clean for you, alright?"
"This clothing isn’t meant to be washed by hand. Just pay me. Since I already wore it, I’ll give you a discount, eight thousand will do."
"What? Eight thousand? That’s way too expensive!"
"Haha, truly a country bumpkin who knows nothing about fashion. Do you even realize this is an international luxury brand? Its original price is eighteen thousand. I’m pitying you here; I’ve already saved you quite a lot. Otherwise, I’d just call your manager and have her pay for it instead."
"No, no, no—don’t call the manager." The woman’s voice was full of panic.
Qi Baotan watched this scene unfold, and her lungs were practically about to explode.
She took a swift step forward, pulled her cowering mother behind her, furrowing her brows and standing firm.
"You’ve gone too far. This is outright extortion."
"Tantant, what are you doing here? Go back. This isn’t something you can resolve." Mrs. Qi tugged anxiously at her arm.
Qi Baotan took a deep breath, stopped her mother’s actions, and said calmly, "Mom, was it her who hit you yesterday?"
Mrs. Qi suddenly fell silent.
Qi Baotan understood everything in an instant.
When Tian Wei saw another girl about her own age suddenly rushing at her, accusing her of extortion, she panicked for a moment. Then, when she heard the girl call the woman "mom," she instantly started smirking again.
After getting a clear look at the girl’s face, Tian Wei’s gaze tightened.
She was absolutely stunning.
Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful she was, she was still just the daughter of a cleaning lady—someone insignificant.
Tian Wei tilted her chin slightly, her expression arrogant and condescending: "Your mom broke my cosmetics yesterday and ruined my clothes today. Compensating me for economic losses is her duty. Otherwise, I’ll call the police."
Regular people get scared when they hear about calling the police; they’d rather pay to avoid trouble. She knew this cleaning lady all too well. She wouldn’t even dare make a sound when scolded by her supervisor—an utter coward. Would she really dare stand up to a customer?
Qi Baotan grabbed the clothing and scrutinized it carefully.
Though she wasn’t wealthy, she had worked part-time before, and her observational skills had been sharpened. Coupled with her intelligence and willingness to learn, while not an expert on luxury items, she could roughly tell the genuine ones apart.
Tian Wei’s eyes showed disdain. "I bet even the combined value of all your clothes wouldn’t match this one piece. Stop pretending."
She looked at Qi Baotan’s shabby attire—probably doesn’t even know how to pronounce this brand’s name.
Qi Baotan turned over the washing label and said coldly, "GI clothing has a washing label printed with exclusive alphabet codes, with sharp and delicate text. The ink used is based on a patented technology; it doesn’t wash off and displays iridescent colors under specific lighting angles."
She held the label under the corridor light and sneered coldly, "Unfortunately, this one’s a knockoff. I’m going to report you for extortion."
Tian Wei was startled for a moment, not expecting her to actually have such discernment.
But Tian Wei quickly smiled again. "Just because you say it’s fake, it’s fake? I could just say you switched it out. No matter how you argue, you’re still paying up for this."
Qi Baotan pulled out her phone, ready to call the police.
Tian Wei’s pupils contracted. "If you dare call the police, I’ll make sure your mom can’t keep her job at this hotel. I bet you don’t even know—one of my friends is a relative of the Xie family. You know what kind of power the Xie family represents in Spring City, don’t you? Sure you want to keep fighting me?"
Qi Baotan glanced up at her. "Haven’t you seen the news? Xie Beichun is already in jail. What makes you think he still cares about people like you?"
Tian Wei choked, "Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse. He’s still not someone you can afford to provoke."
"Waving around a chicken feather like it’s a command stick. Who do you think you are?"
Without hesitation, Qi Baotan dialed 110.
Seeing that she was serious, Tian Wei reached out and snatched the phone away.
"What are you all doing?"
Mrs. Qi panicked when she saw the newcomer: "Li... Manager Li..."
"Manager Li, this cleaning lady ruined my clothes and wouldn’t admit it. Then she and her daughter teamed up to bully me. Is this how your hotel treats its guests? I’m going to file a complaint against you all. Mr. Xie certainly won’t let this slide."
Manager Li walked over with an unpleasant look on his face, first bowing deferentially to Tian Wei in apology, then turning to reprimand Mrs. Qi sternly.
"Manager Li, she’s clearly using a counterfeit to extort money from my mom. How can you blame my mom without understanding the situation?"
"How dare you! Miss Tian here is a distinguished guest of the Xie family. Take a look at your messily dressed selves—what on earth is there that anyone would extort from you? Hurry up and apologize to Miss Tian!"
Tian Wei was brimming with smugness.
Qi Baotan’s eyes turned red, but she bit her lip stubbornly. "I will never apologize to her."