Chapter 169: Chapter 169

Chapter 169 The next day, Benson Smith and Samuel Smith hosted their birthday celebrations at Indigo Hotel’s Peony Hall and Lotus Hall respectively.

Sean Smith, Paul Smith and the rest of the members of the Smith family were gathered at the Lotus Hall, where Samuel Smith’s luncheon was held.

Relatives and friends who had started streaming in, dropped by the Peony Hall to pass Benson Smith a small gift, before heading to Samuel Smith’s side with the expensive presents.

As the time approached noon, Samuel Smith’s Lotus Hall was already filled with guests who were there to celebrate his birthday;

more people were flowing in.

On the other hand, Benson Smith’s Peony Hall was cold and cheerless.

Apart from the hotel’s service crew, Benson, Leah, Nathan, Queenie and Penny were the only people there. Not even one guest was present.

Suddenly, a man who was dressed in suit, walked in. It was Joe Harris, Benson’s cousin.

It was a rare sight that someone else other than Benson Smith’s family itself had shown up. Naturally, Benson, together with his family, welcomed him warmly, “Joe, it’s good to see you.”

Joe Harris’s smile extended to his eyes as he took out a gift box and handed it to Benson Smith. “Happy fiftieth birthday, Benson!

I’ve brought you a small gift. May all your wishes come true!”

Benson passed the gift box to Penny and said to his cousin merrily, “Joe, you didn’t have to bring a present, I’m just glad you took time to be here. C’mon, let’s sit down and have a few drinks together. We need to catch up properly! By the way, where’s your wife? Didn’t she come here with you?”

Joe Harris politely declined the invitation to catch-up with a wave of his hand. Apologetically, he said, “My wife and the kids are at the Lotus Hall. I just came over to pass you the gift. I’ll be having lunch at Samuel’s. Thanks for your hospitality though, Benson.”

Joe Harris left and proceeded towards Samuel Smith’s Lotus Hall after saying that.

Benson Smith did not even get the chance to persuade him to stay.

Even though Benson Smith had experienced the vicissitudes of life, he had finally understood the fickleness of human nature today.

The stark contrast between his brother’s crowded Lotus Hall, and his empty Peony Hall, was the perfect representation of social snobbery.

With his pride hurt, Benson blamed his daughter and son-in-law for his predicament. “See! I’ve already told you guys not to fuss over my birthday. We now have 50 empty tables without a single guest. How embarrassing is this!”

Just then, the hotel manager walked over and asked in a hushed tone, “Mr. Smith, it’s just half an hour to noon, but none of your guests have arrived. Are you still intending to proceed with the lunch as planned?”

Benson Smith could feel the mocking stares from the manager and the service crew. He was scorched with shame and was thinking of cancelling the lunch banquet and offering to bear the resulting losses.

Before he could state his intention, however, Nathan had already spoken. “Of course we are proceeding as planned. Please arrange for more service staff. I’m afraid that the people you have here will not be enough to handle our numerous guests.”

The hotel manager scanned around the deserted Peony Hall and silently sneered, before casually acknowledging the man’s request.

The people we currently have are not enough to serve those empty tables? What a joke! He’s such a braggart. By the looks of it, even if they waited half an hour more, there wouldn’t be much change to the situation.

Penny was getting anxious as well. She said to her husband softly, “Our friends and relatives are all over at uncle’s side, no one is going to come here. What should we do?”

Leah agreed. “Yeah, we’ve reserved 50 tables but we can’t even manage one full table. This is such a humiliation!”

However, Nathan Cross seemed unfazed. “Don’t worry, I guarantee you that all of these tables will be filled in half an hour.”

Penny and her parents had a look of suspicion on their faces. The woman asked her husband, “Nathan, you’re thinking of inviting the homeless people on the streets to be our guests, aren’t you? If you do that, we’ll be the laughing stock of our friends and relatives.”

Nathan Cross smiled and replied, “Today is dad’s fiftieth birthday. How can we get random passersby to be his guests? Of course, we have to get some VIPs. Oh! Why don’t I invite the leaders of Channing here to join in dad’s birthday celebration?”