Chapter 7 Booking a Banquet

• "It's just inviting a few people over for dinner. How hard could that be?" Mark casually remarked.
• Tamara and Eddie exchanged puzzled glances. They wondered if Mark truly understood his own status. It was quite surprising to hear him speak so confidently.
• "They're all respected individuals now. Even if you were comrades on the battlefield before, your positions have changed. Do you honestly think you can convince them all by yourself?" Tamara asked, her expression showing skepticism.
• "Don't worry. They will still show me some respect," Mark replied nonchalantly.
• Eddie and Tamara glanced at each other, still unsure. However, they had no choice but to place their trust in Mark now.
• "Very well. We'll take your word for it. If no one shows up tomorrow, you'll publicly apologize to Dad and immediately divorce Laurel. Do you agree with that?" Tamara pressed on.
• She had already planned ahead; if no one attended, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing face. It would be an opportunity to push Mark out of their lives for good.
• "Mom! This was Grandpa's idea because he wanted to show off. When did Mark ever claim to be a high-ranking officer? Why are you threatening him like this?" Laurel interjected, clearly upset.
• "I didn't ask for your opinion, so don't butt in. Mark, if you have any integrity left as a man, promise me this today. You said it yourself just now; are you just all talk?" Tamara challenged, fixing her gaze on Mark provocatively.
• Mark smiled faintly. "Sure, I agree to your terms. But if I do, will you both agree to one of mine?"
• "You have conditions? Go ahead," Tamara said, slightly amused.
• "If I succeed, I hope you'll allow Laurel to move out and live with me. After all, we are married," Mark proposed.
• "Absolutely not!" Tamara refused outright.
• Eddie's expression turned serious. Jokes aside, both he and Tamara still hoped Laurel would divorce Mark. If she moved out to live with him, it would make divorce even less likely.
• "If this doesn't work for you, then I'm afraid I can't agree to your terms," Mark said calmly, seeming confident in Eddie and Tamara's response.
• Tamara's face flushed with anger. How dare this worthless Mark negotiate terms with me!
• "If you want Laurel to live with you, do you even have a house? Remember, when Laurel got her marriage certificate five years ago, her residency remained in our family because you didn't have a place together. So now your residency is linked to ours. You're just a live-in son-in-law here; if anyone's going anywhere, it'll be you moving in to live with us!" Eddie asserted confidently.
• "I will buy a house," Mark stated plainly.
• "Then wait until you've bought it before you speak. Let's settle this first!" Eddie decisively waved off further discussion with Mark.
• "Forget it. My parents have a point. Let's focus on sorting out the matter at hand," Laurel intervened.
• Seeing Laurel stand up for him, Mark nodded.
• "Since Laurel isn't working today, you two should go together and book the banquet. Who knows whether you're telling the truth? Reserve as many seats as the number of people you can invite!" Tamara said indignantly before turning and leaving.
• "Let's go book the banquet," Laurel said, relieved the conversation was over, and hurried Mark out.
• "Don't worry about my parents. That's just how they are." Laurel blushed, feeling embarrassed that Mark had been insulted during his first meeting with her parents.
• "I'm not concerned about them. As long as you believe in me, that's enough."
• Mark smiled faintly, gesturing for Laurel to hop on his electric bike. "Come on. Let's go book the banquet."
• "Of course, I believe in you. No matter how things are now, I believe they'll improve in the future," Laurel said sincerely as she sat behind Mark, holding onto him.
• As Mark rode his electric bike through a neighborhood full of BMWs and Audis, they attracted quite a bit of attention.
• "Even though this guy seems poor, there's still a woman willing to be with him? He must be the only one in the neighborhood riding an electric bike, right?" a young man with sunglasses remarked mockingly as he got into his red BMW.
• Following Laurel's directions, Mark arrived at the entrance of Elysium Restaurant, Seraphia's most renowned restaurant.
• "I heard a table here costs over 4,500 for ten people. With our family and the people you're inviting, there are probably over sixty people. That's about seven tables. How many people can you invite?" Laurel asked before they entered the restaurant.
• "As I said, everyone from the hero list will be here," Mark replied sincerely.
• "Mark, are you serious? We're on the verge of booking the banquet! It's not that I doubt you, but each person on that hero list has responsibilities with their own unit. They're likely to disperse soon. You should contact them. If we can fill even one table, it would be good enough. Why not give them a call to confirm?"
• "No need. Let's go inside; I'll handle it," Mark replied confidently.
• "Wait, let's plan this out first. I can use a friend's discount card," Laurel called out after Mark as he hurried inside without hesitation.
• "Well, well, Laurel, is this your husband, the high-ranking officer?" Just as they entered the restaurant, a stylish woman walked out, her expression smirking.
• "Tammy? What are you doing here?" Laurel's expression turned serious.
• Tammy Clayton was Bryan's daughter, Laurel's cousin, and they had often been compared within the family. In the past, Laurel had received more praise from most family members for her academics and character, which had fueled resentment in Tammy.
• Seeing her there now, Laurel sensed this was not just a chance encounter.
• "I'm here to give you a heads-up about the restaurant prices. I heard they've gone up; a single table costs 12,000. You should brace yourselves!" Tammy chuckled coldly.
• "It's 12,000 for a table? Tammy, that's outrageous. Didn't Grandpa take back the Veridian project? Is targeting our family really necessary?" Laurel retorted, clearly frustrated.
• "Targeting? What has their price hike have anything to do with me? If you don't believe me, go ask them yourself. I don't have the power to set prices. Speaking of power, your bigshot husband here should have enough influence. Maybe he can negotiate a lower price. These greedy merchants nowadays need to learn a lesson!" Tammy said smugly, casting a meaningful glance at Mark and provocatively adding, "Am I right, brother-in-law?"