Magic Century Theme Park remained a cacophony of drums, firecrackers, fluttering flags, and seas of people.
Visitors packed every inch of the park,
with even the three entrance corridors jammed with crowds gaping at virtual broomstick animations overhead.
While the park lagged in food pricing and hotel amenities,
its rides were undeniably top-tier.
Paradoxically,
longer queues attracted *more* guests.
Many who swore off visiting due to crowds
would impulsively book flights the moment they had free time.
Hypocrites!
Meanwhile, Lion Castle Hotel offered tranquility, space, comfort... and emptiness.
Even with dozens clustered around the wishing pool,
it couldn't hold a candle to Magic Century's bustle.
*"When will Lion Rock Mountain Hotel turn major profits?!"*
Chen Jianhai sighed gloomily.
As a condominium hotel,
Lion Castle had initially sold rooms to staff at below-market rates.
Chen had also gifted units to repay favors and forge connections.
Each room's revenue would distribute dividends annually.
Previously, he only needed to cover salaries and bonuses.
Now, with shareholders involved,
meager payouts would embarrass him.
*"Maybe invite Uncle Song to the wishing pool for BBQ advice?"*
Pulling out his phone, Chen messaged Song Zhan:
*"Uncle, free next week?"*
*"Returning to Zaomen—let's dine! My treat!"*
*"Wishing pool BBQ, coffee with garlic... unbeatable combo!"*
**Send!**
...
At last, Little Fortune God's weeklong international beer symposium neared its end.
After tonight, attendees would begin departing Nanjiang.
*"Finally... freedom."*
Huang Baichuan's voice trembled as he counted days on his fingers,
near tears.
The week had drained him.
Between bar-hopping and VIP memberships at nightclubs
(he'd amassed enough gold cards to shame a banker),
his wallet and dignity were in tatters.
Approaching Lang'ai's restaurant for the farewell dinner,
he found the international brewers already feasting.
Chef Xu Qiaoni had outdone himself—
sweet-and-sour ribs, dumplings stuffed with fish-fragrant pork,
four-joy meatballs with crayfish, shaomai, rice noodle rolls, fried pork in gravy...
The buffet stretched endlessly, crowned by token baguettes for sauce-dipping traditionalists.
"Chef Xu, thank you for your hospitality!"
Huang clasped Xu's hands fervently.
"Our pleasure. We welcome your feedback," Xu replied modestly.
"No notes! Only gratitude!" Huang insisted, pressing a gift box into Xu's hands.
Xu politely declined: "Hotel policy prohibits accepting guest gifts."
As Huang floundered, Chen intervened:
"Take it! How could you refuse Mr. Huang?"
With Chen's approval, Xu accepted.
Other brewers followed suit,
some even inviting Xu to visit their homelands.
By the end, Xu was moved to near-tears.
Since most had early flights,
the group mercifully skipped nightlife,
letting Huang escape like a monkey freed from a mountain's crush.
"Chen! Join me for dinner tonight," Huang said.
"Dinner?"
"Nanjiang CEOs' Dance Class reunion!"
...
That evening,
Chen and Huang biked along Huanhai Road to Imperial Court Elegance Hotel.
The same private room.
The same crew of uncles and big brothers.
*"Daddy Xu~"*
Chen's syrupy greeting oozed in as he entered.
Xu Bamo smirked. "Ah, Boss Chen."
"Present!" Chen chirped, scuttling to his usual seat by the dishes.
Huang took the head seat beside Xu.
Xu announced:
"Gentlemen, as fellow candidates for Boss Chen's bodyguard position,"
"let's demonstrate our skills tonight."
"Show him who's fit for duty!"
The table roared with laughter,
all eyes skewering Chen.
*Damn. They're never letting this go.*
"Misunderstanding! Total misunderstanding!"
Chen's grin threatened to split his face.
"Who'd need a bodyguard at my size?!"
The group indulged him, shifting topics.
"Still, Boss Chen's connections impress."
"None of us had encountered such... *bold* headhunters before."
"We owe you for discovering them!"
"Cheers to Chen!"
Amid the toasts,
Chen couldn't tell if they were sincere or subtly mocking him.
Not that it mattered—
the food was exquisite,
the company jovial,
and Little Fortune God beer flowed endlessly.
Huang, flushed, declared:
"Regardless, I must praise Lang'ai's culinary team!"
Xu's ears perked up.
"Chef Xu Qiaoni is exceptional—"
"Talented, humble... Our foreign guests inquired about him constantly."
"Inquired how?" Xu cut in. "About his relationship status?"
Huang scoffed. "Foreigners don't care about that!"
"They wanted to host him abroad!"
*"Pfft."*
"You wouldn't know his dating life anyway."
Chen tensed, expecting Xu to flip the table.
Instead, Xu's stern face softened with pride.
Meanwhile, Qin Li beamed.
Since Lion Castle's wishing pool went viral,
Digital Dynamo's market share had skyrocketed.
*Celestial Tribulation* topped app charts for a week straight,
sending company stocks soaring.
Chen's eyes gleamed—maybe he should invest.
Qin suddenly asked:
"Boss Chen, ever considered taking your business public?"
*"IPO?!"*
Chen's chopsticks froze.
"Can... *I* do that?"
"Of course!" Qin said. "Has Lang'ai operated for three years?"
"Probably...?" Chen hesitated.
Xu interjected: "Lang'ai was his parents' venture—nearly 30 years old."
"But an IPO requires *three consecutive profitable years* too."
Chen's excitement fizzled.
*Profitable?*
A year and a half ago, Lang'ai was nearly bankrupt.
Without the system, he'd be grilling skewers with Xiao Lang by now.
Noticing his gloom, the group reassured him:
"One more year is nothing for you!"
"By then, you'll have ten hotels!"
"IPOs aren't mandatory—look at Mountain-Like Real Estate."
"Thorough planning is key..."
Their well-meaning advice soon became a finance seminar,
drowning Chen in terms like *market capitalization* and *prospectuses*.
Math-challenged at the best of times,
he nodded blankly,
occasionally parroting their endings as questions to feign comprehension.
...
The next morning,
Huang Ning's assistant arrived from Chunyang Province with the annual party contract.
After signing,
Chen stood proudly in the lobby like a head concierge,
while Wen Zifan vibrated with excitement beside him.
"Why so happy?" Chen asked.
*"My brother's coming! AHHH!!!"* she squealed.
"Your... brother?" Chen stiffened.
*Brother-in-law inspection?!*
"Here? To Nanjiang?"
"To the *hotel*!" Wen's cheeks flushed.
"I never thought he'd stay where I work... I might get autographs and photos!!!"
*"...Oh.*"
*Celebrity.*