"Ding ling ling~"
The phone rang.
Chen Jianhai glanced at the caller ID—it was Su Jie.
"Boss Chen, busy?" Su Jie's voice came through the receiver.
Chen Jianhai laughed. "Hah! What's there to be busy about? Just running around between my three hotels."
Su Jie: "If you're not too busy, come back to Zaomen next week for a meeting!"
"Lion Castle Hotel's membership application has been approved."
"Next Monday, the Shell Intermediate Hotel Industry Association is holding a welcome ceremony for new members and a mid-year work conference. All the other bosses from the Shell Hotel Association will be there."
"If you don't have other commitments, it'd be best if you attend."
Chen Jianhai grinned. "Next Monday, right? I'll definitely be there!"
Memories of the Coconut Umbrella Hotel Association bosses puffing on cigarettes and arguing vehemently flashed through his mind. He wondered if Shell would be the same.
The thought filled him with a hint of anticipation.
"Boss, good news?" Wen Zifan asked curiously.
"Not exactly good news, but not bad either," Chen Jianhai replied with a smile.
"Next Monday, the Shell Intermediate Hotel Industry Association is holding a meeting. You're coming with me."
Her amber peach-blossom eyes instantly lit up.
"I can come too?" Wen Zifan asked in disbelief.
"Of course," Chen Jianhai said. "You can't stay in Nanjiang forever. This is a good chance to familiarize yourself with Zaomen."
Wen Zifan's entire demeanor brightened.
"Got it, Boss~~~ I'll go book the tickets right away!"
Chen Jianhai nodded. "Also, ask Qiaoni and Xiaolang if they're heading back too. If so, book tickets for them as well."
"Got it, Boss!"
---
The high-speed train sped through fields and villages, golden sunlight painting the rice stalks with a warm, heavy glow. The slender stems bowed toward the earth, exuding a sense of bountiful harvest.
On Monday morning, Chen Jianhai and Wen Zifan boarded the train to Zaomen.
Originally, they were supposed to return with Xiaolang and Dabo,
but Xiaolang had been mysteriously absent lately, and Xu Bo said he had personal matters to attend to in Nanjiang and would return to Zaomen a couple of days later.
So Chen Jianhai decided to leave for Zaomen early Monday morning, heading straight to the Shell meeting after arriving.
When they stepped into Zaomen's bustling high-speed rail station, the air was filled with the clamor of hurried travelers, flashing advertisements, and towering skyscrapers lining the streets. People of all walks of life hustled about, their lives and ambitions intertwined with the city's commercial pulse.
As the economic hub of seven provinces and the core of the Chunyang urban cluster, Zaomen held immense appeal in terms of regional influence and population attraction. The daily influx of business travelers was staggering—Zaomen Airport and Zaomen Railway Station alone handled several times the passenger volume of neighboring cities.
Under such commercial activity, Zaomen's hotel industry was practically monopolized by business-oriented hotels.
Rather than the "Shell Intermediate Hotel Industry Association," it might as well have been called the "Intermediate Business Hotel Association—Zaomen Branch."
This was Wen Zifan's first time in Zaomen, and everything felt fresh and exciting.
"The atmosphere here is completely different from Nanjiang," she remarked.
Chen Jianhai nodded. "It really is. One's a vacation city, the other an economic center. The lifestyles and vibes are inherently different."
"Actually, opening a business hotel in downtown Zaomen wouldn't be a bad idea..."
Wen Zifan blinked. "Here?"
Chen Jianhai explained, "Exactly. Business hotels are positioned above budget hotels. Business travelers aren't as price-sensitive, so rates can be higher than other hotel types in the same tier."
"Plus, Zaomen's guest demographics and transportation infrastructure are natural advantages. A well-placed business hotel here would thrive. It's just a shame..."
He sighed dramatically.
*Shame I've got the money but no points!!*
---
The car wound through Zaomen's streets, crossing Ginkgo River, passing Prosperity Avenue and Sparrow Park, before finally stopping in front of a cream-colored building.
The Shell Hotel Industry Association stood twelve stories tall, its smooth, shell-like exterior striking and eye-catching.
The moment they stepped out, association staff approached to verify their identities before escorting them to the main conference hall.
"Boss Chen!!"
A hearty voice called out as soon as they entered.
Tong Tongsheng waved enthusiastically, striding over with a grin.
"Boss Tong, good morning!" Chen Jianhai greeted warmly.
"Congratulations on joining the association! Come, let's head inside."
Tong Tongsheng slung an arm around Chen Jianhai's shoulders, steering him toward the meeting room as if they were old friends.
Though the familiarity felt sudden, it wasn't unwelcome.
With Tong Tongsheng extending goodwill, Chen Jianhai was happy to reciprocate. The two chatted like brothers, leaving Liu Qinglü and Wen Zifan standing awkwardly behind them, exchanging polite smiles before following their bosses inside.
The conference room layout was nearly identical to Coconut Umbrella's—a large oval table seating thirty, with additional chairs along the sides for assistants.
Without hesitation, Chen Jianhai made a beeline for a seat near the door.
"Boss Chen, what are you doing?!" Tong Tongsheng looked baffled.
*"By seniority, as the newcomer, isn't this where I belong?"*
Chen Jianhai thought to himself but said aloud, "This spot looked free, so I figured I'd take it."
Tong Tongsheng yanked him up. "Nonsense! You're sitting with me."
Without waiting for a response, he half-dragged Chen Jianhai to the center of the table, even pulling out the chair for him.
Chen Jianhai was stunned.
*...Is Zaomen always this hospitable?!*
He and Huang Baichuan were close, yet even at Nanjiang's executive gatherings, Huang had never once seated him at the head.
But here at Shell, on his first visit, he was given a central seat?
Was this normal?
Or was it just a grand welcome for new members?
His mind raced through possibilities, utterly perplexed by Tong Tongsheng's motives.
But one thing was certain—
Sitting in the middle felt pretty good. Definitely better than being stuck by the door.
As time passed, other association members trickled in, taking their seats.
Whether they knew Chen Jianhai or not, everyone made a point to greet him.
Chen Jianhai reciprocated warmly, quickly blending into the crowd with laughter and conversation.
In contrast, Lin Tao, the boss of Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel, entered to complete silence, sitting alone near the door with a complicated expression as he watched Chen Jianhai holding court at the center.
By the time Su Jie arrived, the room was nearly full.
Spotting Chen Jianhai seated prominently beside Tong Tongsheng, Su Jie's pupils contracted briefly before he assumed his role as meeting chair.
The agenda was simple—just two items.
First, welcoming Lion Castle Hotel and Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel into the association.
The members offered heartfelt congratulations to Chen Jianhai, followed by polite but noticeably tepid well-wishes for Lin Tao.
The contrast was subtle but cutting.
The second item was discussing association business.
Though Su Jie was the secretary-general, his role leaned more toward administrative duties.
Tong Tongsheng was the true power behind the scenes, and by the second agenda item, leadership had subtly shifted from Su Jie to him.
Tong Tongsheng took a sip of tea before addressing the room.
"Higher-ups have issued a notice. Early next year, the intermediate hotel associations will begin applying for promotion to advanced status."
"Slots are limited."
"Chunyang Province only has one spot. Besides us at Shell, Nanjiang's Coconut Umbrella is also eligible."
At the mention of "Coconut Umbrella," Chen Jianhai's eyebrows lifted slightly. He exchanged a knowing glance with Su Jie across the table.
Both hailed from Nanjiang, and hearing their hometown association mentioned stirred a sense of pride.
Their interest was piqued—not just to listen, but to potentially relay Shell's strategies back home.
Unbeknownst to the Zaomen hoteliers, two traitors sat among them.
"Shell has been an intermediate association for seven years now."
Tong Tongsheng sighed heavily.
"In those seven years, we've repeatedly tried and failed to advance."
"Want to know why, Boss Chen?"
Chen Jianhai stiffened, bewildered at being singled out.
Tong Tongsheng continued,
"Zaomen, as a city of development and magic, boasts the nation's richest air traffic and passenger flow, naturally bringing abundant guests."
"Previously, we focused solely on business travelers, striving to create faster, more comfortable business hotels. We achieved some success, enough to rise from a primary to an intermediate association."
"But we lost our way during the transition."
His tone was measured, almost lecturing, as he recounted Zaomen's hotel industry history.
"For years, we've tried transforming traditional business hotels into service-oriented resort-business hybrids, attempting to blend existing functions with models from vacation destinations like Nanjiang."
"We aimed for more humane, efficient, high-standard management."
"But wanting everything meant achieving nothing."
"Transformation kept failing. Even now, we're stuck beneath the intermediate association ceiling with no way forward."
"Meanwhile, Coconut Umbrella grows stronger by the day. Soon, they might overtake us entirely."
Pride swelled in Chen Jianhai's chest.
Who didn't love hearing outsiders praise their hometown?
But... what did association promotions have to do with individual hotels?
In his experience, the biggest perk of advancing from primary to intermediate had been additional funding to renovate the association building—making it more impressive.
Other benefits were negligible: staff training budgets, hiring instructors, organizing industry competitions with token prizes.
Even events like the Culinary God Competition relied on sponsors, not association funds.
For member hotels, the impact was minimal.
*Wouldn't focusing on their own properties be more worthwhile?*
Seeming to sense his skepticism, Tong Tongsheng asked,
"Any questions, Boss Chen?"
Chen Jianhai spoke up. "Boss Tong, what tangible benefits would advancing to an advanced association bring our hotels?"
Tong Tongsheng smiled. "Plenty!"
"Once promoted, the association can negotiate major perks—exclusive airport counters and check-in lanes for member hotels, government partnerships, rent and tax reductions, even creating our own booking app bypassing third-party platforms."
"An advanced association means all hotels truly uniting as one."
"The collective strength and achievements would far surpass what any single hotel could imagine."
"The market offers choices. We aim to become the choice!"
"Time waits for no one!"
His voice carried a magnetic, stirring quality.
Even "traitor" Chen Jianhai felt his blood heat, itching to roll up his sleeves and propel Coconut Umbrella to advanced status.
As for Shell?
*Meh. No emotional attachment.*
His Lion Castle Hotel was already tied to Magic Century Theme Park, far from downtown and not a business hotel.
Their struggles meant nothing to him.
This pep talk was just background noise.
Figuring out how to boost Coconut Umbrella was what really mattered.
Just then, Tong Tongsheng spoke again.
"Recently, I've discussed our association's predicament with several colleagues."
"Perhaps our repeated failures stem from lacking the right leader."
"The chairman's position has been vacant too long. It's time for new leadership."
"I propose Chen Jianhai as Shell Hotel Association chairman. All in favor, raise your hands."