"Whoosh!"
Dozens of hands shot up in unison.
The only ones who didn't raise their hands were Chen Jianhai, Lin Tao, and Su Jie.
But their dissent was insignificant.
Tong Tongsheng's voice rang out:
"Passed!"
Wait...
What the hell just got passed?!
Chen Jianhai panicked: "Boss Tong, I'm new here, inexperienced. Everyone present is my senior. I'm not suitable to be association chairman!"
Tong Tongsheng waved him off. "Boss Chen, old traditions don't apply anymore. Nowadays, capability determines position."
"Your achievements in Zaomen over just half a year speak for themselves. No one is more qualified than you."
Achievements... What achievements?!
Chen Jianhai was utterly baffled.
His Lion Castle Hotel still had pitiful occupancy rates, operating at a loss.
Plus, he'd never even been a group leader before, let alone association chairman.
This was ridiculous!
Lin Tao's face turned pale as he stared at Chen Jianhai, lips trembling slightly.
They'd both opened hotels in Zaomen around the same time, joined the association together, and operated on Cream Road.
By revenue, Colorful Holiday Resort outperformed Lion Castle by dozens of times. Yet...
How could Chen Jianhai become chairman of Zaomen's Intermediate Hotel Association?!
The hardworking, competitive Boss Lin felt his throat tighten—his recently recovered health taking another hit from stress.
Chen Jianhai looked pleadingly at Su Jie, only to find him equally stunned, clearly unaware of this arrangement.
"Boss Tong, I'm truly unqualified."
Chen Jianhai grew desperate. "In terms of experience, capability, and management, everyone here is my mentor. I'm just here to learn."
The other bosses immediately chimed in:
"Boss Chen, you're too humble!"
"Your accomplishments in Nanjiang are undeniable."
"We old-timers are set in our ways. We need fresh perspectives like yours."
Holy hell... They're trying to bleed me dry!
Chen Jianhai's scalp prickled.
No wonder Tong Tongsheng had insisted on seating him centrally—this was a setup!
Well then... Sorry, Boss Lin!
Chen Jianhai gritted his teeth, deciding to drag Lin Tao down with him.
"Actually, Boss Lin of Colorful Holiday Resort is the ideal candidate!"
Chen Jianhai feigned sincerity. "He studied abroad, has extensive management experience."
"His hotel is part of Magic Century Theme Park—financially robust."
"No one is more suitable than Boss Lin."
Lin Tao stiffened.
You asshole!!
Why drag me into this now?!
Tong Tongsheng reacted swiftly: "Boss Lin is excellent, but his resort's massive客流 keeps him too busy for association duties."
Chen Jianhai seethed.
I'm busy too!!
One hotel overwhelms him? I have three!
"Boss Chen, stop declining."
Tong Tongsheng's gaze held no scheming or schadenfreude—just earnest appeal.
Chen Jianhai, soft-hearted by nature, found his resistance waning under that look.
"Everyone wants you as chairman," others echoed.
Trapped, Chen Jianhai glanced at Su Jie for help, but even he seemed uncertain whether this was good or bad.
No escape today.
Chen Jianhai steadied himself, adopting a reluctant tone: "But I'm new to Zaomen. Taking this role blindly..."
Tong Tongsheng cut in: "Not an issue!"
"Besides the chairman, we have vice chairs and core members. Secretary Su is even your fellow townsman. We'll support you fully!"
"Support" made Chen Jianhai's scalp crawl.
This wasn't an election—it felt like a coronation.
Tong Tongsheng continued: "With the chair decided, let's confirm other leadership positions..."
What followed felt surreal.
Tong Tongsheng proposed names; the room voted.
As chairman-elect, Chen Jianhai abstained.
Lin Tao, having nothing left to lose, voted with the crowd.
Su Jie recorded proceedings, expression stern throughout.
Soon, the new leadership was finalized:
Chairman: Chen Jianhai
Vice Chair: Tong Tongsheng
The rest were Tong Tongsheng's allies, unknown to Chen Jianhai.
Amidst applause, Chen Jianhai clapped mechanically, feeling like an outsider.
"Chairman Chen, lead boldly! We stand with you!"
Tong Tongsheng stood, extending a hand.
Chen Jianhai rose hastily, playing the flattered novice: "Thank you for your trust. I'll strive toward advancing our association!"
Post-meeting, Tong Tongsheng's faction gave Chen Jianhai a tour of Shell Association's facilities, briefing him on Zaomen's hotel landscape and handing over confidential documents.
Once formalities concluded, they tactfully departed, leaving Chen Jianhai and Su Jie alone in the chairman's office to process events.
"New desk, cabinets, sofa... Still reeks of formaldehyde."
Chen Jianhai opened windows, grimacing.
"Brother Su, you screwed me. Had I known this meeting was about me, I'd have skipped it."
Su Jie looked aggrieved.
"I genuinely didn't know!"
"When they prepped this office, I assumed Tong Tongsheng would take it. Never imagined they'd push you forward."
Both men sighed heavily.
"I wanted to help Coconut Umbrella advance. Now I'm stuck here," Chen Jianhai lamented, inspecting the furniture.
Lazy bastards didn't even put charcoal packs in the drawers to absorb odors.
"Three hotels weren't enough? Now this association..."
Noticing his frown, Su Jie offered: "I'll get you charcoal and spider plants."
Chen Jianhai waved it off. "Too slow. Just swap this set for used furniture that's off-gassed already."
Su Jie objected: "You're chairman now! You can't use hand-me-downs!"
Chen Jianhai sighed. "Chairman my ass—I'm just a workhorse. Any odor-free furniture will do."
Su Jie relented: "Fine... I'll move this new set to air out elsewhere. We'll swap back in six months."
Chen Jianhai smiled wryly: "You overestimate me. Who knows if I'll last that long?"
500,000 points still loomed, now compounded by this advancement push.
Life was just relentlessly brutal.
---
Exiting the association, a glum Chen Jianhai stood at the intersection, watching traffic flow.
His stomach growled.
Nothing cured woes like barbecue.
"Let's go, Fan. I'll take you to Boss Lang's East Sea Dragon Palace."
---
Post-lunch lull meant quick service at East Sea Dragon Palace.
Chen Jianhai attacked the skewers ravenously while Wen Zifan frowned at her phone.
As they finished, she reported: "Boss, another 3 million yuan just hit the hotel account."
"Noted." Chen Jianhai drained his cola.
Money wasn't his concern nowadays.
"Maybe a deposit from 'Didn't Expect One Here' film company?" he mused.
Wen Zifan shook her head. "I checked. Neither today's 3 million nor yesterday's 60 million are from them or Little Fortune God."
Chen Jianhai froze. "Other deals I'm unaware of?"
"None recently," he muttered, setting down his skewer. "Who'd randomly transfer 63 million?"
"Back to the hotel first."
He headed for the exit, accustomed to dining free at Xiaolang's establishments.
But today, a staffer chased him down.
"Brother Chen, you forgot to pay."
Without turning, Chen Jianhai said: "Charge it to your boss."
After all Xiaolang's free lodging and meals at his hotels, how dare they bill him?
"Brother Chen... We have a new owner now."
Chen Jianhai whirled around.
"What did you say?"
---
"Returning a thousand miles in a day" —高铁 made this ancient verse reality.
By 9 p.m., Chen Jianhai rushed off the train, hailing a cab straight to Xiaolang's BBQ.
Under streetlights, Xiaolang and Xu Bo sat on plastic stools, drinking at their usual table.
"Bro! You're back!"
Xiaolang jumped up, fetching another stool.
"Whatcha craving? Canned fruit?"
Chen Jianhai's face darkened. "Where's your shop?"
Xiaolang gestured behind him. "Right here."
"Where. Is. Your. Shop?!"
Chen Jianhai repeated, voice hard.
"Sold it."
Xiaolang shrugged casually. "Hotel needed cash. Consider it a loan—you'll pay me back."
Chen Jianhai's mind blanked.
His throat dried. "East Sea Dragon Palace isn't worth 60 million. What else did you sell?!"
"Three BMWs."
Xiaolang was nonchalant. "They were old anyway. Good riddance—"
"You fucking idiot!"
Chen Jianhai's fist connected with Xiaolang's face, sending him crashing into the table. Bottles rolled noisily, drawing stares.
"Psycho!" Xiaolang lunged back.
They brawled on the ground, trading wild punches.
"What else?! Where'd the 3 million come from?!"
Chen Jianhai's eyes were red, gripping Xiaolang's collar.
"3 million? What 3 million?! I only gave you 60!" Xiaolang spat.
Not you...
Chen Jianhai's head snapped toward Xu Bo, still calmly seated.
A dusty Xiaolang followed his gaze, stunned.
"Bo... You sold something too? What could you possibly have worth 3 million?"
Unlike Chen Jianhai and Xiaolang—actual business heirs—Xu Bo was just a trust-fund kid living off Xu Badie's allowance.
Not even organ harvesting would net him 3 million.
Xu Bo smirked. "Don't underestimate me. I earn my keep."
"I sold the Dragon Whisker Lotus Noodle recipe from Culinary God to a food processor."
"Peanuts compared to you guys... But it's intellectual property."
"Pretty badass, huh?"