Theoretically, Chen Jian was supposed to be off today, but he still woke up on time before seven, when the sky was not yet fully bright.
Besides Chen Erhu, who had just returned from his rounds, Sanbing and Lao Si in the dorm were still asleep. Lao Wu had gone home yesterday and hadn’t come back yet.
“Why are you still sleeping in the dorm?” Chen Erhu asked, preparing to lie down for a while. He took off his jacket and leaned against the pillow, looking at Chen Jian.
“…Then where should I sleep?” Chen Jian didn’t really want to answer this question, but he had to add, “You have an opinion about me staying here?”
“Go to Shan Yu’s room,” Chen Erhu said.
Chen Jian was reaching for his jacket from the coat rack when he heard this. His hand froze in mid-air. Ever since Chen Erhu had stopped being stiff that day, he had also stopped being subtle.
“I’m at work,” Chen Jian said. “That’s an office, not a residence.”
“But isn’t Shan Yu staying there? That’s his home,” Chen Erhu said.
“Do you have a problem with me staying here?” Chen Jian asked.
“No,” Chen Erhu said. “I just think you guys…”
He glanced at the still-sleeping Sanbing and Lao Si and lowered his voice, “Aren’t you dating? Don’t you need to be clingy?”
“Even in a normal relationship, people don’t have to live together, right?” Chen Jian also lowered his voice.
“That’s true. People who are married live together,” Chen Erhu said. “You two aren’t getting married.”
Chen Jian let out a light sigh, didn’t speak, and stared at the side of Chen Erhu’s neck for a few seconds.
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Fortunately, Chen Erhu was not a very inquisitive person. The training teacher was coming to class today, and he had to hurry up and get some sleep to be full of energy for studying. He didn’t continue.
When Chen Jian walked out of the dorm, he glanced towards the office and saw that the office door was ajar.
He wanted to see if Shan Yu had forgotten to close the door last night or if he was already up. Just as he took two steps in that direction, a shadow flickered in the crack of the ajar door.
Although his mind had already reacted that it must be Shan Yu, his body was still startled first.
“The manager’s courage,” the door opened a palm’s width, and Shan Yu revealed half a smiling face. “How do you dare to do rounds alone in the middle of the night?”
“No one is swaying back and forth in the crack of a door in the middle of the night!” Chen Jian walked over.
“Aren’t you off today?” Shan Yu asked. “Why are you up so early?”
“I’m just not working, but I can’t sleep either,” Chen Jian said as he entered the office. He glanced back at the dorm, then leaned over and gave Shan Yu a peck on the cheek. “The training people are coming today, right? I’m getting ready.”
“What’s there to prepare?” Shan Yu asked. “It’s the teacher who needs to prepare.”
“You have to be trained today too,” Chen Jian said. “You have to attend both days of training.”
“Hm?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“You’re too unfamiliar with the business,” Chen Jian said. “Even Liu Wu, who stayed here for a week, is more familiar than you. He at least knows our room types and prices…”
Shan Yu started laughing and stretched. “So just don’t make me fill in for you all the time.”
“Are you going down for breakfast later?” Chen Jian asked. “Or should I bring it up for you?”
“You can bring it,” Shan Yu said. “And call Sun Nana up too. The three of us can talk.”
“Talk about what?” Chen Jian immediately asked.
“I’m planning to set up a company next month,” Shan Yu said. “For the integration and development of tourism projects in the small town. It’ll also be more convenient for cooperation with the higher-ups.”
“Is it with President Liu?” Chen Jian asked.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu nodded. “I didn’t want to cooperate with her at first, but I do want to cooperate with her money…”
“Are you calling Nana to have her join this company?” Chen Jian thought for a moment.
“Mhm,” Shan Yu nodded. “There are a lot of things to run around for in the early stages. She should be suitable. Then we can slowly find more people… As for you…”
Shan Yu looked at him as he spoke.
“You’re not asking me to go too, are you?” Chen Jian was taken aback. “I definitely can’t. I don’t understand anything. It’s not something you can learn just by wanting to…”
“Don’t be anxious, don’t be anxious…” Shan Yu smiled and reached out to pinch his chin. “You’re not going for now. Who will manage the guesthouse if you go? The guesthouse is the only project that is guaranteed to make money right now.”
“Mhm,” Chen Jian breathed a sigh of relief.
“We’ll be opening in other places in the future too,” Shan Yu said.
“When?” Chen Jian immediately became nervous again. “President Liu hasn’t recommended any books to me yet… Why don’t you recommend some to me first…”
“Hey, that’s the next step. It’s not like you’re taking office tomorrow,” Shan Yu said, putting his arm around him and patting him on the back. “Are you not used to the boss painting you a big picture?”
“No boss has ever painted me such a big picture,” Chen Jian said. “They just talk about having two days off a week. That can hardly be called a big picture.”
Shan Yu started laughing.
Zhao Fangfang had already made breakfast. It was a savory pancake she didn’t make often, which Chen Jian quite liked.
He took two pieces and finished them while standing at the kitchen door, then went to the front desk.
Hu Pan had just woken up and was sitting in the chair behind the front desk, staring into space.
Chen Jian pushed her and the chair aside. “I need to use the printer.”
“When will the training teacher arrive?” Hu Pan asked.
“Ten o’clock,” Chen Jian said, clicking the mouse on the computer. “Have the rooms been reserved?”
“Mhm,” Hu Pan nodded. “This training doesn’t have an exam, right?”
“No,” Chen Jian glanced at her. “Even if there is, it’s just us testing ourselves. How could we not pass?”
Hu Pan started laughing. “The main thing is, I get a headache as soon as I hear ‘class’. When I was in school, I would get sleepy as soon as the teacher started talking, and I would wake up immediately when the bell rang. I never really passed any exams.”
“Don’t fall asleep later,” Chen Jian said. “There are only a few people in the class. It’ll be too obvious if you fall asleep.”
“Ho! Ha!” Hu Pan shouted a couple of times. “To wake myself up.”
“It’s a bit too early to wake yourself up. There are still more than two hours,” Chen Jian said with a laugh, taking the printed paper. “If you can’t, you can just whisper a little during class to stay awake.”
Chen Jian brought Shan Yu’s breakfast up to the fourth floor. Although it was a well-known fact that all sorts of meals were delivered to the boss’s office, he still felt a bit uncomfortable when he got out of the elevator and ran into Sanbing and Lao Si, who were about to go downstairs.
He didn’t realize when he said it that it would have such a lasting effect.
“Going to the office?” Sanbing asked with a yawn.
“Mhm,” Chen Jian responded.
“He only came down to eat by himself for three days,” Lao Si said.
“More than that,” Sanbing said. “It’s been a week. He’s probably reached his limit.”
As Chen Jian walked towards the office, he felt a little like laughing again.
“What’s this?” Shan Yu asked, looking at the paper Chen Jian had placed on the table.
“Dayin’s room types, amenities, which floor each room is on,” Chen Jian said. “Room prices, meal times, parking, pets, and what kind of entertainment services we can provide are all on here.”
“So much?” Shan Yu pushed the paper aside.
“It’s not much, it just sounds like a lot,” Chen Jian said, moving the paper back in front of him. “It’s actually just the content of this one page.”
“It’s only one page because you printed it in a small font size,” Shan Yu said.
“It’s a normal font size,” Chen Jian said. “You’re not even twenty-seven yet. How can you have presbyopia already?”
“Hey!” Shan Yu leaned back in his chair and shouted.
“You should go and listen to the training later too,” Chen Jian said. “The teacher just sent me today’s training content. Today’s topic is how to answer the phone at the front desk…”
“I’m going out later,” Shan Yu said.
“Where are you going?” Chen Jian looked at him. “Without me, you can only go to the old village. You might not even be able to find your way to the new village. Where are you going?”
“You old bastard,” Shan Yu laughed.
“You remember so much data and news in your computer,” Chen Jian said. “You can even remember a random mention of a column base you heard somewhere… Hey?”
“Hm?” Shan Yu looked at him.
“Is it because you wanted to chat with Lu Jun that you were willing to remember so many things?” Chen Jian asked.
“Chen Jian?” Shan Yu was quite shocked.
“Hm?” Chen Jian also looked at him.
“Let me see, let me see…” Shan Yu picked up the paper.
“Eat your breakfast first,” Chen Jian said.
Actually, with Shan Yu’s memory, Chen Jian was sure he had already remembered a lot just from the few glances he had given the paper while pushing it back and forth. He had glanced at it a few more times while eating breakfast, and had probably remembered most of it.
It was just that no one had ever pushed things in front of him like this before. It was a silent agreement that the boss would not appear at the front desk.
But now, not only had the boss appeared at the front desk twice, he had also messed up several phone calls.
For a guesthouse that was trying to rise with the development of the small town, this most obvious loophole of the boss had to be fixed.
Or maybe film a short drama about an unreliable boss…
There were two knocks on the office door, and Sun Nana came in with a cup of coffee.
“Looking for me?” she asked.
“Sit down,” Shan Yu said. “I wanted to talk to you two about something.”
“I didn’t make coffee for you two,” Sun Nana said, sitting down on the sofa and taking a sip of her coffee. “A few guests wanted coffee, and Panpan is making it. The machine is not free.”
“I had soy milk,” Shan Yu smiled.
Sun Nana leaned back gracefully on the sofa and listened as Shan Yu briefly explained the company matter.
She was silent for a few seconds. “Boss Shan.”
“Hm?” Shan Yu looked at her.
“Actually, it would be more appropriate to transfer people from President Liu’s company, right?” Sun Nana said. “Why would you ask me to do it?”
“He only wants President Liu’s money,” Chen Jian said. But Sun Nana’s question was indeed a valid one.
Sun Nana started laughing.
“I still need to get used to the people at her company. And you know what kind of person I am,” Shan Yu said. “It’s easier to work with people who already know me.”
“…Mhm,” Sun Nana nodded.
“There will be a lot of liaison and contact work in the early stages. I personally think you are competent. You can ask me if you don’t understand anything. President Liu’s assistant will also come over for a while,” Shan Yu said. “She will assist with the more professional content.”
“Mhm,” Sun Nana responded, followed by silence.
“Of course,” Shan Yu said, “if you’re not willing, that’s fine too. It won’t affect your current job.”
“I’m actually quite…” Sun Nana looked at him. “Willing to try, but I also have my concerns.”
“Hm?” Shan Yu tilted his head.
“My mental state. When I’m under a lot of pressure, it can sometimes be unstable,” Sun Nana said, tucking her hair and gently turning the coffee cup in her hand. “I’m worried if…”
“That’s why I asked Xiao Ye to come and help. If you feel too much pressure, you can take a break,” Shan Yu said, then paused and added, “Don’t let that illness tie you down forever.”
Sun Nana put down her cup. “Thank you.”
“So you agree?” Shan Yu asked.
“Mhm,” Sun Nana nodded. “I’m going to go all out.”
“Your housekeeping manager is going to go all out,” Shan Yu looked at Chen Jian. “Should we consider hiring a new person?”
“Let’s not hire for now,” Chen Jian thought for a moment. “Lao Si and Lao Wu used to work in shifts. Now they can basically be here all day. We can arrange for one of them to go to housekeeping, and we’ll have enough staff… They don’t seem to have any intention of leaving now either…”
“Are you that stingy?” Shan Yu asked.
“Let’s be a little stingy, boss,” Chen Jian said. “The guesthouse has just started to make some money. I’m afraid your company will need to get money from Dayin later. Besides, if there’s nothing much going on at the company, Nana can still help out here, right?”
Shan Yu clicked his tongue and started laughing. “You’re more ruthless than me, Manager Chen.”
Chen Jian looked at Sun Nana with some embarrassment.
“I’m quite willing,” Sun Nana said, picking up her coffee and drinking. “This place is my home now. Panpan is like my sister. I don’t want to leave here either.”
“Where is everyone!” Hu Pan’s voice came from the walkie-talkie on Chen Jian’s hip. “The training teacher just called the front desk. She said she’ll be here in about half an hour!”
“Your sister’s voice,” Shan Yu said, “if the company ever develops some kind of performance project in the future, she could go on stage and save a microphone.”
After speaking, he glanced at Chen Jian again.
Chen Jian quickly took down the walkie-talkie, forgetting that the boss had said this thing was not allowed in his office.
“Nana and I are in the office. We’ll be down in a bit.”
After chatting for a few more sentences, Sun Nana went downstairs first.
Chen Jian sat on the sofa and didn’t move.
“Aren’t you going?” Shan Yu asked, picking up the paper on the table and looking at it again.
Chen Jian didn’t speak. He slid down a little further and leaned back in the sofa.
“What’s wrong?” Shan Yu got up, went over and closed the office door, then walked up to him, bent down, propped his hands on the back of the sofa, and looked at him.
“If the company is set up in the future,” Chen Jian looked up, tilted his head, and pressed his forehead against his wrist. “Will you have to be running around in the city all the time, or other places…”
“I do want to do something,” Shan Yu looked at him. “But not that much.”
“Hm?” Chen Jian didn’t look at him, still pressing against his wrist.
“I could have done all this early-stage work myself. It’s actually more trouble to have Sun Nana do it,” Shan Yu said. “Why did I do it?”
“Because you can’t bear to leave me?” Chen Jian turned his head to look at him.
“Because I’m lazy to run around,” Shan Yu said.
“Damn,” Chen Jian said.
“I actually just want to stay here,” Shan Yu said. “Even in the entire city, you can find me in this office and the gym.”
“Is that not a good thing?” Chen Jian asked.
“Aren’t you going to be moved first?” Shan Yu flicked him on the nose.
“I’m already moved in my heart,” Chen Jian said. “Do I have to say it out loud? That would be like a fool.”
Shan Yu smiled without saying anything.
“Will it affect your career?” Chen Jian continued to ask.
“This guesthouse is already a career,” Shan Yu said. “How much bigger of a career do I need?”
“Then you…” Chen Jian frowned. “Why…”
“President Liu mentioned it, and I…” Shan Yu sat down on the sofa, leaned back onto him, and pillowed his head on his lap. “How should I put it? Some things are just like that. No matter what, I will still have that kind of thought…”
“You don’t want her to be disappointed,” Chen Jian said. “You want to prove that you can do these things.”
“Mhm,” Shan Yu smiled. “I don’t have that strong of an obsession, but the thought is not so easy to get rid of. I’ve been thinking like this for so many years. It’s hard to say that I’ve really changed just because I say so.”
Chen Jian didn’t speak, his fingers lightly tracing his face.
“This is indeed an opportunity,” Shan Yu said. “If it can be done well, in the future, the company can be handed over to President Liu and Sun Nana, and the guesthouse to you. Then I can just lie here and count my money…”
