AD CH119

Chapter 119: Just Everyday Life (Extra 3)

When Chen Jian came down from the third floor, his ears were practically ringing.

He had stood outside a guest room on the third floor for half an hour, listening to an older gentleman critique every single aspect of Dayin Guesthouse.

From parking guidance at the entrance, to check-in, dining, and tourist activity consultations… in short, it all boiled down to one thing: a lack of continuous, uninterrupted smiling.

The security guard directing traffic hadn’t smiled; the front desk had only smiled during the first three sentences of check-in; housekeeping hadn’t smiled at him while he was still inside the room…

“Including right now,” the man stared at Chen Jian. “As you listen to my suggestions, you still don’t have a smile on your face.”

“Terribly sorry,” Chen Jian peeled back his lips, baring his teeth in a wide grin. “Our service hasn’t been meticulous enough. We will note down your feedback and make further improvements in our future work.”

“I’ve stayed in countless hotels, both domestic and abroad—though I spend far more time overseas,” the man said. “Continuous smiling service is the absolute bare minimum.”

“Understood.” Chen Jian kept his teeth bared.

Like hell I believe you.

“Though you are merely a small-town guesthouse,” the man continued, “with relatively low rates…”

At least you’re aware.

“…you still must possess this awareness, aligning yourselves with top-tier hotels worldwide.”

Do you even hear what you’re saying?

“Understood.” Chen Jian nodded with his teeth still showing. “Is there anything else you require, sir?”

“That’s all.” The man waved a dismissive hand. “Go on about your duties.”

“Thank you very much for your advice and suggestions,” Chen Jian offered a slight bow. “We hope you enjoy a comfortable stay and pleasant travels.”

The man gave a stiff nod.

Chen Jian backed away, waist bent. He didn’t even dare turn around on the spot, waiting until the man’s door clicked shut before spinning on his heel, terrified that any less-than-top-tier posture would earn him another thirty-minute lecture.

“Send an afternoon tea set up to that gentleman on the third floor later,” Chen Jian said upon reaching the lobby. He didn’t even need to name the room number; everyone knew exactly who he meant. “Thank him for guiding our work. Remember to smile—the second his eyes land on you, you must be beaming.”

“Got it, heading over right away.” Hu Pan was holding a handheld gimbal stabilizer—a gadget Shan Yu had privately paid for so they could mess around, likely purchased with docked wages from Liu Wu.

“Right, walk toward me…” Hu Pan peered through the screen at Sanbing. She hadn’t hit record yet; they were merely blocking and rehearsing. Whenever guest demands slowed in the evening, they carved out time to rehearse and film, treating it as entertainment.

Tourism in the small town was bustling, but living here permanently still carried a touch of loneliness.

“Swish your sleeve, that’s it…”

Draped in a white bedsheet, Sanbing followed Hu Pan’s instructions, marching from the front entrance into the lobby. With a dramatic flick of his wrist, he whipped the bedsheet into the air, bringing a gust of wind as he glared wide-eyed straight into Hu Pan’s phone camera.

“Good, cut!” Hu Pan took a step back, pushed the stabilizer forward right into Sanbing’s face, and pulled it back smoothly. “Deliver your line.”

Look at that camera movement.

“Zhao-jie,” Sanbing deepened his voice ominously. “It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Her name is Zhao Fangfang! You suspect her of murder right now,” Hu Pan corrected. “You can’t call her ‘jie’!”

“Zhao Fangfang!” Sanbing boomed in a low, gravelly tone. “It’s you, isn’t it?!”

“Wanna eat?” Zhao Fangfang’s voice drifted out from the kitchen.

“Didn’t we just finish eating?” Chen Jian chimed in.

Zhao Fangfang ignored him completely.

“Don’t play dumb!” Sanbing barked. “I have proof!”

“In that case! Don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Zhao Fangfang projected her voice loudly.

Only then did Chen Jian realize Zhao Fangfang was running lines with Sanbing.

“Great,” Hu Pan lowered the gimbal. “We’ll go with that. Keep your gaze even firmer next time.”

“What on earth is this script about?” Chen Jian couldn’t resist asking. “Zhao-jie is a murder suspect now?”

“Husband-slayer,” Hu Pan said.

Chen Jian raised an eyebrow in surprise, glancing over toward Zhao Fangfang. She had her hands propped on the counter, smiling warmly as she watched Hu Pan and Sanbing.

“Liu Wu wrote a script like this?” Chen Jian lowered his voice.

“Yeah,” Hu Pan turned her head, speaking softly as well. “Zhao-jie asked if she could play a martial-arts rogue who killed her husband, so I had Liu Wu write it.”

“What’s the storyline?” Chen Jian was genuinely curious.

“Hero Sanbing tracks down a fugitive killer, suspecting the culprit is living under an alias at Dayin,” Hu Pan explained. “So he comes undercover to investigate.”

“And then?” Chen Jian asked. “Zhao-jie says ‘don’t blame me for being ruthless’—do they get into a martial arts fight after that?”

“Next, Zhao-jie brings out a plate of food,” Hu Pan said.

“…Ah.” Chen Jian paused.

“Then Sanbing prepares to eat it,” Hu Pan added.

“Huh?” Chen Jian stayed confused.

“Except Zhao-jie cooked it for herself,” Hu Pan finished.

“…Are you people insane?” Chen Jian asked.

“It is pretty unhinged,” Hu Pan clicked her tongue. “But it turns touching later on. Once everyone learns why Zhao-jie killed him, they decide to help her fulfill her greatest wish.”

“Which is?” Chen Jian found himself asking despite the absurdity.

“Having a hundred people praise her cooking,” Hu Pan replied.

“…Ah.” Chen Jian sighed with emotion. “And then?”

“Once the wish is fulfilled, drag her off to the yamen court,” Sanbing said.

“That heartless?” Chen Jian asked.

“She committed murder, after all,” Hu Pan reasoned. “She can’t just get away scot-free.”

“Won’t Zhao Fangfang be gone from the story after that?” Chen Jian asked.

“Nope,” Sanbing said. “One day, a master chef arrives at the guesthouse, looking identical to Zhao-jie.”

“Did she break out of prison?” Chen Jian asked.

“Identical twin,” Hu Pan said.

“What kind of chaotic mess is this…” Chen Jian wondered if they ought to pay Liu Wu proper wages—you get what you pay for. But on second thought, paying him probably wouldn’t change anything; after all, to Liu Wu, Hu Pan and his cousin ranked far above money…

“Is Manager Chen on the first floor?” Sun Nana’s voice crackled over the walkie-talkie.

“Here,” Chen Jian picked up his walkie-talkie and answered.

“I’m in Boss Shan’s office. Come up for a moment,” Sun Nana said.

“On my way,” Chen Jian replied.

“Whoa,” Hu Pan clutched her chest dramatically. “Nana sounds so commanding now.”

“She’s Manager Sun now,” Chen Jian grinned.

Manager Sun was heading out tomorrow to negotiate with Uncle Da Chen regarding Chen Jian’s family house. She had called Chen Jian up to sync information one last time.

“Do I really not need to go with you?” Chen Jian asked upon entering.

“No need,” Shan Yu leaned against the desk. “Manager Sun can handle the talks. Based on the phone call earlier, it sounded promising—there’s room to negotiate.”

“It was mortgaged for fifty thousand yuan back then, right?” Sun Nana asked.

“Yeah,” Chen Jian nodded.

“I took a look at it—it’s a two-story building. Mortgaged for so little?” Sun Nana habitually hooked a strand of hair with her pinky and tucked it behind her ear.

“When you can’t repay debts, you have to accept whatever valuation they dictate,” Chen Jian said.

“I’ll squeeze the price as low as I can tomorrow,” Sun Nana assured him.

“It was mortgaged for fifty thousand; getting it back for that amount probably won’t fly with him,” Chen Jian noted.

“When it was mortgaged, it was an intact house,” Shan Yu said. “Now, getting it back means taking over a ruin that requires extra money to repair. If he doesn’t agree to the price, it sits as a worthless wreck earning zero cents, and it’ll stay a wreck in the future. We’re a partner company in the development project and have insider info: the old village is only undergoing partial development, and that plot is too remote to fall within the scope. He’d better not dream of jacking up the price.”

“Is that true?” Chen Jian asked.

“Fake,” Shan Yu admitted candidly. “The layout depends entirely on Director Lu’s comprehensive plans; we only know the broad strokes.”

“Mm,” Chen Jian smiled faintly. “What if he insists on waiting to see how the development unfolds?”

“Fine by us,” Shan Yu shrugged. “Let him wait. Once it’s confirmed the development won’t touch that sector, if he wants to negotiate then, the window will be closed. Even if we do talk, it won’t be at this price.”

“Right.” Chen Jian nodded, saying no more.

“I’ll head back to the dorm first. I got some materials from Lu Yun that can bluff him nicely,” Sun Nana said. “I’ll pick out a few pages to take along tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” Shan Yu said.

“Thank you,” Chen Jian looked at her warmly.

“What are you thanking me for, Boss Chen?” Sun Nana flipped her hair and strode out of the office.

Once the door clicked shut, Shan Yu reached out and held Chen Jian by the shoulders, turning him around to face him.

“Hm?” Chen Jian looked up at him.

“Don’t worry,” Shan Yu said softly. “Even if he’s rolling in cash and willing to gamble, I’ll buy it back at a high price anyway.”

“That wouldn’t be worth it,” Chen Jian said.

“How is it not worth it?” Shan Yu countered. “That’s your home. It’s worth any amount of money.”

Chen Jian fell silent. After a moment, he reached out and wrapped his arms around Shan Yu.

“It shouldn’t be a problem,” Shan Yu looped his arms around Chen Jian’s waist, gently patting his back. “Nana is remarkably sharp with negotiations. When she dealt with the construction contractors, she pushed the boss so hard he came running to complain to me.”

Chen Jian chuckled.

“Even if she can’t close it, you still have me,” Shan Yu said. “One way or another, we’re getting that house back. If legitimate means fail, there are always underhanded methods…”

“Hey,” Chen Jian tightened his embrace slightly. “We’re from the same village, and your company still has to operate around here. Keep it legitimate.”

“Mm.” Shan Yu smiled and nodded.

Chen Jian said nothing more, refusing to let go, burying his face in Shan Yu’s neck with his eyes shut. His nose stung faintly, and his eyes burned hot.

“Don’t cry,” Shan Yu murmured. “I just changed into clean clothes. If you soak them, I’ll smack you.”

“Mm,” Chen Jian muttered.

Too late.

He could already hear the thick nasal rasp in his own voice, feeling the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes.

“Are you picking up your dad alone tomorrow, or should I come with you?” Shan Yu asked.

To ensure the negotiation with Uncle Da Chen went smoothly, they decided to bring his dad back; if Uncle Da Chen proved stubborn, his dad could step in to talk.

“I’ll go by myself,” Chen Jian said. “Isn’t Lu Yun staying in town these few days? Even if you’re not the primary liaison anymore, you should still be around, right?”

“What do you mean I’m not the primary liaison anymore?” Shan Yu laughed.

“Oho,” Chen Jian teased. “Are you jealous of Nana…”

“Don’t start another chain reaction of jealousy,” Shan Yu pushed him back slightly, pinching his chin and giving it a gentle shake. “The Dayin account has actual followers now. Be careful, or I’ll post those photos of you sleeping on the carpet to drive traffic.”

“Holy shit,” Chen Jian stared at him in disbelief.

“Why so shocked?” Shan Yu blinked.

“Because it actually sounds like something you’d do,” Chen Jian said.

“Bullshit,” Shan Yu scoffed.

“Then what do I have to fear?” Chen Jian pulled him close again. “You are jealous of Nana…”

“Fuck,” Shan Yu sighed with a helpless chuckle.

Chen Jian hadn’t told his dad about the house yet. Regardless of whether the negotiation succeeded, it would be a heartwarming surprise for the old man—his son had grown capable enough to think of reclaiming their home. As for the outcome, his dad wouldn’t hold it against him.

So Chen Jian only told him he was coming over and asked him to take a day off, planning to break the news in person.

“Am I driving the Big Benz?” Chen Jian looked at the keys in his hand.

“Yeah,” Shan Yu nodded. “Nana will have a car once she heads back to the city. The company bought one; picking it up tomorrow.”

“What kind of car?” Chen Jian asked.

“A used pickup truck,” Shan Yu said.

“…This is a corporate venture after all, and Manager Sun is a young woman—she’s driving a pickup?” Chen Jian remarked.

“A secondhand one, no less,” Shan Yu added.

“And you say that with pride?” Chen Jian laughed. “Where did Boss Liu’s investment money go?”

“She’ll be constantly running into the mountains and construction sites,” Shan Yu explained. “A pickup is practical. As for the city…” Shan Yu cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “…I had Xiao Ye drive a commercial van over from Boss Liu’s company.”

“Does this… count as leeching off family?” Chen Jian looked at him sideways.

“I suppose,” Shan Yu admitted freely. “Entrepreneurship is tough, you know. Besides, Xiao Ye is on external assignment; she deserves a company car anyway. She’s an executive assistant, after all.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Chen Jian was thoroughly amused.

“Just don’t call Boss Liu old to her face…” Shan Yu nudged him forward. “Hurry up and get going. Once you said you were coming, your dad probably woke up at six.”

“He usually wakes up at six anyway,” Chen Jian said.

“Then he probably woke up at four today,” Shan Yu countered.

“Why not just say he didn’t sleep at all?” Chen Jian skipped down the steps, heading toward the car.

“That would be me,” Shan Yu called back.

Chen Jian looked back over his shoulder. “Why don’t you try to catch up on some sleep? See if you can drift off?”

“Can’t sleep. I’ll go hang myself on the pull-up bar—maybe getting exhausted will help me sleep later.” Shan Yu stretched lazily.

“Looking to get tired?” Hu Pan immediately materialized. “That’s easy! Boss Shan, help us film a couple of shots! The guests are done with breakfast, so there’s nothing going on right now.”

“What shots?” Shan Yu turned around and froze upon seeing Lao Si trailing behind her with a bedsheet. “I have to drape that thing over myself too?”

“You’ll still wear your long trench coat, hat, and mask—you need to maintain an aura of mystery,” Hu Pan explained. “This bedsheet is exclusively for Sanbing. The others have them wrapped around their waists or tied around their heads. Liu Wu arranged it all.”

“…And you guys actually listened to him,” Shan Yu muttered.

Chen Jian couldn’t stop laughing until he drove all the way out onto the main street.

His phone chimed. Glancing at it, sure enough, it was a message from his dad asking if he had set off and whether they should have breakfast together.

“I’ve already left,” Chen Jian replied with a voice message. “If you’re not starving, wait for me. Let’s go have morning dim sum.”

In the past, his dad would have objected immediately, complaining that morning dim sum was far too expensive. But today, his dad simply replied with an “Okay,” accompanied by a bared-teeth grinning emoji.

It reminded Chen Jian of his own teeth-bared smile that had lasted half an hour.

His dad was still renting with Old Zhong, though not at the previous place. Together with one of Old Zhong’s fellow townsmen, the three had rented a two-bedroom apartment, and his dad had taken one of the single rooms.

When Chen Jian pulled up along the curb, his dad was chatting with someone while stepping out of a small convenience store, pointing toward the car.

“Bragging to people, were you?” Chen Jian asked as his dad climbed inside.

His dad chuckled sheepishly, handing him a carton of yogurt. “How is that bragging? It’s the truth.”

“We’re heading to the teahouse in a minute; no need to drink this now,” Chen Jian said, taking the carton.

“Line your stomach first,” his dad said. “I just drank one myself.”

“…Won’t you be too full to eat dim sum later?” Chen Jian pointed out.

His dad smiled without answering.

“Are you trying to fill up now so you can order less later?” Chen Jian saw right through him.

“Ah well,” his dad waved an embarrassed hand.

“This yogurt costs over ten yuan a carton—not exactly cheap either,” Chen Jian said.

“Near its expiration date,” his dad revealed. “Nine yuan and eighty cents for two.”

Chen Jian couldn’t hold back a laugh.

He drank the yogurt anyway; it wouldn’t take up much room in his stomach.

When placing their order at the teahouse, Chen Jian held nothing back, ordering generously.

His dad leaned over to check the slip. “That’s plenty, we won’t finish it.”

“I can finish it,” Chen Jian said. “I could eat all of this on my own.”

His dad smiled, suddenly growing emotional. “Eat up, eat more. Back then… if you hadn’t lacked proper nutrition, you could’ve grown at least another twenty centimeters.”

“Let’s not—it’d be hard enough to buy blankets if I were two meters tall,” Chen Jian joked.

After ordering, Chen Jian poured the tea, looking across at his dad. “Do you know why I came to see you today?”

“Just waiting for you to tell me,” his dad looked at him attentively.

“Our old family house,” Chen Jian began, “Nana-jie is going to negotiate with Uncle Da Chen today. The company is stepping in to buy it back.”

“What?” His dad froze.

“We don’t know if the deal will go through yet,” Chen Jian continued, “but it shouldn’t be a big problem. Later, you’ll head back with me…”

“This matter…” His dad reached out and clasped Chen Jian’s hand, his own fingers trembling slightly. “It’s Boss Shan’s company…?”

“Yeah,” Chen Jian nodded.

“Ah, this…” His dad was visibly overwhelmed with emotion, his voice shaking. “This…”

“There’s still a chance talks might stall…” Chen Jian cautioned gently.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” his dad lowered his head, hurriedly wiping the corner of his eye with the back of his hand. “Ah, I really never dreamed… this… ah…”

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