I quickly tidied myself up and walked out of this simple yet impressively memorable hotel. As expected, I saw a white BMW 3 Series parked outside.
Before I could approach, the car door opened and a woman wearing white glasses stepped out. I recognized her since I had met her once before when I brought food to Mi Cai at Zhuo Mei.
“Mr. Zhaoyang, this way.”
I walked toward her and apologetically said, “Sorry for keeping you waiting!”
She signaled that it was fine and gestured for me to get in. I opened the front passenger door and got in.
After the car started moving, I began chatting with her: “Why did your boss suddenly go to the U.S.?”
The assistant replied, “She went to prepare for Zhuo Mei’s listing on NASDAQ. Unless something unexpected happens, Zhuo Mei will become a listed group within a year.”
Instinctively, I exclaimed, “That’s impressive!”
The assistant smiled: “After all, Zhuo Mei has been operating for several decades as a well-established comprehensive department store. We have the strength to apply for listing, and the group indeed needs funds for a new leap forward. At present, the impact of emerging e-commerce on the traditional department store industry is becoming increasingly evident!”
I nodded. Although Zhuo Mei’s current business positioning is sufficient for self-preservation, achieving a qualitative leap would be extremely difficult. Therefore, financing through listing is a wise choice under the current business environment.
After a while, I asked, “This time, did your boss go to the U.S. with a team?”
“Yes, a team of ten people.”
I thought to myself: Mi Cai’s decision to move Zhuo Mei’s listing forward was likely aimed at stirring up the deep waters of Zhuo Mei to curb Mi Zhongde’s absolute control over the company. I could imagine that the competition between the two had escalated into a fierce battle. I could only hope that this fierce struggle wouldn’t affect the foundation of Zhuo Mei.
The assistant then asked me, “May I ask what your plans are recently, Mr. Zhaoyang?”
“To open an inn in Xitang, and then go public.”
The assistant turned her head in disbelief and looked at me.
I suddenly recalled yesterday’s accident caused by my distraction, and hurriedly reminded her with lingering fear: “You should focus on driving. That part about going public was just my bragging.”
The assistant shook her head laughing, “You and our boss are indeed a strange pair!!”
“A pair of what?”
“A pair of strange lovers.”
…
About forty minutes later, I was back in Xitang. It was already 11 a.m. After treating Mi Cai’s assistant to a simple meal, she left Xitang, and I returned to the inn where the guest reception was still handled by Tongzi.
“Brother Yang, you’re finally back!”
“Thanks for your hard work.”
“Hehe… As long as there’s motivation, I don’t mind working hard! Today, three guests checked into our inn!”
“Really!”
Tongzi nodded firmly again. I wasn’t surprised. If there were no guests checking in even on weekends, this inn wouldn’t really count as an inn anymore.
I asked Tongzi, “Has the female guest (Jian Wei) who checked in yesterday left?”
“She hasn’t checked out yet. She probably went out for lunch.”
I nodded and said, “You go have lunch and take a rest. This afternoon I’ll take care of the inn.”
Tongzi responded and then came closer to me, grinning mischievously, “Brother Yang, come on, tell me honestly what you did with that beautiful lady last night.”
“I don’t discuss evenings with people whose heads are full of semen.”
Tongzi, feeling rebuffed, looked at me disdainfully before walking out of the inn.
…
I replaced Tongzi and sat in front of the reception desk, lit a cigarette, and began thinking about the inn’s future operations. As my thoughts wandered, I fell back into the difficulties I had faced when renovating “The Fifth Season.”
About half an hour later, Jian Wei, who had gone out for lunch, returned to the inn. She smiled and said to me, “You’re back.”
“You know I went out last night?”
“Not only do I know you went out, but I also know that Mi Cai came looking for you, right?”
I didn’t need to think twice to know that Tongzi had let the cat out of the bag, telling Jian Wei about my leaving Xitang with Mi Cai last night.
I nodded and said, “Yes, she did come to see me.”
“Did you two reconcile?”
I couldn’t really define my current relationship with Mi Cai, but thinking about the note she left behind when she left, I nodded at Jian Wei and said, “I guess so.”
Jian Wei smiled again: “Two people in love won’t separate that easily.”
I looked at Jian Wei, wondering on what basis she had drawn this conclusion. Was she indirectly telling me that the reason she broke up with me back then was because she didn’t care about me?
Actually, I shouldn’t dwell too much on this issue, so I changed the subject and asked, “When are you planning to leave Xitang?”
“Right away. There are some urgent matters at work tomorrow.”
I just nodded without saying anything else.
Jian Wei pulled up a chair and sat beside me. She asked me again, “Are you worried about the inn’s operation?”
“Yeah, I don’t have a good idea for now. Xitang might seem small, but there are hundreds of inns of various sizes, all mainly focusing on unique operations. It’s really hard to find the right positioning for my business in such a complex marketing environment!”
Jian Wei nodded in agreement. After a brief pause, she said to me, “But I believe you will find a way.”
“I hope I can do it in the shortest time possible.”
“Jiayou! Once our company wraps up these major projects recently, we’ll organize our employees to come to Xitang for some relaxation. Remember to reserve rooms for us and give us a discount!”
“That’s a given.”
“Okay, then I’ll be going now. Goodbye, Zhao Yang.”
“Drive safely on your way back.”
Jian Wei nodded, then turned to walk out of the inn, and thus, my world became peaceful again with the departure of the three women one after another.
…
In the afternoon, I made time to go to a mobile service center to get a new phone card, then sent a group text message to inform family and friends of my new number. As responses came in one by one, I once again connected with the real world I had been detached from for so long. This also signified that it was time for me to immerse myself in this inescapable world and strive wholeheartedly.
In another two months, Xitang would welcome its peak tourist season. I increasingly longed to build a thriving inn within these two months, not only to respond to those who had always doubted me, but also to eagerly await Mi Cai’s return with the rewards of my hard work.
I truly hoped that on that day, we could face each other with a brand new posture, without so many misunderstandings and pains from the past.
This is the future I am looking forward to!
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