Chapter 121: Beneath One, Above All

Noon.

A restaurant at the base of the Company building.

Xu Shaochen and Liu Rushuang sat facing each other.

A few small dishes were laid on the table as Liu Rushuang elegantly ate in small bites, appearing poised and calm.

“Why are you staring at me? You’re done eating already? Are you full?”

Seeing Xu Shaochen constantly staring at her, Liu Rushuang’s face slightly reddened. She glared at him with a mix of feigned anger and shyness.

“Sister Rushuang, have you ever heard of the saying ‘beauty is food for the eyes’? With a beautiful jade-like woman like you sitting across from me, how could I be in the mood to eat?”

Xu Shaochen looked at Liu Rushuang as he spoke with a smile, took a sip of water, and then wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“That mouth of yours, I wonder how many women you’ve sweet-talked.”

Liu Rushuang’s face flushed as she spoke. Under the table, she lightly kicked Xu Shaochen’s shin.

“Hey, you can’t eat that. It’s genetically modified food. It’s not safe to eat.”

At that moment, a noisy voice interrupted. Xu Shaochen turned his head to see that the speaker was a customer at the neighboring table.

There were about seven or eight men and women at the neighboring table. It seemed to be a small gathering of friends.

“Listen to me, brothers, eat less of this genetically modified food. Eating too much can cause big problems.”

A middle-aged man wearing glasses and a bright green baseball cap pointed at a plate of crabs, his face showing an exaggerated expression.

“Why can’t we eat it?”

The others asked curiously, and even Xu Shaochen showed a puzzled look.

“Let me tell you, eating too much genetically modified food can change your DNA, you know? I’m a living example. Last week, I took my son to get a paternity test, and it turns out our DNA is completely different now!”

The middle-aged man with glasses spoke with deep regret, his face full of anguish.

“Who told you that?” a woman frowned and asked.

The middle-aged man took a sip of alcohol and then said, “My wife told me. If she hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have known how harmful genetically modified food could be.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Shaochen suddenly widened his eyes. It was as if he saw a floating green cloud above the man’s head.

In an instant, all the customers in the restaurant looked at the bespectacled man with eyes full of sympathy.

Love is like a light, making your world gleam with green!

“Why are you all staring at me? Drink! Let’s continue!”

Slightly baffled by everyone’s strange looks, the man with glasses was still clueless about what was going on.

“Buddy, nice hat. Make sure it stays on snug. Don’t let it fall off.”

Xu Shaochen looked at the bright green baseball cap on the man’s head and spoke with a meaningful tone.

This hat… just moments ago, I didn’t think much of it, but now it’s just too damn fitting for the occasion!

The man with glasses smiled, touched his hat, and said proudly, “It’s alright. My wife bought it for me. She even put it on me herself this morning. I plan to wear it for the rest of my life.”

Everyone: “…………..”

Your wife is really thoughtful, putting that hat on you herself. And it’s not the only one she put on you.

After paying the bill, Xu Shaochen and Liu Rushuang left the restaurant.

“Do you want to go for a walk?”

Xu Shaochen asked Liu Rushuang, who was beside him.

Liu Rushuang pouted, “Forget it. There’s still a ton of work to do for tomorrow’s opening. Not everyone is like you, the big boss.”

“You’ve worked hard, Sister Rushuang. I’ll promote you—to a position second only to me.” Xu Shaochen said earnestly as he looked at Liu Rushuang.

Liu Rushuang was momentarily stunned: “Vice-chairman?”

“How about the chairman’s wife? Only under me, and even the vice-chairman would have to obey you.” Xu Shaochen revealed a mischievous smile, emphasizing the words “only under me.”

“Go to hell, you pervert! You’re so bad, flirting with me right on the street!”

After realizing what he meant, Liu Rushuang became both embarrassed and angry, using her signature claw to grab Xu Shaochen’s arm in a close encounter.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, she exclaimed in surprise because Xu Shaochen pulled her into his arms.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Xu Shaochen reached out, gently touched her smooth cheek, and gazed at her with deep affection, his eyes full of tenderness.

“Mhm.”

Liu Rushuang felt her mind go blank. She responded with a faint mosquito-like voice, her translucent earlobes turning pink.

It’s not that Liu Rushuang is afraid of Xu Shaochen’s teasing. It’s the sudden tenderness accompanied by his handsome face that few women can resist.

“Go ahead. I’m leaving.”

Xu Shaochen lightly pecked Liu Rushuang’s lips like a dragonfly skimming water, then turned and got into the car and left.

Liu Rushuang stood in place for a while and finally reacted, touching her own lips. Did he take advantage of me again?

“Boss, where to?”

In the car, Long Er asked Xu Shaochen.

Xu Shaochen pondered for a moment and then said, “To the Shanshui Grand Hotel.”

This is the hotel that the Chen Yu Company acquired, which is about to be renamed the Chen Yu Grand Hotel.

Xu Shaochen planned to take a look to see if it met his expectations.

The Shanshui Grand Hotel was Jiangzhou’s first five-star hotel, built in the mid-1990s. Initially, it was state-owned, but it was sold to a private owner after 2000.

However, as Jiangzhou rapidly developed, numerous high-end hotels emerged. The once-shining Shanshui Grand Hotel began its decline.

It wasn’t losing much money, but it wasn’t making much either. It was like chicken ribs—edible but not flavorful, not worth discarding yet.

That’s why the original owner sold the hotel and changed careers.

Over forty minutes later, they arrived at their destination.

The Shanshui Grand Hotel’s signage had already been replaced but was covered in a red cloth, not yet revealed.

Xu Shaochen walked over, with Long Yi and Long Er following behind him.

“Sir, I’m sorry, but our hotel isn’t open to guests at the moment.”

As Xu Shaochen entered, a woman who was cleaning a table walked up to him with an apologetic smile.

“Chairman Xu, what brings you here? I deeply apologize. This employee is unaware of you. Please don’t hold it against her.”

A Chen Yu Company employee recognized Xu Shaochen, his face turning pale as he hurriedly approached.

Hearing this, the woman widened her eyes in disbelief as she looked at Xu Shaochen, her face full of shock.

She was originally the hotel’s lobby manager. She never would have imagined that her new boss was this young—he seemed younger than her own little brother.

“Where’s President Zhao?”

Xu Shaochen asked, referring to Zhao Yun, who was in charge of the complete renovation and reopening of the Chen Yu Grand Hotel.

Originally, Zhao Yun was the deputy manager of Chen Yu Company’s operations department, but once the Chen Yu Grand Hotel reopens, he will be the one in charge.

“Chairman Xu, President Zhao is currently meeting with Zhou Xue and her manager. Shall I call him over to meet you?”

The employee slightly bowed, speaking to Xu Shaochen with respect.

“No need, just take me to him.”

Xu Shaochen shook his head. He had asked Zhao Yun to arrange for a celebrity to perform at the hotel’s opening, but he didn’t expect him to invite Zhou Xue.

Zhou Xue only started gaining fame last year after appearing in a singing competition. Though not a major star, she was quite well-known in Jiangzhou, making her a suitable choice.

“Then, Chairman Xu, please follow me.”

The employee gestured politely and led the way for Xu Shaochen.

“Phew~ My gosh, he’s young, but his aura is undeniable.”

Watching Xu Shaochen leave, the lobby manager patted her chest, exhaling deeply. Her fair forehead was beaded with tiny droplets of sweat.