I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

Dai Wangyan didn't actually know who this Shen Kang was.

He had only met this boy once when he went to the group to see General Manager Zhou Man that day. However, Zhou Man and Shen Kang's actions at that time left a deep impression on him. The two of them were being sarcastic and confrontational with each other. In the end, Zhou Man got annoyed and sent the young man directly to Assistant Ding's office.

Dai Wangyan had always been impressed by Zhou Man, the new general manager of the group, as elegant and dignified. This was the first time he had seen Zhou Man like that, as if she were interacting with a family member.

This young man, known as General Manager Shen, clearly had an unusual relationship with Zhou Man.

Adding to this, some rumors Dai Wangyan had heard about Zhou Man's relationship with headquarters made the young man's identity even more mysterious to him. Therefore, he remembered the young man immediately upon seeing him and made the necessary arrangements.

Of course, Dai Wangyan wouldn't say any of this. He just smiled, as if chatting with a friend: "I didn't expect President Shen to be a college student?"

"Yeah, I'm only a freshman this year."

Dai Wangyan was slightly surprised: "I heard this competition is a national event. Mr. Shen is only a freshman and he's already participating?"

"I guess I was just lucky and got chosen by the teacher."...

After a brief chat, Dai Wangyan maintained a good balance, being warm but not overly obsequious, and his overall demeanor was neither humble nor arrogant.

As they chatted, Dai Wangyan brought up the day's events: "...The hotel entrusted the marketing department with arranging the contestants' schedules. Xiao Meng's intentions were good; he hoped the hotel could benefit from this sponsorship. However, his considerations weren't comprehensive enough, failing to consider both sides' perspectives. Of course, as the hotel's general manager, I certainly bear a great responsibility as well."

"Fortunately, thanks to your comprehensive suggestions, Mr. Shen, we were able to complete our work better. We are very grateful to you, Mr. Shen." Dai Wangyan said, and then added, "I just checked the registration information. Mr. Shen, you are planning to go out this afternoon, right? How about this, to express our gratitude, how about we arrange a few shuttle buses for you? They will be more comfortable and less tiring, allowing you to enjoy your trip more fully. In addition, the hotel can also sponsor a professional tour guide as a token of our appreciation."

Shen Kang didn't agree immediately, but first asked, "What about the other contestants who wanted to go out and have fun?"

Dai Wangyan replied, "Because there are quite a few contestants and hotel resources are limited, the sponsorship for everyone's transportation is minibuses."

"No tour guide either?"

"no."

"Then we'll do the same as everyone else. Manager Dai, we appreciate your hotel's kindness," Shen Kang said after hearing Dai Wangyan's reply.

Dai Wangyan didn't offer any advice, simply nodding, "That's settled then."

Dai Wangyan's visit this time had no specific purpose; he was simply there to make an impression.

Now that he had achieved his goal and said everything he needed to say, and Shen Kang had even taken the initiative to exchange contact information with him, which was an extra bonus, he took his leave and didn't stay for long.

After Dai Wangyan left, Shen Kang lay back on the bed. Not long after, the doorbell rang again.

When they opened the door, they found Ma Liang there.

Ma Liang looked a bit furtive, glancing left and right before entering and closing the door behind him. The two then sat down in the small lounge area, where Ma Liang made up some pointless, awkward small talk: "This hotel room is nice, no wonder it's a five-star hotel… these curtains are so blue… the bed looks really comfortable…"

Shen Kang responded half-heartedly, but finally couldn't take it anymore and said, "Just say what you have to say."

"Is it that easy to tell?" Ma Liang asked, looking at him.

Shen Kang nodded silently.

Ma Liang hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke up, lowering his voice: "Mr. Shen, you're a regular at massage parlors and foot massage parlors..."

Shen Kang quickly stopped him, "Who said I'm a regular at massage parlors and foot massage parlors? Don't say things that could cause misunderstandings!"

He was really troubled, and he didn't know how he had left such an impression on Ma Liang.

Ma Liang didn't dwell on it, skipping the question, and mustered his courage to say, "I've noticed that this hotel offers massage services directly. Mr. Shen, do you think the services offered by this hotel are legitimate?"

Mr. Shen was unaware of this. "Does this hotel offer massage services directly?"

Ma Liang nodded, got up, rummaged around by Shen Kang's bedside in his room, and took out a laminated leaflet, which he placed on the coffee table in the small reception area.

Shen Kang picked it up and saw that it was indeed the service menu of Haobo Hotel. It listed spa and massage services, such as shoulder and neck care, 188 yuan for 30 minutes; Bali aromatherapy massage, 388 yuan for 50 minutes, and so on.

Ma Liang remained silent, only staring wide-eyed at Shen Kang. When Ma Liang returned to his room, he had been preoccupied with the incident of someone secretly slipping a small card under the door in the middle of the night. However, upon discovering this item in his room, he immediately forgot about the card and his attention was completely drawn to the massage service brochure offered by the hotel.

He pondered for a long time, but was still unsure whether this thing was legitimate or not, so he simply came to Shen Kang's door to ask.

Is it legitimate or not?

Ma Liang's patience was wearing thin. Seeing that Shen Kang didn't speak for a moment, he couldn't help but ask, and even specifically pointed out one of the services: "What do you think this Balinese aromatherapy massage is? I'm completely baffled."

He was not only completely baffled, he was also incredibly curious.

Shen Kang looked up at him and asked, "If it's a formal one, would you like to order one? Or would you like to order an informal one?"

Ma Liang chuckled, "I'm just a little curious and want to know, but I don't know how to order."

Shen Kang thought to himself, "I don't believe you for a second."

After a moment's thought, he said, "Logically speaking, massage services offered by five-star hotels are usually legitimate. However, nothing is absolute. I've also heard that some five-star hotels don't offer such services in a very legitimate way."

Ma Liang thought to himself, "Isn't this just stating the obvious?" But he suppressed his temper and asked again, "Then do you think the services provided by this hotel are legitimate?"

"I really don't understand," Shen Kang said.

But Ma Liang wouldn't let it go, insisting that Shen Kang make his own judgment. Finally, Shen Kang had no choice but to take out his phone and call Dai Wangyan, with whom he had just established contact: "Manager Dai, a friend of mine wants to ask if the massage services offered by your hotel are legitimate?"

Dai Wangyan on the other end of the phone was taken aback.

He never expected that the first phone call Shen Kang would make to him would be about this kind of thing.

As for "a friend of mine," Dai Wangyan naturally interpreted it as Shen Kang himself, thinking to himself, "He's a young man after all, with high hormone levels. Even when he's here to participate in the competition, he's thinking about this kind of thing."

After thinking for a moment, Dai Wangyan said, "The massage therapists are all staff members of our hotel, and the services they provide are professional. However, to thank Mr. Shen for his suggestions and assistance with this event, if Mr. Shen has the time, how about I treat you to a foot massage tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Kang quickly replied, "No, no, thank you for your kindness, Manager Dai. I was just asking. I have a lot to do tonight, preparing for tomorrow's competition. Maybe next time, definitely next time."

After exchanging a few more words, he hung up the phone and said to Ma Liang, "I checked for you, it's legitimate."

Upon hearing this, Ma Liang felt a pang of disappointment and a sense of reluctance, and pressed further, "Who are you asking about? Is the information accurate?"

Shen Kang said, "They asked the general manager here, so the information is definitely accurate."

Ma Liang finally gave up.

Seeing his expression, Shen Kang thought for a moment and said, "That general manager wanted to invite me for a foot massage tonight; it should be a service you'd be satisfied with. Why don't I talk to him again and ask him to take you?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Liang's hopes were rekindled, but he still asked, "Are you going?" Shen Kang shook his head: "I'm not going. I still need to prepare for tomorrow's competition."

"What a joke," Ma Liang thought to himself, then said with some regret, "I'm not going either."

He really wanted to go if Shen Kang were going too. But since Shen Kang wasn't going, he was a little hesitant to go.

Although it was a pity, Ma Liang finally understood why Director Meng had given Shen Kang so much face. It wasn't about saving face, but about connections—Shen Kang actually knew the general manager here, and their relationship seemed quite good; the general manager was even going to invite him to wash his feet.

Why don't I have connections like Shen Kang?

"Sigh..." Ma Liang couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Shen Kang found it amusing to see him like this, thinking that although Ma Liang was technically skilled, he was still a college student, and his desire to go but not daring to was truly genuine.

In addition, Ma Liang's long-haired, artistic youth look creates a striking contrast, making it even more interesting to watch.

This was just a minor incident.

After sitting in Shen Kang's room for a while, the two realized it was almost time, so they went out to find He Qiuzhu and the others to go out for dinner.

After lunch, the afternoon activities began. For those preparing for the competition, the hotel would send someone to show them around the hotel, and then arrange for them to prepare at the designated venue; for those who wanted to go out for fun, the hotel also provided transportation.

Shen Kang and his group were naturally the ones going out to play. After discussing it, they decided to go to the ecological park this afternoon.

In addition to providing minibuses, the hotel also provided each person with a backpack and a hat printed with the hotel logo. Furthermore, the hotel provided a digital camera to each team to facilitate taking photos.

The scenery at Yangcheng Ecological Park is quite nice, and there are some animals. The park is also quite large. We spent an afternoon there and only explored a small part of it, but we did take quite a few photos.

Everyone returned to the hotel after dark.

As Shen Kang passed through the lobby and prepared to return to his room, he spotted a familiar face at the front desk. He then told Ye Jintong and Ma Liang to go back to their room first, while he took He Qiuzhu and headed to the front desk.

"Professor Xiao." Shen Kang greeted the man who was processing the paperwork at the front desk; it was Xiao Bonian.

Xiao Bonian was somewhat surprised to see the two of them. "Your project also won?"

Shen Kang had proudly told him and Zhou Man about participating in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, so he knew about it. However, Xiao Bonian knew more: Shen Kang had also confessed to him that he had only participated in the competition for some personal reasons and had just gone through the motions.

Unexpectedly, Shen Kang's perfunctory project actually made it to the city-level competition?

"Well, due to some rather special reasons, my project won the school-level competition."

After saying that, Shen Kang asked, "Professor Xiao, what brings you here too?"

Xiao Bonian: "I'm one of the judges this time." After saying that, he glanced at He Qiuzhu, "Qiuzhu is also participating in this project?"

He Qiuzhu felt a little guilty: "I'm the CFO."

Seeing her like this, Xiao Bonian pretty much knew what was going on. He couldn't help but smile, not wanting to expose her, but instead praising her: "Really good. I think if Qiuzhu were to develop in this area, she definitely wouldn't be any worse than Shen Kang..."

Xiao Bonian did not come alone; several other people were also processing the formalities nearby.

Seeing Xiao Bonian chatting with two students, a man in his forties walked over and asked, "Professor Xiao, who are these two?"

Xiao Bonian then gave them a brief introduction.

Shen Kang also learned that the man was a professor at Yangcheng University named Huang Anyong, and one of the judges for this city-level competition.

"Shen Kang?"

Upon hearing Shen Kang's name, Huang Anyong thought for a moment, then looked as if he had suddenly realized something. "I remember now, Professor Xiao, your son's name is that, isn't it?"

Some people at Yangda University knew about Xiao Bonian's marriage. Furthermore, because Shen Kang had invested in several projects for Yangda University students, some people had also heard of Xiao Bonian, this adopted son.

Therefore, Xiao Bonian could not deny it, "It's him."

After receiving confirmation from Xiao Bonian, Huang Anyong smiled and said, "It's quite a coincidence that my son is participating in the competition and I'm a judge. If it were someone else, I might have doubts about the fairness of the scoring, but if it's Professor Xiao, then there's no way I could doubt it. After all, everyone knows that Professor Xiao has always been fair and impartial." ... After chatting casually for a few minutes, the formalities on the other side were completed.

Xiao Bonian and his group took their room cards and went upstairs, as did Huang Anyong.

Shen Kang glanced at his back and sighed, "I used to think that Professor Xiao had connections all over the world and friends everywhere. I didn't expect that there were people who didn't like you, Professor Xiao."

After a brief conversation, he noticed that Huang Anyong always spoke with a barbed tongue, and had even subtly provoked Xiao Bonian, making it difficult for Xiao Bonian to favor his adopted son when scoring the competition.

Clearly, Huang Anyong and Xiao Bonian were at odds.

Hearing Shen Kang's words, Xiao Bonian was somewhat amused and exasperated: "You make it sound like everyone has to give me face. How can everyone in this world be a friend?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "Didn't I mention before that I had a competitor for that project? Huang Anyong and he have a very good relationship; their children are even betrothed since birth."

Shen Kang's interest was piqued. "What era are we living in? Arranged marriages from childhood? And for university professors like you?"

As it turns out, gossip is an eternal human interest.

Even Xiao Bonian, a usually composed intellectual, became more talkative at this point: "Back then, wasn't 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes' a popular TV series? I heard that both families happened to be pregnant at the time, so they followed the example on TV and arranged a marriage between unborn children. Actually, it was mostly a joke, and no one really took it seriously. But unexpectedly, the children from both families grew up together, and as they got to know each other, it seemed like there was actually some kind of attraction between them..."

Standing at the front desk all the time wasn't going to work, so the three of them went to a rest area in the lobby to sit down.

Shen Kang and He Qiuzhu listened with great interest to Xiao Bonian's "childhood sweethearts" story, continuing until the children of the two families were in college and already dating. They guessed that the two would most likely get married after graduation, making the two families practically in-laws. After hearing the gossip, since everyone hadn't eaten dinner yet, they went out for dinner together before returning to their rooms.

During the meeting, no one mentioned a word about tomorrow's match.

Anyway, everyone knows that Shen Kang's project is just a formality, and Huang Anyong was just making a fool of himself, so there's not much to talk about.

The following day, the Yangcheng city-level competition of this innovation and entrepreneurship competition officially began.

There were 23 teams participating in this city-level competition. According to the competition process, each team will have 16 minutes, including 8 minutes for presentation and 8 minutes for questions from the judges.

The roadshow time for all the teams alone is more than 6 hours. With some interspersed time, it can easily stretch to 8 hours. Therefore, the competition is divided into morning and afternoon sessions.

The competition venue is a large conference hall on the third floor of the Haobo Hotel, which is also the largest conference hall in the hotel. It has now been set up as a competition venue: a large stage in front, rows of seats below, and the front row is the judges' seat.

Banners were hung at the entrance of the conference hall, and even at the entrance of the hotel, banners wishing the college student innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity competition a complete success were displayed.

All the equipment on site had already been set up. Around 7 a.m., contestants, judges, and other personnel began to enter the venue one after another.

Shen Kang slept well yesterday and was in good spirits, but Ma Liang next to him kept yawning and had dark circles under his eyes.

"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Shen Kang couldn't help but ask.

Ma Liang gave a vague reply: "I think I'm a bit sensitive to sleeping in unfamiliar beds." He didn't say much more. In reality, he had been tossing and turning all night, unable to sleep because of Shen Kang's suggestion that the hotel's general manager take him to a foot massage. It was quite torturous. Finally, around 3 a.m., when he figured the foot massage places were all closed and there was no chance of anyone taking him there, he finally stopped tormenting himself and fell asleep.