I met my whole family through Baidu Tieba.

After exchanging greetings, Shen Kang said, "Deputy Manager Sun acted very quickly just now. I was just wondering how to evacuate those people when Deputy Manager Sun arrived with his men. It was very timely."

Hearing Shen Kang praise Sun Yu to his face, Sun Hongjun was secretly pleased, but he didn't show it on his face.

Sun Yu said, "This is what we should do. We are also very grateful to Mr. Shen for stepping forward and calling for action; otherwise, we probably wouldn't have been able to evacuate everyone so quickly."

After the two juniors exchanged a few compliments, Zhou Man said to Sun Hongjun, "Mr. Sun, there's something I was planning to tell you later. But since we've run into each other now, I'll just say it now."

"As for the group, we might open a hotel in Xiahai City. This hotel is very important to the group; it will be the largest, most luxurious, and most heavily invested hotel in Haobo Group to date. Ding Ling will personally lead a team to inspect the site. Of course, Ding Ling is ultimately not an expert in hotel business, so we will need someone with extensive professional experience to oversee and assist us. If everything goes smoothly, that person will become the general manager of the Xiahai hotel."

Upon hearing this, Sun Hongjun's heart skipped a beat, as if he had a premonition.

Sure enough, Zhou Man said, "I was just thinking about who to send, and that's when Shen Kang recommended you to me. I also saw what your Deputy Manager Sun did today, and it's clear that he's doing a very good job in hotel management and training. I'm very satisfied. So, Mr. Sun, get ready. If nothing unexpected happens, you and Ding Ling will be going to Xia Hai for the inspection."

Zhou Man finally asked, "That's how it is. What are your thoughts? Are you willing to go?"

Sun Hongjun's heart was pounding.

Opening a store in Xia Hai would be Haobo Group's largest, most luxurious, and most expensive investment to date... Clearly, Zhou Man is preparing a major strategic plan for Haobo Group, aiming to expand nationwide! And Xia Hai is the first stop in this nationwide plan.

Therefore, the importance of the Xia Hai store is self-evident. The general manager of this store is also different from the general managers of other stores; their role is of great significance.

If you do this job well, your career will undoubtedly advance to the next level, and you might even reach a senior position at the hotel group headquarters! Of course, if you don't do it well and suffer a major setback, then you will definitely have to take responsibility. It's a job where risk and opportunity coexist.

Sun Hongjun quickly thought for a moment and decisively said, "I'm willing to go!"

He was very confident in his abilities, and with such an opportunity presented, there was no reason not to seize it.

Zhou Man was also satisfied and nodded, "Very good. Then it's settled that it's you. Ding Ling will inform you of the specific time later. You are more familiar with the situation at the Huawan store. What I mean is, you choose someone from the Huawan store to temporarily serve as the acting general manager while you go to Xiahai. Your position as general manager will still be temporarily retained..."

Zhou Man then explained the proposed general manager plan for the future.

Sun Hongjun listened quietly, thinking to himself: "No wonder they say it's easy to get things done if you have connections in the court. I only spent a day with Shen Kang, and my fate has changed so drastically. It's truly remarkable."

Sun Yu remained silent, his heart also stirred.

My uncle had been sitting in the position of general manager of the Huawan store for a long time without any change. But in just one day, such a big change happened…

Shen Kang also seemed to be deep in thought.

Judging from what Zhou Man had told him before, her purpose in bringing him here and talking to Sun Hongjun about these things in this place is quite obvious—Zhou Man wants to spread rumors so that people will know that Sun Hongjun was able to become the general manager of Xia Hai Store because of his relationship with Shen Kang.

I have no idea what Zhou Man is trying to do...

While the group was lost in their own thoughts, an elevator was coming down from upstairs in the elevator lobby outside the Chinese restaurant.

There were three people standing in the elevator: Mao Manyi, Xu Wenjie, and a young man wearing a leather jacket and sporting a spiky hairstyle.

The young man was saying, "...If we're talking about fun places around here, I highly recommend Fairy Cave. The scenery there is absolutely stunning, far superior to Zhuangyuan Street, which you visited yesterday. I happen to be free today, so I can drive you there and maybe even promote cross-strait friendship, hehe..."

Xu Wenjie remained silent, looking helpless.

She and Mao Manyi went to Zhuangyuan Street yesterday afternoon. They didn't stay idle in the evening either. After checking the travel guide, they went to a bar street nearby and visited one bar after another. They went to three nightclubs in one night.

This young man, who introduced himself as Mike, was the one they met at the third nightclub.

At that time, Xu Wenjie had already drunk two rounds and was a little tipsy. In addition, the lighting in the store was too dim, so she didn't see Mike's face very clearly. She just thought he was quite handsome, so they got along well. Although they didn't immediately develop a deeper relationship, they still exchanged contact information and even told each other where they were staying temporarily.

As a result, when they woke up this morning, Mike called to say that he had also checked into the hotel and invited them to have breakfast together.

Xu Wenjie thought it was a good idea and agreed.

But when they met, Xu Wenjie regretted it—she really hadn't seen him clearly last night. This morning, after she sobered up and the daylight was good, she could finally see that Mike's face was pockmarked and his features weren't nearly as handsome as she had vaguely remembered.

It's fair to say that this didn't suit her taste at all, so she made up an excuse to dump Mike.

Unexpectedly, Mike was a seasoned veteran, relentlessly pursuing her and making it impossible to shake him off.

Xu Wenjie and Mao Manyi were from Taiwan, and influenced by media reports, they had a natural fear of this land, so they didn't dare to be too aggressive and could only helplessly let the other party pester and follow them all the way.

"...I've already decided where to go tomorrow. Yangcheng is quite big, so let's not just stay in this area. I can take you to other districts; Yunyan Town is a nice place..."

The elevator doors opened, and the three of them stepped out, with Mike still rambling on.

Mao Manyi got annoyed too and said, "Mike, Wenwen has a boyfriend. Please stop bothering her, okay?"

Mike chuckled. "Got a boyfriend yet? Not married. How will you know which one is right for you if you don't try a few more? I'm generous, try as many as you like. If you're not satisfied, just return them without a second thought, and I'll walk away without a word!"

Xu Wenjie walked towards the Chinese restaurant. Hearing this, she couldn't help but say, "Thank you, but I don't even need to try. I already feel you're not suitable."

"Whether it's suitable or not can't be determined just by looking at it..." Mike followed closely behind the two women, chattering on and on, showing considerable perseverance.

Xu Wenjie was helpless and at her wit's end.

It was at this moment, just as she was about to enter the Chinese restaurant, that she saw several people in the reception area at the entrance.

The group of people was quite odd: two of them looked like hotel lobby managers, one was a cleaning lady, one looked like a farmer, and the last one looked like a college student.

Xu Wenjie was somewhat surprised to see the college-aged man. That man was the "gangster prince" Mao Manyi had mentioned. Earlier, while queuing at the lobby counter, Xu Wenjie had also heard the man's name as Shen Kang.

She and Mao Manyi discussed Shen Kang for quite a while, feeling that this boy was very mysterious and interesting.

It's quite a coincidence that we've run into each other again.

As Xu Wenjie was thinking this, Mike was still chattering on and on behind her.

Suddenly, Xu Wenjie's heart skipped a beat. She turned away from the lobby and walked directly towards Shen Kang, a sweet smile spreading across her face as she called out in a coquettish voice, "Shen Kang!"

After walking up to Shen Kang, Xu Wenjie pretended to take his arm, while whispering urgently, "Help me out, pretend to be my boyfriend!"

Although her voice was urgent, Xu Wenjie was not as annoyed as she had been when Mike was pestering her. In fact, she was quite happy and found it exciting and interesting.

Xu Wenjie is a playboy.

She feels it's exciting, fun, and romantic right now.

This is straight out of an idol drama!

According to the plot of idol dramas, this kind of "seeking help and pretending to be a boyfriend" plot is often the beginning of the relationship between the male and female protagonists.

They will meet through this, and then become entangled, going from disliking each other to gradually understanding each other, and finally falling in love and completing a romantic relationship.

Given Shen Kang's alleged connection to the underworld, their love story could very well be dramatic and poignant.

If there were such a "tourism project" when you finally get to travel to the mainland, that would be perfect.

As for whether Shen Kang would be willing to help her by pretending to be her boyfriend for the time being... Xu Wenjie had no doubt about it. After all, although she wasn't as pretty as Shen Kang's "suspected good friend," she was definitely a great beauty.

It's said that it's easy for a woman to pursue a man. So, what normal man could refuse such a beautiful woman like herself, who comes to her pitiful side seeking help and hoping that the other person will pretend to be her boyfriend?

Xu Wenjie is very experienced in this area and her plan is sound.

Her hand was almost touching Shen Kang's arm.

But before they could even touch it, their efforts were in vain.

Shen Kang immediately took a step back, appearing wary.

The driver, Xiao Yang, was standing still and unresponsive just now.

Upon seeing Shen Kang's obvious defensive move, the driver, Xiao Yang, immediately moved. He stepped forward, stretched out both hands, and decisively grabbed Xu Wenjie's hands. With a shake and a twist, Xu Wenjie was involuntarily spun around.

Then the driver, Xiao Yang, grabbed Xu Wenjie's hand and pressed it down.

Xu Wenjie involuntarily squatted down, one of her hands being twisted behind her back, and cried out in pain, "It hurts so much!..."

"..."

Zhou Man watched from the side, unable to bear to look, yet also finding it amusing.

These two guys, one of them instinctively retreated to defend himself when he saw the beautiful woman approaching; the other went straight up and used his skills to subdue this "danger," they really had a perfect teamwork.

She is now even more convinced that Shen Kang really didn't date anyone at school.

Mao Manyi was also caught off guard and stunned. After she came to her senses, she quickly said, "Let her go!" As she spoke, she tried to come up and help, to twist Xiao Yang's hand and rescue her friend from the other party's clutches.

Xiao Yang gave her a cold look.

Shen Kang glanced at Xiao Yang's current expression and wondered if Brother Yang had actually killed someone, such as a drug dealer, while on a mission in the army.

That look in her eyes is a little scary.

When Mao Manyi saw the look in Xiao Yang's eyes, she was startled and didn't dare to come up and bother him anymore.

But quickly, Mao Manyi realized what was happening and immediately turned to look at Mike beside her, "Mike!"

Mike looked at the scene before him, then at the guy who had captured Xu Wenjie, and felt a little uneasy.

However, upon seeing Xu Wenjie's eyes welling up with tears from the pain, looking so pitiful, he suddenly felt a surge of lust and his courage increased. He took a small step forward, puffed out his chest, and said with great authority, "I'm warning you, let her go right now! This is a society governed by law. What you're doing is against the law! Besides, this is a hotel, there are security guards everywhere. If you don't let her go, I'm going to call for help!..."

Mike said it, but he didn't dare to get any closer.

That guy only used one hand to grab Xu Wenjie; his other hand was still free. Who knows if he'll be grabbed by the other hand when he goes up next to her?

Zhou Man had been standing right next to Shen Kang and had overheard some of the girl's hurried whispers, so she could roughly guess what was going on. She immediately said, "Xiao Yang, let her go."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yang responded with a "Yes," then released Xu Wenjie's hands, which were tied behind her back, and took a step back.

Upon seeing her, Mike and Mao Manyi quickly came over to ask how she was doing, "Are you alright?" "Wenjie, how are you?"

Xu Wenjie straightened up, rubbing her wrist, her eyes welling with tears, filled with bitterness and resentment: What happened? Why is it so different from what I imagined? That damn Shen Kang, he's so clueless! Not only did he not help, but he even sent someone to beat me up! I hate that guy so much! ...

Before, Xu Wenjie was genuinely interested in Shen Kang, not only because she found it exciting and fun, but also because she didn't mind that he seemed to have a girlfriend. After all, neither of them was married, so they should try things out. How could they know who the right person was if they didn't try?

It's quite possible that they are the true love.

But Shen Kang's rude and barbaric friend shattered her romantic dream from an idol drama with a single grappling move.

That Shen Kang isn't a good person either. A beautiful woman like herself took the initiative to ask him for help; shouldn't he have readily helped her and they could have gotten to know each other? He actually backed down! These locals are so unromantic and rude!