Reborn in 2000: I just want to love a few people properly.

"Okay, stop looking at me like that, as if I'm some heinous villain."

Seeing Gu Lin looking at him with a shocked expression, Xu Bo said softly.

"If they continue to work diligently, I will naturally treat them well. But if they have ulterior motives and think I'm an easy-going, nice guy, I'll use that as an excuse to fire them."

"What I need are like-minded, ambitious, and idealistic people, not middle-aged women who just coast along here, thinking that finding a job is all they need."

After speaking, Xu Bo sat down again and drank the beverage in one gulp, leaving Gu Lin there to slowly understand what he meant.

Xu Bo squinted at Gu Lin. If Gu Lin could keep up with his pace, he would consider her his closest comrade-in-arms. If she couldn't, Xu Bo could still provide for her with a comfortable life thanks to their relationship. However, on the road ahead, Xu Bo would need to find other friends to walk alongside him.

Looking at the time, it was almost ten o'clock. Xu Bo left Yu Haoqi and Du Qinglong in the store to supervise the training process of the waiters, while he and Gu Lin headed towards the school.

Tonight is the welcome party, and the senior students' rehearsals are already finalized.

In the evening, there will be the college's own welcome activities, and the school-wide welcome talk with speeches from school leaders will be held at 10:00 AM tomorrow.

"I've already arranged for my members to hang up the banners and set up the signs. Tonight, there are probably more than ten off-campus sponsors here in the small auditorium, but I guarantee our hot pot restaurant will be in the most prominent position!"

Gu Lin talked about the preparations for the event the whole way, her tone full of pride, after all, this was the only thing she could keep Xu Bo in check.

Outside, he's his own boss; inside the school, I'm his student council leader.

Upon arriving at the small auditorium, several people were climbing a ladder to replace the banners on it; they appeared to be members of the student council.

Xu Bo looked around and finally found the location of his hot pot restaurant among a row of banners.

"Hai Lao Lao Hot Pot Restaurant will have its grand opening on September 15th!"

The banner above is for a barbecue restaurant that reads, "Veteran Barbecue, Five Years of Companionship."

Below is a KTV advertisement: "With student ID, it's 50 yuan per person, unlimited beer."

"This is for the students; the leaders all get in through connections, so they don't see this."

Seeing Xu Bo frowning, Gu Lin assumed he was not satisfied with the content of the banner and tried to explain, but she also felt that something seemed a little off.

"No, I don't have a problem with that. What I mean is why our banner isn't in the most prominent position."

Gu Lin only realized what Xu Bo was saying after hearing it, and her brows furrowed. She glanced at the banner above and quickly called someone over to speak.

"Call Song Hao over here."

Gu Lin finally realized what was wrong. When she was setting up these banners a few days ago, she placed Hailaolao Hot Pot Restaurant in the most prominent and central spot and reserved a special area for it, so the custom-made banners were much larger.

At this moment, for some unknown reason, the banner was squeezed to the side, making the banner, which was originally the standard size, look awkward.

Not long after, a thin boy wearing glasses ran over.

"Minister Gu."

After exchanging greetings, Gu Lin went straight to the point: "Who changed the banner at this location? Didn't I tell you to leave this spot clear?"

Song Hao looked troubled upon hearing this, and after hesitating, he said, "Minister Wei told us to change it. We had already hung it up this morning, but Minister Wei suddenly came over with the banner and told us to change it."

"Wei Jun?"

Xu Bo felt that the name sounded familiar.

"It's the Northeastern Chinese restaurant where I used to work. The owner's son is named Wei Jun," Gu Lin said.

After her explanation, Xu Bo remembered who this person was. He remembered that the first time he left the law firm that day, Gu Lin called him to resign and gave him a good scolding. He didn't expect the revenge to come so quickly.

"Change it now." Gu Lin commanded in an icy tone. Song Hao was one of her own, so whatever Gu Lin said went. He immediately got to work upon hearing her words.

They moved a ladder over and climbed up, and Xu Bo joined in to help.

Just as they were taking down the banner of the stationery store above, a cold voice rang out.

"What are you doing!"

Xu Bo looked down and finally saw Wei Jun himself.

His greasy hair clung to the back of his neck, his skin was rough and dull, the collar of his plaid shirt was yellowed, and even from where Xu Bo was, you could smell a pungent odor of smoke.

"Who gave you permission to move this banner!" Wei Jun said preemptively and arrogantly.

Gu Lin fanned her nose, trying to let the air circulate a bit: "Then why did you change my banner? I remember I hung it here first."

With a snort, Wei Jun said disdainfully, "Because I paid a sponsorship fee of five hundred yuan, I'm going to hang it here."

"Isn't it the highest bidder wins? Whoever pays the most sponsorship fee has more say?"

Gu Lin sneered, and was about to announce her price when Xu Bo suddenly coughed.

A sponsorship fee of 500 yuan is already the highest possible amount. Moreover, Wei Jun is a vice minister, so it's not unreasonable for him to have some minor privileges. Therefore, it seems perfectly reasonable for him to be listed here.

Xu Bo sneered from above. He'd been smoking too much lately and had phlegm in his throat. He held up his thumb to indicate Wei Jun's position.

He coughed slightly, then opened his mouth and spat a mouthful of phlegm onto Wei Jun's greasy hair.

Feeling something strange on his head, Wei Jun reached out and touched it, only to find his own hair oil.

Xu Bo took the opportunity to get off the ladder, and with a light jump, he landed on the ground.

"That's right, I also think Minister Wei is right."

Xu Bo clapped his hands and said with a smile, "I think it's still best to go with the highest bidder."

Wei Jun looked at the young man who had suddenly appeared with admiration. Although he had some doubts, he still patted Xu Bo on the shoulder and said something.

"You're a freshman, right?" Wei Jun said, looking at Xu Bo who nodded. "Not bad, young man. You can distinguish right from wrong and have a lot of potential. In a few days, when the student union welcomes new students, come directly to the external relations department and find me. I'll protect you."

After saying that, Wei Jun walked smugly toward the small auditorium.

As he walked, he said, "Later, you all need to give my stationery store a good talking-to. After the teacher finishes speaking and the freshmen performances begin, you secretly hand out the flyers."

After confirming that Wei Jun's lackeys were no longer in the area, Xu Bo gestured to Song Hao beside him, and took advantage of the break in time to quickly hang up the Hai Lao Lao banner.

"Hurry, hurry, hang up!"

Gu Lin urged from the side.

"The flyers are ready. You should follow up immediately after Wei Jun finishes his promotion at the stationery store."

Several more of Gu Lin's men arrived, and she quickly said something.

Each department has one minister and two deputy ministers, and the competition is fierce. In order to climb the ranks, they use all sorts of tricks and underhanded tactics.

However, ever since Gu Lin became the manager of the hot pot restaurant, she found Wei Jun's little tricks quite amusing.