I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

As evening fell, Li Jing'an, standing in front of the guesthouse, greeted Wei Jialing with a smile, his tone tinged with smugness: "Jialing, you're here. Come in and see how our guesthouse is doing now. Does it meet your standards?"

Wei Jialing took his hand and walked slowly into the lobby, calmly surveying her surroundings. The terrazzo floor gleamed, the walls were spotless, and the staff were uniformly dressed and stood upright. The overall layout was both orderly and respectable. She nodded slightly: "Not bad, much better than I expected."

Along the way, whether it was the waiters and supervisors coming and going, or the logistics staff passing by, everyone who saw Li Jing'an stopped and bowed respectfully to greet him: "Hello, Director."

Li Jing'an simply nodded slightly, his expression calm and composed, with the ease of someone in a superior position, as he led Wei Jialing into his director's office.

After entering the room, Wei Jialing casually glanced around. The desks and chairs were all brand new, the filing cabinets were neatly arranged, and the windowsill was clean and tidy—everything exuded a refreshing atmosphere. She smiled and said, "Not bad at all, everything's new?"

"I threw away all the old stuff left by the previous manager." Li Jing'an leaned against the table, his tone relaxed. "New people, new atmosphere. Now that I've taken over this place, it has to look new, not only to make myself feel comfortable, but also to maintain a respectable image to the outside world."

As they were talking, Wei Jialing noticed a wooden door hidden inside the office. Her curiosity was piqued, so she walked straight over and pushed it open.

Li Jing'an quickly followed up, casually explaining, "This is a rest room that the previous director converted himself. I thought it would be convenient for me to take a break at noon and work, so I didn't have it demolished. It's still practical to keep it."

The inner room was simply furnished with only a bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe. There were no other decorations, and you could see the whole room at a glance. Wei Jialing simply sat down on the bed to test its firmness, didn't say anything, and just got up and patted the hem of her clothes.

Li Jing'an quickly glanced at his watch and suggested, "Jialing, I've already spoken to the kitchen beforehand and they've prepared a few of your favorite dishes. Shall we go eat?"

"Okay." Wei Jialing stood up and straightened her clothes, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, let's not go back to the courtyard today. It's fine to stay here. It saves us the trouble of going back and forth, and it's quieter."

"Okay," Li Jing'an readily agreed. "Don't make do in this office. After dinner, I'll have someone book a high-end suite with a private bathroom. It'll be much more comfortable than here. Tomorrow morning, I'll have the driver take you to work. We have a car now, so we don't need to bother using your dad's car anymore."

Wei Jialing smiled, affectionately wrapped her arm around his, and gently shook it: "Then why don't we just keep a suite as a fixed place and live there from now on? It's really awkward living in your little courtyard. I'm not used to even going to the toilet. It's too much of a hassle. We might as well just move in here."

"No." Li Jing'an frowned slightly, his attitude firm. "You can come and stay often, but staying at the guesthouse every day will have a bad influence. I've just taken office, and this is the time to establish rules and build a good image. I can't let people have something to say about me abusing my power for personal gain or seeking special treatment."

Seeing Wei Jialing pout and look unhappy, he softened and relented, reaching out to pinch her cheek: "Alright, alright, don't be angry. How about half and half, alternating between the two sides, is that alright?"

Wei Jialing's anger turned to joy, and a sweet smile returned to her face as she nodded in agreement.

The two arrived at a private room in the guesthouse. Not long after they sat down, Old Huang hurriedly brought in the dishes himself. As soon as he heard that Director Li had brought his girlfriend to dinner, he had already taken over the job of serving food, determined to make a good impression on Li Jing'an.

A plate of bright red, fragrant braised prawns was served. Old Huang carefully moved it in front of Wei Jialing, his face beaming with a solicitous and respectful smile: "Please try this braised prawn dish. It's one of our chef's specialties. See if it suits your taste."

Wei Jialing picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and commented casually, "Not bad, not bad."

"Alright, Lao Huang, these five or six dishes are enough. Don't ask the kitchen to add any more; it'll just be a waste." Li Jing'an waved his hand. "Go get a bottle of red wine."

"Alright, Chief, I'll be right there." Old Huang responded and quickly retreated, his steps light and quick, as if afraid of being even a fraction too slow.

Only the two of them remained in the private room. Li Jing'an took the initiative to serve Wei Jialing some food, his tone concerned: "How is it, Jialing? Are these dishes delicious? If there's anything you don't like, I'll have the kitchen fix it right away, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

"They're all alright, nothing special." Wei Jialing put down her chopsticks, her tone casual. "Let's come over to eat here often. Your cooking at home isn't very good, and Huai Ru's skills are just so-so. We're tired of eating the same few dishes every day. It's a good opportunity to change things up."

Li Jing'an thought to himself, "You can't even cook, yet you have the nerve to criticize others." But he still smiled and agreed, "Hey, it's no big deal. It's our own place. We can eat whenever we want. The kitchen can arrange it anytime. Don't be shy."

A short while later, Old Huang strode in with a bottle of red wine. He skillfully opened the bottle and poured the wine, his movements swift and thoughtful. After pouring the wine, he stood to the side with the bottle still in his hand, not moving an inch, with a respectful smile always on his face.

Li Jing'an glanced at him and said, "Old Huang, you've been busy all day. Go home and rest early. You don't need to serve us here anymore."

"It's alright, Director. I'll wait until you've finished eating and cleaning up before I go back. It won't take up much time or cause any trouble." Old Huang's smile remained unchanged, and his attitude became even more respectful.

He knew better than anyone that Li Jing'an's father-in-law was a municipal party committee leader, and he also had the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Metallurgy as a powerful backer. At such a young age, his future was limitless; this was a truly powerful patron. He wouldn't miss such an opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty and make his presence felt; he had to cling to this powerful figure.

Li Jing'an smiled and nodded slightly at him, as if acknowledging his thoughtfulness and attentiveness.