"I knew it, Hao Chen's eyes were glued to you," said Murong Yanran, giving Liu Zijun a sideways glance. She ignored her, returned to her room, locked the door, and hid under the covers, browsing the links Liu Zijun had sent her on Taobao.
The daring, revealing clothes made her cover her face and gasp for breath. The images were imprinted on her mind, refusing to fade. She couldn't stop thinking about how Li Hao Chen would react, torturing her with budding desires. What girl doesn't yearn for love?
During dinner, Murong Yanran deliberately moved around Li Hao Chen, making it difficult for him to eat. Liu Zijun, meanwhile, stifled her laughter, but felt a pang of envy in her heart. She recalled her own youthful experiences, lamenting that they were gone. With a sigh and a bitter smile, she lowered her head and chewed on the tasteless dishes.
There were no classes in the afternoon. After eating, Li Hao Chen rode his three-wheeled vehicle to the Qing Long administrative district.
He pushed open the door to find the place deserted, save for a fierce-looking, plump middle-aged woman lying back with her legs up, engrossed in her phone. In this sweltering heat, she hadn't even turned on the air conditioning. Yet, Li Hao Chen, whose clothes were already soaked with sweat, couldn't help but wonder if she was a martial arts master hiding in plain sight.
"Excuse me, Big Sister, I have a question!"
"Big Sister...?" Huang Meijuan's eyes lit up. The phone lost its allure, and she shot up from her seat, her gaze scanning Li Hao Chen. A smile curved her lips, and she gave him a mental thumbs-up. Usually, people called her Auntie or Aunty. "Big Sister" was a first, and it delighted her. The more she looked at Li Hao Chen, the more satisfied she became.
"Young man, it's hot, isn't it? I'll turn on the air conditioning right away." This air conditioning was usually reserved for distinguished guests, so Huang Meijuan was treating Li Hao Chen like a VIP. After turning it on, she poured him a glass of water. "What can I help you with, young man?"
Li Hao Chen, being perceptive, omitted the word "man." "Sister, I wanted to ask about the restaurant that just had a clearance sale. Has it been rented out?"
The term "Sister" worked wonders, making Huang Meijuan beam with delight. She glanced around, then lowered her voice. "Let me tell you, don't tell anyone. That restaurant is a good spot. Its lease just expired, and the owner wanted to renew it, but the old secretary refused. He was planning to give it to his incompetent son-in-law. If you want to rent it, hurry up! I can even give you a discount. Once it's a done deal, he won't have anything to say, hehe!"
"But... isn't that not good? It might cause trouble for you."
"I'm not afraid, why should you be? Let me tell you, my husband is about to take over his position, though it hasn't been announced yet. Don't let it slip, alright?" Huang Meijuan's mention of this made her genuinely happy; she would soon be the secretary's wife.
Could it be that good fortune, which was as rare as finding a needle in a haystack, had found him again? Li Hao Chen couldn't help but wonder if Emperor Wenchang had taken a liking to him.
"Sister, what about the rent?"
"Originally, it was 4500 a month. But since you're so sweet-mouthed, how about 4000? I still have some influence, you know." Huang Meijuan raised her eyebrows and gave him a knowing look.
Li Hao Chen calculated in his mind. It was slightly over his budget, but still within his means. Paying a little extra to avoid hassle was acceptable. After careful consideration, he agreed.
"Alright, I'll rent it."
Perhaps fearing complications, Huang Meijuan checked the time and processed the paperwork with incredible speed. In less than three minutes, all the documents were sorted and placed before Li Hao Chen. "Take a look. If it's okay, sign it. Hurry up, the old man might be back soon."
Li Hao Chen, also eager to avoid any further issues, grabbed the contract and began to read. After all, he had experience with two shops already, so contracts were generally the same. He skimmed through it, nodded, and noted that the lease term was a bit short.
Li Hao Chen put down the contract, took out a pre-prepared envelope, and discreetly handed it over. He said coaxingly, "Sister Juan, can the lease term be extended?"
Huang Meijuan took the envelope without a ripple, weighed it slightly, and a smile spread across her face. She then retrieved the contract and quickly made changes on the computer.
A minute later, Li Hao Chen looked at the ten-year lease term on the contract and smiled. He quickly signed it.
"Sister Juan, thank you so much! I'll treat you to a meal sometime."
Just then, an old man with white hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses and exuding an academic air, walked in, a smile on his face.
"Heh heh, Meijuan, why are you so happy?"
Huang Meijuan glanced at him sideways, thinking, "You drool like a dog, and I can't be happy?" After all, he was still the current incumbent, and it wouldn't be good to fall out. She had to save face. "Oh, Secretary Rong. Of course, I'm happy. I rented out a place, so the year-end dividends will be even higher. Why wouldn't I be happy?"
"Oh, that's truly worth celebrating. By the way, which place did you rent out?"
"The restaurant at the district head's location."
"What?" Rong Pinliang's voice suddenly rose considerably, and he stared at Huang Meijuan with wide eyes. "Didn't I tell you this morning that a distinguished guest was coming to rent it? What were you doing?"
Huang Meijuan inwardly scoffed, "Distinguished guest, my foot! I know you're just trying to do favors for your incompetent son-in-law." She then changed her expression, feigning ignorance and acting foolish. "What? No way! I've been waiting all day for someone to rent that place. I thought it was your distinguished guest. The contract is already signed..."
Seeing the situation unfolding, Li Hao Chen quickly made his escape.
He returned to the food stall again to find it completely abandoned, littered with debris. Li Hao Chen wandered around, but nothing was left; it had been stripped clean. Fortunately, the canopy outside the house, covering the courtyard, had not been dismantled, or he would have suffered a significant loss. Li Hao Chen had specifically chosen this place for its large courtyard and covered canopy.
After a simple clean-up and a rinse with the hose, Li Hao Chen rode his bicycle to the branch store.
At this hour, there weren't many customers. Li Hao Chen gathered the three employees. "Ah Long, Ah Xian, from now on, you two will take turns going to my warehouse to transport coconut produce. I'll send you the location shortly. It's in the Qing Long administrative district, not too far. Xiao Nian, it's been hard work buying groceries every day. Starting this month, your monthly salary will increase by three hundred. Thank you for your hard work."
Receiving another pay raise delighted Xiao Nian and the other two. They thought they had found a good boss.
Since he needed to transport coconut produce, the three-wheeled vehicle would remain at the store. Li Hao Chen walked to the nearby Aimi specialty store and spent 2000 yuan to buy a new national standard 48v electric bike in Peach Leaf Pink. The bike had simple, pure lines, was small and lightweight, and most importantly, had a high aesthetic appeal. He thought Murong Yanran would definitely like it and bought it without much hesitation. However, in terms of power, it was quite different from the three-wheeled vehicle, reaching only about 20 kilometers per hour, but sufficient for daily use.