Chapter 44: I Am Out of Tune with This World

Chen Jianhai's eyes lit up.

This is a great business opportunity! Nowadays, many students travel in groups, often organized as class activities or club team-building events. These small group trips are short in duration, involve many participants, and occur frequently.

Some schools even collaborate with large travel agencies to provide convenient and discounted travel for their students. If he could secure a deal with this travel agency, the hotel would have a stable source of guests!

The hotel had just started to revive, and any method to make money and attract guests couldn't be missed!

However, while the idea was good, there was no rush to sign a contract. After all, Chen Jianhai didn't know which schools this Blue Sky Travel Agency cooperated with, its scale, or its reputation in the industry. He needed to do some research first.

Thinking this, Chen Jianhai smiled and said:

"Director Ning, our hotel is very pleased to cooperate with your travel agency. However, such a long-term cooperation is a significant matter, and there are some details that need to be discussed. Why don't you stay at our hotel for a few more days? Once all the details are clear, we can sign the contract. What do you think?"

Ning Youyou beamed with joy, "Of course!"

She had approached Chen Jianhai with this plan with a trial attitude, even preparing for the possibility of outright rejection. After all, such a good hotel wouldn't necessarily need to cooperate with a travel agency to maintain a good flow of guests.

Chen Jianhai not rejecting it outright meant there was room for negotiation. This deal... might work out!

Just as Ning Youyou was about to continue discussing it with Chen Jianhai, his phone rang.

"Ring ring~"

Chen Jianhai glanced at the caller ID and then looked apologetically at Ning Youyou.

Understanding the situation, Ning Youyou stood up and said, "Boss Chen, please go ahead." She then left the office.

"Phew..."

Chen Jianhai let out a long breath, the aura of [Affability] dissipating. He answered the phone, and a gentle female voice came through:

"Boss Chen, hello. I'm Lily, a human resources consultant from Bright Future Recruitment."

"Liu Qinglu has replied to our website. She is very interested in cooperating with Lang Ai Hotel. When would be convenient for you to come to the company to sign the contract with her?"

Lily's voice was professional and friendly, which Chen Jianhai didn't particularly like.

But the news thrilled him!

Anytime would be convenient for him!

His hotel was in desperate need of staff! Liu Qinglu joining would be a great addition!

Though excited, he couldn't express it that way on the phone.

After a moment of contemplation to adjust his mood and state, Chen Jianhai calmly said, "Alright, I understand. I'm very busy these days and can't leave, but I'll contact you when I have time."

"Okay, Boss Chen."

Hanging up the phone, Chen Jianhai clenched his right fist and made a victory gesture, swinging it excitedly by his side. Yes!

...

At night,

Ning Youyou and Liu Qinglu were sitting on the beach.

Not far away, the neon lights of the seaside open-air bar street were flashing, filled with tourists listening to music, eating skewers, and drinking.

On the dark sea in the distance, the lights of fishing boats were lit, like returning sailors or voyagers setting out.

"Youyou, what are you thinking about?" Liu Qinglu tilted her head, curious.

Since the afternoon, Ning Youyou had been distracted, lost in thought. Especially in the swimming pool, everyone was happily playing with bubble guns, but Ning Youyou stood there, getting sprayed with bubbles.

Ning Youyou crossed her arms in front of her chest, with a starry-eyed expression.

"Qingqing, do you know?" "The person who refused to share a table with us that day is actually the owner of this hotel!"

Liu Qinglu was stunned, "Why bring him up suddenly?"

Ning Youyou's legs swung back and forth, her toes pointing up and down.

"I am a guide from Blue Sky Travel Agency. I went to see him this afternoon to discuss cooperation with Lang Ai Hotel. But I never expected him to be the hotel owner!"

"The impression he gave today was completely different from that day at the swimming pool and pirate ship."

Liu Qinglu became interested, "How so?"

"Weren't you always calling him a sneaky coward?"

Ning Youyou blushed, "Ah, don't say that about him."

Under Liu Qinglu's widened eyes, Ning Youyou shyly explained:

"In the swimming pool, he was sneaking around on a swimming ring, spraying water at kids and laughing. I remember it clearly. But this afternoon, when he spoke to me as the boss, he felt like a completely different person. Very affable, generous, and down-to-earth. He made me feel particularly comfortable, wanting to talk to him more, even if the business deal didn't go through, I wanted to be friends with him. I've never met anyone with such a pleasant aura before."

Scratching her head, Ning Youyou continued, "Even now, I can't understand how such completely different personalities can coexist in one body... Ah! I can't explain it well."

"Qingqing, do you think the boss might have a split personality?"

Ning Youyou looked serious.

"You're overthinking," Liu Qinglu laughed, "There aren't that many people with split personalities. Maybe both sides are just him."

Liu Qinglu tucked her windblown hair behind her ear and softly analyzed:

"Think about it. At the pool, he wasn't a boss but someone having fun. Of course, he'd do whatever made him happy. But today, he met you as the hotel's manager. His words and actions represented the hotel, so the impression he gave was different."

Ning Youyou nodded, "You make a good point."

She picked up a small stone and threw it into the sea.

Ning Youyou chuckled, her eyes curved in delight.

"I didn't see him at the amusement park today, but if he comes out to play tomorrow, I still want to spray him with bubbles!"

...

In the hotel,

Chen Jianhai suddenly shivered.

"Who's talking about me!"

Rubbing his nose, Chen Jianhai quietly pulled aside an employee from the kitchen.

"What's going on? Didn't I install several cameras in the kitchen and have you all stream together? Why did Knife King go off and start his own live room?"

The employee honestly explained, "Knife King's popularity skyrocketed. Although our main camera was on Brother Johnny, the bullet comments kept asking for Knife King. So, Brother Johnny let Knife King start his own stream, and it became even more popular."

Chen Jianhai was shocked, "Slicing vegetables can be popular?"

"Yeah." The employee nodded.

"They say watching Knife King slice vegetables is particularly therapeutic and satisfying. Satisfying to the core."

"To be honest, I don't quite get it either."

The employee looked both disdainful and puzzled.

Chen Jianhai was baffled.

Could it be that it's no longer the era of hand fetishists?

Such slender, elegant, pianist-like hands as Xu Bo's... nobody watches?!!!

The employee nodded emphatically, exactly!

"Viewers in the live room have no taste!"

"What's so good about slicing vegetables? Anyone with hands can do it."

"Clearly, watching dishwashing is more satisfying!"

After speaking, the employee walked away with a lone wolf expression, leaving Chen Jianhai standing in bewilderment.