At Lang'ai Hotel, the staff were bustling about.
For the annual gathering, the hotel had long stopped accepting new reservations and extensions, sending off the last guests the night before to begin frantic preparations.
Wen Zifan: "Move the banner a little to the right!"
The team quickly adjusted the massive banner.
Chen Jianhai: "Where are the pruning shears Tingting used? Get them out! Put them at the entrance!"
Electrician snatched the shears from the gardening girl and placed them prominently at the door.
Chen Jianhai glanced around and suddenly shouted:
"Lemon honey water!"
"Prepare the lemon honey water!"
The moment he said this,
Electrician, Bai Cheng, and the tattletale employee all stared at Chen Jianhai with horrified expressions.
*Are you even human?!*
*Why not just put Qin Mengqiu's photo right in the center?!*
Seeing no reaction from the others, Chen Jianhai barked:
"What are you all standing around for? Go make the lemon honey water!"
Electrician, Bai Cheng, and the tattletale employee remained rooted to the spot,
none willing to commit such a heartless act.
But under Chen Jianhai's tyrannical pressure,
the tattletale employee finally took a deep breath, stepped forward, and declared solemnly:
"I'll do it!"
"I used to drink lemon honey water often—I still remember the sweet-sour ratio."
Chen Jianhai: "Yes, yes! Then you handle it! Make sure it tastes exactly like what he made for Qin Mengqiu!"
"Where's An Xia?!"
An Xia, hugging his guitar, jumped out: "Here, here, I'm here, boss!"
Chen Jianhai: "Good, you stand right here!"
"When Tingting arrives, start playing the guitar—we need some welcoming music!!!"
An Xia asked eagerly: "Boss, what song should I play? *Coming Home Often*?"
Chen Jianhai shook his head: "No, that one—you know, 'The Person in the Wallet's Hidden Pocket.'"
An Xia was stunned.
He mouthed the lyrics silently,
then tentatively asked:
*"The one who once lived in the small hidden pocket of my backpack,*
*Accompanying me through every journey across the sea…?"*
Chen Jianhai: "Yes!!! That one! The one he practiced when confessing to Xiaoqiu!"
"This is our Brother Ting's signature song—make it happen!"
An Xia: *…Can you please act like a human being?!*
Chen Jianhai: "We have to make him feel like he's coming home!"
Chen Jianhai grew increasingly sentimental, sounding exactly like a village elder welcoming a college student back for a visit.
Everyone else: *Heh.*
If Zhu Tingting knew *this* was how you planned to welcome him home, he'd probably turn around and board the next flight out, never to return.
Chen Jianhai remained blissfully unaware of his employees' internal eye-rolls.
He cheerfully buzzed around, making final adjustments.
These blacklisted memories and inside jokes about Zhu Tingting were "savage nostalgia" for the hotel staff.
But to outsiders, they were enviable.
"Tingting's hotel is really amazing."
"Yeah, for such a big hotel, the boss personally helps with decorations—unimaginable!"
"I heard Tingting joined the boss when the hotel was just starting, so their bond is deep. Makes sense."
"Makes sense? My brother also worked with a boss from scratch, but they fell out over money. It's all about the person!"
"Right, totally depends on the person!"
"Not just the boss—the staff here are so close with Tingting too. Working here must be so happy!"
Near the hotel lobby,
staff from Spring Sun Province's "Didn't Expect This One" entertainment company watched Chen Jianhai's team with envy.
Though the annual gathering hadn't officially started,
a advance team had arrived early to check security, menus, room arrangements, and other details.
In short, they were the advance scouts.
But upon arrival, they realized the hotel had everything under control.
Decorations, banners, food, drinks—all meticulously arranged by the hotel staff,
who treated them with such warmth and efficiency that the visitors had nothing to do.
Their days were spent leisurely eating, drinking, and enjoying the seaside—pure bliss.
As for the security concerns Sister Huang had emphasized…
They sneakily glanced at Mantou, the plump, harmless-looking security chief, and subtly edged away.
This hotel's head of security was a smiling tiger!
Earlier, they had tried inspecting stairwells and back entrances for vulnerabilities,
but before they could take two steps,
this deceptively sweet-faced guy and his team of burly security guards
would materialize with polite smiles,
ushering them firmly away.
Since then,
they had become Mantou's "special guests."
Though they had explained they were just checking security measures for the event,
this only made things worse.
Who would've thought that the seemingly harmless, smiling Mantou
would then stalk them like a viper?
The hotel appeared relaxed and welcoming,
but whenever they tried testing security,
hulking guards would casually appear within sight.
Even when later colleagues posed as tourists to sneak in through the beach, parking lot, or café,
they were always intercepted the moment they stepped onto hotel grounds.
To them,
the hotel was like a wide-open city gate—
but with hidden traps and arrows poised to strike from every shadow.
Even a fly sneaking in
would be smacked dead by a flying Mantou
from who-knows-where!!!
Noticing their stares,
Mantou gave them a friendly smile and nod.
"Shiver…"
They shuddered and shuffled further away.
*Better not provoke…*
But honestly,
with security like this, they could relax.
As the lobby decorations neared completion,
Chen Jianhai checked his phone and called out:
"Tingting's plane is landing soon—who's picking him up?!"
Wen Zifan quickly answered: "Already sent! They took the Binlari sports car!"
Knowing Zhu Tingting was returning, Chen Jianhai had insisted on sending the hotel's flashiest, most luxurious car—
to make sure he arrived in style.
The bellboy had eagerly volunteered to drive out early to fetch Tingting home.
Chen Jianhai: "Great!"
"Let the joyous drums roll!"
"Let the lively dances begin!"
Plumber and others: *"Sunshine paints our lives with colorful flowers!"*
*"Opening our doors, we—wel—come—Ting—ting!"*
"Didn't Expect This One" staff: *…What the hell.*
---
**Meanwhile, at Nanjiang Airport Arrivals Hall**
"Someone's coming out!"
With a shriek,
a crowd of paparazzi and fans wielding cameras and phones surged forward.
These were the airport stalkers who camped daily, snapping whoever showed up.
"Who's that?"
"Which celebrity is it?"
"Zhu Tingting!!!"
A few girls screamed and rushed over.
"Hello, thank you for coming."
"Thank you for your support—be careful not to fall."
"I'll walk slowly; no need to hurry."
Zhu Tingting, blinded by camera flashes, couldn't tell fans from paparazzi,
but he responded to all with equal gratitude.
"Who is he? So gentle!"
"Zhu Tingting—the guy from the Summer Mocha ads!"
"Oh! Him?! His personality's so good!"
"Yeah! Let's get more shots!"
Since Wen Zifan had already informed him the hotel had arranged a car,
Zhu Tingting headed straight for the parking garage after landing, expecting the familiar Benma sedan.
But the moment he entered the garage,
he froze at the sight of the gleaming Binlari sports car.
"What… is this?"
"A rented car?"
Over the past year and a half, he'd been either filming or flying nonstop,
too exhausted to even sleep,
let alone keep up with hotel updates.
Hearing this, the bellboy nearly kicked him.
*Seriously?!*
*Now that you're a star, you look down on the hotel?!*
*As if we'd need to rent this!*
*The hotel's garage is packed with luxury cars now!*
*I'm sick of driving them!*
*Just wait till I tattle to the boss!*
As Zhu Tingting climbed into the Binlari, the paparazzi went wild with shutters.
"Damn, what car is that?"
"So flashy!"
"Stars are so rich—I could never afford this in my lifetime."
"Wrong! This is Lang'ai Hotel's VIP car, not Zhu Tingting's. Like he could afford it!"
"Who are you to say what he can afford? You're not even qualified to sit in it!"
"Hey! Why so rude?"
"Rude? Then don't listen. Who told you to grow ears?"
"Can't you be decent? I can't close my ears, but you could shut your mouth!"
"You @#$%^&*@￥…%…!!!!"
"You're the @#$%%￥#@#%%（&&&*）!!!"
"(￣ε(#￣)☆╰╮o(￣皿￣///)"
"(╬￣皿￣)＝○＃(￣＃)3￣)"
---
**As chaos erupted in the parking lot,**
Zhu Tingting and his manager cruised along the coastal road in the Binlari.
"How's everyone been?! Work going well? Is this car fun to drive? Let me try it later! I've been thinking of buying a car—not a sports car though, maybe an MPV or a van… Hey, those sunglasses are cool! You've upgraded your style this year…"
Perhaps because his daily life was so tightly controlled,
or maybe because he was back home with old friends,
Zhu Tingting instantly relaxed, chattering nonstop like an unleashed chatterbox.
His manager stared as if seeing a stranger.
Bellboy: "These shades are from Chuhua Country—cost a fortune. Pretty slick, huh?"
Zhu Tingting: "Chuhua Country?! You took vacation?"
Bellboy: "Nah, it was a training program the boss arranged."
"Now our hotel has overseas training—the boss pays for us to stay at top hotels abroad and experience local culture."
"Bought these during training."
The manager's ears perked up: "Overseas training? Which hotels?"
Bellboy: "Different each batch."
"My group went to Romantica in Chuhua, Crown Jewel in Silverbridge, and Woodpecker in Baihua."
"Next batch might visit Eagle Country's Ice Hotel—depends on arrangements."
Zhu Tingting sighed enviously: "Wow… I've never been to those places."
The manager probed: "So at these hotels, you work as staff? Do they pay you?"
Bellboy: "No, we're guests."
"We experience their service culture firsthand, learning what kind of service we'd want as customers."
"Our boss says,"
"hotel service isn't about robotic tasks or rigid scores—it's emotional and spiritual connection."
"Find that connection, empathize with guests, and service improves naturally."
"Otherwise, all standards and rules are just empty slogans."
"Tiring for us, miserable for guests."
Zhu Tingting nodded emphatically: "The boss is so right!"
The manager side-eyed them.
*These two sound brainwashed with their rehearsed lines.*
But admittedly,
the logic was sound.
Except… one gaping hole.
She zeroed in: "If you're guests, who pays the bills?"
Bellboy: "The boss covers everything."
"Flights, hotels, meals—all paid."
"Only souvenirs or extras come from our pockets."
The manager was *seething* with envy.
*This isn't training—it's a fully funded vacation!*
*Do they hire outsiders?!*
*…Asking for a friend.*
Zhu Tingting mused wistfully: "Wonder if I could rejoin as staff for one training trip."
Before he finished,
a dagger-like glare stabbed the back of his head,
making his hair stand on end.
Through the rearview mirror,
his manager's murderous eyes promised vengeance.
Zhu Tingting promptly shut up.
Manager: *Hmph! My future's tied to you. Until I quit, you're staying put!*
Zhu Tingting: "Oh, is the boss at the hotel now?"
Bellboy: "YES!!!! He rushed back from Zaomen just for you!!"
"When I left, he was decorating the welcome area with the team!"
"Said he's got a surprise for you!"
Zhu Tingting lit up: "Really?!!!"
Bellboy: "Really!!!"
"You'll see soon."
Manager: *…I hate my life.*