I Have a Five-star Seaside Hotel

When they arrived at Rainbow Mall, the doorman parked the car by the entrance and went to the underground parking lot. 

By the time the doorman took the elevator up to the lobby and saw Chen Jianhai and Xiao Lang, 

the two were standing in front of Moon New Source Café, whispering about something. 

Curious, the doorman walked over and heard Chen Jianhai say: 

"Moon New Source isn't doing so well!" 

"There's hardly anyone in the store." 

"Do people in Zaomen not like coffee?" 

Xiao Lang: "I feel the same way. Coffee is so bitter. How can it compare to soy milk?" 

The doorman looked at the two bosses, who didn't need coffee to stay awake for work, and said quietly: 

"Boss, coffee consumption depends on the time of day. It's already past 8 p.m. It's normal for there to be fewer people." 

"Take me, for example," 

"If I drank coffee at this hour, I'd be lying in bed wide awake until 3 a.m., and I'd be useless the next day." 

Chen Jianhai raised an eyebrow. 

"Then why are there so many people at the milk tea shop?" 

As he spoke, Chen Jianhai glanced at the milk tea shop next door and asked. 

The doorman turned around and saw 

four or five girls waiting in line at the milk tea shop, with a few delivery guys standing nearby. 

"Isn't milk tea supposed to be stronger than coffee? Why is their business so good?" Chen Jianhai asked, puzzled. 

The doorman explained: "These milk tea shops don't just sell milk tea. They have a lot of other drinks." 

"Like grape, white peach, grapefruit, and other fruit-based drinks." 

"They're similar to fruit juice." 

"Back at Langai Hotel, the girls often ordered these fruit teas without the tea base through delivery apps." 

"They order them too??" Chen Jianhai was shocked. 

"What's the difference between fruit tea without the tea base and freshly squeezed juice???" 

"Don't they have enough freshly squeezed juice at the hotel?" 

"And they still order this stuff at night!" 

Chen Jianhai felt a bit jealous. 

He had always thought that once people entered his hotel, whether they were guests or employees, they wouldn't need to go out for anything. Everything could be perfectly handled within the hotel. 

But to his surprise, just as he thought he had stopped guests from ordering delivery, 

his own employees had started ordering delivery instead. 

The doorman quickly noticed Chen Jianhai's displeasure and hurriedly said: 

"Hey, it's just the girls!" 

"They like a bit of ritual in their lives." 

"Anything that's nicely packaged with a straw makes them happy, so they buy it." 

Hearing this, Chen Jianhai felt a bit better. 

"So, to make money, we can't just sell coffee..." 

Chen Jianhai frowned slightly, lost in thought about future development. 

Summer Momo's main focus was coffee. 

If he wanted to make more money, he would have to develop other product lines, create some merchandise, and maybe even come up with some internet-famous drinks. 

He should also create a cozy atmosphere, making the café a place for studying or relaxing. 

But this didn't align with his original vision for the business. 

He genuinely wanted to focus on one thing and excel at it. 

Adding all these flashy extras would be putting the cart before the horse. 

If that were the case, he might as well not open a coffee shop and just start a internet-famous drink shop instead. 

But who would turn down money... 

If the business didn't make a profit, the annual rent alone would be a huge expense. 

Not to mention the massive advertising costs. 

With such a large investment, it was hard to say how long it would take to break even. 

What a headache! 

Feeling frustrated, 

Chen Jianhai gloomily got into the Benma with Xiao Lang and drove back to Lion Lake Castle Hotel under the night sky. 

... 

Perhaps it was because he was too tired from the previous day, or maybe the bath had been too relaxing, 

but Chen Jianhai slept like a log that night. 

When he woke up close to noon the next day, he saw Xiao Lang yawning and looking exhausted, ready to head out. 

"Where are you going?" 

Chen Jianhai asked curiously. 

"Don't even ask. The restaurant went crazy this morning." 

"I got several calls saying the customers' tastes have been spoiled by my cooking. If I don't grill the skewers myself, they won't pay after eating." 

Xiao Lang looked miserable. 

After showing off his skills at Xiao Lang's East Sea Dragon Palace BBQ the previous day, 

word had spread like wildfire. 

Many people heard that the owner of Xiao Lang's East Sea Dragon Palace BBQ personally grilled the skewers, 

and they all demanded that Xiao Lang do the grilling, or they wouldn't pay. 

Helpless, poor Xiao Lang had to pack up his tools and head back to the restaurant to handle the business. 

"Brother, can I borrow the doorman and the Benma for another day? I'll return them tonight." 

Xiao Lang said. 

"Return your sister!" Chen Jianhai rolled his eyes at Xiao Lang. 

"Let's go. I'll come with you." 

Hearing that Chen Jianhai was coming along, Xiao Lang's eyes lit up. 

"Really?!" 

"Wait for me. I'll grab a couple of bread rolls, and we'll go." 

Chen Jianhai quickly ran to the Knight's Emblem self-service dining hall)= on the first floor, grabbed four or five slices of bread from the tray, and then ran out. 

He had thought about what the doorman said the previous day. 

Although it made sense, 

he still needed to see for himself whether the lack of customers was due to the late hour or because the coffee market in Zaomen wasn't strong, and locals didn't like coffee. 

That's why Moon New Source Café's business was slow. 

Once in Zaomen, Chen Jianhai and Xiao Lang went their separate ways, with Chen Jianhai heading to Rainbow Mall and Xiao Lang returning to his East Sea Dragon Palace BBQ. 

After ordering a classic Americano and a small cake, 

Chen Jianhai found a seat by the window and sat down. 

As for the doorman, Chen Jianhai sent him off to do whatever he wanted during the day. 

As long as the doorman could pick him up when he called in the evening, it was fine. 

After sitting there for a day, Chen Jianhai finally felt relieved. 

Turns out, quite a few people in Zaomen buy coffee. 

Just that morning, dozens of delivery guys came in, 

and one order alone looked like it had 20 cups. 

During the lunch break, 

Moon New Source Café saw even more customers. Not only were people buying coffee, but also cups, coffee beans, and various merchandise, 

keeping the staff at the counter busy and sweating. 

"It seems locals do like coffee." 

Chen Jianhai was reassured. 

Just as he took out his phone to message Zhu Songzhou and discuss Summer Momo's entry into the market, 

his phone rang: 

"Hey, Boss Chen, busy?" 

Su Jie's voice came through the phone, and Chen Jianhai smiled: 

"Brother Su!!" 

"It's been a while since I heard from you. Have you eaten? I'm in the city today. If you haven't eaten, let's grab a meal together." 

"Haha, sure!" 

... 

Since the Zaomen Shell Hotel Industry Association was located in the city center, 

it only took about 20 minutes for 

Su Jie to arrive at Rainbow Mall. The two went to the third floor and chose a grilled fish restaurant. 

As soon as they sat down, Su Jie smiled and said: 

"Boss Chen, I have to hand it to you! You're really something!" 

This left Chen Jianhai confused. 

"What's going on? Are there legends about me circulating??" 

Su Jie laughed: "More than legends!" 

"All the five-star hotels in Zaomen are keeping an eye on your Lion Lake Castle Hotel. Some have even secretly asked me about your management team." 

"Be honest with me, did you hire those two streamers?" 

Seeing Su Jie's gossipy expression, Chen Jianhai was speechless. 

"Those two guys really weren't hired by me." 

Chen Jianhai said honestly. 

"I didn't have a hand in this wave of advertising... Wait, you didn't tell them where my employees graduated from, did you?" 

Chen Jianhai was getting anxious. 

Nanjiang Tourism Vocational College had already been designated as the primary source for new employees. 

He didn't want all his hard work to be snatched away by some shameless hotel. 

Su Jie laughed: "Don't worry, would I tell them that??" 

That's a relief. 

Chen Jianhai let out a sigh. 

"Brother, are you aging in reverse? Last time I saw you, half your hair was white. Why is it all black now?" 

Su Jie's smile turned awkward: 

"I dyed it..." 

Mentioning hair, Chen Jianhai suddenly asked: "By the way, Brother Su, how's everything going in the association?" 

He still remembered the last time he met Su Jie, when Su Jie talked about being targeted in the new association. 

Now that some time had passed, he wondered how Su Jie's work was progressing. 

Su Jie smiled slightly, picked up a beer bottle, opened it, and said calmly: 

"It's mostly under control." 

At this point, Chen Jianhai noticed a hint of killing intent in the usually gentle and humble Su Jie, which felt a bit unfamiliar. 

"There are still a few tough nuts to crack, but given some time, I can handle them." 

"Let's not talk about that. I heard you made the manager of the neighboring Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel so stressed that he got sick?" 

"Really?! When did that happen?" Chen Jianhai was shocked. 

"Yesterday afternoon, Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel came to handle their membership and star-rating paperwork. I chatted with them a bit." 

At this point, Su Jie leaned forward gossipily, 

"I also heard that you went to Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel to apply for a job??" 

Chen Jianhai's face instantly turned red. 

"That did happen... You know about it too?" 

Su Jie laughed, giving a thumbs-up, 

"Brave!!" 

"Hahaha, Boss Chen, you're really something!!" 

"I also heard that the higher-ups at Magic Century Theme Park held a meeting specifically to discuss this. The big boss even said he wanted you to manage the hotel." 

Hearing this, Chen Jianhai also laughed. 

"Hahaha, really?!" 

Su Jie smiled: "Really. Otherwise, why would the manager of Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel get so stressed that he's now on an IV drip every day at work... It's really pitiful." 

In the grilled fish restaurant, 

two shady men with mysterious smiles clinked their glasses above the grilled fish and downed their drinks in one go! 

Su Jie: "Boss Chen, honestly, if Magic Century Theme Park really came to you, would you go?" 

Chen Jianhai didn't hesitate: "Go! Of course, I'd go!" 

"I don't ask for much. Just give me an annual salary of 8 million, and I'll definitely go." 

Hearing this, Su Jie almost choked on a fish bone. 

"8 million?!! You really dare to ask!" 

Chen Jianhai looked proud: "When I went to apply, I asked for 6 million, but they didn't agree." 

"After all this time, if they're the ones coming to me, it's not too much to ask for a raise, right?" 

At this point, Chen Jianhai picked up the beer bottle and refilled Su Jie's glass, saying seriously: 

"Besides," 

"Even money in the bank earns interest after six months. I'm a hotel management talent reserve. I'm already undervaluing myself." 

Seeing Chen Jianhai's boastful expression, Su Jie felt a headache coming on. 

As Chen Jianhai was about to continue praising himself, Su Jie quickly stopped him and took a plastic folder from his briefcase. 

"What's this?" Chen Jianhai took the folder and asked curiously. 

"It's the membership and star-rating application materials for your hotel." 

Su Jie explained: "I've already handled the necessary procedures at the association." 

"Just follow the instructions on these forms. If you're missing anything or have questions, feel free to contact me." 

... 

In the grilled fish restaurant, 

while Chen Jianhai was happily chatting with Su Jie about association gossip, 

30 kilometers away at Colorful Holiday Resort Hotel on Cream Road, 

Lin Tao was hooked up to an IV, wrapped in a cotton vest, wiping his nose, and flipping through documents in his office. 

After a while, 

Lin Tao irritably threw the documents on the floor, pressed his feverish forehead, and let out a heavy sigh. 

Nothing was going right... 

Not only were there internal issues at the hotel, 

but the membership and star-rating applications were also a mess. 

When his assistant brought back the non-compliant forms and documents that needed his signature again yesterday, he felt like his head was about to explode. 

He had thought that returning to Zaomen from abroad would allow him to achieve great things and build a successful career. 

But instead, he encountered obstacles at every turn, as if all his good luck had been drained away by someone else. 

"This can't go on!" 

Lin Tao took a deep breath. 

When you have a fever, your mind tends to wander and become unfocused. 

Lin Tao's feverish eyes were also unfocused, staring blankly at the clock on the wall. 

Years of studying abroad had taught Lin Tao one thing. 

If internal conflicts couldn't be resolved effectively, the best way was to shift the internal conflict and redirect everyone's attention to external issues. 

The same logic applied here. 

If the current conditions didn't allow for solving the problem, 

the best approach was to shift focus to external matters, temporarily stepping away from the predicament, and using other highlights to divert attention before circling back to resolve the original issue. 

Although this sounded complicated, 

a clear plan had already formed in Lin Tao's mind. 

"Right now, Lion Lake Castle Hotel is riding high on public opinion. Trying to compete on the hotel front won't be effective..." 

"Should we hire a celebrity for promotion?" 

"I heard there's a rising star named Zhu Tingting who's quite popular lately," 

"Maybe... we should reach out to him?"