I Have a Five-star Seaside Hotel

After leaving the room, 

Rui Keya led Zhang Mingyuan and Song Zhan on a tour of the hotel's facilities. 

They visited the spa, gym, swimming pool, and restaurant, covering every corner. 

At first, Song Zhan was just casually observing, 

but the more he explored, the more he realized how extraordinary this hotel was. 

From its location to its layout, and even the placement of every small item, everything was meticulously designed with great care. 

What amazed him the most was that the entire hotel was completely free of insects. 

Not even a single bug bite on the leaves—it was almost eerie. 

... 

"On Little Vest Island, besides Jasmine Hotel, our boss also built the Cliffside Library and invested in the Golden Jellyfish Lake Scenic Tourist Area." 

"The place we're heading to now is the Cliffside Library." 

After touring the entire hotel, 

Rui Keya, like a tour guide, led the two men along the stone steps of the mountain path. 

In fact, after showing Zhang Mingyuan and Song Zhan the hotel's basic facilities, he could have taken them to the island's center to explore the local environment and culture. 

But no matter how he looked at it, these two elderly men seemed cultured and knowledgeable, with a lot of depth. 

So after the hotel tour, he decisively changed his strategy and took them to the back mountain, 

planning to show them Chen Jianhai's Cliffside Library. 

"Originally, this was a barren mountain, overgrown with weeds and desolate. The local islanders didn't even want to come here." 

"Our boss thought it was a waste to leave the mountain unused, so he funded the construction of the mountain path and built the Cliffside Library at the summit." 

"Director Zhang, there's some moss on this step. Please be careful…" 

Although Rui Keya warned Zhang Mingyuan to be cautious, he quickly extended a hand to Song Zhan, offering support as he stepped over the mossy stone. 

"Thank you." 

With Rui Keya's help, Song Zhan crossed the step and reached the platform, resting his hands on his hips as he surveyed the small mountain. 

Although it had once been a barren mountain, 

over centuries, whether from seeds carried by seabirds or the miracle of life sprouting from the rocks, 

the mountain was now covered with tall, sturdy trees and low shrubs. 

Fallen leaves blanketed the ground, creating a thick, soft layer underfoot, 

while the gaps between the shrubs were filled with fresh green shoots. 

Amidst this cycle of life and decay, large patches of deep green leaves in their prime spread across the trees, perfectly showcasing the different stages of growth on a single tree. 

Moss and wildflowers at their feet also thrived in their respective environments, exuding a wild, untamed energy. 

"The library is at the summit. Just around the bend ahead." 

Rui Keya didn't rush the two men, simply pointing toward the mountaintop. 

Amidst the lush greenery of the back mountain, the white roof of the library peeked through, pure and radiant. 

Interesting… 

Song Zhan tilted his head, catching a glimpse of the library's roof through the trees, and his curiosity about the owner of Jasmine Hotel grew even stronger. 

Many successful entrepreneurs give back to society. 

Not to mention others, 

even Song Zhan himself had funded the construction of 22 libraries, 80 hope schools, and 10 school buildings over the years. 

Some were donated to universities, others to second- and third-tier cities, and some to rural areas, 

but most were aimed at supporting education in underdeveloped regions. 

As for the books, tuition fees, scholarships, and educational funds he had donated, the numbers were too many to count. 

If anyone wanted to compare wealth with him, the social contributions he had made over the years could easily sustain several companies. 

But none of these schools or buildings were built in remote, uninhabited islands or deep forests. 

To be more precise, not only had he not built anything in such isolated places, 

but every construction project was accompanied by news coverage and grand ceremonies to announce it to the world. 

People~~ everyone wants fame and fortune in this life, 

and he was no exception. 

Besides, if you're going to do good deeds, it's only natural to publicize them widely. 

There's no shame in seeking both fame and fortune. 

"But this is a library, not a monastery. Why did your boss build it in such a remote place?" 

Song Zhan couldn't understand: "Will anyone even come here to read?" 

"Yes!" 

Rui Keya replied: "This place isn't completely deserted. There's a school on the island." 

"But the island's resources are limited, and the library's scale is small. So our boss built this library to give the island's students a place to read." 

Song Zhan asked, puzzled: "Then why not build the library at the school or somewhere on the island? Why here?" 

This was a small, isolated island in the middle of the sea. Every piece of material and equipment had to be transported across the ocean. 

Even building the library on flat ground on the island would require more manpower and resources, 

let alone hauling materials up the mountain!?? 

And to make matters worse! 

Even if the library were built, it was a non-profit, free-reading library with no income. 

This was practically like throwing money into the sea. 

If it were him, he'd rather not build it than engage in such a futile endeavor. 

Unaware of Song Zhan's thoughts, Rui Keya patiently explained: 

"Because the island is small, and most of the land is occupied by residences and roads, it's hard to find a large area to build a library except on the mountain. So this was the only option." 

"Your boss is a good person!" Song Zhan sighed with admiration. 

As they spoke, 

a few children with backpacks came bouncing down the steps, swinging fluffy grass they had picked from somewhere. They seemed to be students from the island's school. 

One little boy, tired from playing, pulled out a shiny sticker from his pocket and stuck it on a lamppost by the steps. 

After pressing it firmly, he ran off with his friends. 

"Ah, I'm getting old!" 

Song Zhan watched the children running and playing with their backpacks, unconsciously resting his hands on his hips. 

Although the mountain steps weren't high or steep, 

he and Zhang Mingyuan were getting on in years, and walking for too long inevitably caused aches and pains. 

Passing the lamppost, Song Zhan glanced curiously at the sticker, wondering what the little boy had stuck there. 

When he saw it, he couldn't help but laugh: "...Why do kids still like Ultraman after all these years???" 

Zhang Mingyuan chimed in: "Kids are the same everywhere. Before coming to Nanjiang, I bought three Ultraman cards for my grandson." 

Rui Keya chuckled. 

"Uncle, don't just talk about the kids." 

"Our boss still loves *Calabash Brothers* to this day!" 

"...Actually, even though I'm all grown up, I still like Ultraman too." 

... 

After about 20 minutes of walking, the three reached the halfway point of the mountain. Turning a corner, they finally arrived at the white Cliffside Library under the vast sky. 

The azure sky was dotted with a few white clouds, framing the pure white building. Flocks of seabirds circled above, making the library appear clean and free. 

"This library isn't small!" 

Song Zhan couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. 

Although the library appeared to have only two floors from the outside, it was built into the mountain, with exceptionally high ceilings. 

It was easily four or five stories tall, comparable to a standard library. 

Through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see spiral bookshelves inside, densely packed with tens of thousands of books. 

Even if it wasn't a city-level library, it could rival the libraries of many comprehensive universities. 

"Yes, the library's standards are on par with city-level facilities. It's quite impressive!" 

Zhang Mingyuan also expressed his amazement. 

As the two marveled at the scale of the Cliffside Library, a clear, rhythmic recitation of poetry suddenly reached their ears. 

"Wind, without clothes" 

"Time, without a home," 

"I stand at the edge of dust and time, lighting fireworks to dispel death~" 

... 

"Should I praise life, or extol death," 

"I bind shackles to my hands, willing to serve this life, distilling the nectar of truth." 

... 

Who was speaking? 

Song Zhan, Zhang Mingyuan, and Rui Keya looked up, 

seeing a group of about a dozen young people standing on the second-floor terrace, facing the sea and passionately discussing. 

They ranged in age, some holding half-read books, others with backpacks and water bottles in hand. 

A few sat nearby, quietly observing and appreciating. 

"Is this some kind of performance?" Zhang Mingyuan asked curiously. 

Rui Keya smiled: "No, Director Zhang." 

"Although the Cliffside Library was built for the island's students," 

"many cultural backpackers often come here to stay. They have limited funds and can't afford hotels," 

"so our boss lets them clean and organize books in the library during the day in exchange for lodging." 

"At night, they can stay in the library and spend the rest of their time reading and writing to their heart's content." 

"Word of mouth has spread, and many backpackers and literature enthusiasts come here to stay and visit," 

"sometimes organizing small poetry readings or plays when they're tired of reading." 

"This must be an impromptu poetry gathering." 

"Moreover, we host four large-scale theater performances or poetry readings here every year." 

"In terms of cultural and artistic life, we're no less vibrant than Nanjiang." 

As he spoke, Rui Keya unconsciously puffed out his chest, a hint of pride in his expression. 

"They can stay here at night?" Song Zhan asked in surprise. 

Rui Keya smiled: "Yes, our boss has prepared foldable beds for them." 

"The accommodations aren't as good as a hotel, but at least it's a place to shelter from the wind and rain." 

After a pause, Rui Keya added: 

"I've stayed here overnight too, chatting with strangers from all over. It's really quite fun." 

The three continued talking as they entered the library. 

As soon as Song Zhan stepped inside, he noticed several backpacks piled in a corner and simple bed boards leaning against the bookshelves. 

Though rudimentary, they were sufficient for an overnight stay in an emergency. 

In a nearby refrigerator, there were plenty of self-serve drinks, water, and simple pastries and desserts. 

Even if the backpackers didn't go down the mountain for meals, they could use these supplies to get by. 

"To be so generous to strangers, the owner of Jasmine Hotel is quite a character!" 

If Song Zhan had initially harbored some skepticism about the owner's motives for building the library on the mountain, 

seeing these bed boards erased all doubts, leaving only admiration. 

Listening to the poetry recitation on the second-floor terrace and gazing at the massive library, 

Song Zhan developed a deep interest in the owner of Jasmine Hotel and even wanted to meet him. 

"Loves *Calabash Brothers*... probably not very old." 

"Generous and financially well-off…" 

Suddenly, 

the cloisonné vase from the镂空长廊 on the 8th floor of Lion Lake Castle Hotel in Zaomen inexplicably popped into Song Zhan's mind. 

Recalling the museum-like beauty of that corridor, 

Song Zhan's eyes filled with deep suspicion. 

... 

While Rui Keya was hosting Zhang Mingyuan and Song Zhan on Little Vest Island, 

Chen Jianhai had just stepped off the high-speed train and was rushing toward Fuman Fish Pier. 

Since the official opening of Lion Castle Hotel in Zaomen, 

Chen Jianhai had felt like a spinning top, constantly whipped by an invisible lash, darting here and there without a moment's rest. 

He was constantly shuttling between Zaomen and Nanjiang. 

No sooner had he signed the collaboration contract with Magic Century Theme Park than he had to rush back to the island to host the nursing home director and prepare for another contract signing. 

"Boss, don't worry. The Ocean Star luxury cruise departs at 1:30 PM. It's only 12 PM now." 

"We'll definitely arrive by 12:30!" 

The new doorman stepped on the gas, and the black Galloping Horse sped along the coastal road, nearing 120 km/h as it raced forward. 

"12:30... so there's still time to stop by the hotel?" Chen Jianhai asked. 

"Plenty!" the new doorman assured him. "Boss, do you need to pick something up from the hotel?" 

Chen Jianhai replied: "First, head to Nanjiang Jiawo Shopping Center. I need to buy something." 

"Got it!" The new doorman sharply turned the steering wheel, changing lanes and speeding northeast! 

When they arrived at Nanjiang Jiawo Shopping Center, Chen Jianhai told the new doorman to wait outside while he dashed into the mall, taking the elevator to the basement level. 

As soon as he stepped out, Chen Jianhai rushed to the Marsman Phone and Computer Store. To the right of the shop was a small flower stand. 

"How much are these flowers?" 

Chen Jianhai, slightly out of breath, pointed to a bouquet of white and pink flowers and asked.