He walked out of the office and ran into Deng Yan. Seeing the surprised look in Cheng Qiaobei’s eyes, Deng Yan raised his teacup and said,
"CEO Cheng, your tea."
Cheng Qiaobei glanced at him, "Thanks, but no need."
In the company, even if he didn’t get along with soone, Cheng Qiaobei wouldn’t let outsiders see through him.
Deng Yan suddenly called after him, "CEO Cheng."
Cheng Qiaobei didn’t stop; in this company, not everyone was qualified to make him halt.
Deng Yan chased him to the elevator, slightly panting, and lowered his voice, "I relayed your call. It’s Mr. Cheng..."
"I know."
The elevator door opened, and Cheng Qiaobei strode in.
Just as the elevator door closed, Deng Yan bowed deeply to the people inside.
Old Cheng’s health was declining, and it was better to plan ahead than wait for the end-of-term stand. Better to prepare early.
The eting with Cheng Xiangheng fell through. Cheng Qiaobei was considering how to explain this to Chen Ningxi. Now, another matter was beginning to rise as his crisis.
Zheng Rongxi was Cheng Xiangheng’s original wife, and the predecessor of Jade Group was her family’s Jiali Company. She certainly wouldn’t want him to touch any part of the company, already preparing to have her daughter and son-in-law reach out to him.
On the way back, Cheng Qiaobei called Wei Lai.
The call connected, "Wei Lai, check the Jinhua Store’s revenue for the last six months," he thought for a mont, "make it the last three years, how long will it take?"
Wei Lai said, "Two days."
Cheng Qiaobei, "Good."
After hanging up, Cheng Qiaobei’s expression remained serious. His cold, harsh face was reflected in the car’s rearview mirror. At first, to stick up for Ding Yuan, he willingly faced public ridicule to join Jade Jiali, starting as a doorman from the bottom. This choice was also to prevent those directors from finding an excuse to suppress him, calling him a useless outsider.
After many years, he finally reached the position of general manager. His mindset also changed, from initially wanting Ding Yuan to return openly to the Cheng Family, to now wanting to climb higher to satisfy his growing ambition.
He used unscrupulous ans, exhausting all efforts.
This was also why there were negative rumors about him in society.
So were true, so were deliberately frad. He didn’t bother to explain; it was better to directly eliminate the rumor-mongers than to waste ti explaining. Ti cost was also a cost; solving hidden dangers was to shut them up.
Returning to Zhoushan, Cheng Qiaobei got busy with work again. His contacts with Chen Ningxi also decreased. He wanted to spend more ti with her, so he had to find out why Zheng Rongxi suddenly wanted to exchange Jinhua for Zhoushan.
Two days later, Wei Lai placed the investigation report on Cheng Qiaobei’s desk. Seeing the sales numbers, his face dimd, and after reading, he finally understood why the exchange was proposed.
Originally, Zheng Rongxi fought hard to get the Jinhua Store for Cheng Siluo. Among the hundreds of chain hotels nationwide, Jinhua Store’s revenue once ranked among the top ten.
Who would have thought that in just three short years, the once flagship store would fall from grace?
In recent years, the hotel industry hasn’t been easy. More and more people have entered this circle, and the consur base is only so large. So hostays have done extrely well; they are cheaper than you, in better locations, offer comparable service, and have personalized decorating styles, while hotels remain unchanged from decor to service, dispersing consurs further.
Wei Lai’s report was detailed. Starting from March last year, Jinshan Store’s revenue experienced a cliff-like decline. The issue was that a hotel of the sa star rating opened concurrently, causing travel agencies cooperating with them to terminate contracts, opting for higher cost-effective new hotels.
Cheng Qiaobei saw that the biggest share of terminations ca from Huilu Group.
Among the matchmaking partners arranged for him by Cheng Xiangheng, there was Zhou Sui from Huilv Group. Seems as though he calculated every step, using everything beneficial to himself and the group.
For years, he thought Cheng Xiangheng’s sheer harshness and severity were ant to train him. Now it seed he misunderstood; in Cheng Xiangheng’s eyes, he was never seen as a child, but as a tool to be exploited.
Wei Lai had just finished checking the kitchen, glanced at the lobby clock—it was already half-past five.
She hadn’t seen Cheng Qiaobei all day. After delivering the materials, she went to the custor service departnt, but at this ti, he should have finished reading, yet there was no sight of him.
Wei Lai first asked the front desk in the lobby, then went to the restaurant. Seeing the waiter, she inquired,
"Did CEO Cheng co for dinner?"
The waiter replied, "Haven’t seen him."
Guessing he was still in the office, Wei Lai walked into the elevator.
She knocked on Cheng Qiaobei’s office door; he was actually drinking, which was rare to see him do while working.
Entering, she glanced at the wine glass on the table, "In such high spirits?"
Cheng Qiaobei pushed her a glass. Wei Lai poured herself so, swirling the red wine, gazing at the pretty wall decor, took a sip then set it down.
"Why the sudden interest in investigating Jinhua Store?"
Cheng Qiaobei said, "I went to the headquarters today and ran into Chairman Zheng. She said Cheng Siluo is pregnant and considered swapping her Jinhua Store for my Zhoushan Store because of her health."
Amused, Wei Lai chuckled, "What a nice thought."
Cheng Qiaobei tilted his head back, downing the wine in one gulp.
"Did you agree?" Wei Lai asked.
Cheng Qiaobei, "Whether I agree depends on Mr. Cheng."
Wei Lai’s deanor grew serious, "Did Mr. Cheng agree?"
Cheng Qiaobei, "No."
Wei Lai suspiciously looked at him, "If you didn’t agree, why are you drinking? I thought... No, sothing this trivial shouldn’t affect you. Why are you drinking?"
"Ah..." Cheng Qiaobei let out a long sigh, "Nothing much, just a bit tired lately, relaxing."
Wei Lai said, "You’re fooling yourself."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "No worries, go busy yourself."
"You haven’t had dinner yet, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare sothing."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Not very hungry, I’ll make sothing myself when I am."
Wei Lai had an exasperated expression, "I know you can cook, but there’s no need to show it now. I’ll have the kitchen stir-fry two dishes for you."
"No need." Cheng Qiaobei refused.
Wei Lai stood at the door, her tone irrefutable, "Even if you drink, you should still have so appetizers."
Half an hour later, Wei Lai packed two dishes on the table. Before leaving, she said, "If there’s sothing bothering you that’s inconvenient to tell , you can tell your girlfriend. She is your best listener."
Cheng Qiaobei smiled, unsealed the chopsticks, and took a bite.
Wei Lai reminded him that he hadn’t contacted Chen Ningxi today.
Opening her WeChat, he sent a ssage.
anwhile, in Danjiang.
Chen Ningxi had just co back inside after taking out the trash when the phone on her table rang, revealing a ssage from Cheng Qiaobei.
north: What are you doing?
Chen Ningxi ca to the living room, sat on the sofa, and replied: Ho now. How about you?
The next second, a video call request ca from Cheng Qiaobei. Chen Ningxi tidied her hair and accepted the request.
The screen lit up, showing Chen Ningxi’s clean, fresh look without makeup. Her lips curved in a crescent-moon smile, seeing the two boxes of food in front of him, she asked,
"Did you just have dinner?"
Cheng Qiaobei spoke while chewing, "Yeah. What did you have for dinner?"
Chen Ningxi said, "A corn cob, chicken breast lettuce salad."
Cheng Qiaobei, "Eating a diet al?"
Chen Ningxi said, "Yes, after coming back from Ningkou, my work pants seem tight. I’m controlling my intake for two als."
Cheng Qiaobei said, "Then it’s the pants that got smaller, not your fault."
Chen Ningxi laughed, "You sure know how to comfort. If I weren’t less educated, I’d almost believe you. If I don’t diet, won’t I have to buy XXXXL oversized clothes with my wages?"
Cheng Qiaobei said, "You won’t gain weight to such a big size."
Chen Ningxi noticed the edge of a wine glass peeking beside him, "Have you been drinking? Don’t you usually avoid drinking during work? No, you don’t seem happy. Did sothing happen?"
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