Chapter 281: I Told You to Change Your Shoes, but You Had to Show Off

"Careful!"

The wooden boards in the tent hadn't been laid properly yet, making the ground uneven and increasingly treacherous the deeper they went. Even Wen Zifan, who usually walked steadily, was stumbling a bit and being extra cautious.

Instinctively, Chen Jianhai extended his arm for Wen Zifan to hold onto.

Wen Zifan didn't hesitate and lightly grasped Chen Jianhai's arm, her palm sweaty and damp to the touch.

"What a hassle!"

"I told you to change your shoes, but you didn't listen!"

Chen Jianhai muttered under his breath, yet he still gallantly matched Wen Zifan's pace, trying to choose the smoothest path possible.

Wen Zifan glanced sideways at Chen Jianhai.

Her boss was intently looking down, seriously picking his way, even kicking aside wooden boards and debris to clear her path.

Her amber eyes curved slightly, sparkling mischievously.

As they walked,

Wen Zifan raised her chin slightly, her swan-like neck lifting gracefully, making her seem even taller. With Chen Jianhai looking down at the ground, from a distance, they appeared almost the same height.

"Who are these two?" a worker nearby asked curiously.

"No idea. They look like a eunuch escorting the empress."

"Pfft!"

Wen Zifan, with sharp ears, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at?"

Chen Jianhai, holding up his aching arm, looked at his assistant, puzzled.

"Boss, the path here is smoother. I can walk by myself."

Wen Zifan withdrew her hand, looking confidently at Chen Jianhai.

"Can you manage on your own?"

Chen Jianhai skeptically eyed the path ahead. Although it was better than the previous section, there were still plenty of scattered wooden boards and even some nails lying around. Stepping on one could be quite painful.

"It's fine, boss. It's just a few steps," Wen Zifan said nonchalantly.

"Alright then."

Seeing his assistant insist, Chen Jianhai gladly withdrew his aching arm.

Wen Zifan walked a bit slowly, although she was leading the way, she walked to the side, perfectly highlighting the main character, Chen Jianhai, behind her.

No longer did they resemble a eunuch and the empress in the slightest.

"Hey? What are you doing here?"

Reaching his designated dining area, Chen Jianhai raised an eyebrow, surprised to see Liu Qinglu standing there.

"Boss Chen, this is the dining area for Nanjiang Glory Hotel."

"Our hotels are adjacent."

Liu Qinglu smiled as she spoke.

As she talked, Liu Qinglu glanced at Wen Zifan.

Since Chen Jianhai and Wen Zifan entered the themed tent, she had noticed them.

And as she scrutinized Wen Zifan, Assistant Wen was also observing her.

Ever since their encounter at Xiao Ma Jia Island, Wen Zifan had felt something off about this woman. She was intense and constantly inquiring about her and her boss.

When their gazes met,

both exchanged polite, gentle smiles as a form of greeting.

"Adjacent, huh? That's nice, that's nice…."

Chen Jianhai said, though he felt a bit uneasy.

He really wanted to keep his distance from Liu Qinglu now.

They say dreams reflect reality,

and in his last nightmare, the golden jellyfish on the dragon gate spoke with Liu Qinglu's voice. It might have been a divine warning to be cautious.

But since the association had arranged it this way, he had no choice but to accept it.

After exchanging pleasantries,

Chen Jianhai began examining the area assigned to him by the association.

According to the city's design blueprint,

the layout here resembled a university cafeteria.

The dining area was clearly separated from the kitchen area, ensuring that customers could see the chefs cooking in a clean and orderly kitchen while maximizing ventilation to keep cooking smells contained.

Otherwise, the mix of fried scallions, stir-fried intestines, and grilled seafood smells could be overwhelming.

"Can we also arrange the dining tables and chairs in our area?"

Chen Jianhai asked, pointing to the long tables and benches in the Lang Ai dining area.

"Yes."

Wen Zifan nodded, "We can arrange everything in this front area."

"There's only one requirement: the dining tables cannot have partitions."

"To ensure the tent is open and transparent, every dish from each establishment should be visible, allowing customers to choose freely."

"Got it." Chen Jianhai nodded while sneaking glances at the neighboring dining areas, curious about their setups.

But as soon as he looked over, he realized everyone was sneakily watching him!

"What's going on? Why are they all looking at me?"

Chen Jianhai was startled.

As soon as their eyes met,

they all nodded warmly and greeted him, desperately trying to hide their embarrassment.

With Lang Ai Hotel and the island hotel gaining more fame, Nanjiang City's five-star hotels were starting to align themselves with Lang Ai Hotel.

Everyone wanted to see how Lang Ai Hotel set up their dining area.

"Boss Chen, do you have any ideas for the restaurant setup this time?"

Liu Qinglu approached, half-testing, half-joking.

"Not yet," Chen Jianhai replied honestly.

Given that they had to cater to the theme of the Nanjiang Beer Festival, the restaurant setup had to reflect the festive atmosphere.

Normally, the hotel's kitchen environment was serious, tense, fast-paced, and high-intensity.

How to show the professionalism of the kitchen while also creating a joyful, relaxed festival atmosphere required some creative thinking.

Chen Jianhai took out his phone and snapped a few photos of the restaurant setup, then said,

"Let's go check out some other places."

"Okay, boss."

Wen Zifan cheerfully responded, her peach blossom eyes quickly and accurately focusing on Chen Jianhai's leather business phone. In the next moment, a sweet smile curved her pink lips.

Words might deceive,

but the body's expression of happiness is unmistakable.

Wen Zifan lightly tapped her right toe, flipping her long black hair, gracefully spun half a circle in place, and prepared to follow Chen Jianhai.

However, the tent was in chaos, and at some point, a smooth nail had fallen on the familiar flat ground.

"Ah!"

With a cry of surprise,

Wen Zifan's spinning foot slipped, her high heel causing her foot to twist sideways, and she fell straight to the side.

"Careful!"

Seeing Wen Zifan about to fall, Liu Qinglu instinctively reached out to help.

In the next moment,

a pair of hands reached out before Liu Qinglu, grabbing Wen Zifan's arm and pulling her back.

Wen Zifan crashed into a warm chest, her hands clutching desperately like a drowning person grasping a lifeline.

Looking up, she saw Chen Jianhai's hands firmly holding her arms, his tall frame straight as a pine tree, exuding endless security.

She looked at Chen Jianhai,

who frowned, looking down at her.

"I told you to change your shoes, but you had to show off… Now you've sprained your ankle, haven't you!"