Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

After the grand opening ceremony, the hotel returned to its normal operating rhythm.

Zhou Jin stayed at the front desk to help, and Xiao Ya and Lin Xiaoyu also volunteered to stay and lend a hand.

Zhou Yao said she had to go back to school to take care of some things and left first.

Yang Fan wanted to stay and help, but Zhou Jin refused to let him.

"Brother Fan, you're a guest today, there's no reason to make a guest do the work."

Zhou Jin pushed him towards the door, saying, "Go ahead and do your thing, I'll take care of things here!"

Yang Fan couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he had to leave.

He got into the car and glanced at his phone.

There is an unread WeChat message from Lin Qingyue, sent half an hour ago.

[Qingyue]: "I heard that the hotel you invested in opened today. Congratulations."

[Qingyue]: "Are you done with your work? If so, how about we grab a bite to eat together?"

Yang Fan smiled and typed a reply:

[Yang Fan]: "Just finished. Where are you?"

Messages are replied to almost instantly.

[Qingyue]: "It's in the school office. Are you coming over? Or should I come to you?"

[Yang Fan]: "I'll pick you up from school. What do you want to eat?"

[Qingyue]: "Either is fine. You decide."

Yang Fan: "Okay, I'll be there in twenty minutes."

The car drove towards the university.

The afternoon sun at four o'clock shone through the car window, warm but not glaring.

Yang Fan was in a good mood.

The hot pot restaurant controversy has subsided, and business is booming; the e-sports hotel is a huge success, with a bright future ahead; and the other investment projects are also progressing steadily.

More importantly... his relationship with Lin Qingyue seems to be slowly changing.

That subtle, ambiguous relationship, the mutual appreciation and testing between adults, he found very interesting.

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped downstairs at the administration building.

Yang Fan sent a message: "I've arrived."

Soon, Lin Qingyue came out of the building.

She wasn't wearing a suit today, but instead a light beige knitted dress with a thin trench coat over it. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and she exuded a gentle and graceful aura.

Seeing Yang Fan's car, she smiled and walked over, opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

"Have you been waiting long?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

"Just arrived." Yang Fan turned to look at her. "You look beautiful today."

Lin Qingyue blushed slightly: "Thank you."

The car drove out of the campus.

"What do you want to eat?" Yang Fan asked.

"You decide," Lin Qingyue said. "I'm not picky about food."

Yang Fan thought for a moment and said, "I know a private restaurant that's quiet and the food is pretty good."

"it is good."

The car drove through the city streets, and the two chatted casually.

"How's the hotel opening?" Lin Qingyue asked.

"It was a great success," Yang Fan said. "All the rooms are fully booked. Zhou Jin did a great job."

"That's good." Lin Qingyue nodded. "The secretary has already finalized the proposal for the entrepreneurship competition and will send it to your email tomorrow."

"Thanks a lot."

"Of course." Lin Qingyue paused. "But you, you've been quite busy lately, haven't you? Managing the hot pot restaurant and overseeing investment projects."

"It's alright," Yang Fan said with a smile, "It's keeping me busy and fulfilled."

The car was quiet for a while.

Lin Qingyue suddenly spoke up: "Yang Fan, can I ask you a question?"

"ask."

"Aren't you afraid of losing money by investing in so many projects?"

Yang Fan laughed: "Of course I'm afraid. But that's how investing is; there are risks before there are rewards."

"And..." He glanced at Lin Qingyue, "I trust my own judgment."

This statement was made with confidence, but without being boastful.

Lin Qingyue looked at his profile as he drove, and something stirred within her.

This man was unlike many others she had ever met.

Young, yet composed; wealthy, yet unassuming; ambitious, yet with principles.

"We've arrived." Yang Fan's voice pulled her back from her thoughts.

The car was parked at the entrance of an old residential area.

"The shop is inside; you can't drive in. You have to walk a few steps," Yang Fan explained.

"fine."

The two got out of the car and walked into the residential area.

This private restaurant is hidden on the first floor of a residential building. The storefront is inconspicuous, but once you step inside, you'll find a hidden gem.

The decor is in a classic Chinese style, with bamboo blinds, wooden tables, and celadon vases, exuding elegance everywhere.

The boss, a man in his fifties, greeted Yang Fan with a smile.

"Little Yang is here! And this is...?"

"A friend," Yang Fan introduced simply, "Teacher Lin."

"Hello, Teacher Lin!" The owner warmly led them to a window seat. "We just received some fresh river seafood today, would you like to try some?"

"You can arrange it as you see fit," Yang Fan said. "Just keep it light."

"Okay!"

After the boss left, Lin Qingyue looked around:

"This place is quite secluded, how did you find it?"

"A friend recommended it," Yang Fan said. "The food is good, and the environment is quiet, perfect for chatting."

Lin Qingyue nodded, picked up the teacup, and took a small sip.

The dishes arrived quickly—steamed sea bass, blanched bok choy, crab roe tofu, and a small pot of chicken soup.

"Try it." Yang Fan picked up a piece of fish for her.

Lin Qingyue took a bite and her eyes lit up: "Mmm, very fresh."

"The advantage of this restaurant is that the ingredients are fresh and the cooking methods are simple," Yang Fan said. "Complex methods are the ones that are not done well."

The two ate and chatted.

They talked about everything from entrepreneurship competitions to school development, from investment philosophies to life planning.

Lin Qingyue discovered that although Yang Fan was young, he had a deep understanding of issues. Moreover, he was willing to listen and did not act superior just because he was rich.

Yang Fan also discovered that Lin Qingyue was not just a beautiful principal.

She is passionate about education, cares deeply for her students, and is clear-headed and methodical in her work.

The meal took almost two hours.

By the time it was over, it was already dark.

"Shall I take you back?" Yang Fan asked.

Lin Qingyue hesitated for a moment: "If it's not too much trouble... I'd like to visit your shop."

"A hot pot restaurant?"

"Mm." Lin Qingyue nodded. "Zhou Jin and the others said it was delicious, but I've never had a chance to try it."

Yang Fan laughed: "Alright. Right now is the peak time for the evening market, let me show you what 'a sea of ​​people' really means."

The two drove to "Qianweifang".

Just as Yang Fan had said, the store was packed with people, both inside and out.

There were more than a dozen people queuing at the door, and all eight tables inside the shop were full, bustling with noise.

"So many people..." Lin Qingyue was somewhat surprised.

"This is on a weekday evening," Yang Fan said. "It's even more outrageous on weekends."

He led Lin Qingyue into the kitchen through a side door.

In the kitchen, Lin's mother was simmering the soup base, while Wang Xiuying and Li Cuihua were busy chopping and washing vegetables.

"Mom, Aunt Lin, Third Aunt," Yang Fan greeted them. "Principal Lin is here."

The three of them looked up and saw Lin Qingyue, and were all stunned.

"Principal Lin...?"

Wang Xiuying wiped her hands on her apron. She had heard that the reason their shop had turned things around so quickly was because of Principal Lin's help.

"Welcome, Principal Lin...please have a seat."

Lin Qingyue smiled gently: "I heard your hot pot is delicious, so I came to try it."

"Oh, Principal, please have a seat!" Li Cuihua quickly pulled up a chair.

"It's crowded outside, so please eat in the kitchen; it's quiet here."

Lin's mother also became nervous: "Principal, what would you like to eat? I'll make you a special pot!"

"No need to trouble yourself," Lin Qingyue waved her hand. "Just eat the same food as everyone else."

Finally, Lin's mother specially prepared a pot of soup base and asked Lin Xiaoyu to take it to the small private room on the second floor.

Lin Qingyue took a bite, and her eyes lit up: "This taste... is indeed special."

"Aunt Lin is from Guizhou, this is a local custom," Yang Fan explained.

"No wonder." Lin Qingyue took another sip of soup. "It's very flavorful, not greasy at all, and the beans are stewed until they're very soft and have a great texture."

She looked at Yang Fan and said, "Your investment acumen is truly impressive. It's no wonder this restaurant is so popular, with such delicious food."

Yang Fan laughed: "It's mainly because Aunt Lin's cooking is so good."

As the two were talking, Xiaoya pushed the door open and came in.

"Brother... Oh, Principal Lin?" Xiaoya was somewhat surprised to see Lin Qingyue.

"Xiaoya, right?" Lin Qingyue greeted her with a smile. "I've heard Zhou Jin mention you."

Xiaoya blushed slightly: "Hello, Principal Lin."

"Don't call me Principal anymore, just call me Sister Qingyue." Lin Qingyue said in a friendly tone, "Outside of school, we're friends."

Xiaoya nodded obediently: "Sister Qingyue."

The meal was very enjoyable.

Lin Qingyue was not aloof like a principal. She chatted with Wang Xiuying and the others about everyday things, praising Lin Xiaoyu for being diligent and Xiaoya for being clever.

The family quickly relaxed and found the principal to be both beautiful and approachable.

It was almost nine o'clock when we finished eating.

Yang Fan escorted Lin Qingyue home.

The car was parked downstairs in her apartment complex.

"Thank you for today." Lin Qingyue unbuckled her seatbelt. "The hot pot was delicious, and your family was very kind."

"I should be thanking you," Yang Fan said. "You spent the whole day with me."

Lin Qingyue looked at him; her eyes shone brightly in the night.

"Yang Fan".

"Um?"

"We're happy to be working together on the entrepreneurship competition."

"It's a pleasure working with you."