Stronger by Paying Salaries and I Have 1 Billion Employees

Chapter 50: Chapter 49: Shidu Hot Spring Trip, Zhu Xiaopeng’s Request

As night fell over the Xucheng Bus Station, it remained as bustling and noisy as ever.

”Chen Yansen, I’m over here!”

Meng Jie, a backpack slung over her shoulders, stood in the crowd, waving and calling out to Chen Yansen not far away.

For their meeting, she had put on light makeup and was wearing a long, indigo dress with a short jacket. Her smile was radiant, and her eyes were filled with a joy like that of a long-thirsty traveler suddenly spotting an oasis.

”Tsk, tsk. Is this Squad Leader Meng’s first time in a dress? We have to commemorate this! Come on, look at the camera and give me a smile.”

Chen Yansen smiled faintly, pulled out his phone, and wrapped an arm around Meng Jie’s shoulder.

”How does it look? It’s not *all* for you, you know. As the squad leader, I signed up to perform at the School of Business’s welcome party next week.”

Meng Jie said with a giggle, though her words belied her true feelings.

The smile hadn’t left her lips since she’d laid eyes on Chen Yansen. They had only been apart for four or five days, but she couldn’t stand being at home any longer. Her mind was filled with nothing but images of him.

”Then I’ll definitely have to come and watch.”

Chen Yansen took her small hand and held it tightly in his palm. ’A girl like Meng Jie, who’s never been in a relationship, is so easy to handle,’ he thought. ’Just a slightly intimate gesture is enough to make her heart race for ages.’

They hailed a taxi by the roadside. After getting in, Chen Yansen said to the driver, ”To the Shidu Hot Spring Hotel.”

Meng Jie, sitting beside him, didn’t notice at all.

The driver grinned. ’A big fare,’ he thought. ’The trip is over sixty kilometers. Charging 100 yuan shouldn’t be too much.’

Some ten minutes passed. As the street views outside the window grew increasingly unfamiliar, Meng Jie frowned and asked, ”Driver, did you take a wrong turn?”

”No wrong turns! Aren’t you going to the Shidu Hot Spring Hotel?”

The driver paused for a moment, glanced at a road sign to confirm he hadn’t made a mistake, and then replied.

”I’ve been so tired lately and have been wanting to rest for a couple of days. A new hot spring hotel just opened in the neighboring city of Shidu, so I thought I’d take you there to relax.”

Chen Yansen squeezed her soft little hand, explaining with a serious expression.

’A hot spring hotel? Go relax... together?’

Meng Jie’s cheeks flushed red as she said softly, ”My dad was right. You’re a bad boy, always trying to take advantage of me.”

”Well, should I ask the driver to turn around and go back to school then?”

Chen Yansen teased her with a smile.

”Fine. I brought some pre-packaged beef broth in my bag. We can go back to Room 418, and I’ll cook it for you.”

Meng Jie knew full well that going to a hotel with Chen Yansen was like a lamb walking into the tiger’s den. She genuinely liked him, but she didn’t want their relationship to progress too quickly. At least, not yet. She wasn’t mentally prepared.

”It’s fine, the hotel has a communal kitchen. We can make the beef broth there,” Chen Yansen said, patting her hand reassuringly.

’Is that what I’m worried about?’

Both annoyed and amused, Meng Jie shot Chen Yansen a reproachful glance. ’I’m worried you’re going to try something!’ she thought.

But after that, she didn’t object further. It was as if she had forgotten all about it. Her gaze drifted as she quietly listened to the beating of her own heart.

The hour-and-a-half drive passed in a flash.

Chen Yansen checked them in. The room was a loft-style suite. The first floor had a bathroom, a tatami seating area, and a three-meter-square pool. The second floor held two single beds and a desk.

”I’ll go start the water. It’ll probably take about half an hour to fill.”

Chen Yansen tossed his phone and the keycard aside and began to unbutton his shirt.

”Could you... not take your clothes off? I’m scared!” Meng Jie asked timidly, her eyes downcast.

Her tone made her sound like a completely different person from her usual self.

Hearing this, Chen Yansen stopped what he was doing and looked at Meng Jie seriously. He saw her chin trembling slightly and a glistening teardrop clinging to her eyelashes. She was clearly at her breaking point with nervousness.

”I’ll go change in the bathroom then,” Chen Yansen said suddenly.