It was all worth it.

The affairs of Xunwei Zhai had always been managed by Zhou Xiaobai, with Xiao Yao rarely intervening. Although Zhou Xiaobai was young, she was highly capable, and Xiao Yao entrusted her management completely. Moreover, he had already placed two powerful talismans in the owner’s office of Xunwei Zhai—one for enhancing feng shui and another for gathering wealth. With the aid of these talismans, he had little to worry about.

Though Xiao Yao refrained from meddling in the day-to-day operations, he maintained high standards. Under his strict demands, the planned opening date was postponed several times until just a few days ago, when Zhou Xiaobai finally passed his inspection. The grand opening was scheduled for tomorrow.

Confident with the talismans’ support, Xiao Yao was not concerned about the restaurant’s business after opening. Thus, he had no intention of inviting all his friends and family to create a buzz or attract crowds during the opening. Yet, since Lu Yahong and others showed great interest and wished to attend the opening to get closer to him—after all, one doesn’t refuse a smiling face extending a hand—he found it difficult to decline.

Having agreed to attend the opening celebration tomorrow, Lu Yahong and Wang Xiaoxian bid farewell and left.

That evening, after Xiao Zhenshan and Bai Yuzhen returned home, they inquired about the restaurant’s opening.

“Xiao Yao, your Uncle Xin has already heard about the opening tomorrow. He told me he’ll come with Aunt Yu at noon. Initially, I didn’t plan to inform others at work, but after the last gathering, everyone found out about your identity. Our family affairs have become a hot topic, and it’s no secret anymore that Xunwei Zhai is opening tomorrow. Ji Guangrong and the others said they would come as well,” Xiao Zhenshan said cheerfully, his tone light and tinged with happiness.

His work at the office had been going smoothly in recent days. Whenever matters involved his department, other departments and company leaders cooperated fully. Ji Guangrong even spoke to him privately, mentioning that there would soon be a leadership reshuffle and that he intended to recommend Xiao Zhenshan for vice president of the company.

Though this was still just an idea and not yet implemented, Xiao Zhenshan knew there would be little obstacle in his promotion. With Ji Guangrong’s endorsement, the incident where Fan Shichang had gone out of his way to toast him was no secret either; the company’s leadership was likely aware of it. Once Ji Guangrong nominated him as vice president, no one would dare act against him. His promotion was almost guaranteed.

Once the nomination was submitted, it was rarely rejected by higher-ups. Now, with Fan Jingyu’s connections backing him, there was even less to worry about.

In other words, within a month at most, he could join the company’s leadership.

With work going well and colleagues and superiors showing him respect, Xiao Zhenshan felt a stronger sense of belonging to the company. The desire to resign that had crossed his mind recently vanished completely.

“I didn’t want to stir up so many people, but today some friends from the market also learned about the restaurant’s opening tomorrow and plan to come for the celebration. Since it’s the grand opening, the more the merrier. There will be plenty of food anyway, so let them come,” Lu Yahong said. These people were not ordinary—they held significant status, and if they wanted to join, Xiao Zhenshan’s wish for a low-key event was impossible to maintain.

“If it doesn’t affect you, I’ll come with my colleagues after work tomorrow morning to join the celebration,” Xiao Zhenshan said. This was a matter of face, and he was genuinely happy to partake.

Bai Yuzhen added, “Several senior leaders from our bank will definitely be there tomorrow. You’re a major shareholder in the company and now one of our provincial bank’s key clients. Liu, the bank manager, is very shrewd and will surely maintain a good relationship with you.”

“Looks like there will be quite a crowd tomorrow. Let them come if they want,” Xiao Yao said, untroubled despite not making special preparations. The new Xunwei Zhai occupied an entire floor, so no matter how many guests arrived, everyone would be comfortably seated.

The next morning, Xiao Yao arrived early at the Taigu Building. He went straight to the eighth floor and toured the entire level. Seeing Zhou Xiaobai’s orderly management and how everyone was busy yet efficient, he finally relaxed and refrained from interfering.

It wasn’t until eleven o’clock that he, along with Chen Xingwen and Zhou Xiaobai, went to the building entrance to greet the guests.

To his surprise, the first visitors were Sang Qingye and his friends.

Xiao Yao recognized all three friends Sang Qingye brought—one was Sang Qingye’s close friend Gu Weiwei, and the other two were Gu Weiwei’s companions Zhao Weidong and He Jiayi.

“Qingye, what brings you here? You knew about Xunwei Zhai’s opening today?” Xiao Yao hadn’t seen Sang Qingye for some time and hadn’t expected him to come after hearing the news.

Sang Qingye was a pure and beautiful young woman, and as a devoted admirer of aesthetics, Xiao Yao couldn’t help but feel a fondness for her. Yet, in the time they had spent together recently, Sang Qingye clearly showed no intention of deepening their relationship, keeping it firmly within the boundaries of friendship.

Blessed with good looks, Xiao Yao had never lacked admirers. His previous relationships had come naturally, without much effort on his part.

Now, endowed with both wealth and talent, and surrounded by many beautiful women—not only Sang Qingye—he had no need to lower himself or force matters. Though he felt some regret about having Sang Qingye merely as a friend, he welcomed the pleasant experience.

If time allowed their relationship to naturally evolve into romance, that would be wonderful. If not, he would not insist.

Xiao Yao considered himself somewhat unfaithful by nature. He admired men who remained devoted to one woman for life but knew he could not be that man.

Though he was not the type to fall for every woman he met, he could not commit exclusively either.

To live life without experiencing several women, he felt, would be a form of imprisonment.

At first, he thought this mindset came from youth and that after experiencing the world’s pleasures, he would settle down.

But after absorbing the memories of Pan Wu, spanning thousands of years, this belief only grew stronger.

Fortunately, he was still young and far from the time to make definitive choices. For now, he would follow his heart and take life as it came. When his soul found peace, whatever decisions he made then would be possible.

Many guests were expected today, but the one he truly welcomed and cared for was only Sang Qingye.

With her presence, all the preparations today would be worthwhile.