Though it was already the latter half of the senior year, there were still occasional matters that required everyone to return to campus. Wang Qiqi, carrying her backpack and a pile of newly borrowed books from the library, walked into the classroom only to hear someone ask, "Wang Qiqi, I heard your thesis passed, and the professor was quite satisfied with it."

Wang Qiqi wasn't sure if the question held an air of prying, but she was certain the professor wouldn't have let slip any comment on his satisfaction, as her thesis had certainly not earned such praise from him. "The thesis passed; whether the professor was satisfied, I don't know."

"He must be satisfied, otherwise, why would the professor, after already completing the recommendation process, still have a graduate spot available, and give it to you, Wang Qiqi?" someone said with evident sourness. While some people were juggling both postgraduate entrance exams and internship applications, the direct recommendation felt more prestigious than self-study. Although everyone knew Wang Qiqi was favored by the professor, because she planned to study abroad, even those feeling bitter didn't consider her a true competitor. They never expected Wang Qiqi to have secured such a fantastic opportunity.

"People are just different."

Wang Qiqi paid no mind to her classmates' barbed remarks. To her, it was like ignoring a few dogs barking loudly in public. Why should she stoop to their level and get angry? She would only be the one to lose out in the end.

Wang Qiqi walked over to Bai Ge and noticed Duan Xiaomin standing nearby. Although Duan Xiaomin had applied a very proper layer of makeup, Wang Qiqi could still see that her skin condition hadn't been good recently, with bloodshot eyes and poor energy. All these signs suggested she hadn't been resting well or was under significant stress. As for the reasons, there were many possibilities, and Wang Qiqi certainly didn't want to invite more trouble by engaging with her.

Duan Xiaomin had been in a terrible mood lately. She felt utterly unlucky. In her pursuit of a job at a securities firm, she had been playing two men. After the incident, she quickly broke up with Gong Haorui. She had told herself at the time that breaking up was the best choice for her, but she never anticipated things turning out this way. She wasn't without regrets, but the prospect of a good job had kept her going. Now, even that sole pillar of support seemed to be crumbling, and how could she feel alright? Because of this, she had specifically sought out Gong Haorui, hoping he might rekindle their past sweetness, allowing them to reconcile. Yet, to her surprise, Gong Haorui showed neither anger nor lingering attachment; his expression was completely calm—so calm it was almost frightening. His cold demeanor further stabbed at Duan Xiaomin's heart. Recalling how Bai Ge had shouted at her, "You will regret this!" when she heard about the breakup with Gong Haorui, this single sentence had made Duan Xiaomin wonder if Bai Ge had known about the Gong family's situation all along. Otherwise, why would she have said that? And today, returning to school, hearing that the professor held a graduate spot he intended to offer Wang Qiqi—Duan Xiaomin felt so enraged she could almost spit blood.

Duan Xiaomin couldn't believe how much she had sacrificed for a bright future, all while Wang Qiqi seemed so effortlessly lucky. Her hatred and jealousy toward Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge surged violently. "Oh, look who's here. Qiqi, congratulations on your excellent maneuvering; you actually snagged such a great spot. Congratulations on getting to stay at this university for your graduate studies." Duan Xiaomin plastered a formulaic smile on her face. Despite the congratulatory words, her tone conveyed a strong desire to just punch her a couple of times.

Bai Ge knew Duan Xiaomin was upset. Indeed, the moment Duan Xiaomin entered the classroom, the look she shot toward Bai Ge had been awful. Bai Ge figured the woman had suffered a major blow and thus avoided provoking her, not expecting this person to lose her senses and spout such things in front of the whole class. Bai Ge seriously wanted to demand what Duan Xiaomin meant. Just because she was unhappy, did she have to throw mud on Wang Qiqi? What 'maneuvering' was she talking about? Since she brought it up, Bai Ge was ready to set the record straight.

Just as Bai Ge was about to stand up and reprimand Duan Xiaomin, Wang Qiqi grabbed her clothes, shaking her head vehemently. Regarding these supposed conjectures, Wang Qiqi figured she wasn't the only one thinking this way; others likely shared the sentiment. In a few months, everyone would scatter, and the chances of staying in touch would be slim. As for class reunions, Wang Qiqi never planned on attending. Even if she succeeded later on, she wouldn't return to flaunt anything. Whether one's life is good or happy is personal and has nothing to do with showing off.

Wang Qiqi's intention in backing down was simply to avoid an argument, hoping the matter would end there. However, her concession only invited Duan Xiaomin to press further. Wang Qiqi felt helpless and sighed inwardly. "I never intended to stay in China for graduate studies. The professor mentioned it casually that day, and I declined. Moreover, I have already received acceptance letters from several universities." Hmph, did they really think she was undesirable? "Right now, I'm just deciding where to study abroad."

"Exactly! Qiqi already received acceptance letters from universities in the UK and the US. Do you think she’d want to stay in China?" Bai Ge shot a look at Duan Xiaomin, who seemed to have gained the upper hand. "You don't even know that Qiqi and Han Tao already bought a house in the US last summer." Humph, this news should certainly shock them all.

Hearing Bai Ge blurt out that news, Wang Qiqi desperately wished for time travel, intent on attacking the person before Bai Ge could speak. But alas, she lacked that power. Wang Qiqi didn't know how to respond; objecting was out of the question, so she could only sit foolishly in her seat, silent.

With Bai Ge dropping this bombshell, the smiles that many in the class had worn, anticipating watching Wang Qiqi make a fool of herself, vanished instantly, replaced by confusion. Good heavens, Wang Qiqi and her man had already bought a house in the US? Just how much money did they have?

"Oh my god, Qiqi, you bought a house in the US?" Li Xin was the first to react, asking in disbelief. She knew Wang Qiqi had bought a property in Beijing and that her family background wasn't poor despite her parents' passing, but she never imagined she'd buy a house in the US before even graduating. She was speechless. Although she knew Han Tao would be successful, she hadn't expected him to be this successful.

"Then why are you going to study in the UK? Just go to the US."

"I never expected Wang Qiqi to buy a house in the US so quickly."

Suddenly, expressions and looks filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment were all directed toward Wang Qiqi. "Right, if it were me, I’d just be a housewife."

Wang Qiqi listened to the increasingly off-topic chatter. "I wish I could be a housewife too! But don't I still owe the bank so much money?"

"Ah, it wasn't paid in full?" Several people present were stunned. They all assumed it was a full cash purchase, not realizing it was a mortgage. Still, they needed the confidence to even take out a loan; if it were them, even with a loan, they wouldn't dare. "But a loan is good too. Forget buying a house in the US; whether we can even establish ourselves abroad is the question."

"Exactly. The pressure is huge, having to pay the bank so many figures every month," Wang Qiqi said lightly. "You know, it takes over eight Yuan to make one US dollar. I wake up every day facing substantial debt waiting to be repaid."

"By the way, didn't someone say US housing prices would drop?" someone suddenly interjected. After such a massive event, everyone assumed the seemingly safe US market would see a price collapse. Wouldn't the housing prices fall?

"Prices in New York fluctuated, but we didn't buy in New York, and the prices there have slightly increased." Wang Qiqi mused that the community had a nice environment, coupled with more and more computer companies moving nearby; it would be strange if prices didn't rise. Han Tao had been quite excited—first, he avoided the stock market crash, and second, the house they bought appreciated.

Increased? Some people had been hoping to see Wang Qiqi miscalculate, but it turned out she hadn't miscalculated at all; in fact, her timing was excellent. "Right, Qiqi, did you buy an apartment or..."

"A detached house, with a garden." Since they knew she owned property, there was no point in hiding the details. "The community is quite nice, it even has an artificial lake, good greenery, and a garage..." Wang Qiqi briefly described the neighborhood and the house.

When they calculated the US housing price and quickly converted it to RMB, they gasped in unison. "Heavens, it's not much more expensive than housing prices domestically, and the land belongs to the individual!"

"The land belongs to the individual, yes, but we have to pay two percent of the property value annually," Wang Qiqi thought. For that piece of land, she wasn't paying nothing. "In short, there are many things to be mindful of." However, Wang Qiqi was very satisfied with this community; it was inhabited by IT elites, a gathering place for the upper-middle class, so security wasn't an issue.

Duan Xiaomin had originally intended to provoke Wang Qiqi, but instead of upsetting her, she ended up letting Wang Qiqi steal the spotlight. She suddenly remembered her former boyfriend. If—if she had resisted temptation back then—couldn't she have followed him to Australia, had a villa, and lived better than Wang Qiqi? Gong Haorui's aunt had no children; wouldn't all her future assets go to her man? And she would have been the ready-made CEO's wife, undoubtedly better off than she was now. At this very moment, she should be the one sitting in the classroom receiving everyone's adoration, not Wang Qiqi. This disparity was too much for Duan Xiaomin to bear. She abruptly stood up from her seat and bolted out of the classroom, her action startling everyone.

Duan Xiaomin’s sudden move caused a stir, and as she ran out, she collided with the professor who was about to enter. Yet, she acted as if she hadn't seen him, flashing past without a word of apology.

Duan Xiaomin's behavior left everyone speechless. After the initial shock, she rushed out, bumped into the professor, and didn't even apologize or return to the room. Everyone wondered what had happened to her.

The professor was somewhat displeased by Duan Xiaomin's actions. He could understand if she had an urgent matter to leave for, but colliding with someone without offering an apology or explaining her departure—such an attitude even soured the professor’s usually good temper. Recalling some recent campus rumors, he couldn't help but let out a cold snort. "Don't think you can rest easy just because you secured a good job. You should know your journey ahead is still very long."

The professor’s comment ensured that no one would speak up for Duan Xiaomin, and most were still intensely jealous of the other girl. "It looks like Luo Rui's news was true." Bai Ge had no patience to care about Duan Xiaomin's state; she only knew from Duan Xiaomin's violent reaction that whatever she had said to Gong Haorui that day must have been true, otherwise, she wouldn't have reacted so intensely upon hearing Wang Qiqi bought a house in the US.

Wang Qiqi pursed her lips and nodded. Poor Duan Xiaomin, neither of her two boats was safe. "But that man of hers is too much. Wasn't everything settled? Why the sudden dramatic exit?" If it weren't for that man's assurances, Duan Xiaomin might not have abandoned Gong Haorui so decisively. But now, she was truly a joke.

"Was it settled by that man, or did the company guarantee the contract signing?" Wang Qiqi suddenly recalled a very important detail that no one had noticed before. If it was the former, it meant the other party might not have secured the spot at all. But then, would Duan Xiaomin be that naive? She had experience in the student union and tutoring; there was no reason for her to be so foolish.

Bai Ge also looked taken aback. "She wouldn't make that mistake, would she?" But once a spot was confirmed, it wasn't easily revoked. Back then, they were all focused on Bai Ge and Luo Rui, and Gong Haorui was present, so no one considered that issue. Moreover, Luo Rui had suggested Duan Xiaomin might just be pretending to be pitiful. Now, seeing Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge’s reactions, they both knew Duan Xiaomin had likely been tricked. Bai Ge sighed deeply for Duan Xiaomin, who might have been deceived.

"Who knows." However, compared to Duan Xiaomin's problems, Wang Qiqi felt another issue was more serious. "You're really something, blurting out that I bought a house in the US." The way her classmates looked at her after Bai Ge spoke made Wang Qiqi feel like she was sitting on pins and needles, extremely uneasy.

Bai Ge stuck out her tongue. She had intended to smooth things over for Wang Qiqi, but the conversation had drifted too far, and Wang Qiqi still managed to steer it back. Alas, Hu Youlin was too difficult to fool! "I just couldn't stand seeing that person acting smug," she huffed. "She’s not exactly living comfortably herself, yet she still tries to pull you down—what are her true intentions?"

Wang Qiqi was about to say something, but seeing the professor already standing at the podium, she held her tongue.

The surrounding students watched Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge whispering and then sighing, giving the distinct impression that they knew the real story. Just as they were about to ask what the two of them knew, the professor began the lecture, forcing them to suppress their curiosity. However, the occasional glances they shot toward Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge indicated that they were only letting Wang Qiqi off the hook for now.

It wasn't just the surrounding classmates who were curious; Li Xin and the others were also eager to know. This was the first time they had seen Duan Xiaomin lose control like that. They had seen her angry before, but never so completely distraught. They couldn't fathom why Duan Xiaomin was reacting this way. Was it because Wang Qiqi bought a house? But she had already made her choice; even regret shouldn't lead to such public an outburst. What would that man think if this got out? Then, seeing Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge whispering together, they wondered if they knew something. Li Xin and a few others exchanged glances, deciding to ask Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge after class if they knew anything.

The moment the professor stepped out of the classroom, many people surrounded Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge, and there were also people behind them, effectively blocking any exit.

Wang Qiqi understood the intention of the crowd surrounding her, but since they remained silent, she wasn't going to speak first. Wang Qiqi and Bai Ge stood there, staring at the throng of people. Everyone expected at least one of them to ask why they were being cornered, but this stalemate left them equally perplexed.

Jiang Xin was still somewhat dazed. She kept thinking about Han Tao buying a house in the US—did Dai Lijun plan to buy one soon? The thought of having missed out made her deeply regretful. She had been going dizzy searching for jobs lately. It wasn't that companies wouldn't hire her, but the salary and benefits weren't great. She often thought that if she hadn't been so childish, treating romance as sustenance, she wouldn't be in this predicament now.

After staring at each other for a while, someone finally broke the silence. "Do you two know why Duan Xiaomin behaved so erratically?" someone asked directly. No more beating around the bush; everyone's time was precious now.

"Me?" Wang Qiqi pointed to her nose. "How would I know?" Wang Qiqi thought; her relationship with Duan Xiaomin was mediocre. Why would she know why she was upset?

Hearing Wang Qiqi's answer, the crowd shot her a look of disdain—a look that clearly said, We don't believe you.

Wang Qiqi sighed. "Are you all assuming that Bai Ge and I were whispering about Duan Xiaomin just now? Actually, I was telling her that her mouth isn't sealed tight enough. I truly hadn't planned on announcing that I bought a house in the US," Wang Qiqi stated with a calm expression.

"Exactly! I was just too quick with my words. Qiqi already scolded me, and now you all..." Bai Ge looked genuinely aggrieved. "Please, leave us alone. You all know Qiqi is a low-profile person."

Since Bai Ge had said this without any hint of panic, the others, even if unconvinced, had little choice. "Buying a house is good news; what's there to hide?"

"Right," everyone chimed in.

"The main reason is you all think I'm rich, but I’m actually just a poor person, currently working for the bank," Wang Qiqi said with a wry smile. "Later, when you buy your own houses and take out loans, you'll understand the misery of working for the bank."

Wang Qiqi's words struck Jiang Xin, who couldn't hold back. "It’s fine; didn't you take out a loan for the house since your freshman year? You’ve collected quite a bit of rent over the years, and the property value has increased, right? Just sell that house and you’ll be set."

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Jiang Xin to butt in. She retorted sharply, "The housing prices in Beijing have risen, yes, but the problem is I bought a house in the US right now! One million here is worth so little over there, and there are transaction fees for transferring the funds!"

"Besides, I still have a loan to repay on the Beijing house. After subtracting the bank loan, how much is actually left?" Wang Qiqi thought Jiang Xin was too restless. "Speaking of which, no one asked about your job search. You didn't pass the graduate exam, so how is the job hunt going? You must have found a decent position, right?" Wang Qiqi thought: Use the time you have to find a good job and a good husband. If you don't buy a house soon, prices in Beijing will become terrifyingly high. Your monthly salary will barely cover one-third of the rent. "Find a good job and buy a house quickly so you can enjoy the feeling of working for the bank. Then you’ll understand my current mindset."

Jiang Xin was choked by Wang Qiqi's words. How could she be so harsh? She hadn't passed the postgraduate exams, nor had she found a great job. Did Wang Qiqi have to mock her in front of so many people? Not everyone was here to laugh at her misfortunes. "Thank you for your concern. Several companies have offered me positions, and I’m currently deciding where to work," she said, trying to maintain her composure. Want to see me make a fool of myself? Too bad, you’re going to be disappointed. "As for a house, I’m a woman; I’ll get married eventually. A house isn't my primary concern right now." Humph, with her meager salary, after deducting rent, food, and living expenses, how much could she possibly save? Moreover, housing prices were already so high, and she planned to marry anyway—why buy a house?

Wang Qiqi knew her words carried a hint of sarcasm, but that last sentence was genuine solidarity. If any of them bought property now, although the initial pressure would be immense and require significant family support, they would later realize that their current sacrifices were entirely worth it.

A handful of male classmates who remained in the capital city for work had originally intended to wait until things stabilized before buying property. However, after hearing Wang Qiqi’s words, they felt that buying a house was inevitable sooner or later, and renting still required rent payments. Instead of that, they might as well take out a loan to purchase a home. As for the female students, very few of them considered buying property; their mindset was quite similar to Jiang Xin's. Later, as society developed, especially with the soaring property prices, those classmates who stayed to work in the capital or moved elsewhere frequently regretted not taking Wang Qiqi’s words seriously back then. The one who regretted it most, of course, was Jiang Xin. She constantly blamed herself for not remembering Wang Qiqi’s advice diligently. If she hadn't insisted on being stubborn with Wang Qiqi and had bought a house then, she would certainly be living comfortably now. Alas, time could not be rewound, and what was the use of regret now?

Wang Qiqi finished speaking and walked away, muttering, "Gotta go earn money to pay the mortgage; those with loans can't afford to waste time chatting." There was no point in lingering with them; she might as well go home and sleep, especially since she was flying to Yunnan with Shi Man in the next few days. The hotel she was partnering with Li Qian on had finished renovations, and she had already selected an auspicious date for the grand opening, waiting only for the shareholders to assemble.

As the plane circled at a low altitude, Wang Qiqi looked down at the lush green trees. "It's much better here. Compared to the capital, this place feels more suited for us to live in." At this time of year in the capital, the trees were not even budding; their branches were completely bare.

Shi Man let out a yawn as she woke up from her nap. "Morning flights are simply inhumane." Rushing to the airport so early in the morning was truly exhausting for Shi Man, who hadn't needed to wake up early for a long time and was accustomed to sleeping until naturally roused. "I need a proper meal after we land." Yunnan cuisine was quite good. "Oh, right, didn't Bai Ge ask you to procure some things to take back?" Bai Ge had visited for dinner yesterday and given Wang Qiqi a stack of lists. Shi Man glanced at it; there were quite a few items, and more importantly, the quantities were substantial.

It was better not to bring up the list, but the moment it was mentioned, Wang Qiqi’s face fell. "Those are supplies for Bai Ge's parents' shop. They said the ones here in Yunnan are more authentic than what's available in the capital, and since they heard I was coming back, they asked me to bring them along." Sigh, treating her like a delivery service. However, considering the occasional opportunity to enjoy authentic Yunnan cuisine at Bai Ge's house, Wang Qiqi found helping them transport items acceptable.

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man collected their luggage and headed toward the airport exit. When she contacted Li Qian yesterday, she knew Li Qian would be busy today and wouldn't have time to pick them up, mentioning instead that she would arrange for someone they knew to meet them. Wang Qiqi and Shi Man assumed it would be a service staff member from Li Qian’s shop and didn't pay much mind. But when they saw the person holding up a name sign, they were stunned, then swiftly pulled their luggage and hurried over. "Hey, Rongrong, didn't you say you were going back to prepare for studying abroad? What are you doing here?" Shi Man was surprised that this supposed acquaintance was actually Zhao Rongrong. Of course, she found it strange; wasn't Zhao Rongrong supposed to go home for the Spring Festival and then continue her backpacking journey? Why was she still here in Lijiang?

Shi Man tutted a few times, then looked at the large wooden sign in Zhao Rongrong's hand. "Besides, we're so familiar; why are you holding a sign?" It wasn't like they were strangers; they had spent more than half a month together, so how long had it been since they parted? They shouldn't have forgotten.

Zhao Rongrong smiled and lowered the wooden sign. "That’s for you to see. With so many people meeting flights, if I don't hold up a sign, how would you recognize me?" Zhao Rongrong naturally handed the bags she was holding to Shi Man and Wang Qiqi. "I specifically bought breakfast for you; eat first, and then we'll have a proper meal at noon."

Zhao Rongrong led them toward the airport as she spoke, knowing Wang Qiqi and Shi Man must be curious why she was here. "I came to Lijiang after the Spring Festival to help out at Sister Qian's shop. I originally planned to continue backpacking across China, but I later felt that staying here for a while changed my entire mindset." For example, her temper had improved. Traveling could also mean finding a place you liked and staying longer, rather than constantly moving.

"Oh, why didn't you mention this in your emails? By the way, where are you planning to study abroad in the latter half of the year?" Shi Man asked with concern. She was hoping that, if possible, they might end up in the same country and could travel together again in the future.

"The plan is Europe." After Zhao Rongrong helped put their luggage in the trunk, she skillfully started the car and pulled onto the road. That practiced movement made Wang Qiqi suspect Zhao Rongrong’s family background wasn't poor. Zhao Rongrong had graduated from university last year and started backpacking immediately after. Being so adept at driving suggested her family might own a car for her to practice on; otherwise, how could she drive so smoothly? "Are you two also heading to Europe?"

"Not entirely certain, but given the current situation, we are most likely going to the UK." Although Feng Xuanxiang and the others hoped Wang Qiqi and Shi Man would study in Canada, as time passed and more acceptance letters arrived from the UK, they knew going to the UK was more likely. Of course, there were options in the US too, but the universities weren't as ideal, and the schools they truly hoped for hadn't sent acceptance letters yet. Furthermore, Wang Qiqi doubted whether they could even secure visas with the US offers they currently had.

"Then we'll tour all of Europe then." Zhao Rongrong understood why they wanted to go to the US, but what could she say? "Don't worry; they won't keep the restrictions that tight forever. The better the development back home, the more people want to study abroad. The US won't watch this money slip away."

"Let's hope so," Shi Man replied. She understood the logic, but her mindset still struggled with it. "How's the shop doing? And how is the renovation progressing?" Although Li Qian often sent photos to Wang Qiqi and Shi Man, that feeling couldn't be conveyed just by looking at pictures.

"The shop business is good. As more people learn about it, and more people watch that TV series, more visitors are coming here." As for the other question, Zhao Rongrong didn't answer; they would need to see it in person to judge the quality, wouldn't they?

Wang Qiqi and Shi Man followed Zhao Rongrong with their luggage toward the hotel. Even though it wasn't a major holiday, there were still quite a few pedestrians on the road. Wang Qiqi thought they had arrived right as Lijiang was beginning its boom, but she wondered how many guests their large-scale investment in the hotel would attract.

Li Qian was extremely busy today, occupied with the opening preparations, ensuring the final touches on the hotel were complete. After all, tomorrow was the official opening day, and several groups of guests were scheduled to check in. To leave a good impression, everything needed to be ready so guests could truly feel that while the prices here were high, the experience offered was top-tier.

Lost in her frantic activity, Li Qian had completely forgotten about the reason Wang Qiqi and Shi Man were arriving today. Her mind was filled with questions: Are the water heaters okay? Are the bed linens okay? Are the televisions functioning? Is the air conditioning working? Most importantly, have the food ingredients for tomorrow’s restaurant been ordered? And the crucial point: how prepared is the staff? The latter was key to a smooth opening tomorrow and ensuring guests formed a good first impression. Supplies could be replaced, but training people was difficult.

When Wang Qiqi and Shi Man entered the hotel, just as they were about to greet her, they heard Li Qian issuing a continuous stream of commands, while the service staff around her responded in an organized manner, showing no signs of panic.

Just based on this, Wang Qiqi knew Li Qian had put in significant effort. Having a group of staff members who remained calm under pressure was invaluable. Li Qian finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the reports from below, preparing to take a sip of tea to moisten her throat before personally inspecting the premises. Even though her team confirmed everything was ready, Li Qian wouldn't be at ease unless she saw it herself. It was then that she noticed Wang Qiqi and Shi Man's arrival. "Qiqi, Manman, you’re here!"

"Have you eaten breakfast? Was the journey smooth?" Li Qian said while searching for a cup to make tea for Wang Qiqi, but she couldn't find one after searching for a while. "Well, it’s quite chaotic here..."

"I can tell," Wang Qiqi said with a smile, nodding toward the busy people moving around. "Sister Qian, how are the preparations coming along? Is there anything we can help with?" As minor shareholders, seeing the major shareholder so swamped, it felt improper for them to even think about going out to play.

Li Qian shook her head. "Everything is almost done. You two should go rest first. The old rooms—I wanted you to stay in the new place, but..." Li Qian looked embarrassed. "The rooms next door are basically fully booked for tomorrow." Some were reserved by repeat customers. Li Qian wasn't relying solely on word-of-mouth; although the internet wasn't fully widespread yet, she had registered a domain name where she frequently posted updates and set up several groups for old customers to stay in touch. She also welcomed new inquiries, even if they weren't staying at the hotel. Li Qian had even hired someone specifically to manage the online affairs.

The rooms next door are all booked? Wang Qiqi and Shi Man knew the room rates next door. They had worried whether anyone would stay at that price, especially since it wasn't peak tourist season. They hadn't expected business to be this good. "That's a great omen for the opening!" Wang Qiqi exclaimed happily. Although she didn't place immense value on this local venture, she had invested a significant sum and hoped to recoup her capital as soon as possible.

"Yes, I didn't expect it either." Don't let Li Qian's previous appearance of calm fool you; she was actually quite anxious inside. After investing so much money, some local business owners had privately speculated that her investment would fail. Li Qian had been quite worried because this investment wasn't hers alone; it involved three people. Qiqi and the others invested largely because of her reputation.

"There are more and more wealthy people, and they want to travel and stay somewhere nice," Wang Qiqi mused. Since people were coming to stay, it was the best opportunity to attract more customers. Even if these guests didn't stay frequently, they would tell their friends upon returning, and then their friends' friends. Besides the online promotion, word-of-mouth referrals among acquaintances were an important channel. Wang Qiqi wasn't entirely in favor of cooperating with travel agencies; while that might keep the hotel full, the revenue might not be high, and the quality of tourists might not be ideal. She preferred building business based on reputation.

"Oh, once you put your luggage away, let's go take a look together." Li Qian slapped her forehead. Qiqi and the others had only seen photos; they hadn't actually inspected the place in person. If they didn't tour it today, they wouldn't have time after the opening tomorrow, especially since guests were checking in. "There might be some foreigners visiting tomorrow; remember to help with the reception." She suddenly recalled something very important: with two top students here, she didn't need to handle the direct reception; she could act as the overall commander.

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