Chapter 45: A Pleasant Surprise

Chen Bing stared at the file folder, puzzled. "What does this mean?" Lu Ming simply smiled, saying nothing. This was the surprise he had prepared for Chen Bing. After all that Chen Bing had been through recently, he deserved a joy like this.

Yun Ketian laughed heartily, handing the file over to Chen Bing. "Lu has already bought this hotel for you. That means, from now on, you're the owner."

"This..." Chen Bing was dumbfounded, looking at Lu Ming in disbelief.

Lu Ming smiled. "Don't be so surprised. After all, it was your six hundred thousand that bought it."

At those words, Chen Bing's eyes brimmed with tears. He knew that the only reason he got his money back was because of his boss's influence. Now, not only did he recover it, but his boss had used it to buy him a hotel—such thoughtfulness was beyond words.

With this hotel in his hands, he would never have to worry about food or clothing again, and his mother would finally be spared any more suffering.

Choking with emotion, Chen Bing murmured, "Boss..."

Lu Ming clapped him on the shoulder. "We're brothers, no need for more words. Now, shall we invite Xiu Juan to sit and eat with us?"

At this moment, Li Xiujuan was covering her mouth in astonishment, barely able to believe it was real. Chen Bing's two friends were truly extraordinary—not only had they avenged him, but they also bought him this hotel. What kind of friendship could this be?

Lu Ming beckoned to Li Xiujuan. "Come, sit. I trust your boss won't have any objections now."

Seeing her stunned expression, Chen Bing said, "Xiujuan, please sit too."

He trusted his boss completely, but having just become the owner, he was still at a loss. Speaking to Li Xiujuan, he was rather embarrassed.

Li Xiujuan finally came to her senses. Knowing the status of these two men, she realized they wouldn't joke about such things, and so she took a seat by the entrance.

Chen Bing's mother, too, finally understood what was happening. Earlier, Chen Bing had told her in the room that his father's death had been avenged. Overjoyed, she had started to worry about her son's future. She herself was old and frail, prepared to accept whatever fate befell her, but her son's road was still long. Severely disabled, he would struggle even to survive, let alone marry. Was he to live as a beggar?

Now, hearing that the hotel had been bought and given to her son, she stood trembling and said, "Thank you both. You are the greatest benefactors of our family."

Tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes.

Lu Ming and Yun Ketian immediately got up to help her back into her seat.

"You are Chen Bing's mother, so you are a mother to me as well. There's no need for thanks. From now on, just enjoy your days. If there’s ever anything you need, let Chen Bing contact us."

Supported by Lu Ming and Yun Ketian, Chen Bing's mother sat down, too moved for words, wiping her tears repeatedly.

Once she had calmed, Lu Ming called everyone to eat. During the meal, he asked, "Chen Bing, do you have confidence in managing this hotel?"

Chen Bing shook his head. "I've never done business before. To be honest, I have no idea how to run one."

He hid nothing from Lu Ming, speaking plainly.

"I've considered that," Lu Ming replied. "You don't know business, so I think Xiujuan should take charge. Let her be general manager. She's been here a long time, and with her experience, she should be capable. After everything that's happened, no one here will dare trouble you again. With just a little effort, this hotel will secure your future."

Chen Bing glanced at Li Xiujuan, nodding awkwardly. "I have no objections—it depends on whether Xiujuan is willing."

Li Xiujuan quickly waved her hands. "I'm just a waitress. I can't be general manager!"

Lu Ming smiled. "Don't underestimate yourself. No one is born knowing everything. From now on, no one will cause trouble here. Just manage the place as you've always done. I believe the business will only improve. It’s not difficult."

Still, Li Xiujuan bit her lip, glancing at Chen Bing, her face full of hesitation.

Seeing this, Lu Ming gently coaxed her, "You and Chen Bing grew up together, classmates and friends. He's not in a position to handle things himself now. Why not help him shoulder this responsibility? Consider it lending a helping hand."

As he spoke, he discreetly kicked Chen Bing under the table, knowing his friend's reserved nature—without a nudge, this wooden stump would never speak up.

Sure enough, after the kick, Chen Bing stammered, "Why don't you stay on, then?"

That one line nearly made Lu Ming and Yun Ketian choke with laughter—she hadn’t said she was leaving! The man truly didn't know how to talk.

Yun Ketian cleared his throat. "Xiujuan, look, Chen Bing is begging you. Help him out, get the hotel running smoothly, and once everything's on track, then you can decide."

Seeing everyone urging her, Li Xiujuan realized she couldn't refuse any longer. For people of their status to speak with her so kindly was already a great honor. To decline further would be pretentious.

"In that case, I'll give it a try. But if I don't do well, you can't blame me," she said softly, head bowed.

"We won't, not at all. Come, let's eat," Yun Ketian said cheerfully, seeing the matter settled.

The meal lasted more than an hour. During it, on the private room's TV, the local news was broadcasting a live report on a major crackdown against organized crime. The police of Xin'an County were all mobilized, with many armed police called in as reinforcements, hunting down the remnants of Wang Liu's gang and opening a hotline for reporting criminal activities, with rewards for informants.

The hotline rang constantly, armed police fanned out, and everyone reported was brought in for questioning. As for Wang Zhongjun, he was handcuffed to his hospital bed, with two officers standing guard.

Watching this, both Li Xiujuan and Chen Bing felt immense satisfaction. These men had run rampant in Xin'an for years—justice was long overdue.

There was also a brief message that caught Lu Ming’s attention: the top official in Xin'an County had suddenly disappeared after the incident, and the relevant authorities were investigating.

Lu Ming sneered inwardly. He had expected as much. Without powerful protection, Wang Liu could never have behaved so outrageously in Xin'an. This man had likely fled to escape punishment, but where could he run? His capture was only a matter of time.

In the days that followed, Chen Bing began to regain some of his former spirit, and the three friends—Lu Ming, Yun Ketian, and Chen Bing—shared a few bottles of baijiu together.

At last, taking Lu Ming and Yun Ketian’s hint, Li Xiujuan helped the drunken Chen Bing back to his room, and Lu Ming spent some time comforting Chen Bing's mother before retiring for the night.

Lu Ming and Yun Ketian did not leave immediately but stayed two more days. Only after ensuring everything was calm and the hotel's handover had gone smoothly did they prepare to depart, their business here finished.

Chen Bing and Li Xiujuan saw them off at the hotel. As they passed a large fish tank in the lobby, Lu Ming suddenly stopped and stared at a stone inside for a long time.

He turned to Li Xiujuan. "Manager Li, may I have that stone?"

"Why ask me? This is your hotel. Take whatever you like," Li Xiujuan replied with a smile.

Chen Bing simply smiled and said nothing.

Lu Ming laughed, reached in, and fished out a stone the size of a basketball, then left with it.

Once on the highway, Lu Ming and Yun Ketian headed straight for Xijing City.

On the road, Yun Ketian asked curiously, "Lu, what do you want with that worthless rock?"

"If you don't know, don't talk nonsense," Lu Ming retorted.

Yun Ketian's face darkened, and he focused on driving.

Lu Ming had sensed a faint energy from the stone as they passed. On closer inspection, he found it contained stone marrow—a natural reservoir of energy. Not much, but enough for a sacrifice. It would be enough to exchange for a piece of gear, so the trip hadn't been in vain.

After a while, Yun Ketian couldn't hold back any longer. "Lu, do you think our plan will work?"

Lu Ming's expression grew serious. "Man proposes, heaven disposes. Matters of the heart cannot be forced. Li Xiujuan does care for Chen Bing, but his condition is a real obstacle. We've done all we can."

Just then, Lu Ming’s phone chimed. He glanced at the screen—it was a message from the dark web.

At the sight of those words, Lu Ming’s face grew solemn. The dark web was an exceptionally mysterious place.

Set yourself a small goal, like remembering the mobile reading site for Book Guest Residence in one second.