Their next encounter was on her first day at work. Holding her resume, Lin Yi Shen had teased, “Junior Shen, surely you haven’t forgotten the head of the student council’s PR department?”
Only then did she recognize him. Her roommate had often gushed about “the former campus heartthrob Lin Yi Shen,” who had been untouchable in college. Over time, as they became friends, he began calling her “Xiao Fan” or “Junior.” On good days, she’d call him “Senior,” and on bad days, she’d ignore him entirely. Lin Yi Shen, always patient, never took offense.
The four of them worked tirelessly at the hotel, often staying late into the night. They frequently clashed over projects but would reconcile without a word.
Lin Yi Shen often said, “We’re passionate young people fighting for our dreams and livelihoods. These days, the waves of the Yangtze River push forward relentlessly—if we’re not careful, we’ll be swept away!”
Shen Xi Fan felt fortunate to have met them. Regardless of their individual goals, the shared drive and dreams gave her life a sense of vitality and purpose, keeping her moving forward, even when she had lost everything before.
* * *
At that moment, Shen Xi Fan was reviewing the room accounts. Numbers had never been her strength—long strings of digits made her dizzy. If she lost focus for even a second, she’d have to start over. What others could finish in a couple of hours took her the whole day.
She had never hated her math skills more.
Just then, Supervisor Zhang knocked on the door. “Manager Shen.”
Startled, Shen Xi Fan kept her eyes glued to the accounts and asked, “What’s the matter?”
“A guest from the U.S. just checked in. They’re unhappy with their room and asked for you specifically.”
With a reluctant sigh, she nodded and gave the ledger one last look. She knew she’d have to redo it all once she returned.
The winter air outside was bitterly cold, but Shen Xi Fan walked steadily despite the chill in her thin uniform of a jacket and trousers. When she reached the lobby, she was slightly taken aback—the first person she saw was He Su Ye.
Then came Li Jie, along with some middle-aged men, surrounding an American gentleman. The American, an older man with gray hair but an energetic demeanor, wore a shirt and carried a travel bag. Someone offered to carry it for him, but he waved them off with a polite refusal. Beside him, He Su Ye was explaining something in English.
Supervisor Zhang stepped forward. “Mr. Yang, Manager Shen is here now. Please let her know if there’s anything you need assistance with.”
As soon as Zhang spoke, all eyes turned to Shen Xi Fan. Among them, He Su Ye’s gaze lingered a little longer. He seemed momentarily dazed before smiling silently. Li Jie, on the other hand, beamed with delight, raising two fingers in a playful gesture to greet her.
The middle-aged “Mr. Yang” stepped forward, shook her hand, and explained, “Manager Shen, here’s the situation. We originally booked the Celebrity Suite, but Mr. Andy is dissatisfied. Can we switch to another room?”
She nodded. “Of course. May I ask what kind of room you’d prefer?”
The American gentleman surprised her by understanding the question and cheerfully exclaiming, “Chinese style!”
Shen Xi Fan frowned slightly and whispered to Zhang, “Aren’t all the Chinese-style suites already booked?”
Zhang nodded, sighing. “That’s the problem! We’ve explained this to them already, but they’re still insisting. I had no choice but to call you.”
After a moment of thought, Shen Xi Fan walked over to the reception desk. “Please move this guest to Room 1203. Thank you.”
The receptionist seemed surprised but promptly handed her the key card, her expression somewhat complicated. Shen Xi Fan ignored it and turned back to the American guest, smiling warmly as she handed over the key card. “Here is your room key. Please keep it safe, and I hope you enjoy your stay!”
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