Chapter 8 Chance Encounter In B City

At the international airport of A City.

Andy grabbed the luggage out of the trunk, and Jean reached out to take it.

"Thanks for driving me here, Andy. It's okay for you to head back now. There's no need to accompany me to the airport terminal."

"Come on. I'm already here. Allow me to at least walk you in."

Jean had no reason to say no to his kindness. Andy dragged her luggage and strode toward the security checkpoint.

When they reached the entry control point, Andy patted the top of Jean's head without messing her hair. "Take care of yourself when you are in B City. Call me if you need anything."

"I will. You too, Andy, look after yourself."

Jean took her luggage and was about to pass through the security screening when she suddenly remembered something. She spun around and called out, "Andy, can you please do me a favor?"

"Sure thing. What is it?"

Jean slightly lowered her gaze, and her long eyelashes twitched as she considered. "Can you help me find a house in the heart of the city? I prefer to live by myself and be independent when I return."

"Don't you find it more convenient to live at home? Why do you want to live outside on your own? "

With the security personnel urging her to move forward, Jean bit her lips and replied, "I'll discuss it with you later, Andy. I have to board the plane now. Be careful on your drive back home."

As the plane took off from A City, it climbed higher and cruised at a high altitude. The flight lasted for approximately four hours before slowly landing on B City's tarmac.

As soon as she strolled out of the airport building with luggage in tow, a man who appeared to be in his early twenties walked over to her.

"Hello, Miss Jian. My name is Chris Chen, and I'm a manager of Wonder Hotel. I'm in charge of bringing you safely back to the hotel today."

Jean stared at the man from head to toe.

After a while, she smiled slightly and answered, "Hello, I'm Jean. Nice to meet you. Thanks for picking me up."

"It's my honor to welcome you, Miss Jian. If you need any help at work, I will try my best to assist you during your transition period. Let's head back to the hotel first."

Jean nodded and followed him to the parking lot. On the way to the hotel, Chris summarily briefed her about the assigned position.

Upon reaching the Wonder Hotel, Chris and Jean went in together.

"Miss Jian, would you like to head toward your dormitory and get some rest, or do you want to have a tour of your new workplace?"

"Please show me around first so I can acquaint myself with the place and everyone else. I want to assume my official role starting tomorrow."

"Okay, Miss Jian. I'll ask a staff member to bring your luggage to your dormitory."

Standing at the hotel's front desk, Chris looked around momentarily before calling out, "Lina, come here for a moment."

A slender girl with her brown hair tied back in a tight bun came over.

"This is Miss Jian, the new lobby manager I told you about yesterday. Please escort her for a quick wash-up in her room and then take her around the hotel premises. While you're at it, please help her become abreast with the workflow here."

Lina nodded at Chris and then flashed Jean a warm smile. "Miss Jian, let me guide you to the ladies' dorm to change your clothes first."

After unpacking her bags and organizing her things at the hotel staff dormitory, Jean changed into the hotel uniform and followed Lina for a guided tour.

"The hotel covers six main departments. We have the front office department, housekeeping department, food and beverage department, human resource department, finance department, and the security department.

Your job is especially important for the hotel operation to be smooth sailing and of quality standard. You have to oversee the hotel's overall affairs, log the records of every VIP guest, handle customer complaints on time, and verify room reports from both the housekeeping and the front office departments. Last, you must ensure that all the internal and external functions of the hotel are normal."

Jean listened carefully to the rundown being passed on to her. Although she graduated with a degree in hotel management from abroad, she had no prior experience in this field.

After getting acquainted with the various hotel departments, the tour concluded, and Jean found herself standing back at the hotel lobby. When she was about to go upstairs to rest, she saw Lina answer a phone call, and her expression grew serious.

"Lina, is there something wrong?"

"Yes. I'm afraid there's a power failure in our branch in the north district not far away. Because of a blown fuse, the generators are switched into overdrive, and almost all the guest rooms have no power. Many guests staying in their presidential suites will be transferred to our hotel's presidential suites. One of them is a VIP, so we must accommodate him with the best service."

Jean thought about it for a while and spoke, "I'll head up to supervise the room preparations. I need you to check with our housekeeping department first if they have empty rooms available. Once you've confirmed how many rooms are unoccupied, reserve them all. Make sure those are ready for check-in by the time the guests arrive."

"Okay. I got it."

Everyone in Wonder Hotel got busy.

Half an hour later, the team led by Jean waited for the guests to arrive at the hotel entrance.

Before long, a black car pulled over in front of the hotel's front doors.

Jean tidied herself up and walked toward the arriving guests, her face revealing a professional smile.

When the car door was pulled open, Jean spied a pair of expensive leather shoes step out.

"Hello, sir. Welcome to the Wonder Hotel. It's our absolute pleasure to have you. We'll be happy to provide you with the most pleasant experience and the most excellent service. Hope you'll enjoy your stay with us."

The second Jean finished delivering her breathless and effortless spiel, the surrounding area was quiet. Not a single noise came from the car, and nobody alighted the vehicle.

Confused, she raised her eyes to look at the car. Her broad smile suddenly froze on her face, and all the warmth drained from her body.

Stark! It was him again!

Still seated in the back seat, Stark stared at Jean for a few seconds and expressionlessly got down from the car.

"What are you still standing there for? Is that how you greet your guests? Leave them hanging at the door?"

Before Jean could respond, Lina hurried forward and stated, "Mr. Lu, I'm sorry. Please follow me as I take you to your room now."

Without glancing at Lina, Stark's gaze was glued at Jean, who had her lips pursed tightly.

"Ask your lobby manager to take me up instead."

Anxious, Lina looked at Jean and then back at Stark. She was like a clueless kid who didn't know what to say or do.

"Mr. Lu, I'm sorry to tell you, but our manager will formally take on her post tomorrow. She is not quite familiar with the hotel..."

"That uniform alone shows that she's an official representative of this hotel. If she couldn't even extend the basic professional courtesy to the guests, it wouldn't shock me if she ends up ruining this hotel's reputation in the industry. I came here because of the power failure in your another branch, and now..."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lu. Please forgive me. I admit my mistake. I'll take you to your room now. This way, please."

After a few seconds, Jean wore a polite and distant smile.

Stark snorted coldly and took long strides as he went inside.

Jean heeled him with his luggage.

After receiving the keycard from the receptionist, Jean went to the elevator with Stark.

The short ride going up inside the elevator was so quiet that they could hear each other's soft breathing.

Jean covertly clenched her fists in exasperation. The atmosphere became a bit more tensed as they stayed longer in the same space.

"Ding!" The sound coming from the elevator door broke the awkward silence between them.

Jean guided Stark to his room and opened the door for him.

"Mr. Lu, this is your suite. If you have any further requests, please don't hesitate to let us know. We will do our best to provide for your needs. I wish you a happy stay."

Jean then spun around, and when she walked past Stark, his large hand gripped her wrist tightly. With a heavy tug, he pressed her against the door.

Stark stared at her with his dark and dead eyes. "Do you still remember what I said last time, Jean? I told you not to show up in front of me again, or I won't let you go!"

Jean calmly met his gaze. "Mr. Lu, please stop overthinking. I feel sorry to have met you here this time, but this is all a coincidence. Besides, our relationship is between a hotel guest and staff only."

Stark scoffed as he let her hand go.

"Jean, I will keep in mind what you said just now."