It was clear she was fired on the spot.
Gu Yingxiong said this to the waiter who had reminded Xiao Xun's mother earlier. The waiter clearly hadn't expected that his good intentions would lead to him losing his job.
"Young Master Gu, I..."
Lati blocked Gu Yingxiong's path and pointed to the door, sternly saying, "Shut up and get out."
Gu Yingxiong no longer paid attention to the waiter, but turned to Xiao Xun's father, his expression becoming more amiable. "Why not? This hotel is arguably the best-located five-star hotel in G City. Its total value is over four hundred million, and any room here costs over three thousand a night."
Xiao Xun's father waved his hand, his face very displeased. "It's not about the money. It's the food in here; I can't cook any of it."
"I'm having you take over this hotel to operate and manage, not to be the head chef changing the menu."
Xiao Xun's mother nodded and stood up, pulling Xiao Xun's father. "Yes! You blockhead, why are you so stuck in your ways? We're the owners from now on, and everyone below us is our employee. We just need to manage people."
Xiao Xun's father glared at Xiao Xun's mother. "You? You could barely manage those dozen people when you ran that small restaurant, how can you manage a hotel this big?"
Then he looked back at Gu Yingxiong. "This... Little Gu! Uncle appreciates your kind offer, but I can't let such a good restaurant be ruined in my hands. That would be a betrayal of all reason. Let's drop this matter!"
Gu Yingxiong's lips curved slightly upward. "It's fine. If you change your minds, you can always find me. It's all okay. As long as you're willing to let Xiao Xun join my company."
Xiao Xun's mother took out her phone, a brilliant smile on her face. "No problem, no problem. I'll call him right now."
As she spoke, she dialed the number and quickly got through. "Hello? Son..."
At that moment, a figure walked over while on the phone, glancing inside.
"Mom?"
Xiao Xun never expected Xiao Xun's mother to be dining here.
He hung up the phone directly and walked into the private room. Mu Jiahe followed him in.
Xiao Xun's mother stood up. "You little rascal, quickly thank this leader."
Xiao Xun followed his mother's gesture and looked at Gu Yingxiong, who was sitting there with an arrogant expression.
"It's you?"
Mu Jiahe also stood behind Xiao Xun. "Young Master Gu, I trust you are well!"
Gu Yingxiong waved his hand. "No need for thanks. It was just a small matter. Your mother has already agreed that you'll be working for our company from now on."
Xiao Xun looked at his mother. "Mom, why are you getting involved in this?"
As soon as Xiao Xun's mother heard her son complaining, she became displeased. "You brat, what do you know? Not only did he agree to find you a job, but he also agreed to let me and your dad manage this hotel."
Upon hearing this, Mu Jiahe looked at Gu Yingxiong. "Young Master Gu, if I recall correctly, Tianhao Grand Hotel was acquired by our Saint Roman tourism department from the beginning of the year. I haven't heard of any dealings with the Gu Group, have I?"
Gu Yingxiong was publicly embarrassed but still said calmly, "So what? It's just a hotel; I can still afford to buy it."
Xiao Xun walked over to his mother and looked at Gu Yingxiong. "I don't know what your ultimate plan is, but I am very grateful that you saved me. However, I have already signed a contract with Saint Roman. It's not just about the breach of contract fees; no one is short of money, and more importantly, there's reputation. If I jump ship because of this, how can I continue in this circle?"
Gu Yingxiong stood up directly. "Your mother has already agreed to this for me. As for anything else, I won't say much more." Then he looked at Liu Shijia. "Remember to be back at work on time this afternoon."
Liu Shijia bowed respectfully to Gu Yingxiong and said, "Yes, I will be there on time."
Gu Yingxiong glanced at Mu Jiahe again, said nothing, and walked out, flanked by four bodyguards at the door.
Xiao Xun then looked at Liu Shijia. "Cousin, your boss is actually him?"
Liu Shijia didn't speak. Xiao Xun's mother was already unhappy. "Son, you need to know how to be grateful! Without Young Gu, you'd still be in jail, eating prison food. He went out of his way, treated us to a meal, and is even buying this hotel. If it makes money, it's ours; if it loses money, it's his. You must repay this immense favor!"
Mu Jiahe crossed her arms. "What's so great about that?"
Xiao Xun's mother only then noticed the woman who had entered with her son. She had thought she was a hotel staff member, so she hadn't paid attention.
"And who is this?"
Xiao Xun introduced her to his mother. "Mom, this is our leader, President Mu of Saint Roman Group."
"Saint What Slow? Never heard of it. It's far from Gu's Great Enterprise. All the fertilizer and pesticides used in our ten-mile radius are produced by their company. Unlike these 'fake foreigners' with such awkward names, who knows what they do."
Xiao Xun pulled his mother's arm and said to Mu Jiahe, "President Mu, I apologize. My mother just talks like that; she doesn't have any bad intentions."
Then he whispered to his mother, "Mom, the hotel you're visiting today actually belongs to her."
Xiao Xun's mother snorted. "So what if it's hers? It's not for me..."
"It can be for you! A hotel is just a hotel. It's just that I can't do what Young Master Gu does by bearing all the losses. If I hand the hotel over to you, you'll have to be responsible for your own profits and losses."
Xiao Xun said to Mu Jiahe, "President Mu, please don't take it to heart. My mother is joking. She's fine managing a small restaurant, but this kind of administrative hotel, this is her first time here."
Xiao Xun's mother was about to say something else when Xiao Xun's father pulled her. "We're out, be mindful of your son's reputation!"
Xiao Xun's mother shook off her husband's hand. "Everything else can be discussed, but from today onwards, you must go to work with your sister. If you don't, you're no longer my son."
Xiao Xun became anxious. "Mom, what are you doing?"
Xiao Xun's mother patted his hand and said earnestly, "Mom is doing this for your own good. Listen to Mom, okay? Mom only has you as a son. If anything happens to you, how can your father and I live? If you're unwilling to go, come back with us to look after the restaurant. Mom doesn't ask for great wealth for you; as long as you are safe, anything is fine."
"Mom, I'm currently restricted from personal freedom and can only be in the urban area of G City. I have to report to the police station every day. You guys go back first."
Facing Xiao Xun's earnest plea, Xiao Xun's mother glared. "No. No matter what anyone says today, it won't work. If you don't go to work at your cousin's company, you'll come back with us. If you don't come back, Mom will stay with you until you do."
Xiao Xun felt like his head was filled with paste. "Mom, aren't you forcing me to die?"
"You foolish child, are you speaking human words? Is Mom forcing you? Look at what you've done. You graduated from college and have achieved nothing. You finally found a job, and they accuse you of murder. If I follow you, Mom will worry endlessly for her whole life."
Xiao Xun took out a bank card from his wallet. "Mom, the password for this card is your birthday. I don't have much ability, and I can't afford such a big hotel, but this money is enough for you to open a small restaurant slightly larger than ours here."