"Thank you, Sis Xia," said Chaithanya humbly.
"You're overreacting. An A-list actor can't even afford breakfast?" Sis Xia asked, exasperated.
"Hehe, Sis Xia, you know? You're cool," Chaithanya said innocently.
Seeing hesitation on her face, Chaithanya asked directly, "If you have something on your mind, just say it. You consider me your little brother, right?"
"I put everything I had into building this restaurant, but as you can see, there aren't many customers. If this continues, I don't know how long I can last. I thought about hiring a celebrity to promote the restaurant through media and the internet, but I can't afford the endorsement. Even a C-list actor charges at least 500,000 RMB, and going lower than that is practically useless. I treat you as my younger brother—but do you truly see me as your elder sister?" Sis Xia asked, eyes reddened.
"Of course. Since fate brought us together and you've been kind to me, I'll definitely help you with promotion," Chaithanya said calmly.
"But I can't afford you. I only have 100,000 RMB in savings," Sis Xia said, tears welling up in her eyes.
After graduating, she had worked tirelessly, saved every coin, and lived frugally for over five years. She finally saved enough to build a three-star restaurant, but fate played a cruel joke. She chose the wrong location. If only she had spent a little more and built it inside the city, business would have been far better. But there's no cure for regret.
Her only option now was to get exposure through media and the internet, so that even travelers from the city might stop by and try her food. She had even dreamed of offering food delivery if the restaurant became profitable, expanding her reach, and one day opening branches all over the city. But that was for another time.
"I'll promote it for free. I'll even serve the first fifty customers myself. Use your savings to advertise the promotion in the media and online," said Chaithanya gently.
Overcome with emotion, Sis Xia threw herself into his embrace, tears streaming down her face. Chaithanya felt embarrassed, though the soft peaks pressing against his chest made him feel strangely comfortable, almost euphoric. He allowed the moment to linger for a few seconds.
"Ahem…" Xiuying, fed up with the public display, coughed sharply to remind him he was still in public and should stop embarrassing himself.
"Wait—there's so much meaning in that single cough?" Chaithanya thought, then gently patted Sis Xia's back. "Sis Xia, calm down. We're still in public. If you keep holding me like this, people will misunderstand."
Snapping back to her senses at his words, she quickly let go, her face flushed. At that moment, she looked especially adorable. Chaithanya leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You look gorgeous when you're shy."
Her blush deepened, her face turning red like an apple. Suddenly, Chaithanya felt a sharp pain at his waist. He looked at Xiuying with a questioning gaze.
"Why did you pinch me out of nowhere? You're just my secretary. Why are you acting like a newlywed wife?" he thought, speechless.
Straightening his back, he said, "Sis Xia, get everything ready and call me when it's done. I'll be here in thirty minutes."
She simply nodded.
Chaithanya and Xiuying walked out of the restaurant, unaware that Sis Xia silently followed to see them off. What she overheard next moved her to tears again.
"What about the five-star restaurant? They're offering one million RMB for promotion. But the contract states you can only endorse their restaurant and no others for four years," Xiuying asked anxiously. "That's not a small amount."
"I don't care. I decide what I do. I won't let others decide for me. If they remove that clause, I'll promote their restaurant. If not, forget it. We have more important things to focus on," Chaithanya said firmly.
Sis Xia turned back, wiping her tears. The servant girls nearby looked at her curiously, wondering why their boss was crying.
Both mounted the bike and rode back to the mansion. Thirty minutes later, they arrived and sat opposite each other in the main hall.
Xiuying dialed the five-star restaurant. The owner answered after a few rings. She spoke briefly, then hung up and placed the phone back on the table, shaking her head helplessly.
"So, he didn't agree?" Chaithanya asked calmly.
"Yeah, he refused to change the clause. But he offered an additional one million RMB if you agree to all their conditions and sign," said Xiuying.
Chaithanya widened his eyes slightly, then shook his head. "Forget it. Do I have any schedules to prepare for?"
"There's a movie shoot in a week," Xiuying said, side-eyeing him. She knew how badly he had wanted that role, but after spending two days with him, she hadn't seen the excitement she expected.
"Hmm," Chaithanya only nodded. "What about the show?"
"The pre-recording is tomorrow night, and it'll air on TV next week," Xiuying replied professionally.
"Alright. I want high-quality gym equipment delivered within six hours," Chaithanya said calmly.
"What? Why? You don't even like training your muscles," Xiuying thought, but she still nodded. "Okay, I'll handle it."
Chaithanya stood up and went to the backyard of his mansion, while Xiuying busied herself with finding the best gym equipment distributor in the city.
Since he had already practiced once, this time he was more accustomed to it. His yoga posture was precise, his breathing steady, and his energy absorption through the chakra channels flowed with a natural rhythm.
Meanwhile, Xiuying contacted the top gym equipment distributor, booked everything available, provided the delivery address, and arranged for payment upon delivery.
As Chaithanya immersed himself in absorbing spiritual energy, he suddenly felt a faint puff escape from his body. Instantly, the energy absorption became smoother, and his concentration deepened. But after a few more cycles, a foul stench—like that of a dead rat—hit his nose. Irritated, he opened his eyes, only to be startled at the sight of black stains coating his skin, hardening slowly like tar.
Just then, Xiuying arrived to inform him about the gym equipment delivery. The moment she stepped closer, she felt dizzy from the overpowering stench. Pinching her nose with an exasperated look, she demanded, "What the hell is this smell? You were fine just a few hours ago. What happened to you now? And what's this black stuff all over your body—where did it even come from? Don't tell me you just crawled out of a drainage ditch!"