The flight took about two hours and thirty minutes to arrive in the country's southeastern part. Usually, in a public place with people around him, Hao Ming Yu will stay on alert, but he managed to nap comfortably just now. Even he was surprised by himself.

When he woke up, he looked to his left side and saw Jin Liwei still doing his work on his iPad. He was amazed that the other man had managed to stay like that for the whole time. When the flight attendant announced they were about to land, Jin Liwei put aside the iPad and fastened his seatbelt.

When they left the airport, a man was already waiting for them. The man bows at Jin Liwei and is about to come closer to Hao Ming Yu for a handshake, but Jin Liwei spreads out his arm, preventing him from getting near. "This is Hao Ming Yu. You can call him Mr. Hao. He is one of the members who are in charge of this project." While talking, Jin Liwei passes his luggage to the man.

Jin Liwei turns to Hao Ming Yu and wiggles his fingers, asking him to pass his luggage. Hao Ming Yu slowly pushes it toward Jin Liwei, and then Jin Liwei gives it to the man.

"This is Mr. Lu. He is one of the residents in the project area." Jin Liwei introduces the man to Hao Ming Yu. Hao Ming Yu lightly smiles and nods to him. Mr. Lu takes both of them to the booked hotel. He drops them off at the hotel and informs them that he will send a car for their transport while they are still in the town.

From the airport until now, they have already arrived at the hotel. Hao Ming Yu didn't say a word. He just obediently followed behind Jin Liwei like a puppy. Both of them went up to the fifteenth floor, and Jin Liwei stopped in front of one of the rooms.

Jin Liwei turns to Hao Ming Yu and then passes him a key card. "Here. This is your room. My room is just right next to you. Call me or just knock on my door if there is anything."

Hao Ming Yu takes the key card, lightly nods, and mumbles, "Thank you, director."

Jin Liwei hums. "Tomorrow at 7:30, we will have breakfast and then go to the project site right after." He doesn't wait for an answer from Hao Ming Yu and walks into his room. Hao Ming Yu sighs. What can he say when the other person makes the final decision? But he feels glad. Even though neither talked to the other all day, it doesn't feel too awkward.

The next morning, five minutes before 7:30, Hao Ming Yu was already standing in front of his room, waiting for the man next door. A minute later, Jin Liwei walked out of his room.

Jin Liwei was a bit surprised to see a figure standing still while staring at the floor. As he walked past Hao Ming Yu, he said, "Let's go. Fill our tummy first."

Both of them went to the hotel restaurant. Their room package also includes a complimentary breakfast, so they could choose whatever they wanted from the buffet. Just like any other time, the eating session also passed without anyone talking.

Right on time, as soon as both of them finished eating, Mr. Lu called Jin Liwei and told him that he was already waiting in front of the hotel. As promised, he also brought a car. Jin Liwei thanked him, and then both of them drove to the project site.

The project area is not that far from the hotel. It had only taken forty minutes for them to arrive. From inside the car, Hao Ming Yu was shocked and froze in his seat as he saw Team Leader Yan. He turned to Jin Liwei and kept staring at him, asking for an explanation.

At first, Jin Liwei didn't understand the meaning behind those looks, but when he saw Hao Ming Yu keep turning his head, looking between Team Leader Yan and him, only then did he understand. "Oh, you are wondering why he is here?" Hao Ming Yu nods.

"Well, I told him, I'm going to this place to check on the progress of the project. If he thinks he would want to come, then come. I just said like that so I didn't know he would come for real. That's why I didn't say anything to you." He said nonchalantly.

'Which employee would be so crazy not to come when his boss says something like that?!' Hao Ming Yu had already cursed his boss in his mind.

"B- but... why didn't he come together with us? And if he already came, I shouldn't be here."

Jin Liwei shrugs his shoulders. "Well, I don't know whether he wanted to come or not. So, I don't want to waste time booking him a hotel room if he suddenly decides not to appear. As for you, you were obliged to come. Don't worry, he can claim the money for the hotel and flight later."

Jin Liwei is already getting out of the car, and Team Leader Yan instantly approaches him. Due to the dark-tinted window, Team Leader Yan didn't notice the other person in the car. Hao Ming Yu takes a deep breath before opening the car door.

The wide smile on Team Leader Yan's face fades as soon as he sees Hao Ming Yu. His lips twitched as he noticed the other person came in the same car as Director Jin. Team Leader Yan stiffly smiles and asks, "Director, you came with Mr. Hao?"

Jin Liwei just hums. He does not need to explain the details to Team Leader Yan.

A few minutes later, Mr. Lu came with another man. That man was considered the chief of the residential area. Jin Liwei wanted to discuss the project site, so he asked for the map. In an instant, Hao Ming Yu took out the map and spread it on the car's hood.

Jin Liwei explained to the chief his plan to expand the project site due to the geographical area. He also explained all the compensation that the residents will receive once they agree to move.

The chief sighs. He says half of them already agreed, but the other half hesitated because this place was full of memories. They have lived here since they were young, and this place was basically their birthplace and their homeland. That is why they were reluctant to move.

Jin Liwei keeps tapping on the car hood and he is frowning. "Okay, how about we try to retain all the nature around this area as much as possible? Other than the houses, other things we won't destroy. Instead, we will make it into a public park that people can easily visit. We will also give them a new apartment together with the amount of compensation as promised."

The Chief stares at the map, then he sighs. "How about you talk to them directly? I have called them and they are waiting at the town hall."

"Yes, sure! Let's go there right now." Jin Liwei instantly agreed. They all drove their own cars to the town hall, which was just five minutes away.

The Chief and Mr. Lu led the three of them into the hall, and their presence instantly attracted the residents' attention. People started murmuring, and most of them were talking about how good-looking Jin Liwei was.

The Chief introduces Jin Liwei, Hao Ming Yu, and Team Leader Yan and briefly explains their intention of coming to this place. As expected, the moment the Chief mentioned developing the residential area into a resort, the elderly frowned, showing their disapproval.

Jin Liwei stepped up and asked the Chief to let him speak. From A to Z, Jin Liwei explained everything about the project. He also told them the same thing he had mentioned to the Chief. While Jin Liwei was talking, Hao Ming Yu took a stack of paper from his backpack and handed it around.

The agreement stated all the benefits and compensation that would be given to the residents once they agreed to move from the area. Hao Ming Yu was being polite by passing the agreement one by one. He also helped to explain the content of the agreement to some of the elders who could not understand it.

Most of the elders kept inquiring about the project and their compensation. Jin Liwei answered some, and Hao Ming Yu also helped his boss respond to them. While the two of them were busy discussing the project with the residents, Team Leader Yan just watched from the side.

He also wanted to butt in and tried to look like Mr. Know It All but Jin Liwei didn't give him any chance to do so. So, he just stood on the side as if he had nothing to do with the project. Team Leader Yan eyed Hao Ming Yu from afar and clenched his fist.

Hours passed and finally, all of them agreed to sign the agreement. Jin Liwei stole a glance at Hao Ming Yu, who was sighing with relief. His corner lips lifted. He totally ignored the other person who came along.

Jin Liwei knew Team Leader Yan was trying to answer or talk with the residents, but as for simple questions that even he knew, Jin Liwei wouldn't let him speak. When it came to the details of the project that supposedly most of the project team members knew, Team Leader Yan stood quietly without trying to cut off Hao Ming Yu's words.

After the signing session, Jin Liwei thanked all the residents for their cooperation. All of them need to move out by this week, and Jin Liwei offered them movers for free. They just need to tell Mr. Lu when they want to use the service, and the movers will be ready for them.

The meeting took quite a long time, and two minutes have passed. Jin Liwei invited Mr. Lu and the Chief to have lunch together. Thus, five of them went to the restaurant in town.

While having lunch, Team Leader Yan tried to ask Mr. Lu and the Chief about the town—its specialities, uniqueness, and famous things. Both locals gladly told everything about their homeland. As usual, Hao Ming Yu ate his lunch in silence while listening to them.

After lunch, Jin Liwei and Hao Ming Yu returned to their hotel but Team Leader Yan decided to follow them.

"Director Jin, may I talk to you for a second?" said Team Leader Yan as soon as they reached the hotel. He glances at Hao Ming Yu, asking him to read the room and leave them alone.

Hao Ming Yu instantly understood the meaning behind those stares. He turned to Jin Liwei and lightly bowed, "Director, I will return to my room first." Jin Liwei hums.

Jin Liwei and Team Leader Yan went to the hotel lobby and took their seats. "So, what do you want to talk about?"

Team Leader Yan clears his throat and straightens his body. "Why did Director invite Mr. Hao to come along?"

"Why not? I think you also noticed how he managed to explain everything flawlessly about the project. Not even you can do that, am I right?"

Team Leader Yan swallows his saliva nervously. "We- well... that's because that was his part in the project. Of course, he would know."

"What about you? Aren't you the team leader? Shouldn't you know more and everything in detail? But it seems to me it was as if you were never a part of the project."

"N- no, director. I was just... less prepared." Jin Liwei scoffs.

"Then, may I ask, why did the director ask me to come along?"

Jin Liwei turns to Team Leader Yan with a stone face. "Because you are THE TEAM LEADER. No matter if I bring you along or not, you as THE TEAM LEADER, should know better about the project. If you know nothing, then make preparations. Not come here empty-handed and empty-headed."

"Did you bring any document, proposal, or paperwork with you? No right? You only brought your laptop and tablet. Do you expect that if you are done showing them your slideshow or proposal on your tablet or laptop, those elders could understand?" Team Leader Yan stays silent.

"And wasn't the agreement supposedly prepared by you?"

"Y- yes. I'm the one who prepared it but then I pass the softcopy among team members."

"Why? So you don't have to trouble yourself to print them out one by one and then ask Manager Jin to sign them? Luckily Hao Ming Yu has some sense and is quick-witted. If Hao Ming Yu also didn't bring it, how can they sign it? How much longer do you want to delay our project?"

Team Leader Yan lowers his head after getting an earful. He didn't dare to question anything else.

Jin Liwei heaves a heavy sigh. He rises from his seat and buttons his blazer. "Tomorrow we are going to the site. Make sure you do your homework tonight. If I find you are being a burden, you can book a return flight tomorrow night." Team Leader Yan glares at the back of the receding figure.

For years, he worked like this, and no one ever said anything. But now, the young director has returned; he keeps being humiliated. Team Leader Yan stares at the floor and clenches his kneecaps tightly.

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