CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER 143: THE FEMALE SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE SPIRITUAL SPRING SPACE

"Ye Zi, this is your home, right? We all share the same dorm, why did you call Qingqing and Lu Lu to hang out but not me!" Her words carried a mix of three parts grievance and seven parts innocence, as if she felt excluded.

Because it was the peak tourist season, there were quite a few people dining and since Ye Qiu and her group were all beauties, they drew a lot of attention. At Lian Lan’s remarks, hinting at some subtle conflicts within the group, the spectators became even more interested, all ears now, and the chatter around quieted down.

"Aren’t you busy filming? You don’t even have time to attend classes at school, how dared I just casually call you over? Besides, ever since you broke the jade pendant that my grandfather left me, you have barely contacted me. I thought you didn’t want to face me!" Ye Qiu replied indifferently, revealing Lian Lan’s hidden sarcasm and leaving her quite embarrassed.

The onlookers quickly realized it was this girl’s own fault! Those prone to conjecture overheard more from this tale: that the girl had skipped classes for acting, that she had broken a classmate’s heirloom jade pendant, and that she had initially cut off contact...

Understanding all this and recalling the girl’s earlier insinuation about being ostracized by dorm mates, it underscored how cunning Lian Lan was indeed fit for acting!

Lian Lan, seeing the truth-dawning looks from tourists, felt extremely embarrassed, finding Ye Qiu even more detestable, and hurriedly explained, "I was just thinking about paying you back sooner. We were good friends and classmates; why wouldn’t I want to face you?"

"Wow, how refreshing! A big star deigns to mingle with us now." Liu Qingqing had a fiery temper and, accustomed to a good family background, never let herself be wronged. She’d had enough of Lian Lan’s brief, aloof visits to the dorm and her superior attitude. Since they were not interested in mending their relations, why pretend to be friends now?

"You..." Lian Lan was choked with anger, wanting to argue but mindful of the many eyes on her. Thinking of her future stardom, she couldn’t allow a tarnish on her reputation under these circumstances, so she merely darkened her expression without engaging in a quarrel with Liu Qingqing.

Ignoring Liu Qingqing, she turned to Ye Fu and Madam Shen and said, "Uncle, Aunt, hello, I’m Ye Zi’s classmate. I came here today because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Madam Shen had already sensed that her daughter might not be on good terms with this girl, especially hearing about the broken jade pendant. But wasn’t her daughter’s pendant intact? This led her to think more deeply, suspecting there were many things she was unaware of.

"Please, have a seat and talk." Madam Shen remained composed and polite. "I heard from Qingqing you’re an actress. It wouldn’t be about wanting to lease our inn, would it?"

Before Lian Lan could even respond, Madam Shen continued, "Your film crew also sent someone this afternoon, offering fifteen thousand a day and even asked us to drive out other guests, isn’t that troubling us? Everyone here is on vacation and has booked their rooms through regular channels. How can we lack professional ethics and drive guests away? Besides, during the tourist season, almost all inns in town are fully booked. Where would everyone go if kicked out? No, even for a higher price, I couldn’t agree. Young lady, if it’s about this matter, save your breath, I won’t agree."

With these firm words from Madam Shen, the tourists shot even harsher looks towards Lian Lan. Ah, so these entertainment industry folks think they can bully ordinary people? Good thing the innkeeper didn’t agree to their unreasonable demand.

Moreover, it being the peak of the tourist season, other inns would charge at least five to six hundred a day, and here the kind innkeeper charged just four hundred including three meals, with over twenty rooms available, making over ten thousand a day. And they also sold local specialties, doing quite the business daily. How could they shamelessly propose fifteen thousand for an exclusive booking?

Not to mention, if the innkeeper had agreed to drive out the guests, the compensation alone would have been hefty. Only a fool would accept such a film crew’s offer.

The determination and outright refusal from Madam Shen to entertain even a semblance of negotiation won the dining tourists’ approval, making Lian Lan’s position even more uncomfortable. However, hearing Madam Shen mention the assistant director’s offered price of fifteen thousand, she grabbed at the information.

Looking apologetic, she said to Madam Shen, "Auntie, I’m really sorry. Hearing you now, I just learned that the assistant director only offered you fifteen thousand. I’ll talk to the director when I get back; actually, our crew’s offered rate is thirty thousand a day, and we don’t need to book the entire inn, just four or five rooms would suffice. What do you think?"

After finishing her statement confidently with a slight lift of her chin, Lian Lan thought this surely wouldn’t be rejected by Ye Family! This was thirty thousand a day! They’d be staying for at least a week, that’s two hundred thousand! Thinking of this, Lian Lan reflected on her own struggles to earn ten thousand to pay debts, and why she, who had worked hard in the film crew hustling connections, hadn’t made much, yet others could easily rake in two hundred thousand.

The surrounding tourists, hearing her explanation, withdrew their judgmental looks. It seemed every place had its opportunists, and they had misjudged. Thirty thousand a day for just four or five rooms, the film crew was actually quite generous and would even help advertise for free! The tourists sincerely felt happy for the owner.

On a vacation, everyone was ready to be pampered, not expecting the inn they stayed at to not only provide comfortable surroundings and affordable prices but also delicious complimentary meals, saving them a substantial sum. No wonder the rooms were in such high demand, dependant on reservations! Now, with an unexpected substantial income, they all rejoiced for the owner.

"No." Madam Shen shook her head, "We won’t take this deal."

"Why not?" Lian Lan asked incredulously, and the tourists looked equally astonished. Thirty thousand a day, and she just turned it down so easily?

"We are fully booked already, and reservations are lined up till next month. Please try other inns!"

Upon hearing Madam Shen’s explanation, the tourists felt that not only was the innkeeper generous and trustworthy, but also principled. Who else could resist the lure of a thirty thousand a day deal? Even compensating a few guests to find another inn would be worth it, yet she adhered to the first-come, first-served principle, showing money wasn’t everything.

The tourists inwardly nodded, appreciating the integrity of this inn. They planned to leave a good review upon returning home, then spread the word to others. If coming to Qinghe Town, one must choose "Qiu Ye Yuzhou"—reasonable rates, delicious meals, and a beautiful, kind-hearted, principled owner!