Chapter 24: A Hero Needs Three Helpers

It is said that one can never simultaneously possess both youth and the wisdom to appreciate it.

However, Huo Qitai, who had just emerged from an internet cafe after pulling an all-nighter, was an exception to this rule.

He caught the scent of the breakfast shop next to the cafe. The freshly steamed pork buns were piping hot, with thin skins and generous, authentic meat fillings. Swallowing hard, Huo Qitai devoured three in one go, washing them down with a bowl of soy milk and a serving of scallion oil noodles. The satisfaction was beyond words.

Outside, a nearby clothing store was playing Jay Chou’s "I’m Not Worthy." The lyrics, "Describing how I love you, yet you smile as you walk away from me..." were absolutely perfect for the moment.

In his previous life, this was exactly how Huo Qitai had spent his time—immersed in internet cafes, listening to this very song throughout the entire summer break.

For every individual, memory is more than just images. Sometimes, it is a specific scent, a certain song, or even the feeling of waking up suddenly on a quiet morning. These things can, in an instant, transport your mind back to a specific moment in time.

After finishing his breakfast, Huo Qitai found a print shop on the street to print out the materials he had prepared the night before. Then, he hailed a taxi and headed toward the "Fortune and Prosperity Hotel," where he had an appointment with Xue Xiaoshan.

The Fortune and Prosperity Hotel was owned by Chang Lu’s family. It’s fair to say that in terms of total assets, the Chang family might not have ranked in the top ten in Jian'an City. But when it came to connections and influence, they were undoubtedly one of the top three local powerhouses.

Before retiring, Chang Lu’s grandfather served as a deputy director of the Public Security Bureau in Jian'an. Chang Lu’s father chose not to enter politics, instead leveraging his father’s connections to go into business, where he naturally thrived. Furthermore, he was a standard, law-abiding businessman who strictly avoided anything illicit. He maintained excellent relationships with the local underworld, and it wasn't just local forces; even the top bosses from neighboring cities frequently patronized the hotel.

With such a background, by the time Chang Lu was in middle school in the early 2000s, she was already being chauffeured to and from school in an Audi A8, wearing clothes and using items either imported from Shanghai or bought abroad. The little thugs around the school would either stay far away or approach her respectfully, calling her "Miss Chang."

Huo Qitai and Xue Xiaoshan had tested into the affiliated middle school of Jian'an No. 1 High from a rural elementary school. Because they were from the countryside, they were initially bullied and discriminated against. However, they formed a mutual defense pact; whoever mocked or bullied them would find themselves cornered and soundly beaten by the duo, which was how they finally established their foothold in the school.

It was precisely this ruthlessness and sense of loyalty that caught the eye of Chang Lu, who had grown up coddled and surrounded by sycophants and lackeys. After a series of interactions and tests, Chang Lu successfully joined their ranks, forming a rock-solid "Iron Triangle."

Thanks to Chang Lu, Huo Qitai and Xue Xiaoshan often tagged along with her to enjoy the buffets at the hotel’s various banquets. Consequently, Huo Qitai was intimately familiar with the city's only five-star hotel. Even the receptionists and doormen nodded and smiled at him as he walked into the lobby.

"Student Huo, our Miss Chang and Student Xue are having breakfast in Hall B. They told me to bring you over as soon as you arrived." A sweet-looking hotel attendant approached and politely led the way.

"The hotel has a breakfast buffet? How could I have forgotten that?" Huo Qitai walked straight into the Hall B cafeteria, spotting Chang Lu and Xue Xiaoshan chatting and eating.

"Miss Chang! Tell me, has Brother Tai truly let go, or is he getting even deeper into it? I can’t make sense of it at all. We’ve grown up together, yet he seems more and more mysterious lately," Xue Xiaoshan said, chewing on a large piece of bacon, looking genuinely puzzled.

Chang Lu rested her chin on her hand, a melancholy look on her face as she frowned slightly. "Perhaps Qitai has his own considerations. I also feel he is very different from before. Maybe, as the books say, time doesn't truly make people grow up—suffering does."

"That’s philosophical! And deep, too. Miss Chang, I’ve noticed you’ve been getting quite sentimental lately!" Xue Xiaoshan gave a thumbs up, then added, "I don’t know when Brother Tai is coming. He told us to wait here today, saying he had important matters to arrange, making us feel like his subordinates."

"Haven't you always said you wanted to follow his lead? Isn't that exactly what being a subordinate is? Hehe!" Chang Lu couldn't help but laugh at Xue Xiaoshan’s grumbling.

"What? Is being my subordinate such a raw deal?" At that moment, Huo Qitai swooped in from the side, catching Xue Xiaoshan in a familiar headlock.

"Sneak attacks are shameful! Take this, you monkey!"

Xue Xiaoshan tried to counter-grab, but Huo Qitai had anticipated it, dodging easily. He released his grip, clapped his hands, and smiled with satisfaction. "Shan, I promise you, follow me, and you’ll live the high life, command vast wealth, and be the man of the hour every night."

Without further ado, Huo Qitai pulled up a chair and began assigning tasks.

"I plan to launch a 'Peking University Top Student Lecture' series, selling tickets and related study notes. I need you both to cooperate with me. I need to earn two million RMB from this lecture series within half a month."

The claim was so shocking that Xue Xiaoshan nearly spat out his soy milk.

"Earn two million? In half a month? Brother Tai, did you not wake up, or did I not?" Xue Xiaoshan shook his head. "My old man has been working as a broker for years and hasn't even saved up two million."

But Chang Lu was sensitive to the words "Peking University Top Student." She didn't speak, but frowned slightly, feeling awkward. *Has Huo Qitai contacted Liu Rumeng again? Is he planning to cooperate with her to make money from these lectures? Did they... really break up?*

"You don't have to believe it, but as my subordinates, you are under my command from now on. You must put your all into completing the tasks I assign you. Any questions?" Huo Qitai glanced at the silent Chang Lu. In his past life, she had been his most capable lieutenant; there was almost no business event she couldn't handle.

Of course, the current Chang Lu was just an eighteen-year-old high school graduate, her potential yet to be fully realized. Fortunately, for this lecture series, Huo Qitai had arranged for her to handle the logistics through her family's hotel.

"Fine, fine! We'll listen to you. But even brothers must account for money. Is there a paycheck? You’re the boss now, surely you won't make your two subordinates work for free?" Xue Xiaoshan wiped his greasy hands and asked with a grin.

"Of course! You don't look down on a summer job that pays one or two thousand a month, do you? I’ll give you both ten thousand each for half a month. That’s fair, right?" Huo Qitai knew Xue Xiaoshan was joking; even without pay, he would have helped.

"Ten thousand in half a month? Qitai, are you serious? If you're so confident, how are you going to do it? Let's hear the plan!" Chang Lu was also stunned. After all, the Huo Qitai she knew had always carried the self-deprecation of a "country boy." If not for her dragging him and Xue Xiaoshan to the hotel for meals, they wouldn't have dared to come anywhere near the entrance. Now, the Huo Qitai before her seemed to radiate a dazzling confidence as he spoke of earning two million in two weeks.

"What is this! Brother Tai, you’re being stingy. You’re making two million and only giving Miss Chang and me ten thousand each?" Xue Xiaoshan didn't take the pay seriously, assuming Huo Qitai was teasing him.

Huo Qitai laughed. "Shan, you don't believe me?"

"I do! Brother Tai, just tell us what to do. I’m bored at home anyway; I want to see how you’re going to pull off this tall tale." Xue Xiaoshan stood straight, mimicking a Hong Kong police officer, and saluted. "Yes, Sir! Officer 9527, at your command!"

"Alright, enough clowning around." Huo Qitai couldn't remember the last time he’d had such carefree, intimate banter with Xue Xiaoshan. He turned to Chang Lu. "Lu, I need you to do two things."

"First, rent out the largest thousand-person conference hall in your hotel. That’s where the lecture will be held. Start it in three days, for a three-day run. Get the basic setup and multimedia ready—I’ll need to present a PowerPoint. Tell the manager to put the rent on credit and settle it after the lectures are done."

"Second, I recall your hotel prints promotional brochures often, so you must have a partner print shop. I have all the documents organized on this MP4. I’ll give you ten thousand as an advance; have them print these materials into booklets. Let's start with two thousand copies; we’ll print more if needed."

"Wait, Brother Tai, are you for real? The thousand-person hall costs at least ten thousand a day to rent! And it's the peak of summer; prices might double. That’s sixty thousand in rent alone! And printing two thousand copies, each one will cost quite a bit—that’s another hundred thousand!" Xue Xiaoshan, who had scored 139 on his college entrance exam math, was a true science guy; he instantly realized the massive costs involved.

"Good calculation! Shan, you’ll be in charge of collecting the money." Huo Qitai patted his shoulder and asked Chang Lu, "Any issues with these two tasks?"

"No! Whatever you want to do, I will support you." Chang Lu didn't hesitate. She wiped her mouth with a napkin and stood up. "I'll go talk to Manager Wu now, or the hall might be booked by someone else."

"Good! If any problems arise, call Shan to reach me." With that, Huo Qitai pulled Xue Xiaoshan away.

Just as they were leaving Hall B, they ran into Chang Lu’s father, Chang Fuyou.

"Hello, Uncle Chang!" Huo Qitai and Xue Xiaoshan greeted him.

"Oh, it's Xiao Tai and Xiao Shan! I heard you both did well on your exams. Lu is going abroad soon; you two should strive for overseas studies too. Then you can all reunite abroad..."

Chang Fuyou had been in a great mood lately. His daughter hadn't just done well on her exams; she had been accepted by a prestigious foreign university early. As a father, he couldn't go three sentences without mentioning it.

He knew Huo Qitai and Xue Xiaoshan well. For six years—from middle school through high school—his daughter’s youth had been spent with them. Chang Fuyou wasn't a man who judged by wealth; most of his own friends were not particularly rich. He hadn't opposed his daughter’s friendship with these two boys; on the contrary, he was grateful for them.

In elementary school, Chang Lu had been depressed, with no close friends. Despite her top grades, she found no joy in school. At home, she stayed locked in her room. He had thought she was just introverted, but then his wife noticed she stopped talking about school entirely. Teachers confirmed she never interacted with anyone. A psychologist diagnosed her with moderate depression, but the medication didn't help.

Then, on the first day of middle school, she mentioned these two boys—how they had stood up to eight bullies, fighting with a ferocity that stunned the rest of the school. From that day on, he heard their names constantly. He even remembered the time his manager reported that his daughter had snuck these two "country bumpkins" into a high-end corporate buffet.

Thinking of this, a smile touched Chang Fuyou’s lips. Six years had passed. His daughter was healthy and thriving, and these two boys had grown up too.

"Eh? Why are you leaving so soon? Why not stay and play? We just renovated a game room upstairs!" Chang Fuyou called out as they headed for the door.

"No, thank you, Uncle Chang! We have important work to do." Huo Qitai politely declined and led Xue Xiaoshan out of the hotel.

A hero needs his companions. Huo Qitai felt fortunate to have Xue Xiaoshan and Chang Lu as his staunch allies. Without them, this money-making plan would have been far more difficult to execute.