After stepping out of the teaching building, the distant commotion remained visible in Ye Chen's line of sight.

Ultimately, he chose not to follow the other teachers to intervene.

Half an hour later, after navigating through stop-and-go traffic, Ye Chen's G-Class arrived at Fangda Plaza.

On the fourth floor, outside the entrance of Jianghu Hotpot.

It was peak dining time. While the crowd wasn't as overwhelming as the long lines at Haidilao, the traffic was still decent compared to other dining brands.

Ye Chen stepped inside.

The interior exuded a strong traditional atmosphere filled with the bold spirit of the Jianghu (martial arts world).

Bright and well-lit, the cleanliness could easily be described as top-tier.

From what he could see, the service attitude of the staff was comparable to that of Haidilao, which had been renowned for years.

"Mr. Ye!"

Liu Xi, who had been waiting for some time, greeted Ye Chen with a smile the moment he saw him.

Ye Chen smiled back and nodded. "Mr. Liu!"

They shook hands.

Liu Xi continued, "Mr. Ye, there aren't many seats left. Shall we just find an available spot?"

"Sure, that spot over there will do!"

Ye Chen pointed to a nearby empty table.

They sat down.

After some small talk, Liu Xi took the initiative to place their hotpot order.

Once Liu Xi set down the electronic menu, Ye Chen got straight to the point.

"Mr. Liu, have you decided to accept the financing?"

"If I hadn't, I wouldn't have invited you here!" Liu Xi said with a smile.

"Aren't you afraid of the risks?" Ye Chen teased.

"I am!" Liu Xi replied with a bitter smile.

"But risk always comes with opportunity. A five hundred million investment is enough to go all out. If it succeeds, to put it boldly, we could rival Haidilao in two or three years. In other words, within that time, I could achieve the ambition I've always pursued! Since you believe in me, Mr. Ye, I might as well take a gamble. Missing this opportunity means I don't know when the next one will come—or if it ever will!"

Liu Xi didn't say everything on his mind.

The real driving force behind his decision was the flawless balm (Wu Xia Gao).

He had been observing and even purchased a bottle.

After verifying its effectiveness, he foresaw the balm's potential to dominate the market.

At that point, he had no reason to hesitate.

He believed Ye Chen was not the type of unreliable investor.

Moreover, with five hundred million backing, even if Jianghu Hotpot's expansion failed, he could accept it.

Additionally, connecting with an investor like Ye Chen meant that even if the venture failed, future opportunities would arise. In this world, connections often determine fate.

"I believe this will be the wisest decision of your life, Mr. Liu! After all, I doubt anyone else would dare to invest five hundred million and see Haidilao as a competitor—especially with Jianghu Hotpot's current status!" Ye Chen said with a grin.

"It might be a smart choice for me, but for you, Mr. Ye, it's definitely a crazy one!" Liu Xi blurted out.

"No, not crazy at all! If I dare to invest five hundred million in a grassroots brand like Jianghu Hotpot, it's because I fully believe in its future—or rather, I believe in you, Mr. Liu!" Ye Chen replied with a serious tone.

"You flatter me, Mr. Ye. Whether Jianghu Hotpot's future is bright or if I will let you down can only be proven by time."

Liu Xi smiled, shaking his head. "By the way, what do you think of Jianghu Hotpot now?"

"It should be simpler. In the restaurant business, the dining environment is important, but too much complexity backfires. Right now, the decor feels overdone—unnecessary. If the goal is to rival Haidilao, uniqueness is crucial, but that doesn't mean over-investing in decor. As long as the essence of Jianghu is present, heavy embellishment isn't needed."

Ye Chen's words were direct.

This was knowledge gained from Jianghu Hotpot's past adjustments in his previous life.

Liu Xi froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

"Mr. Ye, you've hit the nail on the head! I've always felt something was off, but I couldn't pinpoint it. Now that you mention it, the problem really lies in the excessive focus on decor!" Liu Xi exclaimed.

"Exactly. Simplicity is key. This principle applies everywhere. If the focus is on decor, at best, it can become a trendy internet-famous spot. But to truly rival Haidilao, leaning too much into aesthetics isn't the right move!"

In that moment, Liu Xi's gaze toward Ye Chen shifted.

He became increasingly convinced that Ye Chen had thoroughly thought through this investment, far from treating it lightly.

"Mr. Ye, I will draft a detailed plan for you, covering everything comprehensively!" Liu Xi said.

"Good!" Ye Chen nodded.

Then, his expression grew serious. "Mr. Liu, regarding the investment, as I mentioned before, I won't interfere with your management of Jianghu Hotpot. However, I will assign one person to join the company. They are new to management, and your task will be to mentor them. I envision this person becoming Jianghu Hotpot's second-in-command. Is that acceptable?"

Liu Xi was stunned.

It wasn't because Ye Chen wanted to place someone in the company—he had already expected a whole team.

But just one person? And a newcomer at that?

"Just one person?" Liu Xi asked in disbelief.

"Yes, just one. You will personally train them to become the second-in-command. What do you think?" Ye Chen responded.

Liu Xi was momentarily speechless.

"Absolutely!" Liu Xi said firmly, meeting Ye Chen's gaze. "Rest assured, I understand my role and have no ulterior motives. I will train the person you assign. If they have the potential, Jianghu Hotpot can certainly provide the space for them to grow. If not, I won't let an unqualified person climb the ranks. I hope you understand, Mr. Ye."

"Of course. I understand." Ye Chen smiled.

"Alright then, I will prepare the necessary documents and development plans. Once the funds are ready, we will proceed immediately!" Liu Xi nodded.

"And about the person you mentioned, Mr. Ye, feel free to send them to me even before the official partnership begins."

"Sure, I'll have them contact you soon!"

"Great!"