Of course, Pei Qian was just saying this verbally; his actual objectives were more complex.

Limiting the number of registrations per company was mainly to prevent some company bosses from using paid vacation funds to forcibly pack all their employees into Suffering Travel.

In that case, wouldn’t Suffering Travel still be making money?

Pei Qian still hoped that Suffering Travel would spend more money, with as few outside customers as possible.

After implementing this measure, many bosses wanting to arrange for their subordinates would have to do so in batches. Once the timing was staggered, arrangements would become more troublesome, and some bosses might switch to other team-building methods.

As for breaking up and dispersing Tenda employees across various teams rather than clustering them together, this was also to minimize other customers’ opportunities to build connections through Suffering Travel.

If participating in Suffering Travel once allowed someone to meet several heads of Tenda’s core departments, then from a networking perspective, it would indeed be extremely profitable.

But if participating once only allowed someone to randomly encounter one or two Tenda managers, and not necessarily from the departments they expected, then from a networking perspective, the cost-effectiveness would be quite low.

Moreover, it would indeed enhance the suffering effect, preventing managers from banding together for comfort and not achieving the optimal suffering results.

Bao Xu thought about it, found it reasonable, and immediately nodded: “Yes, Boss Pei, I’ll update the rules right away, effective for the next registration.”

Pei Qian was satisfied. Seeing that everything at Suffering Travel was normal, he could leave with peace of mind.

However, just as he reached the door and was about to get in the car, several taxis stopped at the entrance.

Zhou Muyan got out of the first car and happily said: “Oh! Boss Pei! What a coincidence! I was just saying that after dropping them off, I was going to find you at Tenda headquarters. I didn’t expect to run into you here!”

“Are you here to inspect the new batch of Suffering Travel?”

Pei Qian was also a bit surprised: “…Something like that. What about you?”

He looked at the people getting out of the other taxis, and Min Jingchao was prominently among them. He immediately understood.

Got it, this was the “Bullet Hole 2” production team from Tianhua Studio!

Zhou Muyan had previously said that if “Bullet Hole 2” succeeded, he would arrange Suffering Travel for all members of the project team. Now that “Bullet Hole 2” was a hit, he naturally had to fulfill his promise.

Zhou Muyan thought this was also a good opportunity to come to Jingzhou to personally express gratitude to Boss Pei.

Without Boss Pei’s brilliance and creative ideas, how could “Bullet Hole 2” have succeeded?

The reason this money tree grew so well was entirely thanks to Boss Pei carrying them!

But apart from expressing thanks in person, Zhou Muyan couldn’t think of a better way to show gratitude.

Profit sharing had been given to Tenda; bonuses for being a designer had also been given to Boss Pei.

The former was solid economic benefit, the latter was humanistic care and psychological comfort. Considering Boss Pei’s current status, position, and idealistic pursuits, Zhou Muyan truly couldn’t think of anything else to give Boss Pei as thanks.

He could only silently remember Boss Pei’s kindness in his heart.

Pei Qian didn’t know what Zhou Muyan was thinking. After exchanging pleasantries with him, he looked at Min Jingchao with sympathy.

Min Jingchao had come with Sun Xi and others, but perhaps due to the staggered arrivals, the “Bullet Hole 2” project team hadn’t fully assembled yet.

At this moment, Min Jingchao was looking expectantly at Boss Pei, seemingly hoping for a miracle, hoping that Boss Pei would rescue him.

Pei Qian could only return a sympathetic look.

Personally, Pei Qian did want to rescue Min Jingchao.

After all, Min Jingchao had created “Bullet Hole 2,” which, although it made a lot of money for Tenda, also earned Pei Qian a substantial side income.

Such a meritorious person shouldn’t have to go to Suffering Travel.

But personal feelings couldn’t override public principles!

Suffering Travel had iron-clad rules and discipline. Once this door was opened, the consequences would be endless.

It was like when Lü Mingliang was the lead designer—Pei Qian was very satisfied with him, but since he was voted the best employee, Pei Qian could only tearfully send him off to Headwind Logistics.

Of course, Lü Mingliang’s continued contribution to Boss Pei’s money-losing cause at Headwind Logistics was another inspiring story.

In the current situation, Pei Qian could only silently watch Min Jingchao go. Suffering Travel was indeed tough, but it wasn’t appropriate to intervene. He could only wait until Min Jingchao returned from Suffering Travel before thinking of other ways to compensate him.

…

Min Jingchao looked expectantly at Boss Pei, but only received a comforting glance. In the end, he still had to go suffer.

It was desperate, but he could only accept it.

His deputy Sun Xi had already completely wilted, not daring to say a word more.

Sun Xi was now the most timid, fearing that one slip might let others know that coming to Suffering Travel was his suggestion, and some tragedy might occur during Suffering Travel.

Min Jingchao and Sun Xi were comrades in misfortune, but considering that Min Jingchao had also done his fair share of unhelpful things during this process, both were conscientiously keeping the secret, neither daring to bring up the topic.

After seeing these people go in to register, Zhou Muyan left with Boss Pei.

Entering the facility, Min Jingchao saw some familiar faces, such as Tian Mo and other department heads, especially Chen Kangtuo.

Strictly speaking, the batch of people most familiar with Min Jingchao had already suffered. Those coming to suffer now had joined Tenda after Min Jingchao, with only Chen Kangtuo being from the same period.

Calculating it, Chen Kangtuo had actually joined slightly earlier than Min Jingchao.

Min Jingchao immediately latched onto him like a lifeline, moving closer to whisper: “What should we do? I heard Suffering Travel is terrifying, and I’m a bit panicked! In the managers’ group chat, before going to Suffering Travel, everyone cries to the heavens. During Suffering Travel, it’s like they’re enduring torture, but uniquely, after Suffering Travel, they all uniformly say it was meaningful…”

“Damn, it makes me really nervous now. Too scary!”

If these people had consistently said Suffering Travel was terrible, that would have been better.

But after returning, they all eagerly tried to convince others to go too, which was truly frightening!

Unexpectedly, Chen Kangtuo very confidently patted his chest: “Don’t worry, I’ll cover for you, absolutely!”

Min Jingchao was somewhat surprised: “You can cover for me? Let me tell you, we both voted for Brother Bao to go traveling back then. We’re the key targets of his grudge.”

Chen Kangtuo chuckled: “That’s true, but I have a way to break Brother Bao’s undefeated record. Only magic can defeat magic. I’ve already obtained authority from Boss Pei, and now I can stand on equal footing with Brother Bao!”

Min Jingchao’s expression showed bewilderment mixed with a hint of delight. Though he wasn’t certain, the desire to survive gradually took precedence.

“Really? What are you planning to do?” Min Jingchao asked.

Chen Kangtuo smiled slightly: “Just watch. I’ll negotiate with Brother Bao privately to ensure that you and I remain safe and sound. We’ll definitely suffer the least in this team.”

Min Jingchao instinctively felt it was somewhat unreliable, but seeing Chen Kangtuo’s confident demeanor, he thought, what if it was true?

Since not everyone had arrived yet, people were casually chatting, immersed in the fear of the impending Suffering Travel.

Chen Kangtuo found an opportunity and approached Bao Xu.

“Brother Bao, for this Suffering Travel… considering our past friendship, please make an exception and let Min Jingchao and me suffer a bit less.”

“Look, we’re both responsible for very important business. If we get too exhausted, wouldn’t that delay Boss Pei’s affairs?”

Chen Kangtuo decided to start with politeness before resorting to force.

Bao Xu raised an eyebrow: “How could that be possible? Boss Pei entrusted Suffering Travel to me, and I must enforce rules fairly and handle matters impartially. Although I would like to help you, wouldn’t that be failing Boss Pei’s arrangement for me?”

Chen Kangtuo chuckled inwardly.

This Bao Xu was clearly holding a grudge!

He hadn’t had high hopes to begin with, as other managers had probably tried this approach before.

Alright, since being nice didn’t work, he’d have to get tough.

Chen Kangtuo cleared his throat: “Brother Bao, to be frank, I’ve already obtained permission from Boss Pei. In the future, the Terrifying Inn will also take on some of Suffering Travel’s responsibilities, providing mental fortitude training for internal employees and regularly arranging special training.”

“Brother Bao, as the saying goes, helping others is helping yourself. If you make an exception now, in the future, the haunted house tours at the Terrifying Inn will certainly have nothing to do with you.”

“But if you insist on being impartial, I’ll also have to follow the rules…”

Bao Xu raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Are you threatening me? Rest assured, I will give special attention to you and Min Jingchao! Boss Pei said that as Tenda managers, you should set an example for others!”

Chen Kangtuo was shocked: “You… you’re not afraid…”

Bao Xu chuckled: “What, you think a haunted house scares me? When the Terrifying Inn was being built, I went with Li Yada, Lin Wan, Hao Qiong, and others to inspect several large haunted houses like Wushan State Mental Hospital.”

“Weren’t you there too? Forgot?”

Chen Kangtuo was stunned; he had indeed forgotten about this.

Thinking back now, it was true! During the inspection, there were four men and two women. He shared a room with Hao Qiong, so he unconsciously overlooked Bao Xu.

Bao Xu had been tested by a haunted house before!

But Chen Kangtuo quickly remembered: “Hmph, if that’s the case, Brother Bao, you should also remember how pale-faced and calf-cramping you were in the haunted house back then? Are you sure you dare to experience that again at the Terrifying Inn?”

Bao Xu chuckled: “I’ve developed a certain immunity to the Terrifying Inn and can adapt quickly. Using this to scare me is a miscalculation.”

Chen Kangtuo expressed his defiance: “Boss Pei also gave me the authority to prepare new projects for the Terrifying Inn! Aren’t you afraid I’ll build a new haunted house?”

Bao Xu chuckled: “Don’t believe it? Just try! Let’s see who gives in first, you or me. Let me tell you, don’t even think about bargaining with me!”

“Both you and Min Jingchao will get extra training!”

Chen Kangtuo: “I damn…”

Bao Xu signaled to Sa Ziran: “Not everyone has arrived yet, let’s have a rehearsal first, set an example for others! Tenda employees, be role models!”

Chen Kangtuo was alarmed: “Hey, Brother Bao, we can talk this through, we can talk this through…”

Bao Xu sternly said: “Get ready!”

Min Jingchao, cautiously observing from a distance, suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

“This script seems familiar somehow…”

Chen Kangtuo was dragged away by two burly men to change into training clothes, shouting: “Bao Xu, just you wait. When the new Terrifying Inn project is built, you’ll be the first one I arrange!”

The people from Tianhua Studio looked at each other, finding this scene extremely absurd.

Is this the world of Tenda’s powerhouses?

Don’t understand it, but totally shocked!