March 23rd, Wednesday.

The Thriller Lodge project was under construction at full steam.

Chen Kangtuo and Hao Qiong were on site. Every day, apart from routine supervision, they collected various horror novels, videos, movies, and materials, working hard to brainstorm ideas on how to make the Thriller Lodge project even better.

They also had some employees under them responsible for handling various aspects of the haunted house work, but there weren’t many of them.

When the haunted house was truly close to completion, they would need to recruit a large batch of employees to handle sales, performances, cleaning, and other tasks.

However, it would take at least three more months before all three major projects of the haunted house would be completed.

Chen Kangtuo was, as usual, staring at the design drawings on the computer screen, carefully considering some details of the design.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated, receiving a message.

Chen Kangtuo was startled and quickly called to Hao Qiong.

“Quick, get prepared, Mr. Pei is coming!”

Hao Qiong was hugging his phone, engrossed in reading. It was a recently well-performing horror novel on Terminus Chinese Web.

After hearing Chen Kangtuo’s words, he quickly asked, “When?”

Chen Kangtuo had already stood up and started organizing documents: “In ten minutes!”

The two began frantically clearing the clutter on the table.

This area was a temporary office converted from a corner of the factory building, strictly renovated according to the Tenda spirit, with spacious desks, sofas, and refrigerators—all in all, a very comfortable working environment.

However, comfort also led to messiness.

There were drink bottles, horror novels, horror art collections, and other miscellaneous items piled on the sofa and desks. Chen Kangtuo felt that if Mr. Pei saw the current state, it would leave a bad impression.

So the two hurriedly tidied up, restoring the office environment to general cleanliness.

Shortly after they finished cleaning, Mr. Pei arrived.

Chen Kangtuo, holding a folder, went forward to greet him.

“Hello, Mr. Pei! Please come in!”

The folder contained information about the Thriller Lodge project, including floor plans, design details for each project, renderings, sources of inspiration, engineering costs, contracts signed with the engineering team, and more.

Chen Kangtuo thought that Mr. Pei was coming this time to inquire about the construction progress and some details of the Thriller Lodge, so he had prepared in advance.

Although many details were firmly memorized, having the materials ready to show Mr. Pei at any time was never wrong.

After asking Mr. Pei to sit on the sofa, Chen Kangtuo was ready to report.

“Mr. Pei, let me first report on the recent construction situation of the Thriller Lodge,” said Chen Kangtuo after Hao Qiong had served hot tea to Mr. Pei.

Pei Qian took the tea and had a sip, then shook his head after hearing Chen Kangtuo’s words: “No need, I have something important to entrust to you.”

Seeing Mr. Pei’s rather serious expression, Chen Kangtuo couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.

What important matter was Mr. Pei going to tell them?

Something that made even Mr. Pei so serious must be an extremely complex and highly difficult task!

Chen Kangtuo and Hao Qiong didn’t dare to ask more, they could only listen attentively.

Pei Qian took a sip of tea and asked, “According to the current plan, about how long until the haunted house is completed?”

Chen Kangtuo: “At the earliest, three more months; the normal plan is four months.”

Pei Qian nodded, four months was still within an acceptable range.

“I’m giving you another 40 million, all to be put into the Thriller Lodge project. If there are any difficulties, tell me now.”

Chen Kangtuo waited for a while, found that Mr. Pei seemed to have nothing more to say, and then asked, “Um… Mr. Pei, what about other matters?”

Pei Qian: “There are no other matters.”

Chen Kangtuo: “…The important thing you mentioned is just about spending money?”

Pei Qian nodded: “Yes.”

The confused expression on Chen Kangtuo’s face lasted for a few seconds, then he had a moment of misunderstanding: “Oh! I get it!”

“Mr. Pei, is this 40 million for constructing surrounding facilities? I’ve been wanting to bring this up!”

In Chen Kangtuo’s view, the previous budget was enough for the main body of the Thriller Lodge, but there were no supporting facilities around it at all!

No shops, hotels, or restaurants—lacking in all aspects of clothing, food, and accommodation.

Transportation was even worse; forget about subways, there weren’t even buses to this place.

How could this attract tourists?

Would tourists all drive here by themselves and just stand around while waiting in line?

That would not be appropriate.

Now that Mr. Pei had allocated another 40 million, the surrounding supporting facilities could finally keep up!

Pei Qian shook his head in exasperation: “Wrong, all 40 million is prepared for the Thriller Lodge project itself.”

“Put it all into the project, not a penny for surrounding supporting facilities, and don’t slow down the construction period.”

“Let me emphasize, this is very important, it must be done well, understand?”

Chen Kangtuo was a bit confused.

Well, he guessed completely wrong…

Indeed, Mr. Pei was Mr. Pei; ordinary people couldn’t guess his way of thinking…

Putting all 40 million into the Thriller Lodge project, and not affecting the construction period, meant they couldn’t randomly add new projects, they could only continue to refine details based on existing projects.

But… this seemed a bit too luxurious!

It was not as cost-effective as setting up supporting facilities!

Could there be a deeper meaning in this?

Chen Kangtuo instinctively felt it was somewhat wasteful, but he didn’t dare to ask more, just faithfully executed: “Yes, Mr. Pei, I’ll handle it well!”

Pei Qian nodded with satisfaction, then stood up: “Continue with your work. In a while, a group of people will come here to investigate. I’ll personally receive them, you don’t need to manage anything. If you see anything puzzling, don’t ask questions, understand?”

Chen Kangtuo and Hao Qiong nodded together: “Understood!”

Pei Qian left the office satisfied and went to wait in his car.

Earlier, Mr. Li said he would bring others to invest in this area, and they were coming today to investigate. Pei Qian certainly needed to receive them.

Although the reception could also be handled by Chen Kangtuo, Pei Qian wasn’t at ease.

If Chen Kangtuo wasn’t careful with his words and inadvertently revealed some clues, letting Mr. Li and others discover that Pei Qian had invested such a large sum in this project, it would strengthen Mr. Li and others’ idea of “getting a share of the pie.”

By then, it would be even harder to shake them off.

Pei Qian had already planned that when Mr. Li and the others arrived, he would directly take them for a walk around the desolate old industrial area, letting them get a good look at just how barren this land was!

If he could dissuade some investors on the spot, that would be the best.

If he couldn’t dissuade them, he would think of other ways.

…

Less than half an hour later, several high-end business cars stopped at the entrance of the old industrial area.

Pei Qian immediately went up to welcome Mr. Li and the others warmly.

“Mr. Pei! Sorry to keep you waiting. We’re not very familiar with the roads around here, which delayed us a bit. I’m sorry.”

Li Shi got out of the car, the first to apologize to Pei Qian.

Other investors also got out of their cars one after another to greet Mr. Pei.

Some drove themselves, some brought drivers, but the drivers all stayed in the cars and didn’t follow.

What Mr. Li said wasn’t an excuse, but a fact.

The roads in this place were indeed unfamiliar!

Two investors, after getting out of their cars, immediately frowned.

It was too desolate!

Although everyone had heard about the old industrial area in Jingzhou, many had never been there before because they had no direct business dealings with this area. Why come here?

After arriving today and taking a look, they were utterly disappointed; it was even worse than the worst situation they had imagined!

Earlier, Li Shi had indeed said that Mr. Pei had set up a haunted house project in a desolate, deserted place in the old industrial area.

At that time, they thought Mr. Li was using exaggeration.

Now they knew there was no exaggeration at all!

Saying this place was deserted was almost an insult to deserted places.

In short, their mental state immediately collapsed, and it was involuntarily expressed on their faces.

Pei Qian saw this and felt delighted inside.

Good, this was exactly the reaction he wanted!

I told you long ago that this place was too desolate and couldn’t be developed, but you wouldn’t believe me.

Do you believe now?

Of course, currently only two people clearly showed dissatisfaction. Pei Qian felt he needed to continue his efforts.

Leading these investors around the old industrial area, he wanted them to get a good look at the full view of the old industrial area.

By then, they would know that what could be called “relatively desolate” was only the entrance area.

Further in, it was even worse!

Since presenting the facts and reasoning could no longer dissuade these people, showing them the actual situation on the ground, surely they would know when to retreat?

“Everyone, please follow me. I’ll give you a brief introduction to the current state of this old industrial area and the recent situation of the Thriller Lodge project.”

Pei Qian led these investors deeper into the old industrial area.

…

Thirty minutes later, everyone walked back from the depths of the old industrial area, stopping outside one of the factory buildings being renovated for the Thriller Lodge project.

Two slightly older investors were already panting from the walk.

Li Shi was also rubbing his legs, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

Pei Qian, just over twenty years old, found this short walk like child’s play, but these gentlemen lived comfortable lives and were already a bit exhausted after walking for half an hour.

Even so, the investors all followed along; no one dropped out or became so angry that they turned and left immediately, which surprised Pei Qian.

However, everyone’s expressions were not good.

Because after this tour, they found that their earlier impression that the entrance to the old industrial area was too desolate was a misunderstanding.

After seeing the inside, they knew what true desolation meant!

Although the entrance was desolate, at least the ground was relatively clean. When they walked into the old industrial area, they saw various piles of construction waste, graffiti of unclear meaning on the walls, and tenacious weeds growing everywhere, all indicating one fact.

That desolate entrance was the most presentable place in the entire old industrial area…

Pei Qian smiled slightly, feeling that his purpose had already been half achieved.

As long as these investors saw the true state of the old industrial area and thought about what would happen after they invested their money…

Someone would withdraw on the spot!

Pei Qian coughed lightly: “Everyone, let me emphasize again.”

“This investment will truly lose money.”

He tried to make his expression look as sincere as possible.

It was apparent that two or three investors were about to back out.

Previously, they wanted to co-invest based on Mr. Pei’s successful aura, but now, seeing the true situation of the old industrial area, they suddenly felt that even Mr. Pei’s aura couldn’t help.

For this place to become popular, the difficulty would be no less than turning stone into gold!

However, no one wanted to be the first to say they wouldn’t invest, they looked at each other, waiting for someone else to be the first to speak up.

Pei Qian wasn’t in a hurry either. After all, as long as he waited patiently, everyone would carefully weigh their money, and someone would step forward.

However, Li Shi seemed to have also noticed this.

He decisively stepped forward, looking around at everyone: “What’s this? We all agreed earlier, don’t tell me someone wants to back out now?”

His voice was full of determination.

Pei Qian: “…?”

He looked at Li Shi with confusion.

Li Shi nodded firmly to Pei Qian, then continued looking at other investors: “How foolish! Mr. Pei is testing your determination!”

“Earlier, everyone said they wouldn’t invest except in Mr. Pei’s projects, but after walking a few steps and seeing some surface phenomena, you changed your minds? Even weathervanes are more steadfast than you!”

“Think about what happened to those investors who didn’t trust Mr. Pei when investing in the Scholar Rush project!”

“Do you want to be like those people, missing out on a good project?”

After Li Shi’s few sentences, several investors who seemed to be backing out had their eyes turn firm again.

They looked at each other, falling into deep thought.

Meanwhile, Li Shi looked at Pei Qian with a smile, as if saying: “Don’t worry, with me here, none of these people will be allowed to desert!”

Pei Qian: “…”

He felt a bit tired at heart.