Chapter 196 Secret Love
At night, the clouds are light and the moon is dim.

The warm yellow light bulbs cast a shadow on the quiet courtyard. The evening breeze blows by with the chill of Cangshan pine needles, and wind chimes ring softly on the eaves.

"You've been running all day today. Don't stay up too late. Go to bed early."

Chen Mo brought a cup of coffee and placed it next to Xu Hongdou's laptop.

"Well, there's only a little left. I have to check the expenses of the recent renovations and purchases."

Xu Hongdou stared at the table details on the screen and said with a little distress:

"I have made a budget, but when it comes to actual spending, there is always a little extra here and a little extra there. It may not seem like much, but when you add it up, it is seriously over budget."

Chen Mo comforted him, "This is normal. It's rare for a project to go over budget. A while ago, an animation director approached me to get investment. Guess what he said?"

"How to say?"

"I asked him how much money he needed, and he said conservatively 50 or 60 million. I asked him how long it would take to complete, and he said conservatively two to three years. Listen, he always puts 'conservative' in front of everything he says, to leave room for asking for more money in the future."

Xu Hongdou looked surprised, "Can you attract investment this way?"

Chen Mo shrugged, "The older you get, the less you can say what you want."

In fact, Chen Mo knew very well that this was Xu Hongdou’s first time starting a business, so she wanted to do everything to perfection.

For the furniture doors and windows alone, Xu Hongdou specially found Master Xie from the wood carving workshop, who used all solid wood to assemble them with mortise and tenon structures. Not only is the quality high, but the formaldehyde content is low.

This is also the largest order the woodcarving workshop has received since it reopened. Master Xie, Xie Xiaoxia and several other apprentices have been busy for several months.

On the one hand, Xu Hongdou felt more at ease with acquaintances, and on the other hand, she also wanted to take care of the wood carving workshop's business.

There are also paint, tiles, shower facilities, bedding. If you want to be particular, you will have to spend more money on everything. Spend a little more here and a little more there, and the result will be over budget.

If we change to something more utilitarian, we can finish the decoration and open the business directly after it is completed.

What's the matter with formaldehyde? Why do we need to leave the room vacant to let the smell escape? A guest will only stay for two or three days at most. What problem can go wrong?
Some brand hotel chains also do this.

There is another sentence after "Being rich but not kind", "Being kind but not rich".

People who are too kind and honest often find it difficult to get rich.

In the catering industry, those who use real ingredients often cannot outlast those who use high-tech methods.

Good money driving out bad money is only a minority case, but bad money driving out good money is the reality.

After checking the account book, Xu Hongdou closed the notebook, took off his flat-frame glasses with low prescription, and stretched his neck with his hands.

Chen Mo walked behind Xu Hongdou and massaged her shoulders.

Xu Hongdou smiled, picked up the coffee and took a sip. The bitterness was mild, with a light aftertaste of sweet orange blossom.

The taste buds were watered, and the fatigue seemed to be diluted a little. Xu Hongdou's brows, which had been unconsciously furrowed before, suddenly relaxed and she sighed softly, "It's great."

Chen Mo said with a smile: "Are you satisfied with just a cup of coffee?"

Xu Hongdou narrowed her eyes and smiled. "This coffee bean is the small-grain coffee from Baoshan, Yunnan, which Nana chose. I plan to use it as the main coffee at our homestay coffee bar. It is delicious and has local characteristics. We can also prepare some drip coffee and give it to guests as a souvenir when the business opens."

After a pause, Xu Hongdou gently held Chen Mo's hand and changed the subject: "But I mean, it's great to have you here."

Chen Mo smiled gently and said softly: "Since you know I am here, don't make yourself too tired. Just do things calmly and don't worry too much. I will cover you."

Xu Hongdou felt the warmth from Chen Mo's hand, closed her eyes slightly, and shook her head: "I'm not tired, I feel very fulfilled and happy now."

Chen Mo shook his head helplessly and said, "Originally, you resigned, and I thought you would be able to relax in the future, but now it seems that after the B&B opens, you will be busy again." Xu Hongdou smiled, "Then I can only say that I am destined to be a hard-working person."

Chen Mo said meaningfully: "You are destined to be a young lady. As long as you are willing, you don't have to work so hard."

"Hmm~~This coffee is really delicious, you should try it too."

Xu Hongdou handed the half-drunk coffee to Chen Mo and asked Chen Mo to take a sip as well.

Chen Mo knew that Xu Hongdou wanted to change the subject, but he still took it and took a sip.

Ever since the last incident with Junzi, he rushed over overnight and said that he regretted letting her stay here to develop. In addition, there was an accident today, so Xu Hongdou felt a little guilty about talking about this topic.

She actually didn't want them to be separated like this forever, but there was no good solution for the time being.

This B&B is the result of not only her own hard work, but also the investment of Nanxing and Nana. There is no way she would quit halfway.

Xu Hongdou blinked and asked, "How is it? Is it delicious?"

Chen Mo nodded. "It's OK. It tastes like soy milk."

"Soy milk flavor?" Xu Hongdou took it back and took another sip, "No, where does the soy milk flavor come from?"

Chen Mo casually said, "Isn't coffee also a kind of soy milk?"

Xu Hongdou opened her eyes. It sounded a bit strange, but when she thought about it carefully, it seemed to be true.

Isn't coffee just the pulp of ground coffee beans? So it seems reasonable to call it soy milk.

Xu Hongdou smacked his lips. "Now that you mention it, coffee is really a bit like Western-style soy milk. Soy milk goes with fried dough sticks, and coffee goes with bread."

Chen Mo shrugged, "I prefer soy milk to coffee."

"Then I'll drink the rest myself." Xu Hongdou didn't force her and slowly finished the rest of the coffee.

She knew that compared to coffee, Chen Mo actually preferred tea.

Just like Chen Mo knew that she liked coffee and was aware that drinking coffee would not affect her sleep, so he would make coffee for her at night.

It's interesting to think about it. Xu Hongdou found that she and Chen Mo actually have many different taste preferences.

For example, she likes coffee, while Chen Mo prefers tea; she likes spicy food, while Chen Mo prefers light taste; she likes desserts, but Chen Mo doesn't like sweets very much. However, the two of them have never had any conflicts because of these.

Chen Mo asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Xu Hongdou came back to her senses and shook her head, "It's nothing, the one I want is already with me."

Chen Mo's eyes widened. "You used to say that to me, but you're also so good at coaxing people. Xu Hongdou, don't lie to me in the future."

Xu Hongdou snorted, "I will definitely lie to you in the future. I can lie, and I will be petty, selfish, jealous, and envious. I will weigh the pros and cons, and I will jump back and forth between loving you and wanting to strangle you. I have all the weaknesses that human nature should have."

Chen Mo nodded, "It's hard for you."

Xu Hongdou didn't understand, "What?"

Chen Mo's eyes were filled with smiles, "To hide a confession in such a long paragraph."

"When did I confess to you?"

"Just now, you said you loved me."

(End of this chapter)