Chapter 367: Bad Publicity Is Still Publicity

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m going to be Yang Xun’s savior. I couldn’t care less if Cheng Ye lives or dies; he’s nothing but a pawn.

“I helped Yang Xun at the club last time. This time, I’ll give him the antidote for the Jade Skin Cream so Xu’s Beauty Industry can make a comeback. When I propose Dual Cultivation with him then, he won’t refuse,” Su Mei said.

“Master, there are so many men in the world. Why must it be him?” Xiao Shijun ground his teeth, resentful. He had stayed by his master’s side for so many years yet had never touched her once, but Yang Xun actually got to be intimate with her.

“What do you know? The Essence Qi in his body is incredibly pure. Sleeping with him once is worth draining ten men dry. My cultivation has improved significantly lately.

“If I wasn’t afraid of him noticing, I’d want to keep him in bed every single day,” Su Mei said, licking her lips. Just thinking about Yang Xun made her body run hot with unbearable thirst.

She thought, “Looks like I’ll have to ask him out again tomorrow. It’ll be the perfect time to give him the antidote for the Jade Skin Cream.”

Xiao Shijun clenched his fists, the veins bulging on his forehead. Su Mei paid him no mind at all, turning to go into her room to rest.

The next morning.

Yang Xun stood inside his newly purchased building, holding a stack of design sketches. Designer Mr. Liu Ye, whom Zhou Yuan had hired, stood next to him, explaining as he drew, “Mr. Yang, I suggest building a bar counter and a row of open seating on the first floor. The second floor can be partitioned into small private rooms, and the third floor can be renovated into an activity area where customers can make their own sachets, bracelets, and other products.

“The overall style will follow a modern Chinese aesthetic, using natural wood and warm white as the main tones. We can embellish it with some traditional Chinese herbal medicine elements so it has character without feeling too archaic.”

“Let’s go with this direction. Keep the color palette elegant and light. You can add a few warm yellow woven bamboo lamps in the bar area.

“Also, use a running script font for the signboard at the entrance. Don’t use anything too flashy; it needs to look grounded and comfortable,” Yang Xun said, nodding in satisfaction at the sketch.

Designer Mr. Liu Ye noted everything down, asked a few more detail-oriented questions, and packed up his things to leave. Yang Xun stood before the window on the empty second floor, watching the streetlights gradually flicker on below. His very own shop would soon be up and running.

That night.

Yang Xun sat at his desk, studying the pot containing the Nine Nether Cold Jade Grass seed. He had dripped the nutrients he collected into the soil yesterday, but there seemed to be no reaction at all. His phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Zhou Yuan, followed by several screenshots. Yang Xun tapped them open and saw that they were forum posts across several platforms. The contents were largely the same:

“Do you guys know about that bankrupt Fumian Building in the city center? Someone bought it today. I heard the buyer is some hotheaded fool who spent five million to take over the mess. He really has more money than sense!”

“The feng shui there is terrible, right? Otherwise, why would every business that opens there go bust? The boss must have a hole in his head to open a shop there!”

“I heard that place used to have accidents all the time, and business was dismal. Whoever buys it is doomed to lose money.”

Zhou Yuan sent a follow-up message: “Xun, I just had someone look into it. A lot of the accounts making these posts are newly registered internet trolls. Someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

Seeing the message, Yang Xun knew exactly who was responsible without even having to think about it. No one else but that bastard Chen Junhao would be so petty. He replied, “Acknowledged. Ignore them,” before putting his phone down. He didn’t look at the posts again.

Early the next morning.

Yang Xun and Sun Rao headed to the newly purchased shop again. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw a few middle-aged women standing nearby, pointing at the Fumian Building’s signboard and whispering among themselves. Yang Xun didn’t break his stride, walking straight into the building.

A renovation foreman wearing a hard hat came over to greet him. “Boss Yang, you’re here! We tore down the old walls on the first floor yesterday and rewired the electricity and plumbing. Could you take a look and see if anything needs adjusting?”

Yang Xun followed the foreman around. The layout of the first-floor lobby was much more spacious than before. After tearing down some unnecessary partitions, the entire space felt open and bright. Sunlight poured in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm pools of light over the light gray concrete floor.

“It’s quite good. Build the partitions on the second floor according to the blueprints too. I won’t ask you to rush the schedule, but the quality must be guaranteed,” Yang Xun said.

“Don’t worry, Boss Yang! We’ll definitely do a beautiful job for you!”

Yang Xun nodded. Just as he was about to head upstairs to take a look, the phone in his pocket rang. After hanging up, he put his phone away. He was just about to go find Zhou Yuan when he noticed a familiar black sports car parked across the street. Chen Junhao was sitting in the driver’s seat. He flashed a wide grin at Yang Xun through the window, then started the car and sped off.

“That idiot actually came to watch the show. He really has nothing better to do,” Yang Xun muttered. He paid him no further attention and turned back into the shop.

Over the next few days, the rumors didn’t dissipate with Yang Xun’s silence. Instead, they spread even wider. Some even claimed that the building used to be a graveyard with dead bodies buried beneath it, which was why every business there lost money. As soon as these claims surfaced, the renovation workers grew somewhat panicked, afraid that if they quit now, Yang Xun wouldn’t pay their wages.

“Xun, someone is obviously pulling the strings behind these rumors. If they keep spreading like this, it’ll be really detrimental to your business later,” Zhou Yuan said with a frown.

“What’s the rush? The fiercer the rumors are now, the greater the contrast will be when we open for business.

“When people realize there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the building and that business is booming, those rumors will turn into a joke.

“Haven’t you heard the saying? Bad publicity is still publicity. Let him spread rumors to his heart’s content now. When we clear the air afterward, it’ll be just like free advertising. Won’t this save us a fortune in marketing costs?” Yang Xun replied, his expression calm and his tone remaining composed.

Zhou Yuan froze for a moment before catching on. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Xun, that’s a brilliant move!”

“Alright, stop flattering me,” Yang Xun said with a faint smile. “Go pay the renovation team half of their final balance in advance. That way, they won’t slack off out of fear that we’ll run away without paying.”

“Got it.” Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly.

“I plan on having Sun Rao manage this shop. During this period, she’ll be in charge of hiring and getting the staff trained as soon as possible. You don’t have any objections, do you?” Yang Xun asked.

“Of course not. If there’s anything else, just give the word,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile.

“Then help me get something.” Yang Xun pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. “There are some medicinal herbs listed on this. Help me purchase a batch. It’d be best if they can arrive within three days. You don’t need to buy too much; just fifty portions will do for now.”

Zhou Yuan took it and unfolded it for a look. Dozens of medicinal herbs were listed on the paper, with specific quantities marked next to them.

“These are for the sachets and bracelets. Don’t young women love this kind of stuff? When we open, as long as they spend a certain amount, we’ll give them one for free. They’re both aesthetically pleasing and practical,” Yang Xun explained. When he first prepared to open the shop, he already had a concrete marketing plan in mind.

Zhou Yuan put the piece of paper away safely and patted his chest. “Leave it to me. I’ll get them for you within three days.”