Chapter 45: Encountering the Other Two Shareholders at The Tipsy Abode

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Encountering the Other Two Shareholders at The Tipsy Abode

Back at The Solstice.

Rian Sinclair had Uncle Forrest park the Pagani in The Solstice’s garage.

Looking at the few people in front of her, Rian planned to hire more staff. After all, compared to The Solstice in the bustling downtown area, she preferred living in the secluded Red Maple Lake Villa away from the noise.

Rian communicated with the system in her mind, "Open the Talent Shop." This was the same shop where she had purchased her previous four subordinates.

The blue holographic screen was divided into seven sections.

All-Around Manager, Assistant, Butler, Bodyguard, Driver, Nanny, and Lifestyle.

The Lifestyle category included many professions, but they were not individually sub-categorized.

Rian calculated the manpower she needed. Based on her current properties and their development, plus the company Donovan Sinclair had recently acquired, he would be too busy to handle everything alone. Therefore, she planned to recruit another Manager.

As for an Assistant, Rian intended to keep one by her side.

She looked at the Bodyguard module. Currently, in Veridia, her safety was guaranteed, but she would likely go abroad soon, which meant her personal security needed absolute assurance.

Over at Villa One, relying solely on Auntie Alden and Uncle Forrest wouldn’t be enough. The landscaping needed tending, and other areas required professional upkeep as well.

Rian truly felt this was going to be another massive expense.

[Host, secondary purchases for roles like nannies and drivers are much cheaper than the first time. However, managers, assistants, butlers, and bodyguards will not be discounted. In other words, your first purchase of a nanny or driver secured management-level personnel. Any subsequent purchases fall under general subordinate roles.]

Rian basically understood. It simply meant Auntie Alden and Uncle Forrest were the supervisors in charge of all work arrangements. However, both of them were ranked beneath the butler. The butler only needed to assign tasks to the two of them and let them distribute the work to their subordinates.

"Quite a hierarchical system," Rian murmured, satisfied with the system’s explanation. After all, she would only need to communicate directly with the butler.

"One manager, one assistant. As for nannies, arrange six. Two more drivers, two chefs, one pastry chef, two gardeners, one pool maintenance worker, and one court groundskeeper."

Rian had carefully visualized the entire villa before deciding to hire these people. As for bodyguards, Aiden Sinclair alone was completely sufficient for now; she could always buy more later if needed.

[DING! 875 million spent.]

[The purchased talents will arrive at the villa in three hours. Their identities have been entered into the Blue Star National Information Database. Their backgrounds are legal and sound. The Host can employ them with peace of mind.]

Rian gave her butler, Ethan Sinclair, a quick heads-up so he could organize the new arrivals later. Putting the matter aside, she looked at her bank balance, feeling that her money was truly slipping away too fast.

Looking at the few high-quality, high-scoring men sitting on her WeChat contact list, it seemed it was time to set up a date.

Furthermore, it was time to inject funds into the foundation.

As for Ash Sinclair, Rian didn’t give it much thought right now. That could wait until after his college entrance exams.

(Author Ian’s Note: I won’t write out the exact Wealth Points from now on. Just know that our Rian is rich.)

She petted Bandage the cat. Since moving wasn’t urgent at the moment, she scrolled through Sharkstream for a while and tipped the streamers she followed. Then, she decided to eat out.

It seemed she hadn’t eaten at The Tipsy Abode once since acquiring shares in the restaurant.

Without another word, she set off.

Upon entering The Tipsy Abode, Rian didn’t deliberately expose her identity as the boss, but she wasn’t about to shortchange herself either. She took out her black card. With its exclusive privileges, dining at The Tipsy Abode required zero advance reservations.

A staff member ushered Rian into the VIP section on the fifth floor. From the moment she walked in, Rian was captivated by The Tipsy Abode’s overall layout.

It featured an antique traditional Chinese aesthetic, with the faint scent of sandalwood wafting through the air. Exquisite wood carvings adorned the space, and masterpieces hung on the wooden walls. The grand, magnificent lobby contrasted with the refined, elegant private dining rooms. A cluster of vibrant green bamboo stood proudly in the center of the hall.

The courtyard was planted full of bamboo, with a winding marble path cutting through it. Looking down from the fifth floor, she saw a vibrant expanse of spring green. Not far away sat a decorative rockery bordering a small pond.

Dining at The Tipsy Abode truly provided a deeply relaxing experience for both body and mind.

Seated in her private room, Rian waited for her food to be served while gazing out the window. She was so immersed in admiring the scenery that when a knock came at the door, she assumed it was her meal.

The wooden door was pushed open. Seeing the staff member standing before her, Rian couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

"Is something the matter?"

"Hello, Miss. I am so sorry to disturb you."

Noting the staff member’s polite attitude, Rian didn’t take issue and waited for her to continue.

"The restaurant’s two other shareholders would like to come meet you. Would that be convenient for you?" The staff member’s tone was brimming with respect and nervousness. Initially, she had thought Rian was just a wealthy patron, never expecting her to be the restaurant’s ultimate boss.

If Mr. Shaw and Mr. Winslow hadn’t arrived, she would have remained completely in the dark! Recalling her earlier behavior, she was relieved that she hadn’t made a single mistake. Perfect! Full marks for herself!

Rian naturally had no idea what was going through the staff member’s mind.

But what was the meaning behind those two coming over? That remained to be seen. Rian highly doubted they were coming simply to meet a fellow shareholder. After all, their prestigious statuses spoke for themselves.

But if they felt their authority was being challenged because she had bought the enterprise out from under them... well, then she had overestimated these powerful heirs.

Rian didn’t know why they were here or what prompted their visit, but there was a high probability they bore no ill will. Pushing down the doubts in her heart, she figured all mysteries would be unraveled once they arrived.

Not long after the staff member left, there was another knock on the door, followed by two men appearing in the entryway.

[DING! Spending targets detected! Attractiveness rating: 96 points. Meets the spending requirements. Please tip to obtain cashback as soon as possible, Host!]

[DING! Spending target detected! Attractiveness rating: 93 points. Meets the spending requirements. Please tip to obtain cashback as soon as possible, Host!]

A flash of surprise passed through Rian’s almond eyes, startled by just how handsome the men were. However, she quickly withdrew her gaze. The entire process took barely two seconds; in Connor Shaw and Cedric Winslow’s eyes, the woman across from them merely glanced at them before looking away.

Cedric Winslow stepped forward first, smiling at the seated Rian. "Hello, Miss Sinclair. I am Cedric Winslow, and this is Connor Shaw. We’re very sorry for intruding on you today."

Rian looked at the smiling duo. You don’t slap a smiling face. Cedric Winslow clearly understood this idiom well. The corners of Rian’s lips turned upward as she pointed to the empty seats. "Please, sit down and we’ll talk."

Connor Shaw and Cedric Winslow weren’t the type to stand on ceremony either; they took a seat while the staff member hurried over to brew some tea for them.

Rian took a sip of her hot tea, her gaze casually sizing them up. Connor and Cedric were quietly observing her in return.

The woman before them was very young and stunningly beautiful. Her aura was exceptional, lacking any trace of arrogance or domineering airs. Yet, neither of them could match this incredibly pretty face with anyone they knew in their high-society circles.

Did that mean Rian Sinclair wasn’t from their world? Just who on earth was she?

Rian naturally felt their scrutiny, but since neither of them offered to speak, she broke the silence and cut straight to the chase. "I doubt you came all the way from Kyoro just for a simple meal."

She set her teacup down on the table, maintaining a polite but slightly distant smile. "I wonder, what business do Mr. Shaw and Mr. Winslow have with me?"