Movie/TV series: Starting with Ode to Joy, I opened my own private kitchen.

Page 119

Zhu Zhe knew that Director Wang had misunderstood, but it was not a good time to explain Su Chang's identity. So she carefully observed Su Chang's reaction and found that he did not change his expression. She breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't know why, but she didn't want Su Chang to misunderstand her.

Zhu Zhe glared at Director Wang with annoyance and then said, "Don't talk to me about that person. We're not familiar with each other, and these two are just ordinary friends of mine. Don't overthink it. Let's get down to business first."

Director Wang nodded and said, "Alright, how did you handle those two matters?"

Zhu Zhe replied with a serious expression, "The matter is already being handled. After I arrived..." Zhu Zhe recounted in detail all the measures taken after her arrival.

He then continued, "I now suspect that both of them have problems, and I've applied for a forensic examination for customer 903. As for the other customer, I think we can just call the police."

Director Wang frowned upon hearing Zhu Zhe's words, then shook his head and said, "No, this would have too much of an impact on the hotel, and the higher-ups wouldn't approve it."

Zhu Zhe, however, argued forcefully, "Director Wang, if we don't handle this firmly, it could lead to even more serious consequences." The housekeeping department's biggest fear is petty theft.

After listening to Zhu Zhe's analysis, Director Wang did not respond, but kept circling his thumbs in a deep thought.

Zhu Zhe continued, "The Housing Management Department is most afraid of petty theft. Take Fu Jin from before, for example..."

Upon hearing Zhu Zhe mention Director Wang of Fujin, he immediately raised his hand to interrupt, saying, "I remember now. Fujin went bankrupt later, and the entire management team was laid off. Alright, you can handle the guest in room 903 as you wish."

Director Wang then said, "As for the other guest, you shouldn't call the police. Just apologize and resolve the issue quickly. After all, their company is a major client of our hotel. We can't afford to offend them and lose such a big order because of one waitress. Besides, even if they harassed the waitress, she didn't take any evidence at the time. It's easy for them to turn the tables and falsely accuse the young woman. There's nothing we can do about it."

Zhu Zhe, however, was unwilling to let the young woman suffer such injustice. He frowned and said, "If that waitress was truly harassed, and someone who is already wronged is further unjustly accused, are the customers trying to drive her to her death? That young woman is only in her early twenties. If she is insulted by the customers and fined by the hotel, her life's beliefs will be destroyed. The other waitresses will also feel disheartened. Recruiting is so difficult these days. To maintain the stability of my team, I can't just sit idly by..."

Director Wang interrupted, saying, "Zhu Zhe, I understand your intention, but you need to think carefully. If you don't handle this properly, you'll lose the manager position you worked so hard to get."

Upon hearing Director Wang's words, Zhu Zhe fell silent. She understood what Director Wang meant: the more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the better.

Seeing Zhu Zhe remain silent, Su Chang did not speak. Director Wang continued, "Zhu Zhe, I don't care how you handle it, my requirement is that the client's lock must be opened, unreasonable requests from the client must be rejected, and the contracting company behind the client must not be offended."

Su Chang could also see that this Director Wang was a seasoned veteran in the workplace, unwilling to take any responsibility but wanting everything. He originally wanted to simply reveal his identity and forcefully let Zhu Zhe take over the entire operation without worrying about the consequences, but Zhu Zhe readily agreed.

Afterwards, Zhu Zhe led Su Chang and the other person out of the director's office. Zhu Zhe didn't linger. After returning to his office, he received feedback from the engineering department that the keyhole was blocked with glue and couldn't be opened...

Zhu Zhe was now even more certain that the customer had done it on purpose, so he arranged for the waiters to enter the room under the pretext of cleaning before the guest checked out to collect evidence. If they found any suspicious bottles or jars, they were to report it immediately, and he instructed them to wear gloves and record the whole process.

After the waiters left, she asked Assistant Li to take the guests to the engineering department to buy time, while she called Ye Zhenzhen and asked her to come and help. Ye Zhenzhen agreed without hesitation. Su Chang originally wanted to say that she could do it too, but after thinking about it, she didn't say anything.

After leaving Director Wang's office, Zhu Zhe apologized to Su Chang, "President Su, I'm sorry I didn't ask for your opinion before." A hint of guilt flashed in her eyes, and she lowered her head slightly.

Su Chang waved his hand dismissively and said with a smile, "It's okay, I only brought my glasses and ears today." His smile was relaxed and natural, as if he didn't take the matter to heart.

Zhu Zhe nodded, then went straight to the mediation room. Her steps were firm and confident, as if she already had a plan in mind.

Upon seeing Zhu Zhe enter the mediation room, Xiao Luo rushed over and said anxiously in a low voice, "Manager Zhu, the guest demands that we resolve this as soon as possible, otherwise she will file a complaint and expose our hotel." Xiao Luo's voice was filled with obvious anxiety, and fine beads of sweat even appeared on her forehead.

Zhu Zhe smiled calmly, patted Xiao Luo on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me." Her smile was as warm as a spring breeze, giving people a sense of reassurance.

After finishing her sentence, Zhu Zhe walked to the opposite side of Gong Shuangshuang and introduced herself with a smile: "Ms. Gong, hello! I am Zhu Zhe, the manager of the housekeeping department." Her voice was gentle yet firm, and her eyes revealed confidence and professionalism.

Gong Shuangshuang glanced at her, then turned away, saying with a disdainful look, "Manager Zhu, I'm not doing well at all right now, so don't bother talking to me anymore. I just want to know how you're going to resolve this." Her tone was full of dissatisfaction and provocation.

Zhu Zhe wasn't angry at all. Instead, she smiled and said, "Ms. Gong, I came here to deal with this matter. I just had someone find a specialist from the Public Security Bureau's Forensic Science Center to come over. They will collect the evidence and compare it with everyone's fingerprints. They should be here soon, Ms. Gong. Just wait a little while, and we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer." Her smile remained bright, but her eyes shone with determination.

Gong Shuangshuang was surprised that Zhu Zhe would make such a fuss over such a small matter. She immediately turned around, forced a few fake smiles, and said to Zhu Zhe, "Manager Zhu, it's just a jar of face cream. There's no need to make such a fuss." Her smile seemed a little stiff, and her eyes revealed a hint of guilt.

Zhu Zhe wasn't so easily fooled. She smiled and said, "Of course we need it. Let's not even talk about how half the price of this face cream is already over a thousand yuan, enough to file a case. We..." Her tone was unquestionable as she observed Gong Shuangshuang's reaction.

Chapter 226 Solution

Gong Shuangshuang quickly waved her hand to interrupt, saying, "No need... no need..." A hint of panic appeared on her face, then she forced a smile and said in a righteous manner, "I am very pleased with your attitude. I must have made a mistake. I will go home and ask my family how much I paid when I left. I can't wrong an innocent person, I can't wrong an innocent person."

After saying that, Gong Shuangshuang picked up the face cream jar on the table and turned to leave.

Zhu Zhe immediately stood up and followed closely behind her, saying as they walked, "Ms. Gong, what about the compensation you mentioned?"

Gong Shuangshuang walked away without looking back or saying a word, her steps quickening.

Zhu Zhe then said to Xiao Luo, "Something's fishy."

Xiao Luo pointed in the direction Gong Shuangshuang left and said, "As soon as she heard you mention the Public Security Bureau's Forensic Science Center, she started to panic. It's extortion!"

Zhu Zhe revealed a smug smile and said with disdain, "With this kind of mentality, you still want to extort money?"

Zhu Zhe then looked at everyone and said, "Alright, everyone go about your business. I have to go and take care of another guest."

"Okay, Manager Zhu." Everyone agreed and quickly dispersed.

Su Chang gave Zhu Zhe a thumbs up, and Zhu Zhe smiled slightly before heading towards the engineering department. She hadn't forgotten that there was another customer she needed to deal with.

Zhu Zhe had just arrived at the entrance of the engineering department and hadn't even entered when his phone rang. He took out his phone and saw that it was Ye Zhenzhen calling, so he immediately answered it.

"Gigi, Honghong and I are in your hotel's underground parking lot now. Which floor are you on?" Ye Zhenzhen asked impatiently as soon as the call connected.

Zhu Zhe looked surprised. She hadn't expected Ye Zhenzhen to arrive so quickly, so she said, "I'm on the fifth floor now. I'll meet you at the elevator."

Upon hearing Ye Zhenzhen's agreement, Zhu Zhe hung up the phone and then looked at Su Chang, saying, "Su Chang, Zhenzhen is here to help. I'm going to pick her up now."

Su Chang nodded and said, "Let's go, let's go together."

Not long after, the elevator doors opened, and Ye Zhenzhen and He Minhong appeared before the three of them carrying two suitcases. Zhu Zhe said gratefully, "Zhenzhen, you've really gone to so much trouble. You probably didn't even have lunch. After we finish our work, I'll treat you to a big meal."

Ye Zhenzhen waved her hand and said, "Jiji, don't be so polite with me. Besides, isn't Boss Su here? Let him cook a big meal to treat us later. I think that's a good idea." Ye Zhenzhen looked at Su Chang with a teasing expression.

Su Chang touched his nose and said with a wry smile, "No problem. Since Miss Ye has made a request, I will certainly fulfill it. However, I am not the hotel owner today, but just a friend of Zhu Zhe who came to help. Please keep this a secret for me."

Ye Zhenzhen and He Minhong looked at Su Chang with surprise. Ye Zhenzhen asked, "Handsome Su, you're not telling me that no one in the hotel knows you yet?"

Su Chang shrugged and said helplessly, "I'm a pretty lazy person, and this hotel is just a small part of my business. I doubt anyone outside of this place knows me."

Ye Zhenzhen pouted and muttered, "Fine, you got away with it. But remember to treat us to a big meal tonight."

Su Chang gave an OK sign and immediately agreed. Zhu Zhe then said, "Zhenzhen, let's take care of things first. We can talk about the big meal later."

The group then went to the engineering department, where they saw a man in his thirties wearing a short-sleeved shirt and trousers sitting on a stool with his legs crossed, looking like he was the boss of the world. There was a white suitcase on the table, and many people were standing around helplessly, pacing anxiously.

Upon seeing Zhu Zhe enter, Assistant Li immediately stepped forward and whispered, "Manager Zhu, the engineering department has tried many methods, but none of them can open the combination lock without damage."

Zhu Zhe smiled slightly, nodded, and said, "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Then Zhu Zhe turned to Ye Zhenzhen and said, "Zhenzhen, I'm counting on you."

Ye Zhenzhen gave an OK sign, and then she and He Minhong each carried a suitcase to the luggage side and began to work quickly.

Upon seeing Ye Zhenzhen's complete tools and professional technique, the man was immediately taken aback. He stood up and went to Zhu Zhe and the others, patting the suitcase and taunting, "Is opening a suitcase that troublesome? If not, just smash it open." The man was clearly trying to provoke Zhu Zhe.

This startled Ye Zhenzhen, who was seriously examining the box. Su Chang gave Guan Xiaodi a wink, and Guan Xiaodi understood immediately. She stepped between the man and Ye Zhenzhen to prevent the man from hurting Ye Zhenzhen. When Ye Zhenzhen saw Guan Xiaodi's expression, she smiled at her with gratitude.

Su Chang then went to Zhu Zhe's side, wary that the man might hurt Zhu Zhe. Zhu Zhe then smiled insincerely at the man and explained, "Excuse me, sir, our hotel has a rule that we cannot forcibly open the box."

The man continued provocatively, "You're trying to beat me up, huh? I'll smash it open myself, I don't want you to pay for it..."

"No need to smash it, I can open this box in five minutes." Ye Zhenzhen couldn't stand the man's arrogant and domineering manner, but she made a confident promise.

Seeing how calm the two were, the man could only say impatiently, "Fine, fine, you guys do it. I want to see if you can open it." He then sat back down, but his eyes looked somewhat guilty.

Ye Zhenzhen did not hesitate to start moving, but Zhu Zhe whispered in her ear, "Zhenzhen, move a little slower and give us more time."

Ye Zhenzhen immediately understood and said, "Jiji, the chemical reagents I used to open the box are volatile and toxic. Let's find another place to open the box."

Zhu Zhe immediately agreed and had someone prepare the venue.

Then everyone went to the stairwell on the basement floor. Everyone kept their distance, except for Ye Zhenzhen, who was fully equipped and began to operate. She carefully picked up the chemical reagent and slowly dissolved the glue on the suitcase.

Meanwhile, the waiters were anxiously searching for evidence in the guest rooms, their foreheads beaded with sweat, their eyes focused and eager.

Finally, a waiter found a bottle of super glue (502 glue) tucked into a crevice in the mattress. He pulled it out with a delighted smile. The head waiter immediately sent the video and pictures to Zhu Zhe.

Upon seeing the video and photos, Zhu Zhe's expression instantly turned serious, her eyes revealing determination and resolve. She said to Assistant Li, "The four people outside looking for evidence can all leave now."

Assistant Li immediately agreed, "Okay." Then he quickly went to inform the waiter.

The man looked at Zhu Zhe with a bewildered expression, his brows furrowed slightly, his eyes filled with doubt and confusion. He didn't understand what Zhu Zhe meant.

Zhu Zhe ignored him and turned her gaze to Lao Ding, saying firmly, "Lao Ding, keep an eye on him."

Old Ding immediately understood Zhu Zhe's meaning. He nodded, then quickly walked to the man's side and stared intently at him.

Upon seeing this, the man panicked. He immediately got up to find Zhu Zhe and try to explain something. However, Su Chang stepped in front of him first, her eyes filled with vigilance and authority, which made the man stop in his tracks.

Old Ding walked over at this moment and took Su Chang's place. The man looked at Old Ding with an unfriendly expression, his voice filled with anger and dissatisfaction: "What are you trying to do? What do you mean?"

Old Ding's face remained expressionless; he simply raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Sir, please cooperate with our work."

The man grew increasingly uneasy, wondering if he had truly discovered some flaw in his plan. His hands clenched unconsciously, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Zhu Zhe came to Ye Zhenzhen's side, her voice calm but firm: "Zhenzhen, we can stop now."

Ye Zhenzhen immediately nodded in agreement. She quickly packed up her tools and returned to the engineering department with the others.

Then, Ye Zhenzhen instructed her assistant, Li, to record the video, while she approached the man. Her gaze was sharp and resolute as she placed the video and pictures in front of him, then coldly said, "What explanation do you have now?"

The man's eyes darted around, but a sly smile played on his lips. He argued, "I bought 502 to fix my shoes. What does that have to do with me? What evidence do you have that I used 502 to seal my suitcase? Without evidence, you're just making baseless accusations! Do you believe I'll expose your hotel online?" His voice carried a hint of arrogance, seemingly brimming with confidence in his defense.

Zhu Zhe frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness and confusion on her face. She looked at the man, silently pondering how to respond.

At this moment, Ye Zhenzhen interjected, "Jiji, the glue contains magazines. As long as we check whether the magazines in the glue on the suitcase are the same as those in the glue in the bottle, we can prove whether the glue in the suitcase came from the same bottle."

Upon hearing Ye Zhenzhen's words, a glimmer of hope flashed in Zhu Zhe's eyes. She immediately said to Assistant Li, "Assistant Li, call the police!"

Upon hearing that the police were to be called, and seeing that the truth was about to be exposed, the man's face instantly tensed. He abruptly stood up, his voice trembling slightly, and said, "Never mind... never mind... never mind... well... since the suitcase has already been opened, no one has suffered any loss, everyone's happy, I have other things to do..." With that, he reached for his suitcase, preparing to leave.

Chapter 227 Arguing with Qin Shi

Upon seeing this, Zhu Zhe quickly stood up, grabbed the suitcase, and stared straight at the man with a cold and firm gaze, saying, "I'm not happy! The little girl you framed is even less happy!" Her voice carried a hint of anger and defiance.

Seeing Zhu Zhe's resolute attitude, the man began to panic. Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his hands rubbed together unconsciously as he tried to come up with an explanation. Finally, he could only rack his brains and say, "I was just joking with everyone."

Zhu Zhe was not easily fooled by his words. Her face turned serious as she said, "This is no joke. This is attempted extortion. I believe the police will be very willing to take your fingerprints after hearing your testimony, and you will definitely have a criminal record." Her words exuded an unquestionable authority.

Upon hearing Zhu Zhe's words, the man panicked. His face turned pale, and his legs began to weaken. He hurriedly apologized to Zhu Zhe, saying, "Manager Zhu, I was wrong. Please forgive me this time. I will never dare to do it again." His voice was filled with remorse and fear.

Zhu Zhe didn't even glance at him, turning directly to Assistant Li, who was still watching the drama unfold, and said, "What are you all standing there for? Call the police! I'm leaving." With that, she turned and walked towards the door without looking back, her steps firm and decisive. Seeing this, Su Chang and the others hurriedly followed, leaving the man dumbfounded, slumped to the ground like a deflated balloon.

Back in his office, Zhu Zhe looked at Su Chang with a mixture of anticipation and unease in his eyes, and asked softly, "President Su, is my approach alright?"

Su Chang smiled with satisfaction, gave Zhu Zhe a thumbs up, and said, "Manager Zhu, you handled it very well! I think it's a waste of your talent to only be a room manager."

Seeing Zhu Zhe still in a daze, Ye Zhenzhen excitedly interjected, "Jiji, congratulations! The boss said so, it looks like you're about to get promoted!"

Zhu Zhe then realized what was happening and felt a surge of joy. She quickly said to Su Chang, "Thank you, President Su. Don't worry, I will definitely work even harder in the future!"

Su Chang waved her hand, her smile growing even brighter: "This is what you deserve. Everyone has witnessed your abilities."

Zhu Zhe wanted to say a few more words to express his loyalty and gratitude, but Ye Zhenzhen suddenly interrupted, "Boss Su, I came to help out halfway through lunch, and now I'm starving. Shouldn't you cook a big meal to reward us?"