Li Jianfang, Li Zian, and Li Jianping were momentarily stunned the moment their eyes fell on the storefront.
The building itself was striking—triangular, wedge-shaped, rising confidently at the sharp curve of Jianghan Road, where the famous pedestrian street split from the motor road and merged with bustling Mingxin Street. It was a prime location, the kind of spot estate agents called a diamond property. Just as A Qing had said, the place almost seemed to radiate value.
Zhou Yichen, standing beside Li Ziqing, studied the exterior with interest.
Li Ziqing glanced at him and, without wasting a moment, said,
"Let's go in."
She fished a set of keys from her pocket, the faint jingle echoing in the air, and unlocked the heavy glass doors.
Inside, a faint scent of aged wood lingered. Everyone's first reaction was the same—a quiet moment of awe.
"This used to be a high-end restaurant," Li Ziqing explained as her gaze swept across the room. "All the tables and chairs are made from high-quality wood, the kind that lasts decades. The kitchen is fully furnished—there's even a large cold storage room." She gestured towards the back, where steel counters gleamed faintly. "The second and third floors have private dining rooms. The total carpet area is eight hundred square metres—it's the biggest property on Jianghan Road."
She paused, her brow knitting slightly.
"The only thing I'll change is the interior. This dark red theme makes it feel heavy. I'll make notes and let you know. You—" she pointed to Zhou Yichen "—start looking for the best designers. I want renovation to begin as soon as possible."
They moved upstairs to the second floor, and the three Li family members exchanged glances, equally surprised.
It was even more spacious here—a long corridor lined with private rooms. Each room was the size of a small apartment, complete with a grand dining table, a refrigerator, a plush sofa set, a bookshelf, and even a small wine cellar.
"Every five rooms have the same décor," Li Ziqing said as they walked. "But you'll see, they get more luxurious further in."
True to her words, as they crossed into the next set of rooms, the décor became increasingly refined—softer lighting, finer woodwork, richer upholstery, and a warmer atmosphere.
Then they reached the third floor.
Here, the air itself felt different—quieter, more secluded. The entire floor housed only three private rooms, but each was immense, like a private palace in miniature.
The first one they entered left them speechless.
"This…" Li Jianping's voice trailed off as his eyes roamed.
Each room had its own fully furnished food preparation area, separated by elegant sliding panels of frosted glass. A private bar, stocked with gleaming crystalware, curved along one corner, its marble countertop catching the light. A tea room, complete with a raised tatami-style seating area, occupied another corner, its shelves lined with rare tea canisters.
The main sitting area was expansive, furnished with deep, velvety sofas and armchairs arranged around a low coffee table. The dining area was dominated by a massive round table with seating for twenty, topped with a crystal chandelier whose delicate drops glittered like frost. A side wall held an ornate wine cabinet and a humidor for cigars.
In one room, a built-in karaoke and entertainment system was discreetly tucked into a cabinet; in another, a private library corner with floor-to-ceiling shelves invited guests to linger. Plush carpets muffled footsteps, and the walls were adorned with tasteful art—ink landscapes, oil paintings, and golden wall sconces.
"This isn't a private dining room," Zhou Yichen murmured, running his hand along the polished bar counter. "It's a self-contained luxury suite."
Li Ziqing glanced around with a faint smile.
"Indeed, it's luxurious." She straightened, her tone shifting to a crisp, businesslike cadence. "There are eighteen private rooms and twenty tables on the first floor. We'll run on a membership system—absolutely necessary, because I don't want this becoming one of those crowded, noisy restaurants. I'm planning a high-end fine dining experience."
Zhou Yichen leaned forward slightly, listening.
"There will be five membership tiers," Li Ziqing continued. "Regular members can dine on the first floor with prior booking. Silver, Gold, and Platinum members will have access to private rooms on the second floor, also with prior notice. And then comes the Diamond tier—top privileges, no limits."
Li Jianfang, Li Zian, and Li Jianping, still excited, left to explore the other rooms. That left Li Ziqing and Zhou Yichen seated in the comfortable lounge area of the private room, sunlight filtering through the carved wooden screens.
Li Ziqing was the first to speak.
"If Mayor Han gives us the registration certificate tomorrow as promised, how many days do you think it'll take for us to open?"
Zhou Yichen thought for a moment before replying.
"Considering renovation, hiring, restocking, and finalizing the menu… ten days at least."
Li Ziqing nodded, tapping her fingers lightly against the armrest.
"My school starts on the seventh of September. Before that, I need the hotel fully open."
"Understood," Zhou Yichen said.
She leaned in slightly. "And as you know, I'm not content with just one restaurant. I want expansion. Today, I need you to create a one-year business module—keep in mind, I must expand within the year. The scale, the numbers… you decide based on your estimation."
Zhou Yichen gave a confident nod. "Don't worry. I'll have the plan ready in an hour."
Li Ziqing tilted her head. "By the way, did you find a place to live?"
He shook his head. "I came straight to your house after landing. For now, I'm staying at a hotel. Later, I'll hire a broker for house hunting."
"Good. When you do, find one you can buy outright—soon. There's going to be a huge demolition project announced, and when it happens, real estate prices will skyrocket. Best to secure something early."
"Got it," Zhou Yichen replied.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall as the Li family returned, chatting animatedly about the other rooms. Li Ziqing rose to join them, her eyes glinting with quiet satisfaction. Zhou Yichen, meanwhile, had already pulled out his MacBook, fingers moving swiftly as he began drafting the business module.
---
As soon as they returned to the Li family's house in Nothern district, the evening breeze drifted in through the half-open window.
Zhou Yichen was already seated on the sofa, a MacBook open in front of him. A neatly bound freshly printed document sat beside it.
When Li Ziqing entered, he looked up and smiled faintly.
"It's ready. The one-year business module. I've considered the membership system, branding, and expansion strategy."
She walked over, picked up the file, and sat gracefully into the seat opposite him.
"Let's hear it."
Zhou Yichen leaned forward, his tone calm but decisive.
"First, our corporation name, already decided remain Huiheng Group, but every restaurant will have its own unique identity, rooted in deep culture and history. The Jiangshan Road flagship — our first — will be called 'Qianyan Pavilion' (千宴阁), meaning Pavilion of a Thousand Banquets. The name comes from an old Tang Dynasty poem that praised the art of hospitality and fine dining. It's refined, historical, and easy to remember."
Li Ziqing's lips curved into a small smile.
"Good. It has the kind of weight I want."
Zhou continued, flipping open the document to the first page that read "One-Year Business Plan: Huiheng Group – Phase One."
Restaurant Concept & Membership System under all Huiheng groups restaurants.
Launch Date: September 1st week, immediately after obtaining the registration certificate.
Seating Capacity: 20 main hall tables, 18 private rooms.
Membership System:
Regular Members – ¥10,000 – ¥50,000 annual fee; access to 1st floor dining with prior booking.
Silver Members – ¥50,000 – ¥100,000 annual fee; access to private rooms on the 2nd floor with prior booking.
Gold Members – ¥100,000 – ¥500,000 annual fee; priority booking, exclusive menus, chef interaction.
Platinum Members – ¥500,000 – ¥1,000,000 annual fee; personal concierge, priority reservations in all branches, complimentary wine pairings.
Diamond Members – Above ¥1,000,000 annual fee; lifetime VIP privileges, access to any Huiheng restaurant worldwide in the future, private tasting events, and priority invitations to limited-seat cultural banquets.
"The tier system," Zhou continued, "will create exclusivity while generating upfront cash flow."
Quarter 1: Foundation & Launch (Month 1–3)
Opening date: 1st September (if Mayor Han gives registration certificate comes on time)
Estimated Renovation Cost: ¥8 million
Initial Operating Cost: ¥3 million (staff hiring, training, restocking)
Marketing: ¥1 million (soft launch, private preview dinners for potential high-tier members)
Target Revenue First Quarter: ¥6 million – ¥8 million
Marketing: Initial launch will focus on elite networks — invitation-only tasting events, coverage in luxury lifestyle magazines.
Quarter 2: Brand Consolidation (Month 4–6)
Revenue Goal: 12 million RMB by the end of Q2, with 60% from memberships.
Events: Monthly Heritage Dining Nights — each dinner inspired by a historical Chinese banquet or royal court menu.
Operational Focus: Maintain exclusivity — no overcrowding. Customer retention through personalized dining experiences and member-only seasonal menus.
Media Strategy: Soft PR push with stories about the cultural history behind 'Qianyan Pavilion' to deepen brand prestige.
Quarter 3: Expansion Preparation (Month 7–9)
Target Cities: Nanjing & Hangzhou — both affluent, with strong tourism markets.
Location Type: Prime high-end districts, ideally near luxury hotels or historic cultural sites.
Brand Names:
Nanjing: 'Yanxia Lou' (烟霞楼) — "Tower of Mist and Glow," inspired by the scenic clouds over Xuanwu Lake.
Hangzhou: 'Shuixie Fang' (水榭坊) — "Waterside Pavilion," evoking West Lake poetry.
Site Acquisition: Aim to finalize purchases by end of Month 9.
Recruitment: Identify and train management teams for both locations in advance at Qianyan Pavilion.
Quarter 4: Expansion Execution (Month 10–12)
Grand Openings: Nanjing and Hangzhou branches to open one month apart.
Estimated Expansion Cost:
Nanjing: 15 million RMB
Hangzhou: 16 million RMB
Revenue Goal for Year-End: 50 million RMB across three locations.
Brand Unification: All outlets to share Huiheng Group's cultural prestige but retain unique menus and decor reflecting their local inspiration.
Zhou Yichen closed the file.
"This plan ensures that we don't just open one successful restaurant — we establish a network of cultural dining landmarks within a year."
Li Ziqing rested her chin lightly on her hand, scanning the numbers.
"And the profit margin?"
"At the conservative estimate, net profit after operational costs and salaries should be around 28% for the first year," Zhou replied without hesitation. "By Year Two, if the member base grows as projected, we can push it to 35%."
Her eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
"Good. That's exactly the pace I want. The names are exquisite, the structure is sound. Qianyan Pavilion will be our spearhead."
Zhou's lips quirked.
"And once it opens, we'll make sure it's the place the city's elite are desperate to get into."
Li Ziqing leaned back, her tone calm yet commanding.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow we get the certificate. In ten days, Qianyan Pavilion opens its doors."
"Ten days is more than enough," Zhou Yichen said, his voice calm but confident. "I already have connections with luxury lifestyle magazines, and I know a few senior executives in Prada's China branch. I can negotiate a collaboration for our flagship opening. Their name will give us instant prestige."
He paused, his eyes flickering briefly toward her. "But…"
Li Ziqing, leaning back against the sofa with her legs crossed, tilted her head slightly, a faint frown touching her brows. "Say it."
"I'm new to Wuhan," Zhou Yichen admitted, his tone steady but deliberate. "I don't have an inroad into the city's elite social circle. For a proper launch, especially if we want a testing event that becomes the talk of the city…" He trailed off, his gaze locking with hers, leaving the sentence unfinished but the implication clear.
A slow, knowing smile curved Li Ziqing's lips. "Don't worry. I'll take care of that. You focus on Prada and the magazines. I want the event launch heavily featured in the upcoming month-end issue—front pages, exclusive columns, the works. Not just a mention, but a full lifestyle feature."
Zhou Yichen nodded, already visualizing the headlines. "Understood. I'll make sure the narrative positions Huiheng Group as a luxury cultural brand, not just a restaurant chain."
He tapped the macbook, pulling up the one-year plan again. "Although the end-of-year roadmap is already set on paper, I've accounted for possible variations. If we make a big splash here in Wuhan, we can accelerate expansion into Nanjing and Hangzhou ahead of schedule. And…" He clicked to a slide marked Reserved Development Space. "I've kept one slot open for any high-value concept you might want to develop mid-year—something that could deepen our brand's cultural footprint."
Li Ziqing glanced at the slide, her mind already racing. "Good. Keep it flexible. If the Wuhan opening explodes the way I expect, we'll need that slot."
Zhou Yichen leaned forward, lowering his voice slightly, almost conspiratorially. "And about the membership system—once the doors open, every guest should feel they're entering a private club. The Regular membership starts from 10,000 to 50,000 yuan; once they cross 50,000, they're automatically upgraded to Silver. 100,000 to 500,000 is Gold. 500,000 to one million is Platinum. Anything above a million…"
"Diamond," Li Ziqing finished for him, her eyes gleaming. "And the benefits at that level need to feel priceless."
He smirked. "Exactly. Priority reservations, private tasting menus, chef-at-home experiences, even invitations to closed-door events in our other cities."
Her smile deepened, sharp with ambition. "Good. Wuhan will know our name within a month."
Zhou Yichen closed the laptop with a soft click. "Then let's make sure they never forget it."
As soon as Zhou Yichen finished speaking Li Ziqing heard a mechanical chime indicating the task is complete and it's time for reward.