Chapter 385: Transition
Dusk fell. The white magnolia lanterns lining the road were already lit, emitting a brilliant glow. With the screech of brakes, a green-plated tram slowly stopped at the destination indicated on the phone map.
Almost immediately after the car stopped, the iron gate, previously tightly shut beside the road, was opened from the inside. The person inside seemed to have been paying close attention to what was happening outside; otherwise, such synchronization wouldn't have been possible.
Zhou Xiao, sitting in the passenger seat, peered through the half-open car window and saw Xue Xi peeking out from behind the iron gate. Behind her was the security guard. When they saw that it was indeed Zhou Xiao in the passenger seat, their smiles deepened.
"Do you need help?" The driver turned around and asked Zheng's mother and Zhou's father who were about to open the door and get out of the back seat.
Zhou Chengdong waved his hand and said to the old man and young man who had already reached the car. "Don't bother the driver. Just open the trunk for me."
This time, their family of three came to Shanghai, bringing only two suitcases, one large and one small. One person could handle everything. So, after getting out of the car, seeing his wife and daughter ready to join him, Zhou Chengdong smiled and pushed them along. "You two go greet everyone first. I'll take care of everything else."
Xue Xi and the security guard on the side wanted to go forward to help, but when they saw the suitcase being easily lifted by Zhou's father, they stopped and turned their attention back to Zhou Xiao.
…
The wheels of two suitcases creaked against the ground, breaking the nighttime tranquility of the photography base. If the exterior exuded a uniquely Shanghai artistic flair, the interior was a crafted work of art.
Even though they had prepared in advance and had seen the photos Zhou Xiao had posted in the group chat, they were still quite surprised to see it in person. The actual photography base was far more beautiful and comfortable than what they saw in the photos.
Xue Xi, who also arrived today, would say that the landscape design at this base is truly impressive. It boasts the charm of a unique Chinese landscape, with a stunning scene every ten steps, while also achieving a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western elements.
Although she had not seen much of the world when she worked at XZC, she believed that this environment had a strong appeal to all the big-name photographers in independent studios.
"Boss, I'll be waiting for you in the lobby." Seeing that his boss was clearly trying to settle his parents first, Xue Xi pointed to the photography building next door and said to Zhou Xiao. The lights in the lobby of the building next door were already on, and it was clear that Xue Xi had already familiarized himself with the work environment before Zhou Xiao arrived.
"Okay, I'll be there later," Zhou Xiao responded. Led by the security guard, the three followed him into the back door of the building next door.
The two gallery warehouses Zhou Xiao originally acquired have undergone tremendous changes. One has been converted into a professional photography base on the fourth floor, while the other has taken on a wider range of functions.
With the sound of a switch "click", the warm yellow light came on. At the back door, next to the rest area where Zhou Xiao had supported the photo exhibition, was the staircase leading to the second floor.
The first floor, reserved for exhibitions, appeared largely empty from the back door. In stark contrast, the adjacent lounge area, with its distinctly Christmassy atmosphere, still displayed items Zhou Xiao had carefully preserved from his original photo exhibition.
"Xiao Zhou and Xiao Zhou's parents, I'll be leaving now," the security guard said cheerfully, checking the time on his wristwatch. Normally, he would have been off work by this time, but knowing that Zhou Xiao was coming with his parents today, the security guard took the initiative to work a little longer.
"Okay, uncle. Please drive slowly on the road," Zhou Xiao replied with a smile as he took the key from the uncle. When he saw the security guard disappear from his sight, he turned around and waved the key in his hand towards Ms. Zheng and Zhou's father.
"Axiao, I think you should hire some professional security guards?" Zhou Chengdong said with some concern as he looked at the security guard leaving.
Zheng Jinghua on the side also nodded. Just from the quick look they had just taken, they could all feel that the photography base that their daughter had opened in collaboration with others was quite large.
"Don't worry, there are no blind spots in the base's surveillance, and we've hired dedicated personnel to monitor it in real time. Plus, there's a police station right next door," Zhou Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "This suburban area is where Uncle Wu has lived for most of his life, so he knows all the neighbors."
Zhou Chengdong and Zheng Jinghua exchanged a glance. After receiving the news, neither of them said anything more. What they had considered, Ah Xiao himself must have noticed. And the fact that someone was local also gave the couple some peace of mind.
The two suitcases were still piled at the door, but Ms. Zheng's attention was attracted by the exquisite dolls on the foam signboard in the lounge.
"Oh, that's Ji Shao!" As her daughter's favorite star, Ms. Zheng easily recognized who the doll represented. "Old Zhou, look at this little guy, he's so handsome."
"Hmph, it's just okay." Zhou Chengdong felt jealous from nowhere, smacked his lips, and then made a face at Zhou Xiao who was leaning against the stairs.
All right, accepting his father's request, Zhou Xiao pulled up the two suitcases and went up the stairs first, then said, "Let's go, I'll show you the room you'll be staying in for the next two days!"
The second floor and above of the building are designated as rest areas by Zhou Xiao for her studio members. Life in Shanghai is often stressful, and rent is a top priority. Whether they desire staff housing or are simply looking for a temporary home and will eventually move out, she is willing to provide adequate accommodation within her means.
There are only two rooms on the second floor due to the large ceiling height on the first floor, but there are quite a few on the third and fourth floors. Even if there aren't many people living there, these extra rooms can be used as warehouses, storage rooms, etc.
"Axiao, your partner is quite generous." Zheng Jinghua couldn't help but praise the design of the living area on the second floor. It was fully equipped with all kinds of home appliances, and you can just move in with your luggage.
This thought only deepened after entering the room. Because there really was everything in the room, even disposable slippers and toiletries were fully stocked, the convenience was no different from staying in a hotel.
Zhou Xiao shamelessly listened to her parents' praise of their "partner," accepting the compliment with a clear conscience. However, the reason she was able to prepare to this point, besides her years of hotel experience, was also due to the special funds awarded by the system. After all, it's better to use it than not to use it.
After following his parents to look around the two rooms on the second floor, Zhou Xiao finally spoke, "Then you two can stay in this one. I'll push your suitcases in first."
"No, let your dad clean up," Ms. Zheng stopped Zhou Xiao and said with a smile, "Don't you have an employee waiting for you? Go! Mom and Dad will take care of it themselves!"
In fact, Zhou Xiao had originally planned to go see Xue Xi after pushing the suitcase in. So he pretended not to hear what Ms. Zheng said, and directly pushed the suitcase into the room with a playful smile before leaving.
After leaving the building, Zhou Xiao's smile slowly faded. Xue Xi hadn't checked into the second-floor room. It wasn't clear if Xue Xi had chosen the second-floor room because he didn't want to be disturbed, or because he knew Zhou's father and mother were coming to open a business.
Whatever the reason, it showed that Xue Xi had a rather sensitive personality. Zhou Xiao scratched his head subconsciously, hoping that his future team would allow him to quickly adapt and accept the situation.
When Zhou Xiao used the key in her hand to open the back door of the photography building, she saw Xue Xi sitting on the sofa in the distance, propping himself up and greeting her cheerfully with a black pen.
Seems like I'm worrying too much?
Zhou Xiao closed the door and picked up the contract he had brought with him. It was in triplicate, hand-drafted by renowned lawyer Gu Lu, a freshly-made labor contract.
"Read it carefully again." Zhou Xiao quickly walked up to Xue Xi, placed all three contracts on the coffee table, and said jokingly, "Once you sign the contract, you'll be my assistant~"
Xue Xi initially wanted to say she didn't need to read it again; she trusted Zhou Xiao. But after noticing the serious look in his eyes, she also began to carefully read the clauses marked in the contract. As she read, she realized that all the clauses they had discussed earlier were also reflected in the contract.
After a while, she carefully placed the contract on the coffee table. Xue Xi looked at Zhou Xiao and said firmly, "Okay, no problem!" After that, she opened the contract and carefully wrote her name on it.
When the last stroke was made, Zhou Xiao could sense the other person's sigh of relief. She looked at him with amusement, extended her hand with her palm facing upward, and said, "Assistant, excuse me."
Xue Xi subconsciously placed the pen in Zhou Xiao's palm upon hearing this. Then his mind began to race. In three days, he would truly be a part of the opening of Teacher Zhou Xiao's studio!
…
After closing the back door of the photography building, Zhou Xiao couldn't help but look at Xue Xi. They stared at each other silently for a while, then both felt helpless.
At first, they both assumed the other had something to say, so they tacitly chose the first-floor lobby of the photography building. If they only had to sign the contract, there was no point wasting time.
After a while, Xue Xi broke the silence with some hesitation, "Boss, do you want to walk around?"
She hadn't really wanted to leave, because after arriving this afternoon, apart from putting her luggage away, Xue Xi had been wandering around the photography base. Those few hours were enough for her to top the list of steps on her social media.
Zhou Xiao stopped and thought about Xue Xi's 10,000+ steps... He said considerately, "Let's talk about it later. Let's all have a good rest today."
This time, Zhou Xiao brought her parents to Shanghai. Besides showing them her studio, she also wanted them to experience the city's local customs and culture. Aside from the opening day on the 16th, she had already planned the rest of the trip.
So, my top priority right now is to get some rest. And then, the next day, while I'm taking my parents out for some fun, I'll also pick up my business license.
Meanwhile, Xue Xi, completely unaware that his step count had been exposed, nodded happily like a chicken pecking at rice. In his heart, he was still shouting, "Boss is the best!"
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