NOVPUBYou can experience the local flavor just by staying in the hotel.
Plus, with its hidden-in-the-city location, it offers a sense of security.
From Capital City to East Well is about 450 kilometers. With idle time on the way, Lu Xinyue began introducing everyone to the city of East Well.
East Well has a permanent population of over 37 million, making it the world's most populous city, with an urban area planned to be the densest globally.
This has made land in the city extremely precious, with housing prices ranking sixth in the world and third in Asia.
There's a station in East Well called Shinjuku, which alone has over 200 entrances and exits. Just thinking about the maze-like, complex layout of the station combined with the sardine-packed crowds made Shen Yuan's scalp tingle.
A 2,188 square kilometer area housing 37 million people—it's just like living in pigeon cages.
Star City is still better, with its 10 million permanent residents spread out over 11,819 square kilometers.
Lu Xinyue mentioned the bizarre overtime culture of East Well: "Overtime is honorable; resting is shameful." The first documented case of death due to overwork reportedly occurred in East Well.
One survey even indicated that 68% of Japanese employees feel ashamed to take paid leave, and many won't leave early even after completing their tasks.
Truly the peak of being PUA'd.
During their three days and nights in East Well, Shen Yuan stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Although this hotel is ranked below Aman East Jing and Bulgari East Well, Ji Ya selected it because Shen Yuan had already stayed at Aman before and stayed at Bulgari when in Magic City.
From the 53rd floor, Mount Fuji and Tokyo Tower could be seen in the distance, combined with wall-to-wall panoramic windows offering views that felt superior.
During the three days, Shen Yuan and the group visited Shibuya Station North Exit, where the statue of Hachiko—the loyal dog—is located. Each day, countless people come to take photos with the statue, which has been rubbed smooth from frequent touching.
They also went to the mecca for anime and the second dimension—Akihabara. In addition to encountering familiar anime characters, you could even find relics like the Famicom.
It's undoubtedly a paradise for cosplay enthusiasts, with people in eccentric outfits everywhere. Qiao Lei would definitely love this kind of place.
What Shen Yuan was most curious about was the maid café.
Naturally, this was the kind of place you don't bring women along to, so Shen Yuan only took Tan Xin, the bodyguard, who stayed not far away while he explored.
As the young maids dressed in maid uniforms and thigh-high stockings greeted him with "Master, welcome back," Shen Yuan found himself utterly captivated.
Their services included immersive dining experiences, magical rituals and games, personalized souvenirs, and psychological companionship.
Regrettably, their boundaries were strong, allowing only leg touches.
Paying extra might allow someone to take them out, but even then, their looks couldn't compare to his own in-house NPCs, leaving Shen Yuan unimpressed.
To truly experience "real maid" services, he figured buying a maid outfit for the class belle or Coach Liew and giving them some training might yield better results.
Yes, Long Jinghan would work too.
Walking along East Well Street, Shen Yuan noticed there were a surprising number of vending machines selling drinks, juices, coffee, ice cream, and even stir-fry and ramen.
Many people were pushing strollers, and Shen Yuan thought they were babies inside, but upon closer inspection, they turned out to be cats and dogs.
However, most people on East Well Street seemed utterly exhausted, with an air of grinding office culture, far from happiness.
They also visited Mount Fuji, known as the veiled maiden due to being obscured 200–240 days a year.
On the way, they passed through Aokigahara, infamous as the "suicide forest" and known as the world's second most prominent suicide site.
Interestingly, Mount Fuji is private property, owned by Asama Shrine. The Japanese government pays a hefty sum annually to the shrine for usage rights.
Truly surreal.
In Ginza, they shopped till their hearts were full, with everyone leaving loaded down with bags—even Tan Han managed to snag a belt.
The big guy carried over ten shopping bags single-handedly, walking all afternoon without seeming to tire.
While passing the women's clothing section, Shen Yuan teased about picking out a lingerie set for Tan Xin, earning himself a direct eye-roll of indifference.
The third and last stop in Japan was Hokkaido, marking the final leg of their journey.
Hakodate Mountain offers one of the world's three most spectacular night views, overlooking the bay with lights streaking across it. The Otaru Canal has romantic oil lamp nightscapes and vintage warehouse districts, making it an ideal place for strolling and shopping.
It's also a paradise for seafood lovers—king crab, snow crab, Hokkaido sea urchin, various scallops—an absolute feast for the eyes and stomach.
But the best experiences were skiing and cherry blossom viewing. As it was late autumn, skiing was already possible—skiing by day, soaking in hot springs by night, sheer bliss.
Overall, Shen Yuan was very satisfied with the nine-day trip to Japan.
The class belle, Ji Ya, and Lu Xinyue were equally delighted.
For them, Japan has always been alluring, and since this trip was long and relaxed, they enjoyed every moment.
The must-visit attractions, the worthwhile destinations, the signature experiences—all were checked off the list.
Especially the class belle—she managed to fill up at least several dozen gigabytes' worth of photos and videos on her phone. Of course, Shen Yuan didn't hold back in filling her bedroom with his descendants over the past few days.
If space was tight, he'd simply move to Lu Xinyue's or Ji Ya's bedroom.
They boarded a private jet and returned home, not feeling the usual post-trip fatigue but rather rejuvenated and refreshed.
Shen Yuan, of course, didn't forget to prepare gifts for the NPCs during his travels—a detail Ji Ya handled with ease. She directly inquired on their first day in Japan how many gifts Shen Yuan needed prepared.
Just like in Diannan, where she handled it as well, Shen Yuan was more than comfortable leaving it all to her.
Upon returning, Shen Yuan moved directly into his new villa in Silver Lake Bay. Over the past nine days, belongings from his Qingzhuhu Villa had already been transported, and modifications needed for the new villa were completed.
This was Shen Yuan's first time returning home to the new residence. Standing on the second-floor balcony, leaning against the railing, he gazed at the azure lakeside view with a satisfied expression: "Hmm, the scenery here is better than at Green Bamboo Lake."
Moreover, this villa development only had a few homes, and the flat housing area was separated from the villa zone, offering greater privacy.
The housekeeper Aunt He had prepared five dishes and one soup. After tasting the first bite, Shen Yuan sighed, saying the food at home was still better—foreign cuisine, while novel at first, quickly loses appeal after a few days.
White rice and stir-fried dishes, staples he'd grown up with, could never grow tiring.
After downing a bowl of rice, he handed the empty bowl to the class belle to refill, then turned to Tan Xin: "Your probation is over."
Tan Xin's face remained expressionless, though inwardly she felt a pang of worry—was the boss dissatisfied?
She believed her security work for the Japan trip had been exemplary, save for one moment's hesitation during that night at the residence.
Damned—could the boss be unhappy because of that brief indecision? But she had acted precisely according to his wishes in the end.
Regardless, what's done is done—she'd simply have to accept the outcome. Sitting upright, Tan Xin quietly awaited further explanation.
"Congratulations."
Shen Yuan deliberately paused, trying to build suspense before extending his hand: "From now on, you'll be my personal bodyguard."
He emphasized the words "personal," adding weight to their significance, and his earlier teasing left Tan Xin both a little flustered and slightly annoyed.
Though her brow furrowed briefly, she still shook Shen Yuan's hand.
The next day, Fang Minhui and Lu Xinyue returned, and Fu Yingzi arrived at Silver Lake Bay to report work. Upon seeing the lavish new villa's interior design, the secretary couldn't help but exclaim: "Boss, you swap residences faster than I swap outfits! And this place is too luxurious!"
Shen Yuan stung her with a sharp retort: "You change outfits every few months? Who taught you to speak so dramatically?"
Fu Yingzi rubbed her head, pouted, and said, "It's called hyperbole, a literary device. Boss, you wouldn't understand, don't dismiss it."
"Alright, I can't be bothered with your nonsense. What are you here to report?"
Shen Yuan had little to worry about with his current enterprises. If there were urgent matters requiring his decision, Fu Yingzi wouldn't have waited until now to report them.
"Regarding the charity foundation, it's been preparing to donate supplies and extracurricular readings to schools in remote areas. There are two perspectives—some advocate for a smaller coverage area and ordinary goods, while others think we should cover at least 50 schools and purchase higher-quality items." Fu Yingzi explained.
"What's Long Jinghan's view?"
"Her suggestion is broader coverage and better-quality goods."
Shen Yuan promptly replied, "Follow her advice. Most children in impoverished areas are frugal, and quality learning supplies can last them a long time. As for coverage, what's the point in donating to just a few schools? I'd say covering only 50 is too narrow."
At this moment, Tan Xin, who had been silently listening on the sidelines, lifted her head, glancing at Shen Yuan multiple times.
Ji Ya exchanged a knowing look with her.
See, I told you—the boss has plenty of admirable qualities.
