Chapter 301 - 241: The Embodiment of Power

Chapter 301: Chapter 241: The Embodiment of Power

As glasses were raised and toasts were exchanged, the atmosphere in the private room gradually grew lively.

Aside from the seven girls present today, everyone else was a seasoned veteran of the corporate world. For them, livening up the atmosphere was child’s play.

"Chairman Gu, if it weren’t for you today, our group’s livestream debut tonight would have become a laughingstock in the industry."

Just as the atmosphere reached a crescendo, Chu Zhengxiong raised his glass, his tone exceptionally sincere. "I know you pulled a lot of strings and used a lot of resources for tonight’s matter, Chairman Gu. I will remember this favor."

"I won’t waste words on gratitude. In the future, if your Zhen Cui Group or Junlan Hotel ever need help from Xingchuan International, please don’t hesitate to ask. You’ll see what I’m made of then."

Chu Zhengxiong had come from a rough background and was never one for smooth talk. Compared to just saying things, he preferred to "settle things with action."

This "settling things with action" usually had one of two meanings.

Either taking revenge or repaying a kindness.

Lip service was never Chu Zhengxiong’s style.

Gu Heng understood Chu Zhengxiong’s character, which was why he had chosen to intervene when he saw Xingchuan Entertainment’s livestream debut run into trouble.

"You’re too kind, Chairman Chu."

Gu Heng replied with a warm smile, "As a director of Xingchuan International Group, it would be wrong of me, both personally and professionally, to stand by and do nothing when the group is in trouble."

The two exchanged pleasantries.

Gu Heng and Chu Zhengxiong went back and forth, their words impeccably chosen, ensuring the conversation flowed without a single awkward pause.

With President Zhou Gang and others skillfully steering the conversation, the mood in the room steadily climbed. What began as a simple toast between Gu Heng and Chu Zhengxiong ended with everyone downing their glasses.

At the far end of the long table, Lin Qingge, Meng Peishan, and Fan Yingying sat together.

"I’m dying!"

"How can Chairman Gu be so handsome!"

"Look at the hand he’s holding his glass with! Isn’t it just gorgeous?"

Meng Peishan clutched her juice glass with both hands, her eyes turning into stars like a fangirl seeing her idol.

"The verdict is in. Shanshan, you have a serious thing for hands."

Lin Qingge had drunk a little sake, and a faint rosy blush now colored her fair, delicate face, making her look inexplicably more radiant.

"You..."

"How did you know?"

Hearing Lin Qingge’s confident tone, Meng Peishan swallowed the denial that was on the tip of her tongue.

"Because I have a roommate who’s the same way."

"I mean, Chairman Gu’s face is way more impressive than his hands."

Lin Qingge replied with a smile, "When you were complimenting Chairman Gu, you only focused on his hands. If that’s not having a thing for hands, what is?"

"Qingge, earlier at the company, you said you knew Chairman Gu. How exactly did you two meet?"

Fan Yingying suddenly spoke up, asking probingly, "Can you tell us?"

"We met by chance."

"We have each other on WhatsApp, and we chat sometimes when we’re free."

Lin Qingge answered vaguely, "I only found out a while ago that he’s a director of our group."

"Oh!"

"I remember now!"

Meng Peishan’s eyes suddenly lit up. "During our group training a while back, you were always taking pictures and sending them to someone. I even asked if you were sending them to your boyfriend. Don’t tell me you were sending all those photos to Chairman Gu?"

Faced with Meng Peishan and Fan Yingying’s intense stares, Lin Qingge just smiled without giving a direct answer.

But to the other two girls, her expression was as good as a confession.

"Qingge, you..."

"You’re not actually dating Chairman Gu, are you?"

Meng Peishan was incredulous. "Like something out of a TV drama?"

"How could that be possible?"

Lin Qingge gave a faint, exasperated smile. "Use your head. If I were really dating Chairman Gu, would I still be sitting here with you two? I’d have been sitting next to him long ago."

"Uh..."

"I guess that’s true."

Meng Peishan chewed on her straw and gave a slightly awkward laugh.

"Qingge, does Chairman Gu have a girlfriend, then?"

Fan Yingying passed Lin Qingge a sea urchin hand roll, asking with feigned casualness.

"Hmm..."

"I’m actually not sure about that."

"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn’t. Or maybe..."

At this, Lin Qingge winked at the two girls. "...he has a lot."

...

At the center of the long table, Gu Heng and Chu Zhengxiong chatted as they drank.

’It was only now that Gu Heng finally understood why they called it a "business dinner." No matter what the conversation started with, it always circled back to business and deals.’

’Just like now. He wasn’t even sure when it happened, but he and Chu Zhengxiong had once again started discussing Xingchuan International Group’s industrial transformation and upgrades.’

The surrounding group executives would seize any opportunity to come over and offer a toast. The rest of the time, the hierarchy was clear, with subordinates toasting their superiors.

Although they were all in the same private room, a strict hierarchy was palpable among them.

BZZZ BZZZ...

In the middle of their conversation, the phone Gu Heng had placed beside him suddenly vibrated. He glanced at the screen, and his eyebrows rose imperceptibly when he saw the caller ID: Han Lixin.

"Quiet down a bit."

Gu Heng picked up his phone and spoke in a calm voice.

In an instant—

the previously boisterous room fell silent, as if someone had pressed a mute button.

At that moment, Lin Qingge, Meng Peishan, and the others suddenly had a profound realization about the meaning of the word "power."

’What is power?’

’Power is when your voice isn’t loud, but your words carry the weight of law, and everyone must treat them with the utmost seriousness. Meanwhile, others can scream themselves hoarse, and people will just turn a deaf ear, letting the words go in one ear and out the other, treating them as nothing more than hot air.’

Once the room was quiet, Gu Heng answered the call.

"President Han, calling so late."

Gu Heng’s voice was warm and familiar. "I have a feeling... is this good news?"

"Hahaha..."

"As expected of Chairman Gu, you’re practically a psychic."

Han Lixin let out a hearty laugh. Without keeping him in suspense, he said, "You guessed right, Chairman Gu. I do indeed have good news."

With that, he began to explain the whole situation to Gu Heng.

Gu Heng listened quietly, and everyone else waited quietly.

They watched as Gu Heng and Chu Zhengxiong occasionally clinked glasses, yet they themselves didn’t dare make a single rash move, afraid of disturbing Gu Heng’s call.

Such a scene was a real eye-opener for Lin Qingge and the others.

The many group executives sitting here today were figures who, on any other day, would arrive at Xingchuan Entertainment for an inspection surrounded by an entourage, looking incredibly imposing. But now, with a single quiet word from Gu Heng, they had all become as timid as quails.

The contrast was truly staggering.

"Mm-hmm."

"I understand."

...

"Thank you for your efforts on this, President Han."

"I’ll remember this favor."

...

"Alright then."

"Call anytime if you need anything. Let’s keep in touch."

...

Gu Heng’s call lasted for nearly ten minutes.

Only when everyone saw Gu Heng put down his phone did they dare to breathe a small sigh of relief.

Gu Heng put down his phone, looked up at Chu Zhengxiong, and said with a smile, "The person who just called was the vice president of the ByteDance Douyin Business Group, in charge of TikTok’s livestreaming operations."

As Gu Heng’s words fell, everyone in the room held their breath again, their faces filled with astonishment.

Hearing this, Chu Zhengxiong’s expression also grew much more serious.

Before Xingchuan International Group had begun its industrial transformation, hearing about someone with such a title would have only made him think they were impressive, but that would have been the end of it. It wouldn’t have caused much of a stir.

But things were different now. The direction in which Xingchuan International Group was planning its transformation fell squarely within that person’s jurisdiction.

In the future, if their group wanted to develop long-term in the livestreaming sector, that person would be a towering figure they couldn’t afford to offend. Chu Zhengxiong couldn’t allow himself even a hint of disrespect.

"Chairman Gu, for them to call so late..."

Chu Zhengxiong’s eyes held a questioning look as he tentatively probed.

Gu Heng looked at Chu Zhengxiong’s solemn face and then at the group executives, all holding their breath with serious expressions. He couldn’t help but let out a small smile. He shook his head and said softly:

"Everyone, relax. It’s good news..."