Chapter 317 - 251: "Dislike" or "Like

Chapter 317: Chapter 251: "Dislike" or "Like

"We’ll do it!"

"We can do it!"

"We’ll definitely do it!"

Right after Gu Heng had spoken, Zhao Hongbo said nothing more. His expression turned solemn as he immediately stated his position.

"Chairman Gu..."

"You see, it was just a misunderstanding."

Zhao Hongbo said in a placating tone, "I was just stuck in my old way of thinking. If I had known earlier that the province was so strongly encouraging and advocating for technological innovation and rural revitalization this year, I wouldn’t have breathed a word of difficulty."

"Director Zhao, I wasn’t aiming that at you just now."

Hearing this, Gu Heng’s expression softened at the right moment. "I know you’re a good leader, wholeheartedly dedicated to the people’s development. I also know that if this were up to you, you wouldn’t shirk your responsibility in the slightest. My frustration was directed at those freeloading departments at the provincial level."

At this, Gu Heng picked up his wine glass again.

"Director Zhao, I’m young and can be a bit hot-headed sometimes."

Holding his glass, Gu Heng’s gaze swept across the room. "Perhaps I spoke too harshly just now. I hope you, Director Zhao, and all the leaders here won’t take offense."

As Gu Heng finished, the various leaders from Changbai began to speak up one after another. The slightly oppressive atmosphere in the private room instantly dissipated.

After discussing the talent ecosystem, the last topic was credit endorsement.

What is credit endorsement?

Simply put, it’s when a company leverages the government’s credibility to gain the trust of clients and partners.

In this major area of policy benefits, Zhen Cui Group didn’t need much.

Zhen Cui Group’s original intention for establishing the herbal medicine cultivation base in the Changbai Region was never to sell the herbs externally. Therefore, the group didn’t have any clients and had no need for the government’s credit endorsement.

At most, they might have a slight need when it came to resource integration.

For example, having the government act as an intermediary to connect Zhen Cui Group with state-owned entities like universities and research institutions would make the process easier and simpler.

With the policy benefits that the investment promotion could bring to Zhen Cui Group mostly settled, the evening’s banquet drew to a close.

The back-and-forth with Zhao Hongbo and his group of old foxes had left Gu Heng mentally exhausted. He used the excuse of going to the restroom to step out of the private room for some fresh air.

Pushing open a corridor window just a crack, he leaned lightly against the wall and casually lit a small cigar he had with him.

The rich tobacco scent, mixed with the chilly wind, sobered up the slightly tipsy Gu Heng a little, but it couldn’t blow away the heat stirring deep within him.

’Even though I did my best to empty the tank on Jiang Ruan and Luo Xiwen before leaving Beichun today, I’m still feeling restless.’

Although Wang Wan Ning was right by his side and was clearly interested in him, Gu Heng wasn’t the type to be ruled by his dick. Until he possessed the power to stand on equal footing with Wang Junjin, he had no intention of touching Wang Wan Ning.

’Sometimes, getting involved with a rich man’s daughter is just asking for trouble.’

At this stage, Gu Heng was still a long way from being a renowned entrepreneur like Wang Junjin, whose name was on the Hurun Rich List.

A while ago in Zhonghai, the reason Wang Junjin had acted so approachable and pleasant was that he couldn’t figure out Gu Heng’s true background.

In reality, the person Wang Junjin was treating with such courtesy wasn’t Gu Heng himself, but the unknown, mysterious background behind him. His reverence stemmed purely from the unknown.

Wang Wan Ning was indeed an illegitimate daughter, but she was one acknowledged by the Wang Family’s matriarch. The resources and benefits she had enjoyed since childhood were virtually no different from those of the family’s legitimate eldest daughter.

Under these circumstances, if Gu Heng were to take Wang Wan Ning’s innocence and have a physical relationship with her at this stage, there was no telling how Wang Junjin, Su Lei, Wang Yan, or even An Yiqing would react.

Gu Heng had plenty of women.

There was no need to invite unnecessary trouble for a moment of pleasure.

To use a popular phrase, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to "eat" Wang Wan Ning; he just planned to do it slowly, strategically, and with rhythm.

As he smoked his small cigar and let the wind cool him down, Gu Heng pulled out his phone and glanced at it.

In the time it took to get through the banquet, dozens of unread messages had piled up on his WhatsApp, the vast majority of them from his women.

Gu Heng scrolled through them, first prioritizing replies to Jiang Ruan, Luo Xiwen, and Xu Mo, before looking at the messages from the other women.

Lin Qingge, Liu Nanyi, Su Tang, Tian Xiqwei, Han Yijia...

It was only when Gu Heng saw the message from Feng Yao that his eyebrows shot up slightly.

Around dusk, the last rays of the setting sun had spilled over the snowy mountains, making the whole scene incredibly beautiful. When Gu Heng saw it, he had taken a picture with his phone and casually posted it on his Moments.

’Who would’ve thought? Feng Yao is at the Changbai Mountain International Resort too?’

Feng Yao had messaged him two hours ago, but he had just arrived at the restaurant then, busy with the pleasantries and small talk with Zhao Hongbo’s group, with no time to check his phone.

And over the past two hours, she had sent him many more messages—sharing things, asking how he was, and extending invitations. She was clearly much more eager than usual.

Thinking of Feng Yao’s classic Korean-idol face and her trendy, fashionable style, Gu Heng pondered for a moment before replying to her: Just finished up with some work stuff. Only just saw your message.