Chapter 330: Showcasing Skills and a Chance Encounter

Chapter 330 -259: Showcasing Skills and a Chance Encounter

Once, back in Zhonghai, while Wang Yan and Gu Heng were drinking and having a heart-to-heart, Wang Yan told Gu Heng about Wang Wan Ning’s upbringing. His words were filled with the heartache and affection of an older brother.

Although Wang Wan Ning was the publicly acknowledged daughter of the Wang Family, and even Wang Yan’s mother, An Yiqing, treated her as her own, when all was said and done, the fact that she was an illegitimate daughter could never be changed.

Girls are prone to jealousy, and even more prone to slander.

Wang Wan Ning had enjoyed the best educational resources since she was young and was surrounded by classmates with equally extraordinary family backgrounds. When some of the spoiled girls saw her being worshiped as a goddess by so many boys, they couldn’t help but harbor some dark thoughts.

From middle school to high school, rumors about the “illegitimate daughter” and the “homewrecker mom” were a constant part of Wang Wan Ning’s life. A more fragile girl, facing years of gossip and strange looks, would have likely had a mental breakdown long ago.

However, not only did Wang Wan Ning not break down, but she became even more outstanding.

To outsiders, it was a sign of Wang Wan Ning’s strength and maturity.

But as her own brother, how could Wang Yan not know that the strength and maturity she displayed was just a facade she put up to protect herself?

In everything she did, she wanted to be the best she possibly could.

Take skiing, for example. It should have been a hobby, a form of recreation. Yet, year after year, she relentlessly honed her skills to a professional level. All she wanted was for her outstanding abilities to make people forget her disgraceful status as an illegitimate daughter.

Gu Heng’s thoughts swirled. As he looked through the binoculars at the end of the ski run, at the sight of Wang Wan Ning jumping up and down and waving her hands, a wave of tenderness and pity for her unexpectedly washed over him.

Gu Heng let out a soft breath and turned to Shi Mengting. “Let’s head down, too.”

“Chairman Gu, you should start by traversing to get used to the run.”

“This expert run has many corners and sharp turns. You haven’t mastered carving yet, so if you pick up too much speed early on, it’ll be very easy to fall when you hit a turn.”

Shi Mengting lowered her binoculars and advised Gu Heng.

“Don’t worry.”

“I’ll be careful.”

Gu Heng nodded, indicating he wouldn’t be reckless.

Father Tongzi had indeed given him top-tier athletic talent for skiing, but turning that talent into actual skill still required time as a catalyst.

Expecting to master it in one go was simply unrealistic.

After putting his ski goggles and face mask back on, Gu Heng began to sideslip down the slope as Shi Mengting had instructed.

Ahead of him was the winding, rugged, white ski run; behind him, the brilliant golden peak of the snow-capped mountain.

The cold wind blew past, kicking up flurries of fine powder snow.

Gu Heng felt the natural rhythm of the mountain beneath his feet. That exhilarating sense of freedom finally made him understand why so many ski enthusiasts call the sport “white opium.” The feeling was truly addictive.

In contrast to Wang Wan Ning’s speed run, it took Gu Heng nearly a full ten minutes to ski from the summit to the end of the run.

“Brother Gu Heng!”

“Congratulations on completing the challenge!”

“You were amazing!”

Wang Wan Ning had always been good at making people feel good. The moment Gu Heng came to a smooth stop, she immediately ran over to him and showered him with praise.

“I just sideslipped all the way down, so there wasn’t any real difficulty to speak of.”

Gu Heng waved his hand dismissively and replied with a smile.

“That’s still really impressive!”

Wang Wan Ning said earnestly, “The first time I went on an expert run, I had to sideslip my way down too, but I fell a good four times.”

The two rested for a moment before taking the cable car back to the summit.

They repeated the cycle, over and over again.

The two of them skied until the sky over the resort began to darken, only then leaving the expert run to return to the hotel.

「That evening.」

Gu Heng, accompanied by Wang Wan Ning, once again attended a banquet hosted by the Changbai Management Committee.

Compared to the banquet from Yesterday, tonight’s affair was much smaller and more exclusive.

At this business banquet, Gu Heng met Huang Zhongliang, the real man in charge of the Changbai Region.

When they met, Huang Zhongliang was extremely cordial and didn’t put on any airs whatsoever.

Yesterday, it was iron pot stew; today, it was roasted whole lamb.

The drinks were once again a specialty liquor from the Changbai region. Faced with the enthusiastic hospitality of Huang Zhongliang and the others, Gu Heng accepted every drink offered, which made Wang Wan Ning unable to hide a flicker of worry.

At the dinner table, Gu Heng once again raised the subject of the policy benefits that he had discussed with Zhao Hongbo the previous night but had failed to get a clear answer on, this time bringing them before Huang Zhongliang.

Business banquets, naturally, always come with a purpose.

One doesn’t drink for free; there must be results to show for it.

And indeed, by the end of the banquet, the results were remarkable.

Many of the policy benefits that couldn’t be settled Yesterday were essentially finalized today.

Compared to Zhao Hongbo, there was no doubt this regional head carried more weight.

By the end of the banquet, it could be said that both host and guests were thoroughly pleased.

After the banquet ended, Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel.

The two of them crossed the hotel lobby, heading toward the Park Hyatt Suites.

However, as fate would have it…

Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning came face-to-face with Feng Yao and Cai Wen, who had just finished dinner at the French restaurant and were also heading back toward the Park Hyatt Suites.

Because it was a business dinner—and one hosted by the regional head, no less—both Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning were dressed formally. Gu Heng wore a light coffee-colored business suit, while Wang Wan Ning was in a long, light-blue dress and crystal high heels.

Standing side by side, they looked like the perfect couple, a match made in heaven. No matter how one looked at them, they seemed utterly compatible.

In contrast, Feng Yao and Cai Wen were still bare-faced, not having put on any makeup after their spa session that afternoon. They had just stepped out for a casual dinner, dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting loungewear.

Feng Yao looked at the poised, elegant, and refined Wang Wan Ning and felt an inexplicable sense of inadequacy.

Her gaze shifted between Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning. Remembering the message Gu Heng had asked Xiang Lingshuang to pass on to her earlier that day, she couldn’t help but gently bite her lip.

‘The “important business” he mentioned today…’

‘Was this it? Spending time with this girl?’

Feng Yao gazed at Gu Heng with a complicated look in her eyes, but she was sensible enough not to say a word.

“Yaoyao, what’s wrong?”

Cai Wen saw that the expression of her best friend, who had been laughing and joking with her just a moment before, had suddenly changed. She cast a thoughtful glance at the young man and woman in front of them, who appeared to be about their age, then leaned in and whispered to Feng Yao.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”

Feng Yao shook her head. She gave Wang Wan Ning one last, deep look, then grabbed Cai Wen’s arm and continued on.

Gu Heng watched Feng Yao walk away without a word, then fell in step behind her and Cai Wen with Wang Wan Ning, also heading in the same direction.

A woman’s intuition is a powerful thing, and Wang Wan Ning was particularly sharp-witted. Although they had only exchanged a brief glance without a single word passing between them, she keenly sensed something was off from the way the other girl looked at her and the strangely tense atmosphere.

However, Wang Wan Ning said nothing, continuing to walk beside Gu Heng with her expression as composed as ever.

“Brother Gu Heng…”

As they neared their respective suites, Wang Wan Ning suddenly blushed and whispered, “You drank so much of that specialty liquor again tonight… If you start feeling sick later, my offer from last night still stands~”

Up ahead, Feng Yao’s expression stiffened at Wang Wan Ning’s words. And when Cai Wen heard the name “Gu Heng,” she stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes widening slightly.

“Go.”

“Don’t stop.”

Feng Yao’s barely audible voice reached Cai Wen’s ears. A moment later, Cai Wen felt a strong tug on her arm, forcing her to start walking again.

Behind them, Wang Wan Ning’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes filled with affection as she gazed at Gu Heng. It was as if he was the only one in her sight.

“Okay~”

Gu Heng smiled and scratched his head, then said goodnight to Wang Wan Ning. “Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning~”

“Goodnight, Brother Gu Heng.”

Wang Wan Ning nodded and said no more. She pulled out her key card and turned toward her suite. But as she turned, she seemingly cast a casual glance into the distance at Feng Yao, who was also in the process of opening her door, and committed the location of Feng Yao’s suite to memory.

BEEP—

The door unlocked, and she walked into the suite.

After watching Wang Wan Ning return to her room, Gu Heng glanced down the empty hallway, loosened his tie, and walked straight toward Feng Yao’s room…