Chapter 332: The Festive Atmosphere Thickens

Chapter 332 -261: The Festive Atmosphere Thickens

Wang Wan Ning carried the hangover soup, walking with light, slow steps toward that room.

As she drew closer, the sound that had been nearly imperceptible gradually became clearer.

The high-frequency, rhythmic thudding against the door was mixed with Feng Yao’s sweet cries—cries she tried desperately, but failed, to suppress. Feng Yao was an art student majoring in vocal performance, and her voice was exceptional. Every sound she made was alluring, every note bewitching.

Before she knew it, Wang Wan Ning was standing right outside the door of Feng Yao’s Park Hyatt Suite. At this proximity, even the best soundproofing couldn’t muffle the noise significantly.

With only a door between them, it was as if she were right there in the room.

Wang Wan Ning didn’t know Feng Yao and had never seen her before today. Yet, a woman’s intuition told her that Feng Yao and Gu Heng shared an extraordinary relationship.

The moment the other woman had seen Gu Heng, the look that unconsciously crossed her face was clearly one that only passes between a man and a woman in love.

A mixture of joy, melancholy, grievance, restraint, and sorrow…

Now, Gu Heng had “disappeared” from his suite, and these sounds were coming from that woman’s room.

Who was the man with her?

The answer was self-evident.

“No wonder Brother Gu Heng was so eager for the local liquor last night,” Wang Wan Ning muttered to herself. “And no wonder he didn’t come knocking on my door.”

Even though the man she adored was in bed with another woman, she remained remarkably composed. Having been born into a wealthy family, scenes like this were nothing new to her—they were utterly commonplace.

At that moment, Wang Wan Ning was pondering a single question.

‘I’d already sent Gu Heng a signal, so why didn’t he choose my door? Why did he choose the girl in this room instead?’

‘Is she prettier than me?’

‘Does she have a better body?’

‘Is she younger?’

It was none of those things.

Wang Wan Ning was confident, but not conceited.

Take Jiang Ruan, the woman Gu Heng had last brought to Zhonghai. Wang Wan Ning would only concede that she had the advantage of youth over Jiang Ruan; she wouldn’t dare claim superiority in looks or figure. But the girl she met today? Overall, she wasn’t even in the same league as Wang Wan Ning.

‘So why did Gu Heng choose her and not me?’

Though the sweet cries were ringing in her ears, Wang Wan Ning remained inexplicably calm.

‘Brother Gu Heng…’

‘He’s hesitant with me.’

‘He’s worried that crossing a line with me will lead to unnecessary complications with the Wang Family.’

Wang Wan Ning was very smart; she quickly pinpointed the root of the problem.

The dull THUDDING against the door grew faster, and the sweet, high-pitched cries of “AH, AH” grew more intense. Wang Wan Ning glanced at the hangover soup she had made herself. She stood in silence for a moment, then turned and slowly walked away from the door of the Park Hyatt Suite.

…

For the next few days, Gu Heng’s life was wonderfully carefree. He spent his days skiing with Wang Wan Ning and his nights “collecting debts” from Feng Yao.

Blessed with top-tier skiing talent from Father Tongzi, Gu Heng’s skills improved by leaps and bounds. While it would be delusional to think a few days could match Wang Wan Ning’s decade-plus of hard practice, the gap between them was visibly shrinking.

As for the Zhen Cui Group’s proposed investment in a massive traditional Chinese medicine plantation in the Changbai Region, discussions had been ongoing for days. After numerous meetings between Gu Heng, Huang Zhongliang, and other local leaders, the investment agreement was officially signed the day before Gu Heng was scheduled to leave the Changbai Mountain International Resort.

Wang Wan Ning planned to spend a couple more days in Beichun, so when Gu Heng left the Changbai Mountain International Resort, he rode back with her in the Luo Shilun Gulfstream Business Car.

As for Feng Yao—whose mind and body had been thoroughly molded into Gu Heng’s shape after so many nights together—Gu Heng arranged a car to take her and her friend directly to the airport, having already purchased business class tickets for them.

Toward the end of the month, as the Lunar New Year drew near, a festive atmosphere began to fill the city. Stalls licensed to sell fireworks and firecrackers started popping up on street corners and in alleyways.

“Brother Gu Heng, are fireworks not banned in Beichun for the New Year?”

Wang Wan Ning watched the vendors hawking their wares at a roadside stall, a hint of surprise on her stunningly beautiful face.

“Nope, they’re not banned.”

“It gets really lively here every Spring Festival.”

“The fireworks basically go from morning till night.”

Gu Heng looked up from his book and replied with a smile.

“That must be really lively.”

“Unlike Zhonghai. The New Year is so quiet and deserted there.”

Wang Wan Ning sighed wistfully. “Forget about pretty fireworks, it’s not even as bustling as a normal day.”

“Then you should come to Beichun for the New Year from now on. I’ll take you to set off fireworks every day.”

Gu Heng went back to his book, tossing the reply to Wang Wan Ning casually.

Hearing this, a special glint appeared in Wang Wan Ning’s beautiful eyes.

“Could I really?”

She blinked, asking in a small voice.

“Of course.”

Gu Heng paused for a second, then grinned. “As long as Chairman Wang and Aunt Su agree.”

The Spring Festival. It had once been Gu Heng’s favorite holiday as a child. He didn’t know when it had become the one he hated most.

‘Was it the year his parents divorced?’

‘Or the year his father abandoned him?’

All Gu Heng knew was that for the past three years in Beichun, every Spring Festival was the same. He’d finish dinner early, prepare enough liquor to get himself completely wasted, then drink while playing video games until he passed out.

He didn’t watch the Spring Festival Gala or exchange New Year’s greetings with anyone.

He just treated it like any other ordinary day.

‘Do I have to spend it the same way again this year?’

Gazing at the growing festive spirit outside the car window, a flicker of melancholy crossed Gu Heng’s eyes.

He might be surrounded by people now, but when the day itself arrived…

Jiang Ruan, Luo Xiwen, Xu Mo… they would all be going home to their families for the holiday.

Of course…

If he asked them to stay, they most likely wouldn’t refuse. But Gu Heng felt there was no point in seeking his own comfort at the expense of someone else’s happy family reunion.

“This year is probably impossible, but I’ll do my best to make it happen next year!”

Wang Wan Ning clenched her small fists, looking surprisingly adorable.

“Alright.”

Gu Heng smiled faintly. “Then I’ll be waiting for your good news next year.”

Chatting and laughing, the two soon arrived at the Beichun Junlan Hotel in their Lorentz Bay Stream.

The power door slid open, and Gu Heng and Wang Wan Ning stepped out of the luxury van.

“Good afternoon, Chairman Gu.”

“You must be tired from the long journey.”

The moment Gu Heng stepped out of the van, Dong Qiming, the General Manager of the Beichun Junlan Hotel, hurried forward to greet him.

“It was fine.”

“The four-hour drive passed quickly with a book.”

Gu Heng nodded at Dong Qiming, then asked, “Have you taken care of the arrangements I asked for?”

“Chairman Gu, everything you requested has been arranged.”

Dong Qiming replied immediately, “Based on the list of Miss Wang’s preferences you sent, we’ve adjusted and customized our best panoramic executive suite. If Miss Wang requires any further changes, we are ready to accommodate her at a moment’s notice.”

“Good.”

Gu Heng gave a slight nod, then turned to Wang Wan Ning. Seeing her slightly surprised expression, he smiled and said, “As you can see, this is the hotel I told you I run.”

“A five-star hotel!”

“A luxury hotel!”

Wang Wan Ning’s tone was filled with amazement. “Brother Gu Heng, from the casual way you mentioned it, I thought the hotel you ran wasn’t going to be this big!”

“It’s decent, I suppose.”

“This hotel is independently operated, not part of a five-star luxury chain. So in the hotel industry, in terms of scale, it’s really not that big.”

Back on his home turf, Gu Heng naturally received the star treatment. He led Wang Wan Ning toward a private elevator, casually replying to her astonished remarks.

“What do you mean, not big?!”

“This is huge!”

Wang Wan Ning argued earnestly, “Brother Gu Heng, this one hotel of yours is worth more than a hundred budget chain hotels combined!”

“Alright, alright.”

“If you say it’s big, it’s big.”

Gu Heng chuckled, leading Wang Wan Ning into the elevator and pressing the button for the 27th floor.

The elevator ascended swiftly, reaching the 27th floor in just over ten seconds.

Dong Qiming walked ahead, personally leading the way.

“I promised I’d prepare an exclusive suite for you.”

Gu Heng said as they walked down the hall, “The exclusive suite is ready. From now on, this suite is only for you. You can come and stay whenever you want. You can think of it as your home in Beichun.”

Hearing Gu Heng’s words, Wang Wan Ning’s eyes couldn’t help but grow misty.

She never imagined that a casual remark she made that day would be taken so seriously by Gu Heng. Even though it was a simple, effortless gesture for him, it filled her heart with warmth.

“Brother Gu Heng, I’ll come to Beichun often from now on.”

Wang Wan Ning said in a soft voice, “I won’t let your kindness go to waste.”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

As they spoke, Dong Qiming led them to the exclusive suite Gu Heng had prepared for Wang Wan Ning.

Unlike the other standardized panoramic executive suites, this one had been custom-tailored to Wang Wan Ning’s personal habits, giving it a much more lived-in and cozy feel.

“Do you like it?”

“Think you’ll be comfortable here?”

Gu Heng followed Wang Wan Ning as she looked around the suite.

“Mhm!”

“I love it!”

“And the view is amazing!”

Wang Wan Ning nodded again and again, her words overflowing with praise.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Why don’t you get settled in for a bit.”

“We’ll grab a bite to eat later, and then I’ll show you around Beichun.”

After saying this to Wang Wan Ning, Gu Heng led Dong Qiming out of the suite. Then, operating on the principle of ‘might as well, since I’m here,’ he held a brief meeting with the senior management of the Beichun Junlan Hotel. Only after he had dealt with all the piled-up work did he take Wang Wan Ning out of the hotel…