Chapter 417: I’ll Decide

Chapter 417: Chapter 417: I’ll Decide

Neither woman expected Wang Chenning’s expression to turn icy the moment he heard them.

"As long as I haven’t told you my reasons for doing something, you are not to pry!" Wang Chenning looked at Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu, his face a cold mask. "And you are definitely not to inquire about my ultimate goal. Understand? I’ll tell you what you need to know. Don’t ask about what I don’t mention!"

Even though Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu had blood on their hands, they were still quite intimidated by the sudden chill emanating from Wang Chenning.

"We understand!" the two women replied, instantly becoming docile.

"I’ll give you the new antidote tonight!" Wang Chenning then told them to find their own hotel. They could stay in the same one as his group or a different one, but it couldn’t be more than five hundred meters away. Otherwise, he couldn’t be bothered to run over.

Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu obediently agreed.

After Wang Liqing dropped Wang Chenning off at the Jinling Grand Hotel for dinner, the two women went to find a place to stay.

Just as Wang Chenning walked into the hotel, he received a text from Yang Xiaofei. "When are you getting here?"

"Downstairs now!"

Wang Chenning took the elevator upstairs. When the doors opened, he saw Yang Xiaokang and a few other people waiting for him.

"Teacher Wang, you’re here! Please, come in!" Yang Xiaokang smiled and gestured for Wang Chenning to enter. "Everyone’s here!"

"Sorry I’m late!" Wang Chenning apologized before politely greeting the others.

As he entered the private room, he quickly apologized to Li Dongjun and the others. He explained that something had come up, causing him to separate from the main group and arrive late. He apologized for keeping them waiting and said he would pour himself a penalty drink.

"Not at all, not at all! We just got here ourselves," Li Dongjun said with a hearty laugh, shaking Wang Chenning’s hand. "The traffic in Jinling is a nightmare at this hour. We almost got stuck ourselves, but thankfully we weren’t coming from far!"

Li Dongjun was very pleased. Today, Wang Chenning had single-handedly made Jinling the number one trending topic online, causing a massive spike in tourism revenue and whipping up a storm of patriotism.

That afternoon, he had already made new arrangements to capitalize on the craze Wang Chenning had started. Moreover, he sensed something in Wang Chenning’s immense influence.

’If someone from the top wasn’t tacitly approving or even arranging this, there’s no way Wang Chenning could have made such a huge splash.’

At that thought, Li Dongjun’s mind immediately went to Zhao Jiefang.

He knew that Zhao Xiao’an was Zhao Jiefang’s granddaughter.

’Is the Zhao family trying to cultivate him?’ Li Dongjun wondered.

But there was no way to confirm that suspicion at the moment.

Li Dongjun felt a pang of regret that Zhao Xiao’an had returned to Yandu early.

He had hoped to speak with her and use that connection to gain another layer of favor with Zhao Jiefang.

’Now, I can only try to convey my intentions through Luo Yuqing and Wang Chenning.’

Li Dongjun was also keenly aware of the considerable influence wielded by the members of Wang Chenning’s "tour group."

None of those women were people to be trifled with.

And more telling still, all of these women deferred to Wang Chenning.

This in itself spoke volumes about Wang Chenning’s standing.

Earlier that day, Li Dongjun had his people scramble to gather information on Wang Chenning.

The file they’d put together, though not comprehensive, was frightening enough.

Once all the guests had arrived, Wang Chenning took the initiative, pouring himself a large glass of liquor. After apologizing to everyone present, he downed it in one go.

His actions startled many of the people present.

Even Li Yanxian and Li Fuzhen worried he was going to drink too much.

Only Luo Yuqing and Yang Xiaofei, who had seen his true tolerance for alcohol, weren’t concerned in the slightest.

Wang Chenning’s forthright manner helped to relax the atmosphere at the banquet.

His magnanimity continued to show during the subsequent toasts. He drank a glass on behalf of each of the women at the table, and he didn’t refuse when Li Dongjun and his colleagues offered toasts in return.

"Impressive tolerance!" Li Dongjun praised with a chuckle after clinking glasses with Wang Chenning again. "Teacher Wang, you have a frank and open personality. Anyone would be happy to call you a friend. By the way, another friend will be joining us shortly. He was tied up with something, so he’s running a little late."

"That would be Mr. Dai Xingfeng, I presume," Wang Chenning replied with a knowing smile. "Before I left Gusu, we agreed to get together for drinks and a good chat in Jinling."

"That’s right!" Li Dongjun didn’t deny it. "He arrived in Jinling at noon today. This afternoon, he was assisting some people with an investigation."

"It must be a very important matter, then." Wang Chenning knew Li Dongjun had brought this up for a reason, but he didn’t press for details, merely offering a casual reply.

Li Dongjun was quite surprised. Wang Chenning’s every word and action betrayed a worldliness that belied his age.

’Successful people really are a different breed, even from a young age. With this level of composure alone, Wang Chenning has already surpassed most of his peers.’

Li Dongjun glanced at Wang Chenning, then let his gaze sweep over his colleagues before saying meaningfully, "We also have Teacher Wang to thank for helping us with a major issue."

"You’re too kind, you’re too kind!" Wang Chenning quickly waved his hands in dismissal. "I’m just a guest. I wouldn’t dare get involved in my hosts’ affairs."

Many people at the table knew exactly what was going on, and some even understood why Li Dongjun had said what he did. But none of them had anticipated Wang Chenning’s response.

His reply not only made his stance clear but also served as an unmistakable signal that he didn’t want to get further involved, nor did he want anyone to bring it up again.

Being a shrewd man, Li Dongjun took the hint and immediately changed the subject.

When the topic shifted to investments, Wang Chenning said with a broad smile, "I originally came to Jiangnan for a flower-viewing tour, but I never expected it to turn into an investment tour."

"Truly, heroes are born from the younger generation!" Li Dongjun remarked with genuine emotion. "The investments you young people are making are enough to revitalize an entire region’s economy. It’s truly remarkable!"

Luo Yuqing chimed in, saying it wasn’t that they were particularly brilliant, but that they were merely enjoying the fruits of their ancestors’ labor. Without the foundations laid by previous generations, they could never have achieved what they had, no matter how capable they were.

Wang Chenning added with a grin, telling Li Dongjun that the regions of "Mighty Jiangsu" and "Wealthy Zhejiang" were the economic powerhouses of Huaxia and top choices for any investor. He said they had already poured a lot of money into the area and planned to continue investing more.

Yang Xiaofei also chimed in, mentioning that she was considering a joint venture with Wang Chenning to invest in new energy and electric vehicles. If their talks were successful, she said, they would give priority to the Jiangnan region for their company headquarters and production facilities. The final decision, of course, would depend on the local investment climate and administrative efficiency.

Li Fuzhen added that she planned to increase her investments with Wang Chenning in tourist hotels across Huaxia. She noted that the Jiangnan region, with its beautiful scenery and robust economy, was a top contender for consideration.

They would be giving serious thought to where and how to proceed with future investments in the coming days.

After listening to them, Wang Chenning said with a broad smile, "When the time comes, I’ll be the one to decide on these matters."

"Sounds good," Luo Yuqing immediately nodded.

Yang Xiaofei also agreed readily. "In that case, you can decide on all of it!"

Li Fuzhen also added, "We know you have a unique eye for these things. Yanxian and I will defer to your judgment as well."

Seeing that all these powerful women held the same attitude, the eyes of Li Dongjun and the other officials went wide.

They knew exactly what this implied!