Chapter 275 - 235: Wei Hall’s Personal Welcome

Chapter 275: Chapter 235: Wei Hall’s Personal Welcome

The speeches lasted for about forty minutes.

After Tan Guocheng’s New Year’s address, Wei Ze’gong, the Minister of the Department of Commerce, gave another speech, followed by Xiu Laigui, the head of Xiu Zheng Group and a representative of Ji Province’s entrepreneurs, who delivered the final address.

Only after the speeches concluded did the 2023 Ji Province Entrepreneur Banquet officially begin.

As the Executive Vice-Governor, Tan Guocheng came off the stage after the speeches, shook hands with Xiu Laigui and the other prominent Ji Province entrepreneurs, and exchanged a few pleasantries. Then, surrounded by an entourage, he left the banquet early.

As for department-level leaders like Wei Ze’gong and Song Zhikai, they saw Tan Guocheng off before quickly returning to the banquet hall. Carrying wine glasses, they began to circulate, chatting amicably with the many Ji Province entrepreneurs present and mingling with the guests.

As everyone mingled and glasses clinked, the atmosphere grew increasingly boisterous.

At this moment, Gu Heng stood by the banquet hall’s floor-to-ceiling windows. Compared to the bustling center of the hall, this spot was considerably more secluded and quiet.

Heavy snow swirled outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

In the parking lot of the Northeast Asia International Financial Center, a pristine layer of white snow had already blanketed many of the cars.

Seeing this, Gu Heng took out his phone and recorded a video of the view outside. He then found his chat with Tian Xiqwei on WhatsApp and sent it to her.

Although Gu Heng and Tian Xiqwei hadn’t seen each other recently, they had been communicating quite a bit online. Just yesterday, Tian Xiqwei had temporarily left her film set and flown to Zhonghai, having been invited to attend Dragon TV’s New Year’s Eve Gala tonight.

’Not a single snowflake fell while she was in Beichun.’

’The moment she leaves, it starts snowing heavily. Her timing is just incredible.’

As Gu Heng mused to himself, he sent the video to Tian Xiqwei. Then, he closed WhatsApp, opened his contacts, and dialed Xu Mo.

The original plan was for Gu Heng to have dinner with Luo Xiwen, then pick up Xu Mo to hang out, reserving the rest of the evening entirely for her.

However, plans rarely keep up with reality. The sudden invitation to the Ji Province Entrepreneur Banquet forced Gu Heng to shorten his time with both women.

Yesterday, Gu Heng had called to tell Xu Mo about the change of plans. She was incredibly understanding, telling him it was no problem and that he should prioritize his work. She mentioned that two of her old middle school roommates happened to be studying in Beichun as well, so she could have dinner with them first and wait for him to finish.

Seeing how understanding Xu Mo was, Gu Heng felt an even deeper wave of affection for her. He immediately sent her a transfer for 13,140, insisting that she accept it and spend every last bit of it before she saw him that night.

He knew Xu Mo’s personality all too well. If he hadn’t made it a strict requirement, she would have likely just grabbed a bite at some cheap eatery for dinner and avoided any activity that cost money.

He couldn’t bear the thought of it, especially in the dead of winter.

He made the call, and it was answered in under three seconds.

"Darling~"

"Are you all done~"

Xu Mo’s bright voice came through the phone, filled with surprise and anticipation. Just as she finished speaking, Gu Heng could clearly hear the teasing laughter of two other girls on her end.

"Oh, stop it, you guys~"

Xu Mo was already easily embarrassed. Being teased like that, Gu Heng could just imagine how flustered and shy she must look right now.

"Momo, I’m sorry."

"It’s going to be a little longer on my end."

Gu Heng explained apologetically, "The leaders’ speeches alone took over forty minutes. The dinner has just started, and no one’s left yet. It would be a bit awkward for me to leave right now."

"Don’t worry about it."

"We just finished dinner ourselves."

Xu Mo replied softly, "My friend’s boyfriend is coming to pick her up soon. She, her boyfriend, and my other friend are planning to go to Sound Wave for a bit. I’ll just head straight home afterward and wait for you there."

"They’re going to Sound Wave?"

Gu Heng asked, "Which one?"

"I think it’s the one on Guilin Road."

Xu Mo replied, a little uncertain.

"If it’s the one on Guilin Road, Momo, you should go with them."

Gu Heng hadn’t expected the coincidence. "I was actually planning to take you there tonight. Why don’t you go with them first? I’ll meet you directly at Sound Wave later. It’ll save us the trouble of running around."

"Okay then."

"Then hurry over, okay?"

Hearing Gu Heng say this, Xu Mo agreed.

"Oh, by the way?"

"Have you completed the task I gave you?"

Gu Heng asked, a smile in his voice.

"Uhm..."

"Well..."

"Not yet."

Xu Mo stammered, "How am I supposed to spend that much money?"

"Well, I don’t care. If I see you tonight and it’s not all spent..."

Gu Heng intentionally made it sound serious. "I’ll be very unhappy, you know. You don’t want me to be upset while ringing in the New Year, do you?"

"I..."

"I’ll try my best!"

"Please don’t be mad, okay?"

Xu Mo grew anxious and quickly promised him.

"Good girl~"

"Go on and have fun, then~"

"I’ll come find you at Sound Wave later~"

Gu Heng said gently.

"Mhm!"

After making their plans, they quickly hung up.

When Gu Heng put his phone down, he saw that Tian Xiqwei had tried to video call him several times while he was on the phone with Xu Mo. All the calls had failed to connect because his line was busy.

Seeing the missed calls, he called her back.

She answered the video call almost instantly.

"Hello, hello~"

"Gu Heng, Happy New Year~"

As the video call connected, Tian Xiqwei’s energetic voice came through.

She appeared to be in a dressing room. She wore a black, butterfly-shaped fascinator, her makeup was elegant and sweet, and she was dressed in a deep purple, strapless formal gown that left her snowy shoulders and slender arms bare.

A brilliant, sweet smile lit up her face, revealing a pair of faint dimples on her cheeks.

"I was on another call, so I missed yours."

Gu Heng replied with a small smile.

"Gu Heng, you’re dressed so formally today!"

"Are you at some kind of event?"

Seeing Gu Heng on screen in a sharp suit, with his hair perfectly styled and a backdrop of bright lights and bustling figures, Tian Xiqwei’s eyes widened slightly in amazement.

Gu Heng replied with a smile, "I’m at the Ji Province Entrepreneur Banquet. It’s a bit crowded, so I came to the window for a breath of fresh air. I happened to see it was snowing outside, which made me think of you, so I recorded a quick video and sent it over."

"The entrepreneur banquet!"

"Wow, Gu Heng, that’s so impressive! Getting an invitation at your age!"

Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Thanks for thinking of me. If I hadn’t been invited to the New Year’s Eve gala, I could have seen the snow tonight. Such a shame!"

"Don’t worry about it."

"The snow season in the north lasts a long time."

Gu Heng said comfortingly, "There’ll be plenty of chances when you get back."

Tian Xiqwei’s expression suddenly fell. "But our crew’s schedule in Beichun is only for another three days," she said, looking crestfallen. "Will there really be another chance?"

"You can always come back after you leave Beichun."

While Gu Heng and Tian Xiqwei were talking, a group of people from the center of the banquet hall started walking toward him.

Because Gu Heng was facing the window, it was Tian Xiqwei who first noticed someone walking towards him.

"Gu Heng, it looks like someone’s coming to see you."

Tian Xiqwei pointed out.

At her words, Gu Heng turned around. The man leading the approaching group was none other than Wei Ze’gong, the Minister of the Ji Province Department of Commerce, who had just delivered one of the New Year’s addresses.

"That’s the Minister of Commerce for Ji Province."

Gu Heng said quickly to Tian Xiqwei, "Have a great performance. We’ll talk later when we’re free. Happy New Year."

Hearing that he was such a high-ranking official, Tian Xiqwei quickly replied, "Go on, Gu Heng, don’t let me keep you. Happy New Year!"

Gu Heng nodded slightly, then hung up the phone and put it away.

At the same time, he strode forward to greet Wei Ze’gong and his group.

"Mr. Gu, what are you doing here all by yourself?"

Wei Ze’gong was very affable as they met.

"I was just on the phone with a friend."

Gu Heng gave a slight bow to show his respect. "Minister Wei, my apologies. I should have been the one to come and pay my respects. It’s my fault for making you come all the way over here."

"Ah, no need for that!"

Wei Ze’gong waved his hand dismissively. "None of that ’should’ or ’should not’ talk. Tonight’s the last day of 2023. We should all relax and enjoy ourselves. That’s what matters!"

With that, he turned to the people with him and said, "Come, let me introduce you to one of Ji Province’s own rising stars. This is Chairman Gu Heng. He’s the second-largest shareholder of Zhonghai Junyao Group’s Ruyi Airlines and the chairman of our province’s Beichun Junlan Hotel and Zhen Cui Group. He has a very bright future ahead of him!"

"Chairman Gu, I’ve heard so much about you!"

"Such a distinguished young man, I’m envious!"

"Chairman Gu, are you married, by any chance?"

...

As soon as Wei Ze’gong finished, the crowd of Ji Province entrepreneurs surrounding him all began to make small talk with Gu Heng.

Gu Heng wasn’t at all surprised that Wei Ze’gong could rattle off his credentials so easily. In the more economically powerful southern provinces, entrepreneurs with a net worth over five billion might be a dime a dozen, but here in Ji Province, you could count them on one hand.

Gu Heng had risen meteorically in just half a year, and he was only eighteen years old. As the Minister of Commerce for Ji Province, it would be strange if Wei Ze’gong wasn’t deeply impressed.

"Chairman Gu, why don’t we move to the front?"

"Chairman Xiu and Chairman Li are quite interested in meeting you as well."

Wei Ze’gong extended the invitation to Gu Heng, "You are all outstanding entrepreneurs in Ji Province. You should network more."

"Of course."

"I’ve long admired senior figures like Chairman Xiu and Chairman Li."

Gu Heng wasn’t one to curry favor where it wasn’t welcome. But now that Wei Ze’gong, the Minister of the Ji Province Department of Commerce, had personally invited him, it would be arrogant to refuse.

"Excellent!"

"Then let’s go over together!"

"I’ll make the introductions for Chairman Gu!"

Wei Ze’gong patted Gu Heng’s shoulder warmly and said with a smile.

"Minister Wei, after you..."

"No need for formalities. Let’s go together."

As Wei Ze’gong and Gu Heng spoke, they started walking back towards the front center of the banquet hall. The people who had just been gathered around Wei Ze’gong naturally formed a circle around both Wei Ze’gong and Gu Heng.

In an instant, Gu Heng had quietly become the center of attention...