ealed.In the evening, the two finally came out of the hotel. Lin Zhicai felt that it was a waste to have booked a hotel but not stayed in it. Such an expensive hotel, one night's fee could almost buy...She didn't care at all whether his company was facing a crisis or if it was going to go bankrupt. She had seen too much of that growing up; the ups and downs, the highs and lows of the business world were perfectly normal. Phoenixes that thrived for eternity were rare. Besides, she also believed Gu Ruandong wasn't an ordinary person; he had the ability to solve any problem.

She was relaxed about the crisis facing her company, and her attitude infected Gu Ruandong. He smiled.

"Glad you're going out of business"

"Well, then you'll have time to spend with me."

"Then I need to work harder and make it go bankrupt as soon as possible."

The two chatted for a few moments, and Gu Ruan Dong unknowingly relaxed his mindset. He felt that all the crises facing Gu's Group at the moment were nothing to worry about.

After the two of them were dressed and had lunch, they left their house, it was already 2 pm. Lu YaoYao planned to go back to the company for a while to check the phone's surveillance footage replay. She wanted to confirm that Ms. Hao had visited in the morning.

Gu Ruandong first sent her there, then he went back to the clan.

Before yesterday, Gu Ruandong was overwhelmed. Chen Xinmin caused trouble in Macau, Yaoyao got injured, there was an incident in the shantytown, and the Gu family's stock market was under attack. The mastermind behind it all, Tan Runduo, attempted to steal the commercial development zone project.

Fortunately, the rain has stopped and the matter has been resolved smoothly. He will have time later to properly meet those maggots who have been hiding behind the scenes.

Gu Ruandong wants to clean up his own industry, but that doesn't mean he allows others to run wild over him.

He will be hosting a dinner at the Baoli Club tonight, inviting people from both the political and business sectors. This is to celebrate the group getting through a difficult period and to show confidence and its stance to the outside world: The Gu Group remains stable and actively moving forward.

The affairs of banquets at the Baoli Club were always handled by Yu Yu, from the decoration of the banquet hall...

...all the details, from the program at the banquet to security, food, and souvenirs. While Xiao Cai was responsible for sending out invitations, important figures were personally invited by Gu Ruandong....

These tasks were delegated before work yesterday, so Yu Yu and Xiao Cai handled them well.

When it was almost time, Xiao Cai came over and asked, "Mr. Gu, is your female companion still Yu Yu tonight She just asked what you were wearing so she could match."

"I don't need a female companion." He refused outright.

Xiao Cai was taken aback. It seemed like there was an unspoken rule at this kind of event: everyone brought a female companion. Some even used the quality of their companion to show off their status. Some brought socialites, some brought movie stars, and of course, some brought their wives.

Over the past few years, Gu Shao has mostly been accompanied by Yu Yu. Yu Yu is graceful and perceptive, able to handle both social situations and potential problems.

Having her around would make things a lot easier. But since Gu Shao said so, he could only reply to Yu Yu.

Yu Yu received Xiao Cai's reply, and felt a little disheartened. After all, she had put in a lot of effort over the past two days. She had hoped to be his date at the dinner and spend a few hours with him, which would have been enough for her.

She wasn't some naive girl fresh out of society or filled with idealistic fantasies. Having clawed her way through the world for so many years, she knew exactly what was hers and what wasn't, what she could covet and what she couldn't.

As for Gu Ruan Dong, there was certainly infatuation, but he knew his boundaries, especially after learning about that young mistress. He would be even more cautious, guarding those boundaries. However, now he wasn't even qualified to be a companion at work events, which left her feeling somewhat down.

"Mister Gu, who is that young lady you're taking"

"I didn't hear him say that."

Xiaocai thought, she probably shouldn't bring that young lady. After all, Mr. Gu is still in an underground relationship and can't be seen by others. It's really unexpected that Mr. Gu would have this kind of day.

This banquet not only invited people from both the political and business worlds, but also some who usually compete and have a poor relationship, such as Tan Rund.

Tan Rundé arrived with his female companion, looking rather spirited. Rundé Real Estate's newly launched project is selling well, and he just acquired a new plot of land. It has already been approved for development and is undergoing the certification process. If all five permits are granted, he can launch another new project.

His female companion is a third-tier actress, but she's currently riding high on the popularity of a recent drama airing.

Industry insiders all know that the urban village demolition project recently undertaken by Gu Ruandong was orchestrated by Tan Runde behind the scenes. But to be able to invite each other and actually show up is truly commendable.

So, when Tan Rundé walked in, everyone quietly looked over.

Gu Ruantong was dressed in black from head to toe, just like his usual attire. However, amidst the bustling banquet hall, he stood out the most. He was flanked by several important figures, who were engaged in conversation with him. Holding a glass of wine, he listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with a few words.

Tan Rundé came in and saw him at once, along with the several important figures around him. These were precisely the people Tan Rundé had always wanted to build relationships with, but had previously been unable to find an opportunity. Now, the opportunity was right here!

He walked toward Gu Ruandong with his companion, feeling a sense of smug satisfaction.

This was the second time Gu Ruandong had invited him. The first time, it was through Wang Zong. He had refused then. This time, it was Gu Ruandong's secretary who personally delivered the invitation letter. Therefore, Tan Rundong thought that Gu Ruandong was now showing him deference.

He strode confidently towards Gu Ruandong.

In the past, however, he was not met with the enthusiastic reception he had expected, but rather with Gu Ruandong's cold indifference.

Gu Ruan raised his red wine glass and took a light sip, his eyes glancing at Tan Rundé, who was smiling broadly. The corner of Gu Ruan's mouth twitched slightly, looking down at Tan Rundé with a hint of disdain in his gaze.

At this moment, the two men were in stark contrast. Tan Rundé wore a smile, while Gu Ruǎndōng appeared cold and disdainful. The impression given to the many guests at the banquet was that Tan Rundé had arrived uninvited, and Gu Ruǎndōng hadn't invited him, nor did he bother to acknowledge him.

Without a word, Tan Run'de’s face lost all its luster in front of everyone. He was both furious and embarrassed. In this situation, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue with a forced greeting.

"Mister Gu, long time no see!"

Gu Ruandong was still idly swaying the red wine in his hand, and turned to say to Xiao Cai who was following him.

“Go, entertain Mr. Tan.”

Calling someone a "prostitute" is like calling them names; it doesn't cause much harm, but it is extremely insulting.

Gu Ruandong is the kind of person who holds grudges and seeks revenge. Letting you be humiliated in public was just the beginning of the game.

Tan Rundé was embarrassed, but the female celebrity he brought along surprisingly knew how to speak up. However, when she saw Gu Ruǎndōng, she became speechless and couldn't say a word to ease the tension, let alone offer any help.

"Gu Ruantong, alright, you remember this."

Then, he left angrily with his female companion.

This little interlude didn't affect Gu Ruandong in the slightest. After exchanging pleasantries with several important guests, he found a slightly quieter corner to sit down. His phone was vibrating, it was a message from Lu Yaoyao, her tone coquettish.

"What time will brother be home"

"Later." He said succinctly.

Answer the question.

"What is brother doing"

"Business courtesies." remained unchanged, it was unclear whether he had been hit. He only lowered his head to glance at her, and after seeing she was fine, a growing anger surfaced on his face: "Did you forget all about s...