chapter 40

Bai Weijin spent the afternoon flipping through documents in Gu Yeze’s office.

Night fell as she looked up.

Bai Weijin put the materials aside and stretched, to find that Gu Yeze was still at work. Nothing seemed to distract him.

The strong willpower compelled Bai Weijin’s admiration. His tie slightly loosened and his slender fingers holding a piece of paper, Gu Yeze was frowning at the document in his hand.

A man working hard was particularly attractive, for sure, especially when he was as devastatingly good-looking as Gu Yeze, mumbled Bai Weijin who was ready to get up and go for a stroll.

“What are you about?” Gu Yeze asked, his eyes still on the material.

“…” ‘Does this man have eyes in the back of his head?’

Bai Weijin certainly made no answer. She walked towards the window and looked down from Gu Yeze’s office at a congested road. Luckily, the upper floor kept the noise below from affecting him.

The neon lights flashed on and off. As Bai Weijin looked out, surrounding buildings came into view.

“Let’s eat out tonight.” Gu Yeze put down the materials at hand and came behind Bai Weijin before she realized his presence.

“Your job done? For you just looked a bit baffled.”

Bai Weijin thought of his furrowed brow as he examined the data.

“Yeah.” Gu Yeze responded.

Then he added, “Someone has messed around with our takeover.”

Takeover? Bai Weijin turned it over in her mind, “Chenfeng Group’s case?”

Gu Yeze nodded, “It’s also your first task in office.”

The two spoke as they walked out.

Suddenly something crossed Bai Weijin’s mind. She turned around and asked Gu Yeze, “Who did it?”

Gu Yeze’s face darkened. He spit a name out, “Gu Yelin.”

Bai Weijin understood it immediately. Director Wang had given her detailed information on work handed over to her as well as Gu’s Group’s current operating situation.

It must have been under orders from Gu Yeze, and it was easy to guess that Director Wang worked for Gu Yeze.

Gu Yeze was responsible for Gu’s Group’s overall operation currently. As a leading enterprise of H City, the group was of enormous influence which no one dared to challenge. Besides, Gu family had very few collateral relatives, and Gu Yeze only had one cousin—Gu Yelin.

Gu Yelin was currently in charge of Gu’s Group’s Sales and Marketing Department.

Also, he held a part of the group’s stock. Though not so influential as his cousin, Gu Yelin had ambitiously cast covetous eyes on Gu Yeze’s position years ago.

Given that their grandmother was partial to Gu Yeze both on business and in private all the time, Gu Yelin took it amiss and secretly did everything he could to put a spoke in his cousin’s wheel.

Chenfeng Group’s case was the most important one among Gu’s businesses by now, which carried considerable weight in its further dominance over the city’s real estate industry. Gu Yeze also gave the matter some attention.

Of course, he would never allow Gu Yelin to have a hand in the affair.

Gu Yeze assigned his men to the case from negotiations with Chenfeng to the planning process, while Gu Yelin undermined the business nevertheless.

Bai Weijin turned her head to look at Gu Yeze, who shook his head in a while.

There could be definitely no mole among his men.

Given Gu Yeze’s usual finesse as well as his daring and resolute style of work, his people were bound to be extremely loyal and devoted. Besides, he tended to use no men he was suspicious of. Thus, did it mean that he had complete confidence in her when he put the case in her hands?

Bai Weijin somehow felt cheerful from the bottom of her heart.

“What do you think of it?” Gu asked.

“If there’s nothing wrong with your men, something must have gone wrong with Chenfeng Group.”

On hearing what Bai Weijin said, Gu Yeze showed some appreciation in his eyes.

She certainly deserved to be his woman.

“Let’s go.” Gu Yeze patted Bai Weijin on the head.

Bai Weijin glared at him with round eyes. How come his patting became a habit?

What kind of person was he—keeping a poker face at work while behaving in a flirtatious manner in private.

The two people took the lift down to the parking lot.

It was past seven o’clock. They were going to eat out before going back.

Mocci’s Hotel.

It was a hotel frequented by Gu Yeze. The usherettes flushed at the sight of Gu Yeze, “It’s an honor to have your presence, Mr. Gu and Miss.”

Bai Weijin smiled smugly at Gu Yeze. Their wedding news spread like wildfire in the whole city a few days ago, while these girls hadn’t given up the hope of having a love affair with him.

Her teasing smile somehow offended Gu Yeze, who coldly glanced around the girls, “This is my wife.”

The ladies suddenly looked embarrassed, “Excuse me, Mrs. Gu, please.”

The two were ushered into a simple but elegant box.

A waiter came in and said in humble reverence, “Mr. and Mrs. Gu, here’s the menu.”

After they ordered a meal, the waiter backed out. Bai Weijin gazed at the lemonade on the table and seemed lost in thought.

“What’s wrong with the acquisition, specifically?”

The document available to Bai Weijin was about the initial planning part only.

“Our talks with Chenfeng Group went on well in the first place, and Wang had complete confidence in the acquisition. Yet Chenfeng has been inclined to push up the procurement price recently,” replied Gu Yeze. Bai Weijin nodded knowingly.

“To be honest, we’ve met with a strong competitor this time—Wu’s Group.”

Wu’s Group? Their president left a certain impression on Bai Weijin when he spoke glibly to Gu Yeze on their wedding day. She hadn’t expected there was fierce competition between Gu’s and Wu’s on the sly.

Gu Yeze continued, “They also want to a take a share of the real estate industry, but they have been having a few problems with their funding chain, which, however, seem to be fixed recently.”

Bai Weijin finally figured the matter out.

Despite Gu’s Group’s belief that the acquisition was in the bag, someone provided funds to Wu’s with an eye to driving up the purchase price. In order to make a killing, Chenfeng dropped a hint about a higher price.

Undoubtedly, he who provided funds was nobody but Gu Yelin

After all, the case was of considerable significance to Gu’s, which was why Gu Yelin would make his cousin unable to back down with good grace at all costs.

It was really despicable of him.

Bai Weijin felt disdain for Gu Yelin.

The staffers of the hotel were efficient at preparing food. Several courses were served soon.

Gu Yeze said, “Let’s have dinner first.” It seemed that he already had a well-thought-out plan.

Bai Weijin understood that he had money to burn. Was he ready to be engaged in a price war with Gu Yelin?

But… Bai Weijin’s brow creased. Even if he won the battle, Chenfeng would also gain unmerited advantage thereof.

Bai Weijin was pondering over the matter, biting the chopsticks. Gu Yeze tapped the table gently, “Have the meal first. There’s a way out, but I need you to run an errand tomorrow.”

“Who am I going to meet?” Bai Weijin was curious.

“The president of Chenfeng.”

Gu Yeze got up and whispered a few words into Bai Weijin’s ear.

This time she didn’t shy at his approaching. Gu Yeze calmly sat back to the sofa when he finished, giving her a meaningful look.

Bai Weijin mulled it over and smiled.

Gu Yeze’s rising to power in H City had everything to do with his tactics, strength, leadership, courage and insight.