Chapter 18: President Gu Appreciates You

After leaving Meng Shutang's side, Bai Cixian came over to Gu Yunci's side.

"Brother Yunci, you came over to keep an eye on things because you were worried about Teacher Meng too, right? Don't worry, I just went over to comfort her. I'm sure today, she'll perform at her normal level."

Gu Yunci neither looked at her nor made a sound.

Meng Shutang did indeed perform normally today, drawing applause from the entire hall.

There were over a dozen docents at the collection exhibition, all excellent, but because several of them had never worked with ancient bead restoration, some of their explanations were rather superficial.

But Meng Shutang was different—she not only explained the ancient beads, but also the history and culture behind them.

Everyone listened with great interest, and the applause was thunderous.

Even the visitors following other docents switched sides one after another, coming over to her side.

When the exhibition director Zhou Songyan saw this, he came to Gu Yunci's side. "President Gu, since everyone likes Teacher Meng so much, why not let Teacher Meng do all the explaining!"

Bai Cixian was certainly not happy about such a great honor falling on Meng Shutang's head.

"Teacher Meng only reviewed those few ancient beads from the Southern Song. The ones from Southern Chen and the Wei-Jin period, she hasn't even touched."

Zhou Songyan smiled. "What Supervisor Bai doesn't know is that Teacher Meng studied under a renowned master in the industry. These few collection pieces are kindergarten-level knowledge for her."

Bai Cixian disliked hearing people talk about Meng Shutang studying under some master more than anything.

Which master exactly? Name him so she could see for herself.

"President Zhou, Teacher Meng had a major blunder yesterday. I don't think her abilities are quite what you all make them out to be."

Zhou Songyan's cheeks flushed red. "Yesterday should have been… purely an accident. A perfectly fine bead strand—the clasp couldn't just suddenly come undone.

It could be due to age, or it could be that someone deliberately sabotaged it.

So afterward, I carefully inspected the bead strand and found clear signs of tampering. This person is truly malicious, actually trying to sabotage our collection exhibition.

After learning of this matter, in the exhibition review report, I told President Gu and also requested to pull the surveillance footage to see who this person really is."

Bai Cixian's heart tightened, her fingers clenching slightly.

"President Gu said… it's just an accessory, and making a big deal of it would be overblown, so he told us not to bring it up again."

Hearing this, Bai Cixian's suspended heart slowly settled, and her tightly clenched fingers relaxed.

"But I can guarantee that this incident had nothing to do with Teacher Meng. We've worked together for a long time, and it was her first time touching that item."

Zhou Songyan hadn't finished speaking when Gu Yunci interrupted.

"Alright, Songyan, just do as you suggested!"

Zhou Songyan nodded. "Understood, President Gu."

Before leaving, he added with a grin, "In the entire venue, Shutang is the only one whose work I trust the most."

Next, it became Meng Shutang's solo show. She was like the moon, and the ancient beads at the collection exhibition were the stars, each one affectionately holding her up.

Bai Cixian was jealous. "Brother Yunci, yesterday we agreed that I would do the explaining. For this, I stayed up all night, forgetting to eat and sleep.

But in the end, I still couldn't help the company… Teacher Meng really is popular. I truly envy her for being trusted like this by you and President Zhou."

The man looked at Meng Shutang in the center of the exhibition, his tone somewhat cold. "She is her, and you are you. Just do your own job well—no need to compare yourself with her."

Bai Cixian had heard Zhou Songyan casually call Meng Shutang by name when he left. "Brother Yunci, do you think President Zhou has feelings for Miss Meng? He's such a rigid man—he's been with the company for so long, and I've never seen him argue red-faced for anyone's sake."

Gu Yunci's expression was neutral. "He's married. It's just that he values talent. I still have matters to attend to—I'm leaving first."

With that, the man slipped one hand into his pocket and turned to leave.

Bai Cixian stood there watching for a while, but she wasn't watching Meng Shutang—she was observing Zhou Songyan.

Zhou Songyan was a man true to his name—steadfast as a pine and unwavering as a rock.

Clearly, last night when she came out of the office, Gu Yunci had agreed perfectly. But Zhou Songyan went in, then Meng Shutang went in, and today the docent was Meng Shutang again.

Moreover, Zhou Songyan thought her ignorant and incompetent, parachuted into the Gu Group, and disapproved of her openly and covertly.

She had always regarded Zhou Songyan as a thorn in her side, but at this moment, she suddenly discovered Zhou Songyan's good qualities.

"Look at the way Zhou Songyan looks at Meng Shutang—if there isn't something else going on, who would believe it?"

Bai Cixian gave a cold laugh, crossed her arms over her chest, and slowly walked away.

Today's collection exhibition was very successful. After it ended, Zhou Songyan praised Meng Shutang highly.

The other docents also recognized Meng Shutang's true level and offered their congratulations one after another.

"Shutang, your explanation today was wonderful. Especially when you talked about the agate beads from the Guo State cemetery—a visitor asked an obscure question, and I was really afraid you wouldn't be able to answer.

I didn't expect you to handle it effortlessly. Your level—without exaggeration—could host a dedicated lecture series."

"Shutang's most remarkable quality is that she doesn't just read from a script. She brings the history, allusions, and aesthetics behind the artifacts to life. Even someone encountering ancient beads for the first time can appreciate their value."

"Just now several visitors were discussing it, asking when you'll explain next time—they want to come listen again.

They're not from Jiangcheng—they have to fly here!"

Zhou Songyan saw everyone crowding around Meng Shutang and walked over. "Work is over—stop crowding here. Finish up quickly and go back to rest!"

A junior colleague said, "President Zhou, we've been busy with the exhibition for so long and it was such a success—when are we having a celebration banquet?"

In past years, it would definitely be one day after the exhibition ended.

But this year, because of yesterday's incident with the bead strand slipping…

Zhou Songyan said, "Once the time is set, everyone will be notified in the group chat."

After everyone left, Meng Shutang walked to Zhou Songyan's side. "President Zhou, I'm really sorry about yesterday. I feel terrible about it…"

"Don't blame yourself—it had nothing to do with you." He paused. "Shutang, you've truly given me so many surprises. The dragonfly-eye and jade court-bead segments—even me, who handles artifacts every day, listened with great interest. I always say, for all major events, it still takes you to step up, hahaha…"

Meng Shutang also smiled happily. "It's all thanks to President Zhou's cultivation. If not for President Zhou's discerning eye, I don't know what obscure corner I'd be in.

I will never forget that it was President Zhou who recommended me to the Gu Clan."

"Hey, no need for such distant words. I've also received quite a few commendations over the years because of your outstanding work."

Ahem!

Gu Yunci had appeared at Zhou Songyan's side at some unknown time.

"Chatting so happily? Not working?"

Zhou Songyan, "President Gu, it's after hours now," saying that, he pulled out his phone, "I just recorded the part where Shutang talked about Shang Wanyu managing the beads. I'll send it to you in a bit.

You wanted to learn, right? This part today is absolutely authoritative."

Meng Shutang had been looking down; hearing this, she slightly raised her eyes toward Gu Yunci.

Zhou Songyan noticed, "Shutang, you probably don't know this, but President Gu really appreciates you. He's asked me about you privately more than a few times.

After you left yesterday, the latter part was President Gu explaining it to several leaders. Who did he learn it from? You!"

Gu Yunci felt inexplicably irritable hearing this—not exactly irritable; he couldn't quite name the emotion either.

"You two chat. I'm heading out first."

Zhou Songyan, "Shutang, you tidy up with your colleagues. I'll go ask President Gu about our celebration banquet."

Before Meng Shutang could respond, Zhou Songyan had already run off out of sight.

She turned and picked up a rag to wipe things down together with everyone, faintly hearing Qiao Mo muttering to the colleagues, "And you all were praising her. What a huge embarrassment yesterday was!

I've been at Gu Clan for all these years, and I've never felt so humiliated!

Celebration banquet, ha. At tomorrow's general meeting, it'll be enough if President Gu doesn't criticize us."