Chapter 23: Stunning the Room, a Million-Strong Coercive Gambit

"Everyone, the core of this finalized Cangpinge proposal is, if I'm not mistaken, 'draw traffic through collections, retain guests through culture,' right?

The core framework is very clear, but it omits the lifeline that Cangpinge relies on to establish itself in the town.

I'd like to add three points of optimization: first, the selection of collections should align with the essence of Wenlüxiaozhen, prioritizing unique pieces of local intangible heritage craftsmanship and old collections from local prominent families, rather than piling on external collections—no matter how many pieces from other regions are included, it still doesn't conform to the Gu Clan's cultural tourism layout principle of 'one town, one distinctive feature';

Second, the exhibition circulation route should..."

Before Meng Shutang could finish speaking, the people at the table could no longer sit still.

They looked at one another.

How could an outsider like her know all this?

Who told her?

Didn't President Gu just send over a condensed version earlier?

How could she know it so clearly!!!

Bai Cixian was even less able to sit still. This proposal was something she had exhausted herself over, pulling several all-nighters to produce. She thought she had guessed Gu Yunci's intentions, but it turned out she couldn't even match Meng Shutang's understanding after two minutes of reading?

No, she refused to accept this. She should be the woman standing beside Gu Yunci.

"Actually, besides all of the above, there's another operational tie-in. There's a century-old prestigious school near Wenlüxiaozhen. You should connect with them and make Wenlüxiaozhen serve as a study-tour base. This could all become successful experience for the cultural tourism project."

After Meng Shutang finished speaking, she looked at Gu Yunci's expression and slowly sat down.

The conference room was very quiet—at least two minutes passed without anyone uttering a word.

"Did you all hear that clearly? Meng Shutang is not a Gu Clan employee. She's only collaborating with us because of a few projects.

Yet she can fully grasp the core logic of Wenlüxiaozhen, understand the positioning of Cangpinge, and even the Group's localized layout.

And you? Each of you draws a salary from the Gu Clan, yet the proposals you produce can't catch a single pain point.

Is this your work attitude?"

After speaking, the man grabbed the proposal document from the table and slammed it back down hard, the pages fluttering noisily at the corners.

Everyone turned to look at Bai Cixian. She was the lead writer of this proposal, and some had thought it superficial the moment they read it.

But she had spoken with burning conviction, saying she'd asked Gu Yunci for his thoughts.

Before the meeting started, she had even been showing off, saying she'd just come out of the CEO's office and that Gu Yunci had mentioned taking her to eat such-and-such tomorrow.

So it turned out—gold on the outside, rotten stuffing within.

If Gu Yunci liked her, it was probably only for her pretty face!

"Meng Shutang, come with me to my office."

The man stood up after speaking.

Meng Shutang only felt wronged. She wasn't a Gu Clan employee, nor did she take a single cent from the Gu Clan for nothing.

Why did she have to do these things? She'd offended quite a few people today, and who knew whether they'd harbor resentment and trip her up in the future.

But even thinking this, she still obediently carried her laptop and followed Gu Yunci to the 28th floor.

The two took the executive-exclusive elevator.

Inside the transparent glass, there were only the two of them.

Meng Shutang stood with her back to him, not wanting to speak with him.

The man stood behind her—what expression he wore, what attitude he had, she couldn't see.

In the past, riding the elevator always felt fast.

But today, for some reason, going from the 7th floor to the 28th, Meng Shutang only felt it was slow.

They hadn't been intimate for a while, and she was no longer accustomed to being alone with the man in an enclosed space.

His presence was too overpowering; she couldn't handle it.

So the moment the elevator doors opened, she couldn't be bothered with workplace "hierarchy and propriety," and couldn't wait to walk out.

The man, accustomed to others yielding to him, also stepped forward at once, and the two of them collided squarely.

In that instant, a scene surfaced in Gu Yunci's mind: when she was fourteen, was this how the young Meng Shutang had collided with Gu Jin Xing?

No, that's not right!

Gu Jin Xing said she bumped into his chest—it should have been more intimate than this.

The man's cold, sharp scent filled her nose, seeping into her bones. Meng Shutang froze in place for an instant.

No matter when, the scent imprinted with Gu Yunci's personal mark could always make her thoughts scatter and her defenses collapse entirely.

She instinctively stepped back.

The always-dignified man was overflowing with gentlemanliness today. He stepped back farther than she did. "You go first."

Meng Shutang stepped out almost without thinking, clutching her laptop.

But then she suddenly remembered she still had to go to his office, so she called out to him along the way: "President Gu, did you have something to say to me? Let's talk here. I'm quite busy."

"Busy with what? Busy pouring tea and water, handing out fruit platters?"

The man knew how to deliver a killing blow to the heart.

He continued walking forward. "Teacher Meng, the Wenlüxiaozhen project isn't wrapped up yet. You can't keep thinking about earning extra money on the side!"

What extra money? It was only fifty yuan an hour.

Meng Shutang didn't want to either.

But they were about to get divorced soon, and she had to earn money hard; otherwise, her mother would be transferred out of the intensive care unit.

The man entered his office. Meng Shutang hesitated for a moment, then followed him in.

The man placed a document on the desk. "Cangpinge is holding a cultural tourism special exhibition next month. You'll be in charge of tracing the origins and organizing the exhibits. The compensation..."

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk surface. "Thirty percent higher than your pay as a collection exhibition docent."

As he spoke, the man lowered his eyes and glanced at her pale, slender hand.

Meng Shutang hesitated a little. Her mother had just had a bout of phlegm congestion recently. If she went to Wenlüxiaozhen for a month, there was also her grandmother, who was getting on in years.

You're not satisfied?

I'm satisfied, but can I come back in the middle?

The man seemed to understand what was going on, a faint snort leaking from his throat, but the cold hardness of before was gone. "I'm talking about Cangpinge in the old alleys west of the city, not Wenlüxiaozhen."

Speaking, his distinct-jointed fingers opened the computer and began tapping on the keyboard.

She and Gu Jin Xing first met there.

She must be very happy, right!

Hearing "Cangpinge west of the city," Meng Shutang blinked in surprise.

She hadn't expected the man to mention that place.

Is Cangpinge under the Gu Clan?

Yes, we bought it outright with our own funds the year we got married.

He usually keeps a low profile, but for this matter he had people publicize it.

But she was completely unaware; she didn't care about anything related to him!

The man pressed his lips into a bitter smile.

Meng Shutang looked at him, then lifted her gaze toward the west of the city, her eyes holding too many old scenes.

That was their past, her youthful obsession.

It's a pity he doesn't remember her.

Meng Shutang turned to leave, but the man called her back, "I just looked at the Wenlüxiaozhen project—your Starlight Pavilion only has a few finishing touches left, right?"

Yes, Chen Man is back; she's now in charge of liaison.

I know your abilities; Cangpinge west of the city isn't difficult for you.

You've seen the standard of the Culture and Tourism Department; I'd like to hire you short-term to work there, helping them organize their plans and such.

The position is Deputy Director—what do you think?

Meng Shutang didn't utter a sound.

The man took out a card from the drawer and pushed it toward Meng Shutang, "There's 100,000 here."

Meng Shutang glanced at the card, her brow slightly furrowed, as if troubled.

Seeing that, the man took out another card, "There's 200,000 here."

Meng Shutang pressed her lips and lowered her gaze.

Agreeing to this demand would be tantamount to making a living on his turf once again.

On one side is the embarrassment of divorce; on the other, her mother lying in the special care ward. She wants to refuse, but she also needs every bit of stable income.

Seeing she still hadn't agreed, the man took out another card from the drawer, "There's 700,000 here."

By the point of reaching divorce, dignity had already been crushed to dust.

This is her mother's lifesaving money; she has no right to refuse.

"I'll do it, but I'll say it up front: you need to give me a deadline. You wouldn't want us divorced and me still loitering under your nose, would you?"

The man's brows furrowed slightly, his tone turning colder, "A deadline? You're actually in a hurry!"

"Do whatever you need to do; as for the divorce, I'll say when it happens."

Meng Shutang took the card and left, reaching the doorway when she suddenly heard, "Have Bai Cixian come in."

Her steps halted, her back stiffening for a moment; she glanced back slightly, "Okay."

Meng Shutang went to the seventh floor, "Section Chief Bai, President Gu is calling you."

Bai Cixian approached, her voice soft, "Thank you, sister; I'm going to find President Gu."

Watching her graceful departing figure, Meng Shutang felt that her earlier "sister" wasn't just a casual address.