Chapter 86: The Dinner Party (Part 2)

Now, for the worldly-inexperienced Zhou Xiaoru, there was no longer any need to doubt or guess whether this place was a legitimate KTV!

Although she had rarely seen such "selling dog meat under a sheep's head" situations, she understood that this place was a nightclub in substance, despite using the name of a KTV on the surface.

Isn't this just a real-life version of selling dog meat under a sheep's head!

She could only sigh in her heart once more; people these days really know how to play.

She should just hurry back to her hometown to lease a few acres of land and go farm!

Now, she didn't even need this greasy, middle-aged man who was drunk and leering at her to chase her away.

She had already started to think about retreating herself...

This place was not somewhere to stay for long; she thought Xiao Chen should still be nearby, so she would have him bring the car over and wait for Gu Liyan in the car.

But just as she moved her feet, she was pulled directly into the private room by the handsome Gu, who had stepped over with his long legs.

He even added to that greasy middle-aged director, "This secretary of mine is no ordinary secretary; she is also my personal assistant. How could I let her be separated from me?"

It was hard to tell if this was intentional or deliberate!

To the ears of others, it was a thought-provoking remark.

But to the ears of a certain Xiaoru, it sounded as if she were a pet kept by this person, unable to leave her master's sight.

Now, in this luxurious and ridiculously large private room, there were only Gu Liyan, Yan Qihua, Zhou Xiaoru, and that director.

Zhou Xiaoru was afraid that Gu Liyan might really have some need later, so she decided to stay for the sake of work.

Then, Yan Qihua and Gu Liyan sat on one side to discuss the project proposal, while Zhou Xiaoru sat opposite Gu Liyan, watching the greasy middle-aged man picking songs on the large screen of the private room.

Perhaps he had really gotten high from drinking at the dinner earlier, as waiters kept coming in to deliver things.

That middle-aged director first smoked a few cigarettes, then, while holding a bottle of beer in one hand and a microphone in the other, sang off-key, occasionally shouting a few lyrics and taking a sip of alcohol.

This made Zhou Xiaoru shake her head repeatedly; how was this like a big shot? He was clearly just a drunkard!

And her action happened to be seen by that director.

He walked over with the microphone and a new bottle of beer.

He sat down directly on the sofa next to Zhou Xiaoru, handed the drink over drunkenly, and said.

"Little secretary, drink a bottle with me, or else you'll be punished by singing, how about it?"

Zhou Xiaoru felt extreme disgust toward such a greasy middle-aged man and subconsciously moved to the side; the smell of alcohol from his mouth made her feel a bit dizzy! It even made her feel nauseous!

She politely and courteously refused, "I'm sorry, I don't drink."

If it weren't for the sake of Gu Liyan's cooperation, she would have long since stood up and left without ceremony if this were any other gathering.

"Eh? As President Gu's secretary, how can you not drink? My secretary is about the same age as you, and her tolerance is almost catching up to mine."

"I am truly sorry, I really cannot drink. How about this, I'll accept the penalty and sing a song."

This was already her greatest compromise!

But the middle-aged man remained relentless, "No, no, today you must sing and you must drink. Not drinking means you're not giving me face, drink up!"

Zhou Xiaoru was already trying her best to restrain herself!

Damn it! He really doesn't know what's good for him! She isn't a hostess, expected to drink, sing, and smile for him!

This is simply bullying! Don't force her to throw a punch and beat him until his own parents wouldn't recognize him!

While a certain Xiaoru was struggling to control her temper, the gentleman sitting opposite had been observing the movements across from him intentionally or unintentionally ever since that Director Luo came over.

Until he saw that a certain Xiaoru's face was becoming increasingly dark, and that Director Luo was attempting to lean in closer...

Seeing this, the gentleman ended the discussion, closed the file in his hand, and strode toward the opposite sofa!

With a wave of his large hand, he snatched the beer bottle from the greasy middle-aged man's hand.

The handsome face of the Big Boss Gu had also turned somewhat grim at this moment.

Director Luo turned his head to look, wondering who was ruining his fun, only to find it was this person.

He teased jokingly, "President Gu, where did you hire this secretary? She's truly innocent, she doesn't even know how to drink. You should train her; as a big boss's secretary, how can she not know how to drink! Hehehehe..."

Gu Liyan gripped the beer bottle in his hand, his expression making people shudder, and then he slammed the bottle heavily onto the coffee table in front of him!

He said very unhappily, "Director Luo! I think you've had too much to drink tonight! Say what should be said, and what shouldn't be... also said!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Yan Qihua, who was sitting on the sofa behind the gentleman, had already sensed his displeasure.

And the face of Director Luo, which had been joking and laughing, froze.

This Director Luo was no pushover; in fact, he had already been annoyed with Gu Liyan during the meal earlier.

He stood up directly and asked.

"What does President Gu mean by this!" Although he had drunk a few too many, he wasn't completely unconscious, and he knew exactly what he was doing and what he was saying.

So what if he was intentionally teasing this little secretary today!

Yan Qihua, standing on the other side, saw that the situation was not right and hurried over to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, everyone is a bit high from drinking today, give me some face and say less... Old Luo, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but Miss Zhou doesn't drink, so let it be. You are a major shareholder of Chaowei Group; making things difficult for a young girl is not your style."

"Hmph! I just don't understand, it was already negotiated with Wantong Technology, so why the sudden change to sign with Tengyuan..."

With this, Director Luo finally stated the reason he wanted to stir up trouble.

It turned out that earlier, Wantong Technology had already sent representatives to discuss investment and cooperation.

Originally, given Wantong Technology's financial strength, more than half of the shareholders within Chaowei Group had agreed to raise the bid for this project to let Wantong Technology secure the opportunity.

However, a small minority believed that if one only looked at immediate benefits, Wantong Technology was certainly the best candidate.

But looking at long-term development, Tengyuan Company, which had a certain level of strength and reputation, was the best partner.

Therefore, as the chairman of Chaowei Group, Yan Qihua was considering the current situation when Gu Liyan arrived in person.

This undoubtedly gave those shareholders who wanted long-term development a sense of reassurance.

And Yan Qihua, after combining all aspects of the situation, changed the originally slated Wantong Technology to Tengyuan Company.

This, however, aroused the dissatisfaction of Director Luo, who was responsible for handling the cooperation negotiations with Wantong.

Facing Director Luo's dissatisfaction, Gu Liyan quickly thought of the trickery involved.

He would not give up this opportunity for cooperation, but facing the long-term cooperation with Chaowei Group ahead, he also did not want to be obstructed by someone like Director Luo, a parasite, on Tengyuan's path to expanding into W City.

Shrewd as he was, he had long since seen through the underlying stakes.

He pointed directly to the crux of the problem, "Director Luo, is your dissatisfaction because you are dissatisfied with me personally, or dissatisfied with the cooperation with Tengyuan? I think... you are having a hard time explaining this to the people at Wantong Technology who already negotiated all the terms with you!"

With one sentence, he accurately pointed out the key, and it was a double entendre.

If it were only about the cooperation, whether one agreed or disagreed, it would ultimately be decided by a vote of the major shareholders at the shareholders' meeting.

This Director Luo was so dissatisfied not only because he had personally handled various matters with the person in charge at Wantong Technology.

A greater reason, Gu Liyan guessed, was that Wantong Technology must have privately given this Director Luo certain benefits!

Otherwise, this man surnamed Luo would not be so anxious to jump out!

With Wantong Technology's financial resources, the benefits given to him must surely be substantial.

Zhou Xiaoru did not quite understand these words, but for Yan Qihua, who was experienced in the business world, he understood as soon as he heard them.

And that Director Luo did not expect to be so easily seen through by Gu Liyan.

He felt somewhat guilty and somewhat panicked.

At this moment, his drunkenness had already faded by more than half.

Just as Gu Liyan had guessed, in order to secure this cooperation opportunity, Wantong Technology had already bribed him multiple times in private.

Seeing now that the cooperation project with Wantong was about to fall through, and the cooked duck was about to fly away, how could he not complain!

Yan Qihua's expression had already become very serious at this moment!

He walked directly up to the person whose eyes were already darting around in guilt and asked straightforwardly.

"How much money did you take from them!"

This question was so direct that it shocked Director Luo, causing his pupils to shrink.

He did not expect that his dissatisfaction would so easily expose the fact that he had accepted bribes.

Zhou Xiaoru was still somewhat confused when she heard this.

What did this mean?!

At this time, Gu Liyan had already pulled the girl who was looking around, and said a word to Yan Qihua.

"President Yan, I value Chaowei's strength just as I value your character. It's just that I fear having such a person remain in your company and hold an important position will affect our future cooperation. Of course, having said that, this is an internal matter for Chaowei, and it is not for me to ask, I am just offering a suggestion. Let's stop here for tonight, I will head back, and we will see each other at the bidding meeting tomorrow."

Yan Qihua felt embarrassed again; how could problems arise one after another tonight, and all of them caused by his own people.

It was truly causing him trouble!

Just like that, in a state of bewilderment, Zhou Xiaoru was pulled away from the club by Gu Liyan.

After coming out, she hurriedly took a few deep breaths of fresh air.

She finally felt alive; that smoky, foul place was truly unbearable.

It was just a pity for those handsome men and beautiful women working there.

Standing outside this entertainment club, there were several women standing at the entrance wearing revealing clothes and heavy makeup.

During the process of waiting for Xiao Chen to drive over to pick them up, women would occasionally come over to strike up a conversation with Gu Liyan.

However, under Zhou Xiaoru's observation, she did not know if it was because the director surnamed Luo had thoroughly annoyed him, or what.

This guy's face was just like the sky outside, so dark that no expression could be seen, yet it made people feel panicked when they looked at it.

Those beauties who came over to strike up a conversation all automatically walked away under the sharp gaze of the handsome Gu...