Chapter 2007: Press Conference

"Ha!" Guan Shengjie sneered: "Anyone who talks to me about fairness, I believe they're doing it for fairness. But when you, Zhou Andong, talk to me about fairness, I don't believe you're truly doing it for fairness."

"Petty-minded." Zhou Andong wore a hurt expression: "Brother Jie, I always thought you were an exceptionally excellent, kind, and wise person.

I never expected you to be just like ordinary people, liking to judge things with your eyes, staying on the surface, instead of using your heart to touch and feel. I'm truly disappointed."

「……」

Guan Shengjie was momentarily speechless: "Since the day I met you, you've lost face. What surprises me is that it's been two years, and you still haven't found your face back."

"You're the one saying that." Zhou Andong said proudly: "If it's lost, it's lost—can't eat it anyway. What's the point of getting it back?"

"Beep beep beep..."

Guan Shengjie hung up the phone without hesitation.

"I'm going!" Zhou Andong looked at the phone in his hand: "He actually dared to hang up on me."

Seeing Jian Qiu, standing nearby, had been eavesdropping the whole time. Hearing Zhou Andong's words, she gave him a white-eyed look.

"Hanging up your phone is civilized. If it were me, I'd definitely beat you up."

Zhou Andong chuckled, stood up, and walked out: "I'll go make arrangements."

Seeing Jian Qiu also stood up and followed him out: "Around noon, An Jing called—the barbecue restaurant renovation is almost done, equipment has arrived, and it's opening on July 1st."

Zhou Andong thought for a moment and said: "After the music festival, I have to go to Japan—I might not be back by July 1st."

"No problem!" Seeing Jian Qiu laughed: "When you come back, I'll treat you to a meal."

The two walked to the front courtyard and saw Wang Wentian and others again playing five-in-a-row at the gate.

"Wentian!"

"Chairman!" Wang Wentian quickly stood up.

Zhou Andong said: "Go to Jinwan Hotel. Tomorrow morning at ten, I want to hold a press conference in their second banquet hall. Go set up the venue.

Also, go to the mall and buy fifty Hero pens, then find a packaging factory to print fifty notebooks and gift bags—make sure they're exquisite, with the characters 'Yugong Group' printed on them."

"Understood!" Wang Wentian nodded.

"We need them tomorrow—tell the packaging factory to rush it, give them a bit extra money."

Then Zhou Andong gave further detailed instructions.

……………………

The next day after breakfast, Zhou Andong smoked a cigarette in the three-courtyard living room, flipped through the newspaper, saw that it was almost time, stood up to leave, and received a call from Puzhenrong.

"Young Master Pu, when did you return to the capital?"

"Yesterday afternoon!" Pu Zhenrong's voice came through the receiver: "Let's find a place to grab a drink at noon?"

Zhou Andong sensed Pu Zhenrong's mood was off: "What's wrong? I feel like you're not quite yourself."

"Damn it!" Pu Zhenrong cursed: "Let's talk when we meet at noon."

Zhou Andong said: "I'll be at the Jinwan Hotel at ten for the press conference—just find a place nearby."

"Okay!" Pu Zhenrong agreed: "Then it's settled."

Zhou Andong hung up, stepped outside, and Pu Zhenrong suddenly ran back, even cursing his mother—likely something went wrong at the dairy factory.

The second banquet hall at Jinwan Hotel isn't large—just over 300 square meters. When reporters entered, they suddenly noticed the setup was a bit different.

More than ten small round tables were arranged in front of the stage, each with only three chairs.

On the tables were iced red tea and very cola, plus fruit platters and pastries.

There was also a gift bag, exquisitely printed, looking very high-end.

Guan Shengjie and Du Youwei sat in front and greeted a few familiar colleagues.

"Zhou Andong is stirring things up again."

Guan Shengjie picked up a gift bag, took out the contents, and immediately laughed.

"Really not short on money, huh."

Du Youwei looked at what was in front of Guan Shengjie—besides the notebook and pen, there was also a seagull watch.

"This seagull watch seems to be a new model."

Du Youwei took the watch out of her own gift bag.

"I saw it in the mall the day before yesterday—it costs over a thousand."

"Quite the extravagance."

Guan Shengjie put the watch on his wrist, making clicking sounds with his mouth as he spoke.

"Really not bad—looks great when worn."

Du Youwei held the watch up to her wrist, sighing: "Too bad, it's a men's watch—I can't wear it."

"Take it back and give it to your uncle." Guan Shengjie put the watch on and never took it off: "This watch looks very dignified—your uncle should like it."

Others were no exception—when they opened their gift bags and saw the seagull watch, their faces lit up.

They felt a wave of emotion—still, Zhou Andong is rich and bold. Every time I attend his press conference, there's a surprise. I didn't expect this one to be even bigger.

Among them were two newcomers, looking at the gift bags in front of them, holding the watches, finally understanding why the editor-in-chief had named them and sent them here—why everyone looked at them with such eager eyes.

"This time we really hit the jackpot."

Beside them, one tall and one short man whispered to each other. Judging by their familiarity, they must be from the same newspaper.

"Yesterday, after hearing about Zhou Andong's press conference, I applied to the editor-in-chief."

The tall one chuckled softly: "If I weren't in the editor-in-chief's office right now, I wouldn't have known—I almost got snatched by Old Sun."

"Hey!" The short one laughed: "If Old Sun knew we got these gifts—including a new seagull watch—he'd probably explode."

The tall one curled his lip: "He's the type who wouldn't pick up money if it were on the ground—I really can't stand his bear-like appearance."

"Director Zhou!"

"Zhou Dong!"

"Zhou Dong!"

"..."

The short person was about to say something when he heard many people behind him shouting "Zhou Dong!", quickly turned his head to look, and saw Zhou Andong smiling as he walked into the venue, waving and greeting them.

"Hello, everyone, hello!"

Zhou Andong stepped onto the stage, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, and immediately spotted Guan Shengjie and Du Youwei sitting in the front row, then gave a slight nod as a signal.

"Let me say hello to everyone first."

The audience below instantly erupted in a warm response: "Hello, Zhou Dong!"

Zhou Andong's face was filled with a smile as he looked around once more: "Everyone here today are familiar faces—long time no see, have you missed me?"

"Missed you!"

The crowd below answered in unison, though their numbers were small, their voices carried great vigor.

Their shout of "missed you" came from the heart; without Zhou Da Pao, their work and life had become rather dull, lacking any passion.