The day we set off was sunny and clear.
Gan Tang and Chu Jiahe took the high-speed train to Hongcheng, 500 kilometers away. The two sat in the last carriage of the train, a business class cabin with only five seats.
Chu Jiahe was accompanied by an assistant and a driver, while Gan Tang was all alone.
"Why didn't you bring an assistant?" Chu Jiahe asked.
Gan Tang smiled and looked at him, "I'm going out with you, not to work, why would I bring an assistant?"
Chu Jiahe turned his chair sideways, his eyes full of smugness. "So eager to come out with me?"
Gan Tang lowered the back of her chair, crossed her legs, and lay down leisurely. Then she turned her head to look at the man next to her and said provocatively, "Yeah, I need to see how Designer Chu is working before I can judge whether he is an excellent... partner."
"Whether he's an excellent business partner or not, he's definitely an excellent boyfriend." With that, Chu Jiahe turned Gan Tang's chair sideways and leaned against it.
Seeing this, the assistant and driver tactfully left. Chu Jiahe's assistant had booked the entire business class cabin, so now only the two of them remained.
Gan Tang smiled and asked, "Really?"
Chu Jiahe looked at the red lips so close to his own and couldn't help but kiss them.
Gan Tang looked at the man in front of her, a hint of worry showing between her smiling brows, hinting at the real reason she came out with him: "Jiahe, Dad was supposed to take me on a blind date tomorrow."
In the animal kingdom, species only unleash their impulsive desires in times of crisis.
Sure enough, Chu Jiahe's eyes changed. He cupped Gan Tang's face and leaned in for a deep kiss. On the speeding high-speed train, this slightly domineering kiss lasted for ten minutes.
By the time Gan Tang came to her senses, she was already sitting on Chu Jiahe's lap.
Both of them were breathing heavily. Chu Jiahe loosened his tie, raised his cuff, and gently wiped the cold sweat from Gan Tang's forehead.
"Tang'er, when we get back, I'll go see Uncle Lu."
"No!" Gan Tang gently shook her head. "I don't want to put you in a difficult position."
If he were to meet Lu Zhengqian, it would be tantamount to openly declaring war on his parents. This was not the outcome Gan Tang wanted. The risk was too great, and the process too slow; she couldn't wait.
Two hours later, the high-speed train stopped in Hongcheng.
Chu Jiahe led Gan Tang out, holding her hand with one hand and pulling her suitcase with the other. His assistant and driver followed closely behind, carrying his suitcase.
The company that invited Chu Jiahe was a tourism development company that was developing tourism on a locally well-known mountain. Developing tourism on a mountain presents numerous challenges, so the tourism development company sought technical support from the Chu Group.
Outside the high-speed rail station, a large crowd gathered to welcome them, including Mr. Han, the head of the tourism development company, as well as many celebrities from all walks of life in Hongcheng.
When President Han saw Chu Jiahe come out, he hurriedly went forward to greet him, "Young Master Chu, we've been waiting for you."
Chu Jiahe disliked this title, but this time he didn't remind her. He happily introduced the woman beside him to everyone: "This is my girlfriend, Ms. Lu, the heiress of the Lu Group."
"Designer Chu always likes to joke, so please don't take it seriously." Gan Tang smiled and took over Chu Jiahe's words, politely extending her hand: "Lu Xintang, Director of Investment Department of Lu's Group."
When men and women are alone, men may prefer women who are affectionate and dependent, but in public, they still prefer women who make them look good. This is especially true for men like Chu Jiahe who strive for perfection.
Gan Tang continued, "Designer Chu has always had a sharp eye; any project he sets his sights on must be excellent. That's why I came along to see if I could get a piece of the pie."
Does this mean they want to invest?
President Han excitedly grasped Gan Tang's hand, "Director Lu, it's a pleasure to meet you."
After greeting everyone, Chu Jiahe declined the banquet invitation. He asked President Han to lead the way to Hongze Mountain, while he took Gan Tang's hand and got into the business car that Chu's Group had prepared in advance.
Mr. Han stopped the driver who was about to get into the car and said solicitously, "Young man, you must be tired from your journey. Take a rest in my car and I will personally drive Young Master Chu to Hongze Mountain."
The driver looked at Chu Jiahe and, after receiving permission, opened the car door.
Along the way, President Han enthusiastically introduced every tree and blade of grass in Hongcheng, its history and culture, and showed concern for Chu Jiahe and Gantang. Beneath his attentive words lay unspoken worry and anxiety.
Gan Tang felt a pang of sadness. The CEO in front of her was much richer than her former boss, yet he was so humble in the face of the massive Chu Group.
As they reached the mountaintop, Gan Tang roughly understood what President Han meant: he didn't actually lack technical support, but rather development funds.
But Chu Jiahe, who was always the center of attention, never needed to guess what others were thinking. He agreed to come this time because Hongze Mountain had a unique geographical location, making it very suitable for tidal power generation. If possible, he wanted to use this place as a test site for tidal power generation.
Watching Chu Jiahe speak eloquently, President Han broke out in a cold sweat. Tidal power generation was costly, but the electricity produced was worthless—a pure loss-making venture. But if he hired Chu Jiahe to design the plan and then didn't use it, wouldn't he offend the Chu Group? Where would he get that much money?
Finally, Mr. Han couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Young Master Chu, isn't this investment too large?"
Chu Jiahe casually said, "If the natural conditions for building a tidal power station are met, funding will not be a problem."
But it was this seemingly insignificant remark that immediately perked up President Han: "Perfect, definitely perfect."
As he spoke, he introduced the product with even greater enthusiasm.
Hongze Mountain was in a primitive state of unchecked development. It was overgrown with weeds and trees, and the path they took up the mountain was one that General Manager Han had urgently ordered to be cleared out.
As the sun gradually set, Gantang walked alone behind as they descended the mountain. A small, felled tree, its break very sharp, stretched right up to the roadside, reaching about ankle height.
Gantang walked by as if by accident.
"ah!"
A painful cry.
Chu Jiahe turned his head and saw Gan Tang kneeling on one knee on the ground, blood gushing from her bare ankle.
"Xintang!" Chu Jiahe rushed over to check on her injuries.
"I'm fine. I was so focused on listening to you that I forgot to watch my step." At this moment, she didn't forget to make him feel even more sorry for her. But Gan Tang didn't need to pretend at all. In order to make her injury look worse, she slashed across quickly. The wound was deep, and the pain made her break out in a cold sweat.
Chu Jiahe hurriedly loosened his tie, bandaged the wound, and carried her down the mountain.
"Go to the hospital!"
Gan Tang slowly closed her eyes as she watched his nervous expression.
He was injured, so he had to take care of himself; he had already achieved his first goal. Little did she know that achieving such a small goal was already so painful; how much more difficult things would come later.
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