Chapter 338 Itinerary
The next morning, Gu Yan was woken up by Chen Jun's loud voice. Chen Jun had a key to Gu Yan's house and would come to pick her up for work every morning.
"Boss! Get up! Today's schedule is packed!"
Chen Jun called out as he walked into the bedroom with practiced ease, opened the wardrobe door, and quickly ran his fingers over the shirts and suit jackets hanging there, muttering to himself.
"I'm going to the development zone to see the new factory this morning, so I need to look more presentable... I'm meeting with Hong Kong businessmen this afternoon, so I need to be more formal..."
Gu Yan buried his head in the pillow, pulled the blanket over his head, and his voice came through in a muffled tone: "...Just three more minutes...just three minutes..."
Chen Jun ignored him, picked out a light gray shirt and a pair of dark trousers, turned around and walked to the bedside, counting down in a booming voice: "Three...two...one! Time's up!"
Immediately, he ripped the blanket off Gu Yan's head.
The morning chill made Gu Yan shiver. He struggled to sit up, his eyes glazed over, his hair a mess like a bird's nest.
He squinted as he took the clothes Chen Jun handed him and slowly put them on.
When he finished washing up and wandered into the living room, Chen Jun had already set breakfast on the small dining table.
Thank you.
Gu Yan thanked him in a hoarse voice, sat down, picked up a spoon, and scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth.
As he ate, he asked, "What tasks are so packed today?"
Chen Jun took out his notebook and reported quickly.
"At nine o'clock this morning, I'm going to the Dongpu Development Zone to see the newly planned land and temporary factory buildings. I've already made an appointment with Director Li of the Development Zone. At ten-thirty, I'm going to meet with the management committee again to discuss preferential policies. At two o'clock in the afternoon, I've made an appointment with Mr. Ma. Mr. Ma plans to open a garment factory in the mainland, and we need to strive to get this contract. The competition for this business is fierce; several companies are eyeing it."
Gu Yan hummed in agreement, finished the rest of the porridge in a few gulps, took a tissue to wipe his mouth, and his eyes regained their usual sharpness.
"Let's go, let's go and meet those old men in the development zone first."
Gu Yan, along with Chen Jun and Deng, the legal counsel hired by the company, efficiently completed the land negotiations in the development zone that morning.
The meeting with Mr. Ma, a Hong Kong businessman, in the afternoon was crucial.
Gu Yan and his two companions were well prepared.
Attorney Deng explained the policy guarantees, and Gu Yan analyzed the huge potential of the mainland apparel market and the channel advantages that their company could provide, directly addressing Mr. Ma's core concern about profitability.
His pragmatism, professionalism, and keen market judgment ultimately convinced Mr. Ma.
The contract was finalized, and dusk was approaching outside the window.
Gu Yan extended an invitation at the opportune moment, "Mr. Ma, it's been a pleasure working with you! It's getting late, how about we grab a quick meal together, then head to the Golden Sparrow Dance Hall for a drink to relax? The atmosphere there is quite nice, perfect for discussing the follow-up details."
Mr. Ma was in a good mood after the meeting went smoothly, and readily nodded: "Alright, Mr. Gu, I'll go along with your hospitality. It's a good opportunity to experience the charm of your place!"
After dinner, Gu Yan and Ma Sheng's group went to the Golden Sparrow Dance Hall.
The venue was dimly lit and filled with soft, melodious music.
Gu Yan has learned his lesson and no longer drinks heavily like before, only maintaining a slightly tipsy state when socializing.
Ma Sheng was clearly more interested in the beautiful woman than the fine wine. Before long, he took his slender dance partner into the dance floor and began to dance gracefully to the rhythm of a slow waltz.
Chen Jun leaned close to Gu Yan's ear and whispered, "Boss, the money for the dance partner has been taken care of. It'll be all night."
Gu Yanwei nodded almost imperceptibly, swirling his wine glass in his hand. His gaze fell on the dance floor, where light and shadow intertwined, watching the men and women swaying in each other's arms. His eyes were deep, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
When Ma Sheng finished his dance, he returned with a radiant face, exchanged a few pleasantries with Gu Yan, and then eagerly took his dance partner and left.
Gu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and was about to tell Chen Jun to go home and catch up on his sleep when Chen Jun leaned closer with a strange expression and lowered his voice: "Boss, when I went to pay the bill earlier, I thought I saw Boss Zhou..."
Gu Yan put down his wine glass: "Yes, I understand. He's probably entertaining clients here. Let's go."
Before the words were finished, a commotion and the sound of breaking glass came from the direction of the private room not far away.
Gu Yan looked in the direction of the sound and his expression changed.
It turned out that Zhou Zhengping had gotten into a fight with someone, knocking a slick-haired man to the ground, causing a moment of chaos.
"Damn it!" Gu Yan cursed under his breath, immediately got up, and hurried over with Chen Jun.
He squeezed through the crowd and saw Zhou Zhengping, his face ashen, holding the young man captive. The young man, who was being restrained, was shouting wildly, and several of his accomplices, who were also shouting and hurling insults, were standing nearby.
Just as the conflict was about to escalate, the owner of the nightclub rushed over with several burly security guards.
The boss spotted Gu Yan standing next to Zhou Zhengping and put on a smiling face: "Mr. Gu! What's all this fuss about? It's nothing, this kid's drunk and causing trouble, we can handle it!"
As he spoke, he gestured to the security guards to quickly push and shove away the troublemaking youth and his companion, clearly intending to settle the matter peacefully and give Gu Yan some face.
The chaos quickly subsided.
Gu Yan then saw clearly that behind Zhou Zhengping was a young woman in a dance dress, crying her eyes out, who was huddled up and tugging at Zhou Zhengping's sleeve, thanking him profusely.
Zhou Zhengping remained expressionless and said stiffly, "It's nothing."
The dancer seemed about to say something, but Gu Yan grabbed Zhou Zhengping's arm and pulled him out without saying a word: "Alright, what's there to say!"
Gu Yan only let go of Zhou Zhengping's hand after pulling him to his Santana car outside the dance hall.
He took out his cigarette case, lit one, and took a deep drag.
What the hell?
Zhou Zhengping tugged at the wrinkled collar of his shirt. "I came to meet a client. I saw that guy was drunk, groping that girl and swearing. I couldn't stand it."
"Hmph," Gu Yan exhaled a smoke ring in annoyance, "An act of heroism? Or... a damsel in distress?"
Zhou Zhengping frowned deeply. "It's not as complicated as you think, I just can't stand it."
Gu Yan stared at him for a few seconds, then threw the cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it out with the sole of his shoe, and said in a cold voice, "It's best if there isn't one."
He said, word by word, "Don't wait until I look down on you."
Zhou Zhengping suppressed his depression and sighed, "Don't worry."
"Reassured? What do you mean I can be at ease? You, Zhou Zhengping, are thirty years old! You need to know your own limits, what you should and shouldn't do! Do I have to teach you how to be a person?"
These words were barbed, and Zhou Zhengping's voice also turned cold and hard, "Gu Yan, I know what I should and shouldn't do."
"You think you can tell the difference?" Gu Yan scoffed. "If you could, you wouldn't have taken action for a dancer in a place like this! One wrong step and we could lose everything we've worked so hard to save over the years! Don't you know what kind of place this is? You got carried away after that woman cried a few times, and you call that telling the difference?"
Zhou Zhengping didn't want to argue with Gu Yan; he knew Gu Yan was doing it for his own good.
He closed his eyes briefly and called Gu Yan's name earnestly: "Gu Yan, Gu Yan, I understand... it won't happen again..."
Seeing his attitude, Gu Yan also felt it was pointless and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "Fine, you can handle it yourself. Next time... I won't meddle in other people's business."
He stopped looking at Zhou Zhengping, turned around and waved to Chen Jun, who had been standing at a distance, "Let's go."
Chen Jun quickly jogged over and opened the passenger door.
Gu Yan got in, slammed the car door shut with a loud thud.
The car started and slowly drove away.
Only when another car approached and Zhou Zhengping's assistant got out to help him into the car did Gu Yan turn his gaze away and say to Chen Jun, "Drive faster."
In the darkness of night, the two cars drove off in different directions.
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