The Heiress's Game

Xu Bingjun is 55 years old this year and has been with Gu Zhenxing for more than 30 years.

Over the past thirty years, he has witnessed countless storms—financial crises, equity disputes, board coups, media attacks—and in each one, he stood half a step behind Gu Zhenxing, blocking what needed to be blocked and handling what needed to be handled properly.

He thought he was no longer surprised by anything until he saw that number on the computer screen.

Seven billion.

His first reaction was that he must have misread it. He took off his glasses, wiped them, put them back on, and read the investment confirmation letter sent by Gu Mingcheng again.

With black and white paper, a large red official seal, and Gu Mingcheng's handwritten signature, the investment amounted to 7.3 billion RMB, and the target company was Daheng Group.

In recent years, Daheng Group has expanded at breakneck speed, acquiring land and launching new projects everywhere, claiming that it will plant its flag in every prefecture-level city across the country.

The boss, He Daheng, is extremely aggressive and believes that "scale is everything." His debt ratio is so high in the industry that it would keep any financial director with common sense up at night.

Gu Zhenxing's attitude towards this company has always been clear: "This kind of approach is bound to cause trouble sooner or later. Just invest a few hundred million as a token gesture, as a way to give Lao He face."

Xu Bingjun thought, "I'm not afraid of the second generation being cultured, I'm afraid of the second generation being too opinionated."

Gu Mingcheng graduated from an Ivy League university, his business logic is impeccable, and his ability to make PPTs is a hundred times better than his father's. He can convince his subordinates in every strategy meeting.

But there was a problem with Gu Mingcheng, a problem that Xu Bingjun had only vaguely sensed before, but today it finally became clear:

He desperately wanted to prove that he was smarter than his father, Gu Zhenxing.

The danger of this idea is not apparent when things are going smoothly, and it can even be transformed into good performance.

But when faced with headwinds, this "having too many ideas" becomes a fishbone stuck in the throat of the entire company.

Xu Bingjun called his driver and left the office.

Gu Zhenxing has rarely stayed at the group headquarters lately; he spends most of his time in the art studio of his new love, Julie.

When Xu Bingjun arrived,

Julie and Gu Zhenxing chatted back and forth, leaving Xu Bingjun standing at the door for several seconds.

This pair of friends, despite their age difference, are quite compatible – one is wealthy, has plenty of free time, and is experienced, while the other is talented, good-looking, and witty. It's no wonder that Gu Zhen is always coming here every few days.

"Assistant Xu is here?" Julie noticed him first, jumped off the bar stool, and smiled at him.

When she smiles, her eyes crinkle, making her look less like an internationally renowned painter and more like a college student still studying at an art academy.

"Miss Julie." Xu Bingjun nodded to her, then walked over to Gu Zhenxing.

"Mr. Gu, there's something I need your attention on," Xu Bingjun said.

Julie put down her coffee cup and tiptoed to the work area at the other end of the studio.

"Seventy-three billion."

"I asked him to invest a few hundred million as a token amount, and he invested 7.3 billion. Does he think he's so capable?"

Xu Bingjun remained silent. Having served Gu Zhenxing for over twenty years, he knew when to answer and when to remain silent.

Do you know what kind of company Daheng is? Do you know what kind of person He Daheng is? He looks glamorous on the outside, but he's full of traps on the inside.

Can't Gu Mingcheng see it? Does his Ivy League education mean he's just throwing matches into a powder keg?

Xu Bingjun remained silent.

"Where is he now?" Gu Zhen asked.

"There's a meeting of senior executives from the real estate sector at the group this afternoon, chaired by General Manager Mingcheng."

Gu Zhenxing picked up his coat from the armrest of the sofa and strode towards the door.

Xu Bingjun followed, and as the two walked through the corridor leading to the studio, Julie leaned halfway out from the work area, holding a paintbrush in her hand:

"Mr. Gu, you're leaving already? You said you'd introduce me to a collector of Song Dynasty paintings, but we haven't made an appointment yet."

Gu Zhenxing paused, turned back to look at her, and forcefully softened his tone, which had been filled with rage just moments before:

"I have something urgent to attend to today. I'll arrange for you to meet with Lao Zhao another day."

"Then I'll wait for your news." Julie waved to him, then nodded to Xu Bingjun.

"Take care, Assistant Xu."

Xu Bingjun nodded goodbye to her, thinking to himself that this young painter had a really good sense of propriety.

While waiting for the left-turn light to turn red at the intersection, Xu Bingjun suddenly thought of a question: When Gu Zhenxing calls Gu Mingcheng into his office later, should he send the other senior executives away?

He picked up his phone and sent a message to Gu Mingcheng's secretary: "Postpone the afternoon executive meeting by one hour and have Mr. Mingcheng wait in his office."

After sending the message, he glanced at the rearview mirror again. Gu Zhenxing had already closed his eyes and was leaning back in his seat with his head slightly tilted back.