Gu Wan’er could now understand what they were getting at. The funds might be scraped together by force, but other projects would suffer as a result. That wasn’t the outcome she wanted.
Gu Lin said in a grave, low voice, “There’s always a way. By the way, has the remittance to headquarters been sent out yet?”
Hong Lifei replied, “It’s scheduled to go out today.”
“Hold on for a moment. Don’t rush it. General Manager Gu, you could hold back the remittance for now and use that money to sign the project.”
“You’re the man, Old Lin.” Gu Xiao gave him a thumbs-up in praise.
The remittance was a sum of money the branch office had to send to headquarters. It happened once every quarter, and the amount varied. But for a branch like the one in Longhai City, it was a huge sum.
Gu Wan’er had just joined the company and was sitting in a high position for the first time. She didn’t know about the remittance policy and had never dealt with it before.
“How much is it?” Gu Wan’er asked directly.
“Old Hong, what’s the amount this time?” Gu Xiao asked in a low voice.
Hong Lifei said respectfully, “Sixty million.”
“Thank heavens. What do you think, General Manager Gu?” Gu Xiao looked at Gu Wan’er with a slight smile. See? The money was right there.
Yu Xiaoduo watched Gu Wan’er’s eager expression and thought to himself, Uh-oh. He had just been praising her for keeping her cool, but the moment the enemy dangled a little carrot in front of her, she was ready to jump.
Yu Xiaoduo stood up and said with a smile, “Gentlemen, it’s time to eat. You know what they say: ‘Iron for the body, steel for the will, but skip a meal and you’ll feel ill.’ How about we eat first, then continue our talk?”
Gu Xiao’s face immediately darkened. He stood up and snapped at Yu Xiaoduo, “Who are you? Don’t you know this is a high-level company meeting? What right do you have to speak here? Get out!”
Gu Wan’er stood up at that moment. “He’s my secretary, here to take notes. And yes, it really is time to eat. You two vice presidents, how about joining us for a meal?”
Seeing Gu Wan’er actually defend a young man, the other executives exchanged strange glances. Gu Xiao and Gu Lin, in particular, were eyeing him with suspicion. Where did this guy come from? And since when did Gu Wan’er listen to him?
“You’re right, General Manager Gu. Let’s eat first and talk after.” Gu Xiao laughed heartily, but his gaze toward Yu Xiaoduo was anything but friendly. Gu Lin, too, narrowed his eyes at Yu Xiaoduo.
Yu Xiaoduo suddenly felt that if Gu Wan’er ever fell from grace, no company in Longhai City would ever hire him.
Man, I really jumped onto a pirate ship. And you, old man, what are you staring at? I’ll pluck your eyeballs out. You’ve got a big mouth, just you wait.
Soon, Gu Wan’er and Yu Xiaoduo left the conference room.
Gu Xiao glanced at his Rolex. It was only 10:30 AM. Eat my foot! What a damn nuisance!
“General Manager Gu, are we really going to support her now?” Zhuang Shu asked, confused. Weren’t they trying to stop her?
Huang Lifei stood up with a charming smile and said, “If you, the head of HR, can’t even figure that out, maybe it’s time to replace you.” Then she swayed her slender waist and left the conference room.
Zhuang Shu glared hatefully at her retreating figure. That damn woman. I’ll get you sooner or later.
Gu Xiao and Gu Lin exchanged a glance. They hadn’t expected a random young stranger to throw a wrench in their plans.
Back in the office, Gu Wan’er was fuming. She frowned and demanded, “What did you mean by that?”
“What did I mean? Has your IQ been eaten by your good looks? Those two were clearly setting a trap for you, and you were just about to walk right into it.”
“I!” Gu Wan’er was stunned for a moment, then sat down on the sofa and thought it over. Suddenly, she realized she had almost been completely led by the nose. A chill ran down her spine.
She looked at the angry Yu Xiaoduo and said apologetically, “You know I’m on my period lately. My emotions are all over the place.”
Yu Xiaoduo’s eye twitched. He sighed. “If I hadn’t pulled you out of there just now, would you have agreed?”
“I…” Gu Wan’er bit her red lips. In that moment just now, she really had been about to say yes.
Yu Xiaoduo looked at her like she was a hopeless case. He sat down on the sofa and said, “Those guys are old foxes. All they need to do is poke a little rookie like you, and you lose it.”
“I really need that money,” Gu Wan’er said, lowering her head slightly, looking a bit dejected.
“I know you need money. But think about it—that money is supposed to go to headquarters. What if headquarters is in the middle of some investment and finds out you’ve been holding back the remittance, and that causes problems for their investment? Do you think you’d survive that?”
The more she thought about it, the more horrified she became. Her whole body went numb. If things really happened the way Yu Xiaoduo said, it would push her into an abyss from which she could never recover.
Gu Wan’er pulled out her phone and called her father.
Soon, a familiar voice came through. Though it was cool and aloof, it carried a hint of joy—his daughter had landed a huge project. “Dad has no money.”
Gu Wan’er: “…”
“I’m not asking you for money.”
Gu Shilin was taken aback. “If not money, then what? Didn’t you get that big port project?”
“Dad, has headquarters been planning any major investments lately?”
Gu Shilin paused for a moment, then said quietly, “There is something, but it’s still confidential. Why are you asking?”
Hearing her father’s answer, Gu Wan’er’s head started buzzing. She had nearly walked off a cliff. Yu Xiaoduo had been right all along.
Gu Shilin finally realized what was going on. His voice turned sharp. “Don’t tell me you were thinking of using the remittance money! If you do that, you’re finished. You cannot touch a single cent of that money, no matter what.”
“I haven’t,” Gu Wan’er said, her heart racing. But she had come terrifyingly close.
Gu Shilin breathed a sigh of relief. “Headquarters is pulling funds back in right now. You’d better behave yourself. I can’t send you any money from here either.”
“I understand.”
Hearing his daughter’s response, Gu Shilin let out a long sigh. “Next month. Dad can send you some money next month.”
“No need.” With that, Gu Wan’er hung up. Yu Xiaoduo gave her a thumbs-up. That’s the spirit.
Gu Wan’er put down her phone and looked at Yu Xiaoduo sitting across from her. Then she suddenly stood up.
“You—what are you doing?”
Gu Wan’er threw her arms around Yu Xiaoduo. This completely stunned Comrade Yu Xiaoduo. His face, thicker than a city wall, actually turned red.
Don’t get the wrong idea. It was just a hug of gratitude.
“Yu Xiaoduo, if it weren’t for you, I’d be done for,” Gu Wan’er said sincerely.
Hearing that Yu Xiaoduo didn’t respond, she pulled back a little and looked at him. “Yu Xiaoduo, why is your face so red?”
“I! I drank too much goji berry tea!”
“Even my dad doesn’t drink that stuff. Are you having kidney issues?” She glanced downward, looking at him as if he were sick.
“Get out of here! You’re the one with kidney issues. I’m as tough as nails, and you’ve seen it yourself.”
Gu Wan’er rolled her eyes instantly. “Yu Xiaoduo, one second you were a hero in my eyes, and the next you’ve knocked yourself down. Can’t you just let me thank you properly?”
“You really want to thank me?”
“Of course.”
“Alright then. Let me use your legs for a bit. You know what I mean.”
“Yu Xiaoduo! Go die already!”
Watching Gu Wan’er charge at him like a wildcat, Yu Xiaoduo quickly dodged. “You’re hitting me again! And you said you wanted to thank me! In ancient times, people would repay a life-saving debt by marrying the rescuer.”
