Chapter 219: A Close Partnership?

Chapter 219: A Close Partnership?

Gu Ruibo and Wu Yurong were not particularly close, but they had known each other for many years.

And when it came to the former number-one beauty of Donghai, Gu Ruibo knew quite a lot.

The knowledge was mostly one-sided.

Wu Yurong did not know him especially well, but he knew plenty about her.

He had heard far too many stories.

Among the wealthy circles of East China, Wu Yurong was practically a walking source of gossip. Wherever she went, people found something to discuss about her.

Including plenty of “scandals.”

Gu Ruibo’s impression of Wu Yurong was that she was an ageless goddess with exceptionally high IQ and EQ, as well as extraordinary social and business acumen.

Over the years, countless billionaires had pursued her.

Among them were even tycoons worth tens of billions—men with powerful backgrounds whom Gu Ruibo himself had to treat with exceptional courtesy.

Yet none had succeeded.

Among billionaires, beautiful women were hardly rare.

Beauty alone was nothing special.

But Wu Yurong possessed far more than beauty.

She was too different.

A true goddess.

And the quality Gu Ruibo found most impressive about her was this:

No matter how powerful the man pursuing her might be, he would never win her.

Yet somehow, she would never fall out with him either.

Instead, she would continue to maintain a good friendship with him.

Some would even become her business partners.

It was almost as though Wu Yurong simply did not like men.

Not that she liked women.

She seemed to like neither.

So…

Gu Ruibo was absolutely convinced he had misheard the earlier call.

He must have.

There was no possible way Wu Yurong would ask Wu Chen whether he missed her.

She would never say such a thing to any man.

The fact that Wu Chen could summon Wu Yurong to Modu with a single call could mean only one thing—

they shared a close private business relationship.

Most likely, they had discussed all of this beforehand.

At the thought, Gu Ruibo’s estimation of Wu Chen rose another notch.

This young man was actually capable of building a close partnership with Wu Yurong.

Or rather—

he had somehow drawn her into the game and persuaded her to join him against Ding Ruilong.

And she had agreed?

That alone spoke of methods Gu Ruibo could barely begin to imagine.

“You made it,” Wu Chen greeted Wu Yurong with a smile.

Then he indicated the chair beside him.

“Over here.”

Gu Ruibo had risen.

Wu Chen did not.

Since Gu Ruibo had already concluded that Wu Chen and Wu Yurong were close, he could understand the lack of formal courtesy.

“So it’s Second Young Master Gu.” Wu Yurong looked at Gu Ruibo with a trace of surprise as she entered.

Her voice remained gentle and sweet.

Today, she wore a loose white one-piece midi dress that fell to her knees.

White could easily make a person appear heavier, but on Wu Yurong it somehow looked exactly right, lending her an almost ethereal air.

The hostess closed the door from outside.

“Boss Gu, it’s been a long time.”

“Ms. Wu, it has.”

When Wu Yurong reached the table, she shook hands with Gu Ruibo.

After they exchanged a few polite words, she gathered her skirt slightly and sat in the chair beside Wu Chen.

Then she cast him a glance with a sweet smile.

“Ms. Wu, have some tea…” Gu Ruibo poured her a cup before sitting down.

“Thank you,” Wu Yurong said.

Their social standing was essentially equal.

Gu Ruibo would never offend Wu Yurong unless he had absolutely no choice—

and Wu Yurong would likewise never offend Gu Ruibo unless it was unavoidable.

But she was the guest.

So Gu Ruibo courteously poured tea for her.

“We’re all on the same side here, so I’ll speak plainly,” Wu Chen said with a smile.

He went straight to the point.

He had already laid things out clearly with Gu Ruibo. Now that Wu Yurong had arrived, there was no need for further small talk.

They could discuss business directly.

Gu Ruibo knew the Ding family was heading for trouble.

But he was not certain that trouble was inevitable.

Wu Chen had not told him everything.

That did not matter.

Because Gu Ruibo was already Ding Ruilong’s business rival.

If an opportunity presented itself, he was willing to act.

That was what Wu Chen had meant when he asked whether Gu Ruibo dared.

And Gu did dare.

Even if the plan failed, he would not lose much.

If it succeeded, however, the profits he stood to gain could even exceed his entire current fortune.

Wu Chen’s target was not merely Ding Ruilong.

It was the entire Ding family.

And the “pie” they intended to divide was the wealth and opportunity left behind when the Ding family collapsed.

“Sister Rong will withdraw her investments from industries connected to the Ding family, and then…” Wu Chen began.

Gu Ruibo noticed how he addressed Wu Yurong.

Sister Rong.

If Wu Yurong treated Li Ruobing as a peer, then there was technically nothing inappropriate about Wu Chen calling her that.

Still…

For Wu Yurong to permit a man to address her as Sister Rong showed how close their relationship was.

What Gu Ruibo did not know was that this was the first time Wu Yurong herself had heard Wu Chen call her that.

It felt rather novel.

An hour later, they had more or less settled the broad framework.

Naturally, there were still details and specific operational matters to discuss later.

Some of the groundwork might even take months.

But Wu Chen did not intend to concern himself with matters that far down the line.

Once Wu Yurong and Gu Ruibo joined forces, they could work out the later details themselves.

Before they realized it, the time was approaching seven in the evening.

“Why don’t we have dinner together? Mr. Wu, Ms. Wu, it’s already this late…” Gu Ruibo said after checking his watch.

“You decide,” Wu Chen replied with a smile.

“All right… I need to make a call and ask two more people to come over. I’ll have them bring the materials too…”

Gu Ruibo stood.

When he saw Wu Chen and Wu Yurong beginning to rise as well, he waved both hands.

“Please, stay seated. Sit, sit. I’ll make a call and stop by the restroom, then we can head out.”

Wu Chen, who had just begun to rise, settled back into his chair.

“No rush,” he said with a smile.

Gu Ruibo took out his phone and left quickly.

Only Wu Chen and Wu Yurong remained in the private room.

“You quietly found me a partner without saying a word. Efficient, aren’t you?” Wu Yurong turned toward Wu Chen with a gentle smile.

Her eyes were full of affection, her expression sweet.

“Not satisfied?” Wu Chen asked with a smile.

“Satisfied. Very satisfied.”

Wu Yurong spoke sweetly as she leaned closer.

With a soft, beautiful smile, she asked, “So how do you want me to thank you, my little hubby? Hm?”

Then she kissed the corner of his mouth.

“Thank me for what? This was part of my plan from the beginning.

“It’s just that… you were lucky enough to meet me at exactly the right time,” Wu Chen said with a smile.

“Hmph. Stop lying to me. You did it for me, and you still won’t admit it.”

Wu Yurong gave a soft little huff.

Compared with Li Ruobing, she gave off a far stronger impression of a woman in love.

It was strange.

She had been married and divorced.

Her daughter was already grown.

Yet Wu Chen was her first love.

“Believe whatever you like,” Wu Chen said with a smile.

“You did it for me…” Wu Yurong repeated.

There was actually a trace of coquettishness in her voice.

Excitement was mingled with her emotions.

Given Gu Ruibo’s background, he was an ideal business partner for her.

That was beyond what Wu Yurong had expected.

If she had searched on her own, she certainly knew people even more powerful than Gu Ruibo.

But if she worked with someone of that stature, she would at most get to sip a little broth.

Working with Gu Ruibo was different.

Wu Yurong wrapped both hands around Wu Chen’s arm and leaned closer as she spoke.

Wu Chen naturally placed a hand on her thigh.

Through the fabric of her dress, he gave it a light squeeze.

Wu Yurong leaned toward his ear again.

Turning sideways, with one arm still hooked around his neck, she whispered, “You don’t plan to let Gu Ruibo know about us?”

As she spoke, she glanced at Wu Chen.

She did not want to hide their relationship.

She saw no need.

Compared with Li Ruobing, remaining hidden left her at far too great a disadvantage.

But…

She would never interfere with Wu Chen’s plans.

“It’s not that I don’t want him to know.” Wu Chen smiled. “There’s simply no need to spell it out. If he knows, he knows.”

“Is that so…?”

Wu Yurong’s smile deepened.

Then she lowered her voice again.

“Aren’t you afraid word will spread and affect you and…”

Just then—

Creak.

“Mr. Wu, I’ve already—”

Gu Ruibo had just pushed open the door when his voice abruptly died.

He saw Wu Yurong with one arm around Wu Chen, whispering into his ear.