Daily Intelligence: Forced to Save the Beautiful President at the Beginning

”Xiao Fan, are you free tonight?” Tang Wanqing’s voice was as gentle as ever. ”I’d like to treat you and Jingshen to dinner and chat about the shares while we’re at it.”

Zhang Fan’s heart stirred, and he replied with a ”Sure.”

The dinner was set at a private restaurant overlooking the river, where tour boats could be seen from the private room. As soon as Gu Jingshen entered, he wailed, ”Mom, don’t you dare arrange another blind date for me. I’ve been so exhausted at Singularity these past few days that I’m practically drained; I really can’t handle it.”

Tang Wanqing glared at him, though she wasn’t truly angry. ”You and your nonsense.”

She turned to the door and beckoned, ”Chenxi, bring the items in.”

A young woman in a black business suit walked in, holding a gold-embossed folder. It was Tang Wanqing’s assistant, Zhang Chenxi. She placed the folder on the table and bowed slightly. ”CEO Tang, Young Master Gu, CEO Zhang, the contracts are ready.”

”Sit down.” Tang Wanqing gestured for her to join them before opening the folder. ”Xiao Fan, when I first invested in Singularity, it was to repay the favor of you saving me; I didn’t expect to make money. But looking at it now, you’ve managed the company very well.”

She pushed over an equity transfer agreement. ”I am transferring this 40% stake into Jingshen’s name.”

Gu Jingshen nearly spat out his tea. ”Mom, you don’t have a fever, do you? What do I know about running a company?”

”If you don’t know, you can learn.” Tang Wanqing looked at him with expectation in her eyes. ”But I have conditions—you must stay at Singularity for a year to temper your character. Within that year, you must find a reliable partner, and in three years, you’ll return to the group to take over.”

”One year?” Gu Jingshen’s eyes lit up, but then his face fell. ”Return to Gu Corporation in three years... Mom, it’s not like you don’t know how difficult Gu Corporation’s real estate projects have been these last two years.”

He wasn’t wrong. Housing prices in Jiangcheng had dropped significantly over the past two years, and several of Gu Corporation’s developments had tied up their capital, affecting their other industries as well.

At the last family gathering, he had gotten up in the middle of the night for water and stumbled upon Tang Wanqing sighing over financial reports in the study. She had noticeably more white hair at her temples than the year before.

”It’s because it’s difficult that I need you back.” Tang Wanqing’s voice lowered. ”I can’t look after Gu Corporation forever.”

The room fell silent, with only the occasional sound of a ship’s whistle from outside. Looking at the fine lines at the corners of his mother’s eyes, Gu Jingshen suddenly scratched his head. ”Fine, one year it is. But the marriage thing depends on fate. Getting married within three years is fine, but for one year, I can only try my best.”

Tang Wanqing smiled. ”That’s more like it.” She handed the pen to Gu Jingshen. ”Sign it. From now on, you’re a shareholder of Singularity, so you’d better act like one.”

After signing, Gu Jingshen suddenly raised his glass to Zhang Fan. ”Fan Zi, you’ll have to look out for me this year. Once I take Singularity public, I won’t have to go back to Gu Corporation to sell houses.”

”Stop dreaming.” Zhang Fan clinked his glass. ”Let’s get the game modules for stardust leap finished first.”

Zhang Chenxi added softly from the side, ”CEO Tang, the technology park under Gu Corporation has a policy. Startup companies like Singularity can get three years of rent waived and apply for R&D subsidies if they move in.”

”Now that’s a real mother.” Gu Jingshen winked at her, only to be swatted on the head by Tang Wanqing.

Halfway through the meal, Tang Wanqing used the excuse of discussing work to call Zhang Fan out to the hallway.

”Xiao Fan, Jingshen has been spoiled by me and has a bit of a temper, so please bear with him.” She looked out at the lights on the river. ”But he’s not a bad person at heart; he’s just afraid of being tied down.”

”I know.” Zhang Fan nodded. ”He’s quite dedicated to Singularity. He even stayed up late yesterday helping the art team adjust rendering parameters.”

”That’s good.” Tang Wanqing turned around, her tone serious. ”The Gu Corporation tree looks lush and leafy, but its roots are actually starting to rot. I’m having him go to Singularity not just to avoid blind dates, but because I want him to see if he can accomplish something on his own, without the halo of the Gu family.”