Chapter 329

Chapter 329

I had already figured out Du Yunting’s methods.

He was Du Yunting now, not Du Ruhai, and the Weihai Group was no longer the Weihai Group of Du Ruhai’s era.

So he had learned to keep a low profile and started cultivating a public image.

The old Du Ruhai had done everything with extreme arrogance and fanfare.

The current Du Yunting, on the other hand, preferred underhanded schemes that could never withstand the light of day.

After I warned her, Pan Xiaorou replied calmly, “The head that wears the crown must bear its weight. If I couldn’t handle two reporters, someone else would have taken this position long ago.”

I had to admit, Pan Xiaorou knew how to handle herself.

Women absolutely could not be underestimated these days. She had manipulated us once before, and Lin Yin had done the same not long ago.

The fact that she had seen through Lin Yin at a glance further demonstrated Pan Xiaorou’s wisdom in dealing with people and the world.

“All right. Just be careful.”

“Where’s Xiaotian?”

Pan Xiaorou searched the crowd, a trace of loneliness between her brows. “Didn’t he come?”

I coughed awkwardly. “He did, but your timing was unfortunate. That lazy bastard spends half his life in the bathroom. He just went to the restroom.”

“He’s hiding from me, isn’t he?”

Pan Xiaorou smiled, but there was bitterness in it. “It’s fine. I’ll probably be very busy tonight and won’t have much time for him. Please forgive me if my hospitality falls short.”

“Not at all. You’ve already taken excellent care of us. Go ahead and attend to your guests.”

After Pan Xiaorou left, everyone from our storefront sighed with emotion.

“What kind of woman does Brother Tian want?”

“Is he holding out for one of the Seven Celestial Maidens?”

“How can he not want such an accomplished and elegant woman?”

“What an asshole.”

Before long, all the evening’s guests had arrived, and the conference officially began.

The first segment naturally consisted of the host taking the stage to deliver opening remarks and customary pleasantries.

Next came the speech from the representative of Jiangling Group, both the conference organizer and the industry’s leading company: its chairwoman, Pan Xiaorou.

Pan Xiaorou’s composure and wisdom, her analysis of the industry’s future, and her unique insights into its problems were second to none among the men present.

When she finished, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Next, Du Yunting, chair of the second-ranked Weihai Group, took the stage.

It was difficult to imagine that the once-overbearing Du Ruhai had transformed into a young man who walked onto the stage with humility and restraint, smiling amiably at everyone.

The real Du Yunting had been twenty-nine this year, the same age as Song Xiaotian.

Many people in the audience shed their respectful expressions, replacing them with amused smiles at the young man’s expense.

“Recently, I’ve heard a great deal of public discussion about both myself and the Weihai Group.”

Maintaining his smile, Du Yunting looked out at the audience. “Everyone says the Weihai Group is no longer what it once was and that, as its newly appointed chair, I cannot begin to compare with my uncle, Mr. Du Ruhai.”

“But I would say that competition is the essence of business. Only competition can drive an industry forward.”

“As the saying goes, when one whale falls, ten thousand creatures flourish. If the Weihai Group’s decline can advance the industry and create opportunities for more companies to grow, then I do not believe our present position is necessarily a bad thing.”

“No one can stand at the summit forever, just as no one remains in the valley forever. Everything in this world declines after reaching its peak and turns toward prosperity after hitting rock bottom. I believe every one of you will have your day at the summit. And I believe the Weihai Group’s current circumstances are not a regression, but a reasonable arrangement by the market.”
“I am still new to the business, of course, and cannot compare with the esteemed seniors present today. There is still much I must learn from all of you, and especially from President Pan.”

Du Yunting’s speech was neither arrogant nor servile and was even filled with lofty principles. The entire hall erupted in applause.

Many people in the audience began to regard him in an entirely new light.

Meng Yifan grumbled, “That devious old bastard does a convincing impression of a decent human being. Behind everyone’s back, he schemes and sneaks around, committing every evil deed imaginable.”

I laughed. “Who tells the truth in business? Even the hostesses at a foot-massage parlor are more sincere.”

If everyone present knew Du Yunting was actually Du Ruhai, I wondered whether they would still applaud.

The old Du Ruhai had cast a shadow not only over us, but also over many people in the business world.

Du Ruhai had undeniably been a ruthless man, but he possessed one fatal flaw: he acted with far too much fanfare. In the end, that same love of attention had killed him.

Du Yunting, however, had learned discretion. And a discreet Du Yunting was even more frightening than Du Ruhai.

Once all the distinguished guests had finished their speeches, the conference moved on to the interview segment.

Many reporters were present. When it was Pan Xiaorou’s turn to be interviewed, the first few questions were perfectly normal and concerned business matters.

But I knew the interview would soon take an ugly turn.

Sure enough, the two reporters Du Yunting had bought off began competing to make trouble for her.

“President Pan, we’ve heard you’re in a new relationship. Could you tell us about it?”

“President Pan, your former husband, Chairman Xiang Kai, passed away only recently. Don’t you think beginning another relationship so soon is somewhat inappropriate?”

The moment the questions were asked, an uproar swept through the venue.

“Damn, President Pan must be desperate!”

“Chairman Xiang died only two or three months ago, didn’t he?”

“Was President Pan already having an affair?”

Whispers rose and fell throughout the hall. I saw Pan Xiaorou’s face turn pale in an instant.

I glanced back at Song Xiaotian and saw him frown as well.

“Fuck! That damned Du Yunting is so wicked any son he has will be born without an asshole!”

Meng Yifan cursed, “How did that bastard sink so low? This kind of trick is fucking disgusting!”

It truly was disgusting.

He was exploiting her private life to make trouble.

If Pan Xiaorou handled the question poorly, her reputation would be ruined. Public opinion these days was extremely harsh when judging women in such matters.

A man who cheated might be cursed, but few people would truly condemn him. Everyone had grown accustomed to men cheating.

But if a woman dared to cheat, not only would she be torn apart, but her parents and every other woman in her family would be dragged through the mud too.

Just as we worried about Pan Xiaorou’s predicament, she admitted it.

She admitted it in front of everyone.

“That’s right. I am in a new relationship.”

Pan Xiaorou sat upright and looked directly into the camera. “But it had nothing to do with my marriage. My marriage to my former husband, Mr. Xiang Kai, had existed in name only for a long time. Even so, I continued to fulfill my duties and responsibilities as a wife. I did nothing to betray him during our marriage.”

“Mr. Xiang Kai, on the other hand, did things that betrayed me. But given that he has passed away, I believe the deceased deserve our respect, and I will not discuss him further.”

Pan Xiaorou declared righteously, “My boyfriend and I are in an open, honorable relationship that has harmed no one. I do not believe there is anything improper about it.”