Tycoon: From Rags to Riches

7:00 PM.

The double wooden doors of the Cyan Flower private room were slowly pushed open, right on time.

"Mr. Gu, please come in..."

As the hostess’s clear and pleasant voice rang out, the many legal elites already seated at the round table all straightened up, instantly rising from their chairs.

Xia Zhenzhong was no exception.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

The sound of expensive leather shoes on the floor grew closer, and soon, the guest of honor for this evening’s banquet appeared before them all.

He had a handsome and refined young face. The soft light from the brilliant crystal chandelier shone on his light-coffee-colored silk shirt, which draped perfectly, making him look noble yet elegant—a stark contrast to their own formal suits.

"Mr. Gu, I’m Xia Zhenzhong from Jun Cheng Law Firm."

"It is Jun Cheng’s utmost honor that you could grace us with your presence at this banquet. Please, have a seat."

Xia Zhenzhong, whose expression had been gloomy just moments before because of Xia Shiyi, now seemed like a completely different person. His face was wreathed in a pleasant smile, and his voice was exceptionally warm.

"Director Xia, Jun Cheng is one of the country’s top law firms."

"I, too, am greatly honored to have the opportunity to enter a deep partnership with Jun Cheng today."

Faced with Xia Zhenzhong’s extreme enthusiasm, Gu Heng shook his hand and exchanged some pleasantries.

At the same time, his gaze swept slowly over the others around the round table. He showed no change in expression, but inwardly, he was a little surprised.

He had thought there would be two or three people at most, but he hadn’t expected them to bring so many.

As it was their first meeting, the two sides exchanged pleasantries for a moment.

Then, surrounded by the group, Gu Heng was escorted to the seat of honor at the center of the table.

During this time, a line of servers filed in, presenting a series of pre-prepared dishes on the table.

Braised shark fin, ten-year two-head soft-heart abalone, Chaoshan-style lion-head goose, home-style braised wild large yellow croaker, braised long-snouted catfish maw, aged Huadiao wine-marinated mitten crabs, morel and mountain-delicacy stew with Liaodong sea cucumber, steamed leopard coral grouper, Huadiao wine and egg white steamed king crab, stir-fried Australian lobster with purple onion...

Each dish was served on a round, jade-like platter, the plating as exquisite as a work of art.

Two more servers approached Gu Heng, carrying a wine decanter.

The scene was a real eye-opener for Gu Heng.

Any single dish on this table probably cost more than what he used to make in half a month delivering food.

"Mr. Gu, this is a wine from Margaux Manor."

Just as the server brought the decanter to Gu Heng, Xia Zhenzhong turned and asked with a smile, "This should be just about acceptable to you. Would you care for a taste?"

Margaux?

Hearing this, Gu Heng was completely in the dark.

’There’s still so much I need to learn...’

He sighed to himself.

"I was unwell a while ago and spent a few days recuperating in the hospital. I was just discharged this morning." Gu Heng smiled at Xia Zhenzhong. "I can have a little, but my body really isn’t up for much drinking. I hope you don’t mind, Director Xia."

"Oh, I see."

A look of understanding dawned on Xia Zhenzhong’s face, and he quickly said, "Mr. Gu, since you’re unwell, we can certainly use tea in place of wine today."

"It’s fine."

Gu Heng smiled, then looked up at the server beside him and tapped the table three times with his index and middle fingers. "Just a little will be fine."

"Of course."

The staff serving in this private room today were all from Banquet Fusion’s most well-trained, and they naturally understood the hierarchy at the round table.

"Just a little."

"Just a little is enough."

Seeing the situation, Xia Zhenzhong could only repeat his instructions from the side.

The server poured about a third of a glass for Gu Heng, while Xia Zhenzhong and the others all received half a glass.

Soon, all the food and wine were served.

The chirping flock of hostesses who had been surrounding them quickly departed, and the room returned to its original tranquility.

"Mr. Gu, please allow me to make some introductions."

Xia Zhenzhong raised his glass, his gaze sweeping across the table before returning to Gu Heng with a smile. "The people you see before you are the dedicated team Jun Cheng Law Firm has assembled for you."

"There are ten people in total. Every one of them is a senior lawyer in a different legal field, and each has been deeply immersed in their area of expertise for over a decade."

Gu Heng nodded slightly, his own gaze slowly sweeping across the table.

Wherever his eyes landed, that person would nod respectfully at him.

"Mr. Gu, this is Yang Wenjie."

"He is one of the five senior partners at Jun Cheng Law Firm. He has over thirty years of professional experience in civil and criminal litigation. In the future, he will lead your dedicated team and provide you with comprehensive legal services."

The man Xia Zhenzhong introduced first was the middle-aged man who had been sitting next to him and was now seated on Gu Heng’s other side.

He looked to be about the same age as Xia Zhenzhong, with a standard square face and a slightly dark complexion. He appeared somewhat stern when not smiling.

"Mr. Gu, I’m Yang Wenjie. I’d like to toast you."

Yang Wenjie stood up from his seat, glass in hand. Seeing this, Gu Heng made to stand as well but was stopped by both Xia Zhenzhong and Yang Wenjie.

"I hope we’ll have a pleasant partnership in the future, Lawyer Yang."

Since Gu Heng couldn’t persuade them, he didn’t insist on standing, simply raising his glass and clinking it against Yang Wenjie’s.

Afterward, Yang Wenjie downed his entire glass, Xia Zhenzhong took a sip, and Gu Heng merely wet his lips.

It wasn’t that Gu Heng was deliberately putting on airs; his physical condition simply didn’t allow for it.

Given the current state of Gu Heng’s stomach, the fact that he was drinking at all was a great sign of respect for Xia Zhenzhong and his team.

However, no one at the round table seemed to mind.

A full fifty million in service fees. This was a mega-deal the likes of which Jun Cheng Law Firm had never seen since its establishment in 1998.

Never mind Gu Heng just wetting his lips; even if he were drinking tea while they drank wine, they would all have to keep smiling cheerfully.

To frown even slightly would be the greatest disrespect to those fifty million.

The customer is God. It was really true.

Provided you spent enough money, that is.

After introducing Yang Wenjie, Xia Zhenzhong proceeded to introduce the others one by one.

"Mr. Gu, this is Dai Hang. He’s a senior lawyer in the field of economic litigation, with over twenty years of industry experience."

...

"This is Kong Qiongyu. She’s a senior lawyer specializing in foreign-related legal matters. She holds an international law license and will provide you with legal services for cross-border affairs, international arbitration, and overseas litigation."

...

"This is Zhao Rui. He’s a senior lawyer in the field of taxation. In the future, he will provide you with legal services such as constructing domestic asset firewalls, cross-border tax planning, risk assessment and agreement optimization for large-asset nominee arrangements, and avoidance of double taxation."

...

"This is Xu Yongliang. He is our firm’s senior consultant with a background in the public security, procuratorate, and court systems. He has exceptionally rich judicial resources and experience in handling sensitive matters related to politics and business."

...

As Xia Zhenzhong made the introductions, the legal elites stood up one by one, emulating Yang Wenjie by toasting Gu Heng and downing their glasses.

After one round, the wine in Gu Heng’s glass had barely diminished, while Xia Zhenzhong and the others were already on their second or third glasses.

First, toast the clothes, then the person; every glass is first raised to the rich.

Gu Heng watched the scene unfold, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. He then slowly raised his glass and drank along with Xia Zhenzhong and the others...