Tycoon: From Rags to Riches

「Five days later.」

The 49th floor of the Beichun International Financial Center, Zhen Cui Group headquarters.

Hu Jilin, a man approaching sixty, stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the entrance of his own company. He gazed at the sign for Zhen Cui Group, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

Standing directly in front of him was the entire management team of Zhen Cui Group. From mid-level to senior leadership, everyone was present today.

"Chairman Hu, would you like to say a few words to everyone?"

A middle-aged woman in a white business suit, standing at the very front, took a small step forward and asked Hu Jilin in a low voice.

Hearing this, Hu Jilin slowly lowered his gaze.

He looked at the familiar faces before him and sighed softly. "Everything that needed to be said was said yesterday. I won’t add anything more."

"Everyone, please prepare yourselves. Zhen Cui Group’s new owner should be arriving any moment. You will all be continuing to work here, so make sure you leave a good first impression on the new boss."

Hu Jilin waved his hand listlessly, then turned his back on the crowd and directed his gaze toward the elevator bank.

Upon hearing this, the executives of Zhen Cui Group silently adjusted their posture and positions, preparing to greet their new boss in the best possible light.

At this time, positioned slightly toward the back of the welcoming party.

Fan Hong, as the Deputy General Manager of Banquet Fusion and a mid-level manager in the group, was naturally among them.

"Old Fan, how come you don’t look nervous at all?"

The middle-aged man standing next to Fan Hong was Xu Liang, the Deputy General Manager of Zhen Cui Group’s Sushi Yun Omakase. He glanced at the backs of the senior executives up front and whispered, "My heart is pounding right now."

"What are you nervous about?"

"If anyone should be nervous, it’s the big bosses up front."

Fan Hong glanced at Xu Liang beside him and said in a low voice, "We just have to wait for our orders, that’s all."

"You’re so zen about this."

Xu Liang clicked his tongue and chuckled. "I wish I had your composure."

Fan Hong was speechless for a moment. "If you’d gone through bankruptcy and had your family leave you, you’d be even more composed than I am."

"Uh..."

"I’ll pass, thanks!"

"I’m fine without that kind of composure!"

Xu Liang’s smile froze, and he replied with a forced laugh.

"Shh..."

"I think the new boss is here."

Suddenly, Fan Hong’s gaze sharpened as he hurriedly warned Xu Liang.

Hearing this, Xu Liang didn’t dare say another word and quickly straightened his back.

In fact, it wasn’t just Fan Hong and Xu Liang; everyone else had also noticed the faint stir coming from the direction of the elevators.

In an instant, the entire area fell silent.

DING!

As the crisp sound of the elevator arriving at the floor rang out, everyone held their breath and stared intently toward the elevator bank.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

The elevator doors slowly slid apart, and the sound of numerous footsteps emerged from within.

One after another, lawyers in sharp suits carrying briefcases stepped out. They were men and women, young and old, and every one of them wore a serious expression, exuding an air of elite professionalism.

They filed out of the elevator and naturally formed two lines on either side of the doors.

Seeing this display, the many executives of Zhen Cui Group couldn’t help but click their tongues in silent amazement.

’It seems their new boss...’

’...is quite something!’

Under the watchful eyes of all, Gu Heng stepped calmly out of the elevator.

After five straight days of taking Chinese medicine to recuperate, Gu Heng’s complexion had mostly returned to normal. His hair was cut in a neat, short, textured style, his dark eyes were bright and sharp, and his features were refined and handsome.

Today, he wore a dark blue business shirt with an excellent drape, tucked into black trousers, and a pair of expensive black leather shoes.

Facing the slightly deferential gazes of the numerous legal elites on either side, Gu Heng’s expression remained unchanged. In contrast to the solemn gravity of everyone else present, he appeared remarkably relaxed and natural.

And behind Gu Heng was his legal assistant, Xia Siyao.

She wore the same rose-red business suit from the other day, which, paired with her exquisite makeup, made her look exceptionally glamorous.

Yet this stunning beauty was now walking behind Gu Heng with her head bowed, carrying a briefcase in both hands, her expression one of utter deference.

"Chairman Gu, hello."

"My name is Hu Jilin, the former chairman of Zhen Cui Group."

"Thank you, Chairman Gu, for placing such high hopes in Zhen Cui Group."

Just as the Zhen Cui Group executives were all stunned by Gu Heng’s exceptionally youthful appearance, Hu Jilin, who was at the front, had already strode forward to greet him.

"Chairman Hu, hello."

Gu Heng shook Hu Jilin’s hand, a pleasant smile on his face. "Zhen Cui Group was founded over a decade ago and has become a leading enterprise in the restaurant industry not just in Beichun, but in all of Ji Province. I am honored to have the opportunity to take over such an outstanding company and team."

Over the past five days, Gu Heng had first used CMB’s network to book an appointment with a veteran traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Beichun, who prescribed him some herbal medicine to help him recuperate based on his condition.

He spent the rest of his time house-hunting around Beichun, accompanied by Luo Xiwen.

Currently, the properties Shenglong Real Estate had selected for him were all large, single-story apartments in the city center.

After five straight days of viewings, Gu Heng found these properties somewhat underwhelming, so they now planned to turn their attention to the villas in Beichun.

Other than that, Gu Heng had been cramming as much professional knowledge about the restaurant industry as he could through paid courses, preparing to take the helm of Zhen Cui Group.

At that moment, as Gu Heng and Hu Jilin were up front shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, Fan Hong, standing in the back, stared at the familiar face not far away, completely dumbfounded.

"Old Xu..."

Fan Hong murmured.

"What is it?"

Xu Liang was inwardly marveling at how young the new boss was when he heard the voice next to him and turned to look, a little puzzled.

"Does it hurt?"

Fan Hong raised his hand and, without any warning, pinched Xu Liang’s arm hard.

"Holy shit!"

"What did you pinch me for?!"

"You left a red mark! And you have the fucking nerve to ask if it hurts?"

Xu Liang sucked in a sharp breath, nearly crying out in pain.

"It hurts..."

"Then it’s not a dream. This is real."

The dazed look on Fan Hong’s face gradually gave way to a flicker of life.

"What the...?"

"Why are you acting so weird?"

"Don’t tell me you know our new boss?"

Xu Liang rubbed his throbbing arm where Fan Hong had pinched him, giving him a baffled look.

"I do..."

Fan Hong nodded slowly.

"For real?"

"You’re messing with me, right?"

Xu Liang was skeptical.

"I really do know him..."

Fan Hong took a deep breath. He didn’t know what kind of life Gu Heng had lived for the past two years, nor how he had suddenly become the new owner of Zhen Cui Group.

All he knew now was...

...that after three years of being crushed by hardship, it looked like he was finally about to make a comeback!