Chapter 87: Gu Zixi

After finalizing the partnership with Jamison, the entire company shifted into a state of high alert. What had once been mere speculation and planning now entered the stage of concrete implementation. It had to be admitted that the original "Xiao Kaitian" was perhaps somewhat foolish, but the initial investment of fifty billion was entirely real. The high-tech industrial park, a core part of the Future Century Project, had been constructed to near perfection. Upon seeing the production base, Jamison and his team were visibly more satisfied and nodded in approval.

Of course, no equipment had yet been brought in, but that did not hinder the preparatory work. In this respect, Jamison was a seasoned veteran. It wasn't long before he presented a comprehensive plan, which included over five hundred million in production lines and equipment.

"Xiao, this is only the beginning," Jamison remarked as he placed the proposal on the table, his eyes glinting with a hint of amusement. He hoped Xiao Kaitian would realize how insufficient the funds were, giving them leverage to negotiate for a larger share.

Yet Xiao Kaitian merely nodded, as if five hundred million were no more to him than five dollars.

His true goal was set on the July Technology Expo in Haidu. The new product they had designed was intended to debut there, attracting new investments. Only with solid financial backing could he truly relaunch the entire Future Century Project.

But obstacles were inevitable, as he had foreseen. To test the market's response, the second Qixi Media Consulting Forum was convened once again.

With several projects running in parallel, the weaknesses of Xiao Kaitian's team became immediately apparent. He lacked strong managerial talent among his subordinates, forcing him to devote a great deal of time and energy to filling the gaps. Even Tang Tian, who was originally just a collaborator, found herself being treated as one of his own staff.

"After all, this concerns your Tang family's investment. You should contribute as much as you can, don't you think?" Xiao Kaitian said, looking at Tang Tian, who was sweating profusely, her light makeup already beginning to smudge, as he tried his best to console her.

Tang Tian was "furious" about this, and even complained privately to her father. But Tang Jian only raised his glass in silence, wishing her success in her work.

With the experience of the first forum behind them, the second Qixi Media Consulting session proceeded much more smoothly. The coordination between various staff positions was no longer the chaotic mess it had been at the start.

Still, the turnout was far beyond anyone's expectations. The crowd was overwhelming: students, office workers, small business owners—people from all walks of life, together with their friends and family, invited or otherwise, swarmed the lobby of First Seaview to the point of bursting.

This was thanks to the novelty of the forum itself. Attendees were paid just for showing up, could air their opinions and boast a little, and if their ideas were selected, there were additional prizes—a windfall too good to pass up. The excitement among those in the know was entirely predictable.

When Xiao Kaitian arrived, this was the scene that greeted him: the hall packed to capacity, people gathered in small groups and chatting animatedly. Though they came from different backgrounds and statuses, all were there for the forum and quickly found common ground for conversation.

"In my opinion, whoever came up with this kind of forum is truly remarkable—maybe even pioneering a new business model."

"Not necessarily. I don't see much commercial value in it. Maybe it's just some rich folks with nothing better to do, looking for a topic to pass the time."

"The subject matter is odd too—this time it's about the ethics of artificial organs."

"I wonder if the company is profitable at all. It just looks like a money sink. Do you know about their salaries? I might consider joining after graduation."

"You can forget it; this company only hires women..."

"..."

The place was abuzz with activity. Xiao Kaitian couldn't help but curve his lips in a faint smile as he stepped forward, when suddenly a startled voice called out behind him, "Brother Kaitian!"

He stopped and turned, only to find himself face-to-face with a young woman in a snow-white, long down coat. She looked vaguely familiar, as if he'd seen her somewhere before. She was extremely thin, her long hair tied back in a ponytail, exposing the faint blue veins on her neck. Seeing him turn, she called out again, "Brother Kaitian!"

"And you are...?" Xiao Kaitian thought she looked familiar, but his memory was sharp and he was sure he'd never met this girl before. He regarded her with curiosity. "Sorry, I don't remember."

At once, her face fell, as if she'd done something wrong. She lowered her head, nervously shuffling her feet. "Ah, you really don't remember?"

"I'm sorry, no." Though puzzled, Xiao Kaitian decided to ignore this inexplicable girl for now and turned to leave.

But the girl quickly reached out and grabbed his sleeve. Xiao Kaitian frowned, about to speak, when she grew even more flustered, struggling to make herself understood. "Brother Kaitian, I'm Gu Zixi, Gu Zixi!"

She repeated her name twice, then took a deep breath. "My sister said she saw you in Haidu, said you'd gotten into some trouble in Japan and lost your memory. That's why I rushed here in secret. I thought it couldn't be true, but here you are."

Her words were jumbled, nearly making Xiao Kaitian dizzy. But he understood enough. "Gu Zixi? What is your relation to Gu Luoyan?"

"Brother Kaitian, you really have lost your memory. I'm Luoyan's younger sister, from the Gu family. You don't remember anything at all?" Gu Zixi's eyes widened, as if tears might spill at any moment.

So she was Gu Luoyan's sister—that explained the sense of déjà vu. But if she was from the Gu family, could this be the second young lady of the Gu family whom he had once wronged? If so, why was she so enthusiastic upon seeing him?

But the lobby was crowded, clearly not the right place to ask. Xiao Kaitian glanced at his watch—the forum was about to start. Since Gu Zixi had come specifically to find him, there was no reason to leave her there.

"I have a meeting to attend," Xiao Kaitian said. "Do you have time? If you're not in a hurry, come with me to the meeting, and we can talk afterward."

"Of course!" Gu Zixi bounced with excitement, her nostrils flaring, barely able to contain her joy. Xiao Kaitian could tell at a glance that she was guileless, a girl completely different in temperament from Gu Luoyan.

Yet her movements were cautious and timid. Even after being invited, she trailed behind him, head down, as if afraid to overstep.

"There's no need to be nervous," Xiao Kaitian said, stopping by the elevator. He came to a sudden halt and Gu Zixi nearly ran into him. Her face turned pale and she nodded hurriedly, "Not nervous, not nervous, I'm so sorry!"

Sighing, Xiao Kaitian rubbed his brow, wondering if he'd made the right decision.