Watching Zhang Yumeng and Shi Jingjing preparing to go upstairs, Gu Bai also turned around to leave.
From start to finish, Gu Bai didn't even spare a glance at this He Pengfei.
The spectators, realizing the confession had ended, started to disperse and go about their business, realizing it was just a mistaken confession of someone else's girlfriend.
Just when everyone thought the farce was over, He Pengfei suddenly shouted.
"Zhang Yumeng! Tell me this isn't true!"
Not only Zhang Yumeng and Gu Bai, but even the onlookers who had left turned back in surprise to look at the big boy who had just been so self-assured and frank.
Gu Bai waved in Zhang Yumeng's direction, signaling her to head upstairs directly, then smiled and said to He Pengfei, "Buddy, that's enough. She's not the right one for you."
After saying this, Gu Bai walked straight to his car, and the Night Shadow's scissor doors lifted open.
He Pengfei, who had been calming down, saw Gu Bai's car, and the flame in his heart that was about to go out reignited. Earlier it was the flame of love, now it was the flame of jealousy.
"I always thought you were different from other girls. I was wrong about you. I didn't expect you to be this kind of person!"
He Pengfei's words were vague, but given the circumstances, most people understood what he meant.
Zhang Yumeng, who hadn't walked far, heard his words and turned back, her chest heaving with anger. Although what He Pengfei said was true, and she didn't think she was wrong, it was still hard to accept him being so blunt.
Gu Bai, who was about to get in the car, burst out laughing at this and turned back, asking mockingly, "What kind of person are you talking about?"
"Gold digger!"
Gu Bai's gaze gradually turned cold.
Although he didn't have any particular feelings for Zhang Yumeng, now she was his girl, and if he didn't stand up for her, he'd be no different from a Turtle Immortal.
"Buddy, you're a senior, right? Still so naive? I'd suggest going back to elementary school to re-study Ideology and Morality."
"Choosing a boyfriend with good conditions makes her a gold digger? Does that mean every woman in the world has to choose to struggle with someone like you, a penniless youth with nothing to his name? Is that the kind of girl you think is a good girl?"
"Everyone has their own choices. You can choose Zhang Yumeng, but Zhang Yumeng can't choose me? What, do you think you're the protagonist of some novel? The Emperor?"
"And do you think that by holding a bouquet of cheap roses, saying a couple of cheesy lines, and showing off your grand ambitions, every girl in the world will revolve around you? If you really think that, I must say I admire your confidence."
Gu Bai's few words left him speechless.
The aunt who had advised Zhang Yumeng to accept also spoke up.
"Young man, love is free now. Since she has a boyfriend, don't pester her; it's undignified."
"Exactly, exactly."
He Pengfei's earlier remark about her being a gold digger completely incited public outrage, and there were accusations against him from all around.
His face was beet red, looking both angry and ashamed. After much stammering, he finally blurted out, "He just has a little more money, so what? In what way am I inferior to him? I've liked you for two whole years!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Bai snorted with a mocking smile.
"See, your confidence is back already? Remember to keep that confidence; social beatings will be endless for you."
"But since you want to know in what way you're inferior to me, let me tell you."
"I'm not just a guy with no more than a couple of bucks; I have lots of money. If you really can't figure it out, let me tell you: I was born at your life's finish line, having everything go my way is my privilege, and the World is here to serve me. I just have to reach out to get what I want, enough?"
"If you're still unclear on where you're lacking compared to me, I suggest you look in the mirror with a splash of water."
With this one sentence, He Pengfei reached his breaking point.
He shouted, perhaps trying to muster courage, and charged straight at Gu Bai, but his dorm mates hurriedly held him back.
"Want to hit me?"
"Come on, let him go, let him come over."
"I'll stand right here and not move, and if you think you can bear the consequences, just come at me; I won't even fight back."
He Pengfei, who was aggressive a moment ago, was instantly dumbfounded.
"We're adults; let's be mature. Understand one thing before you start a fight: my life is definitely more precious than yours. If you think you can manage an over-the-top exchange, then you're bound to profit, but if you just want to beat me up, it's best not to. After all, it's not easy for your parents to raise you this big."
Having said this, Gu Bai lost all interest in further squabbles. He sat in the driver's seat of the Night Shadow, revved it up, and roared off from the CAU Female Dormitory Building, heading straight for the Peace Restaurant.
After Gu Bai left, the crowd continued to discuss hotly.
"So handsome, he's like a domineering CEO out of a drama."
"Exactly! Compared to that ordinary guy who failed to confess and then started to belittle, it's like night and day."
He Pengfei, hearing the discussions around his ears, stared blankly as he slowly walked back the way he came, the roses thrown to the ground, trampled underfoot at will.
...............
Peace Restaurant.
As a regular dining spot for Li Zhun and the others, Gu Bai has already visited several times in more than half a month.
"President Gu, President Li and the others are already waiting for you in the private room."
The lobby manager of the Peace Restaurant saw Gu Bai from afar and quickly approached to greet him.
Gu Bai gave him a faint smile and walked straight to their usual private room.
When he opened the door, only Zhao Weiwei and Li Zhun were chatting; Tian Shu and Zhu Jialin were not there this time.
"Where are Old Zhu and Old Tian?"
Gu Bai tossed his phone onto the table, settled into a comfortable position, and asked casually.
"Tian Shu went to handle SSCC matters, Jialin went abroad and won't be back for a while."
Gu Bai nodded, indicating he understood.
"Why are you so late today?"
"Don't bring it up. I was taking Zhang Yumeng to school and ran into someone who thought he had a protagonist's aura."
Zhao Weiwei teased with a smile, "Could it be that you've found true love? You're openly taking her to school now."
He never hid from Zhao Weiwei and the others that he only intended to play around, which prompted Zhao Weiwei's question.
Gu Bai couldn't be bothered to dwell on the topic, so he poured himself a glass of water.
"How's the company doing?"
Seeing Gu Bai shift to serious matters, Zhao Weiwei also became earnest.
"My company over there has mostly been reorganized; those who wanted to stay have stayed, and those who didn't have mostly been let go."
Li Zhun continued from Zhao Weiwei's words: "The site for the new company is almost settled, the preliminary work is nearly done. Now it's just about the joint venture between the three of us."
"So, Brother Zhun, what do you think?"
Gu Bai looked directly at Li Zhun.
Despite their good relationship, business is business; even close brothers settle accounts. Li Zhun gradually became more formal.
"Old Gu, the entrepreneurial direction you suggested, I specifically had an evaluation company assess it. The project evaluation is A+, so it is indeed a promising project. Plus, there have been quite a few self-media companies in the past two years. Our timing entering the market is neither early nor late. Since we've decided to do it, I'm planning to go big. I currently have 60 million on hand and plan to invest it all."
Gu Bai smiled.
Li Zhun's actions were entirely within his expectations. He knew Li Zhun was ambitious.
"What about you, Brother Zhao?"
Zhao Weiwei shrugged with a smile.
"I don't have as much money as Li Zhun. I've also cleared the company's finances in recent days, and compiled a document. After subtracting liabilities and profits, the company's net value is roughly 25 million. I'll personally add another 15 million to make a round number with Li Zhun."
As he spoke, he took two documents from the side and handed one each to Li Zhun and Gu Bai.
Gu Bai accepted the document but didn't open it, rhythmically tapping his finger on it.
"There's no need to show us this—it's like slapping me and Brother Zhun in the face."
Li Zhun said nothing, but his eyes conveyed the same sentiment as Gu Bai's when he looked at Zhao Weiwei.
Zhao Weiwei chuckled carefreely.
"Once we've decided to do something, it's better to be formal. Don't let trivial matters affect our camaraderie."
Gu Bai said no more, his fingertips still tapping on the tabletop.
"Since you both have made your decisions, I'll share my thoughts."
"Since we've decided to do this, small-scale efforts won't cut it. If we do it, it has to be done to the best. As Brother Zhun said, the self-media industry has sprouted up like bamboo shoots after a rain with the development of the Internet over the years. But most operate in a small workshop style. Our massive investment of over a billion is rare. Compared to others, we have significant advantages, with enough resources for large-scale influencer incubation. Creating top-tier IP like PAPA Sauce wouldn't be hard for us."
Gu Bai wasn't just boasting. As someone reborn, he had enough foresight and a system backing him financially. Failing to achieve results would indeed be odd.
"Regarding the division of our company's shares, it will be based on actual investment. You two have a combined total investment of 100 million, and I will add another 100 million, making it 200 million in total, which I think is enough to lay the foundation for the company in the early stages."
The moment Gu Bai mentioned 100 million, it shocked Li Zhun and Zhao Weiwei.
Gu Bai knew what they wanted to say and interrupted directly: "I'll invest 100 million and get a 50% stake. You two will have respective stakes of 20% and 30% based on your investments. Moreover, my suggestion is that no matter how the company develops in the future, the shareholders remain unchanged. Shares can be transferred internally but will not accept financing and will not plan to go public, just simply to make money. How about it?"
Regarding this point, it can absolutely be written into the contract."
Gu Bai understood very well that such self-media companies are essentially dependent on major platforms. While it certainly has prospects, they aren't vast. His initial idea for founding this company was merely to provide a legitimate explanation for his inexplicably acquired funds.
"I have no objections."
"Neither do I."
For them, this was just an exploratory move; even if it failed, the impact on them would be minimal. After all, they had billions of assets waiting to be inherited.