Chapter 106: Gossip

After the Private Enterprise Symposium concluded, the entrepreneurs didn’t disperse. Instead, they organized a luncheon the next day for further networking.

This time, both Zhang Yuwen and Jia Liu, who had been absent for a while, showed up.

Judging by their expressions, both seemed spirited, as if nothing troubling had occurred.

Especially Jia Liu, whose eyes seemed to burn with intensity whenever he caught someone’s gaze, as if silently urging, “I have something to say, just ask me.”

Though the CEOs were curious about what had happened, being stared at like that made them reluctant to satisfy his eagerness.

Thus, each CEO who met his gaze merely nodded slightly before turning away.

We won’t ask!

Look at you, you’ll spill it eventually.

Indeed, Jia Liu couldn’t hold back.

He wanted to boast.

Not about the billions in technology transfer fees he was about to pocket.

He wanted to brag about his son.

So what if he couldn’t find a job, or was working at the grassroots level?

The chip technology he casually developed earned more than most would in a lifetime.

And with this technology, he could join a research institute and engage in more core projects.

The initial setbacks were merely life’s way of tempering his spirit and endurance.

Finally, the conversation among the CEOs shifted to children’s education.

Jia Liu couldn’t wait to boast about his child.

Yet, as soon as he opened his mouth, he found he couldn’t say anything.

All he could do was dryly lament with a meaningless sigh under the expectant gazes of the CEOs.

“Ah, you have no idea how important it is for a company’s future to have a promising son.”

And then?

Nothing more…

The project was confidential.

After waiting for ages, the CEOs only got that one sentence.

They looked at Jia Liu as if he were a fool, thinking perhaps he’d drunk too much and lost his wits.

Zhang Yuwen observed the whole scene.

She was the last to know the full picture, and thus saw the clearest.

The reactions of the CEOs and Jia Liu amused her to no end.

This morning, after the contract was signed, Zhang Yuwen couldn’t resist her curiosity and asked the officer she signed the contract with.

How did the state discover such valuable technology hidden at home, which even the family itself didn’t know the full potential of?

“It was purely by chance. The logistics and security personnel arranged for the meeting conducted background checks on all of you to better perform their duties,” the officer shrugged. “And then it naturally came to light.”

Zhang Yuwen: “…”

How could you so casually use the word “naturally”?

However, at this moment, Zhang Yuwen surveyed her surroundings, focusing on the logistics staff bustling around the venue and the security personnel stationed on the periphery.

Among them, who was her lucky star?

The lucky star being thought of was naturally Qin Qing, the most leisurely of all the staff.

She was hiding in a corner, thoroughly entertained by the gossip circulating among the CEOs.

CEO A.

In his youth, he started a home renovation business with advertisements that were thunderous. When he got married, his wife joked, “Marrying someone in home renovation means I don’t have to worry about our home, your team can handle it.”

CEO A was silent for a while, then awkwardly suggested, “For the stability of our long-term marriage, I recommend using XX’s home renovation.”

His wife was shocked, “Isn’t that your business rival?”

CEO A lowered his head.

“Competition is one thing, but for home renovations, their quality is more reliable.”

Wife: “…”

It’s easy to imagine that CEO A’s first entrepreneurial venture was destined to fail. Not long after, he sold his company to a competitor and started anew in a different field, leading to his current success.

CEO B.

He and CEO C are competitors, but netizens, media, and the CEO circle all think they are as close as brothers.

In reality, they’ve disliked each other since childhood.

But their daughters have been classmates since kindergarten and are inseparable.

Often, the two CEOs spend their days plotting against each other in the office, only to be dragged to a friend’s birthday party by their daughters in the evening, forced to sing birthday songs to each other’s daughters with a look of mutual disdain.

Their weekend gatherings often get posted online by their children.

The entire internet misunderstood.

Even their subordinates suggested collaborating with the rival, considering them brother companies.

The two couldn’t explain that their relationship wasn’t that good, so they grudgingly accepted it.

Unexpectedly, the collaborative project between the two companies was a huge success.

Marketing accounts praised the excellence of one CEO’s friends as being equally excellent.

Now it’s even harder to explain.

The two decided to stop pretending, often publicly expressing their disdain for each other.

Netizens: Wow, this is something only true friends would do.

CEOs: “…”

CEO C.

CEO C is obsessed with being the best, and a significant reason for his poor relationship with CEO B is his competitive nature.

To what extent does he compete?

He even has to outdo others in the number of trees planted in Ant Forest.

For a while, it was popular in the CEO circle to compare step counts on WeChat.

To rank first, CEO C jogged every morning.

Later, when he didn’t have time, he strapped his phone to his dog to accumulate steps.

Eventually, even the pet dog grew tired of him.

In a fit of anger, he developed a product, a toy.

A desktop pet dog.

Once charged, the dog would plan a path on the desktop, running non-stop.

This product became a hit, popular on e-commerce platforms and among celebrities and influencers.

In an unknown corner, CEO C hid his achievements and fame.

Only the desktop pet dog with a phone strapped to it continued to trot tirelessly in the CEO’s office.

Since then, CEO C’s step count on WeChat has never ranked second again.

CEO D.

He’s in the building materials business, a field that believes in Feng Shui.

Locally, he’s one of the two industry giants.

For a while, both sides wanted to push the other out to monopolize the market.

From various marketing strategies to price wars, both had their strengths.

In the end, after exhausting all means, they somehow ended up in a metaphysical battle.

CEO D swore it was the other side who started it.

And indeed, it was true.

Both were vying for the same major client, and CEO D eventually secured the deal.

The rival was so angry he couldn’t sleep and invited a master overnight to perform a ritual. The next morning, CEO D opened his company’s glass door to find a half-human-tall Tai Shan stone standing at the entrance, with a talisman stuck on it.

The receptionist nervously reported, “Mr. Zhang’s secretary said it’s for our house’s protection…”

CEO D was so furious he munched through three packs of spicy snacks. With a toe-curling thought, he knew the talisman was no good. So, he hired a Feng Shui master from Hong Kong. The next day, Mr. Zhang looked up to see a three-meter-tall statue of Guan Gong erected on the opposite rooftop, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade pointing directly at his own door.

CEO D even thoughtfully tied an LED strip to the blade’s handle, making it flash red, green, and blue at night, like a nightclub boss.

The battle between the two giants ended with property management intervention.

The property manager stormed into CEO D’s office: “The base of your Guan Gong statue has cracked the waterproof layer, technically it’s an illegal structure, it needs to be removed!”

The next day, during the demolition, the Guan Gong statue fell, with the blade tip piercing the Tai Shan stone that Mr. Zhang had sent and later moved to the rooftop.

That night, Xianyu listed a divine item: 【99% new Green Dragon Crescent Blade, blessed by a master, has truly slashed a competitor, handle with seven-color LED, includes a free e-book ‘108 Ways to Infuriate Your Rivals’】.

Unaware of the sword’s past, netizens still commented: “Suggest listing on Pinduoduo, slash one, get one free.”

Such stories…

Finally, it’s clear that “The Wolf of Wall Street” only exists in literary imagination. The essence of business battles among these people is like a grown-up version of playing house.

These fierce negotiators, who claim not to use TikTok, secretly use alternate accounts to watch other CEOs’ live streams and even snatch lucky bags in their live rooms.

Perhaps the saying “business is like a battlefield” means everyone is as adorably naive as new recruits.

Qin Qing struggled to hold back her laughter.

This drew a sidelong glance from Shi Jiang.

Qin Qing: “It’s a pity I didn’t become a marketing account. Just by spilling gossip, I can’t imagine how high my status would be in the paparazzi world.”

Shi Jiang remained habitually silent.

Without sharing gossip, its fun is reduced by 50%.

Qin Qing sneakily shared the tales of rivalry and intrigue among the CEOs with Shi Jiang.

Shi Jiang didn’t say it was boring or refuse to listen, even nodding along, occasionally scanning the room to match the stories to the relevant people.

Wow… who knew you were like this, Shi Jiang.

With an engaged audience, Qin Qing became even more animated.

“That logistics Manager Zhou has a fear of public speaking. Before speaking at large events, he secretly goes to the restroom to sing ‘Lonely Warrior’. His pitch is so off, it could reach Siberia. Isn’t that adorable?”

“That investment CEO Jiang, yes, the one with the thinning hair, dreams of breaking into the entertainment industry to play a Big Brother role. He’s invested in many film projects, tirelessly trying to secure a role for himself.

But every time, he ends up as a driver, a background diner during the protagonist’s conversation, or similar roles. The only speaking role he got was a butcher shouting at the market.

Hahaha, how much must the director dislike him to not even give him a line!”

“Look at Ms. Liu at table six, doesn’t she resemble a smiling Buddha… what’s with that look? Are you waiting for me to say ‘but’? Hahaha, there’s no ‘but’!

In reality, she’s a mild-mannered person. The most excessive thing she’s done is, in a fit of anger, curse a competitor to have a child who loves entrepreneurship and squanders money.

Later, when the rival did have a child, she attended the full moon banquet with a huge red envelope. She held the child the entire time, making the rival think she had some scheme. In truth, she was just feeling guilty.”

…

However, soon, Qin Qing noticed something was off.

She saw Shi Jiang, who was listening to the gossip, with a serious expression, muttering to herself.

Upon closer listening, she realized she was repeating her words.

Even more shockingly, under Qin Qing’s astonished gaze, she pulled out a pocket notebook and began jotting things down.

Qin Qing: “…What are you doing?”

Shi Jiang, with a serious expression, continued to take notes.

“These subtle interpersonal relationships and personal preferences that are never spoken of are always the challenging parts of intelligence work. The major commercial secrets are actually easier to obtain. Often, the breakthrough in work relies on these little-known tidbits.”

She nodded solemnly at Qin Qing.

“What you’re saying is very useful!”

Qin Qing: “…”

Blinking, she looked up at the sky in despair. She was just trying to amuse herself during work by gossiping a bit for fun.

Comrade Shi Jiang, we’re all getting paid by the same unit, but your diligence makes me look like I’m not working seriously!

———

“Lonely Warrior” (《孤勇者》) is a powerful anthem sung by Eason Chan. Originally for the Arcane anime, its lyrics celebrate the resilience of underdogs and ordinary people who fight bravely through struggle and despair, even if they are scarred or unsung.

It became a massive, unexpected hit, especially among Chinese schoolchildren.

It celebrates courage in ordinary people — “Who says only those standing in the light are heroes?” became a cultural catchphrase.

Official – Original MV – https://youtu.be/Hlp8XD0R5qo

With lyrics – https://youtu.be/q4vFMvt8kHU

Popular Cover by “女声版” – https://youtu.be/Je6r_DqkPq