Who wants to be a male model after being reborn? I want to be a male god.

Chapter 416 Gives You Two Choices
Xu Wen took the letter and opened it; it had a faint scent of perfume.

The handwriting on the letter was somewhat messy, with several ink stains blurred by water, clearly indicating that Gu Xingruo wrote it while crying.

"I'm sorry, I've already left. Seeing you lying in the hospital bed, I simply didn't have the courage to stay any longer, and I didn't know how to say goodbye."

Upon reading the contents of the letter, Xu Wen's heart sank.

He endured the pain from his wound and read on, word by word.

“My dad is right. My staying here will only put you in danger. You can take a knife for me today, but what about tomorrow? The day after? I don’t want to see something like this happen again.”

The letter mentioned the reason why Gu Hong arranged for her to leave.

Someone is targeting the Gu family, and as Gu Hong's only daughter, she is the perfect target.

In her letter, Gu Xingruo wrote that she had to leave, not only for her own safety, but also to protect Xu Wen.

"Wait for me to come back, okay? If you're still willing to wait for me then."

At the end of the letter, Gu Xingruo drew a small smiley face, just like she often drew when they passed notes in high school.

Xu Wen's fingers gently traced the smiling face, as if he could touch the feelings she had when she wrote the letter.

"Yang Yiyao, call me a car," Xu Wen suddenly said, his voice hoarse.

"Are you crazy? The doctor said you need to be observed for at least three more days!" Yang Yiyao exclaimed, her eyes wide.

Xu Wen had already removed the IV needle from the back of his hand and struggled to sit up in bed: "I want to see Gu Hong, now."

“But…” Yang Yiyao tried to stop her.

"Now!" Xu Wen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

Yang Yiyao bit her lip and finally sighed: "I'll make the arrangements, but you have to promise me that you'll go back to the hospital immediately after we finish talking."

An hour later, Xu Wen stood in the elevator of the Hongjing Industrial headquarters building.

The wound in his abdomen throbbed with every breath, but he couldn't care less about it.

The elevator went straight to the top floor, and as soon as the door opened, Gu Hong's secretary was already waiting there.

"Mr. Xu, Mr. Gu is waiting for you." The secretary's eyes showed a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting Xu Wen to come with injuries.

Gu Hong's office door was open.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his back to the door, and the entire riverside landscape unfolded before him.

He didn't turn around when he heard footsteps.

“I guessed you would come.” Gu Hong’s voice was unusually calm.

Xu Wen walked straight up to him and slammed Gu Xingruo's letter on the table: "Where is she?"

Gu Hong then turned around.

For the first time, Xu Wen noticed that the wrinkles around the eyes of this usually arrogant man were so deep, and that there was much more white hair at his temples than when they last met.

"A safe place," Gu Hong replied briefly, then gestured for Xu Wen to sit down: "You're badly injured; you shouldn't have come."

"Stop talking nonsense. I want to know the truth. Who is threatening her? Why do they insist on her leaving?" Xu Wen's voice was icy.

The pain from his wound made him disregard all etiquette.

Gu Hong walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and didn't add ice.

He drank it all in one gulp, then let out a long breath.

"Do you know how Hong Jing started his business?" This is not a question.

Xu Wen nodded.

Because of that USB drive, he now knows Gu Hong very well.

I also know about the things he used to do.

After successfully taking office, Gu Hong engaged in many gray-area businesses in the early stages. Although he later cleaned up his act, he made countless enemies.

He both follows the rules and doesn't follow them.

That's why he's been able to get to where he is today.

"Twenty years of accumulated grudges, it's time to settle them. Some of these people want my life, some want my money, and some want Ruoruo." Gu Hong walked to his desk, opened a drawer, took out a folder, and pushed it to Xu Wen.
Xu Wen opened the folder, which contained more than a dozen files, each with a photograph attached.

He recognized several well-known business figures from Linjiang, as well as a few government officials.

However, one person is missing inside.

Li Qingyun.

Xu Wen did not remind Gu Hong.

“Last week, the villa’s driver was bribed. Last month, her rented hotel was broken into. I sent people to protect her 24 hours a day, but even the best-laid plans can have flaws. I can’t take any risks.” Gu Hong’s voice grew softer and softer.

Xu Wen's fists clenched involuntarily, a sharp pain shooting through his abdominal wound, but he was oblivious: "So you just sent her away? Aren't you going to think of any other solutions?"

"Do you think I want this? She's my only daughter! But given the current situation, I'm overwhelmed. Those people have joined forces, both in politics and business. They want more than just Hong Jing; they want my life too!" Gu Hong suddenly raised his voice, a pain that Xu Wen had never seen before flashing in his eyes.

A brief silence fell over the office.

Looking at the man in front of him who suddenly looked old, Xu Wen understood Gu Hong's situation for the first time.

Why didn't you tell me? We could have been together.

"Protect her? Look at yourself, Xu Wen. What's the size of Flash City now? How much is its annual revenue? How many employees does it have? What makes you think you can protect her?" Gu Hong sneered.

These words brought Xu Wen back to his senses.

Yes, although Flash City is developing rapidly, it is still too weak in front of those real big players.

"So what's your plan? To let her hide for the rest of her life?" Xu Wen tried hard to control the trembling in his voice.

Gu Hong walked up to Xu Wen and looked down at him: "I'll give you two choices. First, forget Ruoruo, continue running your Shancheng, and live your peaceful life."

"And second?" Xu Wen looked directly into Gu Hong's eyes.

"Second," Gu Hong's voice suddenly turned serious, "I want you to turn Flash City into a nationwide enterprise within a year, increase its market value by at least tenfold, and build your own business empire, an empire strong enough to protect her."

Xu Wen was stunned.

Tenfold increase in a year? That's practically an impossible task.

"Why? You have Hong Jing, why do you still need Shan Cheng?" Xu Wen asked.

Gu Hong walked back to the window, his back to Xu Wen.

"No matter how much Hongjing tries to whitewash itself, it's still 'black' at heart. Shancheng is different; it's inherently 'white,' clean, transparent, and compliant with all regulatory requirements. This is the future, and the protective umbrella Ruoruo needs."

At this moment, Xu Wen finally understood why Gu Hong initially supported Flash City with all his might.

He turned around, his eyes sharp as knives: "I can deal with those who want my life, but when Ruoruo comes back, she needs a completely new environment, a place untouched by my past. That's your mission, Xu Wen. Do you dare to take it?"

Xu Wen did not answer immediately.

Gu Xingruo's smiling face flashed through his mind, along with the times they had spent together in the past and present.

The final image shows their last kiss at the amusement park.

Then he remembered the knife that had pierced his abdomen and Gu Xingruo's terrified eyes.

“I’ll accept, but I have conditions.” Xu Wen stood up, his back ramrod straight despite the pain from his wound.

Gu Hong raised an eyebrow: "Speak."

"I need to know Ruoruo's safety at all times, and update her at least once a week." Xu Wen's voice left no room for argument.

Gu Hong stared at Xu Wen for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Deal. But Xu Wen, don't think this is some romantic promise. In the coming year, you will face challenges a hundred times more difficult than today. The business world is like a battlefield, and those people will not sit idly by and watch you grow stronger."

“I know,” Xu Wen said calmly.

"No, you don't know, Secretary Li, bring in the documents for the Changsha project." Gu Hong walked to his desk and pressed the call button. A few minutes later, the secretary brought in a thick folder.

Gu Hong handed it to Xu Wen: "Yan Hui has run into trouble in Xingsha. Some locals don't want to see Shancheng move in and have started to sabotage her. This is your first test."

Xu Wen took the document and quickly browsed through it.

The preferential policies originally promised by the Xingsha government suddenly changed, and several local businesses joined together to boycott Xingsha.

“This is just the beginning. Once you really start expanding nationwide, every city will have its own local tyrants, and every step you take will have someone trying to bring you down.” Gu Hong lit a cigar.

Xu Wen closed the file, his eyes resolute: "I will handle it."

Before leaving, he asked one last question: "So you fired Yan Hui at this time to protect her?"

Gu Hong neither answered nor denied it.

That is the best answer.

It was already dark when I left the Hung King Building.

Xu Wen stood on the steps, gazing at the night view of the river.

Now he finally understands why Gu Xingruo from his previous life never came back.

Because no one can protect her anymore.

Xu Wen couldn't control Gu Hong's fate; it wasn't something he could control.

But he wanted to protect Gu Xingruo.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Wan Zhi: "President Xu, the teams from Jiangcheng and Tianfu have all arrived and are waiting for you to start the meeting."

Xu Wen replied: "There will be an online meeting in one hour. Please notify all branch managers to attend."

On the way back to the hospital, Xu Wen sent a message to Wan Zhi: "Help me contact Sister Jiang, Lan Qiusheng and Xue Yepeng. I need to readjust the expansion plan."

On his hospital bed, Xu Wen opened his laptop.

The original five-year plan had to be compressed into one year, which meant more aggressive expansion, greater risks, and the need for more funding.

The online meeting started on time.

The faces of the heads of various branches appeared one after another on the screen: Jiang Xiaqing in Jiangcheng, Xue Yepeng in Tianfu, Yan Hui in Xingsha, Lan Qiusheng in Jinling, and the core team of the Linjiang headquarters.

"Everyone, the plan has changed. The original five-year expansion plan has been adjusted to be completed within one year." Xu Wen's voice was very calm.

The expressions on the screen went from surprise to confusion, and finally to worry.

“President Xu, this is too risky. Our team building can’t keep up with such a rapid expansion,” Jiang Xiaqing was the first to speak.

"The cash flow can also run into problems," Yan Hui added.

Xu Wen waited until everyone had finished speaking before slowly saying, "I know this is difficult, but Flash City has no choice. Starting today, 70 percent of the profits of all branches will be reinvested, and all non-essential expenditures will be suspended."

He pulled up a new national map, marked with more than twenty new cities: "We're going to enter these markets within three months."

Xu Wen began assigning tasks to everyone.

"President Xu, with such rapid expansion, how can we guarantee quality?" Yan Hui asked worriedly.

Xu Wen's eyes sharpened: "Quality and speed are equally important. Whoever can't do it will be replaced. This is not a discussion, it's an order."

The meeting lasted until late at night.

After the last problem was solved, Xu Wen turned off the computer and leaned wearily against the pillow.

The wound in my abdomen throbbed slightly, but compared to the emptiness in my heart, this pain was nothing.

He picked up his phone and showed Gu Xingruo's photos.

She smiled brightly on the screen, her eyes seemingly sparkling.

Outside the window, the night sky over the river was starless.

But Xu Wen knew that in some faraway place, Gu Xingruo might be looking at the same night sky.

This idea gave him the courage to keep going.

The next morning, Xu Wen disregarded the doctor's objections and completed the discharge procedures.

At the headquarters of Flash City, all employees sensed the change in atmosphere.

People were constantly coming and going from Xu Wen's office, with one meeting after another.

Around noon, Yang Yiyao burst into the office, holding a document in her hand: "Xu Wen! Are you out of your mind? The doctor said you need at least two weeks of rest! Ruoruo asked me to take care of you before she left!"

Xu Wen signed the document without looking up: "There's no time."

"What do you mean no time? Flash City is developing perfectly well, why the sudden change of heart?"

"Yang Yiyao, I need your help." Xu Wen finally raised his head, and the determination in his eyes made Yang Yiyao stop speaking abruptly.

Yang Yiyao opened her mouth, but finally sighed: "Say it, what do you want me to do?"

"Contact all the media outlets you can reach. I'm going to hold a press conference within two weeks to announce Flash City's new strategy."

"What new strategy?"

Xu Wen's voice was firm and clear: "Within one year, FlashCity will cover all first-tier and new first-tier cities across the country."

Yang Yiyao gasped.

"Is Xu Wen related to Ruoruo? Where did she go?" She hesitated, wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Since that day, she has never been able to get through to Gu Xingruo's phone.

Logically, she should have been happy.

But I still couldn't help but worry.

Xu Wen's eyes flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure: "She went to a safe place."

Looking at Xu Wen's determined profile, Yang Yiyao suddenly understood something.

She nodded: "I'll make the arrangements, but Xu Wen, promise me you won't overwork yourself. Ruoruo will be worried about you."

I can too.

Yang Yiyao said silently in her heart.

Xu Wen did not answer, but simply sat back down at his desk and continued to process the mountain of documents.

In the days that followed, Flash City operated at an astonishing pace.

New hiring plans, new expansion strategies, and new financing negotiations.
Xu Wen practically lived in his office, sleeping only three or four hours a day.

A week later, late at night, after everyone had left work, Xu Wen sat alone in his office.

My phone suddenly rang; it was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?" Xu Wen answered the phone, her heart suddenly racing.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Gu Hong's voice came through: "She arrived safely and is doing well in the first week."

Xu Wen gripped his phone tightly: "Can I say a few words to her?"

“No, it’s too dangerous, but I can tell you that she asks about your situation every day.” Gu Hong refused decisively.

Xu Wen closed his eyes, imagining Gu Xingruo's anxious expression: "Tell her I'm fine, Flash City is expanding as planned."

"I will pass on the message, Xu Wen. Don't let me down; time is running out."

After saying that, Gu Hong hurriedly hung up the phone.

(End of this chapter)