Living in a county town, starting as a stock market maker...

Murphy Restaurant is the only Western restaurant in HG City where the average cost per person exceeds four figures.

The environment is very nice.

The steak was also very good.

M9 grade Wagyu beef, cooked medium-rare, with Himalayan rose salt. One bite and the fat melts on your tongue, bursting with milky flavor.

But Gu Ming's mind was not on eating at all.

He simply recounted honestly the two confrontations that had occurred to him yesterday afternoon and evening.

One of them was dealing with investment manager Zhao Kai in the office.

The other confrontation took place in a hotel private room, where he faced off against Shen Guodong.

He spoke very calmly.

But Su Qingying, sitting opposite her, frowned more and more as she listened.

She wore a well-tailored black Chanel dress today, which made her look very capable, yet somewhat aloof.

When she heard that Gu Ming had used the Digital Life project to turn the tables and transform Shen Guodong's acquisition into a seed round investment, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.

But when Gu Ming finished speaking, she stopped cutting the barely touched filet mignon on her plate.

The metal cutlery scraped against the bone china plate with a harsh, grating sound.

"Gu Ming, what you're doing is dangerous."

Su Qingying's voice was calm, but tinged with worry.

"For someone like Shen Guodong, his investments are strategic investments. Every penny he gives you is a form of constraint."

"You're essentially using his money under his surveillance to work on a project that could threaten his business empire in the future. He can withdraw his investment at any time, making all your efforts futile."

No, you're wrong.

He cannot withdraw his investment at any time.

He will definitely withdraw his investment.

He will support you first, making you invest all your energy, and then withdraw his investment at a crucial moment, causing you to fail completely.

This is Shen Guodong's plan.

Gu Ming knew the answer perfectly well, but he didn't say it aloud.

He simply picked up his glass and took a sip of the 82 Lafite.

Hmm, it tastes good, with smooth tannins and a rich fruity aroma. It's much better than Shen Guodong's bottle of Moutai.

"no way."

He shrugged, his tone relaxed. "It's already started, so we have to keep going. We can't just give up because there are risks, can we?"

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Su Qingying's gaze became complicated.

She put down her knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and gently wiped the corner of her mouth.

Her gaze was earnest and focused.

"Gu Ming."

She gazed into his eyes.

"I'm making a promise to you in my own name."

Gu Ming's hand, holding the wine glass, paused in mid-air for a moment.

Su Qingying continued in a clear tone:

"If your digital life project really encounters funding problems in the future, or... Shen Guodong withdraws his investment midway, I will use all the connections and resources I have accumulated in the investment banking circle over the years to help you find the next round of financing."

"This includes Sequoia Capital, Hillhouse Capital, IDG Capital... I will personally take your project and talk to them one by one."

Even if…

She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

"Even if we ultimately fail, I will find a way to help you personally bear some of the losses, at least... so that you won't suffer too much and become completely unable to recover."

Gu Ming's heart skipped a beat.

He was completely stunned.

Holy crap... this woman, is she crazy?

Does she even know what she's saying?

This is no longer just simple support.

This is a vice president of a well-known domestic investment bank, who used her future ten-year career and personal credit to act as a guarantor for me, Gu Ming!

The value of this promise is far greater than Shen Guodong's five million, even greater than five hundred million!

Money can buy many things, but the credit and connections of an elite cannot.

What is she trying to achieve?

Does he think I'm handsome?

Do you think I'm being stubborn?

Or was it because it was the first time I'd treated her to such an expensive Western meal?

Gu Ming felt a warmth in his heart.

Since his rebirth, he has schemed against and exploited everyone, valuing only personal gain.

He thought he had already hardened his heart.

But at this moment, Su Qingying's promise, which was devoid of any self-interest and even somewhat naive, touched him.

He opened his mouth, the habitual question "Why did you do this?" hovering on his lips, but he couldn't bring himself to ask it.

Asking that question would be too hurtful.

He decided to try a different approach.

He put down his glass, a touched smile on his face, and was about to say something.

Just then.

"Gu Ming! Aunt Su! I'm here!"

A crisp sound, accompanied by the sound of skipping footsteps, came from afar.

Gu Ming's expression froze instantly.

Shen An'an walked through the well-dressed guests in the restaurant and found their seats.

She was clearly dressed up carefully today, wearing a pink bubble dress and carrying a small LV bag, exuding an aura of wealth and happiness.

She was invited to come and freeload a meal by Gu Ming after a phone call.

There was no way around it; the meal was too expensive, and Gu Ming felt it would hurt to leave without someone to pay the bill.

Shen An'an is the right candidate.

But despite all his calculations, he never expected her to arrive at such a convenient time.

Coincidentally, he overheard the second half of Su Qingying's sentence, "I won't let you lose too much."

"Wow, what are you eating that's delicious?"

Unaware of anything amiss, Shen An'an plopped down and picked up her knife and fork, preparing to take a bite of the Wagyu beef that Gu Ming had only taken one bite of.

But her movements quickly stopped.

She noticed that the atmosphere at the dinner table was a bit off.

Aunt Su's eyes seem a little red?

Gu Ming's expression seemed a bit... indescribable?

This eccentric heiress immediately started gossiping.

Her big eyes darted back and forth between Gu Ming and Su Qingying several times.

Then, a look of sudden realization appeared on her face—an expression that Gu Ming both knew and feared.

She seems to have discovered a big secret!

She carefully put down her knife and fork, moved closer to Su Qingying, and whispered in a voice loud enough for the people at the next table to hear:

"Aunt Su..."

"Are you confessing your feelings to Gu Ming?"

Gu Ming almost spat out the mouthful of wine he had just taken a sip of.

Su Qingying's face, which had turned red with emotion, froze.

However, Shen An'an's words had only just begun.

Unaware of their unusual interaction, she continued to press for answers with a curious tone:

"I think I just heard you say you were going to help him pay off his debts?"

"Aunt Su, are you planning to pay off all his debts like in those TV dramas, so that he'll be so moved that... in the end, he'll have no choice but to repay you with his body?"

…………

The violin music sounded awkward.

Gu Ming coughed desperately, feeling that he had never been so out of control in his life.

And across from him was Su Qingying… a woman who could remain calm even at a negotiating table with hundreds of millions of dollars, and who had just made a solemn promise.

At that moment, her usually calm face flushed red from her cheeks to her ears.

She froze, her mouth slightly open, her mind blank, unsure how to react.

confession?

Pay off debts?

Offering oneself in return?

Did I just...did I mean that?!

This is the most outrageous misinterpretation I have encountered in my ten years in the industry!

Looking into Shen An'an's big, curious eyes, Su Qingying felt for the first time the urge to disappear into the ground.

In all her years in the capital markets, she has never been as flustered as she is now.