Chapter 2090: Get Lost!

Zhao Fusheng and the others were chatting and laughing upstairs when an assistant walked in, went over to Zheng Xiaolong, and whispered something.

Soon, Zheng Xiaolong's expression turned grim.

"Excuse me for a moment, everyone. I have something to attend to."

Zheng Xiaolong stood up and said to the group.

As the host, he naturally had to handle this matter personally. No matter who the other party was, with so many celebrities and industry insiders present, they couldn't all just leave.

If that happened, word would get out, and Zheng Xiaolong wouldn't be able to survive in this circle anymore.

"Director Zheng, go ahead."

"Please, go ahead."

Naturally, no one objected. Since he had something to deal with, he should handle it.

Soon, Zheng Xiaolong turned and went out, heading downstairs.

Downstairs, a group led by Director Liu was still confronting the assistant.

"I'm sorry, but there really are artists inside, so it's not convenient for you to dine there," the assistant pleaded earnestly with Director Liu and the others.

But Director Liu's face darkened as he said in a deep voice, "So what if they're artists? We just want a meal. I don't believe this restaurant has no private rooms. Clear one out, now!"

As he spoke, he glared coldly at the assistant: "If you delay the important matter of attracting investment, can you afford to compensate for that?"

The assistant, a young man just over twenty, looked on the verge of tears upon hearing this.

He thought to himself, 'What kind of mess is this?'

Representative Cui, on the other hand, appeared completely calm, standing there casually surveying the restaurant's surroundings.

He had come to China a few years ago and had eaten here once, leaving an unforgettable impression. This time, on his inspection trip to China, he naturally wanted to revisit the place.

But unexpectedly, the place had been booked out.

Logically, when something like this happened, he could have just said it was fine, and Director Liu wouldn't have made a fuss.

But Representative Cui clearly had other ideas and remained silent.

Since he didn't speak, Director Liu had no choice but to take a tough stance and demand that the restaurant vacate a private room.

"What's going on?"

At that moment, Zheng Xiaolong also came out and walked over to the group.

"You must be Director Zheng?"

Section Chief Liu glanced at Zheng Xiaolong and said flatly, "I'm from the Municipal Investment Promotion Bureau. This is a foreign investor from South Korea. He had a meal here before in our China and found it very good, so he wants to come again. What's wrong with your assistants? Don't they understand the importance of attracting investment for our China? How dare they block us!"

As he spoke, he said coldly, "On a larger scale, you're damaging our country's international image; on a smaller scale, you're sabotaging the national policy of attracting investment!"

And at this very moment, this was the situation Zheng Xiaolong faced.

Clearly, Section Chief Liu didn't care at all about Zheng Xiaolong's identity or the identities of the artists here. As long as he could please this Korean investor, Section Chief Liu would stop at nothing.

"Section Chief Liu, right? Isn't it a bit too much to talk like that?"

What kind of person was Zheng Xiaolong? A child of the大院, genuinely red at the core. Even if he was no longer the leading figure of the Beijing circle, he was still a seasoned veteran who grew tougher with age.

Although Section Chief Liu's words sounded intimidating, it depended on who was listening.

The few assistants naturally couldn't handle it.

But Zheng Xiaolong didn't care!

"Heh, Director Zheng, if you don't believe me, you can try it."

By now, Section Chief Liu couldn't be bothered to think too much.

If a group of artists really messed up this investment, Section Chief Liu didn't believe that after the incident was exposed, the media and the public wouldn't curse them.

Even just a few reports would be enough to ruin Zheng Xiaolong's reputation.

That was his confidence!

No matter what, the biggest flaw of public figures is that whenever something happens, the public immediately shifts the blame onto them.

It sounds ridiculous, but it's true.

This is the mentality of the common people, or rather, this is the tragedy of public figures.

Zheng Xiaolong's brows furrowed deeply.

"How about this? Why don't I have someone free up a private room, and you all go in for your meal?"

After thinking it over, Zheng Xiaolong decided to compromise.

No matter what, he was a public figure. To put it bluntly, he couldn't afford to waste time with these people.

If the media really got wind of this, who knows what they'd make of it.

At this point, it seemed the matter had ended with Zheng Xiaolong's concession.

Director Liu nodded with satisfaction and looked at Representative Cui: "Representative Cui, I've convinced them. They'll give us one of their private rooms."

"Good."

Representative Cui nodded approvingly, then pointed to his entourage behind him: "And they all need private rooms too."

Huh?

Director Liu was stunned.

Representative Cui and his own people—that was just one table—but adding the dozen or so attendants, and demanding private rooms on top of that, was a bit much.

Still, gritting his teeth, he turned and relayed Representative Cui's words to Zheng Xiaolong, finally saying: "Director Zheng, how about this: we give you the first-floor hall, and we'll take the second floor. What do you say?"

Holy shit!

No matter how well-mannered Zheng Xiaolong was, he couldn't help but swear now!

If the tiger doesn't show its might, do you take me for a sick cat?

He gave the other man a cold look and said: "Director Liu, do you have any idea what you're doing?"

Seeing Zheng Xiaolong's reaction, Director Liu knew he was about to lose his temper. He sneered: "Director Zheng, let me say it again: this Representative Cui is from South Korea's CJ Group, the country's largest food company. If you sabotage the cooperation between our city and CJ Group, see how you explain that to your superiors!"

CJ Group?

Zheng Xiaolong was taken aback.

Of course he knew the company—one of South Korea's chaebols, a famous giant corporation.

As Director Liu said, if he ruined the cooperation between China and CJ Group, it would indeed be a problem.

Just then, someone suddenly laughed.

"Heh, CJ Group? Is it that impressive?"

"Who? Who's talking nonsense!"

Director Liu was startled, then his face changed dramatically as he pointed behind Zheng Xiaolong.

Zheng Xiaolong quickly turned and saw Zhao Fusheng standing there with a smile.

"Chairman Zhao, why are you out here?"

Zheng Xiaolong hurried over to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and waved his hand: "I came down to greet some teachers from the People's Art Theatre, but instead I overheard someone spouting nonsense here!"

Then he said coldly: "So what if it's CJ Group? This is China, not Seoul. If you want to throw your weight around here, get the hell out!"

Director Liu was furious, pointing at Zhao Fusheng: "Who are you to speak like that? Do you know what you're doing?"

Zhao Fusheng smiled slightly, unruffled, and glanced at Representative Cui, asking calmly: "CJ Group?"

"Yes."

To everyone's surprise, Representative Cui, who had been so arrogant moments before, now looked pale. When he heard Zhao Fusheng's question, he nodded respectfully.

"Apologize yourself, then get lost."

Zhao Fusheng didn't bother with another word and turned to leave.

A small fry like this wasn't worth another sentence.

Everyone was dumbfounded!

Director Liu was bewildered!

Zheng Xiaolong was also bewildered!

Even though he knew Zhao Fusheng's identity, he still didn't understand what was going on.

Why had that Korean suddenly knelt down!

Holy shit!

What the hell just happened?

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zheng. It was my fault."

Representative Cui said in stiff Mandarin, his face pale.

"No, no, no."

Zheng Xiaolong quickly helped him up. On this busy street, with people coming and going, if a reporter saw this, he'd never be able to clear his name.

"Please be sure to convey my apologies to Chairman Zhao." The representative bowed deeply and turned to leave.

Chairman Zhao?

Hearing that title, Director Liu's heart stirred, and then he felt terrible.