CHAPTER 297: CHAPTER 216: HOMECOMING (PART 2)

Gu Bai glanced at him indifferently, somewhat surprised.

Initially, he thought Mr. Shao was clinging to power and unwilling to let go. After all, during the executive meeting that day, he had already made it clear enough, but so much time had passed and he still hadn’t seen any change in his attitude.

This time, the acquisition of Hongye Building Materials was handed entirely to Mr. Shao with the intention of finding a fault, to have a reason to take Mr. Shao down from his position as general manager. He hadn’t expected Mr. Shao would bring up resigning from the general manager position in this setting.

Many of the executives sending him off were suddenly astonished and looked at Mr. Shao, whereas Mr. Shao himself looked much relieved after saying those words, with a very calm expression.

No one knew what kind of expression Gu Bai was wearing under his sunglasses.

Gu Bai didn’t say much about this matter, just responded lightly, "Let’s discuss this after I return to the company after the Spring Festival."

Although he didn’t explicitly agree, everyone knew that Gu Bai had agreed to Mr. Shao’s resignation. After all, for a high-level change like this in a position with the second-highest authority in the company, not rejecting on the spot was already an implicit agreement.

After saying this, Gu Bai bid farewell to a group of executives and went towards the security check with Gu Yi and the other four robots following him.

It wasn’t until Gu Bai’s figure disappeared from everyone’s sight that Xiao Qiang smiled and gave Mr. Shao a thumbs up.

The two had joined the Black Swan Group at the same time, not only were they the two highest in power in the company besides Gu Bai, but they were also the two who understood Gu Bai the best in the entire company.

They knew that once Gu Bai had made a decision, no one could change it.

Instead of being embarrassed and forced to step down later, it was better to propose it oneself with dignity, not only to preserve more interests but also to leave a good impression in front of Gu Bai.

Actually, Mr. Shao was also reluctant, but ever since Gu Jun became the deputy general manager, he handled most of the company’s affairs very deftly. Mr. Shao had noticed, and many times Gu Jun would skip over him, the general manager, to report directly to Gu Bai, which further indicated Gu Bai’s stance.

Withdrawing at this rapid pace was the only thing Mr. Shao could do.

Most executives could understand the logic behind it, but some less perceptive ones started asking.

Mr. Shao chuckled softly, did not answer, but said, "Tonight, I will treat everyone to a meal. During the Spring Festival, we’ll need everyone to work hard together and strive to handle the acquisition of Hongye Building Materials beautifully before the Chairman returns!"

............

From Shanghai to Shuzhou City isn’t far, and in two hours, the plane had already landed at Tianzhu Mountain Airport.

As the only airport in Shuzhou City, the recent crowd of returning locals and their relatives picking them up all gathered in one airport. In terms of congestion, it was not much different from the Shanghai airport.

Walking in the center of the crowd, Gu Bai, with Gu Yi and the other four robots creating a small vacuum passage around him from all directions, while those who were pushed aside couldn’t help but grumble in their hearts, yet dared not to say anything.

Shuzhou City is an eighteenth-tier small city, with usually few outsiders.

Scenes like bodyguards escorting people are rarely encountered, and though Gu Bai wore a mask and sunglasses so no one could know his true identity, from these four tall and imposing bodyguards one could tell that Gu Bai was either rich or noble. Everyone was here to have a good New Year, and naturally, no one wanted to provoke Gu Bai at such a time.

As Gu Bai slowly walked forward, a few familiar faces in the crowd receiving passengers appeared in Gu Bai’s view.

Besides his parents, his uncle’s entire family was there too.

Seeing this situation, Gu Bai hastily quickened his steps and walked over.

Regarding the itinerary, Gu Bai had told Xu Hong last night, thinking only Gu Jian Country would come to pick him up, but he hadn’t expected so many people would come.

The chatting group of Gu Bai’s parents and his uncle’s family instantly shifted all their attention onto the approaching Gu Bai.

Though Gu Bai was fully armed with mask and sunglasses, these were his closest family, and they immediately recognized him.

"Dad, Mom, Uncle, Aunt!"

Gu Bai walked up to them, casually took off his mask and sunglasses, and greeted them warmly in the Shuzhou dialect.

During these transformative five months for Gu Bai, his appearance made both Gu Jian Country and his parents barely recognize him.

Yet within seconds, Xu Hong reverted to her motherly nature, smiling as she scolded, "You still know to come home! All the kids in the neighborhood who went to study outside are back, except for you!"

Gu Bai replied with a bashful smile, yet said nothing.

Gu Jian Country, only a few centimeters shorter than Gu Bai, stood tall due to his early military training. Although he was smiling, he still looked very stern as he lightly patted Gu Bai’s shoulder, "You’ve grown a bit taller."

Beside him, the uncle and aunt laughed and said, "Alright, let’s not stand here, let’s head back home."

Just as the uncle finished speaking, they heard a delighted squeal from the side.

"Brother!"

"Xu Beibei!"

Without any hesitation, Xu Beibei jumped onto Gu Bai.

The few elders witnessing this scene merely smiled without saying anything.

"Beibei, with just a few days into the winter break, you’ve put on so much weight. If you keep eating, I won’t be able to carry you anymore!"

"Nonsense! I’ve lost several pounds already!"

Saying that, Xu Beibei jumped off from Gu Bai.

Xu Beibei, the only daughter of Gu Bai’s uncle, was younger than Gu Bai by two years, at the age of 18, and like Gu Bai, an arts student studying at Sichuan Music College. Having grown up following Gu Bai around, their relationship was very good. Despite traditionally calling Gu Bai ’Cousin Brother,’ she consistently addressed him as ’Brother’ since young.

Xu Beibei wore a pink cartoon sweater, sported a bob haircut, with a slightly plump baby face featuring a pointed uplifted nose and large eyes sparkling with mischief, with her black pupils darting around.

Gu Bai’s entire family’s genes were excellent; naturally, Xu Beibei wouldn’t be lacking in appearance, showing a 91-point beauty on the system’s panel.

Given that Gu Bai’s starting beauty was 92 points, it was entirely natural and nothing to do with the system.

"Alright, Beibei, enough clinging to your brother. Let’s go home first,"

Gu Bai’s aunt gently pulled Xu Beibei back.

"It’s just that I haven’t seen my brother for so long, I got too excited..."

Xu Beibei pouted, expressing her grievances.

Gu Bai reached out to touch the head of Xu Beibei, who barely reached his chin, smiling, "Let’s head home first."

Despite Gu Bai’s parents and uncle and aunt having a lot to ask now, they glanced at the location and refrained from speaking.

"Bai, who are these four?"

Turning his head, Gu Bai looked at the four bodyguard robots following behind, then smilingly replied to Xu Hong, "They’re all my bodyguards."

After saying that, he instructed the four of them, "You four don’t need to follow me during this time. Take care of your own food and accommodation."

Receiving the orders, the four robots nodded and directly headed outside the airport.

As robots, they of course possessed advanced technology, even if not by Gu Bai’s side, they could always track his movements. The only limitation is not being able to perform protection duties in real-time. However, within the country, besides accidents, Gu Bai didn’t believe anyone would dare do anything to him.

"Oh, okay."

Having received an answer, Xu Hong didn’t ask any further.

The group walked out of the airport, with Shuzhou’s weather being significantly colder than Shanghai’s, and Gu Bai couldn’t help but tighten his coat.

Reaching the car, Gu Bai tossed his suitcase into the trunk and got directly into Gu Jian Country’s black Volkswagen, with Xu Beibei laughing and taking the back seat, shouting out the window, "I’m sitting with my brother!"

Gu Bai’s aunt, yet to board the car, shook her head with a smile, saying to Xu Hong, "This child, still so clingy to her brother at this age."

"Sticking to the brother is good; in the future, Bai can help her assess boyfriends."

"I fear she might come to believe all the boys in the world are as excellent as Bai, which might elevate her standards, overlooking ordinary boys."

"Isn’t that a good thing? A girl should find an excellent boyfriend."

On the way home, Xu Beibei kept bombarding Gu Bai with questions, which left Xu Hong, seated in the front, unable to find an opportunity to voice her queries, having to stash them away in her heart, awaiting a chance to ask them at home.

Amid the banter between Gu Bai and Xu Beibei, the vehicle entered the complex where Gu Bai’s home was located.