261: Chapter 261 Extending an Olive Branch

"I simply admire you as a young man and want to exchange ideas with you more."

Shen Yan didn't believe Gu Hui's words at all.

He felt that Gu Hui must have a purpose for asking him out.

However, he didn't expose Gu Hui directly, only smiling as he asked in return, "Is that so? I thought you asked me out because you wanted to talk about Gu Mingming."

As his voice fell.

Gu Hui burst into laughter.

"Although Gu Mingming is my grandson, I won't interfere with his investments, much less the projects he invests in, so you can rest assured."

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow; he didn't feel there was anything to be reassured about.

"Then what do you want to talk about today?"

Hearing the question, Gu Hui tapped the table and tentatively asked Shen Yan, "Aside from the field of Artificial Intelligence, are there any other projects or fields you want to develop?"

Shen Yan narrowed his eyes and didn't answer immediately.

He was wondering what Gu Hui's question meant—was he asking if Shen Yan had projects he wanted to invest in, or was he testing him?

He didn't answer for a long time, and Gu Hui grew a bit impatient waiting.

"You don't need to worry so much. Today, just treat me as a friend you've just met rather than the Chairman of the Gu Group. We can just chat casually."

After pondering for a moment, Shen Yan replied, "Since you've put it that way, I won't be formal with you either and will treat you as a friend I've met a few times."

As he spoke, he laid out all his thoughts.

"The project I'm currently working on is in a field I've never entered before. The reason I'm developing it is that I believe it has a future."

"In other words, if other projects are equally promising, I would also give them a try."

Gu Hui understood what Shen Yan meant.

It meant that if other projects were worth investing in, Shen Yan would invest in them without being restricted to a single field.

"So that's how it is... I heard you were in IT before?"

Shen Yan nodded.

"That's right, I made my fortune through IT technology. Why?"

Gu Hui smiled.

"Nothing much. I just happen to admire people with technical skills. Also, lately... I've been lacking a capable person to assist me."

Assist?

Did Gu Hui want to headhunt him to work by his side?

Thinking this, he voiced his thoughts.

Hearing his question, Gu Hui laughed.

"You are indeed sharp, but that's not what I had in mind. You're a talent; working under me would be a waste of your abilities."

Shen Yan looked up, narrowing his eyes as he asked, "Then what does Chairman Gu mean?"

Gu Hui cleared his throat and replied to Shen Yan, "My meaning is simple. I want to cooperate with you, and the project for cooperation would be in IT, which you're best at."

As his voice fell.

Shen Yan didn't answer for a long time.

He hadn't forgotten the confidential wealth intelligence the tycoon system had given him.

The intelligence said that Gu Hui had recently been involved in the arms trade.

Was the cooperation project Gu Hui mentioned linked to the arms business?

Just as he was thinking, Gu Hui spoke again.

"You don't have to rush to answer me. I have time, so you can think it over slowly and carefully."

Shen Yan nodded and asked, "There are many types of IT technology. What kind of cooperation do you want from me?"

Gu Hui glanced around the café.

After confirming there were no other customers eavesdropping in the café, he replied to Shen Yan, "I want you to help me develop a piece of software."

Software?

Shen Yan: "What type of software?"

Gu Hui picked up the coffee on the table, took a sip, and replied to Shen Yan, "You don't need to worry about that for now. Just tell me when the time comes whether you're willing to cooperate with me."

Hearing this, Shen Yan also picked up the iced Americano on the table and took a sip.

Because Shen Yan didn't speak, the atmosphere became tense and silent for a moment.

After an unknown amount of time, Shen Yan suddenly spoke and asked Gu Hui, "Actually, I have a question I'd like to ask you, Chairman Gu."

Gu Hui blinked and asked Shen Yan curiously, "What do you want to ask me?"

Shen Yan took another sip of the iced Americano.

"I want to ask, Chairman Gu, what is your take on the matter of the company's successor?"

Gu Hui hadn't expected Shen Yan to ask this question.

After being stunned for a good while, he smiled and asked Shen Yan in return, "What made you think to ask me this? Are you very concerned about Gu Mingming?"

Shen Yan shook his head.

"I'm only concerned about my own company's projects."

"The investment funds you gave him were only two hundred million, and two hundred million is far from meeting the capital requirements of my project."

"If you don't increase the investment for him later on, my project is very likely to fail halfway through."

Gu Hui nodded.

"So you want me to increase the investment?"

Shen Yan admitted it readily.

"Exactly. This project is very important to our company, so I want you to increase the investment—ideally, as much as you can give."

Gu Hui let out a chuckle and laughed.

"You haven't even agreed to cooperate with me yet, and you're already making demands?"

Shen Yan shook his head and said, "I'm not making demands. I'm just explaining my thoughts to you. Didn't you say to treat you as a friend I've met a few times?"

Gu Hui was checkmated by his own words.

He was speechless for a moment.

After a while, he rubbed his temples and replied to Shen Yan, "Although I admire you, as I just said, Gu Mingming is Gu Mingming. I won't interfere with or manage the projects he invests in."

"If you're short on money, you can choose to cooperate with me. I'll certainly offer you a very good price."

Shen Yan: "..."

At the end of the day, he still just wanted to cooperate!

To be honest, he was also very tempted by the prospect of cooperating with Gu Hui.

If he hadn't learned beforehand from the tycoon system that Gu Hui was currently involved in the arms trade, he would have definitely agreed immediately.

Just as he was thinking, Gu Hui spoke to him again.

"Well?"

"Do you agree or not?"

Shen Yan leaned back against the chair and said to Gu Hui, "Didn't you say you'd give me time to think? It's only been a few minutes."

Gu Hui curled his lips.

"I did say I'd give you time to think, but I don't believe you're an indecisive person."

"Cooperation is cooperation, and non-cooperation is non-cooperation. I believe you'll give me a definite answer before long."

Shen Yan waved his hand.

"Chairman Gu, don't overpraise me. Although I'm not exactly indecisive, I'm not particularly decisive either."

"As you know, my company has been working on the Artificial Intelligence project lately. This project itself is quite exhausting, and company matters are piling up one after another."

"If I take on your cooperation at this time, then I..."

Before he could finish, Gu Hui directly interrupted him.