A Misunderstood Kiss

Yet he had transported that fantastical metropolis back to his own domain; such a grandiose vision was no longer a dream.

"When the time comes, Paris City will construct a replica of the Eiffel Tower at a 1:2 scale within the resort, making it yet another landmark of the Nanjiang gambling city," Mo Zhicheng said in a deep voice. The shareholders present gazed intently at the screen, the blue light reflecting across his features. The conference room was very quiet, save for the man's calm and forceful voice, which resounded resonantly through the entire space. He knew that the shareholders cared only about profits. For a fleeting moment, his heart sank. He had once believed he was purely a businessman who pursued value for money and was only interested in profitable commodities. But as for him—the time and energy he had spent on a certain woman—what was it all for?

It was to make her fall in love with him; it was to use her to destroy his enemy! He had achieved that. He once said he would not allow anyone to hurt her, because the only person who could hurt her was him! And he had achieved that as well!

The thrill of that vengeance coursed through his entire body; that was how he had looked down upon her so ruthlessly. Yet, as Mo Zhicheng gazed out at those pairs of profit-driven eyes in the audience, he seemed to catch a glimpse of another self. At that moment, he felt jaded and weary.

During every minute he stood at the podium, Mo Zhicheng felt somewhat dazed. His icy gaze froze, yet he continued unenthusiastically: "The shopping center of Paris City will exude the charm of the world-renowned shopping avenues of the French capital, allowing shoppers in Nanjiang to experience the captivating atmosphere and luxurious taste of the Champs-Élysées, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and Avenue Montaigne."

He gave a self-deprecating chuckle. He was a businessman, after all, unable to shake off the heavy stench of commercialism, even while simply and purely building a city of Paris.

"The shops will all adopt classic French architecture, seamlessly blending with the atmosphere of street-side coffee houses and beautiful, intricate decor. This covers the retail section. As for the hotel, it will feature 3,000 rooms and is projected for completion in six months. In the gaming sector, we anticipate securing 400 gaming tables approval from the Nanjiang government. This will drive a double-digit growth in Sky City's revenue! Therefore, I estimate the investment for the Paris City project to be 2.8 billion US dollars."

The air in the conference room instantly congealed. Those pairs of expectant eyes were filled with doubt. Leng Tingyu gripped the fountain pen in her hand tightly. 2.8 billion US dollars was already double the cost of originally building "Night City."

Yet Mo Zhicheng was unconcerned. Ever since Su Yu came to power, the cooperation between Sky City and the government had grown increasingly close. Meanwhile, discussions in the room rose wave upon wave as the directors exchanged uncertain glances.

Little did they expect that Mo Zhicheng had already secured the leveling permit for the first phase of the "Paris City" project. Immediately, a director stood up in opposition: "Zhicheng, while the 'Paris City' project is promising, the investment is gigantic and the risks are immense. The claim that it will bring double-digit growth to Sky City's revenue is nothing more than talk on paper."

Once someone took the lead, a chorus of dissenting voices immediately surged forth.

"Indeed, Zhicheng, we cannot deny that you have courage and strategy, but after all, you are still young and impetuous."

"Mr. Mo should consult more with the various departments."

Leng Tingyu swept her gaze across the conference room as the opposition rolled in like a tide. Her hand gripping the fountain pen tightened again and again. Just as she had anticipated, the project investment was simply too massive, and the old men on the board of directors were stubborn traditionalists, mostly belonging to the conservative faction. She looked at Mo Zhicheng. Faced with such an uproar, his expression remained unchanged as he listened to their endless stream of skepticism. Tingyu then glanced at Tang Pei sitting opposite her. Just as Tang Pei was about to speak to control the situation, Tingyu stepped in a step ahead: "Respected directors, allow Tingyu to speak on behalf of my family's elder."