A President's Out-of-Body Experience

Renzi ran over to Gu Xiaoshan’s side. Unlike Ha-cube, he did not claw onto him and lick his face, but stood by obediently, blinking his eyes at Gu Xiaoshan, without any idea of what to say. Gu Xiaoshan too felt awkward, he scratched his nose and said, “Why are you here too?”

By then, Shu Jingyi had already walked over. He answered, “I brought him here.”

Gu Xiaoshan was a little stunned, “What a coincidence.”

Renzi also felt that this scene was somewhat strange, and so explained, “My brother found me distracting, and asked me to go play by myself. While hanging around the capital of Country C, I happened to meet Mr Shu at the hotel’s cafe. He said that he was familiar with O City, and could bring me here to play.”

Gu Xiaoshan grudgingly accepted this explanation, then asked, “Why did you think of coming to O City to play? There are so many other places you can choose to go in Country C.”

This was true. Renzi scratched his head and said with a smile, “Oh, is it. Before I came here I also didn’t know that you go hunting in O City.”

Shu Jingyi then explained, “Country C has quite a few hunting grounds that are completely open for tourists, but O City is not one of them. To hunt in O City, there are a lot of procedures to follow. But it’s also because of this, it’s more fun here.”

Every year, Country C would attract many tourists here for hunting, causing some hunting zones to be overcrowded, and had become seriously commercialised. As such, the higher-end tourists would come to places like O City, but the entertainment facilities available in O City had yet to catch up. This was the reason why the Gu empire had bought shares in this park, and planned on building a luxury hotel and related entertainment venues here. Gu Xiaoshan had came to O City for this venture.

Gu Xiaoshan had been inspecting the mountain, and was feeling a little bored. Connecting to the WiFi available in the car, he browsed through his phone. Out of sheer boredom, he opened Renzi’s social media page, and noticed Renzi’s new uploaded photo. He frowned, thinking, why does it seem like he’s here?

He then shook his head, this was impossible. How could he be in Country C? And even if he was, why would he come to O City? And even if he did, it was not possible that he would come to this mountain! This mountain was not freely accessible.

However, Gu Xiaoshan could not resist studying that photo, and the longer he looked at it, the longer he felt something was wrong. He had been determined to stay away from Renzi, but his heart could not help having misgivings, and finally still ended up asking the accompanying manager. “Did visitors just enter the park?”

The manager made a few inquiries, and told him that there was a group of visitors who just entered. Gu Xiaoshan gave a nod, closing his eyes he leaned back into his seat, wanting to take a nap. In the end, he still could not stop himself, and said, “Ask the management for their location. I’ll go take a look.”

Due to safety concerns, all guest vehicles had been installed with a tracker, and the hunting guide would bring a tracker along as well. So, it was not difficult for Gu Xiaoshan to find them.

Being able to meet Gu Xiaoshan was really a delightful surprise for Renzi, but he still had to pretend that it was an “accidental meeting”. As Gu Xiaoshan was also feeling a little guilty and pretending that this was an “accidental meeting” as well, he did not notice Renzi’s little charade.

Seeing Shu Jingyi with a cigarette in his mouth, Gu Xiaoshan warned him, “Smoking is prohibited here.”

Shu Jingyi smiled slightly, dressed in a cowboy style with a cigarette in his mouth, he looked rakish, completely different from his usual elegant manner. “Of course I know that. It’s just that I’m craving for a smoke, so I’m just sucking on it to alleviate the craving.”

For some reason, hearing that, Gu Xiaoshan too felt a little craving for a smoke. He then looked at Renzi, “You don’t smoke.”

Renzi shook his head. Shu Jingyi then said to Renzi, “President Ren, let’s not distract President Gu from his work anymore. We should go to somewhere else to try our luck, and we might even happen across the reindeers.”

Renzi then remembered that Gu Xiaoshan was here for work, and did not want to disturb him anymore. However, to finally be able to meet him, he was reluctant to part ways, and so gazed at Gu Xiaoshan. However, Shu Jingyi spoke up, “Let’s go, did you forget what you promised me?”

Renzi recalled that he had promised to roast a rabbit for Shu Jingyi, so he waved at Gu Xiaoshan, “Then I’ll go and hunt now?”

Gu Xiaoshan felt a little annoyed, “You’ll be able to hunt?”

Renzi objected, “Why won’t I be able to hunt? I just shot down a number of apples!”

Gu Xiaoshan looked at the remains of the apples and the bullet casings on the ground and frowned, then an idea appeared in his head. “Do you have a gun licence?”

Renzi was taken aback. “What?”

Shu Jingyi’s face changed as well, and he looked at the hunting guide. However, the hunting guide did not understand Chinese, and missed the point. Shu Jingyi spoke to the guide in English, “Your new boss asked the guest if he has a gun licence!”

The hunting guide hurriedly explained, “I have a hunting guide licence, and will be accompanying him the entire time. Even if he doesn’t have one, it’s still legal.”

Gu Xiaoshan was stern-faced, “Did I hear wrongly? You even let a guest who doesn’t know how to use a gun shoot at apples?”

The hunting guide’s tanned skin turned pale. Gu Xiaoshan shot a look at the manager. The manager was also speechless, and explained with a pale face, “This, this hunting guide is a professional...”

Gu Xiaoshan dragged Renzi towards the Mercedes. “Enough, return to the hotel with me first.”

Renzi was inexplicably pushed into the car. Gu Xiaoshan then turned and spoke with Shu Jingyi, “Our Renzi has troubled you.”

Shu Jingyi still had a cigarette in his mouth, and squinted with a smile, “Your car looks pretty good, can I sit in it as well?”

Gu Xiaoshan could not refuse, and smiled, “Of course.”

Gu Xiaoshan’s car was naturally spacious, and in it was installed pilot seats, which made it more comfortable. Once Renzi sat inside, he reclined the seat, and turned on the massage function with familiar fingers. He pulled the cap over his face, shutting his eyes to enjoy the sensation, and soon fell asleep. The manager was sitting next to the driver, while the two rows of seats behind were face to face. With Renzi asleep, Gu Xiaoshan and Shu Jingyi were left staring at each other. They did not speak, and the atmosphere was a little awkward. Gu Xiaoshan then looked down and took out his tablet, looking as though he was working. Shu Jingyi also pulled out his phone, connecting to the WiFi he went online.

Fortunately the traffic was smooth, and the car soon arrived at the hotel. Gu Xiaoshan wanted to wake Renzi up, but saw Shu Jingyi make the first move, using his leg to knock against Renzi’s knee. Renzi was not deeply asleep, and woke up quickly. His red cap had fallen to one side, revealing half of his fair face. Renzi’s brows knitted, and blinked his eyes in confusion. Shu Jingyi reached his hand out to him, “It’s time to wake up, we’re here.”

Renzi got off the car dazedly, and before he could stand upright he stumbled. Shu Jingyi was about to support him, but did not expect that Gu Xiaoshan had slipped from behind him and moved next to Renzi, steadying him. He even reproached him with a smile, “Haven’t you learnt to walk yet?”

Renzi then retorted jokingly, “Clearly it’s your road that hasn’t been repaired properly. Look at this huge pit! And you still call this a high-end hotel!”

Renzi had only said it casually, but Gu Xiaoshan heard it and then looked at the ground carefully. He discovered that there was really a shallow pit there, and his face immediately changed, asking the manager severely, “What’s with this?”

The manager smiled apologetically, “A statue was originally placed here. We’re about to replace it so we moved it away, leaving a pit here. We’re preparing to fill it up.”

Gu Xiaoshan did not know why, but he felt an unreasonable anger. “Preparing to fill it? That means it’s not filled! Doesn’t this affect the image of our hotel?”

Renzi naturally wanted to stand on Gu Xiaoshan’s side. “Yes, at least put up a warning sign!”

The manager seemed uncomfortable, looking as though he wanted to say something, but did not dare to do so. Shu Jingyi remained standing by the side, smiling, and picked up the warning sign. “There’s a warning sign, but it was kicked over by you.”

Renzi flushed in embarrassment, and apologised to the manager, “Ah, I’m sorry.”

The manager hurriedly replied, “No, no, no, it’s my negligence.”

Shu Jingyi looked at his watch, “It’s getting late, I should head back too.”

Renzi was surprised. “Where are you going?”

“Did you forget? I have a property nearby, of course I’ll go back to my place to stay, if not I’ll have to trouble President Gu.”

Gu Xiaoshan heard Shu Jingyi’s plan, and felt something in his heart eased a little. He continued smiling, “What are you saying? If President Shu wants to spend money here, how can we not welcome him?”

Shu Jingyi laughed, “It’s because I don’t want to spend money!”

Renzi was taken aback, thinking, why are all the presidents I know so stingy.

Gu Xiaoshan happily bade farewell to Shu Jingyi. After arranging for Renzi’s accommodation, he then took the lift to his room. As he sat in his room, he recalled all the strange actions he did that day, and felt an incoming headache. His phone buzzed, picking it up, he saw that it was a message from Shu Jingyi. Good evening, President Gu. Can you tell me Renzi’s social media account’s username?”

At first, Shu Jingyi had gave Gu Xiaoshan an impression of an elegant gentleman holding a glass of wine. Now, when he thought of him, he recalled a nasty image of him with the unbuttoned shirt and a cigarette dangling off his smiling lips.

Gu Xiaoshan thought about it, and replied, “This... Did he not tell you? He should agree to it first, if not it won’t be polite of me to give it to you.”

Shu Jingyi sent a reply. “That’s true.”

Renzi had not notice the strange atmosphere. In his room he was so tired that all he wanted to do was lie down. Still, he had only lay down for a short time before hearing the ringing of the doorbell.

“Who is it?”

A slightly husky voice sounded from outside the door. “It’s me, Shu Jingyi.”