How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?

Chapter 343 - 162: Gu Heng Financial Aid, Gu Heng Scholarship_2

The volunteer student opened the invitation, and the first thing that caught their eye was the president’s signature in the lower right corner...

Glancing at the invitation’s wording, their pupils suddenly shrank...

"Dear Mr. (Ms.) Gu Heng, greetings! May 4, 2024, marks the 126th anniversary of Beijing University..."

The rest was standard text, nothing out of the ordinary...

But the last line, "We sincerely invite alumnus Gu Heng to return to Yan Garden and witness this grand celebration of our alma mater!"

This was an alumni invitation!

What’s unusual wasn’t the alumni invitation...

There must be countless Peking University alumni; the invitations sent out each year probably start in the thousands, and these volunteer students were tasked with this job. Just a moment ago, they had received a Peking University alumnus, who seemed to be an internationally renowned academic figure...

But!

All the alumni they received had one thing in common.

That was, the youngest were probably in their thirties or forties...

An alumnus like Gu Heng, who was about their age or even seemed a bit younger, undoubtedly shocked them...

With that in mind, the volunteer student hurriedly handed back the invitation to Gu Heng and bowed apologetically, "I’m sorry, senior. I didn’t mean it."

As for what she was apologizing for...

Gu Heng was aware...

It was nothing more than an apology for their attitude just now...

If it had been any other day, Gu Heng might have teased them, but checking his watch and seeing the university anniversary speech was about to start, he could only smile and say, "I should be able to go in now, right?"

The volunteer student nodded repeatedly.

As Gu Heng stepped into the auditorium, the student who checked his invitation finally let out a sigh of relief, touching her chest with lingering fear and then turning to another student, "I was almost scared to death, so young and already a Peking University alumnus...

Could he be some kind of child prodigy who was directly admitted, went abroad for further studies, and has now returned?"

The other student didn’t respond to her words but continued to stare at Gu Heng’s retreating figure until he disappeared from view, then shook her head.

"Our Peking University alumni are involved in all walks of life, who says this senior has to be in academia?"

"So young, if not in academia, how did he become an alumnus?"

"A billionaire, why not?"

"Huh?"

The volunteer student looked into her classmate’s eyes, full of confusion.

"You haven’t recognized who he is?"

"You know this big shot?!"

"I always tell you not to run to the library all the time, you’re almost becoming a nerd. Play with your phone when you’re free! Don’t you recognize Gu Heng? He dominated Weibo and Douyin’s hot searches for several days a while back.

Thinking of this, Liu Qiao placed a speech draft of several hundred words on Gu Heng’s lap.

"This is the speech draft written for you by a Chinese literature postgraduate tutor. It’s not long, just a few hundred words. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with it, and when it’s time to go on stage, just read from it.

However, there are some rare characters in there. Don’t misread them. Peking University’s anniversary is being covered by quite a few media reporters. Mismatching a word... not only would you lose face, but the whole school would too."

Gu Heng: "???"

How lowly must Liu Qiao think of him?

Although he only had a high school diploma, how could he not recognize the characters he ought to know?

Seemingly guessing Gu Heng’s thoughts, Liu Qiao whispered into his ear, "Don’t take it lightly. During the 120th anniversary, the university president misread a rare character and was mocked for months online."

At these words, Gu Heng’s expression froze...

The president of Peking University...

With a rank too high to even mention...

If such a heavyweight could be ridiculed for a mistake, then what would happen to him if he misread? Wouldn’t netizens crucify him with their words?

Upon this realization, Gu Heng focused intently on the speech draft...

Fortunately, the draft was short, just a few hundred words. Although there were rare characters, none were exceptionally obscure, and Gu Heng quickly became proficient before turning to Liu Qiao and saying, "Uncle Liu, besides the donation of 10 million, I have another idea, but I’m uncertain, so I’d like to get your opinion."

Liu Qiao, unfazed by being addressed as ’Uncle Liu’, replied indifferently, "What’s the idea?"

"I want to set up a school-based financial aid and scholarship under my own name. I haven’t discussed it with the school authorities yet. Do you think there would be any problem if I mention it during my speech later on?"

"Financial aid and scholarship?"

"Yes, I’m planning to establish a Gu Heng Financial Aid and a Gu Heng Scholarship in my own name.

It would be a fund co-managed by the school, with me providing the capital and the school handling the distribution."

At this, Liu Qiao’s expression flashed, "You must realize that this is no small amount; it’s at least several million annually. And financial aid and scholarships aren’t the same as donations. If you really go through with it, you’re looking at a commitment of at least four years. If it falls short, the school might blacklist you." Enjoy new chapters from novelhall.Côm

Gu Heng nodded, "I understand what you’re saying. Actually, I have my own reasons for setting up these funds. You know I run my own business outside the school, and I want to use this opportunity for some publicity and to attract some talent..."

Liu Qiao remained silent for about a minute before slowly speaking...

"If you’re sure, then you can announce it during your speech. However, I still suggest you discuss it with the school before making the announcement. Otherwise, if you can’t meet the subsequent funding, you won’t be able to handle the pressure from public opinion.

If you negotiate a partnership with the school in advance, at least the school can cover for you."

Gu Heng nodded without saying much more...

He wanted the announcement made at such a large event. Otherwise, who would even know about the scholarship he created?

Gu Heng never underestimated the deviousness of these school officials...

As for Liu Qiao...

He’d be more than happy for Gu Heng to cause a sensation—the bigger, the better...

The more uproar, the greater his share of the glory...