Rejecting Tsinghua and Peking Universities: I Will Lead Harbin Institute of Technology to World Lead

The night was as dark as ink. Inside the Guo family's detached villa within the Second Ring Road of Beijing, the lights were on, but the atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating.

Guo Baokun, the powerful and ruthless leader of the Guo Group, was now pacing back and forth in his luxurious study like a caged beast.

The ashtray was overflowing with cigarette butts, and the expensive Persian carpet was covered in messy footprints.

The news that his son, Guo Ziming, had been arrested by Chen Jianguo was like an ice pick, piercing through all his composure and calm.

"Chen Jianguo... Chen Yanwang..."

Guo Baokun spat out the name through gritted teeth.

He knew this man's character: incorruptible and with an unfathomable background.

If you fall into his hands, you'll be lucky to escape with your life, if not dead!

What's more troublesome is that this means the trouble the son caused has probably reached a very high level, otherwise it wouldn't have directly alarmed the deputy director to personally make the arrest.

He forced himself to calm down and began to utilize the intricate network of relationships he had cultivated over decades.

The first call was to an old friend who had considerable influence in the political and legal system.

"Old Zhang, it's me, Baokun. It's urgent. Ziming, that kid, is being reckless and seems to have gotten into some trouble. He was taken away by Deputy Director Chen Jianguo of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Could you help me pass on a message and ask what's going on? He's young and doesn't know any better..."

After a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, a mumbled, indistinct voice came through:

"Oh dear, Mr. Guo, as for Director Chen... well, you know his temperament, he's too principled. I... can't really get too involved right now. Perhaps you could ask someone else?"

"Snapped!"

The call was disconnected.

Guo Baokun's face darkened.

The second call was to a prominent figure in the propaganda field, to whom the Guo Group had "provided convenience" for their children's overseas studies.

"Director Wang, I'm so sorry to bother you so late at night. My son, Guo Ziming..."

"Mr. Guo, I've heard some rumors about this." The other person interrupted him, their tone distant and warning. "This is quite a commotion, and it could involve a wide range of people. I advise you to do nothing right now and just wait and see. As for me... I can't help you with that."

The third one, the fourth one...

In the past, all sorts of "friends" and "connections" who used to call each other brothers and promised to "just ask if you need anything" when accepting favors, now either directly refuse, make vague excuses, or simply pretend to be stupid.

Even some of the minor figures who usually fawned over him spoke with a hint of schadenfreude.

"A bunch of ungrateful wretches! Bastards!"

Guo Baokun slammed the custom-made phone in his hand onto the expensive mahogany desk, and the screen shattered instantly.

His face was ashen, his chest heaved violently, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"When it's time to eat, drink, have fun, and reap the benefits, they're all more eager than dogs! Now that I'm in trouble, they're all hiding like rabbits!"

He was breathing heavily, his cold eyes flashing with chilling intent.

"Very well, very well! Since you are so heartless, don't blame me for being unjust!"

"If anything really happens to my son this time, I'll fight to the death to expose all your dirty deeds! No one will get away with this!"

He made some tough threats, but he knew in his heart that if things really came to that, he would probably be the one to suffer first.

The most important thing now is to get my son out of the water.

All conventional approaches are no longer viable.

Guo Baokun slumped into the large leather seat and rubbed his face vigorously with both hands.

The last glimmer of hope was that person.

He was someone he didn't want to bother easily, and whose relationship with him had become increasingly distant, but who was the most influential person he could contact now—his former father-in-law, Old Master Qin.

Although Mr. Qin has been retired for many years, his students and old friends are spread all over the world, and his influence remains unfathomable.

Ten years ago, after his wife Qin Xiaoyan passed away due to illness, Qin Lao was utterly disappointed in the Guo family, especially his grandson, because his son Guo Ziming was becoming increasingly irresponsible and causing trouble. Their relationship had reached a freezing point.

Guo Baokun would never have wanted to ask this question unless absolutely necessary.

But for his son's sake, he had no other choice.

Taking a few deep breaths to compose himself, Guo Baokun dialed the number he remembered but hadn't called in years.

The phone rang for a long time before it was answered.

An aged, peaceful, yet undeniably authoritative voice rang out:

"Feed?"

"Dad...it's me, Baokun." Guo Baokun tried his best to make his voice sound respectful and earnest.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, as if someone was somewhat surprised.

"Baokun? It's so late, is something the matter?" Old Master Qin's voice was unreadable.

"Dad, I'm so sorry to bother you so late," Guo Baokun said in a heavy voice. "It's Xiaoxu... something happened to him."

"Guo Xu?" Old Master Qin's voice immediately turned cold, and he was even unwilling to call his grandson by his nickname.

"What trouble has he gotten into this time?"

"I don't really know the specifics... I don't know the specifics either," Guo Baokun said, forcing himself to speak. He really hadn't had time to figure out all the details yet.

All we know is that he was personally taken away by Chen Jianguo, the deputy director of the municipal bureau.

"I don't know? He was taken away by Chen Jianguo?!"

Old Qin's voice suddenly rose, carrying obvious anger and a hint of solemnity.

As someone who used to be in the industry, he knew all too well the weight of those words, "taken away by Chen Jianguo."

That means the matter is definitely not trivial, and it has likely already come to the attention of some high-ranking officials.

"Guo Baokun!" Old Master Qin called him by name, his tone stern. "How exactly did you raise your son?! Don't you know who Chen Jianguo is? For him to personally intervene, what heinous crime has Guo Ziming committed?!"

Guo Baokun was rendered speechless by the reprimand and could only plead in a low voice:

"Dad, I know Xiaoxu is a good-for-nothing; it's my fault for not raising him well. But he's my only son, and Xiaoyan only left behind this one child..."

He brought up his deceased wife, which was the most effective emotional appeal he could make.

"Dad, I beg you, for the sake of Xiaoyan who passed away, please help Xiaoxu one last time. I promise you, as long as he gets out safely this time, I will immediately send him abroad and never let him come back to cause you trouble again!"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

All that could be heard was Old Qin's slightly heavy breathing.

Guo Baokun's heart was in his throat, and his palms were sweaty as he held the phone.

After a long silence, Old Qin finally spoke, his voice filled with deep weariness and helplessness:

"I'll try to find out what Guo Ziming did wrong."

His tone was unusually distant, as if he were talking about a stranger.

"If it's not a matter of principle or a matter that crosses the line, I will do my best to negotiate and get him out as soon as possible."

"But Guo Baokun, you better remember your promise. After this, send him away immediately and never let him come back. My Qin family can't afford to lose face like this, and we have no ability to clean up his mess a second time!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Dad! Thank you, Dad! I will definitely do as you say! I will definitely make him disappear immediately!" Guo Baokun felt like he had been granted a pardon and made a series of promises.

"Don't thank me too soon," Old Qin said coldly. "Chen Jianguo isn't someone you can easily talk to. Wait for my news."

"Smack."

The phone hangs up.

Hearing the busy tone, Guo Baokun let out a long, almost exhausting breath and slumped into his chair.

Although Old Qin's tone was cold, he finally agreed to look into it.

This is the best news right now.

He didn't dare to delay for a moment and immediately picked up another spare phone and dialed the number of his most trusted private secretary.

The voice regained its usual somber and domineering tone:

"Immediately utilize all channels and spare no expense to investigate! Find out exactly where the young master went tonight, who he met, and what he did! Why was he arrested by Chen Jianguo! I need to know every single detail!"

"Yes, Mr. Guo! I'll take care of it right away!" The secretary sensed the ruthlessness in his boss's voice and dared not delay.

After hanging up the phone, Guo Baokun walked to the window and looked out at the deep night and the faint neon lights in the distance.

The city remained prosperous, but a thick gloom hung over his heart.