After the mobilization, the staff dispersed to get to work. Today, even more people resigned from the Meng Group, leaving the entire building looking somewhat empty and desolate.
Qian Linhao followed Meng Lingyao to the room next to his brother’s former office, which now served as Meng Lingyao’s office.
“The shares being sold at low prices—buy them back as quickly as possible. Leaving them in the hands of those people is just asking for trouble,” Meng Lingyao said to Qian Linhao. “For the funding gap, use real estate as collateral first. You know how to handle the details.”
Qian Linhao had prepared for this long ago. During this period, not only had Meng Lingyao been running around seeking help, but Qian Linhao had also been working non-stop. He was exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. “Young President Meng, arrangements are already underway. Considering these people were previously colluding with the ‘Little Meng Group’ side, it’s not convenient for us to act openly. I’ve found someone to handle it discreetly, but…”
Qian Linhao hesitated, and it was clear his unspoken words were not good news.
Meng Lingyao looked up, slightly puzzled. “Brother Qian, speak plainly. You are the person my brother trusted most, and I trust you completely. If there’s anything, just tell me directly.”
“On the market, it seems there is another force that started acquiring Meng Group shares even before us. They might already hold a significant portion,” Qian Linhao pushed up his glasses. “It feels like they are targeting the Meng Group. It might be related to the Little Meng Group, but that doesn’t entirely make sense. It’s also possible it’s someone else trying to get a slice of the pie during this chaos.”
“They’ll show their face eventually; no one does this just to stay silent. Let’s solve the current crisis first.” Meng Lingyao frowned. He couldn’t figure out who it was either, but whether they were an enemy or a bystander, once they entered the fray, they would eventually reveal themselves.
“The Little Meng Group side doesn’t know yet that we’re about to cooperate with the Qi family. However, once the cooperation begins, they will likely make a move. We need to plan ahead,” Qian Linhao noted.
“Arrange it as you see fit. They’ll find out sooner or later. When the duck they thought was already in their mouths grows legs and runs away, they’re bound to get anxious,” Meng Lingyao sneered. “How could they ever imagine we’d have a chance to turn the tables? We’ve suffered so much; it’s time for them to start squirming.”
In the past, Meng Lingyao might have been foolish enough to hold out hope for those people, but the miserable state of the Meng Group over the last two months was entirely thanks to them.
The original head of the Meng Group was Meng Lingyao’s father. As the eldest, his brother had inherited the role. His Second Uncle, Meng Qiang, also held shares and served as the CEO of a subsidiary, possessing significant power.
But greed knows no bounds. After the accident involving his father and brother, and once Meng Lingyao took over, Second Uncle began his little calculations. Perhaps the wolfish ambition had always been there, but his father and brother never gave him an opening. Instead, it was Meng Lingyao who was foolish enough to be deceived.
Meng Lingyao had trusted his relatives, especially a Second Uncle he had been so close to, and his Aunt’s family who had always doted on him. Who could have guarded against those who were supposed to be his closest kin?
When his father died and his brother was severely injured, these people were constantly around, showing immense concern for him and his mother. It was this support that helped them through the gloom and deepened their trust.
Who would have thought these very people were stabbing him in the back?
Creating a “Little Meng Group” to try and replace the original; embezzling funds from the head office; setting traps for him; conspiring with the Aunt’s family to give him a disastrous partnership to trap his liquid capital; inciting shareholders to withdraw; and when that failed, selling shares at a loss to drive down the stock price while diluting his own shares in the subsidiary…
Each incident was enough to give Meng Lingyao a massive headache; combined, they were targeted at him all at once. It was “Hell Mode” to begin with, but the difficulty had been multiplied a thousandfold.
These disgusting maneuvers had nearly bankrupted the entire Meng Group, making these past two months feel like falling into an ice cellar. He had been driven to a dead end, and it seemed their wishes were finally coming true.
At the thought of this, the fire surging in Meng Lingyao’s heart was enough to burn someone to a crisp.
Despite all their calculations, they failed to anticipate that the Meng Group, even in its current state, could still have a chance to flip the script.
Thinking of how ugly the expressions on his “dear” Second Uncle and Aunt’s faces would be once they found out, Meng Lingyao felt significantly better.
Selling himself, so to speak—using one piece of paper to trade for the resurgence of the Meng Group—was a bargain.
Meng Lingyao ran the numbers in his head again, successfully brainwashing himself.
“Additionally, regarding the Qi family…” Qian Linhao looked at Meng Lingyao. Having worked under Meng Lingsheng for years, he knew some of the history. He had even personally handled some matters between the Young President and the current big boss of the Qi family, President Qi.
When he received the scanned copies of the contract last night, he was dumbfounded. Even after confirming with the legal team multiple times, the terms felt like a “pie falling from the sky” for the Meng Group. It was as if the Qi family was carving out their own flesh to fill the Meng Group’s void.
But… this didn’t fit the Qi family’s style at all.
If these contracts were seen in the business world, who wouldn’t remark that the Qi family was a world-class fool… cough, a world-class philanthropist.
Just what price did the Young President pay?
Qian Linhao had stayed with the Meng Group for the past six months out of gratitude for the elder brother’s appreciation and mentorship. That bond of friendship kept him working for a “good-for-nothing playboy” who knew nothing of business. Even when the Meng Group was nearly played to ruin by the Young President, he didn’t leave.
At the same time, he had come to understand Meng Lingyao’s character over the past half-year. He was indeed someone who hated evil, was a bit petty, but was not a truly bad person—just a pampered, childish soul.
That such a person could make the Qi family show such mercy, even surrendering so much profit, was clearly abnormal.
As a subordinate, he shouldn’t ask. As a friend, perhaps he could.
“What’s wrong with the Qi family side?” Meng Lingyao checked his phone and saw a message from Qi Zhongjing saying he was almost there.
Meng Lingyao curled his lip inwardly. If you’re here, you’re here. Why send a message? You’re taking up my phone’s memory.
“The Qi family team should be arriving soon. The meeting starts at ten.” Qian Linhao swallowed his questions and spoke professionally, noticing Meng Lingyao’s indifferent attitude toward his phone.
He forgot—the Young President had a proud nature and surely wouldn’t want people prying into things that were too embarrassing for him.
“Yeah, I know,” Meng Lingyao nodded.
Qian Linhao needed to prepare, so he excused himself. Meng Lingyao scratched his hair. His hair was a bit long, and he usually tied it into a small bun at the back. It was a bit messy now from his scratching. He frowned, tapped the input bar, and after considering his wording for a while, replied with a single: “Oh.”
…
On the other side, President Qi—who had achieved his greatest life goal yesterday by getting the nod from his target and had spent the night dreaming with a smile—had spent half the morning in his walk-in closet. He looked conflictedly at the rows of suits, shoes, and accessories, rapidly running through various combinations in his head to see which would look best for Meng Lingyao.
He wanted to give Meng Lingyao a “dazzling” experience to improve the man’s perception of him.
After finally settling on a suit, he agonized over the wall of ties. What style of tie would match the suit? Would a solid color look better, or a pattern?
If solid, what color? If patterned, should it be stripes, diamonds, or floral…?
Too many options; he was too conflicted. Would Lingyao dislike this pattern?
With a handsome face that was usually cold as ice, he now sat in his car with a furrowed brow, staring at the messaging app until the screen timed out, but there was no feedback.
Lingyao hadn’t replied. How could such a tragic thing exist in the world?
His serious and profound expression was caught by his secretary in the passenger seat. Was the BOSS angry, or was this cooperation looking shaky?
Or had the “water in the BOSS’s brain” finally drained out, and now he was regretting throwing money at the Meng Group?
The secretary’s mind was in a whirlwind, his heart in his throat. Little did he know, his boss’s current thoughts were enough to make one burst out laughing.
Could it be that I chose the wrong tie today? Lingyao didn’t reply because he doesn’t like this pattern.
Qi Zhongjing’s expression grew even more solemn. He looked down at his tie, considering whether to go back and change it, or perhaps buy a new one…
Ding-dong. A unique notification sound for a “specially followed” person rang out. In that instant, the ice melted, and the atmosphere in the car loosened.
The secretary saw the BOSS’s brows soften, and the whole man seemed to relax.
The secretary was puzzled; the secretary was confused; the secretary did not understand the heart of his boss.
The car soon pulled into the Meng Group entrance. Meng Lingyao was already there with a group of people waiting—after all, he had to give Qi Zhongjing some face.
“President Qi, welcome.” Meng Lingyao extended his hand, ready to engage in a few hypocritical pleasantries.
Qi Zhongjing’s eyes lit up. Today’s Meng Lingyao was truly beautiful. His face was like a glass vessel accidentally knocked over by a god, or stars from the vast night sky falling to the human world. The small bun at the back added a touch of unruly charm, with stray hairs falling on his shoulders. As his eyes lifted slightly, Qi Zhongjing clearly saw the touch of rouge-red at the corners of his eyes.
Truly stunning! Such an earthly beauty would soon be his.
Joy and a secret sense of satisfaction filled his heart. Qi Zhongjing was genuinely struck by his beauty.
“Lingyao, sorry to keep you waiting.” Qi Zhongjing shook his hand, his face remaining perfectly serious and impassive.
Hmm, he looks like a decent person.
Meng Lingyao always felt Qi Zhongjing was a bit strange. Whether it was the faint smile or the tone of his voice, everything felt odd.
Moreover… Qi Zhongjing was dressed particularly flashily today? It was almost like a peacock fanning its feathers… Meng Lingyao shuddered, startled by his own thought.
That watch, those cufflinks… many details were adorned with priceless treasures. Even the suit made him look exceptionally upright and strong. That waist, those long legs…
Though Meng Lingyao didn’t want to admit it, Qi Zhongjing really did have a great face and a great body. Now, as he walked with a vigorous stride, his presence was overwhelming, like a predatory beast approaching.
Or perhaps the winner wanted to act like a winner—to appreciate his current pathetic state and use this magnificent display to highlight his own incompetence?
Heh!
Hypocrite!
While smiling on the outside, Meng Lingyao was cursing internally, having already “stamped” Qi Zhongjing as a fake in his heart.