Chapter 241 240: Becoming a Shareholder

Tang Shuang was now a company shareholder—the kind who received annual dividends. At this moment, her mind was racing.

'This is too bizarre!' She knew that if it weren't for Mu Lin, Song Chuan would never have treated her this way.

"Grandmaster Mu, Miss Tang, this is a rare opportunity. I'd like to invite you to dinner!"

Tang Shuang looked troubled, but she said nothing. After all, Song Chuan hadn't asked her; he had asked Mu Lin.

Mu Lin said, "Then we'll be in your hands, Chairman Song."

"However, I still have a few things to take care of at the company. Brother Zhong, why don't you take Grandmaster Mu and Miss Tang over first? To the Celestial Phoenix Hotel. Get the best room!"

Zhong Wentao gave a slight nod to Mu Lin and Tang Shuang. Mu Lin immediately nodded back. "Alright. Let's go."

Once Mu Lin had left, Song Chuan's face instantly fell. Even someone completely unable to read people could see he was about to explode.

"Director Cui," Song Chuan said coldly, "Sell me back all of your shares. I'll pay you the full amount out of my own pocket. Consider it the last favor I'll ever do for you."

Director Cui was stunned. "What is this?" he asked Song Chuan. "You're kicking me off the board just for some punk?"

"That's right," Song Chuan said. "This 'punk' killed Su Longfei. So, what do you think now?"

Director Cui was instantly overcome with panic.

'Su Longfei!' In Songyang, the man did whatever he wanted, and almost no one could do a thing about it.

The only people he'd show even a sliver of courtesy to were the Bai Family, and only a sliver. If the Bai Family truly angered him, he'd go after them all the same.

'A man like that was dead? And at the hands of Mu Lin?'

'And that was the same Mu Lin who was just standing right in front of me?'

Director Cui was drenched in sweat from head to toe. 'This is unbelievable!'

'It's a miracle I'm still alive.'

"I'll sell!" he declared, immediately signing the share-transfer agreement.

Song Chuan breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally managed to sever ties with this dangerous man. From this day forward, they would have nothing to do with each other.

He turned to put the documents away, but unexpectedly, Director Cui spun around, snatched up a chair, and brought it crashing down on Manager Cui with all his might.

Manager Cui didn't see it coming and let out a howl of pain.

He collapsed to the ground, his left shin bent at a horrifying angle.

It happened so fast that by the time Song Chuan noticed, the deed was already done.

"What are you doing!"

Director Cui said, "This nephew of mine has done too many wicked things in the past! I beg you, Chairman Song, to put in a good word for him later. Please help spare his worthless life. Consider this broken leg my apology on his behalf!"

Manager Cui was wailing. He was filled with grief and fury, but after hearing his uncle's words, he was left speechless.

Song Chuan was silent for a long time. He hadn't expected Director Cui to be this ruthless, willing to break his own nephew's leg just to obtain Mu Lin's pardon.

"Fine. I'll put in a word for you, but I can't guarantee it will work. Everything depends on what Grandmaster Mu wants. If he's determined to kill Manager Cui, then I'm afraid nothing I say will matter."

Director Cui sighed. "Yes, yes. Just hearing you say that is a great relief!"

With that, he dragged his nephew away.

The employees who witnessed this were, needless to say, terrified.

They never imagined Tang Shuang had such a powerful background.

Song Chuan was about to leave when he noticed several employees hesitating as if they wanted to say something. He immediately beckoned one of them over.

"What is it? You look like you have something to say."

The employees immediately told him several things that made his face turn pale.

His face hadn't been this pale even when he'd first met Mu Lin.

'So the biggest crisis wasn't the Cui uncle and nephew, but this Qiao Xi!'

He looked at Qiao Xi and kicked her squarely in the stomach.

Qiao Xi tumbled across the floor like a ball.

"You're fired! Get out! Don't even think about working in the Songyang apparel industry ever again. I'll make sure of it!"

Still seething, Song Chuan roared, "In fact, as long as it's an industry I'm involved in, you can forget about ever being a part of it! That's my word!"

Qiao Xi's expression changed dramatically. 'Does this mean I'll have to leave Songyang just to make a living?'

"Chairman Song, please don't! I'm Tang Shuang's best friend! She won't be happy when she finds out about this!"

'As if,' Song Chuan thought. 'What kind of idiot, after being betrayed, would still treat the culprit like a friend?'

'Even the biggest moron on earth wouldn't do that, right?'

"Get her termination papers processed and throw her out! I don't want to hear another word about it!"

Qiao Xi screamed and cried, but no one sympathized with her. They all just watched as she was dragged out.

A person like that was a liability. Getting close to her meant preparing to be betrayed. No one present was stupid enough to get involved, much less defend her.

Song Chuan let out a long breath. As he looked at the remaining employees, a sense of relief washed over him.

He then departed for the Celestial Phoenix Hotel.

Zhong Wentao, Mu Lin, and the others arrived at the Celestial Phoenix Hotel by car.

Tang Shuang looked up at the hotel she was supposed to manage, a complex mix of emotions swirling inside her.

It was a completely different feeling from the last time she had come here for dinner.

Zhong Wentao smiled at Tang Shuang. "Miss Tang, starting over from scratch like this must be daunting. I happen to know quite a few experts in hotel management. Would you like me to introduce you to some?"

Tang Shuang was still in shock. 'How on earth did a minor employee like me suddenly become the general manager?'

'And of Songyang's largest hotel, no less! God, it's terrifying.'

Zhong Wentao's offer only made Tang Shuang feel even more overwhelmed by the favor.

'None of this kindness is because of me,' she thought. 'It's all because of Mu Lin.'

'Favors have to be repaid, but these were debts she could never hope to settle.'

"Oh, no, no, there's no need, Mr. Zhong. You're too kind. The current general manager is going to teach me! He said he'll train me to be an excellent hotel manager within a year."

Zhong Wentao laughed. "You're being too formal. I'd be happier if you called me Uncle Zhong."

Seeing Mu Lin and Tang Shuang, Xu Bing hurried over. "Chairman Mu! President Tang!"

Then, seeing Zhong Wentao, she quickly bowed respectfully.

"Mr. Zhong, hello! Are you here to grace us with your patronage as well?"

Zhong Wentao said, "I'm here to entertain Chairman Mu and President Tang. We need the best private room. Put it on Song Chuan's tab."

Without a second thought, Xu Bing replied, "Right away, consider it done!"

"Let me show you all upstairs. No need to stand here on ceremony."

"Lead the way!"

The group arrived at the finest, top-floor private room.

"This is our VIP suite, reserved, of course, for our most honored guests! It's the perfect fit for you all!"

Xu Bing said with a complimentary air. Zhong Wentao clearly enjoyed the flattery and laughed heartily.

Tang Shuang thought this was something she needed to learn, and she made a mental note of the proper conduct for a qualified manager.

After the three of them were seated, Zhong Wentao, knowing Mu Lin's hopes for Tang Shuang, understood that currying favor with her was the same as currying favor with Mu Lin.

So, he began sharing some tips on leadership. Tang Shuang listened intently, her eyes shining.

Song Chuan pushed the door open and entered, carrying two bottles of fine liquor.

"Grandmaster Mu, please take a look. A fifty-year-aged Maotai reserve. I brought it up from my own cellar, especially to host you!"

In his other hand, he carried a bottle of new Maotai. This type of aged reserve needs to be blended with a newer vintage to be properly enjoyed.

Mu Lin nodded. He was indifferent to alcohol. 'The old man always said a man should be able to hold his liquor, yet the old man himself was a terrible drunk.'

However, with his formidable Inner Strength, he could drink a thousand, even ten thousand, cups without getting drunk.

So it was a moot point.

The old man, on the other hand, drank with the express purpose of getting drunk, which was something else entirely.

"I've kicked both the Cui uncle and nephew out of the company. Director Cui's seat on the board has been revoked, and Manager Cui has been fired! Grandmaster Mu, are you satisfied with this outcome?"

Mu Lin said nothing, turning instead to Tang Shuang. "Tang Shuang, what do you think?"

Tang Shuang's expression flickered. She was a fair-minded person and didn't believe in beating someone when they were down.

"I think this is enough."

Mu Lin nodded. "She thinks it's enough, so that's that."

"Also, Director Cui broke Manager Cui's leg in the hope of earning Miss Tang's forgiveness. Can you accept that?"

Tang Shuang's expression grew even more troubled. 'What on earth are they doing?'

But she also understood that these people were just doing everything in their power to please Mu Lin.

'This has nothing to do with me. Without Mu Lin, they wouldn't even give me a second glance.'

"It's enough!" she said. "So... how did you deal with Qiao Xi?" She asked with some trepidation, not entirely sure herself how she felt about her former friend.

Was it hate, or was it a lingering sense of fondness?