Chapter 35: A Considerable Crisis

After seeing Li Xue off, Li Yinhe felt extremely anxious, pacing back and forth restlessly in his office.

This was easily the most difficult moment he had ever faced.

The Lu Family was brandishing the contract, aggressively pushing the battle line right to their doorstep.

If they couldn't launch a powerful counterattack, the best-case scenario for the Li Family would be to retreat from the board of directors with their thirty-five percent stake, leaving them with shares but no power.

Any worse, and they would likely be wiped out completely.

Li Yinhe could never accept seeing the foundation his father had spent a lifetime building fall to such a state. It would be an utter disgrace.

Meanwhile, in the office of the CFO—Lu Yi.

Lu Yi paced back and forth excitedly. He couldn't help but get worked up just thinking about the scene from earlier.

So many directors, all played like fiddles. It was simply brilliant.

Lu Yi would never forget the shocked expressions on the directors' faces for the rest of his life.

His only regret was not bringing a camera; otherwise, he would have definitely captured all their expressions to cherish.

"Dad, that was incredible! Now no one on the board will dare to oppose us. Even the Li Family members won't dare to make a rash move, for the sake of the bigger picture. They can only watch helplessly as we swallow the Li Group whole."

Lu Baichuan looked at Lu Yi coldly. "Sit down. You're making me dizzy pacing around like that!"

Lu Yi sat down. "Dad, you're a genius. With just a few swift moves, those wavering old-timers caved immediately!"

Lu Baichuan leaned back against a cushion, gazing at the ceiling as he also savored the memory of the earlier scene. "It was nothing special. You're my son; once you have more experience, you'll be able to do the same."

"It's nothing more than understanding human nature."

"The company belongs to the Li Family, after all. Ordinary employees have never even considered the possibility of a change in leadership. If we rashly raise our banner now, we'll just drive them away."

"Li Yinhe has built up considerable prestige leading the company's development over the years. He's also a steady operator; it's almost impossible to find any fault with him."

"As for Li Xue, she's a bit young, but she's meticulous and level-headed. With her father and grandfather guiding her, she doesn't have any major flaws."

"To breach a fortress, you have to find the cracks within it and gradually eat away at it from the inside."

"And that process, in truth, has been going on for many years."

Lu Yi found it all very reasonable, but he was still hungry for more. He pressed, "But Dad, how did you get your hands on South City Plot 6? Weren't the environmental assessments always failing, with the nearby residents protesting any development?"

"When the time comes for you to know, I will naturally tell you."

'He's being so secretive,' Lu Yi thought, his interest piqued. 'Whatever he's hiding must be a huge fortune.'

'And now, this fortune is in my hands. Cui Chun has the authority to develop it.'

What a beautiful future it was. The father and son duo immersed themselves in visions of what was to come.

「Special Projects Team.」

Ever since Mu Lin mentioned the performance review, the rich kids had lost all interest in even playing games. They just lay on the sofa, racking their brains about how to meet their quotas.

They were regretting it now. They had been too lazy, failing to cultivate their connections. Now that they needed them, they found that everyone was either "too busy" or "unavailable."

They were either busy going abroad or preparing for exams.

There wasn't a single person who could help them with their performance numbers.

Rich kids only knew other rich kids, and their families had already provided them with everything they could ever need.

They didn't need houses built, so they couldn't bring projects to the project department.

They didn't need to buy houses, so they couldn't contribute to the sales department's numbers.

'This is awful!'

Just as they were despairing, Xue Yang pushed the door open and walked in, handing a document to Chen Xi. "Team Leader Chen, this is the section of the board meeting minutes concerning your Special Projects Team. I was ordered to deliver it."

Chen Xi sat up, first signing the clipboard Xue Yang was holding before taking the meeting minutes to read them.

The more he read, the more his expression twisted.

"Lu Yi! It's Lu Yi again! You motherf—" Chen Xi was so furious he leaped up from his chair, throwing punches and kicks at the empty air.

Seeing this, the other team members grew extremely curious. What could possibly be in those minutes to make Chen Xi this angry?

They tried to crowd around, but Xue Yang blocked them.

"The meeting minutes are only to be delivered to the team leader. If you're interested, you can ask him about it later."

"Hmph, as if we care!" Zhou Yu puffed out her cheeks and made a face at Xue Yang.

After finishing his shadowboxing, Chen Xi calmed down and said to Xue Yang in all seriousness:

"I'll take this mission! Even if it means walking into a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I won't even bat an eye!"

Xue Yang showed some concern for Chen Xi. "You should be careful. This business is a real headache, and Lu Yi's crew is up to no good."

Chen Xi sighed. "If they were up to any good, would it even be our turn? We're the outcasts nobody cares about. The only thing we can do is charge forward. Even if it's a minefield up ahead, we have to cross it!"

Xue Yang glanced at Chen Xi, said nothing, and left.

After Xue Yang left, the team members all crowded around Chen Xi. "Brother Xi, what's going on?"

Chen Xi pushed them aside, shooing them toward the door. "The deputy team leader and I have something important to discuss. You guys get out for a bit!"

"You still haven't said what mission made you so angry!"

Chen Xi said, "I'll tell you later. I don't have time right now!"

Zhou Yu, Sun Lele, and the others scurried away.

Chen Xi closed the door, then scurried over to Mu Lin like a total lackey, rubbing his hands together. "Brother Lin, look here, there's a big issue that needs your personal attention."

Mu Lin shot Chen Xi a sideways glance. "What is it? Does it really require my personal intervention?"

Chen Xi sidled up closer and quickly explained the situation.

Mu Lin said, "Not going. You're so badass, why don't you go solve it yourself?"

"It's not that simple! You don't understand, there's a lot of tricky business involved!"

Mu Lin propped his feet up on the desk. "A pig farm owner. Is he really worth getting so worked up about? Can't you just deliver the documents, get a signature, and be done with it?"

Chen Xi said, "This isn't just any ordinary pig farm owner. He and Lu Yi are childhood friends. They're so close they could probably call the same prostitute..."

Mu Lin pulled his legs off the desk. "Elaborate!"

'Is this really the time for that...?' Chen Xi stomped his foot in frustration. "Why would Lu Yi's dad suggest that we go collect the debt from a pig farm? Why our Special Team? If there was any profit in it, it would never have fallen to us!"

"I'm sure there's a trap! That's why a difficult mission like this naturally requires your expertise! I think you're our only hope!"

Chen Xi sounded extremely sincere. Mu Lin thought, 'So, to put it simply, Chen Xi doesn't dare to go, so he wants me to take the fall for him?'

Suddenly, Chen Xi scrambled back to his workstation and leaned back, pretending to be playing a game.

Mu Lin was stunned. 'What's wrong with him?'

Just then, footsteps could be heard at the door.

The door opened. It was Li Xue.

Chen Xi put down his phone and greeted Li Xue with an exceptionally fawning smile.

"Sister Xue, you're here! Please, sit. I'll make you some tea!"

Li Xue said, "No need. I'm leaving right away."

Her eyes swept across the room and landed on Mu Lin, who was sitting at his workstation with a nonchalant air. Anger welled up inside her.

"How is Mu Lin's work attitude?" Li Xue asked.

Chen Xi quickly put on an angry expression. "It's terrible! Let me tell you, he's completely useless. At first, he wouldn't even sweep the floor. I had to beat him a few times before he finally took over sweeping duties."

Li Xue's expression changed slightly. "Discipline is fine, but don't get physical. If you break him, the Group will have to pay for it."

Chen Xi hastily agreed.

"Xue Yang delivered the message to you, right? Don't make any rash moves yet. Just observe for now. I'll step in and negotiate with the pig farm. After things are settled, you can deliver the contract and write off the debt."

Chen Xi tilted his head, quite displeased. "Sister Xue, you're underestimating me. It's just delivering a document and getting a signature. I can handle it. Your Brother Xi is the 'social butterfly' of Anhua City. I'm on speaking terms with Boss Yang Jian. If I deliver the document, he'll sign it for my sake, I guarantee it."

Seeing Chen Xi was still acting like a spoiled brat, Li Xue felt a headache coming on for Chen Quan's sake. 'When will Chen Xi ever grow up!?'

"Don't mess this up. If there's even the slightest mistake, Lu Yi will definitely use it as a pretext to cause trouble. We'll be on the back foot then."

Chen Xi laughed heartily. "Then don't you worry. It'll be fine as long as I don't show my face. We'll just let Mu Lin try first. If he fails, it won't affect the overall situation."