Chapter 89: The Situation Outside

The company was in utter chaos, but inside the project department's special team, all was quiet.

The trust-fund kids were huddled together, chattering as they stared at their phones.

But they were careful to do it behind Mu Lin's back, constantly keeping an eye on his movements.

The moment Mu Lin got up to get some water, they immediately scattered, pretending nothing had happened.

Mu Lin had already heard what they were up to. They were gossiping with colleagues outside the office about the company's current situation.

After all, so many banks coming to collect debts was a terrifying prospect no matter how you looked at it.

RING RING RING.

The desk phone rang, startling everyone. 'What now?' they thought. 'Another problem would be even more terrifying than everything else.'

"What's going on?" Chen Xi asked. He thought it was some restless employee calling for gossip.

But on the other end was a steady male voice:

"Hello, is Vice Team Leader Mu available? I need to speak with him."

'Tch, and here I thought it was gossip. How boring!'

Chen Xi held up the receiver and called out to Mu Lin, "Brother Mu, it's for you!"

'Shouldn't they be looking for Chen Xi?' Mu Lin wondered. 'He's the team leader.'

'But they skipped Chen Xi and came straight to me. What could this be about?'

"Is this Mu Lin? My name is Zhou Qianfan. I'm the son of the elderly man you saved yesterday."

Mu Lin made a sound of acknowledgment. "How is Elder Zhou now? An elderly person shouldn't be frightened like that. I've been worried about him since I left."

Zhou Qianfan paused for a moment before saying, "My father is fine, but compared to my father's situation, the trouble the Li Group is facing is immense."

"This isn't a good line. Let me call you back," Mu Lin said before hanging up.

All company calls, both internal and external, were recorded. Seeing as the Lu Family had infiltrated the company so thoroughly it was like a sieve, it was highly likely someone was listening in.

'I just hope whoever's listening doesn't know what the name Zhou Qianfan means!'

Mu Lin noted the number from the caller ID, called it back using his cell phone, then deleted the call from his history.

After he was done, he couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. 'Wasn't that just a clumsy attempt at concealment, the equivalent of putting up a sign that says "No silver buried here"?'

'Sigh, I've made too many mistakes in my haste!'

Mu Lin redialed. "Young Master Zhou, what did you need to tell me?"

Mu Lin spoke softly, but his voice was perfectly clear on the other end.

"The chairman of Yuelong Group, Wu Long, is now a dog of the Yang Family. There's a batch of banks rushing to collect debts, right? That's all the Yang Family's doing."

"From what I understand, the Yang Family's plan is to break the Li Group's cash flow and force them to sell to Wu Long at a low price."

Mu Lin closed his eyes. He could have figured that out with his eyes closed. For Young Master Zhou to be explaining these things seemed like a waste of time.

But on second thought, he realized Zhou Qianfan was explaining it for his benefit.

"Mm, and then?" Mu Lin said simply, his eyes still closed. "I assume the great Eldest Young Master Zhou didn't call just to announce the Li Group's funeral, did he?"

"Of course not. You saved my father, so it is only right and proper that I save the Li Group!"

Mu Lin raised an eyebrow. "Who said I have any relationship with the Li Group? I'm just a worthless employee! If you're really that grateful, why don't you cash in that gratitude and give it to me?"

"Right, no relationship! I just couldn't stand to see the Li Group being forced into debt, so I hoped to be of some help!"

That was a very tactful thing to say. Mu Lin nodded, satisfied.

"So how do you plan to help? Get the banks to rescind their decision?"

Zhou Qianfan sighed. "I'm afraid that would be difficult. The banks are all the Yang Family's territory. They're impenetrable, so it would be very ineffective. But I have another way."

"What way?"

Zhou Qianfan said, "It would lose its magic if I said it. My people should be there soon. You'll know when you see them."

'Still playing all mysterious with me.' Mu Lin felt like slapping them a few times.

Mu Lin slammed the receiver back into its cradle, making a sharp CRACK that startled the trust-fund kids in the room.

"Brother Lin, what's wrong?"

Mu Lin waved a hand. "I'm going out for a bit. Stay in the office and review the materials. No one is to leave without my command."

"Yes, yes!" What choice did Chen Xi have? He could only agree profusely as he watched Mu Lin leave the office.

He headed straight for the stairwell, intending to go downstairs to greet Zhou Qianfan's people.

But the first thing he saw was the conference room. It was surrounded by people with worried expressions, all waiting for fate's decree.

The outcome of the board meeting would essentially determine the future of the Li Group.

The atmosphere inside the conference room was extremely tense. The secretary who had been serving tea and water didn't dare make a peep.

At this point, the only ones unwilling to cut ties with the Li Group were Chen Xi's grandfather and Zhou Yu's grandfather.

They had been in the trenches with Li Hao, Elder Li, and shared the same cold rations.

They went into business together after the peace, always looking out for each other, and in decades, they had never once had a falling out.

Now that they had one foot in the grave, it was impossible for them to backstab their brother.

"You... all of you! Have you forgotten how well Li Hao has always treated you?"

"When you were poor, which one of you didn't receive his help? Who gave you the money to start your companies? When your companies failed, he didn't blame you; he even brought you onto the group's board of directors."

"And now? Now that you're rich, you've all become so high and mighty you don't even have any respect for your great benefactor!"

The directors present wore sullen expressions but didn't talk back.

Chen Quan wasn't wrong. They were betraying him, but they had their own difficulties!

They had elders to support and children to raise, all of which cost money.

What could they do?

They couldn't trade real gold and silver for loyalty; otherwise, they would become sinners to their own families!

"Lao Chen, do you think we don't want to help Li Hao? But do you think we even can?"

"In Anhua City's financial world, everyone from the major banks down to the small-time lenders is coming to collect. Don't you understand what that means?"

"Li Hao has offended someone he can't afford to offend. No matter how much we help him, before a person like that, our efforts would be blown away with a single breath, and nothing good would come of it."

Chen Quan sneered. "So you're all so rational, so objective. But if Li Hao had been as objective as you, he never would have pulled you all up! He would have kicked you to the curb long ago!"

"A bunch of ungrateful wolves!"

A smile touched Lu Baichuan's lips. "But these ungrateful wolves still have a chance to survive. Stubbornly obstinate people, on the other hand, are doomed!"

He was talking about you, Chen Quan!

In a bankruptcy, the more shares you hold, the more you stand to lose.

Chen Quan's stake was not small. If he kept this up, his losses would be severe.

Lu Baichuan had always been at odds with Chen Quan, and the thought of him suffering losses brought him nothing but joy.

Lu Baichuan slammed his hand on the table.

"Li Yinhe, the Li Group belongs completely to you and your father now. Happy? Go on, be happy. The time for your tears is not far off."

After handing some documents to his secretary, Lu Yi had been busy. Now, with the contracts printed, he walked into the conference room carrying the documents, each stamped with a big red seal.

The sight was an eyesore to Li Yinhe. This was the death knell announcing the Li Group's bankruptcy.

"Everyone, look, the contracts are all printed, and the funds are being returned! Congratulations, everyone, on lifting this great weight from your shoulders. From now on, we all go our separate ways."

"Also, I'd like to remind you all again that my father is preparing to launch a brand-new construction company. Anyone who wants to invest should hurry. This opportunity won't come again!"

The former directors who had just withdrawn their shares hurriedly went over to sign up.

Lu Baichuan and his son had been mentioning the "City South Lot 6" project for days, which made them feel it was a sure thing.

Once it was developed, success and fortune were just around the corner.

On one side, there was joyous celebration over the planning of a new company; on the other, only gloomy despair.

Large tears dripped from Li Xue's eyes onto the floor. Li Yinhe's face was grim, but she stroked her daughter's head and comforted her in a gentle voice.

"So we have to start over from scratch. It just means we have to walk the path Grandpa walked one more time!"

'It was all over. Time to start from the beginning.'

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Everyone looked over and saw it was Mu Lin. A burst of harsh laughter erupted in the conference room.

"Well, well, well, I was wondering who it could be. What are you doing here? Hmm? Here to help the Li Family pack their bags? I'll save you the trouble. All company assets are subject to appraisal and will be seized after the bankruptcy."

Lu Yi rushed up to Mu Lin's face and mocked him relentlessly.

From any angle, Mu Lin at this moment looked like a pure, unadulterated stray dog.