Chapter 90: A Clean Break

Mu Lin glanced at Lu Yi. "Are you done? If you're done, get out of the way!"

Lu Yi sneered. 'A stray dog like Mu Lin has no right to talk to me.'

'Let him be arrogant for a little while longer. His future is a canvas painted with utter failure.'

Li Xue rushed over to Mu Lin. "What are you doing?"

Mu Lin saw the tear stains on Li Xue's face and said, "What are you crying for? They're the ones who should be crying! A bunch of idiots who thought they were jumping from a sinking ship by leaving the company, not realizing what a huge opportunity they've just missed."

The former directors, who had already committed to joining the Lu Family's new company, were smug. They just assumed Mu Lin had lost his mind.

"Hahaha, Li Yinhe, do you know why your company is finished? Just look at the kind of person you put your trust in."

"Running your mouth at a time like this... you think you're so brave?"

Lu Baichuan was also in a fine mood, offering a rare smile.

"Come on, you guys, stop bullying him! I even feel sorry for him!"

Lu Baichuan couldn't be bothered to say much more; he didn't care at all at this point and simply added:

"Alright, that's enough from everyone. They've lost their company and are saddled with a mountain of debt—that's miserable enough! They might even lose their home soon. A family of three plus an old man, all crammed into a tiny rental... Is that any way for a person to live? I truly feel sorry for them."

He sounded like he was defending the Li Family, but in reality, every word was dripping with sarcasm.

One of the men received a text message and looked at his phone.

"Hey, I got my money back!"

"Me too!"

"They're actually true to their word. But integrity doesn't put food on the table. If they don't pay the bank back by three o'clock, they'll be sued! The courthouse closes at five, which is plenty of time to file a suit against a deadbeat!"

A short while later, all the directors who had pulled out received their money.

Mu Lin clasped his hands behind his back. "Excellent. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. I wish you all the best on your way out!"

Coming from his mouth, this common pleasantry sounded incredibly strange.

The directors opened the door, only to see a strange man holding a briefcase standing outside. He gave them a slight bow.

Everyone felt he looked vaguely familiar, but they couldn't recall where they might have seen him.

"Mr. Zhu Qiyu, welcome!"

Who?! The group, just about to leave, froze in shock.

'The genius investor? The one who discovers a unicorn company every year?'

'What's he doing here?'

Li Xue was numb, too. She had no idea what Zhu Qiyu was doing here.

But as president, she had to step forward and greet him.

"Mr. Zhu, hello! I've heard so much about you!"

"No, no, the pleasure is all mine! I've admired the Li Group for a long time. The construction company ranked number one on user review boards, the one with the lowest complaint rate after handover... Such a legendary company! I've always wanted to visit, and today I finally freed up some time."

To the others, his words were like one clap of thunder after another.

'Zhu Qiyu holds the company in such high regard?'

They couldn't help but feel a surge of hope for the company's future.

An investment isn't just about money; it's also about access to connections and a favorable allocation of resources.

With the halo effect from a genius investor like Zhu Qiyu, it wouldn't be long before the entire market discovered the existence of this incredible company.

At that point, other capital from the market would catch wind and flock in, elevating the Li Group to a height they could never have imagined before.

'Wouldn't that mean we'd be rich?'

They no longer wanted to leave. Instead, they excitedly swarmed around Zhu Qiyu, fawning over him.

"Mr. Zhu, please, have a seat. Your choice to invest in the Li Group shows you truly have a keen eye for talent."

"With the Li Group's excellent fundamentals as a foundation, and with your support, Mr. Zhu, the Li Group is destined to become world-renowned."

Mu Lin said slowly, "Didn't you all say that the group would be finished after the banks called in their loans?"

Zhu Qiyu asked curiously, "Calling in loans?"

He had already been briefed on the details before arriving, but he still wanted to hear what the people on the scene had to say.

Li Xue took a step forward. "Mr. Zhu, there have been rumors circulating recently that the Li Group is about to be acquired by the Yuelong Group. Because of that, the banks have all come to demand repayment. If those loans are called in, the group's capital chain will break, and we'll be doomed."

"As it stands, the Li Group is already on the brink of that abyss, just one step away."

Li Xue honestly explained the Li Group's current predicament to Zhu Qiyu.

When facing the Lu Family and the other directors who were predicting the group's downfall, Li Xue would use every means at her disposal to fight back, if only to win the argument.

But facing Zhu Qiyu, the situation was different.

She couldn't just stand by and watch a genius investor jump into a fiery pit.

One of the former directors asked:

"Mr. Zhu, why not invest in the Yuelong Group? It's the biggest construction company in Anhua City. Their strength is worlds above the Li Group's."

Zhu Qiyu smiled. "I have my doubts about Chairman Wu's past. Can a man with his background really build homes that make their owners happy?"

'Ah, he's made himself perfectly clear.'

'He's put off by Wu Long's underworld background.'

"But the banks are demanding their money back from the Li Group! Your investment is guaranteed to go down the drain!"

Zhu Qiyu asked Li Xue, "What is the total amount being called in by the banks?"

Lu Yi sneered. "Our President Li here wouldn't know those numbers, but I can tell you. A total of 850 million in bank loans, and 56 million from asset management companies. It's quite a mess now."

Zhu Qiyu said calmly, "I can cover that amount."

What! Lu Yi thought he had misheard. He pressed, "What did you say?"

"I said, I'll provide the money!"

Now, everyone present was stunned. 'What a move from Mr. Zhu.'

"But Mr. Zhu, you have to be careful! The Li Group is already teetering on the verge of collapse. It's not right to front them this much money!"

Zhu Qiyu responded with a smile, "I believe the Li Group is worth it. Compared to the title of the nation's future largest real estate developer, this amount of money is nothing."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. They truly couldn't comprehend the thought process of a star investor.

Zhu Qiyu paused. "On top of that, I'd also like to invest another one billion. President Li, what do you think?"

The people around them scratched their ears, not quite sure they had heard correctly.

'Did I just hear something incredible?'

Li Xue's jaw dropped. "One billion?"

Zhu Qiyu's gaze was kind. "That's right, one billion. Once you have this money, I won't make any demands regarding project details—I'm a complete amateur when it comes to construction. I'd only make a fool of myself."

'Aren't these terms a little too generous?'

The startup capital for the Southside No. 6 plot project was only one or two hundred million. This meant the company could now run three similar projects simultaneously without breaking its capital chain.

Of course, they wouldn't do anything that crazy. But the potential it represented was enough to drive anyone wild.

"Ah, what a truly grand gesture! As expected of a genius investor, spotting the pearl that is our Li Group in an instant!"

The directors were ecstatic, walking excitedly toward Zhu Qiyu.

Mu Lin slowly stepped in front of them.

"Gentlemen, what does this have to do with any of you?"

The ecstatic directors looked down at the "payment received" notifications on their phones, and their expressions suddenly changed.

'That's right... we've already sold our shares!'

Even if the Li Group became the number one construction group, it would have nothing to do with them.

"I want to buy back in!"

"Me too!"

They shouted, waving their phones.

Mu Lin said sinisterly, "Pulling out and jumping back in so smoothly... you think this is a gay hookup?"

"I hope you all remember what you were saying just a moment ago." Li Xue was gradually coming to her senses. Having such a huge windfall drop in her lap had stunned her at first, but then she remembered all the obstacles and ridicule she had faced for focusing on project quality. Now was the time for her efforts to bear fruit.

"Just now, you all thought the company was about to collapse. You couldn't wait to see it die. You regret it now? Too late!"

"Please act like responsible adults. You made your decision, so don't regret it. Take your money and leave this room."

Li Xue said in a low voice, "From now on, we make a clean break. We have nothing more to do with each other!"

"Li Yinhe! Look at this 'fine' daughter you've raised! Does she have any manners? Shouting at her elders, what is she doing? Does she really think she's someone special?"

Li Yinhe, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke. "You should be secretly thanking me that I haven't started cursing you out! Get lost!"