Chapter 86 You're just hoping I'll die

That day, when Chen Jiashu entered the conference room, Zhu Ao's expression immediately changed, and he stood up to offer his seat. As soon as Chen Jiashu sat down, he began to settle scores with that Director Ma.

Over the past two years, Director Ma supplied specific models of capacitors to several factories under the group at prices 15%-20% higher than the market price, involving a total amount of more than 43 million yuan, which directly caused the group to suffer a loss of more than 8 million yuan.

Chen Jiashu tossed out a stack of A4 sheets of paper recording overseas transactions, leaving Director Ma stunned and speechless. Immediately afterward, the conference room door was pushed open, and two uniformed police officers and a plainclothes investigator entered, taking him away on the spot on charges of "accepting bribes as a non-state employee."

Chen Jiashu's ruthless approach this time is completely different from his attitude towards Director Sun at last year's shareholders' meeting, where he still left room for maneuver.

This show of force first intimidated those who supported Zhu Ao, and they all lowered their heads guiltily.

Next came Zhu Ao, but instead of being reprimanded, he was praised and promoted. Chen Jiashu's words were well-chosen: "The group's ability to weather this special period is inseparable from everyone's efforts, especially Chairman Zhu Ao. In recognition of Chairman Zhu's contributions, I have decided to create a new position of Co-Chairman of the Group, to be held by Zhu Ao. Chairman Zhu, you will be responsible for the group's development strategy for the next twenty years. As for the specific matters of the customer service department... the Co-Chairman need not personally concern himself with them."

Zhu Ao's face was as black as if he had swallowed a fly. He couldn't refuse; to refuse would be to disregard the overall situation of the group, to be greedy for power. He could only swallow his pride and accept this seemingly prestigious but actually exile-like appointment.

Lu Dong couldn't help but laugh whenever he thought about it. This Chen Jiashu was never a "good guy." The day he visited him at the sanatorium, he saw him sitting there like a stone statue, looking useless, but when he went up to shake hands, his grip was surprisingly strong.

An assistant brought over tea, and Lü Dong, wanting to talk to someone, stopped the assistant: "Xiao Wang... why didn't Chen Jiashu kick Zhu Ao out of the game?"

The assistant put down the tea and sat on the single sofa to his left: "Perhaps... it's because of old feelings."

Old feelings… Lu Dong raised his hand and touched his chin. After a while, he shook his head: “No, there was no solid evidence against him.”

The assistant looked completely bewildered.

In a large corporation, especially a listed company, removing a senior executive, particularly a veteran like Zhu Ao, requires a convincing and legitimate reason.

The assistant thought for a moment and then suddenly realized: "This is... to make Chairman Zhu a 'living fossil'..."

Lu Dong laughed twice: "Our Chairman Chen has suffered a bit of a hardship since he went out, so his methods have become much more ruthless."

"I suspect it won't be long before Zhu Ao resigns voluntarily... The group has lost a key figure, and Chen Jiashu has lost a 'brother' who was eyeing his assets day and night."

*

Late spring in May.

Two and a half months later, Chen Jiashu stepped into Zhu Ao's new office for the first time.

Zhu Ao led Chen Jiashu to the reception area. After he sat down, Zhu Ao picked up the purple clay teapot on the induction cooker with one hand, and with the other hand, he first took an empty cup, put in some tea leaves, and finally poured in water until it was seven-tenths full.

He held the teacup with both hands and presented it to Chen Jiashu. The teacup landed on the solid wood coffee table with a low, crisp tapping sound.

“New tea, Longjing,” Zhu Ao said.

The weather outside was lovely, and warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, pouring into the office and draping the mahogany coffee table like a light veil.

Chen Jiashu felt the warmth on the back of his hand, moved his fingers, and looked up to ask the person opposite him, "Are you resigning?"

More than two months had passed, and Chen Jiashu's appearance had changed drastically. He took off his sunglasses, and his face regained its vitality, no longer looking as thin and haggard as when he had just escaped.

"Yes." Zhu Ao leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and casually draped his right arm over them. "I think Chairman Chen has thoroughly investigated me. Now, may I leave?"

As soon as he spoke, Chen Jiashu tilted his head slightly, his unfocused eyes fixed on his face, and he gently curled the corners of his lips: "It started last October, when I decided in Sun Gang's office to transfer 10% of the shares to the two children, right?"

"Hmm." Zhu Ao chuckled softly. Sure enough, Chen Jiashu noticed him standing outside the door that day.

Chen Jiashu nodded slightly, indicating that he understood.

"Jia Shu... I just want to ask you one question." Zhu Ao's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He blinked and glanced out the window: "What am I, Zhu Ao, to you?"

Chen Jiashu raised his eyelids and said calmly, "You are the vice president of the group, a brother I trust and my right-hand man."

Chen Jiashu was taken aback by what he heard. He never expected that Zhu Ao would remember his words from that day to this day.

To be precise, they still harbor resentment to this day.

Zhu Ao's voice suddenly rose several octaves: "Then let me ask you, me! Zhu Ao, over the years, haven't I devoted myself to you and the company, risking my life alongside you? Have I ever taken a single penny from you?"

He looked directly into Chen Jiashu's eyes: "And you gave 20% of the shares to Qin Qiao over two years. Has she shed a single drop of sweat for the group? Does she know how to manage a huge business empire? Just because she's your wife? What about me? I've been loyal to you all these years, working myself to the bone. What am I? A dog of Chen Jiashu? And the so-called trust you give me, is it just like the leash on a dog, with the tightness entirely controlled by you?"

Zhu Ao bombarded Chen Jiashu with questions, like hammer blows repeatedly striking his chest.

He suddenly looked up. "You're stubborn and self-willed, leaving no room for compromise, and easily offend people! Sun Gang's experience in law and risk control can make up for your shortcomings. Because you are my first-in-line agent in the event of something happening to me according to the articles of association. The group is no longer the small workshop it once was; it needs a more professional structure and a more comprehensive vision. I must take the future... into account!"

Zhu Ao laughed, tears welling in his eyes: "The future? What future? The future of guarding the country for you, Chen Jiashu? Isn't that just being a watchdog?"

These words deeply stung Chen Jiashu. He gripped his knees tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

The moment Zhu Ao looked away, the man's tone suddenly turned sharp: "You think I treat you like a dog? Zhu Ao, a dog won't bite back when its master is in danger. I, Chen Jiashu, ask myself, what I'd give a dog wouldn't be 10% of the group's shares, nor would it be decision-making power second only to mine!"

“You say you’ve worked tirelessly for the group and feel wronged. Then let me ask you, are you protecting my empire, Chen Jiashu’s, or your power, Zhu Ao’s? You drove President Huang away back then because he didn’t listen to your orders. Afterwards, I cleaned up the mess for you and suppressed all dissenting voices. At that time, what I said to you was ‘Don’t do it again,’ not ‘Get out!’”

Although Chen Jiashu was blind, his imposing aura remained undiminished. Zhu Ao couldn't find a single word to refute him, while a soreness churned within his chest.

"You say the shares were too much? That 20% is my personal property, Chen Jiashu's property, not the group's assets! Do I need your approval, my 'brother', to leave security for my wife and children? The 10% under your name, Zhu Ao, is the group's phantom stock, and its value rises with the group's value! Ask yourself honestly, over the years, has it brought you grievances, or wealth and status that others could never earn in several lifetimes?!"

At this point, Chen Jiashu turned his head away, his hands clenched so tightly at his sides that the bones cracked.

"You keep talking about brothers and loyalty. But what's the price of your loyalty? Does it mean I have to be above everyone else? Does it mean I have to give everything without reservation, even at the risk of the company's safety? Or does it mean that if I'm a little slow or give less, you'll... wish for my death?"

When Chen Jiashu uttered the words "hoping for my death," his voice was clearly choked with emotion. He lowered his eyes, and with a blink, a large tear fell straight onto the tile, shattering into pieces.

Zhu Ao's face suddenly turned deathly pale, and his lips trembled uncontrollably.

In a daze, the grand ambitions and vows the three of them made by the river turned into a wisp of white smoke and vanished completely.

The interior felt like a burnt-out wasteland, the scorching heat dissipated by the biting wind, leaving only a desolate and silent pervasive atmosphere.

After a long time, Chen Jiashu finally raised his head and said, "You can resign, but according to the company's articles of association, all your shares will be repurchased at the original grant price."

"Zhu Ao, all you can take with you is what you brought with you."

Later, on the day Zhu Ao left, Chen Jiashu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window "looking down" at the scene below, as if his blind eyes could really see the white Porsche merging into the endless stream of cars.

It was early autumn of the year the group was founded, on a certain evening when a colorful sunset painted the sky.

The white Porsche reflected a dazzling array of colors. Zhang Shuang stood in front of the car with her arms crossed, asking, "Zhu Ao, this car is nice. How many W?"

"Less than two hundred." Zhu Ao patted the car door and gestured with his chin towards Chen Jiashu, who had just come out of the building: "Jiashu, want to give it a try?"

Chen Jiashu smiled and shook his head: "It's a new car, don't let me crash it."

Zhu Ao's smile froze slightly. He opened the car door, got in, and started tidying up.

Zhang Shuang strode forward, hooked her arm around Chen Jiashu's neck, and whispered, "Zhu Ao kindly invited you, don't be too rude..."

Chen Jiashu paused for a moment, then stepped forward and stood at the car door, saying, "Let's go for a drive around the beach this weekend."

Zhu Ao, who was in the car, immediately beamed with joy.