Fu Chen sat down opposite him, folded his hands on the table, his knuckles slightly white from the exertion.

"What exactly do you want to do?" he asked coldly, his tone as sharp as a knife. "What exactly is that 'Phoenix Project'?"

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

Xu Zhao was silent for a moment, his eyes slowly sweeping over Fu Chen.

Then, he suddenly leaned forward, his body almost reaching across half the conference table, and lowered his voice to a very low level: "Mr. Fu, this is an opportunity to change the rules of the game. Not only can it help you regain control of the company, but it can also catch Ning Nanxue and Jiang Tingchen in one fell swoop."

His fingertips gently stroked the tabletop, his tone as seductive and dangerous as a snake spitting out its tongue: "But the prerequisite is that you have to trust me completely, including... marrying my sister."

Fu Chen's breathing seemed to stagnate for a moment.

"Why now?" Fu Chen asked back, his tone somewhat tentative, "Don't you know that there is no possibility for me to be with Zhiru anymore?"

Xu Zhao slowly leaned back in his chair, his arms resting loosely on the armrests. His posture was casual, yet revealed an oppressive feeling that could not be ignored.

"Relationships can be re-cultivated, but once a company is lost, it's hard to recover." He raised his right hand, his slender fingers gently adjusting his cuffs. "This not only concerns your career, but also my sister's happiness."

Fu Chen stood up and walked to the window, his figure looking a little tired in the sunlight. He turned his back to Xu Zhao and said in a low voice, "Did you deliberately leak the capital flow chart in that email?"

Xu Zhao chuckled, stood up and walked to Fu Chen, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

The two figures cast long shadows on the ground, one tall and straight, the other slightly depressed.

"Mr. Fu is really smart." He spoke in a relaxed tone, as if discussing the weather. "I don't want to see my sister implicated by a woman's revenge, nor do I want to see the Fu Group shattered by outsiders. After all, that's where my sister will live in the future."

Fu Chen turned around and met Xu Zhao's eyes: "What do you want?"

"Cooperation." Xu Zhao smiled and extended his hand. "I need your trust and determination, and..."

He deliberately dragged out his tone, as if throwing out the final bait: "Your determination to fight Nanxue and Jiang Tingchen."

Xu Zhao walked slowly to the window, his fingertips lightly touching the glass surface of the floor-to-ceiling window, and the shadow cast blended with the city skyline.

"Let's be frank, Mr. Fu. If you accept Xu Zhiru again and let her officially become Mrs. Fu, I will not only help you regain control of the Fu Group, but also force Ning Nanxue into a situation where she can only be your secret lover."

The smoky gray suit made Xu Zhao look even taller and more upright, and the sunlight danced on his exquisitely crafted cufflinks.

Fu Chen silently watched the changing clouds outside the window, his mind flashing back to the years of grudges and hatred he had with Ning Nanxue. The temptation of control and revenge was like poison, making him uneasy.

"When did you become so 'generous'? You are willing to use your own sister as a bargaining chip." Fu Chen tapped the table with his fingers, and the rhythm revealed his inner uneasiness.

"In the face of interests, all feelings are just bubbles." Xu Zhao chuckled. The phone vibrated in the inner pocket of his suit, but he pretended not to notice.

"It's enough for Zhiru to be Mrs. Fu. I have no intention of interfering with how you behave outside." He turned to face Fu Chen, "As long as she is given enough dignity on the surface, I am happy to see it happen."

Fu Chen stood up and placed his hands on the cold conference table, as if weighing the balance between betrayal and revenge.

"Where's the evidence? What makes you think you can help me regain control?"

Xu Zhao unbuttoned his suit, took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his inner pocket, and pushed it across the table.

"This is some information about Martin Schneider's true identity. He is not a financial genius at all. Instead, he is a high-level con man I met in Switzerland many years ago who specializes in financial fraud."

Fu Chen unfolded the document, wrinkles spreading across his forehead. The information on the paper nearly froze his blood.

"Jiang Tingchen's identity is not simple. His hidden background is far more dangerous than you can imagine." Xu Zhao said softly, "Those Wall Street investors were all arranged by him to hunt down the Fu family."

Fu Chen raised his head suddenly: "Do you know Jiang Tingchen?"

"Over the years abroad, I haven't just been hiding from the spotlight." Xu Zhao said with a hint of contempt, "The forces behind him are the real opponents you should be wary of."

"Can we defeat them if we work together?"

Xu Zhao smiled confidently. "Alone, neither you nor I are a match for them. But together, with my international resources, we will be more than capable of defeating them."

Fu Chen turned and walked to the window, remaining silent for a long time.

"I need to think about it."

"Of course, I'll give you three days." Xu Zhao adjusted his cuffs. "But, Mr. Fu, don't forget, opportunities are fleeting."

He picked up his briefcase and walked towards the door with steady steps. Before leaving, he added in a low voice:

"By the way, Nanxue and Jiang Tingchen have a special relationship now. I guess you must be curious to see how they plan everything behind your back."

Fu Chen leaned his hands on the table, his knuckles turning white, and his thoughts were churning in his head.

This is a gamble. If you win, you can regain everything that belongs to you. If you lose, you may be doomed.

The clouds outside the window changed shape silently, just like his complex and confusing heart at the moment.

"It's a pleasure to work with you."

He finally spoke, his voice low and resolute, as if he had made a painful but necessary decision.

He stretched out his hand and shook hands tightly with Xu Zhao.

The diamond cufflinks on Xu Zhao's suit sparkled coldly in the sunlight. He nodded slightly and walked towards the door with steady steps, his leather shoes making crisp sounds on the marble floor.

At this time, the elevator prompt sounded softly.

Ning Nanxue held her phone tightly; the message from Secretary Chen made her heart beat faster.

The elevator door slid open, and she almost bumped into Xu Zhao who was about to leave.

The scent of Xu Zhao's cologne hit me in the face, a mixture of cedar and leather, revealing the man's ambition and calculation after his return.

"Mr. Ning, long time no see."

Xu Zhao had a confident smile on his face, and his eyes were shining with shrewdness and cunning.

"It seems like you've been doing well lately."

His gaze lingered on the simple yet priceless necklace around her neck for a moment, his tone teasing and tentative.

Ning Nanxue subconsciously straightened her back.

"If you're going to play any tricks, you'd better think about the consequences."

Her voice was as cold as steel, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed the jade bracelet on her wrist, as if seeking some kind of strength.

Xu Zhao simply smiled as he walked into the elevator, unfazed by her words. As the metal door was about to close, he leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering an octave:

"The best is yet to come."

The elevator door closed, leaving Ning Nanxue standing in the corridor, her face full of caution and doubt.

She took a deep breath and walked towards Fu Chen's office.