Chapter 77. I will not sell my shares. ...
That day, Qin Wu's phone call brought bad news about Qin Ruhai.
Xie Tang clicked on the financial headlines, and a shocking headline jumped into his eyes: "Former billionaire Qin Ruhai is deeply involved in an investment scam, and Cisco Group is on the verge of bankruptcy."
The report details how Qin Ruhai was swindled out of nearly 200 million yuan in investment funds by a man named Chang Qiwei, who then fled abroad.
The Qin family was not the only victim, but the Cisco Group, which was already in dire straits, was dealt a fatal blow by this attack.
Cisco's stock price immediately hit the daily limit down at the open.
The stock price, which was once glorious when Grandpa was in charge, remained above fifty yuan. Now, even ten yuan has become a luxury.
"My dad was so angry he was hospitalized. My mom cries every day, scolding him for being useless, and..." Yin Xi sobbed on the other end of the phone, clearly having never experienced such a storm before.
Xie Tang sighed softly; words of comfort seemed pale, leaving only a deep sense of regret for Cisco Systems—it was the culmination of her grandfather's life's work.
But what can she do? She doesn't even have the shares her grandfather left her.
She, a lawyer, was so foolish as to be deceived.
She trusted Chu Song so much... so much.
After finishing my work and getting home, it was already past 8:30.
Xie Tang had just reached the entrance of the residential area when she suddenly stopped.
The familiar black Cullinan was parked quietly by the roadside.
Chu Song leaned against the car door, his shadow stretched long and thin by the streetlight.
Upon seeing her appear, he immediately straightened up and strode towards her.
Before Xie Tang could react, he had already pulled her tightly into his arms with irresistible force!
The crisp scent of fir trees, mixed with a suffocating sense of oppression, instantly enveloped her.
He lowered his head, his cool lips almost touching her icy earlobe, his voice low and husky, "A-Tang..."
Xie Tang suddenly exerted force, breaking free from his strong, iron-like embrace, taking a step back to create distance.
She raised her head, her cold eyes piercing him directly: "What are you doing here?"
"Come home with me." Chu Song's gaze was fixed on her, his tone commanding and unquestionable, yet also revealing a hint of anxious pleading.
Xie Tang's face was as cold as ice. "Give me back my shares!"
Chu Song's eyes darkened, and he stepped forward, trying to grab her wrist again: "Then can you come home with me?"
This was nothing short of a transaction—equity in exchange for her submission.
"No." Xie Tang said firmly, swatting his hand away again with obvious disgust.
“You say you love me,” she paused, “but compared to the tempting control of Cisco, doesn’t your so-called ‘love’ seem so light and insignificant?”
"No!" Chu Song roared, as if his deepest nerve had been pierced, his eyes instantly filled with the urgency and pain of being misunderstood. "That's not it! A-Tang!"
"Heh..." Xie Tang let out a very soft, yet endlessly mocking laugh.
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp, as if trying to completely peel away his carefully crafted disguise:
"Stop acting. Chu Song, what you want has never changed, has it? From the beginning until now, it has never changed."
"No!" Chu Song's voice was hoarse and disheveled.
"Fine." Xie Tang stopped looking at him, turned around resolutely, and said in a voice as cold as ice in the depths of winter, "Then we'll see each other in court."
She took a step to leave.
"A-Tang!" Chu Song reached out urgently to grab her, but was rooted to the spot by her sharp gaze.
The dim light of the streetlights stretched his dejected shadow long and thin.
Xie Tang walked quickly along the familiar path. The night breeze was cool, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in her heart and the sharp self-mockery.
Grandpa always says she has a good eye for people...
But look at the people she chose:
Yin Xi, Gu Chang, Zuo Meng...
And then there's the Song of Chu.
Every act of trust ultimately becomes a sharp blade that pierces oneself.
This eye for people is truly... ironic.
-----------------
The news of Qin Ruhai's illness and hospitalization was like a thunderbolt, causing widespread panic within the Cisco Group.
The long-term employees were worried about the company's future and had no motivation to work.
Rumors quickly spread that the company would be acquired and that large-scale layoffs were imminent.
Most of these long-time employees were key members who had worked diligently since the time of founder Qin Min. In their anger and panic, they unfurled banners and surrounded the hospital, demanding an explanation from Qin Ruhai.
Qin Wu's message made Xie Tang's heart tighten: "[Dad just woke up, but then fainted from anger at the troublesome employees.]"
The television financial channel is broadcasting a documentary reviewing the glorious history of Cisco Systems, with footage of founder Qin Min's interview in his youth flashing by.
The grandfather in the video is full of vigor, and his business acumen is beginning to shine.
Xie Tang stared at the screen, the kind face in her memory, but prematurely wrinkled by time and hard work, overlapping with the young and energetic image before her.
"So this is what Grandpa looked like when he was young."
Xie Tang murmured, a hint of warmth appearing in her eyes, "So beautiful."
The phone rang; it was an unfamiliar number.
The other party explained his purpose, saying he was Qin Ruhai's assistant, "I would like to trouble you to go to the group tomorrow. The shareholders have held an emergency meeting, and as a shareholder of the group, you should also attend."
Xie Tang agreed, as this was her grandfather's life's work, and she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
But this mess... I have no ability to clean it up. Besides, she doesn't even have the shares.
The following day, Xie Tang stepped into the Cisco Group again.
Qin Ruhai's assistant greeted her and led her into the conference room.
The makeshift meeting room reflected the company's chaos—the room was small and cramped, with not even enough extra chairs.
Shareholders and several senior employees were already seated. Although Luo Yanfang was over seventy years old and had white hair, his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's. He was surrounded by everyone and sat in the main seat.
The moment Xie Tang entered the room, his gaze was fixed on her.
Chu Song also came over.
Xie Tang's heart was pounding wildly. What was he doing here?
A well-dressed man in his thirties slowly rose, a smile plastered on his face: "Oh, Mr. Chu, what an honor to have you here! I'm so sorry for the inconvenience. The company is in complete disarray, and this small room is the only one that's still usable. Please, have a seat!"
He courteously offered Chu Song his seat, then turned to his secretary at the door and snapped, "What are you standing there for? Quickly bring me a chair!"
A chair was brought over, and he plopped down in it before turning to Xie Tang, who was standing behind Qin Ruhai's assistant: "And this is...?"
"She is Old Master Qin's granddaughter, Xie Tang." Chu Song glanced coldly at her, stood up and took Xie Tang's hand, intending to comfort her, but she shook off his hand.
Chu Song withdrew his hand indifferently and turned to Luo Yanfang, who had remained silent, "At the same time, she is also the actual controlling shareholder of Cisco Group. Please have Mr. Luo bear witness."
The meeting room erupted in chaos!
"What? Isn't President Qin the controlling shareholder?"
"Her surname is Xie? What is her relationship with the Qin family?"
"..."
Luo Yanfang coughed heavily a few times, covering his mouth, and the noise stopped abruptly. All eyes were focused on this highly respected old man.
“That’s right… She is Qin Min’s granddaughter and Qin Ruhai’s daughter.” Luo Yanfang’s voice was old and slow, but carried an undeniable weight. “The actual controlling shareholder of Cisco Group is Qin Tang. Now she takes her mother’s surname and is called Xie Tang.”
Countless scrutinizing, questioning, and probing gazes shot towards Xie Tang like arrows, as if weighing whether this young woman was qualified to lead a massive corporation.
"Old Luo, what... what exactly is going on?"
"Sit down and talk," Luo Yanfang glanced at Luo Hua, his eyes carrying a hint of reproach.
Luo Hua quickly stood up and gave his seat to Xie Tang.
Luo Yanfang shakily pulled two things out of his pocket: an old voice recorder and a piece of paper folded into a square.
He moved slowly and very carefully unfolded the paper, the edges of which were already showing signs of wear.
“When Qin Min made his will,” his voice was heavy with sorrow, “I, along with lawyer Kang Wen and Mr. Chu from Huasong Group, were all witnesses. The will stipulated that all his shares would be inherited by his granddaughter, Qin Tang. Until she turned 21, they would be held by Qin Ruhai on her behalf…”
He paused for a moment, then turned on the voice recorder.
A familiar yet distant voice, belonging to Qin Min, flowed from the recording pen.
Xie Tang's nose suddenly stung, and her eyes instantly filled with tears. Her grandfather's voice... she hadn't heard it for so long.
"Old Luo! What's going on here?"
The shareholders could no longer contain themselves and slammed their fists on the table, shouting, "If she is the rightful heir, then what has President Qin done all these years?!"
Luo Yanfang sighed heavily, as if he had aged several years in an instant.
"It's all my fault..."
His cloudy old eyes were filled with regret. "Back then, Qin Ruhai begged me and Attorney Kang... In a moment of weakness, I took pity on her. I was also worried that Tang was too young, and even at 21, she might not be able to shoulder this heavy responsibility... So... so I colluded with Attorney Kang to tamper with the will, making Qin Ruhai the controlling shareholder of the group. As for Old Master Chu... we thought we could keep it a secret for as long as possible. But I never expected that Qin Ruhai would be so... so incompetent!"
In the end, his tone was filled with heartbreaking grief and indignation.
He leaned on his cane, struggling to his feet, and bent over deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle, facing Xie Tang. "Child... I apologize for the terrible mistake I made back then..."
The meeting room was deathly silent.
Xie Tang stood up and bowed solemnly to the white-haired old man who had once been trusted by his grandfather.
“Grandpa Luo, I received your apology.” Her voice was steady, revealing little emotion. “But the important thing is now. Since I am the true controlling shareholder of Cisco in the legal sense…”
"So what if you are?"
A sharp objection immediately interrupted her, "What makes you think you can take over the company? How much better are you than your good-for-nothing father?"
"The company is a complete mess right now. How are you going to clean it up? What's your plan to revive it?"
"Hmph, empty talk! Even if you have this so-called will, as long as we shareholders don't recognize it, your name still won't be on the shareholder register!"
"Are you coming to take over now just to take the opportunity to sell your shares for a good price?"
A barrage of questions and accusations rained down on Xie Tang, like a swarm of angry wasps buzzing in his ears, almost overwhelming his reason.
Luo Yanfang closed his eyes, seemingly lost in memories or self-reproach, oblivious to the noise around him.
Xie Tang stood silently, letting the disdainful or doubtful voices assault her ears, her face revealing neither joy nor anger.
Only after the questioning subsided did she raise her eyes, her gaze slowly sweeping over the faces that were either excited or indifferent.
“To be honest,” her voice was soft, but clear in the quiet room, “before coming here, I really had no experience managing a large corporation, and I never thought I would take it over.”
"Then hurry up and name your price!" someone immediately shouted. "Selling the shares will save everyone a lot of trouble! I don't believe we can't scrape together the money to buy them!"
"That sounds like a good idea." Xie Tang's lips curled into a very faint, even slightly sarcastic, smile. "Selling the shares, taking the money and leaving, completely getting rid of this mess, will definitely make me feel much lighter."
Her tone shifted abruptly, her gaze suddenly sharpening. "But the problem is, will Cisco Group be any better just because the shares are in your hands? It's a business my grandfather built with his life's blood! He left me the shares hoping I would protect it, not sell it off after his death! So..."
Her gaze fell on Chu Song. "I will not sell my shares."
Chu Song gazed back at her greedily.
Xie Tang coldly shifted her gaze. "I won't just stand by and watch it fall. I know it's hard for you to accept me, so I'm giving you time to consider it, and I hope you'll give me some time to prove myself."
-----------------
The conference room door closed behind me, shutting out the complex gazes from inside.
Xie Tang had just breathed a sigh of relief when a voice called out to her.
"Miss Xie, please wait!" It was the man named Luo Hua from earlier.
He strode forward, glanced cautiously at Chu Song, and lowered his voice, saying, "Could we speak in private?"
Chu Song nodded to Xie Tang: "I'll wait for you at the door."
After Chu Song had walked away, Xie Tang looked at Luo Hua with a distant expression: "Manager Luo, is there anything I can help you with?"
Luo Hua put on a warm smile: "Miss Xie, I am Luo Hua, the grandson of Luo Yanfang. Although I got into the company because of my grandfather, I also climbed up from the bottom as a salesperson. I have endured a lot of hardship to get to where I am today as the marketing manager."
He paused, observing Xie Tang's expression. "I can see that you are indeed... not up to the task of managing such a large group. And those shareholders are all old fogies; they won't accept you so easily. What do you think of this?"
He held up his index finger. "Ten million! I'll offer ten million to buy your shares!"
Seeing Xie Tang remain silent, he quickly added, "As you know, the group is declining rapidly, and the stock price has plummeted. This price is absolutely fair! My grandfather was one of the founding shareholders, and he cares more about this company than his own grandson! Our Luo family truly doesn't want to see it fall into the hands of outsiders and be dismantled and acquired. Would you consider it?"
"Sell it to you for ten million?" Xie Tang chuckled softly. "Manager Luo, do you know how much President Chu Song is willing to pay for my shares?"
Luo Hua immediately held his breath, leaned forward slightly, and asked anxiously, "How much?"
Xie Tang held up two fingers, crossed them to form a "X", and said, "Ten billion. Can you come up with more money than him? If so, I'll sell you the shares immediately."
Luo Hua's smile froze instantly, his eyes widened, and he stood there dumbfounded.
Xie Tang said no more and did not take Luo Hua's incident to heart. Although the exchange agreement she signed with Chu Song was not honorable, at this moment it was like an invisible barrier, protecting the shares in her hands from being coveted.
However, she underestimated how crazy greed can drive people.
Luo Hua stood there, the obsequious smile on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by a fierce glint of desperation.
"A billion? You're kidding me!" He stared at Xie Tang's departing figure, his teeth grinding together.
Grandpa's years of dedication to Cisco, the frustrations he and his brother had endured over the years, and his greed for the enormous value of that 43% stake instantly overwhelmed his rationality.
A crazy idea took shape in his mind—if the open approach doesn't work, then let's try the covert one!
As long as we get a transfer agreement signed by her, there's always a way to make things work!
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