Chapter 79: Reclaiming What Belongs to Her and Her Master...
When Luo Nian was led into Chu Song's low-key yet oppressive office, Xie Tang was sitting upright on a large leather sofa, applying an ice pack to her still red and swollen wrist.
Two hours earlier, she received a call from Luo Yanfang. His elderly voice, filled with regret, came through the phone. He apologized to her again and begged her to let Luo Hua off the hook, saying he was willing to pay any price.
Xie Tang hesitated for a moment, then said they could talk in person.
Luo Yanfang didn't come; instead, his eldest grandson, Luo Nian, did.
Luo Nian perfectly embodies the stereotype of an "elite," wearing a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, tall and upright, with sharp yet restrained eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses, and a steady and composed gait.
Upon seeing Xie Tang, he nodded slightly, adopting a very humble posture, and spoke with just the right amount of apology and pleading: "Miss Xie, Mr. Chu. I'm so sorry to bother you so late at night. I am Luo Hua's elder brother, Luo Nian."
His gaze swept quickly over the redness and swelling on Xie Tang's wrist, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes behind his glasses before he regained his professional composure: "My younger brother, Luo Hua, was foolish and impulsive, making a grave mistake, breaking the law, and hurting Miss Xie. This is his own fault. On his behalf, I extend my deepest apologies to Miss Xie and President Chu."
He bowed deeply, his posture impeccable.
Xie Tang put down the ice pack, looked up at him, her eyes calm and unwavering: "Mr. Luo, an apology cannot undo what has already happened. Luo Hua's actions will be judged by the law."
“I understand.” Luo Nian straightened up, his expression frank and earnest. “I dare not ask Miss Xie to forgive him. I only came here to ask Miss Xie if… if possible, give him a chance to reform and take responsibility? He did break the law, but Grandpa is too old to bear the blow of a grandson going to jail…”
His tone was heavy when he mentioned his grandfather.
"These are your conditions?" Chu Song's cold voice rang out. "Using sympathy and filial piety to blackmail you into keeping your brother out of jail?"
Luo Nian immediately turned to Chu Song, his posture still respectful but his eyes unwavering: "President Chu, you flatter me. I am not kidnapping, but pleading. And I am willing to exchange my actions for this plea."
He took a deep breath, his gaze returning to Xie Tang, and said solemnly, "Ms. Xie, I know you are now the largest shareholder of Cisco Group. Luo Hua's previous actions have proven that he has no respect for the group or for you, only unrealistic ambitions."
"I hereby assure you that as long as Miss Xie can be lenient with Luo Hua's case... allowing him to bear the responsibility he should bear without being completely crushed, then I, Luo Nian, and the portion of the Luo family power I represent, will completely abandon any covetousness for Cisco Group's shares!"
He paused, then emphasized, his eyes becoming incredibly serious: "Not only that, I will do my utmost to assist you, dutifully helping you manage the Cisco Group! I am familiar with the Group's internal operations, understand its core business, know the crux of the problem, and am clear about the future direction. I can stabilize the situation for you, reduce the turmoil, allow Cisco to transition smoothly, and even... restore its former glory."
Luo Nian's words were forceful and persuasive.
He was demonstrating his value, and he was also exchanging value: using his expertise, loyalty, and the withdrawal of the Luo family's influence to save his younger brother's life.
A brief silence fell over the office.
Chu Song remained indifferent, but the scrutiny in his eyes deepened.
Xie Tang listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the ice pack.
She did not respond immediately; her gaze lowered slightly, as if she were weighing her options.
A few seconds later, Xie Tang raised her eyes, her gaze clear and sharp, no longer that of a victim's weakness, but the calmness of a controller.
Instead of directly responding to Luo Nian's suggestion, she posed the first question:
“Mr. Luo,” she addressed him by his title, steer the conversation back to business, “since you are familiar with Cisco, please tell me, what is the group’s current true cash flow situation? Where does the profit margin of our core business stand in the industry? What are the three largest bad debts?…and,”
She leaned forward slightly, releasing an invisible pressure. "During President Chu's consolidation period, how big was the gap between the book value and the actual value of the assets he divested?"
These questions are all very insightful and get straight to the heart of the matter!
The last question, in particular, pinpointed the potential room for maneuver that Chu Song might have had during the Cisco integration process!
Chu Song's arms, which were wrapped around Xie Tang, moved almost imperceptibly. His gaze toward Xie Tang held a deep, probing look—she was more thoughtful and perceptive than he had imagined.
Luo Nian clearly hadn't expected Xie Tang to ask such a precise and tricky question right off the bat.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes as he adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, but it was quickly replaced by professional composure.
Without the slightest hesitation or evasion, he began to report clearly and systematically, with precise data and a well-organized structure. He even bluntly pointed out several "optimization" points where Chu Song's team was "too aggressive" in handling assets.
His report fully demonstrated that his control over Cisco's current situation was no exaggeration.
Xie Tang listened attentively, occasionally interjecting with questions about a few details, which Luo Nianjun answered quickly and accurately.
This report was more like an impromptu assessment of Luo Nian's abilities and loyalty, orchestrated by Xie Tang.
After Luo Nian finished his report, the office fell silent again.
Xie Tang pondered for a moment and then posed his second question: "What should Cisco do next? Especially given your promise to 'behave properly and help me manage things'."
Luo Nian's spirits lifted; he knew this was the key.
He stood upright, spoke slowly, but his thoughts were exceptionally clear:
"First, stop the bleeding and stabilize the situation. Immediately stop unnecessary high-risk investments, stabilize core customers and key teams, sort out and gradually clear out non-performing assets, and restore healthy cash flow. Although President Chu's previous integration methods were... aggressive, they did remove a lot of burdens, which provided us with a foundation."
"Second, focus on core strengths and seek technological breakthroughs. Cisco still has a solid foundation in materials research and precision manufacturing. We should abandon the past approach of blindly diversifying and concentrate resources on our areas of strength to seek breakthroughs in key technologies. This is the foundation for our future success..."
His plan was clear and pragmatic, acknowledging the real problems while pointing out feasible paths, without being overly ambitious.
After listening, Xie Tang's face remained expressionless, but a hint of agreement flashed deep in her eyes.
She paused for a moment, then slowly spoke, her voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable weight, "President Luo's analysis and planning are very valuable; however, it's easy to talk the talk but difficult to walk the walk."
She stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, turned her back to the two of them, and looked at the dazzling night view of the city outside the window.
Her back view was slender yet exuded a powerful sense of breaking free from her cocoon.
“I need to go into Cisco in person.” Xie Tang turned around, his gaze sweeping over Luo Nian before finally landing on Chu Song’s face, and calmly announced, “not as a shareholder representative, not as a supervisor.”
Her gaze returned to Luo Nian, her tone resolute: "I want to join the board of directors and serve as executive director and general counsel. I need to see the official appointment documents and have the office ready by 9:00 AM tomorrow."
"Mr. Luo, your promises of 'keeping to your own course' and 'helping me manage' will begin with assisting me in quickly familiarizing myself with the business and implementing this appointment. As for your brother's matter..."
Xie Tang paused for a moment, looking at Luo Nian's instantly tense expression, and said in a calm and clear voice: "I will explain to the police that it was just a misunderstanding, but... if there is a next time, he will definitely be in jail."
This is the biggest concession Xie Tang can make.
Luo Nian's eyes flickered, his face displaying a complex mix of emotions—worry for his younger brother, surprise at Xie Tang's tough attitude, and awe of the control and clear thinking she displayed.
He took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Xie Tang again: "Understood! Thank you for the opportunity! I understand and accept your position regarding Luo Hua. The appointment documents and office will be ready by nine o'clock tomorrow morning! I will do my best to assist you in integrating into Cisco as quickly as possible!"
"Very good." Xie Tang nodded and sat back down on the sofa.
She turned to Chu Song, who had remained silent, and said, "President Chu, could you please have your people escort President Luo out? Also, regarding the resolution to bring me to Cisco, the board's voting process tomorrow will need your 'assistance' to ensure it goes smoothly."
Looking at Xie Tang, who was now exuding confidence and calmly making arrangements, Chu Song's eyes were filled with complex emotions—admiration, surprise, helplessness at being used by Xie Tang, and a deep sense of loss at being completely excluded from Xie Tang's decision-making circle.
He nodded silently and gestured to the bodyguard.
Luo Nian left "accompanied" by bodyguards.
The office door closed, leaving only Xie Tang and Chu Song.
Xie Tang rubbed his temples wearily, his sharp edge from the negotiations subtly concealing, revealing a genuine weariness.
Chu Song walked to her side, squatted down, and looked at her still swollen wrist. His voice was low and hoarse: "Your wrist needs more professional treatment. And... about what you just mentioned, the gap in asset divestiture..."
Xie Tang didn't look at him, but gently withdrew her hand, her voice filled with a deep sense of detachment: "I'll handle my wrist myself. As for Cisco..."
She looked up at the window, her gaze distant. "That's between Cisco and me."
Chu Song stood frozen in place, that familiar sense of powerlessness and frustration surging up once again.
He personally guided her down the path to power, but in doing so, he also built an even higher and colder wall around himself.
Tomorrow, she will officially step into Cisco's battlefield.
This time, she will not rely on anyone, nor will she give anyone the chance to deceive her.
She will take back everything that belongs to her and her grandfather in her own way.
The next day, on her way to Cisco Systems, Xie Tang received a call from Xie Shuang, and a sense of foreboding gripped her.
Outside the cold emergency room, Xie Shuang's hair was disheveled, and her eyes were red and swollen like peaches, clearly indicating that she had been crying for a long time.
Xie Kun sat hunched over, clutching Yuan Aochun's ID card tightly, his knuckles white, staring blankly at the ground.
Xie Tang's gaze fell on the tightly closed emergency room door, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Mom, how is Grandma?"
“I don’t know yet,” Xie Shuang’s voice was thick with emotion. She shook her head, trying to hold back her sobs. “In the ambulance… the doctor said the situation… isn’t good.”
"What exactly happened? You said on the phone..." Xie Tang's voice trembled uncontrollably, "Ji Yan came to our house."
Just hearing the name sent a chill down Xie Tang's spine; things were definitely not simple.
Xie Shuang glanced worriedly at Xie Kun, who was bowing his head and looked as if he had aged ten years overnight.
Yuan Aochun's accident dealt him an unbearable blow.
"Come here." Xie Shuang turned and walked towards a quiet corner at the end of the corridor.
Xie Tang hurried after her, her chest filled with anxiety and anger. "Mom, what is she doing here? Why would Grandma..."
“She came to our house and caused a huge scene,” Xie Shuang said, looking at her daughter with heartache, recalling the unbearable morning, “saying a lot… a lot of nasty things…”
Just as she was about to leave, Ji Yan's sarcastic voice slithered out from behind her like a venomous snake: "Tsk tsk tsk, you've turned this nice villa into a doghouse! Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can move in, what a waste."
Xie Shuang suppressed her anger: "What are you doing here?"
"Come and take a look, after all, this used to be my home." Ji Yan turned to Xie Kun and Yuan Aochun, who were leading their dog on a leash and preparing to leave, with a fake smile. "Oh, Uncle Xie, Aunt Xie, you seem to be in a good mood, taking a walk?"
Xie Kun frowned, looking warily at the uninvited guest: "Who are you? What do you want?"
“Going home for a visit,” Ji Yan said proudly, pointing to the villa. “You don’t know, do you? This villa used to be mine.”
Xie Kun looked at Xie Shuang with a puzzled expression: "What does this house have to do with her?"
"Ha! Of course they wouldn't dare tell you the truth! After all, it's such a shameful thing..."
Ji Yan glanced at Xie Shuang disdainfully, then raised her voice maliciously, "This house... your precious granddaughter Xie Tang sold her body and agreed to be kept by Young Master Chu..."
"Ji Yan!" Xie Shuang interrupted sharply, trembling with anger. "You know best how you got this house! Stop spouting nonsense! Get out! Now!"
"Wasn't it to save your life? Wasn't it to get revenge on me and the Qin family that she approached Chu Song to make a deal?"
Ji Yan stared at Xie Kun's face, which had turned ashen instantly, and her smile became even more twisted and smug. "Uncle Xie, you have no idea how greedy your granddaughter is! She made outrageous demands, asking for ten million yuan plus this villa! Otherwise, with her meager salary as a lawyer, how could you possibly be worthy of living here?"
"Every minute and every second you enjoy now is in exchange for Xie Tang being 'kept' by someone!"
"Ji Yan!" Xie Shuang rushed forward and grabbed her, trying to drag her away. "Shut up! Get out!"
Yuan Aochun, however, grasped the key word and asked in a trembling voice, "A-Tang... and A-Song weren't truly in love?"
"Sincere? Hahaha... That's hilarious!" Ji Yan forcefully broke free from Xie Shuang. "A wealthy family like the Chu family, would they even want your Xie Tang? She's only after money! To save your daughter's life, and to let you live in a villa, she agreed to be Chu Song's mistress for three years..."
Xie Shuang could no longer hold back and slapped Ji Yan hard across the face. Turning back to Yuan Aochun, she urgently explained, "Mom! It's not like that! A-Tang isn't..."
"Then what exactly is it?" Yuan Aochun's voice suddenly rose, filled with a desperate question, "How did this villa... come about?"
Xie Shuang fell silent, and this brief silence was like a heavy hammer blow, signifying her acquiescence.
The light in Yuan Aochun's eyes went out. Even though Ji Yan's words were exaggerated, she had already seen through seven or eight parts of the filth at the core.
Her face was ashen, and she murmured, "If... if it was something that A-Tang sacrificed herself for... we won't stay here..."
"You guys don't know yet, do you?" Ji Yan covered her face, adding fuel to the fire with venomous resentment, "Chu Song has a child who's almost a year old! Xie Tang is even willing to be a stepmother just to curry favor with him..."
She turned to Xie Shuang, her tone sharp and sarcastic: "Tsk tsk, money is such a good thing, she doesn't even respect herself at such a young age... Xie Shuang, is this the good daughter you raised? She's really bringing honor to the family!"
This final straw completely broke Xie Shuang's composure.
Her years of self-control vanished, and she pounced on Ji Yan, wrestling with her, her angry shouts echoing through the courtyard.
Xie Kun had dedicated his life to teaching and nurturing students, valuing his reputation above all else. At this moment, he felt as if countless needles were piercing his spine, overwhelmed with shame and indignation, his face turning a frighteningly dark black.
Yuan Aochun watched this farce unfold, her body swaying violently. She then turned abruptly and rushed back into the house.
When she came out again, she grabbed a broom from beside the door and swung it at Ji Yan with all her might, her voice hoarse and filled with grief and indignation: "I'll teach you to talk nonsense... I'll teach you to gossip..."
The situation was completely out of control.
Ji Yan screamed and jumped to avoid the broom: "Your Xie Tang is such a jerk..."
In the chaos, Xie Kun loosened the dog's leash.
The country dog barked wildly and charged at Ji Yan, baring its teeth as if to bite her.
Ji Yan was terrified and scrambled into the car, then drove away in a disheveled state.
Yuan Aochun leaned on the broom, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently, his face turning from red to white.
She clutched her chest suddenly, and her body fell straight backward like a puppet with its strings cut!
"Aochun—" Xie Kun was terrified. He rushed over and hugged her limp body, shouting hoarsely, "Quick! Call an ambulance!!"
...
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