Chapter 81 Ah Tang, we won't...
Two days later, the Cisco Group shareholders' meeting was held as scheduled.
Despite being seriously ill, Qin Ruhai attended the event.
The core issue of the meeting was to vote on the proposal for Xie Tang to join the group as a major shareholder.
The voting result was unexpected—all shareholders unanimously approved it.
Xie Tang harbored doubts, unsure whether Chu Song had orchestrated everything behind the scenes.
In any case, she officially became Cisco's largest shareholder.
However, the shareholders' meeting also set a strict condition: if she could not lead the company to turn around its losses within two years, she would not be able to officially take over the company.
This heavy burden weighed heavily on her shoulders.
The meeting ended, the crowd dispersed, and only Qin Ruhai and Xie Tang remained in the large conference room.
The successive blows seemed to have completely crushed Qin Ruhai.
His body was hunched over, his eyes were sunken, and his former refined demeanor was gone, leaving only a face full of deep vicissitudes and weariness.
In the days that followed, Xie Tang was as busy as a spinning top.
She had to suspend her law firm's new cases and devote all her energy to Cisco.
Her primary task was to conduct a comprehensive legal due diligence on the group, and she planned to start with the company's governance structure, carrying out sweeping reforms to outdated systems and processes.
However, her reform plan was met with fierce opposition from Luo Nian as soon as it was proposed.
His face was grim, and his words were sharp: "President Xie, your actions are too drastic and too hasty! This involves the core interests of too many people! Rome wasn't built in a day, and Cisco has had its problems for many years. Do you think you can cut them off with a few quick moves? It's impossible without three to five years!"
He didn't hold back in pouring cold water on the idea.
Xie Tang was seething with anger, so she went to ask her teacher, Li Qing. Li Qing agreed with Luo Nian's approach and told her not to rush things.
She suppressed her anger and temporarily slowed down the pace of rectification.
However, the key to turning the company around lies in its business operations, which is like the blind men and the elephant for someone with no business experience, leaving her overwhelmed and frustrated.
Life moves forward amidst busyness and setbacks.
A few days later, Qin Wu's phone call broke the temporary calm.
At the hospital entrance, Qin Wu stood with a cigarette between her fingers, her face full of worry.
"What's wrong?" Xie Tang quickly stepped forward.
Qin Wu's voice trembled with helplessness, "...Dad had a stroke."
Xie Tang's heart skipped a beat. She leaned against the cold wall, trying her best to remain calm: "Weren't you fine just a few days ago?"
“I had a huge fight with my mom this morning, thankfully the surgery was in time.” Qin Wu paused, almost overwhelmed by immense fear and grief, “But the doctor said… the situation is very dangerous, even if I pull through… I might… be paralyzed.”
This sudden bad news caught Xie Tang off guard: "What were you arguing about?"
Mentioning her mother, Ji Yan, Qin Wu could no longer hold back her tears, her grievances and resentment pouring out: "My dad wants to resign to take responsibility, but my mom absolutely refuses! They've argued about it several times... These past few days, my mom secretly transferred all the property, cars, and savings under his name, and even tried to trick him into selling his Cisco shares! After my dad found out... the two of them..."
Qin Wu choked up and couldn't continue.
She dared not tell Xie Tang that outside the operating room, when the doctor announced that her father's chances of survival were slim, her mother, Ji Yan, was actually in a corner... praying that her husband would die soon.
At that moment, Qin Wu felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her heart chilled to the bone.
More than 20 years of marriage couldn't withstand the coldness of money when faced with a life-or-death situation.
Her mother's deep-seated selfishness and indifference shattered all her illusions about family.
Two days later, Qin Ruhai woke up.
For Qin Wu, it was a joyous relief after surviving a disaster, but for Ji Yan, it was a catastrophe—Qin Ruhai suffered severe aftereffects of a stroke: hemiplegia, facial distortion, and slurred speech, requiring immense effort to utter even a simple sentence.
For the proud and arrogant Qin Ruhai, this was a blow more cruel than death.
Qin Wu suppressed her grief and repeatedly comforted her father, saying he would get better.
She knew she had to hold on and be her father's last support.
Ji Yan, however, merely watched coldly, her eyes devoid of any warmth, filled only with an unyielding resentment.
Once her father's condition had stabilized somewhat, Qin Wu finally managed to find Xie Tang in the hospital garden.
The two remained silent for a long time on the bench.
Xie Tang spoke first: "What brings you to me this time?"
"My dad...made a will." Qin Wu's voice was very low.
"Hmm." Xie Tang's reaction was indifferent; she had never dared to hope that her name would be in Qin Ruhai's will.
“He left his remaining assets to me, my younger brother and sister and me… nothing to my mother. After he was scammed, he didn’t actually have much left, but it was enough for my mother to live on… but she didn’t care about the money, she cared about the Cisco shares and wanted to sell them for money.”
Qin Wu looked at Xie Tang and said the crux of the matter with difficulty, "He transferred all his Cisco Group shares... to us three siblings, saying he wanted to give them to us..."
Xie Tang's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly before returning to calm, and he simply nodded.
Qin Wu felt immense injustice and grievance for Xie Tang.
Why was her father so cruel to her?
Has he really forgotten that Xie Tang is also his flesh and blood?
This equity should be given to Xie Tang, both morally and logically!
She mustered her courage and said, "I've discussed these shares with the two of them. The shares will be transferred to you, and you can set the price."
More than equity, she needs cash to secure her future.
This was the purpose of her meeting with Xie Tang today.
Xie Tang smiled gently, a smile that carried both relief and detachment: "Okay."
Her gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling a distant past. "When I was little, I was very naughty, which probably made him think I wasn't a well-behaved child, so he never really liked me. Later, when Grandpa gave me his shares, he became even more... He didn't treat me like a daughter, and I stopped acknowledging him as my father a long time ago. It's fair, no one owes anyone anything."
She turned back to look at Qin Wu, "You... won't give up on him, right?"
Qin Wu nodded vigorously.
Xie Tang smiled with a complicated expression: "Qin Ruhai... is truly blessed to have a daughter like you."
"My dad... really wasn't a good father to you..." Qin Wu realized her slip of the tongue and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, I'm not bragging, but he was indeed good to me. Now that he's like this... my mom doesn't care, but I can't ignore it."
“Okay,” Xie Tang said understandingly. “The contract is ready. I’ll send it to you. I have something to do, so I’ll be going now.”
Qin Wu watched her walk away and returned to the ward. Qin Ruhai was awake, staring blankly out the window.
She poured him some water, but he shook his head and refused.
"Dad, Xie Tang came by just now," Qin Wu said softly.
Qin Ruhai slowly turned his head, his eyes questioning.
“I asked her to come.” Qin Wu hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question that had been bothering her, “Dad, why aren’t the shares given to her? You clearly know she has the ability to take Cisco much further…”
Qin Ruhai nodded very slowly, his words slurred but unusually certain: "She...is capable...your grandfather...has a...sharp eye..."
Qin Wu felt even more aggrieved: "Then why?"
She needs a reason that can convince herself.
Qin Ruhai, panting heavily, spoke haltingly and with great difficulty: "She...doesn't lack...she looks down on...what...I...have...that...of...things...you...you...can...only...this...is...all...so...much..."
Qin Wu watched as her father used all his strength to finish speaking these words, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Yes, Xie Tang doesn't lack anything, and she doesn't care about anything else; that's her business.
But as a father, is it right to not give even the slightest bit of care, and to be stingy with even the most basic fairness?
Qin Wu ultimately did not voice this question.
-----------------
Time flies, and June is here in the blink of an eye. Xie Tang's birthday is also approaching.
On her birthday, she worked overtime at the company until nightfall and had a quick dinner in the company cafeteria.
She walked out of the building and, as if possessed, strolled to the entrance of that familiar quiet bar.
For the next few years after graduation, this was my regular place of residence, and I was already familiar with the boss.
As you push open the door, a familiar atmosphere greets you.
The owner greeted us warmly: "What a rare guest! What would you like to drink?"
"Juice," Xie Tang replied habitually.
The owner smiled slyly, turned around and skillfully mixed a low-alcohol cocktail, pushing it towards the shop: "You haven't been here in ages! Was the last time you came when Yin Xi was heartbroken? With you all not coming, my shop has become quite deserted."
Xie Tang looked around and saw many young people at the bar and booths. She smiled and pointed out, "Business is obviously good. I think you could keep it open for another ten years."
"Haha, then thank you for your kind words, lawyer!" The boss laughed heartily.
Upon hearing the words "Attorney Xie," Xie Tang paused slightly.
Her lawyer's license is still registered with the law firm, but she knows that leaving the industry is only a matter of time.
Before we had even truly said goodbye, a feeling of reluctance had already quietly spread.
She still loves being a lawyer, and that initial passion may have stemmed from her grandfather's distant praise—"You have the makings of a lawyer."
On stage, a singer is softly singing a new song, the melody unfamiliar yet moving.
"Ugh, I'm so annoyed to be working so late again. You get on the empty subway, and it's already the last train..."
Two simple lines of lyrics instantly evoked memories of bygone days.
In the first few years after graduation, I spun around like a top, with overtime work, hospitals, courts... all seamlessly connected.
The only respite was the promise made with Yin Xi that if there was no urgent overtime work, we would pick a night, sneak into this quiet bar, order a drink, complain about work, pour out our hearts, and then rush to catch the last subway before the midnight bells.
I don't know when it started, but when life was no longer so chaotic, this sense of ritual of stealing moments of leisure in the midst of busyness, along with Yin Xi's friendship, disappeared.
A song that evoked so many memories; Yin Xi's shadow is in every frame.
From university to the workplace, they were once as close as conjoined twins.
Yin Xi treated her very well.
If it weren't for that drugged drink... perhaps everything would be different.
Unfortunately, what's done is done.
After finishing his drink, Xie Tang bid farewell to the shop owner.
The shopkeeper glanced at his watch and tried to persuade him to stay, saying, "Are you leaving already? Won't you wait a little longer?"
Wait? A bitter smile appeared on Xie Tang's lips.
Who are we waiting for?
She shook her head: "No, I should go home."
After saying that, he waved without turning around and said, "Goodbye."
As the boss watched her departing figure, he said "goodbye" with unusual solemnity, as if he had a premonition that this person who used to be a regular at the bar might really never come back.
Xie Tang wandered aimlessly along the quiet street.
After walking for a long time, she suddenly looked back and saw that the long road behind her was empty, with only the streetlights stretching her lonely shadow.
Those who once walked alongside me—Yin Xi, Gu Chang, and Chu Song… have long since disappeared at the crossroads of their lives.
The thought that their presence would be absent from the journey ahead brought a wave of indescribable bitterness to my heart.
The glow of the streetlights spread out at the end of the road. Yin Xi pushed open the car door and stepped out of the Cayenne.
Her meticulously styled long, wavy hair cascaded down to her waist, and her outfit consisted of luxury brands that she had always envied but never dared to buy due to their high prices. In her hand, she carried the latest Chanel handbag of the season.
She stood silently by the car, her cold gaze following Xie Tang's receding figure, a figure resolute and distant, gradually merging into the night and the crowd ahead.
Deep within my heart, an indescribable expectation quietly grew like a vine—
How she longed for Xie Tang to turn around, even just for a glance, to see her at this moment.
-----------------
Xie Tang wrapped her trench coat tightly around herself, making her figure appear exceptionally thin and aloof.
Chu Song's car, as stubborn and silent as he was, followed her at a distance, like an inescapable shadow.
Looking through the car window at her stubbornly straight back, which seemed somewhat fragile in the night wind, he felt a lingering pain in his heart, as if it were being pricked by fine needles. He longed to rush out of the car, pull her into a tight embrace, and use his body heat to dispel all her weariness and helplessness.
But he knew that the moment his fingertips touched her sleeve, he would only be met with colder alienation and resistance.
Xie Tang doesn't need him now, and doesn't want to see him at all.
For her, the ringing of the clock on her 27th birthday marked not only the beginning of a new year, but also the beginning of a thorny and uncertain path to power.
The business world is treacherous and turbulent, and the road ahead will only be more rugged and difficult than the previous twenty-six years.
Chu Song couldn't bear to see her struggling and sinking alone in this muddy place. He longed to create a safe haven for her, a place where she could still maintain the stubbornness, romance, and freedom she had when they first met.
But he knew better than anyone else that this protection was precisely the constraint she now loathed most.
Perhaps the only thing he can do is let go?
But the thought was quickly suppressed by the resentment and possessiveness surging in his chest!
Let her leave completely? Absolutely not!
Xie Tang suddenly stopped, turned around abruptly, and his cold gaze fell on the black sedan that was following him like a ghost!
The car slowly came to a stop on the side of the road.
Chu Song pushed open the car door and got out. His tall figure, exuding an imposing aura, approached her step by step.
The dim streetlights cast deep shadows on his sharply defined face.
The two stood a few steps apart, facing each other in silence.
Xie Tang broke the silence first, her voice calm and undisturbed: "I have already filed for divorce in court."
"I won't leave!" Chu Song's answer was without hesitation and resolute, "I'd rather die than leave."
He even ignored the boundaries she had deliberately drawn, stepped forward, and with a forceful pull, once again tightly locked her into his embrace!
This time, he hugged her tighter than ever before, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.
"Ah Tang, we won't get a divorce."
Unexpectedly, Xie Tang did not struggle this time, but just stiffly let him hold her, like a lifeless puppet.
Her voice came from close to his chest, carrying a kind of indifference that knew the ending was coming: "But we will eventually part ways, why drag it out?"
"Then let's wait for the judge's final verdict!" Chu Song's voice came from above her head, with a stubborn, obsessive quality. His chin rested on the top of her head, his breath hot. "Until then, you are still my wife!"
Xie Tang finally snapped and shoved him away!
The weariness that had accumulated in her eyes was replaced by a surge of disappointment and heartache: "Chu Song! Why are you so stubborn? Between us... we could have avoided this dead end!"
Her voice trembled, filled with a deep sense of helplessness.
Chu Song was pushed away by her, took a step back to steady himself, his eyes churning with complex pain and an almost obsessive persistence, "I just... wanted to protect you. Since my protection has become a burden to you... I will learn to let you go and fulfill your choice... but not now."
In the end, he still managed to disguise his desire for control under the sugary cloak of "accomplishment."
"when?"
Chu Song looked at her intently and said, word by word, "When you no longer need my 'help,' and you truly have enough power and means to independently take charge of the entire Cisco Group."
This statement is like a spark thrown into an oil drum!
Xie Tang was instantly enraged! Rage surged, burning away her reason!
Even at this moment, he was still condescendingly denying her!
He still believed that she was a fledgling bird who needed his care to take her first steps, and that she was not qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as an equal!
The so-called "letting go" is just a more sophisticated form of control!
They were waiting for her to be "qualified" to receive charity!
"Chu Song!!" Xie Tang pointed at him, trembling with rage, her eyes burning with the flames of humiliation. "Fine! Very well! You just wait!"
She gritted her teeth, uttered harsh words, turned around resolutely, hailed a taxi, and disappeared into the neon-lit depths.
Xie Tang returned to the old house left by her grandfather, a place filled with memories, and spent her twenty-seventh birthday with her loving grandparents, forcing a smile.
The candles flickered, and the old man asked with concern, "Where's Asong? Why didn't he come to celebrate your birthday with you?"
Xie Tang lowered her eyelashes, concealing the pain in her eyes, and said calmly, "He has too many things to do at his company and can't get away."
She dared not utter a single word about the divorce, or about those unsavory schemes and betrayals.
She didn't want the elderly to worry about her anymore, and she didn't want them to see the same regret they had felt when they looked at their mothers back then, for "meeting the wrong person."
However, the storm did not subside as the birthday candles went out.
The next day, in the Cisco Group's senior management conference room.
An invisible tension filled the huge circular conference table.
As the biggest "variable," Chu Song's presence itself carried a sense of impending doom.
The meeting quickly turned to the new management structure and strategic direction.
Just as some shareholders expressed doubts about Xie Tang's leadership ability, Chu Song calmly presented a document in front of him.
It was that "equity swap and entrusted management agreement" that once represented "security" but now seems ironic.
"Regarding Ms. Xie Tang's 43% stake in Cisco Systems and the subsequent ownership of management rights, I think it is necessary to clarify something."
Chu Song's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the noise of the conference room, instantly attracting everyone's attention.
He picked up the agreement and, without any hesitation, slammed the core clauses onto the huge solid wood table in front of everyone!
That gesture was almost a public humiliation!
"According to this effective exchange agreement signed by both parties, Ms. Xie Tang has irrevocably entrusted me with all voting rights and management rights of her 43% stake in Cisco Group!"
Xie Tang felt a "buzz" in his brain, as if he had been struck hard by a thunderbolt!
Blood rushed to his head in an instant, then quickly receded, and his face turned deathly pale!
She never imagined that Chu Song would be here, in such a naked and cruel way, to expose her embarrassing experience of falling into a trap because of "affection"!
She raised her head, her eyes fixed on Chu Song's handsome yet indifferent face, filled with unbelievable anger and a hatred that seemed to want to tear him apart!
He personally pushed her onto the board's judgment seat, letting her be tortured by gazes that were either sympathetic or contemptuous!
Chu Song met her gaze; his deep eyes were like a bottomless, icy pool, calm to the point of cruelty, revealing not a ripple.
That gaze seemed to say: This is reality.
Luo Nian sat in the side seat, his eyes behind his glasses suddenly narrowing as his gaze quickly swept back and forth between Xie Tang's pale face and Chu Song's cold, hard profile.
He sighed silently to himself: This situation is so complicated that there seems to be no solution!
An uproar erupted in the meeting room!
Several shareholders who were already pessimistic about Xie Tang wore expressions of "I knew it," and voiced their opinions one after another:
"That's more like it!"
"With President Chu personally in charge of management, Cisco's revival is absolutely just around the corner!"
"Miss Xie is still... too young. This arrangement is more prudent!"
Some even directly complimented him: "With President Chu in charge, Cisco will only take another step forward!"
Listening to these comments, Xie Tang felt as if every word was a whip lashing her face.
Humiliation and anger burned within her, turning her initial shock into cold lava.
Just as the noise was about to subside, she suddenly stood up.
The entire conference room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were once again focused on her.
Xie Tang's face showed no trace of loss of composure, but instead an extreme calm, like a volcano beneath the deep sea.
She straightened her back, her gaze slowly sweeping across the room before finally settling steadily on Chu Song's deep, unwavering eyes. "Thank you, President Chu, for your efforts in 'clarifying' responsibilities. However, the shareholding structure seems to require some minor 'updates'."
She paused slightly, noticing the barely perceptible change in Chu Song's eyes—he really knew!
Xie Tang's voice echoed clearly in the silent conference room:
"Just yesterday, I reached an agreement with Mr. Qin Ruhai to acquire his 10% stake in Cisco Systems for a reasonable price. The transaction has been completed and the registration has been finalized! Therefore, I now hold a total of 53% of Cisco Systems' shares, including the 10% transferred by Mr. Qin Ruhai!"
53%! Absolute controlling stake!
Regardless of who holds the 43% management rights, this 10% is the cornerstone of Xie Tang's complete independence, free from any constraints!
The room fell silent once again!
You could hear a pin drop!
The shareholders, who had just been beaming, suddenly had faces that looked like a spilled palette of colors, a truly fascinating sight.
No one expected that this young woman, who seemed to be completely under Chu Song's control, would turn the tables on Chu Song in this desperate situation!
She was not defeated; instead, she instantly gained an overwhelming voting advantage.
Chu Song showed no surprise whatsoever when Xie Tang said "53%".
He simply sat quietly, his gaze still fixed on Xie Tang, without even a tremor in his eyelashes.
This absolute composure is all the more terrifying!
It was as if he had foreseen Xie Tang's move, as if all her struggles were within his game.
He was waiting, waiting for the sound of Xie Tang making his next move.
This silent, pressure-filled eye contact made the air thick and heavy.
After a brief silence, under Luo Nian's guidance, the meeting moved with difficulty to the next agenda item:
Chu Song's proposed layoff plan in response to Cisco's current situation.
When the "optimization list" projected onto the big screen was clearly displayed, Xie Tang's pupils suddenly contracted!
At the top of that list were several senior engineers in their fifties who had served Cisco diligently for decades and possessed the group's core production processes and technical know-how!
"I object to this layoff list!" Xie Tang's clear and decisive voice broke the silence.
She stood up, her gaze sharp as she looked directly at Chu Song: "President Chu, optimizing the structure and reducing costs is understandable. But these key technical personnel..."
She pointed to the names on the screen, “They are the soul of Cisco’s precision manufacturing! They are the ‘living encyclopedias’ of stable process parameters and the transmission of core technologies! Laying them off is tantamount to cutting off our own foundation! In the short term, it may seem to reduce labor costs, but in the long term, it will come at a huge cost: decreased product stability, a break in the transmission of technology, and even being poached by competitors! I strongly oppose this short-sighted approach!”
Her rebuttal was clear and logical, her words forceful and precise, hitting the nail on the head regarding the conflict between technology transfer and short-term gains.
Chu Song slowly raised her eyes, meeting Xie Tang's unyielding and challenging gaze.
His long, slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, producing a rhythmic tapping sound. Finally, a cold, scrutinizing light appeared in his unfathomable eyes.
At the eye of the storm, the two stood silently facing each other across a long conference table.
The temperature in the conference room seemed to have dropped to freezing point.
Everyone held their breath.
The shareholders' meeting was temporarily adjourned in an extremely oppressive atmosphere.
The controversial layoff list was temporarily shelved, but the silent tension in the meeting room seemed to solidify, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
Xie Tang packed up the documents and left the table first, expressionless.
She walked straight to the private elevator, her fingertips trembling slightly as she pressed the button.
The stairwell door opened with a click, and as soon as she stepped inside, a tall and imposing figure followed closely behind, squeezing in almost shoulder to shoulder with her—it was Chu Song.
The stairwell doors slowly closed, isolating everything outside.
Inside the cramped car, the air instantly became thin and viscous.
The aggressive aura unique to Chu Song, like an invisible spider web, tightly wrapped around him.
Xie Tang immediately took a step back, pressing her body against the cold metal staircase wall to maximize the distance between them, as if avoiding some deadly source of pollution.
She turned her head to look at the jumping numbers, her eyes as indifferent as if she were looking at thin air.
Chu Song seemed completely oblivious, and even took a half-step closer to her, seemingly unintentionally.
His tall figure was extremely imposing in the small space. He looked down at Xie Tang, whose jaw was taut and whose profile was as cold as an ice sculpture.
His unfathomable eyes churned with complex and unfathomable emotions—admiration for her sharp breakthrough today, annoyance at her stubbornness and aloofness, and a burning obsession with "control".
"The suggestion made at the meeting just now," Chu Song's deep voice echoed in the enclosed space, carrying a trace of his usual composed demeanor as he tried to control the pace, "was not intended to be at odds with you."
He paused, seemingly considering his words, "That list is just one of the options."
Xie Tang's gaze remained unmoved, still fixed on the rapidly changing number keys, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Chu Song continued, his tone deliberately slowed, as if he were considering your best interests: "Cisco... this ship is too big, with too many hidden reefs. You've just taken over, your footing is not yet firm, the shareholders have different ideas, and the departments are entangled... rashly intervening in specific management is too easy to be manipulated, and it's also easier to make mistakes."
He turned slightly to the side, trying to catch her gaze. "Listen to me, give me some time. I will stabilize the situation, completely clear away those obstacles, and solidify the foundation."
He leaned forward slightly, trying to create an atmosphere of open communication: "You don't need to rush into battle. You can use this time to study at the best business school and systematically learn corporate management and strategic decision-making. Or, I can teach you myself."
He emphasized the word "personally," with an undeniable sense of superiority: "When you return after completing your studies, Cisco will be a completely different stage, entirely yours, and truly in need of you. Only then will you be able to take charge of it with ease and confidence."
This seemingly thoughtful and comprehensive arrangement is permeated with a condescending control and an unspoken denial—denying her current abilities and her right to make her own choices.
It was as if he was saying: You can sit back and enjoy the fruits of others' labor, while I do the hard and dirty work. Once you've become "qualified," you can then reap the rewards that belong to you.
Xie Tang finally responded.
She slowly turned her head, her cool gaze piercing into Chu Song's eyes, which were trying to convey "warmth".
Those eyes were too clear, too sharp, instantly piercing through his calculations hidden beneath the sugar coating.
"I appreciate Mr. Chu's kindness." Xie Tang's voice was not loud, but it was like a cold polar wind, instantly freezing all the "warmth" that Chu Song was trying to create.
“I will not give up the opportunity to learn. But when to learn, where to learn, and what to learn,” she said, emphasizing each word, “that is my own business. Don’t worry about it.”
“As for Cisco,” she slightly raised her chin, her eyes revealing a tempered resolve and coldness, “it is my grandfather’s life’s work, and the responsibility I bear. Whether the road ahead is fraught with open or hidden dangers, or a thorny swamp, I must face it all myself! I don’t need anyone to clean up after me, nor do I need anyone to ‘lay the foundation’ for me. My abilities, how far I can go, and whether I can ‘handle it with ease’ will be proven by myself in real-world situations, not by learning or waiting under someone else’s wings!”
Every word was like a sharp shovel, ruthlessly severing all the tendrils of help Chu Song tried to offer, and also eradicating his thoughts of temporarily putting her aside.
"So," Xie Tang concluded, "put away your proposal, put away your business school, and put away all your unnecessary 'good intentions.' I will not relinquish control of Cisco under any circumstances. As for the part you're representing, you'd better 'behave yourself,' otherwise your 53% voting rights could be exercised at any time."
This was the first time she had explicitly threatened him with shares.
"bite--"
The elevator arrived at the first floor and the doors opened.
Xie Tang stopped looking at Chu Song's face, which had suddenly become stiff and gloomy, and squeezed out through the gap in space that he had deliberately blocked without hesitation. The movement was swift and clean, bringing with it a breeze.
That slender yet straight back, without a trace of lingering, quickly merged into the flow of people in the hall.
Chu Song stood still, his finger still resting on the control panel.
The elevator doors slowly closed in front of him, trapping him alone in this failed cage built by arrogance and a desire for control.
He stared in the direction Xie Tang had disappeared, and the raging dark storm in his eyes seemed to have subsided somewhat, replaced by a heavier, more burning sense of defeat and... a painful ripple called "appreciation" that even he himself had not noticed.
He pressed hard with his knuckles, his fingertips digging deeply into the cold elevator floor buttons, the sharp edges of the metal causing a painful ache.
One move off guard.
His relentless pursuit of control was ultimately defeated by her independent will, which was gradually severed from her control.
-----------------
Inside the banquet hall, crystal chandeliers reflected a glittering light, and the air was filled with the scents of expensive perfumes and alcohol.
Luo Nian led Xie Tang through a scene of elegantly dressed women, introducing her to several important clients.
These seasoned veterans of the business world, looking at the excessively young female leader before them, whose brows still held a hint of naiveté yet who feigned composure, all harbored a degree of scrutiny and disdain.
"Chairman Xie is truly young and promising!" Mr. Wang, the general manager of Hongtu Semiconductor, held up his wine glass, smiling broadly, but his eyes held a blatant probing. "I've heard that Chairman Qin has unique skills in the field of precision etching. I wonder how much of that expertise the current R&D team has retained? Our collaborative project on the 3-nanometer process line requires extremely high stability. Cisco's current yield rate..."
He paused deliberately, looking at Xie Tang meaningfully.
Mr. Lin, the general manager of another company specializing in logistics for shipments to Europe and the United States, also enthusiastically chimed in: "Yes, Mr. Xie, Cisco's overseas channels have changed drastically in the past few years, damaging its reputation. Our newly launched European chip delivery project has extremely stringent requirements for our partners' risk resistance and customs clearance efficiency. I wonder if your company..."
Before he could finish speaking, someone nearby immediately started cheering, "President Lin is right! Come on, Chairman Xie, cooperation requires sincerity, you have to drink this glass!"
One glass of amber liquid after another was forcefully pushed in front of Xie Tang.
The spicy liquid slid down his throat, burning his stomach lining and also burning Xie Tang's pride.
She tried her best to maintain a polite smile, but her thinking began to become sluggish under the influence of alcohol.
Those tricky professional questions were like an invisible net, enveloping her. Every vague answer of "I don't know" or "I still need to work harder" drew undisguised contempt and distrust in the other party's eyes.
Her cheeks were flushed with alcohol and humiliation, and her slender fingers clenched tightly under the table.
She knew that in the eyes of these seasoned veterans, she was like a child carrying a gold ingot in a bustling city—weak, powerless, and... laughable.
Chu Song was at the other end of the banquet hall, surrounded by a group of equally prominent people.
His gaze seemed casual, but it swept over Xie Tang several times.
He saw her delicate brows furrow as she was forced to drink, saw her slight trembling as she tried to remain calm, and saw the disdain in the eyes of those older men.
An indescribable sense of anxiety and violence surged within him.
For a fleeting moment, he almost stepped over and splashed that annoying glass of wine on Mr. Wang's greasy face.
But in the end, he clenched his fists and forced himself to look away.
Let her suffer, let her taste the blood.
Only in this way can she grow fangs.
When Luo Nian pulled Xie Tang out of the encirclement on the grounds that "Chairman Xie is not a good drinker," Xie Tang's steps were unsteady, and she barely managed to maintain her composure.
The next day, an exquisite invitation, delivered anonymously by Chu Song's assistant, arrived on Xie Tang's desk. It was an invitation to a private dinner for several key figures who were highly influential in the semiconductor industry chain and global strategic layout.
The list is frighteningly accurate, and it happens to be the key links that Cisco most needs to streamline.
Chu Song did not intervene in her disheveled state, but instead handed her a knife in this way.
In the cutthroat world of commerce, no one can remain untainted.
Position and strength are the only tickets to earning respect.
Back at Cisco, the iceberg of reality is even heavier.
The technical backbone is confused about the future due to the layoff rumors (although Xie Tang eventually stopped them, the rumors have already shaken people's morale);
Middle management's doubts about the new leader's abilities;
Mountains of contracts and project reports, riddled with obscure terminology and rife with pitfalls…
Every decision is like walking a tightrope; a slight misstep could lead to an abyss.
The feeling of being powerless surged over her like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming her.
Late at night, staring at the glaring red text on the financial statements, the immense pressure caused her to hide in the empty bathroom several times, silently shedding tears.
Just then, Luo Nian invited Xie Tang to dinner alone.
The location was chosen to be a quiet and upscale Japanese restaurant, with tatami rooms ensuring absolute privacy.
"Chairman Xie, you've had a tough time these past few days." Luo Nian personally poured Xie Tang a glass of sake, his tone sincere. "I've seen all the difficulties you've faced. This isn't a matter of your ability, but rather the result of Cisco's long-standing problems coupled with deliberate obstruction from the outside world."
Xie Tang smiled wearily, without denying it.
Luo Nian put down his wine glass, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, looked directly into Xie Tang's eyes, and said solemnly, "I have always believed that the key to solving problems lies in strengthening ourselves. Chairman Xie, you are talented and have great courage, but in the complex game of Cisco, willpower and equity alone are far from enough."
He paused, carefully choosing his words, and said, "I know a mentor at Stanford Graduate School of Business who is a leading figure in semiconductor industry research and global strategic planning. His network covers key political and business circles in Silicon Valley and Europe and the United States. There just happens to be an advanced management training program for emerging entrepreneurs..."
He observed the subtle changes in Xie Tang's expression and continued, "This project will last for a year and a half, and it delves deeply into the cutting-edge concepts and practical cases of Cisco's much-needed technological innovation, supply chain integration, and global strategic layout. More importantly, it provides a top-tier platform to access international connections that truly control core resources. This is incomparable to attending a few conferences and parties in China."
Xie Tang felt a surge of emotion, but her expression remained hesitant.
"I know you're worried about Cisco, but I'm here for you. I will protect Cisco as if it were my own eyes, clearing obstacles, stabilizing operations, and restructuring. I will do my best in everything during your absence. Please go and learn with peace of mind."
His promise was firm and resolute: "As long as I am here, Cisco will always be here... waiting for you to return after you have completed your studies!"
Silence enveloped the exquisite dining table.
The aroma of sake floated in the air.
Xie Tang lowered her eyelashes, watching the slightly swirling, clear liquid in her glass, thinking of the humiliation at the party, the setbacks in management, and the tears in the middle of the night...
After a long while, she raised her head, her eyes showing the exhaustion that had faded from her struggle, as well as a do-or-die determination.
She picked up her glass of wine and gestured to Luo Nian, "Okay. I'll take care of this project. Cisco... I'll leave it to you for now."
A few days later, the Stanford University acceptance letter lay quietly on Xie Tang's desk.
She picked up a pen and signed her name on the visa application documents.
Outside the window, the familiar city lights shone.
But her gaze had already turned to the unknown, yet potentially transformative, stormy sea on the other side of the distant ocean.
There was no omnipresent shadow of Chu Song there, but there were storms that she had to conquer with her own hands.
This temporary departure is for a triumphant return, a return in even greater glory.
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