Chapter 99 Undercurrent
Since leaving the hospital that day, Chu Yan has been busy.
On the one hand, the backlog of reports and data analysis after the scientific expedition was over required a great deal of his energy. On the other hand, and more importantly, he could clearly sense that since the last time he unlocked the system, the world's repulsion towards him was growing. An invisible sense of pressure constantly lingered around him. If it weren't for the three incredibly strong "threads" between him, Gu Ye, Gu Xu, and even Chu Yu, firmly anchoring him to this world, he suspected that he might wake up one morning to find himself forcibly expelled by the world's rules and thrown directly back into the settlement space of the mission bureau.
Time was running out. He had to speed up.
In the ever-changing business world, half a year is enough to change many situations.
Gu Ye had already secured his position as Gu's heir apparent through his iron fist and increasingly sophisticated political tactics. While still nominally the deputy general manager, actual power was quietly and undeniably concentrated in his hands. He only needed to wait for the right moment to complete the final coronation.
Meanwhile, Jinshi Investment, controlled by Chu Yan, was quietly stirring up the Gu Group's troubled waters. Using several seemingly unrelated accounts, they were covertly absorbing Gu Group's outstanding shares in the secondary market. With extreme caution, each account's shareholding was precisely controlled below the threshold for a takeover bid, evading all regulatory scrutiny and the internal vigilance of Gu Group. After months of slow, dispersed investment, their combined stake had quietly reached 13%. This was an undercurrent capable of tipping the balance of power at a crucial moment.
Gu Ye led the public confrontation. He began to systematically contact representatives of the Gu family's collateral branches, who held equity but had long been suppressed by the main family. However, he was not able to personally attend many sensitive and critical events.
So, Chu Yan became the most suitable "white glove".
Inside a private room in a high-end private club, the lights were soft, yet the atmosphere was filled with an invisible tension. Chu Yan pushed open the door at the appointed time, but the person sitting inside caused a subtle flash of surprise in his eyes.
It turned out to be Gu Qian.
The elite from the Gu family's side branch who was trusted by Gu Hongyuan and was sent to snipe Gu Ruichuang Technology.
When Gu Qian saw Chu Yan, she stood up calmly, with a professional smile on her face, and extended her hand to him: "Mr. Chu, I have long heard of your name."
Chu Yan instantly calmed down and returned the polite handshake: "I never expected that the person I'd see when I opened the door would be Mr. Gu. Nice to meet you."
"Mr. Chu, you're joking," Gu Qian smiled slightly and sat down gracefully. "Today, I'm just representing some of the shareholders of Gu Corporation to discuss a deal with Mr. Chu that might be beneficial to both of us."
Their eyes met briefly in mid-air, their smiles concealing a deep, unfathomable plot. Gu Qian, Gu Hongyuan's trusted confidant, was present during a secret meeting with the "enemy," a move that was truly intriguing.
The ensuing conversation became a silent confrontation. Both men were meticulous and witty, each proposal laced with traps, each response flawless. After probing, weighing, yielding, and persisting, they finally reached a delicate balance, reaching a tacit understanding.
After finally agreeing on the basic framework, Gu Qian gracefully stood up and took her leave. As she reached the door of the private room, she paused, looked back at Chu Yan, who was still sitting there, and said meaningfully, "A wise bird chooses the right tree to roost in. Mr. Chu is a wise man, so he naturally understands my choice." With that, she gracefully left.
Chu Yan raised an eyebrow, remaining noncommittal about her suggestion. He didn't move to leave, but rather leisurely sipped the cooling tea in his cup, waiting for the next visitor.
Soon, the door to the private room opened again. This time, the heads of several influential publicity companies entered. Public opinion warfare has been a potent weapon for killing people without spilling blood since ancient times, especially in the battle for hearts and minds. Its power cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, Gu Hongyuan had been in office for many years, leaving behind a wealth of evidence and negative information. If this were not utilized, it would be a waste of resources.
Chu Yan handed over the "materials" he had prepared long ago. He and the other party whispered about the rhythm of the deployment and the direction of guidance, as if they were arranging a carefully choreographed drama. In the end, both parties agreed on a unified time for action.
After seeing them off, the box returned to silence. Chu Yan still hadn't left, as if he were running one buffet after another, patiently waiting for the last guest.
A moment later, the door to the private room opened for the third time. This time, it was Gu Hongyuan's younger brother, Gu Hongjian, who was in charge of investment and financing in the Gu family's core management.
Chu Yan, as the president of Jinshi Investment, greeted him warmly. He avoided any sensitive topics regarding a potential equity dispute, instead presenting a purely business-focused partnership. He stated that Jinshi Investment was very optimistic about the future development of the Gu Group and was willing to provide a substantial strategic investment with favorable terms. The investment was intended to help the main branch of the Gu family further consolidate control, alleviate cash flow pressure, and jointly expand the Gu Group's pie.
His words were extremely tempting, the blueprint he painted was bright and brilliant, and the conditions he offered were generous enough to precisely scratch Gu Hongjian's itch. Indeed, Gu's capital chain had been tight in recent years due to internal friction and poor decision-making.
The two engaged in lengthy discussions about investment details, cooperation methods, and future plans. Chu Yan acted like a young investor genuinely eager to collaborate with a major investor and achieve a win-win situation. His words were filled with admiration for the Gu family's heritage and praise for Gu Hongjian's personal abilities.
Gu Hongjian was initially wary, but his defenses gradually weakened in the face of Chu Yan's increasing sincerity and favorable offers. He looked at the young man and saw a golden opportunity to relieve his own pressure and expand his master's control.
Little did he know, he was walking step by step into a carefully woven web. This seemingly timely investment had long been designed by Chu Yan and Gu Ye to become a noose that would tighten the throat of the Gu family at a critical moment.
After seeing off the satisfied Gu Hongjian, Chu Yan sat alone in the empty box, tapping the table lightly with his fingertips.
Under the light, there was no expression on his handsome face, only a cold and sharp light flashed deep in his eyes.
The trap has been set, the bait has been thrown, and we are just waiting for the prey to step into it.
The time to close the net is approaching.
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