Hu Ling played everyone, including Chen Zhe.
Only after obtaining these equity agreements did she reveal her true purpose, which essentially put Chen Zhe in a very difficult position.
Mu Wanzhi wanted to use this treasure to offset the losses of Donghai Bank, allowing it to continue operating normally. Then, through the Linglong Chamber of Commerce, she planned to rescue those companies on the verge of bankruptcy so they could continue repaying their loans.
Wan Ya also wanted to reduce layoffs in Donghai companies through the Linglong Chamber of Commerce.
Both of them wanted to pave the way for their future through the Linglong Chamber of Commerce, but they never expected that they would be the ones being used by Hu Ling. Hu Ling used them to get her hands on the shares of those companies.
She didn't care about the fate of those companies at all; for her, she absolutely couldn't afford to lose money.
"Trying to get benefits from me isn't that easy, Chen Zhe. You've done a great job this time. If it weren't for you, it would have taken me much longer to get these things."
She patted Chen Zhe on the shoulder, indicating her approval of his work this time.
Chen Zhe shook her hand off.
He was angry.
"Hu Ling, you've really screwed me over! Last night you told me that making them go bankrupt wasn't your goal. Although I don't care whether they go bankrupt or not, Mu Wanzhi will definitely hold me accountable, and Wan Ya will turn against me because of this. I promised them that I would handle this matter properly, but now you're telling me that it was all a lie and that you broke your promise!"
"How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to speak to me like that!"
Hu Ling was very unhappy that Chen Zhe addressed her by her full name.
"I fucking can't take this anymore! It's been like this since before. When you were kidnapped, I went through so much trouble to rescue you. I was completely loyal to you, but what did you do? You put a tracking device on me, trying to kill me! Then you faked your death, and I finally managed to get Linglong Club back on track, and then you suddenly reappeared and changed everything, making me the target of everyone's hatred. And now you're doing the same thing. I finally managed to establish a good working relationship with Mu Wanzhi and Wan Ya, but what did you do? How am I supposed to face people after this? Those two women will hate me to death when they see those companies go bankrupt!"
Hu Ling squinted at the furious Chen Zhe; "So, you've been blaming me all along?"
"Can't I blame you? Everyone thinks you're dead. All this hatred you've stirred up will be transferred to me. I'm just a scapegoat for you!"
"Otherwise, what do you think your role is? Your role is to take the blame for me!"
"you!!!!"
Hu Ling's blatant provocation further enraged Chen Zhe.
"Fine! If that's how it is, I quit! Find whoever you want to do the job, but find someone to replace me as CEO. I can't stand it for even a second longer."
"Are you turning against me? Don't forget, you don't have the guts to turn against me. Everything you have now is given to you by me. With just one word from me, you'll be back to being that penniless loser. Is that what you want?"
"Whatever!! I've seen through it all lately. What good is money? It just means a better car, a better house, and people around me being more polite. These are all external things, and they don't really matter. I live in constant fear every day. I don't know when Guan Yingjie will send someone to kill me, or when one of your enemies will stab me in the back. This kind of life is absolutely terrible."
Seeing Chen Zhe's frenzied state, Hu Ling fell into thought.
"You really don't want anything?"
"No!!! I just beg you to let me go."
What if I don't let go?
"Then we might as well go down in flames. Anyway, I don't want to be the scapegoat forever."
In the current situation, Hu Ling really can't find anyone else to replace Chen Zhe. She has been training Chen Zhe for so long, and Chen Zhe knows a lot about her. She can't show her face now. If he really fights her to the death, then her interests will definitely be greatly damaged.
And the worst-case scenario is that Guan Yingjie discovers he is not dead and will definitely come to retaliate in a large-scale attack.
She frowned, her eyes constantly scanning Chen Zhe as she weighed the pros and cons.
[It seems that threatening him like before is no longer working. Judging from his current mood, it looks like he's really going to go all out.]
Chen Zhe felt nervous when Hu Ling remained silent.
But he had to vent his anger. If he were to give in to Hu Ling's threats again, he would live in her shadow for the rest of his life.
Chen Zhe is now gambling that Hu Ling won't fight him to the death. He has nothing to lose, while Hu Ling has something to wear. If she completely abandons him now, it will definitely have a big impact on Linglong Club, because she can't show her face at all. She's practically a "dead person" now.
The silence lasted for 10 minutes.
Hu Ling took a deep breath and looked into Chen Zhe's eyes; "I'll compromise. You don't need to return the card I gave you before. With that card, you don't need to take out a loan from the bank. You can continue to run your Silin Group. If you do well, the company will be yours, and I won't interfere."
Chen Zhe shook his head; "If you use those companies to get loans, it will increase their burden, and those companies will definitely go bankrupt. Those two women will definitely hold me accountable. What use is it if I manage to manage the Silin Group well? Can I survive in Donghai?"
If, as Hu Ling said, she really used the equity of those companies to take out loans, then those companies would definitely go bankrupt. If so many companies went bankrupt, how could Mu Wanzhi, the bank president, and Wan Ya, the district head of the East District, continue to hold their positions? If she ruined their careers, they would definitely come after her.
Hu Ling frowned.
“I’ve already taken a big step back. It’s impossible for you to make me give up this plan. You want to fight me to the death? Fine, I’m not afraid of you. At worst, I’ll face Guan Yingjie head-on. When I was young, I dared to stab him with a knife, and I still have that courage now.”
It was impossible to get Hu Ling to give up this plan. She had been planning it for a long time. She opened the Linglong Club and had been using various means to seize shares in other companies, all for this day. If she had this money, she could do something even bigger, such as completely destroying the government.
"Okay, then I'll compromise. I'd like to ask you to give me some time; I want to do some things."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I want to fulfill my promise and revitalize all those companies."
Hearing Chen Zhe's words, Hu Ling felt that this was a huge joke.
"Hahaha, Chen Zhe, I thought you had changed a lot since you followed me, but I didn't expect you to still be so naive. Those companies going bankrupt is a market trend, it's irreversible. You can't fight the market. What's the point of doing these futile things?"
"Do I have any other choice? You've burdened me with too much responsibility. I want to survive, so this is the only thing I can do."
To outsiders, his rise from a lowly employee to the president of Linglong Club is incredibly glamorous and the pinnacle of his life.
But only Chen Zhe knew the bitterness in his heart. Every step he took was pushed by Hu Ling. This woman had a firm grip on him. If he wanted to save himself, he had to unload the burdens that this woman had placed on him one by one.
Seeing Chen Zhe's serious expression, Hu Ling smiled.
"So how long will it take you?"
Give me a year.
"No, you're overthinking it. I can't wait a year. I can give you a month at most."
"You want me to die in a month?"
"So you want me to die in a year! Don't think of Guan Yingjie as an idiot. This guy dug up my grave. He's the kind of person who's very stubborn. Once he's made up his mind, he'll do it. If I show even the slightest sign of weakness, he'll come after me."
"Give me six months!"
“I’ll give you a maximum of three months. According to the tradition in the capital, he should observe three years of mourning. But this kind of scum will definitely not do that obediently. He will only observe three months at most. So this is my bottom line. I must completely set up the situation when he comes back. Otherwise, not only will I die, but you will also be buried with me. I’m not kidding you. The officials are ruthless. They still dared to take action against our Hu family, no matter how glorious it was. If you don’t have the resources to fight against the officials, then you should run for your life as soon as possible.”
Having said all that, Chen Zhe had no choice but to accept it.
The burden on his shoulders has become even heavier. He hadn't even fully resolved the issues with the Silin Group yet, and now he's carrying the fate of so many other companies on his shoulders. But he has no choice; he just wants to survive.
Mu Wanzhi was not someone to be trifled with. He knew this from the first time he met her, when the bodyguards took away Tang Zihao's girlfriend and his mistress.
What will the outcome be? You don't even need to think about it.
Mu Wanzhi personally secured so many business partnerships for herself; she had staked her future on them. If she lost, her life would be in danger.
Seeing Chen Zhe's worried expression.
Hu Ling chuckled; "Why are you worried about these things? Although Mu Wanzhi is very capable, I can protect you. She won't threaten you."
[How the hell should I believe you???]
This is Chen Zhe's most sincere thought: Hu Ling is like a fox; nothing she says can be trusted. She says she'll protect him now, but she might push him out the next second. Only a fool would believe her. It's better to take your own destiny into your own hands.
After much thought, Chen Zhe concluded that if anyone could help him, it could only be Xie Laodao.
He didn't know why he thought that way, but Xie Laodao was indeed the person who came to mind subconsciously.
...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com