His eyes widened, and he said in a daze, "Stupid! This is simply a wolf's nest!"
I calmly replied, "You can say it's like inviting you to a jar."
He calmed down a bit and said thoughtfully, "What exactly are you planning? I'd like to hear the details."
I explained, "You know, Governor Shen and his faction also want to get involved in City Bank's affairs. They're recommending Tian Zhenyu, firstly to disrupt Boss Yue's plans, and secondly to find opportunities and profit from it. Regardless of their motives, if we reject them outright, it will inevitably intensify the conflict. But if we include Tian Zhenyu, it will save both sides' face and avoid a falling out on the spot, which will make things easier in the future."
Hu Haiyang listened attentively, nodded slightly from time to time, and a thoughtful look gradually appeared in his eyes.
I went on to explain my plan. "Third, until I finish my studies, I can only serve as a figurehead. According to feedback from the people I've placed inside the bank, the current management is rotten to the core—illegal lending, fraudulent financial management, and countless other malpractices. These people are enriching themselves at the expense of the public interest, and the bank is in jeopardy. If Tian Zhenyu takes charge during my return to England, he can clean out these corrupt officials. This unpleasant job will be left to him."
Hu Haiyang reminded him, "This may just be your wishful thinking. How can you ensure that he won't become involved with those people?"
I smiled calmly, "If that's the case, then it's a godsend. I have ample reason to eliminate him. We've been entangled in a grudge for over a decade. It's time to put an end to it."
He pondered, "Is this what you call 'inviting you to the urn'?"
I nodded. "Exactly."
Hu Haiyang still had doubts: "If he becomes too powerful in the next six months and becomes unstoppable, how will you end it?"
I looked at him with a firm gaze: "The righteous path of the world is full of vicissitudes. I always believe that evil cannot prevail over good."
He couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Hongjun, I sometimes think you're a contradiction. Do you really think you're on the side of justice?"
I responded with a playful smile: "I have to give myself a chance to show off."
He put away his smile and said seriously, "It seems you have thought it over carefully. In the absence of a better solution, you might as well give it a try. But will Tian Zhenyu be willing to be inferior to you? What if he doesn't accept it at all?"
I said firmly, "He won't refuse. He's just a pawn on the stage. The people behind the scenes will push him step by step into my game."
Hu Haiyang finally gave a solemn reminder: "Remember, don't underestimate the enemy. So, I will go to see Secretary Qi this afternoon and propose to him that Tian Zhenyu be appointed as the Executive Vice President."
A huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Convincing Hu Haiyang meant I had won Yue Mingyuan's approval, and was one step closer to the "fishing in troubled waters" strategy Zhang Min had envisioned.
Hu Haiyang invited me to have lunch with him, but I found an excuse to decline - I was still thinking about meeting another person.
I met Tian Xinxin in a quiet little restaurant on the outskirts of the city, accompanied by Peng Xiaohui and Hu Jia.
I specifically asked Hu Jia to come to the rescue. First, I wanted to make Peng Xiaohui understand that this young couple was a perfect match, so as to dispel her unfounded suspicion about my relationship with Tian Xinxin. Second, Hu Jia had been working at City Bank for more than half a year and was very familiar with the internal situation. He was the best person for me to understand the current situation of the bank.
The people present at the table were all people I could trust. I first briefed Hu Jia and Tian Xinxin on the content of my meeting with Hu Haiyang, letting them know the current situation. I then arranged the key tasks for my absence—the key was to rein in Tian Zhenyu and not allow him to act recklessly.
During our conversation, I glanced at Peng Xiaohui. She immediately understood and, on some pretext, asked Tian Xinxin to leave with her. As I'd instructed her, she would privately contact Tian Xinxin to ensure the "fake auction, real money" arrangement went off without a hitch.
Taking advantage of the time when they left the table, I turned to Hu Jia and asked in a low voice, "How far along are you and Xinxin now?"
He scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "We get along pretty well. I feel like...she has a crush on me. It's just that thin layer of window paper that hasn't been broken yet."
I gave him a slightly reproachful look. "You're a grown man, and you're waiting for a girl to make the first move? I'm telling you, before I return home next time, you must concentrate your efforts and take this 'high ground' for me."
His face flushed slightly, and he subconsciously straightened his back, but his tone was serious: "Don't worry, leader, I will complete the task!"
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