Chapter 11: Hesitation Leads to Defeat

Upon arriving at Yiren Group, Lu Ye followed his usual routine—air conditioning, WiFi, and mobile games. Meanwhile, Su Qianqian was swamped in the chairman’s office. With the year drawing to a close, clients were frantically pressing for revised proposals. Yiren Group’s main business focused on real estate, with three different projects under development at once—a truly staggering workload.

After two light knocks, a graceful and refined female assistant hurried in.

“President Su, something terrible has happened!”

Su Qianqian glanced up and asked, “What is it? Don’t panic, just explain slowly.”

The assistant swallowed heavily, organizing her words before speaking. “Today was supposed to be the day we settled the first phase of payments with the contractor, but last night, that entire fund vanished from our accounts—one hundred million in total!”

“There’s not a single cent left we can move around!”

Su Qianqian was stunned. “Who did it?”

The assistant replied, “Chen Ming from Finance and Liu Jian from Procurement both didn’t show up today. They each submitted their resignations via email to HR. I suspect they’re involved.”

“Where did the money go? Did it end up in their personal accounts? Apply to the bank to freeze the funds immediately!”

The assistant shook her head. “No, the money was transferred to an account belonging to Yun Jie Building Materials, and it was done through a legitimate transaction. The bank says there are no grounds to freeze the funds.”

“Yun Jie Building Materials? Isn’t that Zhang Yunjie’s company?” Su Qianqian’s face changed dramatically. She never imagined that the heads of both Finance and Procurement in her own company were actually Zhang family plants.

Liu Jian from Procurement had signed a contract for one hundred million in building materials with Zhang Yunjie, representing Yiren Group. Then Chen Ming from Finance swiftly processed the payment, diverting the money meant for the contractors into Yun Jie Building Materials’ account. This left a gaping hole in Yiren Group’s finances.

This was clearly corporate espionage. Su Qianqian could, of course, sue, but the process—from filing the lawsuit to the final verdict—could take forever.

Even if, in the best-case scenario, Yiren Group won the lawsuit, before the court could enforce the judgment, Zhang Yunjie could find countless excuses to delay repayment.

If Yiren Group didn’t have enough liquidity to survive this period, the contractors who weren’t paid would take the company to court, and unpaid workers would file for labor arbitration. Yiren Group could end up utterly ruined.

Su Qianqian’s head throbbed with pain.

Just then, Su Shanglin suddenly appeared at the office door, with a defiant young man in tow—Su Shanglin’s illegitimate son, Su Zijun.

The assistant tactfully withdrew, closing the door behind her.

Su Shanglin immediately pressed, “Qianqian, I’m giving you two choices: hand over Yiren Group and let Zijun become chairman, or compromise with the Zhang family and marry Zhang Shao!”

This was also the Zhang family and the Hongying Society’s intention. Their proposed marriage alliance was always a means to seize control of Yiren Group. As long as they gained the company, whether Su Qianqian married Zhang Yunjie didn’t really matter.

It was clear Su Shanglin now stood firmly with the Zhangs. But why would the Zhang family agree to let Su Zijun take over Yiren Group? Without Su Qianqian as a bargaining chip for marriage, how could the Zhangs and Sus solidify their alliance?

Could it be… Zhang Yunjie was planning to marry Su Zijun instead?

The Zhang family’s actions were despicable, but what made Su Qianqian even more disgusted was her own grandfather’s willingness to aid and abet them.

Su Zijun lazily perched himself on her desk, flashing a wicked smile. “Cousin, a wise person knows when to yield. Hand over the chairman’s position to me. After all, we’re both Su family—better that than being married off to the Zhangs as their servant, right?”

Both Su Zijun and Su Shanglin were convinced Su Qianqian had no other options. A hundred million shortfall—how could she possibly fill that? A loan? Yiren Group was already running on borrowed money; there was no way they could get another hundred million from the bank.

“Su Zijun, don’t call me cousin. It makes me sick.”

With a cold frost settling over her features, Su Qianqian forced back her fury. “Get out of my office. Now.”

Su Zijun sneered. “Still pretending to be above it all? Throw us out if you like—will that fill the hundred-million-dollar hole?”

Su Shanglin simply sat on the sofa, making it clear he intended to stay as long as it took. “Qianqian, will you hand over Yiren Group or marry Zhang Shao? We’re not leaving without an answer.”

Su Qianqian took a deep breath, grabbed the phone, and rang Security, shouting, “Lu Ye, there are people causing trouble in my office!”

“I’ll be right there!”

Half a minute later—

Bang!

The office door was kicked open from the outside, and in strode Lu Ye, wielding a black stun baton. Without a word, he unleashed a barrage of one hundred thousand volts!

Crackling electricity surged through Su Shanglin and Su Zijun before they even saw who it was, and both collapsed instantly, foaming at the mouth and convulsing on the floor.

Lu Ye then grabbed Su Zijun by the collar with his left hand and Su Shanglin by the tie with his right, dragging them into the elevator like dead dogs, his movements so smooth and practiced it was as if he’d done it a thousand times.

Back in the chairman’s office, Lu Ye dusted off his hands and grinned at Su Qianqian. “All done. Anything else you need?”

Su Qianqian was momentarily stunned. “Don’t male leads usually exchange some trash talk with the villains before fighting? Why did you just get straight to it?”

Lu Ye pursed his lips. “Hesitation leads to defeat!”

“…”

Su Qianqian called Su Shiming to explain what had just happened, and to borrow some money from her father in hopes of saving the company. That was when she learned Su Shiming had resigned as general manager of the Su Group and left empty-handed—there was no way he could come up with a hundred million.

“Qianqian, I only have about twenty million on hand. If I sell the house and car, I might scrape together fifty million… I’m sorry, that’s all I have.”

Su Qianqian’s gaze dulled as she slumped back in her chair, utterly at a loss.

Suddenly, Lu Ye took the phone from her hand and asked, “Father-in-law, are you still there?”

“Don’t rush to sell your assets. It’s just a hundred million—I’ll take care of it.”

Su Qianqian froze, unable to believe what she’d heard. “What did you say?”

Lu Ye replied, “I’ll cover the hundred million shortfall for you.”

A strange emotion flickered in Su Qianqian’s eyes, only to darken again.

“Thank you, but you don’t need to comfort me like this. I’m not at the end of my rope.” She assumed he was only trying to make her feel better. After all, earning a hundred million wasn’t as easy as setting a random goal.

She’d seen him bluff a million out of Xu Sanlong yesterday and win five million from Lin Zhongze, which already seemed unbelievable. How could another hundred million just fall from the sky?

At that moment, another call came to Su Qianqian’s phone—from an unfamiliar number.

She answered warily, “Hello?”

“Hey, campus belle Su! It’s your old classmate Lin Bei, remember me?”

Su Qianqian thought for a moment and vaguely recalled a high school classmate named Lin Bei, whose family owned a mine and had pursued her for quite some time.

“Oh, what’s up?”

“I heard about your trouble. If you need funds, maybe I can help. Will you do me the honor of joining me for a meal? We can discuss it in person.”

A hint of excitement flashed in Su Qianqian’s eyes. “Sure, when and where?”

“Noon, twelve o’clock, Hilton Hotel. Don’t be late.”

After hanging up, Su Qianqian suddenly felt a wave of resentment wash over her.

“Hey! Why are you glaring at me?”

Lu Ye said resentfully, “It’s one thing not to trust me, but you’re willing to believe some so-called old classmate? And have lunch with him?”

Su Qianqian rolled her eyes. “Since when did having lunch with an old classmate become any of your business?”

“Lu Ye, don’t forget you’re just a shield I hired. I won’t meddle in your private life, and you have no right to interfere in mine!”

“Damn it! I’m just worried you’ll get scammed! You think I care about you?”

Lu Ye was fuming.

“Lin Bei’s family owns a mine—why would he need to scam me? Stop projecting your own pettiness onto others. Go get the car ready and drive me to the Hilton!”

Lu Ye slammed the car keys on the table. “I’m not going. Drive yourself.”

“Cheapskate!” Su Qianqian snatched up the keys and left the office alone.

Lu Ye was livid.

You ungrateful old woman! You can’t recognize a good heart when you see one!

Just you wait!