After the middle-aged man finished speaking, several people immediately expressed their positions.
"I think President Shen is right. For the sake of long-term consideration, we should acquire Chuangke."
"President Qin, you are still too young. You should listen more to President Shen; President Shen has unique vision after all."
"I also support President Shen..."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Qin Wei's expression sank slightly.
The middle-aged man who had just spoken was the company's vice president, Shen Jianfei.
He was also the company's second-largest shareholder.
That Chuangke company was actually just a shell company.
According to Qin Wei's investigation, the head of Chuangke Company was Shen Jianfei's younger brother.
That was why he kept proposing the acquisition of Chuangke, and at a high price at that.
Making their company spend 500 million to acquire a shell company—Shen Jianfei was probably going to pocket a massive kickback from this sum of money.
Qin Wei knew this matter inside and out, but she had no evidence.
If she brought it up at the board meeting, it would definitely mean falling out completely.
She had called Lin Chudong in precisely to resolve this matter and give them a good talking-to.
In case there were any unexpected accidents, Lin Chudong, this stout and strong fellow, could also help out.
"I've been eyeing Hongtu Company for a long time. Are we really going to give up the acquisition plan just because of some Lord Hu Ba?"
Shen Jianfei smiled.
"President Qin, just think about it—such a big company like Hongtu, and they're selling for 300 million?"
"It's precisely because Lord Hu Ba keeps eyeing their company that the employees can't even work normally now."
"If you want to acquire Hongtu, fine. As long as you handle Lord Hu Ba, the board will support you."
A trace of smugness hung on Shen Jianfei's face.
He was fully confident in this matter.
What kind of person was Lord Hu Ba?
He was a notoriously ruthless figure, and basically no company he set his sights on ever came to a good end.
With Qin Wei as just a frail woman, she certainly couldn't solve the problem with Lord Hu Ba.
In the end, everyone on the board would agree to his proposal. After acquiring Chuangke, he would get at least 200 million into his hands. With this money, he could stretch his legs and make even bigger moves.
Turning back to win over a few more directors and replace Qin Wei was also just around the corner.
Qin Wei's expression was gloomy. She knew Shen Jianfei all too well; clearly knowing his intentions, she still had to listen to him here making up high-sounding excuses.
She was just about to slam the table and lose her temper.
Suddenly, Lin Chudong stood up.
"Listening to your nonsense for half the day, it just boils down to not being able to handle that Lord Hu Ba, right?"
"As long as we handle him, you guys will listen to President Qin, is that right?"
Everyone was in the middle of a heated discussion, not expecting Lin Chudong to suddenly stand up and say something like that.
Shen Jianfei frowned.
"What qualifications do you have to speak here?"
Qin Wei said coldly, "He is my fiance, of course he has the qualification to speak here."
Everyone was momentarily stunned, not expecting this man to actually be President Qin's fiance—were they already talking about marriage?
Lin Chudong was also baffled. Weren't they supposed to be just boyfriend and girlfriend? How did he become a fiance?
If his status had been upgraded, he would need a raise.
Shen Jianfei snorted.
"That's right. As long as Lord Hu Ba is dealt with, we will vote in favor of President Qin's proposal with both hands."
Lin Chudong nodded.
"Alright, I get it."
With that, Lin Chudong turned around and walked out of the meeting room.
Lin Chudong left everyone completely bewildered.
Shen Jianfei let out an even exaggerated laugh.
"President Qin, your fiance is quite something."
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Looks like he's going to help solve Lord Hu Ba's problem, huh? Hahaha..."
Shen Jianfei burst into loud laughter, and the other shareholders followed suit.
What level of figure was Lord Hu Ba? Lin Chudong was just an unseasoned punk, and he dared to go deal with him?
Wasn't that seeking his own death?
Qin Wei frowned and said in a low voice, "Jiayu, go stop him!"
"Okay."
Though Chen Jiayu said okay verbally, her pace was very slow, and she didn't take it to heart at all.
With Lin Chudong's martial arts skills, dealing with a Lord Hu Ba shouldn't be a problem.
Hongtu Technology Company.
At this moment in the meeting room, the conference table had been pushed to one side, replaced by three mahjong tables.
Over twenty people gathered here, with three tables playing mahjong and the remaining two tables playing poker.
Everyone was smoking, and several crates of beer bottles were placed on the floor.
The proper meeting room had been turned into a smoky mess by them.
Zhao Hongtu, the head of Hongtu Technology Company, was standing beside Lord Hu Ba right now, bowing and scraping.
"Lord Hu Ba, please show mercy and raise your hand. My company is about to be sold anyway; can't you wait until after I sell it to come back?"
Lord Hu Ba looked to be around forty years old, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, bald, with a chain around his neck—at a glance, he was clearly a ruthless character.
Lord Hu Ba was playing mahjong with a few underlings. Hearing Zhao Hongtu's words, he sneered.
"Sell? With me here, you still want to sell the company? Keep dreaming!"
"Hand over 50 million, and I'll leave."
The corners of Zhao Hongtu's mouth twitched, and his expression grew even uglier.
50 million?
That was taking his life!
To take a step back, even if he really had 50 million, it was impossible to just hand it to Lord Hu Ba for nothing!
These people were getting more and more out of hand, and now quite a few employees had resigned.
If this went on, not only would the company fail to sell, but it might even go bankrupt straight away!
Just at this moment, the door of the meeting room was suddenly pushed open.
A young man walked in with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"Is this Hongtu Company?"
Instantly, the room quieted down.
Lord Hu Ba turned his head and said coldly, "It is Hongtu Company. Who the hell are you looking for?"
Lin Chudong smiled slightly.
"Don't be nervous, I'm a civilized person."
"I heard there's someone called Lord Hu Ba here; I'm just here to beat him up."
As soon as Lin Chudong finished speaking, everyone let out a snort of derision.
Where did this little idiot come from?
Daring to provoke Lord Hu Ba right here?
Must have had his brains kicked by a donkey.
Lord Hu Ba was also laughed into anger, picked up a metal baseball bat from beside his stool, and strode step by step toward Lin Chudong.
The baseball bat dragged along the ground, making a harsh scraping sound that made one's back feel chilled.
Lin Chudong raised his right foot and took off one of his brand-name Warrior sneakers.
Holding the shoe with a cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth, he wore a slouchy, nonchalant expression.
"Brat, you're fucking looking for death!"
As he spoke, Lord Hu Ba swung the bat and viciously smashed it toward Lin Chudong's head.
However, in the very next second.
Lin Chudong's figure seemed to vanish instantly.
Before Lord Hu Ba could even see clearly, a sudden sharp pain struck his face.
Smack!
The sole of Lin Chudong's shoe landed heavily on Lord Hu Ba's face.
This slap directly sent Lord Hu Ba spinning around in place before he crashed heavily onto the ground.
Instantly.
The whole room fell silent for a moment.
Then, more than twenty people swarmed forward in a rush.
"Fuck him!"
Lin Chudong held the shoe in his hand and shook his head helplessly.
"A mob of rabble."
With that, his figure instantly charged into the crowd.
The sounds of *smack, smack, smack* rang out continuously.
The sole of Lin Chudong's shoe and their faces had a series of intimate encounters.
Lin Chudong beat them with his shoe just like a father beating his son.
In about three minutes, the battle was over.
Zhao Hongtu was already dumbfounded.
Cowering in the corner, he watched the scene before him, deeply shocked.
One person, using only a single shoe, had wiped out Lord Hu Ba's entire crew?
Lin Chudong put that shoe back on.
He glanced at the mahjong game that Lord Hu Ba and the others hadn't finished playing yet.
"Not bad, this hand is a flush."
"Get up and finish this hand."
Holding his severely swollen face, Lord Hu Ba slowly stood up.
The look he directed at Lin Chudong was filled with terror.
Was this fucking even human?
"Big brother... whose turf are you from?"
Lin Chudong said, "Watch your mouth, whose turf?"
"Didn't I just say it?"
"I'm a fucking civilized person."
"Sit down and play cards right now!"
Scolded twice by Lin Chudong, Lord Hu Ba trembled all over in fright and quickly sat down.
The few underlings who had been beaten also sat back in their respective seats, trembling as they began to play cards.
Every single one of these twenty-odd people had a shoe print stamped onto his face by Lin Chudong.
Right on their cheekbones, a Warrior shoe logo was clearly imprinted, looking extremely comical.
After playing a few cards, one underling raised his hand.
"I... I mahjong'd."
Lin Chudong slapped the back of Lord Hu Ba's head.
"You're a fucking waste. Seven, eight, nine of bamboos, and you played the eight?"
Lord Hu Ba was practically beaten to tears.
What time was it, and who still had the mood to play cards!
"Big brother, spare me."
Lin Chudong pointed at the underling who had just won the hand and said, "Get down, I'll play a few rounds."
Lin Chudong sat down, took off that Warrior sneaker, and placed it on the mahjong table.
📱 "Nobody leave, keep playing for me."
Seeing this shoe, Lord Hu Ba trembled all over.
Smack!
"Can you even play? You have the North wind in your hand, why didn't you throw it?"
Smack!
"Are you out of your mind? Can't you see I'm going for a flush?"
Smack!
"Look at this lousy hand of mine, how did you roll the dice?"
Lord Hu Ba's face had already swollen into a pig's head, and he knelt directly on the ground to kowtow to Lin Chudong a few times.
"Big brother, I was wrong. Tell me to do whatever you want, I won't dare say a single 'no' word!"
Lin Chudong smiled faintly.
"Do you know how to get to the Law Enforcement Team?"
Su Momo was working in her office.
Suddenly, an officer ran in and said, "Captain Su, Lord Hu Ba and his people are outside, and they specifically asked to see you!"
Su Momo frowned.
"What are these bastards here for? I haven't gone looking for them, and yet they actually dare to come looking for me?"
Su Momo stood up, puffed out her proud figure, and walked out briskly.
Arriving at the entrance, she saw over twenty people standing neatly in a row, every single one of them bruised and swollen.
Su Momo frowned and said, "What are you lot here for?"
Lord Hu Ba cried and shouted simultaneously, "Captain Su, I'm turning myself in!"
Su Momo was startled. "What are you turning yourself in for?"
With a crying tone, Lord Hu Ba said, "Aren't you guys cracking down on underworld forces? I'm a mobster, hurry up and crack down on me!"
"I'm turning myself in! I'm no good! I gathered people for gang fights, I organized mob activities—hurry up and arrest me!"
"I want to go to prison! It's too dangerous outside!"
She even cast aside her reserve, unreservedly.
Huo Xingzhou also possessed the inherent flaws of a man, an exclusive and overbearing tyranny.
Because of the personality Qiao Xi had cultivated over the years, she wasn't good at expressing her inner affection. She would quietly do things for him behind the scenes, but it was very hard for her to say "I love you."
Huo Xingzhou had racked his brains, yet couldn't pry open her mouth.
Like a punishment, he bit down hard on the corner of her lips.
Those usually cold and stern eyes of his were suffused with heaps upon heaps of tenderness: "During the company meeting, I thought about you many times."
Qiao Xi's well-shaped lips curved slightly upward, and a bright light flashed in her pretty eyes.
Sitting on the desk, tenderness rippled from the bottom of her heart.
"Actually... I have something I want to tell you." Her heart fluttered with anxiety, fearing he might have a different view.
"What is it?"
"Mr. Huo, I resigned from the hospital." With extremely strong self-esteem, she added, "I still have some savings, I won't be freeloading at home. I'll find a job later."
She felt a deep sense of inferiority inside, terrified that he would hold a poor opinion of her.
After all, she was already like someone trying to climb above her station to reach him.
"That's good."
"Huh?"
Qiao Xi looked at him in confusion.
"I'll tell you when we get home." Huo Xingzhou examined her, his thumb gently wiping away the lipstick at the corner of her lips.
Qiao Xi instinctively pressed her red lips together, smoothing out the remaining lipstick.
Led by Huo Xingzhou, she walked out of the office.
In the corridor.
Chen Xun stood there apprehensively, bowing slightly and respectfully saying, "Mr. Huo, the documents you requested."
Just now when he pushed the door open and saw the two of them kissing so passionately that they couldn't bear to part, he had immediately retreated. He had been wondering the next second whether he would receive orders to go buy supplies at the pharmacy.
Fortunately, Mr. Huo wasn't so absurd as to lose control right there in the office.
"Yeah."
Huo Xingzhou took the document envelope and said coldly.
Qiao Xi looked curiously, feeling it was all very mysterious.
Huo Xingzhou didn't say much and took her home. Not a single word was spoken along the way; instead, he used his laptop to confirm official business, leaving Qiao Xi with words dying on her lips.
Those almond-shaped eyes glanced over and over again.
Mr. Huo really looked so busy, with constant phone calls and video chats all the way. If she hadn't come, how late would he have worked overtime tonight?
Qiao Xi lowered her head, restlessly twisting her fingers, occasionally sneaking peeks at him.
Scores of minutes later, the car stopped in front of the small villa.
Driver Old Chen had already gotten out, leaving only the two of them in the car.
Huo Xingzhou closed his laptop, looked at her, and asked, "What did you want to tell me?"
He hadn't ignored her little actions; he had simply been stretched too thin. The order from the Beijing Zhong family came with numerous picky and fault-finding demands. Many details were like picking bones out of an egg.
Even Zhou Yusheng joked about whether they had somehow offended the Zhong family—did they dig up their ancestors' graves or steal someone's wife?
Qiao Xi's throat tightened, and she shook her head.
Those shameful words reached her lips, making them very difficult to say out of her mouth.
"Then let's get out of the car first."
"Oh."
Qiao Xi was absent-minded, like a marionette on strings.
A thousand threads were tangled in her brain, impossible to sort out.
She wanted to ask if Aunt Qian would discover the things in the art studio. She also wanted to ask if what Mr. Huo said this morning still counted.
What did he mean? Was it what she thought it was?
She had spent the entire day feeling overjoyed and nervous, both terrified and full of anticipation.
Would they truly become one tonight? What preparations should she make in response?
Following beside him, Qiao Xi walked into the living room in a fluster.
"Young master, young madam." Aunt Qian looked at them and said with a smile, "I've cleaned up the art studio. It gets quite cool at night, so you two should take care of your health."
Qiao Xi's cheeks flushed red.
The dress, the paintings—Aunt Qian had seen all of them.
"Young master, I framed that painting. It's painted very well. The young madam's medical books have also been moved into the art studio; it'll be convenient for you both to paint and read books from now on."
Qin Wei briskly pushed open the office door and headed down to the first-floor security room.
She found that Lin Chudong was indeed sitting here, chatting with a few security guards.
"You... come out for a moment."
Lin Chudong walked out and said with a chuckle, "Weiwei, what's wrong?"
Qin Wei frowned and looked him up and down.
There were no injuries on his body; he didn't look like someone who had just gone to fight.
"What were you doing just now?"
"Went to look for Lord Hu Ba."
Qin Wei glared.
"You really went to look for him? Are you out of your mind?"
Lin Chudong smiled. "What's the big deal? Those guys aren't bad; they're very reasonable."
Just upstairs, Qin Wei had doubted her eyes, and now she was doubting her ears.
"They're not bad and reasonable? Are you out of your mind?"
Lin Chudong said, "Everything I said is true. I went to find them and persuaded them to turn themselves in, and as it turns out, they all listened."
Qin Wei stared, feeling as though her worldview was about to collapse.
Was the Lord Hu Ba that Lin Chudong spoke of the same person she knew?
Qin Wei was somewhat speechless, not knowing what she ought to say.
Hesitating for a long time, she still ended up lecturing him with a few words.
"Don't you dare go messing around like this in the future! Can you just spout nonsense at a board meeting?"
"What kind of person is Lord Hu Ba? And you actually dared to go find him? If you don't want to live anymore, don't drag me down with you!"
Lin Chudong smiled helplessly. This woman Qin Wei was just like this—even when she was clearly saying things out of concern, it always came out sounding distorted once it passed her lips.
"Weiwei, how was the noodle dish yesterday?"
Qin Wei snorted. "It was passable."
Seeing Qin Wei's insincere look, Lin Chudong said, "Passable? Then why did you eat every single drop of it? I didn't say that bowl of noodles was for you, you know."
Qin Wei glared.
"Even if it wasn't for me, I ate it! The worst that can happen is I'll pay you back with a bowl!"
Lin Chudong's eyes lit up.
"You said it yourself, remember! We agreed you'd keep me company for a night, no taking it back!"
Qin Wei snorted. "What's there to take back? I'll compensate you tonight, humph!"
With that, Qin Wei strode into the elevator and headed back to her office.
The elevator ascended.
Qin Wei suddenly felt something was not quite right.
It was just compensating him with a bowl of noodles—why was he so excited?
That look in his eyes was just like a groom waiting for the bridal chamber.
Suddenly, realization dawned on Qin Wei.
Wait!
She had meant compensating him with a bowl of noodles!
What had this bastard interpreted it as?
Accompanying him for a night?
Looking at his wretched expression, he had definitely understood it as that!
Qin Wei's face instantly turned flushed red.
What did this bastard take her for? How could she ever say something like that!
No wonder he was so happy just now!
The elevator doors opened, and Qin Wei hurried out.
She pulled out her phone and sent Lin Chudong a WeChat message!
"I meant compensating you with a bowl of noodles! What on earth are you thinking?"
Following that, she even sent an angry emoji.
This matter had to be explained clearly right away, or else this bastard would misunderstand and start getting handsy with her when they got home.
In Qin Wei's mind, the scene of being carried into a hotel after drinking the other day resurfaced.
If she hadn't reacted quickly that time, some irretrievable things might have really happened.
A minute later, Lin Chudong replied with a WeChat message.
"I just said it's compensating a bowl of noodles. What did you think I was thinking?"
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