Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
One of the directors scoffed, âThen letâs ask Young Master Xi Cheng who was it that plotted against him. It couldnât be that you were tricked by those shameless women you have on the side⦠right, Young Master Xi Cheng? Itâs quite common for those of our status to flirt and have a little fun once in a while. We all get drawn to beautiful things, itâs inevitableâeveryone can understand that, but to go as far as giving away all his assets to his love like Young Master Xi Cheng here⦠Isnât that being a bit overly infatuated? You donât plan to let your lady love have a stake in our corporation in exchange for those five companies, do you?â
âNo! Thatâs not itâ¦â Xi Cheng suddenly didnât know what to say.
âThe person who bought all five companies is a man called Chen Tao.â Shi Nian finally spoke up, unable to stand seeing Xi Chengâs fumbling.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
The meeting room went silent, the directors giving Shi Nian their full attention and allowing him to take the lead of the meeting. None of them showed him any disrespect. They could diss and vent their anger out on Xi Cheng all they want, but everyone knew Shi Nian was currently the Xi Corporationâs greatest life savior.
âThereâs no point in investigating how Xi Cheng was tricked right now. The problem Xi Corporation has to face currently is that you guys dumped out five of your companies for no reason. Youâve got to give the public a reasonable explanation why. All of you here are core members of the Xi Corporation. As the saying goes, âdonât wash your dirty linen in publicââyou canât throw Xi Cheng to the wolves. This isnât to protect Xi Cheng, but to keep the shareholders from panicking,â Shi Nian stated calmly.
Most of the directors nodded, and even those who arenât of the Xi family had looks of approval.
Shi Nian continued, âIâve talked to the Liang and Ye corporations. Theyâll support Xi Corporation wholeheartedly as well. We can cooperate with your corporation in a few projects and announce them to the public one after another to boost the confidence of your shareholders and employees. Letâs strive to turn this situation around in as short a time as possible.â
The board members all straightened their backs, and everyone let out sighs of relief.
âWhat about the losses incurred from this incident? Whoâs going to be responsible for that? Itâll be quite unfair for the corporation to bear responsibility over a human error like this!â Someone asked the pointed question.
Shi Nian glanced at Xi Cheng. Xi Cheng looked ashamed but only lowered his head and didnât say anything. Shi Nian couldnât help but sigh inwardly as he thought, âEverythingâs as Ye Tang had predicted. Xi Cheng isnât a reliable or responsible man.â
The Xi family members wanted to speak up, but there really was nothing they could say, so they glared at Xi Cheng with displeasure. Seeing as no one piped up, Shi Nian slowly uttered, âThe losses this timeââ
âXi Cheng should be the one responsible for the losses this time!â A somewhat hoarse voice sounded as the conference roomâs door opened. Everyone turned around to look at the newcomer.
âMom!â Xi Cheng ran over in surprise. Yun Nan slowly pushed Han Yuanâwho was sitting in a wheelchairâinto the room. Han Yuanâs face seemed swollen and aged due to the effects of medication, but her austere appearance still had an indescribable stateliness.
Heedless of the pleasant surprise on his face, Han Yuan soundly slapped Xi Cheng. âKneel!â Han Yuan thundered.
Yun Nan quickly leaned down and whispered in her ear, âCalm down. You canât get too worked up.â Yun Nanâs words worked like a charm. Han Yuan immediately reined in her temper, but she still glared at the dumbfounded Xi Cheng.
Xi Cheng reflexively knelt down. âMom, whereâs Lin Yu?â he asked as he got on his knees. He didnât feel awkward about kneeling to his mother, even before the sight of everyone here, because she was his mother and he was a filial son!
Han Yuan sighed and said to Yun Nan, âLook at him. Do you understand now why itâs so hard for me not to be angry? This is the useless son I nurtured with great care!â
Yun Nan gently placed her hand on Han Yuanâs shoulder and massaged it as a comforting gesture. No one could come up with any words of consolation to Han Yuanâs remark.
Directors of the surname Xi or not stood up and greeted Han Yuan respectfully. She nodded at everyone and stated, âMy legs are frail so please pardon me for not being able to stand up and return your greetings.â
Everyone expressed that they were fine with it and that Madam Xiâs health came first. Han Yuan didnât waste any time and cut straight to the chase. She declared, âThis matter is Xi Chengâs responsibility alone. All the losses should be borne by Xi Cheng himself!â
The entire place fell silent at her words.
âMomâ¦â Xi Cheng began but swallowed his words at the menacing look Han Yuan shot at him.
Han Yuan continued, âThis is his mistake alone, thereâs no reason to let the entire Xi Corporation bear the responsibility with him, nor can we shift the burden onto the Corporationâs board of directors, and we definitely canât let our shareholders suffer losses. Therefore, the losses caused by the drop in our share prices will be deducted in its entirety from Xi Chengâs personal wealth and assets. As those are insufficient to cover the whole sum, the remaining portion can be deducted from his future dividends until the full due amount is paid and not a single cent less!â
Han Yuan glowered at her son and added, âMy son should be grateful for the wealth the Xi family ancestors have saved and accumulated for him! Otherwise, he would be spending the rest of his life in prison! I only ask everyone here to show mercy on the account that he is my son and a wayward descendant of the Xi family. Show mercy and donât send him to prison!â
Everyone, including the directors who donât have the surname Xi, never had any intention of sending Xi Cheng to prison, so they replied, âMadam, youâre overstating things, really.â
The atmosphere finally eased up.
âThen, what do we do about those five companies that were under Young Master Xi Chengâs name?â One of the directors brought up the question thatâd caused the Xi Corporation so much shame.