Chapter 284: Can't Just Let It Go
Yuan Tiancheng was not surprised. "Isn't this for the best? It's a perfect opportunity to see everyone's true colors."
"This way, if the company truly faces hardship in the future, those who remain will be valuable assets, not just fair-weather opportunists."
The secretary astutely picked up on the implication. "President Yuan, are you saying this crisis isn't real?"
"It's real, but don't worry. It will be resolved quickly."
Yuan Tiancheng smiled, the picture of confidence. "Go and pass down the order. If anyone wants to resign, they can do it today. If they choose to stay, then from this day forward, they are the elite of my Yuan Group!"
"Yes, sir!" The secretary had been worried the Yuan Clan would actually go under. With Yuan Tiancheng's assurance, he was completely at ease.
Soon, the Yuan Family was hit by a wave of resignations.
Yuan Tiancheng stood in his office, watching the resigned employees leave the building below. He smirked. 'Once you walk out today, don't even think about ever coming back!'
「The next day.」
Shanghai was thrown into turmoil once again.
This time, it wasn't the Yuan Family facing a crisis—it was the Liu Family!
The Liu Family had secured a massive overseas order. If all had gone as planned, they stood to make at least several hundred million!
But the deal was snatched from under them by a family from the Imperial City!
Worse, the other party had used underhanded tactics. Now, the Liu Family was not only losing its initial investment but was also on the hook for a hefty penalty for breach of contract.
「Liu Family Company.」
President Liu flew into a rage, smashing his phone to bits. "What the hell is going on!"
"The initial investment, plus this penalty... that's a fucking 1.2 billion down the drain!"
That was three times what the Yuan Family had lost!
"President Liu, our investigation shows that the family who intercepted the deal is the Xiao Family from the Imperial City. They're on a completely different level than the Liu Family. There was no way we could have competed."
One family can't monopolize business, of course. The companies that partner with the Xiao Family are true giants.
That left smaller foreign companies for other families to handle.
The company that had been dealing with the Liu Family was much smaller than the ones the Xiao Family typically dealt with.
But who would have thought the Xiao Family would deign to negotiate with such a small company? Of course, the small company would agree. They had to agree!
"The Xiao Family..." President Liu was completely baffled. "We've never offended the Xiao Family. Why would they target us!"
"No, I can't just let this go! This is over a billion! Hurry, get me in touch with the Xiao Family!"
The Liu Family managed to get a phone number for the Xiao Family, but no one answered their calls.
They tried several different numbers in a row before someone finally answered.
The moment they heard it was someone from the Liu Family, the person from the Xiao Family on the other end said dismissively, "Don't waste your breath!"
With that, they hung up.
President Liu collapsed into his chair, tearing at his hair in a fit of rage. A noticeable amount of his already thinning hair came loose. "Damn it! What in the world is going on!"
'Could the Yuan Family's backer be the Xiao Family?'
The incident sent ripples throughout Shanghai.
Many had been waiting to laugh at the Yuan Family's downfall, but to everyone's surprise, it was the Liu Family who ended up taking the hit!
Now, the Liu Family had no time to worry about the Yuan Family; they were desperately trying every possible way to contact the Xiao Family.
Yuan Tiancheng finally let out a sigh of relief. 'It looks like Master Xiao has made his move. From this point on, I must not interfere.'
Although he coveted the Liu Family's assets, he wouldn't dare make a move on them at a time like this.
A good subordinate knows to wait for Xiao Ye's permission before taking anything. To do otherwise would be a grave mistake!
The Yuan Family was out of the woods, but the Liu Family was still in absolute chaos.
President Liu had been up all night trying to figure out a solution, only to realize there was none.
This was the power of one of the reclusive great families!
He started to tear at his hair again, but his hand fell limply to his side.
Just then, a subordinate entered. "President Liu, I just received an email."
"It says the person Young Master Liu offended is a member of the Xiao Family!"
"That's why the Yuan Family was so insistent on protecting that person, and why the Xiao Family made a move!"
President Liu shot to his feet. 'Wait a minute,' he thought, 'that would explain everything!'
He hadn't understood why Yuan Tiancheng would go to such lengths, but if the person in question was from the Xiao Family... well, if he were in Yuan Tiancheng's shoes, he'd have done the same!
'And here I was thinking the Yuan Family were idiots,' he seethed. 'Turns out, I'm the fucking idiot!'
President Liu made a swift decision. "Go prepare a few things... No, on second thought, I'll do it myself."
"Get the car. Take me home first, then we're going to the Yuan Family's estate!"
「One hour later.」
「At the gates of the Yuan family estate.」
President Liu stepped out of the car, carefully holding a brocade box in his hands.
When a member of the Yuan Family saw him, they hurried inside to announce his arrival.
"President Liu, what... what brings you here?"
The rest of the Yuan Family didn't know what had transpired. They only knew that their family seemed to be in the clear, but even so, they wouldn't dare provoke the Liu Family.
President Liu's attitude was a world away from what it had been before. "I came here specifically to find Yuan Tiancheng," he said, "to apologize for the events of the past few days."
"I was far too impulsive. It was just a squabble between the younger generation; there was no need for me to get involved and try to settle scores for him."
"And so, I've had a small gift prepared for Yuan Tiancheng. As for the Yuan Family's previous losses, I will repay them immediately. I guarantee it will be paid back in full, down to the last cent!"
The members of the Yuan Family were overjoyed to hear this and immediately contacted Yuan Tiancheng.
Yuan Tiancheng had expected the Liu Family to come calling. He said flatly, "Let him wait. I'm not finished with my business here."
"You're making someone from the Liu Family wait?"
"That's right. Just tell him that. And if he dares not to wait, then the Liu Family can just wait for their complete ruin!"
With that, Yuan Tiancheng hung up.
Seeing this, the family member could only relay the message as diplomatically as possible.
President Liu immediately replied, "That's fine. As it happens, I have nothing but time today. I'll wait for him right here!"
The Yuan family member was stunned. This was completely out of character for the head of the Liu Family.
'Could it be... that Yuan Tiancheng has some kind of leverage over the Liu Family?'
The wait lasted for three full hours.
Yuan Tiancheng finally made his grand, belated entrance. "Your Liu Family was putting on quite the impressive show before. Why the sudden visit to apologize?"
"It was a moment of madness, wasn't it? And my damned nephew... he didn't tell me the whole story, just spun a bunch of lies. Otherwise, I never would have done such a thing."
"Rest assured, I will compensate the Yuan Family for all its losses!"
With that said, President Liu finally revealed his true purpose. "Please, could you put in a good word for me with the Xiao Family? Tell them I truly know I was wrong."
"Or better yet, could you arrange an introduction? I want to apologize to them in person!"
President Liu opened the brocade box before him, revealing its contents for a split second before snapping it shut again, as if terrified someone else might see inside.
Yuan Tiancheng's brow furrowed slightly. He was inwardly shocked, but his expression remained impassive. He gave a cold smile. "You truly know you were wrong, yet you only brought a single gift?"
"And what about that nephew of yours? Wasn't he the one who wanted to make a move on Master Xiao?"
President Liu had hoped to keep Young Master Liu out of the discussion, but he hadn't expected Yuan Tiancheng to bring him up immediately.
"I... I'll have someone bring him over right now."
"Don't bother. If you didn't think to bring him in the first place, then there's certainly no need to bring him now."