Chapter 35: Is This the Famous "Three Fires of a New Official"?
Everyone kept their eyes down, not daring to speak. It was Mu Teng who finally glanced around at the group and spoke softly, “Let’s begin the meeting. As discussed last time, let’s start with the proposals.”
No one dared to interject; they hurriedly followed the previously assigned order and began their reports...
But...
The more they reported, the heavier the atmosphere in the meeting room became. Before they could finish, Fu Siyue let out a cold laugh.
The speaker instantly fell silent, sweat breaking out on his face, his whole demeanor betraying utter panic. There wasn’t just one person reporting, but the one currently holding the materials could barely keep his hands from trembling. Why did President Fu choose this moment to laugh, neither earlier nor later, but precisely when he was speaking? He was truly unnerved!
“This is the proposal you managed to draft after a month?” Fu Siyue’s expression was dark and menacing, his voice icy and unsettling.
In an instant, no one dared utter a word.
The silence in the meeting room was absolute.
The next moment, Fu Siyue spoke in a deep, commanding tone, “Start over. If I don’t have a satisfactory proposal within three days, you can all get out of the Fu Corporation!”
With that, he stood and strode out.
Mu Teng quickly rose and followed.
The remaining employees were left with faces drained of color...
The thought of having to redo the proposal, and with such a tight deadline, left them in turmoil.
...
Meanwhile, Mu Yinyin had arrived at the Stardust Group, where she was also presiding over a meeting.
A gathering of shareholders.
Over twenty people sat together, all sizing up Mu Yinyin, who occupied the seat of honor. Normally, that seat belonged to Jiang Ling; with Mu Yinyin now in charge, they were unaccustomed to the change.
Moreover, she was a woman. Even though everyone knew Mu Yinyin was the founder, there was still a measure of resistance in their hearts.
Especially since Mu Yinyin was about to introduce a new partnership, and most seemed less than enthusiastic.
A balding man in his forties, Luo Gang, fixed his gaze on Mu Yinyin and spoke in a deep voice, “The partnership project is promising, but taking it on entails enormous risk. Most of our funds are already committed to the previous deal; we won’t see returns any time soon. If we invest what’s left in your high-risk project, and it fails, what will we do then?”
Luo Gang was known for his arrogance and held considerable sway among the shareholders, having secured several impressive deals.
As soon as he finished, others chimed in support: “He’s right, this project is far too risky. If we proceed, the company could face a financial crisis. If it succeeds, fine, but if not, the losses would be huge. It’s not worth gambling.”
Jiang Ling’s gaze rested on Mu Yinyin. She met his eyes, and he said nothing.
No one else realized that, in that instant, Jiang Ling and Mu Yinyin had exchanged a glance—he was asking if she needed help, and her answer was no.
Mu Yinyin looked calmly at the two speakers and replied, “This partnership will succeed. It isn’t as difficult as you claim. Xiao Qi will personally handle negotiations. With her in charge, success is assured.”
Gu Xiao Qi gave a cooperative nod, “Yes, I’m confident I can secure this deal.”
She then looked at Luo Gang, addressing all those who opposed Mu Yinyin, “Our partner is the Fu Corporation. If they don’t agree, we won’t proceed. If they do, what is there to worry about?”
Li Chuan’s eyes were cool as he spoke coldly, “Negotiations are necessary. Don’t borrow trouble.”
“You...? Are you saying I’m borrowing trouble?” Luo Gang’s face darkened as he demanded an answer.
Li Chuan looked at him with icy disdain, “Isn’t that so?”
“You...!” Luo Gang was so angry he was momentarily speechless. He shouldn’t have questioned Li Chuan; Li Chuan was known for his sharp tongue, never sparing anyone, and as a founder, held more shares and prestige than Luo Gang.
In an instant, of the four founders, three were united in their stance, and those who had wanted to support Luo Gang suddenly hesitated.
A woman nodded in agreement, “President Gu has made it clear. If the Fu Corporation doesn’t agree, we won’t act rashly. And if they do, and are willing to invest, then the deal should be solid.”
Mu Yinyin swept her gaze over everyone, “Does anyone else have objections?”
Luo Gang’s expression was tense. Having been shot down by Li Chuan, he was already uncomfortable. If he agreed too easily now, it would be even more humiliating. He spoke coldly, “For this partnership, I want guarantees. If we lose money, can you shoulder all the losses yourself?”
Gu Xiao Qi’s face chilled as she responded irritably, “What do you mean by that? We’ve always followed majority rule, sharing both profits and losses. Why should Mu Yinyin bear it all herself? Mr. Luo, did you think before you spoke?”
Luo Gang’s face grew even darker, “That’s because this project is especially risky. If losses are shared, everyone bears huge risks. Is it wrong to ask for assurances? Many shareholders might fear your authority and not dare object. I’m asking for a guarantee for everyone—is that unreasonable?”
Gu Xiao Qi was so exasperated she laughed, “That’s ridiculous!”
Luo Gang sneered, “How is that ridiculous? Am I wrong?”
The others didn’t speak directly, weighing the pros and cons. Clearly, if they lost, the damage would be substantial.
Mu Yinyin spoke with a faint smile, “If you insist, I can shoulder the losses. But if there’s profit, it won’t concern you. Do you object?”
Luo Gang’s face darkened, “What do you mean by that?”
Mu Yinyin narrowed her eyes, coolly regarding his long face, “Is the meaning unclear?”
“You...!” Luo Gang gritted his teeth, “When you weren’t here, every project was shared by all. Now, you’re not even giving me dividends? Is this just a new leader making a show of authority?”