On Li Qingye's mobile browser page.
[Today's Headlines: Xin Xin Group's Strategic Shift...2017.04.20]
[New Xin Xin Group President Du Shuping: Xin Xin has reached a life-or-death crossroads. If we don't change, we'll go bankrupt...2017.04.11]
[Xin Xin Group partners with Temasek Holdings to help several of its subsidiaries list in North America and raise funds...2017.04.04]
[Cutting off a limb to survive: Jianhu Steel successfully acquires Tonghua Steel, one of Xin Xin's holding companies...2017.03.28]
"So much has happened in just one month..." Li Qingye stared at the ceiling, his expression shifting.
Even though he knew nothing about running a company, he could tell something was wrong. Xin Xin Group had been founded by his father, and Li Qingye had picked up quite a bit just from being around him. For instance, Xin Xin's basic business model was similar to Huawei's. That had been one of his father's principles.
As he recalled fragments of the past, his brow furrowed more and more.
Xin Xin wasn't united behind a single vision. From things his parents had said over the years, he knew that among the dozen or so partners, some wanted to stick to the old model, others wanted to keep up with the times and take the company public to raise funds, and the rest were still undecided.
If his father had initiated all these changes, Li Qingye wouldn't have found it strange.
But why had the company undergone such a drastic transformation only after his father—who had always insisted on not going public, not raising funds, and giving employees shares—had suddenly died?
He couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.
He also remembered that his older brother had always agreed with their father's business model after joining the company.
In 2014, his brother had gone to inspect a construction site and been crushed to death by a steel bar...
This year, his parents had gone to Magic City to discuss business. On the way, a dump truck had rammed their car into the Huangpu River...
And then Xin Xin Group had rapidly reshuffled its leadership, even changing the very foundations of the company...
Gulp... Li Qingye swallowed involuntarily. Cold sweat soaked his back. It was all far too much of a coincidence, as if an unseen hand had cast a shadow over the Li family's misfortunes.
Looking at the photos on his phone of Xin Xin Group's founders, Li Qingye's gaze flickered with scrutiny, suspicion, hatred, anger, and helplessness.
He closed the browser and leaned against the pillow.
Even if he had guessed that the mastermind was one of those people, what could he do now? If he lost control and exposed what was going on, he would be the one to die.
The reason the other side hadn't made a move was that his parents had only just died. If Li Qingye also died in an "accident" right now, the people in the company who had been loyal to his father would surely feel the same fate could befall them.
They needed time to swallow up Xin Xin Group, and time to clean house.
Once a few years had passed, the company would have forgotten about him, the other side would have gained total control, and no one in society would have heard from him in a long time. Then they could arrange some "accident" to make him disappear for good.
At the thought, a bone-chilling fear welled up inside him.
No... I won't accept such a pathetic death...
Li Qingye roared inwardly in defiance. Before, he had felt there was nothing left to live for. Now, hatred filled his heart. Until he avenged his parents and older brother, he couldn't give up his life. This blood feud had become his reason to keep living.
Countless thoughts collided in his mind.
He knew he was in a very dangerous position. The people behind the theft of Xin Xin weren't kind souls. If he let on that he knew something was wrong, they might decide to nip the problem in the bud immediately.
And continuing to play the fool in Gaoshan Temple Village would probably be a slow suicide, too.
As long as Li Qingye was alive, he would be an obstacle to those people's control of Xin Xin Group. Ordinary people might think he was just a young kid, nothing to fear.
But the fact that he hadn't shown himself to be a threat didn't mean he wasn't one. His very existence was a threat.
Putting himself in their shoes, if he were the mastermind, simply killing Li Qingye would be the easiest solution. It would not only strike a blow against the remnants of the Li family but also let him take over the 5.8% of the company's shares under Li Qingye's name.
Any other plan would risk giving the situation time to develop and invite complications.
Li Qingye thought hard about how to turn things around.
Doing nothing, or playing the fool in the village, wouldn't work.
Going back to Pengcheng at once and relying on the Li family's remaining allies to fight Du Shuping and the others would probably be dangerous, too. He couldn't tell who was truly loyal to his father and the Li family. He couldn't compete with those old foxes in a battle of wits; even ten of him wouldn't be enough.
After turning it over and over in his mind, a trace of madness flashed in Li Qingye's eyes.
Retreat, and he would die.
Advance, and he would die.
His only option was to stake everything on a desperate gamble.
Once he had made up his mind, he reorganized the resources at his disposal according to his own plan.
Personal savings: 1.37 million yuan; a 148-square-meter apartment near Jiangcheng University; Caixin Cosmetics Company (with a biochemistry lab worth 22 million yuan); the company's operating funds: 3.72 million yuan.
His parents' savings, properties, and company shares. The shares couldn't be touched casually, or he might attract Du Shuping and the others' attention.
Damn it! Li Qingye clenched his fists. Xin Xin Group's total assets were worth over a hundred billion yuan. His parents' original 5.8% stake was worth at least seven billion.
But for now, he could only swallow his anger.
The 5.8% stake in the company was a death warrant for him right now.
If he couldn't use his shares in Xin Xin, then he probably couldn't do anything with his parents' other assets for the time being, either.
He spent the night thinking. It wasn't until the next morning that he finally fell into an exhausted sleep.
Until April 26.
Looking utterly dejected, Li Qingye said goodbye to Seventh Uncle-Grandpa, then called Wu Hewang.
"Uncle Wu..."
"Qingye, are you planning to return to Pengcheng? I've already cleaned a room for you. I'm just waiting for you to come back," Wu Hewang said kindly.
Li Qingye's voice was as listless as ever. "No. I'm planning to go to America with my advisor for an academic visit. I might not come back to the country this year."
"..." Wu Hewang paused on the other end of the line, then gently tried to comfort him. "That might be for the best. Go clear your head. Old Su and I will look after the company. By the way, I have some old friends in America. I could arrange for you to study business administration at the University of Pennsylvania. In the future..."
Before he could finish, Li Qingye turned him down. "Thanks, Uncle Wu, but I just want to go to America with my advisor and have a look around. Biology suits me better."
"Alright, then! Call me when you get there. If you run short of money, don't hesitate to ask."
"Got it, Uncle Wu. I'm hanging up."
After ending the call, he dragged his suitcase and climbed into a three-wheeled motor cart, heading for the bus station in Qingshanqiao Town.
For the sake of his safety, he would have to take public transportation with plenty of passengers from now on—buses, high-speed trains, and planes. He wouldn't take taxis or private cars until he had a dependable team around him.
After all, in this country, those people would think twice before making a move on public transport with so many people around.
Li Qingye was using the other passengers as a shield, making his enemies wary of causing collateral damage.
And it was true that he was going abroad with his advisor. His advisor was a leading scholar in the country, and there was even an academician above him.
As long as he didn't immediately show any sign of wanting revenge, the other side would most likely be wary of the risk of harming a well-known scientist.
As long as Li Qingye stayed by his advisor's side, his chances of staying safe in the short term would improve considerably.
Thanks for all your support, everyone! (ω｀) Please add this to your favorites.
Before you continue