Force Them Out

Huo Xi did not argue when his father told him not to call him Grandpa. He did not have much respect for his grandfather either. He only still called him Grandpa out of habit, and to avoid everyone thinking he was too cold and unfilial. After all, the Patriarch Huo's blood still ran through his veins.

The younger generation was naturally at a disadvantage in public opinion. Now that his father had spoken, things were different.

He had no problem changing how he addressed him, because he had always been rather indifferent toward family affection, apart from his grandmother, who had raised him since childhood.

"Huo Zhenyun's first love did not leave that pregnancy test report behind for any simple reason. Huo Zhenyun has thought of her for all these years. If that woman and that child reappear, he may do something that harms our interests," Huo Xi said frankly, voicing his thoughts.

The White Household's second son, Bai Yu, could not help voicing his own thoughts. "No wonder we never got any response when we went to the old man about the project before. Turns out there was someone else in his heart."

The White Household's daughter spoke as well. "And back then, the Patriarch Huo only treated Great-Aunt so-so. He never thought of helping our White Household either. Otherwise, how could he have watched us decline more and more?"

Han Household's second son, Han Yi, who had always done business with Huo Xi, immediately asked, "What do you intend to do? Our Han Household will definitely support you with everything we have."

The White Household's eldest son, Bai Jue, also said, "Our White Household supports you too. Besides, we need to seek justice for Great-Aunt."

The Su Patriarch glanced at Huo Zhang, sighed, and said, "Zhang, what do you think?"

His bond with his master and disciple was very deep. He had finally understood why, when Huo Zhang had wanted to study painting, his father had not even considered stopping him.

After all, Huo Zhang was his only son. If he went into art, would not the Huo Household's power fall into the hands of the branch families?

Was Huo Zhenyun not worried? He truly did not understand. Later, he had thought perhaps it was because Huo Zhenyun respected Huo Zhang. He had never expected it to be like this.

"Huo Xi, our Shen Household will naturally stand with you." After their project partnership and Huo Xi's wedding last time, Shen Yu had already considered Huo Xi a friend. Moreover, he remembered Shen Can saying that the later stages would involve the protagonist group facing off against Huo Xi, the great villain.

So that person was definitely the Shen Household's enemy anyway. No matter what the reason was, they would absolutely stand on Huo Xi's side. The Shen Household all thought the same way. Anyone allied with the protagonist was definitely their enemy.

Everyone present could only stand on Huo Xi's side, because their financial entanglements ran deep. If the person in charge of the Huo Household changed, whoever took over would certainly no longer cooperate with families close to Huo Xi.

Then they would all lose their cooperation with the Huo Household. How much annual revenue would their companies lose? Moreover, those present were either related by marriage or tied together as masters, disciples, and friends, so they would certainly only stand with Huo Xi.

"First of all, we cannot let them keep hiding in the shadows. There are too many things they can conveniently do while staying hidden."

"That woman has waited all this time. She waited for Grandmother to pass away, and for the White Household's elders to all be gone."

"There is only one reason she still has not appeared: they are not powerful enough yet. Naturally, we cannot give them any more time to grow."

"We need to force them out. If they appear before they have much power, the pressure on them will be immense."

As soon as Huo Xi finished speaking, Shen Can's inner voice rang out.

Woohoo, support the big boss! Making them appear now is the best timing. We can't let them keep hiding in the shadows and build up their strength.

"I have already begun making moves on my end. Tomorrow, there will be major personnel transfers within Huo Corporation, as well as changes in certain shareholders' holdings. The outside world will definitely be full of speculation."

"As for Huo Zhenyun, I have already arranged a good show for him. Father, go over there and play the devoted son who has no choice but to care for his sick father."

"First, there will be personnel changes in the company. Then Huo Zhenyun will fall ill. Huo Corporation's stock price will certainly fluctuate. They will definitely panic."

After Huo Xi finished, Huo Zhang asked worriedly, "You are going after Huo Zhenyun's people? Will that make him unhappy enough to teach you a lesson?"

Huo Xi picked up his teacup, took a sip, then said, "I am the one in charge of Huo Corporation now. What is wrong with making some position changes according to my arrangements? Even if those people cry in front of him, nothing will change."

"Even if he truly wants to take my power, he cannot immediately make a move and replace me. He would have to hold a shareholders' meeting and a family meeting, then let the shareholders and family members vote on whether I can continue as president and family head."

"The Huo Household and the company are not his personal domain anymore. Between an old man whose remaining years are unknown and me, someone only in his twenties, those people know very well whom they cannot afford to offend."

"Besides, in wealthy families, is it not perfectly normal to replace a couple of people at the top with your own people? Huo Zhenyun will not do anything over this. At most, he will be a little displeased."

Huo Zhang let out a sigh of relief. His son had not taken the position because the old man had arranged it or pushed him into it. He had risen through his own ability. How could the old man simply replace him whenever he wanted? They would have to contend with each other, and his son might not lose that contest.

"But Huo Zhenyun is not sick. If the outside world hears that he is ill, and then he sees Huo Corporation's stock becoming unstable, he might come out and say something. Or are you planning to use some methods on him?" Huo Zhang thought his son might resort to something like drugging him, and for some reason, it made him uncomfortable.

His son was smart and capable. It felt as though methods like drugging someone did not suit him, and would damage his reputation. If someone truly had to resort to drugging, then Huo Zhang should do it. Over the years, he had not done much for his son.

"There is no need for any methods. He already undergoes a physical examination at the sanatorium once every two months, and elderly people always have more or less some health problems. The reports make everything look serious enough to guide public opinion."

"We only need to casually leak two reports from relatively recent dates. By then, he will feel that the sanatorium cannot be trusted. Next month is his seventieth birthday, and did he not say he wanted to return to the country to hold it? At that time, I will have someone persuade him to return early."

"He will not come out to say anything either. I have just moved against his people, so he would be delighted to teach me a lesson. That way, I will know that although I am the family head, it does not mean he has completely lost his influence."

After hearing Huo Xi's words, Huo Zhang was completely reassured. His son had thought everything through and would not use methods that harmed his own reputation. All Huo Zhang had to do was follow his arrangements.

"So we should act a little arrogant outside? Like the whole one-man's-success-brings-everyone-else-glory sort of feeling. Like we are excited because our cousin is about to take complete control of the Huo Household?"

"After all, we are your people. The more genuine our attitude appears, the more that woman watching the Huo Household will panic. First come the company personnel changes and some shareholders being pushed out, then the old man falling ill, and then our attitude."

"She will definitely panic, because she will fear that before she even has the chance to return with her child, your power will only keep growing, while the old man truly is getting old." Han Yi was indeed someone who often worked with Huo Xi; he quickly figured out how they should act.