Undercurrents at Mingzhu Company, Li Ruobing's Crisis

Tongzhou City, Central Hospital.

In the luxurious top-floor ward, Lin Tianyou's face was pale, his head wrapped in bandages, connected to a ventilator and pulse monitor.

Lin Jiatao's face was gloomy. He was fifty-two this year but was extremely well-maintained, with his hair slicked back, looking somewhat like Brother Fa from "God of Gamblers" at first glance.

At this moment, Lin Jiatao was sitting on the sofa by the window, smoking, and looking at his injured son, feeling an inexplicable wave of irritation.

A short, stout woman, heavily made up, sat by the hospital bed, wiping away tears.

"Can you please stop crying? Ah! The doctor said it's just a slight concussion, but you're crying like he's brain dead!"

Madam Lin exploded like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Lin Jiatao! After all these years you've spent in Tongzhou, your son has been beaten to this state, and you don't even dare to fart! Are you even a man? You only know how to be tough with me! If you have the guts, go find that bastard who beat our son like this and bring him back! If you don't dare, I'll chop him up myself!"

"Just calm down! How many times have I covered for him? If he wasn't my son, he would have been chopped to death hundreds of times by now!" Lin Jiatao's head throbbed with pain, and he trembled with anger: "He's in this state today because you spoiled him! Do you know who he provoked? The Nanning Su Family!"

"Su... Su Family?" Madam Lin clearly didn't know the specifics of last night's conflict. Hearing Lin Jiatao's words, she was also a bit stunned. Although still angry, her tone softened: "The Su Family... the Su Family shouldn't bully people like this..."

"How many times have I told you two? During this sensitive period, tell him to keep a low profile, a low profile, and even lower! Nobody listens to a single word I say. All day long, he takes a few people out to show off. If he messed with someone without a background, it would be fine, but he just had to provoke someone from the Su Family. Not only did he get beaten up, but I also have to apologize to them," Lin Jiatao's eyes were bloodshot. "What kindness has Director Su shown the Lin Family? At my age, I've lost face all the way to the Pacific Ocean!"

"But... but he's also your own son. Can you just ignore him?"

Lin Jiatao glanced at his son lying in the hospital bed. Although his words expressed extreme disappointment, how could he not feel heartache?

"He's my son? What great fortune did I accumulate in some past life? I think he's my father!" Lin Jiatao turned around and cursed forcefully.

"Where are you going!" Madam Lin asked in a sharp voice.

"I'm calling Director Su, I'm going to apologize to him!"

Lin Jiatao's tone was stiff, and he slammed the door shut as he left.

At the door, Lin Jiatao's private secretary came forward, dialed a number, and handed him the phone.

The call was quickly connected.

Hearing the voice from the other end of the phone, Lin Jiatao's expression changed rapidly, a wide smile on his face: "Director Su... hello, hello. Last month's dividend was transferred to finance, but you haven't signed for it yet. I just wanted to confirm... you received it, right? Good, good, I thought the account number was wrong..."

"Other than that... there's nothing major. It's just about last night's incident, it was quite embarrassing... The child at home was ignorant, please don't take it to heart..."

The voice on the other end suddenly paused, then became somewhat confused: "Hmm? Last night? What incident?"

"You see, your family didn't tell you? It was just last night at Fibi Bar, Tianyou had a few words with your child..." Lin Jiatao still maintained a smile, completely avoiding mentioning that Lin Tianyou had been severely beaten.

"Hehe..."

Director Su's voice became a little strange: "Old Lin, are you short on money again? Are you hinting at me? My children haven't been to Tongzhou recently!"

Lin Jiatao's body stiffened.

The private secretary next to him gently nudged Lin Jiatao's elbow. A video was playing on the laptop, it was the private surveillance footage from Fibi Bar last night.

A clearly processed photo was extracted separately.

Su Rui.

Lin Jiatao's smile was a little stiff. Looking at the image on the computer, he said softly: "Director Su, I'll send you the photo. Please help me take a look and identify if it's one of your family members?"

"Alright," Director Su agreed readily.

The photo was quickly sent to Director Su's private email.

Five minutes later, Director Su's reply arrived.

It was very simple.

Only four words.

"No such person found."

A terrifying aura seemed to be condensing in the air.

Bang!

"Damn it!" Lin Jiatao kicked over the medical cabinet in the hallway, his face terrifyingly grim. He pointed at the photo on the laptop: "I've been in the game my whole life, and in my old age, I've been set up!"

"Find him! Find him for me immediately! Bring him back to see me before the evening news starts!"

The Pagani was driving on the elevated highway.

Li Ruobing gently rubbed her temples.

She had been very upset recently due to the company's affairs, which was why she went to the bar to relieve stress.

The new store was about to open. The land contract was signed, the announcement was made, the factory was contacted, but the money was still not in place...

Several banks that were willing to lend money to Mingzhu Group had suddenly changed their minds at the critical juncture of the new store's opening, refusing to loan money to Mingzhu Group, citing insufficient qualifications.

"Someone has planted a mole in your company..." Su Rui smiled. He knew very well what kind of family Li Ruobing came from. "And, this time, it's your family who caused this... To be precise, it's your stepmother."

Conflicts are most common in blended families, especially in wealthy families like this.

The key points of conflict are nothing more than family property and power.

"You are too strong, which has made your stepmother and half-brother feel a great threat. Even if your half-brother is the legitimate son, you will still completely suppress him in the Li Family in the future; therefore, your stepmother is playing dirty tricks while you haven't completely risen, to make you fall into a slump and be forced to collapse!"

Su Rui said, this was easy to understand. The key was that Li Ruobing's half-brother was too useless and didn't show any strength or talent that could contend with Li Ruobing.

Li Ruobing's expression was indifferent, showing no sign of abnormality.

"How much more do you know about my family?"

"A lot, more than you can imagine..." Su Rui said calmly. "Many things you don't even know, I know like the back of my hand."

"So, if you help me, what do you want?" Li Ruobing finally turned her head, the corner of her mouth slightly curved. "Don't tell me it's because of a one-night stand, a man's responsibility, or whatever... Save that nonsense for someone else."

Su Rui shook his head. This woman was terrifyingly calm. She could be so rational towards a man who had taken her first time.

"Don't underestimate your own appeal; you, profit, status," Su Rui said, emphasizing each word. "I want it all."

"A decent reason."

Li Ruobing closed her eyes, looking a little tired. "Wake me up when we get there."

Today was the day of Mingzhu Company's board meeting, and as CEO, Li Ruobing had to be there. She had a lot to deal with today, such as the shareholders who had strongly opposed her before. They definitely wouldn't miss the opportunity presented by the broken capital chain and would launch a fierce attack on Li Ruobing, trying to oust her.

When she established Mingzhu Group, she didn't use any resources from her family. This resulted in her being the CEO, but with numerous shareholders and a lack of unity within the group.

In the past, she could rely on profitability to suppress those shareholders trying to climb the ranks; but today's hurdle would likely be very difficult to overcome...

"Didn't you ever think of asking your dad for some money? Tens of millions, even hundreds of millions. As long as you ask, he'll definitely give it to you." Su Rui spoke again, looking at Li Ruobing with a playful smile.

The Li Family was a family that had truly reached the pinnacle in Tongzhou City, one of the top commercial powerhouses.

Even the recently rapidly rising Lin Jiatao, who was riding high; when he met someone from the Li Family, he would voluntarily lower his head and accompany them as a junior.

This was the true foundation of a prominent family, something that nouveau riche couldn't compare to.

Li Ruobing didn't speak, but Su Rui knew very well that she was an extremely ambitious and almost stubborn person. The fact that she chose to start her own business after returning from studying abroad, instead of working in the family's group, had already proven this.

If she encountered a little difficulty and asked her family for help, it wouldn't fit her personality.

"Wanting to reach the peak on your own, discarding the name of being from a wealthy family; your gaze has never lingered on the family group..." The smile on Su Rui's face grew wider. Li Ruobing had never thought of inheriting the family business. She wanted to build a business empire that belonged only to her, and she had never thought of competing with her good-for-nothing younger brother.

"Your stepmother and brother are truly pathetic, cautiously treating you as their biggest competitor and constantly making moves; yet they didn't realize that you never considered them opponents at all."

"Short-sighted..." Li Ruobing's tone was very contemptuous, she said coldly.

The Pagani stopped below a commercial building.

"The money will arrive on time." Su Rui glanced at his watch, there were still two hours. "Just wait quietly and see how I help you turn the tide!"

The roar of the engine sounded, and Su Rui sped away.

Only one sentence floated in the air.

"Remember, five o'clock!"

Li Ruobing quietly watched Su Rui leave. From the building behind her, a young woman in professional attire ran out.

"President Li, the shareholders are all here, they're just waiting for you."

Li Ruobing nodded, turned around, and walked into the lobby.