Chapter 2308: The True Colors of a Hero

Jiang Ning really hadn't expected that Zhao Fusheng would play her for a fool.

Of course, that was how she saw it.

But in Zhao Fusheng's view, he had never promised Jiang Ning anything.

As for Young Master Chen?

That was Xue Yuanfang's problem; Zhao Fusheng wasn't about to step up and take the blame.

"What do we do?"

Jiang Ning looked at Young Master Chen: "Should we..."

"No need."

Young Master Chen shook his head and said to Jiang Ning, "Those methods can't be used."

"Why?"

Jiang Ning asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Because Xue Yuanfang has already put out word."

Young Master Chen said with a smile, "He invited me to meet."

Meet?

Jiang Ning was stunned, looking at Zhao Fusheng in surprise.

She really hadn't expected that Xue Yuanfang would invite Young Master Chen to meet. Could it be that he also planned to get involved in this matter?

No!

The Xue family had always cooperated very well with Zhao Fusheng. Perhaps this time Zhao Fusheng had sought help from the Xue family.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's expression turned serious.

She was an extremely clever woman and naturally understood that if her guess was correct, this matter might become very troublesome.

After all, Xue Yuanfang represented the Xue family, and that big shot in the Xue family was now very hopeful of reaching the top.

"What exactly is he trying to do?"

Jiang Ning frowned slightly, asking Young Master Chen.

"How should I know."

Young Master Chen shook his head: "To be honest, I've always felt that the old folks at home have taken this matter too lightly. That Zhao Fusheng guy didn't achieve what he has today by relying on the Xue family. Moreover, the Future Group pie is not something one family can swallow whole; they're being a bit too hasty."

As the third generation in charge of the family's finances, he knew very well that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.

What kind of person was Zhao Fusheng?

In ten years, starting from scratch, he had single-handedly propped up the entire Future Group.

From a penniless nobody to now worth tens of billions of dollars.

A man like that can be pressured, but he will never easily yield.

If you think you can force Zhao Fusheng to bow just because your family has some influence, you're dreaming!

If it were that easy, the Xue family probably wouldn't be cooperating with Future Group the way they are now.

But there's no help for it; some things he could see, but certain people at home couldn't.

Those people were completely blinded by the benefits power had brought them.

In their eyes, there was nothing in the world that power couldn't solve.

But the problem was, the Chen family wasn't the most influential family in Huaxia.

In the end, they still had to consider the repercussions.

"Sigh..."

Letting out a sigh, Young Master Chen said: "Do this: notify my second uncle and the others, and have him and my third uncle both attend the evening meeting."

Jiang Ning was taken aback, somewhat surprised.

Clearly, she hadn't expected Young Master Chen to make such a decision.

After all, those two elders of the Chen family usually loved to meddle in company affairs without lifting a finger, and whenever there was any benefit to be had, they were always the first to rush in.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning began to worry.

What if Second Uncle Chen and Third Uncle Chen actually met with Zhao Fusheng and the talks fell apart? What then?

She had calculated with her subordinates that if they operated properly, her side could profit at least ten billion from Future Group's current financing round.

That was no small sum.

With this money, many of the Chen family's current industries could continue to expand their influence and reap greater profits.

"Boss, should we really call them?"

Looking at Mr. Chen, Jiang Ning asked quietly.

She was genuinely a bit worried.

Mr. Chen smiled and nodded. "Go ahead."

Only after Jiang Ning left did the smile on his face fade.

With a snort, Mr. Chen muttered to himself, "Every one of them has grown wings and has their own plans."

…

…

Zhao Fusheng naturally didn't know; it was Xue Yuanfang who called him.

"The Chen family?"

Hearing Xue Yuanfang mention this family, Zhao Fusheng was somewhat surprised. "You mean we have to cooperate with them?"

"Yeah, Chen Qiang is quite capable."

Xue Yuanfang said with a smile. "He has a decent reputation, but those uncles of his are really something else."

"Alright."

Zhao Fusheng nodded.

He had already found out who was behind Jiang Ning.

Chen Qiang, nicknamed Mr. Chen, was Jiang Ning's boss.

But the problem was, Zhao Fusheng wasn't willing to deal with them.

"What's your situation? Want to come along?" Xue Yuanfang said to Zhao Fusheng. "I've arranged to meet that guy Chen Qiang."

"I won't go."

Zhao Fusheng said casually. "You go yourself."

"Huh?"

Xue Yuanfang was a bit surprised; he had originally planned to introduce Zhao Fusheng to Chen Qiang.

"Handle the financing talks with them. If they want to invest, that's fine, but everything must follow business rules."

Zhao Fusheng said calmly. "Don't think I'll necessarily compromise. If pushed too far, I'll just not go public or raise funds. After all, my whole family is abroad now."

"Alright, alright, don't get worked up. I'm here, what are you worried about?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng flare up, Xue Yuanfang knew he was still holding a grudge about what had happened before.

After all, no matter what, some of the Chen family's earlier actions were essentially using their influence to pressure others.

If Zhao Fusheng's foundation were in China, that approach might have worked.

But the problem was, Zhao Fusheng's biggest asset wasn't the few subsidiaries under Future Group, but the shares and cash held by Future Investments.

By now, even Xue Yuanfang didn't know exactly how much money Future Investments had.

In fact, even Dong Chenxi, the person in charge, didn't know.

Because Zhao Fusheng had specifically hired the financial team of the Chen family from Banco de Oro to handle it.

Everything was strictly confidential except for Zhao Fusheng himself.

In Zhao Fusheng's own words, no one else needed to know how much money he had except himself.

"Alright, you negotiate with them."

Zhao Fusheng nodded, said no more, and hung up the phone.

To be honest, Zhao Fusheng understood Xue Yuanfang's considerations very well—he simply didn't want the Xue family to become a target of public criticism because of this matter.

After all, Future Group was a big fat piece of meat that many people coveted.

If the Xue family swallowed it all, they might choke.

At this critical moment, the Xue family didn't want to take risks; their desire for stability was something Zhao Fusheng understood all too well.

But the problem was, although Zhao Fusheng didn't mind that, he did mind being pushed around.

To put it bluntly, the Xue family could make a lot of profit from this opportunity, but Zhao Fusheng felt that he, too, deserved a return.

In business, one must talk business.

Zhao Fusheng had never forgotten this.

…

…

But the next morning, Zhao Fusheng received a piece of news that surprised him considerably.

“The talks broke down?”

Looking at Xue Yuanfang in surprise, Zhao Fusheng asked, puzzled.

“Yeah, they broke down.”

Xue Yuanfang nodded: “Two idiots came from the Chen family—Chen Gongzi’s two uncles. They’re practically brain-dead.”

Clearly, he was furious.

Even Xue Yuanfang, who prided himself on his composure, was this angry—it seemed he had been truly infuriated yesterday.

“What did Chen Gongzi say?”

Zhao Fusheng’s heart stirred, and he asked Xue Yuanfang.

“Him?”

Xue Yuanfang gave a bitter smile: “He couldn’t get a word in edgewise; his two uncles dominated the whole conversation.”

Zhao Fusheng looked thoughtful.

Instinct told him this matter was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng said to Xue Yuanfang, “Have you ever dealt with this Chen Gongzi before?”

“No, I haven’t.”

Xue Yuanfang shook his head and explained to Zhao Fusheng: “Our circle is actually very insular. Usually, we hardly interact with each other; everyone has their own connections.”

Hearing this, Zhao Fusheng understood.

In short, the two weren’t familiar with each other. Most of what they knew about the other came from secondhand accounts.

Under such circumstances, forget about truly knowing him—even a basic understanding of the man, in Zhao Fusheng’s view, might not be accurate.

“You scheming bastard, what are you plotting now?”

Glancing at Zhao Fusheng, Xue Yuanfang asked helplessly: “I’m telling you, the waters here are deep. Don’t go making any rash moves.”

Given their relationship—having worked together for years—he knew Zhao Fusheng wasn’t one to take losses lying down, and he feared Zhao Fusheng might make a wrong decision if he wasn’t careful.

Zhao Fusheng shot Xue Yuanfang a look of disdain, too lazy to even mock him.

He wasn’t an idiot!

In this land of China, you must never offend those who hold power.

Unless you were crazy, everyone knew that truth.

“Don’t worry.”

Zhao Fusheng explained to Xue Yuanfang: “I’m not trying to scheme against him. I just think—if this Chen Gongzi is really as formidable as you say, as the rumors claim—don’t you find his behavior yesterday very strange?”

That was his honest opinion.

For one thing, every one of the playboys he knew was outstanding.

Even the occasional ne’er-do-well would never be placed in a key position in the family business.

Which of those playboys who had climbed to a certain position was a fool?

Suppressed?

Hah.

What a joke!

Take Xue Yuanfang, for instance.

How many people in the entire Xue family envied his current position?

But could anyone take it from him?

Some had tried.

But in the end, they could only retreat in disappointment.

Because Xue Yuanfang had long since sealed off his business domain completely.

Throughout the Future Group, no one objected to the Xue family’s involvement, but the representative had to be Xue Yuanfang. If someone else took his place, Zhao Fusheng could guarantee—himself included—that everyone would be very unhappy.

“What you’re saying makes sense.”

Xue Yuanfang frowned slightly, then nodded.

He wasn’t a brainless fool; with a little hint from Zhao Fusheng, he caught on.

Indeed, just as Zhao Fusheng had said.

If Chen Gongzi really was the masterful player the rumors made him out to be, then last night’s scene was probably staged deliberately for their benefit.

“But the question is, what’s the point?”

Xue Yuanfang asked Zhao Fusheng, puzzled: “Does he think we can’t see through it?”

That was what he couldn’t understand.

Logically, Chen Gongzi should have known that as soon as he thought about it, Xue Yuanfang would figure it out.

Under those circumstances, Chen Gongzi had no reason to act that way.

And yet, he did exactly that!

It was like knowing a cat eats fish, but watching it circle the fish several times without taking a bite.

No matter how it performed, everyone knew—there’s no cat that doesn’t steal fish!

“Heh.”

Zhao Fusheng smiled: “I think he might be setting a trap for some people in his own family.”

“Setting a trap?”

Xue Yuanfang raised an eyebrow, quickly catching on to a possibility.

Just as Zhao Fusheng had said.

It was entirely possible that Chen Gongzi was using this incident to set a trap for certain family members.

And who was in the trap?

No doubt, it was those two old men who had angered him yesterday.

This kind of tactic—he had used it himself, come to think of it.

Just not as ruthlessly as Chen Gongzi.

This was a deal worth tens of billions, and he dared to do it.

“Got it?”

Seeing Xue Yuanfang’s expression, Zhao Fusheng knew he had already guessed.

In fact, this was Chen Gongzi’s open scheme.

He knew full well that Zhao Fusheng and Xue Yuanfang were reluctant to include the Chen family, so he simply dragged his two uncles into it.

Moreover, he probably knew that with his uncles’ character, the negotiations were bound to fail.

That way, the blame wouldn’t fall on him.

When Future Advertising secured financing and went public later...

Just think about it.

An advertising company worth over ten billion—and what happened?

The Chen family had a chance to get a piece, but it was ruined by the attitude of two old playboys.

How would they feel?

And then there was Future Advertising, along with other subsidiaries of the Future Group—none of them had anything to do with the Chen family.

How would that feel?

Thinking about it, even Zhao Fusheng and Xue Yuanfang had to marvel at how bold he was in laying his trap!

“Impressive!”

After a long silence, Xue Yuanfang sighed.

That was his honest opinion.

Though he had never met Chen Gongzi in person, through this incident, Xue Yuanfang felt he was indeed inferior.

At the very least, he didn’t have Chen Gongzi’s ruthlessness.

The Xue family also had its share of troublemakers with other ideas about the Future Group’s financing, but Xue Yuanfang had only one thing to say to them:

“If you’re not afraid of affecting my uncle, go ahead and make trouble.”