Chapter 103: The Number One Unjustly Accused!

Upon hearing Uncle Cui's report, Shen Zekai was struck dumb, as if by lightning.
"Just received news. The old chairman suddenly collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he hasn't woken up yet."
Could it be because the power struggle had taken its toll?
No, that can't be right.
His father was already quite old, his health had always been poor, and he was bedridden for most of the time.
To put it bluntly, the reason Shen Zekai dared to seize this opportunity to cause trouble was largely because he saw the old man's bedridden state as a "golden opportunity."
But just a few days ago, he was still full of energy, slamming his fist on the table and glaring at him, making threatening remarks with great vigor!
How could he suddenly...?
'Wait! If the old man really collapsed... then doesn't that mean...?'
A chilling thought flashed through Shen Zekai's mind.
In fact, this so-called power struggle was less a battle between Shen Zekai and his elder brother, and more a game of wits between Shen Zekai and his father!
And now, the "king" of the opposing camp has fallen!
Those previously wavering, fence-sitters, upon learning of the old chairman's critical illness, knew without a doubt who they would choose!
Would they continue to serve an unconscious old man lying in a hospital bed, or would they support the young, energetic, and soon-to-be-in-control Shen Zekai?
The answer was self-evident!
So…
Then damn it!
His 10 billion investment, along with the stakes in the "Changqing Tianxi" real estate project, and the 5% stake he "borrowed" from Fang Huan Investment—wasn't that making him the biggest scapegoat?
Completely useless!
At this moment, Shen Zekai felt like dying.
In this breathtaking power struggle among the wealthy, the true winner wasn't Shen Zekai, but rather Fang Huan Investment, which effortlessly amassed a staggering 10 billion yuan with virtually no investment!
No, more accurately, it was the mysterious mastermind behind Fang Huan Investment who, without ever revealing their face, stirred up the entire storm!
[Changqing Group Chairman Shen Chengjia has suddenly fallen seriously ill and remains unconscious. To prevent further turmoil within the group, the shareholders' meeting has convened an extraordinary session, electing President Shen Zekai as the new chairman…]
On television, the news anchor delivered this financial news in a serious tone.
This highly publicized battle for the Changqing Group's succession ended in a way no one expected.
With the former chairman Shen Chengjia's illness, the game was prematurely over.
Those shareholders who were initially loyal to the former chairman, seeing the tide turning, turned their allegiance to Shen Zekai.
***
“Holy crap, Hao, if we'd been any later, we'd really be sitting ducks! The timing was perfect!”
Huang Fengwen took a swig of beer, his voice filled with relief and barely concealed excitement.
Su Hao wholeheartedly agreed; the timing was absolutely impeccable!
If they had signed the contract even a little later, and the news of the old chairman's illness had spread, that kid Shen Zekai would never have spent 10 billion to “borrow” these shares.
Those forces that originally supported the old chairman would naturally have rushed to pledge their allegiance.
“Looking back now, I still feel a bit scared.” Huang Fengwen took a swig of his drink and smacked his lips.
“When you asked me to offer the ‘Changqing Tianxi’ development as collateral, my heart skipped a beat. I thought the deal was definitely going to fall through.
In fact, that Shen Zekai was furious. He pointed his finger at me, hurled insults, and slammed the door behind him.”
Su Hao’s eyebrows shot up. “What? That bastard dared to curse you?!”
“Hey, it’s nothing!” Huang Fengwen waved his hand dismissively.
“He was just angry and said whatever came to mind. Think about it, in his eyes, I’m just a small-time private equity boss, yet he dared to ask for such an exorbitant amount.
With his flagship ‘Changqing Tianxi’ development in his sights, it’s no wonder he got so worked up!”
“I’m sorry, Brother Huang, it’s all my fault… If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have gone out and talked to him.”
Su Hao felt a little guilty.
"Hey! It's no big deal! That's what the boss does!" Huang Fengwen laughed nonchalantly.
"He got swindled out of a full 10 billion by us, what's wrong with him venting a little? Besides, was he venting his anger on me? He was venting on the 10 billion!
He probably feels like we've ripped him out of his guts, so letting him vent is fine. Hehe!"
Su Hao remembered that when they used to play games, whenever there was something like this that required taking the blame or standing up for someone, Huang Fengwen, as the guild leader, was always the first to step forward.
He never hesitated to take responsibility.
He was a truly responsible man.
That's why Su Hao had always considered him a trustworthy older brother.
"Actually, at first, I was also taken aback by your proposal to mortgage the Changqing Tianxi residential complex,"
Huang Fengwen continued.
"But thinking about it carefully afterward, it's not a big deal. For that kid, this deal wasn't actually too bad.
Although we've seized the property, as long as he can pay back the 10 billion on time, everything will be fine."
He'll use this money to put out the immediate fire, and then slowly figure out how to raise the money to pay off the debt later.
The real problem is, nobody expected that the old chairman would collapse so conveniently right after the contract was signed!
Su Hao guessed that Shen Zekai must be itching to tear Huang Fengwen and himself apart right now, dreaming of devouring them alive.
"But speaking of which, Hao, why did you have to specifically mention that particular property development back then?"
Huang Fengwen asked curiously,
“To be honest, you could just seize any of his subsidiaries as collateral. They're not going to default on their debts anyway.”
“It’s just… a sudden thought.” Su Hao scratched his head,
“I bought an apartment in ‘Changqing Tianxi,’ you know, maybe I’m a bit obsessed with it?”
Su Hao himself was quite puzzled. Why “Changqing Tianxi” in particular?
There were so many other options, but his intuition, like a nail drawn to a magnet, was firmly locked onto that place.
“Although the possibility is slim,” Huang Fengwen stroked his chin, a sly smile typical of capitalists appearing on his face,
“but what if those bastards suddenly cause internal problems, their cash flow dries up, and they run into financial difficulties, then the development…”
"Hehe, does that mean we can legitimately 'accept' it?"
"I don't think so. Such a large group, even a fallen camel is bigger than a horse, it's unlikely.
Besides, even if it really gets stuck in our hands, how to operate it would be a huge problem.
That's a high-end development, with a super five-star hotel inside. We finance people don't know anything about managing that."
"It's just wishful thinking, just venting." Huang Fengwen knew it wasn't realistic.
"Furthermore, that kid Shen Zekai just became chairman, he hasn't even settled in yet, and he's already starting to scramble for projects everywhere, clearly trying to quickly patch up the hole.
I have to say, that kid's got some skills."
Whether it's a securities firm or a private equity fund, they're essentially capital brokers.
They excel at buying low and selling high, profiting from the difference.
As for specific business management, that's not their forte.
"I heard he's been making quite a splash overseas lately, especially in Europe," Huang Fengwen said, as if recalling something.
"It seems to be a project he was working on before, which was delayed because of the inheritance dispute, but has now been restarted.
This time he has big ambitions; he wants to create a world-class hotel brand, focusing on the European market, especially... France, where he's poured a lot of money into it."
"Pfft—!"
Su Hao, who had just taken a sip of wine, suddenly spat it out, choking and coughing violently.
Huang Fengwen was startled and quickly patted Su Hao's back to help him catch his breath:
"Ouch! Hao, what's wrong? Did you choke? Or are you feeling unwell?"
"Ah, no, nothing, Brother Huang," Su Hao coughed, his face and neck red, awkwardly wiping his mouth, his voice still a little hoarse,
"It's just... I suddenly choked, sorry, sorry."
'What... what just happened?'
Upon hearing the word "France," a surge of indescribable, turbulent, and agitated heat rose from his core—what was that?!