Chapter 90: A Powerful Family Intrigue!

Su Hao immediately ordered his men to dig up all the interviews and reports about Shen Zekai in recent years regarding his "support for his brother," "focus on emerging businesses," and "lack of interest in core power," especially those with sincere words and humble demeanor.
Sure enough!
Only these reports about "deep brotherly affection" and "willingness to play a supporting role" would trigger his damned intuition, sending red lights flashing and blaring in his mind like a financial risk warning system!
"Liang Haiyuan, do you think those two Shen brothers...could they be secretly wrestling over this immense wealth and absolute control, maintaining a facade of harmony while secretly fighting tooth and nail?"
"Really? President Su, Shen Zekai has said in many public occasions that he has little interest in the chairmanship of the group's traditional businesses, preferring high-tech and innovative investments."
Liang Haiyuan was somewhat puzzled, after all, the second young master of the Shen family had always been known as an unconventional, tech-obsessed "refined CEO."
"Heh," Su Hao chuckled, his tone laced with a worldly-wise mockery.
"Haiyuan, you're still too naive. What's that saying again?
That big shot who always says 'I have no interest in money,' do you think he really has no interest in money?
Often, it's those kinds of people who are the most greedy for money, you couldn't pry them dry!
Similarly, those who always say they have no interest in power are often the most ambitious!"
"You mean... Shen Zekai, he... he's acting?! He's actually plotting against the entire Changqing Group?"
Liang Haiyuan gasped, feeling as if the temperature in the office's central air conditioning had suddenly dropped several degrees.
If that's true, that's really exciting!
“I did some research,” Su Hao tapped his finger lightly on the table,
“This Shen Zekai is far more capable than his brother in terms of business acumen, his performance is leagues ahead.
Tell me, if you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you be thinking:
‘Why is he so good and I'm not? I’m clearly more capable than him, why does he get all the benefits?’”
Liang Haiyuan nodded thoughtfully, then slowly said:
“Frankly speaking, Mr. Su, anyone would have some ambition for that high-profile, powerful position.
However, since Chairman Shen has already made the decision to hand over the reins to his eldest son, the succession process is almost complete.
Even if Shen Zekai does have some ambitions now, I'm afraid… he can’t cause any major trouble, right?”
On the surface, Liang Haiyuan’s analysis seemed logical, well-reasoned, and convincing.
But Su Hao's damned intuition, every time he saw news related to Shen Zekai, would go wild in his mind, like a hypnotic pyramid scheme leader desperately trying to send him signals.
This meant that something was definitely going on!
And it was absolutely something huge!
"Haiyuan, like this," Su Hao ordered in a deep voice,
"Give a call to our R&D department again, and have them dig deeper into the Changqing Group's shareholding structure, especially that 'Changqing Global Trust' registered in the Cayman Islands.
Use your network to find more spies. I need to know what its ancestors did for eighteen generations! Get to the bottom of it!"
"Ah? Oh, yes, Mr. Su! I'll get right on it!"
Liang Haiyuan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, knowing that Mr. Su was serious this time.
Su Hao also knew that, on the surface, the succession drama at the Changqing Group had come to an end.
For Shen Zekai to turn the tables now was harder than climbing to heaven.
However, his damned, radar-like intuition, given its strong reaction, couldn't be baseless!
Behind this, either Shen Zekai was preparing a stunning reversal, a "prince's revenge," or…
something even more exciting and explosive awaited him.
"Who cares?" Su Hao's lips curled into a playful smile, thinking to himself,
"You can fight it out, but don't you dare affect the quality of the apartment I bought in the Changqing development! Don't you dare create some shoddy construction!!
The rest, you can do whatever you want!"
***
From childhood to adulthood, Shen Zekai's father, Shen Chengjia's voice was like a curse, repeating the same few phrases over and over until his ears were practically calloused:
"Zekai, you must help your older brother make the company great!"
"Your older brother's words are my words, you must obey unconditionally!"
"Whatever your older brother wants to do, you should support him wholeheartedly, without complaint!"
Big brother, big brother, big brother!
In his father Shen Chengjia's eyes, it seemed that apart from his eldest son, Shen Zeju, the whole world was a blurry mosaic.
And he, Shen Zekai, was merely the most insignificant piece among the many mosaics.
He had naively believed that as long as he worked hard enough, shone bright enough, one day, his father's eyes, forever focused on his brother, would spare a sliver of attention for him.
For this unattainable dream, he desperately showcased his talent at the company, his performance far surpassing his incompetent brother's!
He always stood on the edge of the stage where his father's gaze might sweep, humbly hoping for a miracle.
However, each hopeful wait was met with the same cold, icy pronouncement:
"Help your older brother! The owner of this company is your older brother, and can only be your older brother!"
At that moment, he understood completely, his heart turning to ashes.
His father, Shen Chengjia, would never give him a second glance.
This vast business empire, from the very beginning, was a hunting ground tailor-made for his "outstanding" older brother.
No matter how much Shen Zekai struggled, no matter how he proved his abilities far surpassed his brother's, in his father's eyes, he was still nothing more than a servant leading the Crown Prince's horse and holding his stirrups!
A chilling smile curled at the corner of Shen Zekai's lips, his eyes flashing with cold light.
He buried his burning ambition deep within his heart, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, its sharp fangs cleverly concealed beneath a humble and gentle smile, waiting only for the opportune moment to strike a fatal blow.
Since that's the case…
Then I, your child, can only emulate the Qin King of yesteryear, who endured hardship and ultimately triumphed, and sharpen my sword against my own kin!
The blood shed before Xuanwu Gate is still fresh!
Since benevolence and morality cannot earn me recognition!
Since gentleness, kindness, respect, and frugality will not win me favor!
Then I will forge my throne with iron and blood!