Chapter 99: Cut off all escape routes

What Huang Fengwen did today was actually quite simple:
He merely brought this father and son, who had harbored deep resentment, to the same place, providing them with a platform to openly stab each other in the back...
And then he added fuel to the fire of their already burning anger.
As for anything else, he did nothing.
The rest was up to them to see who would lose their temper first!
"I wonder which of these two will give in first and take on this deal?"
Ideally, both of them would be vying to pay! That would be truly exciting!
Huang Fengwen hummed a little tune, feeling incredibly relaxed.
He just hoped this deal would be closed quickly.
Otherwise, his old heart would eventually be worn out by that brat Su Hao!
***
After Huang Fengwen slipped away, the private room fell into a deathly silence.
The air seemed to freeze, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
A moment later, Shen Chengjia suddenly burst into a piercing, cold laugh, filled with disdain and mockery:
"Hmph! That guy surnamed Huang is completely blinded by greed, a complete madman!
One hundred billion? He really dares to ask for such an exorbitant amount!
Did you hear that, kid? This game is basically over! How long do you intend to keep this up?"
"Over? What do you mean by that?" Shen Zekai asked expressionlessly.
"What do you mean? You think you have 10 billion to buy those worthless shares? No way!
Don't think I don't know you've already emptied the company's accounts to fight me!
Take another penny, and that's blatant embezzlement! Embezzlement! You'll be heading to jail!"
Shen Chengjia sneered, his eyes filled with mockery.
"As for those equity funds swarming around like flies?
Hmph, do you think they're philanthropists? Do you really think they'd lend you 10 billion?
Even if they were, how would you pay it back?
By then, even if you manage to seize the chairman's position, the company will have already been emptied by those jackals!
You're nothing but their puppet, expecting a good life?"
Shen Chengjia spoke each word with conviction, his meaning clear:
Anyone who actually spends that 10 billion is essentially pouring gasoline on themselves, just waiting for someone to strike the first match!
"The game is over, kid!"
Shen Chengjia looked at Shen Zekai smugly, his eyes brimming with the air of a victor.
"Since you've been bitten by that greedy Huang Fengwen, you can forget about turning the tables.
You have no cards left to play!"
"And you? Can you afford it?" Shen Zekai retorted defiantly.
"Me? If I wanted to buy, of course I could. But is it necessary?"
Shen Chengjia said arrogantly, his tone filled with condescending superiority.
"I had someone do the calculations. In this situation, my shares already have a slight advantage.
Besides, why should I spend 10 billion to let that scoundrel who's trying to extort me get away with it?
I'm not that senile!"
Shen Chengjia stood up from his seat with ease, his face radiating the relaxed smugness of a victor, as if victory was already in his grasp.
He straightened his clothes and said in a condescending tone:
"Hand over all your shares obediently and go back to your mother!
No matter what, you're still a member of the Shen family; I wouldn't kill you off.
But for the rest of your life, you'll stay obediently in that lousy factory!
Reflect on your mistakes and repent for what you did today!"
Shen Chengjia left behind these harsh words, carrying an ultimatum, and strode away without looking back.
His arrogant back seemed to have already declared his victory.
"..."
In the empty private room, only Shen Zekai remained, sitting blankly in his chair, staring at the ceiling, his eyes vacant.
The fine wine and delicacies brought by the waiter couldn't be eaten or drunk.
Is it... over?
Is it really... over?
He had painstakingly planned and endured for years, finally waiting for this opportunity. Was it really going to end in such a humiliating and dismal way?
"No!"
He refused to accept it!
He refused!
Shen Zekai abruptly stood up from his chair, his eyes suddenly flashing with an astonishing light!
It was the madness of a cornered beast fighting for survival, the resolute determination to fight to the death!
It wasn't over yet!
It absolutely couldn't end like this!
"Uncle Cui!"
"Yes, young master."
Uncle Cui, who had been quietly standing by, was now dejected, his face etched with the numbness of despair.
In his eyes, the tide had turned, and there was no turning back.
"Uncle Cui..."
Shen Zekai took a deep breath, his eyes sharpening, even carrying a hint of desperate resolve.
“How about we…pour oil on ourselves?”
Uncle Cui, upon hearing this, trembled in shock, nearly kneeling on the spot. He waved his hands frantically, exclaiming in a trembling voice:
“Wh…what? Young Master! You wouldn’t…really be planning to borrow 10 billion, would you?!
That’s not just money, that’s a death warrant! That’s utter ruin! Only a madman would do that!”
“I know, of course I know that’s madness!”
"Of course I know that's like drinking poison to quench thirst, playing with fire!"
Shen Zekai gave a bitter laugh, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, but his voice remained unusually calm.
"But I, Shen Zekai, don't want to end my life so pathetically!
Uncle Cui, if we just admit defeat like this, you know better than I what our fate will be.
Are you really willing to just slink away like this?!"
"..." Uncle Cui fell silent.
Surrender?
Admit defeat?
Give up everything?
That's true cowardice, that's the most shameful end!
From the moment he emulated Emperor Taizong, setting up that "Xuanwu Gate" of destiny in his heart, baring the fangs of "ambition," and resolving to murder his father and seize power!
He had already cut off all escape routes; behind him lay an abyss!
Back then, he had already sworn a solemn oath in his heart, gambling with his life, his honor and disgrace, everything he could gamble with!
No matter how many trials and tribulations lay ahead, no matter the cost of being shattered to pieces, this company, he, Shen Zekai, would hold firmly in his hands!
Even if everyone betrayed him,
Even if he was condemned by a thousand men,
Even if he faced utter ruin,
This company—
I'm fucking going to have it!