Chapter 927
Taking Over
"boom!"
The heavy solid wood door slammed shut behind Xiao Jun. The dull thud was like a hammer blow to Qian Youyou's heart, causing her already pale face to lose the last trace of color.
The carefully decorated and cozy living room now feels as cold as an icebox.
The lingering sweet aroma of cake and the children's laughter in the air became a glaring irony, highlighting her current disheveled and heartbroken state.
The grievances, like a surging tide, instantly overwhelmed her.
Her good intentions were so misinterpreted?
"Vice President? Ha... I appreciate the thought!"
Recalling the words her brother had said before she left, her eyes instantly reddened, and hot tears welled up in her eyes, almost spilling out.
But she is the president of the Qian Group, the hostess of today's first birthday banquet, and the head of the family under the watchful eyes of countless people. She cannot cry, especially at this time, especially in front of... the man beside her.
Qian Youyou took a deep breath, the movement accompanied by a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.
She straightened her back, raised her chin slightly, and forcefully suppressed the surging sorrow and tears.
She cannot lose her composure, she cannot show weakness.
She had to act like the head of the Qian family, even if her heart was bleeding.
She turned her head and looked at Lu Yang beside her.
His eyes remained deep and calm, as if the fierce family storm and the slamming door were nothing more than a pebble thrown into a lake, causing only a few barely perceptible ripples.
This detached calmness, strangely, gave her a sense of support at that moment.
"Don't mind it," Qian Youyou's voice was slightly hoarse from trying to suppress it, but she tried to keep it steady. "My brother... that's just how he is. He's impatient and stubborn as a mule. Since he was little... since he was little, my dad has had high expectations for him and put a lot of pressure on him. He's always wanted to prove himself, to prove that he's a hundred times better than those good-for-nothings born with a silver spoon in their mouths in the industry. He's desperately trying to climb up the ladder, to do something earth-shattering..."
Her tone contained helplessness, disappointment, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, heartache stemming from blood ties.
"But unfortunately," she gave a bitter smile, a smile more painful than tears, "he was born with a pig's brain! If you ask me, he would have been better off as a spoiled rich kid who just lazes around and lives a life of debauchery! That way, at least he wouldn't be so tired, wouldn't have driven himself to the brink, and my mom... wouldn't have to clean up his mess every now and then, every few years, with her heart pounding!"
Lu Yang listened quietly, his deep gaze fixed on his wife's stubborn profile as she struggled to hold back her tears.
He understood her unspoken meaning.
She was referring to "a few years ago"—the disastrous collapse of the Hainan real estate bubble.
At that time, Xiao Jun was also ambitious and followed Mu Qizhong into it headfirst. As a result, the bubble burst and he lost everything, almost to the point of jumping off a rooftop.
Finally, it was Qian Youyou and her mother who, with great effort, persuaded the old man of the Qian family who was still in power back then to borrow a large sum of money from the bank in the name of the Qian family, which barely helped Xiao Jun stabilize the situation. Although they ultimately failed to save the Hainan company, at least they prevented him from being burdened with debts he could never repay and from slinking back to Pengcheng in disgrace.
It's only been a few years?
The pain was forgotten even before the scars had fully healed.
They even made a bigger and more fatal mess than before!
This time, he not only trapped himself on the edge of a cliff, but also dragged his mother down with him, betting the core shares of the entire Qian Group on the gambling table!
"If it were me, I'd be annoyed too," Lu Yang thought to himself, a cold glint in his eyes.
The Qian family itself was not without worries; many projects required funding, and the market environment was not entirely smooth sailing.
Where would they find the resources to fill the bottomless pit that Xiao Jun had created?
Therefore, Xiao Jun could only rely on his "brother-in-law".
No wonder Madam Qian's hesitant, hopeful gaze had been fixed on him for so long.
In those eyes, there was a mother's pleading, a mother-in-law's probing, and even more so, a sense of utter despair.
But in the end, she understood the silent rejection beneath Lu Yang's calm gaze.
She was a smart woman, and also a woman who cared about her reputation. She knew that if she spoke again, she would only humiliate herself, so she simply gave up and went upstairs with her child.
"He's quite a straightforward person," Lu Yang thought to himself.
He admitted that if Madam Qian had actually pleaded with him, he would have refused, but such a direct refusal would have made the situation even more awkward and would have hurt Qian Youyou even more.
Mrs. Qian's silent departure, to some extent, preserved the last shred of dignity.
"So, you understand me, right?" Lu Yang's voice lowered, filled with undisguised heartache. He reached out and gently grasped Qian Youyou's slightly cool fingers.
Her fingertips were trembling slightly.
Qian Youyou didn't break free; instead, she gently rested her head on Lu Yang's strong shoulder, drawing strength from his comforting presence.
She nodded, her voice muffled: "Mmm."
Lu Yang continued, his tone calm and analytical: "Although you are his sister, in my opinion, you are doing the work of an older sister, even worrying like a mother. This kid is already in his thirties, but he acts like a greenhorn, reckless and ignorant! He only thinks about the immediate consequences, has no sense of risk, and is far from mature. You were right not to continue cleaning up his messes this time! Absolutely right! If you indulge him again and cover for him again, he will never truly mature in his life, he will only become more reckless, and next time, the mess he makes will be even bigger and more unmanageable! At that time, not to mention you, even if you put the entire Qian family down, it might not be enough!"
"Mmm." Qian Youyou leaned against him and responded again, her voice even more nasal.
She closed her eyes, as if trying to temporarily shut out all the troubles and grievances.
A moment later, she opened her eyes, her gaze regaining its businesswoman's sharpness, and looked at Lu Yang: "But... you probably don't want to see Little Divine Power really fall into the hands of those foreign institutions, right? After all, it was created by you, it's your hard work."
Lu Yang's lips finally curled into a genuine smile, one that was filled with appreciation and understanding.
He lowered his head and gently kissed the top of the other's head: "You understand me best."
He admitted, "Yes, I do have other plans. However, I need to inform you first. But..." He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness, "I'm afraid that if I do this, I will completely offend my brother-in-law, and there will be no room for maneuver."
Qian Youyou raised her head, looked directly into Lu Yang's eyes, and asked with a determined gaze, "What do you plan to do?"
"For his own good, and to completely resolve the problem." Lu Yang's eyes sharpened and calmed, like a scalpel.
"He is indeed not suitable for managing a company, let alone fighting in the capital market."
His ambitions were severely mismatched with his abilities, and his character flaws were too great.
Rather than letting him dance on the edge of a cliff time and time again, only to be shattered to pieces in the end, it's better to... let him give up all hope completely.
From now on, let him live a comfortable life as a wealthy man who never lacks money. Didn't you say you were going to reserve a vice president position for him at Qian's Group?
I think it's quite suitable.
Although he feels insulted now, one day he will understand that this is the best ending.
Qian Youyou remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly processing Lu Yang's words and weighing the options.
Finally, she let out a long, heavy sigh, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Her eyes became unusually calm, even resolute: "You handle it. Why would I be angry? I certainly won't be. As for my mother..."
Her tone turned cold. "You don't need to worry about it either. Don't give her face. I'll handle everything. This family, this company, is now under my control. I can't let anyone's stupidity and greed ruin it."
Looking at the unwavering determination and sense of responsibility in his wife's eyes, Lu Yang's last lingering concerns vanished.
He squeezed her hand tightly and said solemnly, "Okay, then I can rest assured."
The two spoke in hushed tones, so that only the two of them could hear each other.
But that tacit understanding and shared determination acted like an invisible barrier, temporarily isolating them from the outside world's disturbances. As their conversation ended, the tense atmosphere in the living room seemed to ease somewhat.
The housekeeper and servants carefully began to clean up the mess and rearrange the neglected snacks.
Some of the Qian clan members who were close to him also tentatively stepped forward, saying some polite words to ease the atmosphere and to wish Xiao Hao well.
Qian Youyou took a deep breath, and her face once again displayed the impeccable and proper smile befitting a mistress of the house, although deep within that smile, there was still a trace of weariness and heartbreak that was difficult to completely conceal.
Lu Yang regained his composure and chatted with the guests who came forward to talk to him, as if the fierce conflict had never happened.
The birthday party continued in a subtle, forcedly "normal" atmosphere.
During the meal, Mrs. Qian did not come downstairs again.
She didn't appear at the bottom of the stairs until the banquet was almost over and the servants began to clear away the tableware. Her face was still pale, her eyes were complicated, and she carried lingering resentment and deep exhaustion.
She glanced at Qian Youyou and Lu Yang several times, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
In the end, she said nothing, but simply waved, signaling Qian Youyou to go upstairs.
Qian Youyou exchanged a glance with Lu Yang, signaling him to relax, and then followed her mother upstairs.
Lu Yang stayed in the downstairs living room, slowly sipping his tea, which had already gone cold.
The faint sounds of arguing could be heard from upstairs. The voices were not loud, but the tone was urgent and intense, like suppressed thunder.
Madam Qian's suppressed sobs and Qian Youyou's calm, almost cold, rebuttals drifted down intermittently.
Lu Yang did not go up.
He knew that this was a battleground between the mother and daughter, and it was something they had to resolve themselves.
All he could do was give Qian Youyou his unwavering support and deal with Xiao Jun's issues.
The argument lasted for about half an hour.
Footsteps finally echoed on the stairs again.
Qian Youyou came downstairs, her eyes even redder than when she came upstairs, clearly she had just been crying, but her eyes were unusually clear, even carrying a sense of relief and calm.
She walked to Lu Yang's side, met his concerned gaze, and tried her best to force a smile at him.
"It's alright now," she mouthed silently, her smile somewhat forced, yet carrying a sense of relief that everything had finally settled.
Lu Yang's anxiety subsided.
It seems like there's no major problem.
Perhaps the mother upstairs, who was in a state of turmoil yet fiercely protective of her child, finally came to her senses in the face of her daughter's tough stance and the harsh reality?
He realized that indulging his own son would only push him into a deeper abyss.
Perhaps she also realized that letting her son suffer this big setback, to truly understand himself, and to come back and live a peaceful and leisurely life as a wealthy idler, even if he is just an inactive vice president in the Qian family, is better than letting him continue to gamble wildly outside and potentially bring the entire family to ruin.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.
Xiao Jun had not gone far.
He drove around aimlessly for a few hours before finally stopping in front of a bar at a luxury hotel.
At this moment, he was sitting in a dimly lit booth, with several empty wine glasses in front of him.
Alcohol failed to extinguish the humiliation, anger, and resentment in his heart; instead, it acted like gasoline, making the fire burn even brighter.
Qian Youyou's "Get out!" and the "vice president's" suggestion, Lu Yang's all-knowing yet indifferent gaze, played repeatedly in his mind like a curse, each time lashing at his remaining self-esteem like a whip.
"Why...why should I admit defeat? Why should I go back like a stray dog, wagging my tail and begging for mercy?" He gritted his teeth and drank the amber liquid in his glass in one gulp, the spiciness burning from his throat all the way to his stomach.
He pulled out his phone, the screen reflecting the light on his face, contorted with alcohol and anger.
He dialed the number of the only person he could think of at that moment, the person who might still offer a glimmer of hope—Mu Qizhong.
"Hello? Brother Mou!" Xiao Jun's tongue was a little tied, but he tried his best to sound calm and anxious. "It's me, Xiao Jun! Brother, I... I've run into a little trouble again, the cash flow... is a bit tight. Do you think... could you... could you get another tens of millions of US dollars?"
On the other end of the phone, Mu Qizhong's voice was clearly impatient and wary: "Brother Xiao, it's not that I don't want to help you! I only lent you that $1 million because of our years of friendship! I've heard about your situation... You actually mortgaged another $2 million worth of Little Prodigy's stock? Aren't you playing with fire? What if the stock price drops again... To put it bluntly, are you going to pay me back first, or pay the institution back first?"
Mu Qizhong's excuses and questions were like a bucket of ice water, completely extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in Xiao Jun's heart.
He instantly exploded: "Mu Qizhong! Are you even a brother?! You won't even help with this little thing? Back in Hainan..."
"Don't mention Hainan!" Mu Qizhong's voice also turned cold and hard. "The past is the past! Now is now! If your 1 million US dollars goes down the drain, I'll be badly hurt too! You dug this mess yourself, so figure it out yourself. Don't try to drag me down with you."
"Beep...beep...beep..." The phone was abruptly hung up.
"Damn it!" Xiao Jun slammed the glass in his hand onto the ground, sending expensive whiskey and shards of glass flying everywhere.
His eyes were bloodshot, like a trapped beast driven to the brink of despair.
Anger, despair, and alcohol mingled together, igniting the last vestige of his mad gambling instincts.
The next day, with a hangover headache and bloodshot eyes, Xiao Jun started making phone calls like crazy.
He no longer humbly begged for money; instead, he spread the word with a ruthless, desperate gamble.
"Sell! I'm selling all my Sina shares! Sell them all! Now! Immediately! Right now!"
The Sina shares he held were also severely impacted by the bursting of the dot-com bubble, and their value has already shrunk significantly.
Moreover, his shareholding was not large to begin with, less than 17.5%.
In today's panicked market, how much money can Sina, with its remaining market value of less than $2 million, possibly save?
But this was Xiao Jun's last trump card.
He was going to use this last chip to gamble on a slim chance of turning things around, to fill the abyss that was about to be liquidated!
He wanted to show everyone through his actions that he, Xiao Jun, had not lost yet!
The news quickly reached Lu Yang's ears.
In the spacious and bright office, Lu Yang stood in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the bustling scene of Shenzhen under a clear blue sky.
The sunlight shone on him, but it couldn't dispel the solemnity between his brows.
The assistant has just finished reporting the news that Xiao Jun sold off his Sina shares.
"Sina's original shares... less than 17.5%..."
Lu Yang repeated softly, his eyes filled with complex emotions, which eventually turned into a long sigh. In that sigh, there was regret, an understanding of the ending, and a hint of helplessness at the impending fate of his brother-in-law who had gotten such a good deal.
He couldn't help but sigh, "This is a gamble with everything, Xiao Jun. What can I say to you? I can't stop you. Sigh, looks like I'll have to take the fall again." (End of Chapter)