51: Chapter 51 The Turmoil of the Chen Group

The conference room was deathly silent, as if everyone had been stunned by this sudden turn of events.

They never imagined that the always amiable Chen Zhongxuan would actually raise his butcher's knife against them, and in such a ruthless, direct manner.

On the way to the meeting, some of them even optimistically anticipated that Chen Zhongxuan would never abandon so many veterans, and would surely allow them to buy back their shares and retain their previous stakes. At worst, they could just reinvest the money they received from the share buyback back into the company; after all, given the current stock price, it was a guaranteed profit.

Judging by Chen Zhongxuan's previous style of conduct, this outcome was highly probable, but... they had miscalculated this time.

Chen Zhongxuan had not only changed this time, but he had also become so cold and ruthless.

"Chairman, what... what do you mean by this?" a Middle-aged man stood up and asked cautiously.

"I have already made my meaning very clear." Chen Zhongxuan swept a glance at the Middle-aged man who had stood up and smiled: "Jingxuan, if I were you, I would choose to buy back in."

Of course we want to buy back in! But...

"But... I cannot come up with that much money right now." The Middle-aged man called Jingxuan said bitterly: "Chairman, the money you paid for the share buyback has already been invested in a friend's company. It is truly difficult to come up with the subscription funds at double the market price... Chairman, can you help us?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the people around him began to echo the sentiment.

"That's right, Chairman, please help us. We don't have that much money right now!"

"At the current price, the cost to subscribe for 1% of the shares has more than quintupled compared to before, Chairman. You can't be this ruthless!"

Ruthless? Chen Zhongxuan smiled faintly and lifted his eyes to look at the various faces of the crowd.

If Chen Group were truly bankrupt now, these people before him would only act even more ruthlessly. They would not care about the life or death of Chen Group, nor would they care about the life or death of him, Chen Zhongxuan. What they truly cared about was only their own interests. Only interests could move these wolves who recognized no kin.

"I have already given everyone an opportunity. If you truly cannot come up with the money to subscribe for shares, then I can only regretfully ask you to choose the first option. From this point on, you will no longer be shareholders of Chen Group, nor will you be members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of Chen Group is hereby dissolved, and I will serve as the Executive Director of Chen Group."

"Of course..." Chen Zhongxuan swept his gaze across the room again, his voice calm and light: "I must also invite everyone to leave as soon as possible. The matters we are about to discuss concern the group's trade secrets and are not suitable for outsiders to listen in on."

"Chen Zhongxuan!" Someone finally could not hold it in and shouted angrily: "What is the meaning of this! The development of the group also has our contribution. If it weren't for us, your family might still be eating dirt somewhere today! Now that you have results and the company has developed, you want to kick us out with one foot? Let me tell you, it's not that easy!"

"That's right! It's not that easy. Chen Zhongxuan, you are going too far! Be careful not to break your own teeth!"

"Chen Zhongxuan, we respect you as the Chairman, but don't go too far! These shares today—you must return them, whether you want to or not! Otherwise, we will see you in court!"

"That's right! Let's see you in court! Even if you can afford the lawsuit, we will make you miserable!"

In the agitated crowd, Chen Jingxuan revealed a bitter smile. He quietly looked toward the seat next to Chen Zhongxuan, where Director Chen Yuqiong sat with a calm face. Under his gaze, Director Chen Yuqiong stood up and lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Everyone, please quiet down."

"Brother Chen, you say something too. Don't let Chen Zhongxuan monopolize the group alone!" one person said very stiffly.

"Everyone's contribution to Chen Group is obvious to all; it is visible and cannot be erased!" Director Chen Yuqiong said loudly: "However, Chen Group must ultimately put the group's interests first! For the sake of the group's interests, sacrificing everyone's interests is unavoidable!"

"On this level, what our Chairman Chen has done is not wrong. He is still wholeheartedly considering the group's interests and generating profit for the group. This is respectable and admirable!"

"You can be angry, you can vent, but you must never say that Chairman Chen has done wrong!"

"Brother Chen, weren't you the first to advocate for removing Chen Zhongxuan from the Chairman position! How have you become..."

"Times change, and circumstances change." Director Chen Yuqiong said: "In the current situation, only Chairman Chen can lead the group through these difficulties. Only by trusting Chairman Chen can we ensure the maximization of the group's interests! And ensure our own interests!"

"I deeply sympathize with everyone's situation, but the boat has sailed; it is already an established fact. Chairman Chen holds your share confirmation documents! You signed them, and they were filed with the relevant departments! They cannot be changed."

"So, everyone, stop causing a scene and disperse."

Director Chen Yuqiong spoke earnestly, but it could not stop the anger in the hearts of the shareholders. By the time he finished speaking, the hall was like a fire had been lit, and the emotions of the crowd were instantly ignited.

"This is impossible!"

"Director Chen Yuren! You and Chen Zhongxuan colluded to deceive us!"

"Give us back our money!"

With the arrival of security, the scene became even more chaotic. These people who had always prided themselves on being the elite, for the sake of the paltry profits they spoke of, even began to resort to violence.

Chen Zhongxuan watched this scene with a calm expression. On both sides of him, two bodyguards stood firm; no matter how chaotic the situation became, they never left.

"Everyone, quiet down, quiet down!"

Chen Jingxuan shouted, causing the emotions of the people behind him to slowly calm down. He turned around.

"Xiaoling, Chen Cheng." He looked at the man and woman standing at the very front; they had been the most agitated just moments ago: "This time, we really cannot blame the Chairman. This was our own choice."

He said somewhat bitterly: "Who among you was refused when applying for the company to buy back your shares? Who did not receive the buyback at the highest quoted price? Who did not receive the buyback payment within three working days?"

The crowd fell silent.

"None of you, right?" Chen Jingxuan scanned the crowd and gave a bitter smile: "Let's disperse. No matter how the group develops in the future, we haven't lost anything. If we must blame someone, we can only blame ourselves for lacking foresight."

"Brother, how can you speak up for Chen Zhongxuan!" Chen Xiaoling said with a cold face: "His actions are clearly a deception. I suspect this is a bitter scheme he planned himself, solely for the purpose of taking back the shares from our hands! Regardless, we cannot let him succeed!"

"That's right! This is not over!"

"We will never let this go!"

"Chen Zhongxuan, you must give us an explanation!"

Chen Jingxuan revealed a bitter smile. These people were beyond saving. These pampered individuals, when throwing a tantrum, were no different from the ruffians and scoundrels on the street.

"Chairman, we are in the wrong regarding this matter. The share subscription agreement you gave me is very reasonable. I need to go back and consider it. You see..."

Chen Zhongxuan nodded.

Chen Jingxuan breathed a sigh of relief. If Chen Zhongxuan hadn't nodded, he really would have been at a loss. Chen Group's stock was now incredibly hot.

He also nodded, walked past Chen Xiaoling and Chen Cheng, and past the other shareholders. He pushed open the conference room door and left without looking back, not even intending to attend the meeting.

Where there is one person, there are two.

The scene quieted down again. The shareholders looked hesitant. Seeing the calm-faced Chen Zhongxuan, the awe built up over decades welled up in their hearts once more. Sighing, they began to leave one after another.

Finally, it was Chen Xiaoling and Chen Cheng's turn.

"Chen Zhongxuan, you will regret this."

Immediately, they left the conference room without looking back.

When everything quieted down, only three people were left in the venue. The extra person was Director Chen Yuren, who had not spoken all day.

"The meeting continues." Unaffected, Chen Zhongxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly: "First, we need to discuss the partnership with Frontier Technology Co., Ltd.... Everyone, please share your thoughts."

"I completely agree with the Executive Director's opinion." Director Chen Yuqiong said cheerfully.

Director Chen Yuren frowned: "I have no objections either."

"Good." Chen Zhongxuan said calmly: "Then let's pick a time to hold a press conference to officially announce this matter. The next item is regarding the contract signed by Chen Xin..."

"Since it is a contract signed in the company's name, it should of course be fully executed." Director Chen Yuqiong continued.

"I agree." Director Chen Yuren could not help but glance at Director Chen Yuqiong.

"Good, note it down." Chen Zhongxuan said calmly: "The next topic is regarding the development plan for the company for quite some time in the future. We currently have plans in the following areas. First..."

...

As the bell rang to end the class, the professor, who never ran overtime, picked up his books and walked out of the classroom, leaving behind a room full of drowsy students.

Wang Shuo lifted his head, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and asked: "Class is over?"

"Of course it's over!" Zheng Jun said irritably: "You really can sleep! A two-hour class, and you got quality sleep the entire time; I couldn't even wake you up by pushing you!"

Wang Shuo gave a silly smile. If there was anyone to blame, blame the Humanoid Race; they were the ones who successfully turned him into a blockhead who only knew how to sleep and couldn't listen to lectures.

Having grown accustomed to Knowledge Infusion, Wang Shuo found it impossible to re-adapt to the slow-paced learning method of reading books and listening to lectures. He expressed... that he just couldn't do it!

"Number Four didn't come to class again today. I don't know what's going on." Zheng Jun packed his books and muttered as he walked.

"Maybe he went on a blind date again." Li Li said.

"Blind date?" Wang Shuo keenly noticed the word and couldn't help but ask in surprise: "Number Four is going on a blind date? What's going on?"

With Chen Cheng's disastrous appearance, did he even need to go on a blind date?

"I don't know." Li Li shook his head: "That's what he told us."

"Including today, it's been almost three days since we've seen Number Four." Zheng Jun muttered as he walked. When they were about to reach the entrance of the teaching building, he suddenly remembered something.

"Number Two, if I remember correctly... is the Old Witch still waiting for you in her office?"