69: Chapter 69: The Attack! The Acquisition!

Fatty Li's call came through.

Deng Renfang's eyes turned cold, and he walked to the balcony before answering.

"Hello, CEO Li?"

"Oh, CEO Deng! I've finally gotten in touch with you!"

Fatty Li's voice carried a hypocritical urgency.

"The shareholders have made a last-minute decision to hold an emergency meeting at three o'clock this afternoon! We'll be discussing important topics regarding the company's future development! You must be there!"

A cold sneer curled the corner of Deng Renfang's mouth.

Important topics?

It was nothing more than them seeing he'd been out of touch for the past two days, catching wind of something, and being unable to wait to force a confrontation.

"Understood. I'll be there on time."

He changed into a neatly pressed suit and carefully tied his tie in front of the mirror.

In the mirror, the man's eyes still held the remnants of peace from his two days of rest, but deeper down, an inviolable resilience had coalesced once more.

He kissed his wife and daughter goodbye and drove toward the battlefield that was destined to be anything but calm.

In the conference room, the atmosphere was as heavy as the dead silence before a storm.

All the shareholders had arrived. Fatty Li sat next to the head of the table, while the others sat on either side.

When Deng Renfang pushed the door open and entered, a dozen gazes focused on him simultaneously—scrutinizing, calculating, indifferent, and even carrying a hint of imperceptible greed.

Deng Renfang pulled out the chairman's chair, sat down calmly, and met everyone's gaze composedly.

"Everyone, thank you for waiting. Let's begin."

No pleasantries, no preamble.

A shareholder surnamed Wang, who held a significant stake and was known for being caustic, was the first to attack. He tapped on the table, his voice shrill.

"Deng Renfang! Let's speak plainly! Don't you know the state of the company? Expenses exceed income! Cash flow is on the brink of breaking! Research and development is just a bottomless pit!"

"We shareholders invested real money; we're not here for charity! It's been so many years, and forget about decent dividends—even our principal is almost gone! Your management ability is truly disappointing!"

"Director Wang is right!"

Another shareholder immediately followed up, his tone aggressive.

"Look at the current market! Profits on low-end products are getting thinner and thinner, while your high-end project is nowhere in sight!"

"There are serious problems with the company's strategic direction! Management is chaotic! Efficiency is low! If this continues, bankruptcy and liquidation won't be far off!"

"Exactly! I heard the core R&D staff have all left? CEO Deng, being unable to retain talent is a major failure in management!"

"R&D investment is completely disorganized; it's purely burning money and gambling on luck! There's absolutely no sense of risk management!"

"Who is going to protect the rights and interests of us shareholders?"

Accusation after accusation flew like cold arrows from all directions.

They ruthlessly attacked Deng Renfang from every angle: the company's financial situation, R&D strategy, talent loss, and management efficiency.

The conference room was filled with the smell of gunpowder and naked demands for profit.

Deng Renfang listened quietly, his face showing no emotion.

His hand under the table clenched slightly, nails almost digging into his palm, but his face remained as calm as water.

From a pure capital return perspective, what they said wasn't entirely without merit.

The company indeed hadn't brought substantial profits to the shareholders in recent years.

He accepted these accusations.

Deng Renfang wasn't someone who couldn't handle losing; he could take this verbal abuse.

Finally, at a signal from Fatty Li, the barrage gradually ceased.

Fatty Li cleared his throat, a hypocritical, peacemaker-like smile appearing on his face, and his voice became earnest.

"Alright, alright, everyone calm down."

"CEO Deng has worked hard over the years, even if the results haven't been great! We've all seen his desire to make the company succeed."

"It's just that..."

He shifted his tone, finally revealing his true intentions.

"Sometimes, if luck is bad and the direction is wrong, no amount of effort matters."

"We as shareholders aren't heartless people either."

"We called CEO Deng here today because we sincerely want to solve the problem and find a way out for the company—and for you, CEO Deng!"

He looked around and slowly presented his carefully prepared proposal.

"First, and most straightforward: CEO Deng, you transfer the remaining 51% of your shares to us."

"Don't worry! The price is absolutely fair—at three times the current market valuation!"

"With this money, you'll have enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life, and you can properly compensate your family."

He gave Deng Renfang a meaningful look.

"It hasn't been easy for them, living in fear with you all these years. Let's have a dignified split and part on good terms!"

"Second, if you can't bear to let go of the Renfang Technology brand."

"Then how about this: you package and sell all the company's existing product technology patents and core process data to us at a set price."

"The company will still be yours. You can continue being the chairman and making your low-end products."

"As for the money pit that is high-end R&D, don't jump into it; leave that to us."

"And third..."

Fatty Li's smile deepened, carrying a hint of imperceptible charity.

"If you can't bear to part with the company or the R&D data."

"That's fine too! We shareholders will take another hit. You only need to symbolically transfer... say, 2% of your shares."

"That way, we shareholders will have exactly 51% combined."

"We'll have controlling interest, but you'll still be in charge of daily operations. As for the R&D direction... we'll decide together."

"I promise we won't mistreat you, CEO Deng!"

The three options were like three finely honed blades, each aimed at Deng Renfang's vitals.

Either get out completely with the money but lose his dream and company; hand over core assets and become a puppet; or hand over control and be at their mercy!

The so-called triple price, dignified split, and deciding together were nothing more than arsenic coated in honey!

As Deng Renfang listened, a cold fury surged from his heart to his head, nearly breaking through his forced composure!

These vampires! They were looting a burning house!

How were they here to solve problems?

They clearly saw his exhaustion, smelled the massive benefits that enlightenment might bring, and wanted to reap the rewards early!

They wanted to swallow his decade of hard work and unfinished dreams whole!

His hand under the table clenched until his knuckles turned white.

His blood boiled in his chest, but he forced it down.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across Fatty Li's hypocritical smile and the expectant, indifferent, or calculating eyes of the other shareholders.

Then, he smiled.

It wasn't a laugh of extreme anger, but a calm, terrifying smile filled with utter contempt and unwavering determination.

"Heh..."

Deng Renfang's laughter was exceptionally clear in the silent conference room.

He slowly shook his head, each word landing like an ice bead hitting the table.

"CEO Li, fellow shareholders. I appreciate your kind intentions."

"However..."

His gaze suddenly became as sharp as an eagle's, piercing straight through Fatty Li.

"These three conditions... I will not accept a single one of them!"

His words were powerful and decisive!

There was no angry roaring, only an unquestionable determination!

The air in the conference room instantly dropped to the freezing point.