Chapter 155

"Then, let's convene the shareholders' meeting now. Xiao Fang, distribute the proposal. Regarding how the Zhong family will overcome this crisis, and how we will develop in the future, I have the following points to say."

Xie Shiqing spoke with ease, eloquent and confident. She did not take Zhong Lin’s seat but instead moved a chair to sit on the other side of the long table.

The shareholders tacitly rose to their feet and moved over to her side, closer to her direction. This truly demonstrated that power was the ultimate authority.

Even the last could become the first.

Zhong Lin watched this scene coldly, countless thoughts surging through her mind.

When had Xie Shiqing started making moves against the Zhong family? Did she know the truth about the car accident? And what role did Zhong Ning play in all this—was she an innocent bystander, or an accomplice?

She was indeed highly capable. From the very moment after the accident, when she had turned the tide single-handedly, Zhong Lin knew deeply that this person was an exceptionally formidable opponent.

In truth, with the Zhong family’s scale, they had already reached the very top nationwide and stood among the leading ranks globally. Yet human greed knew no limits. To be able to expand into more industries, to earn more money—who would not desire that?

Moreover, at that time, the Xie family had been like fish laid out on a chopping board. It was not unreasonable that she had been tempted.

After all, who would refuse a meal when food was delivered straight to their lips?

But she had not expected that this fish was still alive. Not only had she failed to eat it, it had even leapt up and slapped her across the face.

Regardless of what thoughts the shareholders truly harbored, they all showed harmony toward Xie Shiqing’s proposal. They voiced their agreement, declaring that this plan was flawless and would surely resolve their current crisis.

After offering their congratulations to Xie Shiqing, the new chairwoman, they departed one by one.

Only Xie Shiqing and Zhong Lin remained.

"Even Zhang Qi has been won over by you?" Zhong Lin let out a sneering laugh. "I really didn’t expect that."

"Aunt Zhang and Aunt Zhong were very close. They fought side by side in the early years, and their bond has remained deep even to this day. I even saw an interview with the two of you on television," Xie Shiqing chuckled lightly, her tone as casual as if chatting at home, tinged with nostalgia. "At that time, you two were truly high-spirited, so in sync with each other."

Her voice shifted. "But I don’t know when it started that this company became your one-woman show, Aunt Zhong. Aunt Zhang gradually withdrew from the decision-making circle and only took her dividends. What happened there?"

Zhong Lin’s expression did not change, but her jawline was drawn tight.

Xie Shiqing smiled again. "But those are all matters of the past, nothing worth talking about anymore. Don’t you think so, Aunt Zhong?"

Now, asking questions like "When did you start scheming to take the Zhong family?" was already meaningless. This woman, who had weathered decades in the business world, still retained her dignity.

There was only one thing she could not figure out.

"What role did Zhong Ning play in all this?"

For the first time, Xie Shiqing’s calm expression stiffened. Zhong Lin’s gaze was as sharp as the most seasoned eagle. She let out a soft "Oh," raised her brows slightly, and said, "She doesn’t know."

This was a statement of certainty.

Zhong Lin would never admit that she could misjudge the same person twice. In the past, she had thought Zhong Ning was useless, mud that could never be shaped. Yet ever since the engagement, it was as if her meridians had been cleared; she had become a completely different person. With a sharp mind, but also a sense of righteousness, she walked a brilliant, upright path, while still being able to face underhanded methods with composure.

She had truly believed she had found a treasure.

Perhaps this person had simply experienced a sudden awakening.

But she could only accept being misjudged once. There was no way she would stumble twice over the same person.

Seeing Xie Shiqing’s reaction, Zhong Lin could not help but laugh twice, her tone carrying that schadenfreude-like coldness of someone who delighted in watching the fire from the shore. "From my observation, she seems to like you quite a bit. She often says I’m a heartless person who never takes feelings seriously, yet I didn’t expect you to be any better. Truly worthy of being Fengcheng’s most successful entrepreneur."

"Does she know that the shares she transferred to you were taken so you could snatch her company?"

She let out a mocking laugh. "Speaking of which, I’m really curious—how exactly did you persuade her to transfer the shares to you?"

These words struck directly at Xie Shiqing’s sore spot, hitting the place she feared most.

Zhong Ning knew nothing about any of this.

At that moment, she was still in class. She had even told her that she had a meeting today and would probably return a little late, but she had not told her that the meeting was not about the Xie family, but about the Zhong family.

Zhong Lin laughed even more exaggeratedly. "Truly unexpected, I really didn’t expect this…"

Her mocking words were like a thorn, like a thick needle that suddenly pierced into Xie Shiqing’s temple, twisting in her head and swiftly tearing apart the protective umbrella called reason.

A layer of anger quickly surged across her face. She slammed the table violently. "What are you laughing at? What are you so proud of? The mighty Zhong family was destroyed in your hands and taken over by me, a mere youngster. Don’t you think that’s truly laughable?"

"To tell you the truth, among the shareholders who just came, five are firmly supporting me, and the remaining two are neutral."

"Zhong Lin, you’ve controlled the Zhong family for decades, yet you don’t even have a single person standing by your side. To have lived to such a state—business failure, family failure, life failure—what face do you have left to laugh?"

Pierced by her words, Zhong Lin’s defenses cracked. She didn’t care about family, nor about love—the only thing she wanted was her career. Yet she had lost to a snot-nosed little girl. The fragile dignity she had barely managed to hold together instantly shattered like glass.

Xie Shiqing was a master at manipulating hearts, latching onto her weak spot without letting go. But Zhong Lin had the same ability. She jabbed a finger toward her nose and cursed harshly.

"What are you so proud of? Still flaunting in front of me? Even if I’m not the chairwoman, I still hold thirty-five percent of the shares, and I still have a voice in this company. And you? Heh. You tricked Zhong Ning. Tsk, tsk, tsk. She gave you her true heart, yet she hasn’t been tainted by the merchants’ obsession with profit above all else. She can’t tolerate even a grain of sand in her eyes."

"Xie Shiqing, you’d better think carefully about what you should do!"

"Someone like you will sooner or later end up just like me. Being betrayed by all and abandoned by kin—that is your fate!"

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