"Who says we are here to concede defeat?"

A single statement stirred a storm in the hall!

Everyone looked at Lin Mu incredulously, their eyes filled with nothing but shock. If he isn't here to concede, is he here to renege on the deal?

"Lin Mu, how dare you try to renege in front of the Old Madam?" Qin Hao said, flushed with anger and humiliation. "You can try, but you still have to fulfill your part of the deal!"

"Is that so?" Lin Mu's lips curled into a mocking sneer.

"It's not up to you anymore!" Qin Hao cupped his hands and addressed the room. "Elders, brothers, and sisters, all of you are witnesses to this bet. If we had lost, we would have accepted the loss and handed over all our shares. But certain people plan to default on their debt. What do you all think we should do about this?"

"What should be done? The Old Madam should be the one to uphold justice!"

"Exactly! If you've lost, just be straightforward about it! Don't be so disgraceful!"

"Sigh... I used to think that even though Lin Mu was a good-for-nothing, he at least had some integrity. It seems I completely misjudged him."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, every comment dripping with disdain and contempt for Lin Mu.

Qin Luoli's face became grim. She bit her lip, and a sharp pain pierced her heart. She wanted to say something but knew that any words would be pale and powerless.

Because they had lost.

"Lin Mu, we..." Qin Luoli took his hand, trying to get him to stop talking. She figured Lin Mu was acting this way because he didn't want to kowtow and apologize to Chen Ruoping. But she would find a way to prevent that from happening.

She knew Lin Mu all too well. Deep down, the man was incredibly proud and confident. Moreover, he was shrouded in mystery.

However, when it came to business, she was the more adept one. Even she had no confidence in reducing the company's losses within a month, let alone turning things around. And Lin Mu had claimed he could do it in a week—not just recover the losses, but make a huge profit. Qin Luoli felt that Lin Mu was once again making empty boasts.

Sensing her nervousness, Lin Mu squeezed her hand in return. "What? You don't believe in me either?"

"I..." Qin Luoli started to nod, but then she remembered something.

Lin Mu's identity! Divine Doctor... Miao King!

The Tianxiang Group was wiped out, just like that. That man, Xiao Long, hadn't dared to beg for his life. He only pleaded for Lin Mu not to implicate his clan.

A sudden realization struck Qin Luoli. Her beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Lin Mu in disbelief.

Could it be...

Lin Mu smiled and nodded. "I told you, leave everything to me."

With that, he turned to the crowd and asked, "So, I'd like to ask, who will be taking over Luo Li's position?"

The crowd was stunned for a moment, then surprised. What, he can't hold out any longer? Is he finally going to admit defeat?

"Of course it's—"

Before Qin Hao could finish, Qin Hongbo interjected, "We can discuss this matter at length."

"Dad..." Qin Hao was anxious. If Qin Luoli handed over her shares, wouldn't his father hold the most shares? Why the need for a lengthy discussion?

Qin Hongbo shot his son a glare.

What a fool. Even if Qin Luoli really did give up her position, do you actually think I could take it? The Old Madam is still here!

"Regardless, let's have Qin Luoli put her shares on the table first. As for the CEO position, we can hold a board meeting and vote," Qin Hao said with a smirk. "Of course, only those who hold shares in the Qin Corporation have the right to participate. Certain irrelevant people are not qualified."

His words were clearly aimed at Lin Mu and Qin Luoli.

"Everyone agrees my proposal is fair, right?" Qin Hao asked, giving the crowd a knowing look.

"I think it's quite fair," a voice suddenly said from outside.

It was Qin Ming.

Seeing him, everyone was slightly startled. Qin Yan's expression faltered. She opened her mouth to speak, but Qin Ming shot her a look, his smile full of meaning. Qin Yan's face paled. She bit her lip and lowered her head, remaining silent.

With a faint smile, Qin Ming walked into the hall and looked at Lin Mu. "Brother-in-law Lin Mu, what do you think?"

"I also think it's very fair," Lin Mu said, smiling and nodding. He then turned to the Old Madam. "Old Madam, what about you?"

The Old Madam sighed. "I'm old. I've always refrained from meddling in the company's affairs."

"But you are the witness to this bet. Moreover," Lin Mu said pointedly, "your word is law throughout the entire Qin Family."

A glint of light flashed in the Old Madam's cloudy eyes before quickly dimming.

So be it. If this boy Lin Mu wants to do it, then let him.

Thus, the Old Madam said, "Since you have all decided, proceed as you see fit."

"Thank you, Great-Grandmother!" Qin Hao was overjoyed. "Alright, it's about time. Now... please begin to fulfill your promise."

Lin Mu shook his head with a smile. "What's the rush? I already said we aren't here to concede defeat."

"Lin Mu, you wouldn't dare—"

Before Qin Hao could finish, the butler scrambled into the hall, his forehead glistening with sweat.

"Old Madam, something terrible has happened..."

The old butler, Jin Fu, was nearly seventy. He was a junior to the Old Madam and had grown up alongside Qin Luoli's grandfather. Though a butler, he held a significant position in the Qin Family, and no one ever treated him as a mere servant. But this old butler, who had seen his share of storms, was now pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

"Jin Fu, what has you in such a panic?" the Old Madam chided with displeasure.

"Old Madam, outside..."

Butler Jin Fu pointed outside, but before he could finish, the sound of heavy footsteps came from beyond the entrance.

A one-armed man, carrying a long saber on his back, appeared. He exuded such an immense aura that all the Qin Family's bodyguards kept a distance of ten paces, not daring to approach.

Butler Jin Fu planted himself in front of the Old Madam, his expression grave. His muscles tensed, and his eyes glinted sharply.

Lin Mu was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected the Qin Family's old butler to be a Martial Artist, and a rather formidable one at that.

While everyone was still reeling, the man walked into the hall, knelt on one knee before Lin Mu, and said respectfully, "Master, everyone has arrived!"

The man was none other than Li Xiaotian.

Everyone was taken aback.

Master? Is he addressing Lin Mu?

Jin Fu's pupils shrank. This one-armed expert, who had put him on high alert, was the son-in-law's disciple?

Lin Mu asked calmly, "Are they all here?"

Li Xiaotian replied in a deep voice, "Correct. Qiao Tianhao, the richest man in River City; Huang Tianxiang, the Chairman of Tianxiang Group; the Chairman of East China Technology; the Chairman of Xinglong Real Estate; Patriarch Fan..."

As each name left Li Xiaotian's lips, the entire hall fell deathly silent.

Everyone's expression grew incredibly solemn. Because each of these people represented a powerhouse—a terrifying corporation or enterprise.

Incredibly, these were the very same companies that held cooperative agreements with the Qin Corporation, yet had begun terminating them over the past two days!

And they had all come to the Qin Family Old Residence?

What on earth were they here to do?

Li Xiaotian declared loudly, "A total of thirty-seven corporate chairmen and thirteen family heads are all kneeling at the entrance, awaiting your orders, Master!"

The moment he spoke, the entire hall erupted in shock.

These people... came to apologize?

However, what truly terrified them was yet to come.

Lin Mu spoke with cool indifference, "Let them kneel outside."

"Yes!"

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