Tycoon: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 212: Chapter 182: Storm

「Half an hour later.」

After finishing his cigar, Gu Heng stood up from the sofa.

"Chairman Chu, seven o’clock tonight."

"We’ll see each other at Zhenhai."

Gu Heng extended his right hand to Chu Zhengxiong and said with a smile.

"Chairman Gu, we will be sure to arrive on time."

Chu Zhengxiong gripped Gu Heng’s right hand tightly, his expression one of utmost sincerity.

"Good."

"See you tonight."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gu Heng led Jiang Ruan, Zhong Hua, and Xiang Lingshuang out of Chu Zhengxiong’s office, with Chu Zhengxiong and Zhou Gang escorting them.

Outside the conference hall, Xu Ke, Yang Wenjie, and their team had also come out.

"How did it go?"

Gu Heng asked softly.

"Everything went smoothly."

Xu Ke and Yang Wenjie both gave Gu Heng a reassuring look.

"Then that’s it for today."

"Bring your teams tomorrow to officially begin work."

He had been worried that Chu Zhengxiong and his people, with their unorthodox backgrounds, wouldn’t play by the book. But the entire process had been unexpectedly smooth. Seeing all his expectations met, Gu Heng felt a great sense of relief.

Following Gu Heng’s instructions, Xu Ke, Yang Wenjie, and their team regrouped around him. Chu Zhengxiong, Zhou Gang, and the others personally escorted them downstairs. Finally, they departed from Xingchuan International in the same cars they had arrived in.

Chu Zhengxiong stood on the steps of the Xingchuan International Headquarters, watching the stream of black cars snake away like a dragon. The seemingly friendly smile on his face slowly vanished.

"Notify all directors. Meeting in the boardroom in half an hour."

Chu Zhengxiong turned and gave the order to Yu Haitao, Director of the Board Office, then glanced at Chu Zhengnan. "You, come to my office."

With that, Chu Zhengxiong headed back into the building, his face cold.

Sensing the oppressive aura emanating from his older brother, Chu Zhengnan could only brace himself and follow.

The two rode the elevator back to the chairman’s office. Chu Zhengnan quietly closed the door, then sheepishly walked toward Chu Zhengxiong, who stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Brother..."

Chu Zhengnan had just called out to him, but before he could utter a second word, Chu Zhengxiong, who had his back to him, suddenly spun around. He lifted his leg and kicked him squarely in the stomach, his fierce eyes blazing with violent fury.

With a muffled grunt, Chu Zhengnan was sent flying three meters back. The impact knocked the wind out of him, and cold sweat immediately beaded on his forehead.

"Moron!"

"You’re completely useless!"

"Before I left—"

"Didn’t I tell you!"

"To stay in the conference room?"

"Who gave you permission to take them downstairs?!"

"Chu Zhengnan, you’ve really gotten bold, haven’t you!"

"Why don’t you take this seat from now on!"

Chu Zhengxiong pointed at the seat behind the desk, veins bulging on his right hand.

"Brother..."

"I was wrong."

Outsiders all said Chu Zhengnan was fierce, that he was ruthless. Even the so-called top thugs of Ji Province went weak in the knees at the mere mention of his name.

Yet, only Chu Zhengnan knew that his own so-called ferocity and ruthlessness were nothing before his older brother. Chu Zhengxiong’s viciousness was bone-deep.

"Wrong?"

"There’s a lot you’ve done wrong!"

Chu Zhengxiong yanked at his tie, picked up the file Gu Heng had left, and hurled it at Chu Zhengnan. "I put you in charge of the Platinum Association, the Xiyue Club, and Celestial Bath Spring, and this is how you manage them?"

"It’s crawling with leeches, and corruption is rampant!"

Chu Zhengxiong jabbed a finger at Chu Zhengnan’s nose and berated him furiously. "Do you have any idea how humiliated I was when Gu Heng slapped this file down in front of me?"

Of the many issues Gu Heng had just raised, half were related to the Platinum Club, the Xiyue Club, and Celestial Bath Spring—all businesses that happened to be under Chu Zhengnan’s direct management.

"All you ever do is fool around and party with that crowd!"

"You treat them like brothers, but what do they see you as?"

"A total sucker!"

"With your level of incompetence, how dare you challenge Zhou Gang?"

"If they actually made you president, you’d run the entire corporation into the ground!"

As Chu Zhengxiong continued to berate him, jabbing a finger in his face, Chu Zhengnan picked up the file and quickly scanned through it. His eyes slowly glazed over as he took in the shocking evidence.

"At the board meeting later, I will announce that you are being removed from your position as Vice President."

"Go to the Internal Security Department and do some serious soul-searching."

Chu Zhengxiong vented the anger that had been pent up for a long time. He took several deep breaths and quickly regained his usual composure.

"Alright."

Chu Zhengnan was silent for a long while, then sullenly nodded.

"Let me tell you one last time, Gu Heng is not someone we can afford to provoke."

"Money talks. With the sheer scale of Gu Heng’s wealth, if we really manage to piss him off, he’ll have a hundred different ways to crush us."

"It’s 2023. The era of settling things with brute force is long gone. Besides, even if it came down to a fight, we’re not guaranteed to win against someone like Gu Heng."

Chu Zhengxiong looked down at Chu Zhengnan, his eyes deep and his voice low.

"Did you see those professional bodyguards with him?"

"Just two of them could wipe out our entire Internal Security Department."

As Chu Zhengxiong finished speaking, he looked at the dazed Chu Zhengnan, couldn’t help but sigh softly, then reached out and pulled Chu Zhengnan up from the floor.

"Ah Nan, the corporation is about to go through a major reshuffle."

"I’m removing you from your VP position for two reasons. First, I genuinely want you to go and reflect. Second, I need you to keep a death grip on the Internal Security Department. Don’t let any of them pull any stunts at a time like this."

Chu Zhengxiong reached out and brushed the boot print off Chu Zhengnan’s suit. "Also, get on good terms with Chairman Gu. Be sharp, be accommodating. If he needs anything at all, you be the first to jump in and help."

"Okay."

Chu Zhengnan answered sullenly.

"That’s enough."

"Go out and wait."

"Chairman Gu is hosting a banquet at Zhenhai tonight. I’ll be watching your performance."

Chu Zhengxiong patted Chu Zhengnan’s shoulder.

"Fine."

Chu Zhengnan looked dejected, but deep down, he held no resentment toward his brother, not even after being brutally kicked, fired, and cursed out.

He knew this was his brother’s form of tough love. He was also keenly aware that the life he led today was only possible because Chu Zhengxiong had shouldered all the burdens for him.

Chu Zhengxiong looked at Chu Zhengnan and shook his head, then paid him no more mind. He walked quickly back to his desk, picked up a pen and paper, and began to organize his thoughts in preparation for the upcoming board meeting.

...

That evening, Chu Zhengxiong led a host of Xingchuan International’s directors and executives to the banquet at Zhenhai. Toasts were exchanged, and the mood was lively and convivial.

Meanwhile, a storm was quietly brewing within Xingchuan International. Panic spread among the company’s mid-level leadership, leaving everyone feeling that their jobs were on the line. And on that day, the name Gu Heng spread like wildfire through every corner of the corporation...

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