"So I'm an ungrateful wretch, am I?" Yu Mengzhi scoffed.
Li Tian Ce shook his head. "That's not what I meant."
"I'm just saying that you're not sure if you'll seize the opportunity the Li family has given you. I hope you won't regret it."
After saying this, and before Yu Mengzhi could reply, Li Tian Ce shifted his gaze to the Bai siblings and asked with a smile, "Have you two made up your minds?"
Li Tian Ce was still eyeing the 10% equity held by the Bai family.
Bai Zong Min frowned. "Li Tian Ce, don't push your luck too far. This equity was obtained by our Bai family through legal means. If you want to take it, we'll sell it at market price. Given your sincerity, you can have it for one hundred billion in cash."
Going against the powerful Li family would lead to no good end.
What Bai Zong Min could do was to avoid conflict with the Li family as much as possible, hence the thought of cashing out and leaving.
Li Tian Ce nodded. "Your Bai family is quite cooperative. It's just that our Li family doesn't have that much cash on hand, so we'll owe you for now."
Owe you—
Meant they wouldn't pay anymore.
Bai Zong Min gritted his teeth upon hearing this. "Li Tian Ce, I want to know who gave you the courage to be so bold as to seize it by force?"
"This is illegal!"
Li Tian Ce calmly replied, "You voluntarily transferred it to the Li family. How can it be considered illegal?"
"You..."
Bai Zong Min was furious.
Beside him, Bai Mei Zi said, "Then listen closely. Our Bai family won't hand it over easily. If you want it, you'll have to pay cash."
"Heh, what kind of talk is that from a second-hand item? You were once the daughter-in-law of the Su family in Jiangnan, and now you're the daughter-in-law of the Yu family. You're truly shameless," Li Wei Ran sneered. Bai Mei Zi's expression changed, but she didn't know how to retort.
Yu Meng Zhi grabbed the teacup in her hand and splashed the lukewarm water onto Li Wei Ran's face.
Li Wei Ran cursed, "Yu Meng Zhi, are you f***ing crazy?"
"You dare splash me too?"
Yu Meng Zhi said coldly, "Don't spout nonsense in front of me. This isn't your Li family's territory, it's mine."
Li Wei Ran's chest heaved with anger.
If Li Tian Ce hadn't stopped him, he would have probably resorted to violence.
Li Tian Ce frowned. This was clearly not the outcome he had envisioned. In his plan, after he made his demands, both the Bai siblings and Yu Meng Zhi should have obediently handed over what he wanted, not argue with him.
He tapped his finger on the table, making a crisp sound.
This also quieted the meeting room once more.
"Bai Zong Min, this is your last chance. If you don't transfer the equity to Wei Ran, don't blame me for handling this strictly by the book." After Li Tian Ce said this, Li Wei Ran threw an envelope onto Bai Zong Min's table. Bai Zong Min's expression shifted.
He picked up the envelope and his face turned even paler after opening it.
"Brother, what's in the envelope?" Bai Mei Zi leaned over to take a look. Yu Meng Zhi's expression changed slightly, having clearly guessed the contents of the envelope.
Bai Mei Zi took a closer look, and her face also changed drastically.
The contents of the envelope involved many key figures in the Bai family. These individuals had once been in the system and had had their weaknesses exploited.
Even Bai Zong Min himself was included.
If the contents of this envelope were leaked, it would be a devastating blow to the Bai family.
Li Tian Ce looked relaxed, a smile returning to his face. "I told you, don't force my hand, or it won't be pleasant."
Bai Zong Min slumped into his chair as if he had lost all his strength, remaining silent for a long time.
Bai Mei Zi hesitated several times, wanting to speak but unsure of what to say.
Bang!
Bai Zong Min slammed the table violently and stared at Li Tian Ce, roaring, "Li Tian Ce, you're ruthless! To use this to coerce my Bai family into submission. I've underestimated your character. Aren't you afraid that our Bai family will align with the Qin family?"
"Why should I be afraid?" Li Tian Ce countered.
Some of these issues were quite serious. If the Qin family were to support the Bai family, they would have to pay a much greater price.
Why would the Qin family engage in such a losing proposition?
Bai Zong Min was completely despairing.
Although the nine great families of the capital were all somewhat questionable, there were clear distinctions between them, and no one dared to provoke the top three. After the Wu family's downfall, only the Qin and Li families were left vying for dominance, their influence further strengthened!
Li Tian Ce shifted his gaze from Bai Zong Min. "I'll give you time to consider. Talk to me after you've made up your minds."
He then looked at Yu Meng Zhi again. "Next, it's your turn."
Just now, Yu Meng Zhi had begun to ponder whether she had committed any illegal acts. After thinking it over, she found that she had no such concerns. Thus, she said to Li Tian Ce, "How do you want to deal with me?"
Li Tian Ce smiled. "Meng Zhi, you've misunderstood. How could I deal with you? You're my cousin, we're family."
If it were in the past, Yu Meng Zhi might have felt a sense of warmth.
Now, she only felt disgusted!
Even nauseated!
Yu Meng Zhi's face turned cold, and she remained silent, awaiting Li Tian Ce's next words.
Seeing this, Li Tian Ce's smile became gentler. He said slowly, "Three years ago, Chen Jin Chao colluded with the Mi Te Li forces in the sea east of Dong Ying, attempting to betray Hua Guo and defect to Mi Te Li. This ultimately brought immeasurable losses to Hua Guo."
"Secondly, we have obtained evidence of Chen Jin Chao's indiscriminate killing four years ago. This evidence alone is sufficient to sentence Chen Jin Chao to death."
With each sentence he spoke, Yu Meng Zhi's face paled a little more.
"You say, is this evidence enough?" Li Tian Ce looked at Yu Meng Zhi, whose lips were pale and whose mind was blank.
Even if Li Tian Ce was distorting the facts, the power he held was enough to make the false appear true.
What would happen to Chen Jin Chao then?
"Eight hundred billion for Chen Jin Chao's life is a bit expensive, but I think cousin, you'll be willing to pay," Li Tian Ce continued.
Yu Meng Zhi's thoughts were in disarray, unsure of what to do.
On one hand, Gou Chen Group was the culmination of everyone's efforts. On the other hand, Chen Jin Chao was the most important person in her life.
How should she choose?
Li Tian Ce then looked at Chen Jin Chao. "If you're a man, you should take the initiative. Don't make your woman difficult."
Beneath the conference table, Yu Meng Zhi suddenly grabbed Chen Jin Chao's hand and then shook her head slightly at him.
Before Chen Jin Chao could speak, Yu Meng Zhi's gaze regained its confidence, and she said to Li Tian Ce, "Thank you for letting me see the true face of the Li family. It seems my feelings for the Li family were one-sided. I considered the Li family my own, but the Li family never considered me one of them."
"I agree to transfer all the equity to you. You win."