With these words spoken, Yu Mengzhi felt a great weight lifted.
Everything she had held onto was so easily shattered in the eyes of the Li family.
Li Tian Ce had indeed won.
Yu Meng Zhi had nothing more to say.
Bai Mei Zi paused upon hearing this, a mix of surprise and inevitability washing over her. This was Yu Meng Zhi's way of doing things.
She averted her gaze, shaking her head inwardly.
If even Yu Meng Zhi couldn't hold onto her shares, then what hope did the Bai family have? It was already inevitable that the Li family would swallow up the shares; no one could change the tide.
It was a matter of time and fate.
Li Tian Ce offered a genuine smile.
If the Bai family's 10% was included, the Li family would control 77% of Gou Chen Group's shares, making them the undisputed absolute masters. This also meant the Li family would hold the decisive voice and veto power within Gou Chen Group.
Li Tian Ce was quite pleased with this outcome.
Li Wei Ran had not expected the matter to be resolved so quickly; it felt like a dream.
He looked at Yu Meng Zhi, who appeared relieved, and couldn't help but smirk.
"Heh, it's fortunate the shares will ultimately fall into our Li family's hands. If the Old Master knew you were giving up absolute control of the group for a man, he'd be furious enough to get high blood pressure," Li Wei Ran said, kicking a person when they were down, his gaze filled with disdain.
Yu Meng Zhi did not care.
Her only concern was Chen Jin Chao.
Li Tian Ce turned his attention to Chen Jin Chao and asked with a smile, "Chen Jin Chao, do you have anything to say?"
"Li Tian Ce, don't push your luck! I've already transferred the shares to you as you demanded, what else do you want?" Yu Meng Zhi exclaimed angrily. Li Tian Ce smiled and replied, "I'm just showing concern for Chen Jin Chao, what's wrong with that?"
Yu Meng Zhi turned to Chen Jin Chao. "Don't mind him."
Chen Jin Chao, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, "I actually do have a few things to say. Please, let me say a few words."
*Whoosh!*
Several gazes fell upon Chen Jin Chao in unison.
Chen Jin Chao's expression was calm.
Yu Meng Zhi vaguely saw a glimpse of Chen Jin Chao's past self.
Li Tian Ce, however, frowned slightly, sensing something was amiss, as if something was about to happen.
Under everyone's scrutiny, Chen Jin Chao's lips moved, his expression as serene as a still, waveless pool.
"I do not agree with this arrangement," he said.
These words struck like a thunderclap, causing everyone's pupils to contract.
Yu Meng Zhi stared at Chen Jin Chao, stunned.
Li Tian Ce did not speak immediately, as if analyzing the source of Chen Jin Chao's confidence.
Li Wei Ran was the first to speak. Upon hearing Chen Jin Chao's words, he burst into laughter. "Do you really think you're the savior? What right do you have to speak here? I say you should just get out and stop embarrassing Yu Meng Zhi by sitting here."
Chen Jin Chao raised his eyes and stared at Li Wei Ran.
As their gazes met, Li Wei Ran felt a stinging sensation in his eyes, forcing him to look away.
"The one who doesn't have the right to be here is you," Chen Jin Chao said.
"You—" Li Wei Ran was furious.
Li Tian Ce motioned for him to be quiet, then looked at Chen Jin Chao with amusement. "I'd like to know from what perspective you're saying this. Have you perhaps forgotten that you are no longer the Chen Jin Chao you once were, and you have no right to speak like this?"
"Whether I have the right or not is not up to you to decide," Chen Jin Chao said calmly.
At the same time.
He clenched Yu Meng Zhi's hand beneath the table, wanting to give her a sense of security she hadn't felt in a long time.
Yu Meng Zhi pursed her lips, realizing that Chen Jin Chao might indeed have a trump card he hadn't played yet, which brought her a sliver of reassurance.
The Bai siblings were very nervous.
If Chen Jin Chao could turn the situation around, they too would be spared.
Li Tian Ce smiled in response. "I'm not here to argue with you, but to do business. If you have any thoughts, feel free to share them for discussion."
Chen Jin Chao shook his head. "As I said, there's nothing to discuss. I will not agree to your unreasonable terms, and certainly not. Now, I have only one demand of you: get out of Gou Chen Group and do not meddle in its affairs henceforth."
The smile on Li Tian Ce's face grew even more pronounced.
"Everyone knows this is impossible. Only you haven't realized your place," he said with a faint smile.
Li Wei Ran fanned the flames from the side, mocking him relentlessly. "What right do you have to speak? How embarrassing. If I were you, I'd have slunk out of the conference room long ago."
Chen Jin Chao took out his phone, fiddled with it for a moment, then looked up and swept a glance at Li Wei Ran. "Your name is Li Wei Ran, and you are thirty years old. If I recall correctly, in the past year, you personally murdered three female university students simply because they refused to provide services to you. Hmm, you also personally killed five young men who once served you, and disposed of their bodies in a landfill."
With each sentence Chen Jin Chao spoke, Li Wei Ran's face paled a little more.
Because—
Everything Chen Jin Chao said was true.
Li Wei Ran's eyes darted around, and he quickly shook his head. "This isn't true, don't try to scare me with this kind of thing."
"You're slandering me!"
Furthermore.
Li Wei Ran even cursed, shouting that he would have Chen Jin Chao locked up.
Li Tian Ce remained silent.
He could tell that what Chen Jin Chao was saying was likely true, otherwise Li Wei Ran wouldn't be so agitated.
He began to ponder a solution.
Li Wei Ran continued to rant, even pointing at Chen Jin Chao and yelling, "Stop throwing mud at me. My hands are clean and my conscience is clear."
Chen Jin Chao remained unfazed, his tone calm. "Only you know whether you've done these things. Do you want to bet on whether I have evidence of you doing them?"
Upon hearing this.
Li Wei Ran's body trembled uncontrollably.
He was truly afraid.
Li Tian Ce closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling profoundly disappointed in Li Wei Ran.
"Brother, you have to save me! I'm still young, I can't go to jail!" Li Wei Ran cried out. Li Tian Ce slammed his hand on the table, the dull thud startling Li Wei Ran. Then, Li Tian Ce said in a deep voice, "I told you not to dabble in those crooked paths, but you never listened. Now look, someone can finally curb your arrogance. Let's see if you can still be so defiant in the future!"
Li Wei Ran was on the verge of tears.
"Brother, I know I was wrong. But you can't just abandon me! I am your brother, and a member of the Li family." Li Wei Ran pleaded.
Li Tian Ce raised his hand, signaling Li Wei Ran to be silent.
He then cast a cold glance at Chen Jin Chao. After a moment of eye contact, Li Tian Ce said, "I truly didn't expect you to have this card up your sleeve. I underestimated you. However, there's nothing in this capital that I can't suppress. You can try."
The Li family was a transcendent noble clan; what was there to fear?
Chen Jin Chao nodded.
"Alright."
"Then I'll hand over the evidence concerning Li Wei Ran to Qin Feng Wu. As for how you Li family will resolve this from here on out, that's up to you to figure out."
Li Wei Ran's face contorted in horror.
This was a death sentence for him!