Chapter 261: Chapter 261: New Clue
Looking at the new chair brought in by the assistant, the office returned to silence. Finally, it was Chairman Hu who spoke first: "What are you standing there for? The chair is over there, sit down. However, a wise nephew like you might not be accustomed to the position in front, so take his chair to the back. That would be more suitable for you." Chairman Hu pointed to a small corner of the meeting room.
The corner was so secluded that even the assistant wouldn’t sit there.
The assistant standing behind Chairman Hu stood up and moved the chair to that corner according to Chairman Hu’s instructions.
No one in the meeting room spoke up for Xu Ke. They all wanted to see how Xu Ke would resolve his current predicament and face Chairman Hu’s power play. They only knew a new leader had taken over the company but had never interacted with him. Today’s incident allowed them to understand what kind of character this new person in power was.
Xu Ke had already anticipated the current situation. The embarrassed and angry look that Chairman Hu imagined did not appear on Xu Ke’s face. Instead, his smile grew larger, like a warm breeze in spring sunlight, making everyone feel comfortable. However, the words that came out of his beautifully shaped thin lips were not as pleasant to hear.
"Since Chairman Hu likes that position, let’s reserve it for Chairman Hu himself. Now it’s time to return my position to me. It’s not a good habit to take over someone else’s nest," Xu Ke said, with an uplift in his voice, as if speaking with a gentle humor.
Chairman Hu placed his hand on the solid wood table of the conference room, looking at Xu Ke’s face with dissatisfaction, and said gloomily: "My position was chosen by the board of directors, not just anyone can take it. Young nephew, don’t fall into delusions." Chairman Hu let out a cold snort from his nose.
"Chosen by the board of directors? Why wasn’t I, the majority shareholder, informed?" Xu Ke tapped the table leisurely with his slender forefinger and said, "Chairman Hu, perhaps you’ve forgotten, I hold 51% of Xu Corporation’s shares. Even if you made some choices behind my back, the shares I hold are enough to veto your decisions. As long as I don’t recognize your position, you have to step down."
"So, will you sit there yourself, or should we call an emergency board meeting right now, and then you will go sit there?" Xu Ke pointed to the solitary chair in the corner, looking at Chairman Hu with a smirk.
No one expected Xu Ke’s attitude to be so firm and unreasonable. They looked at Xu Ke as if observing a madman. Even though he held most of Xu Corporation’s shares, the united directors could still give him a hard time. What Xu Ke did now was seen by many as digging his own grave.
Chairman Hu sat motionlessly in his chair, but his hand on the table had clenched into a fist, and veins bulged along the back of his hand. His face had turned a reddish-purple, and his teeth ground together noisily, clearly infuriated by Xu Ke.
Being humiliated by Xu Ke in front of the entire company, even if he changed Xu Corporation to Hu Corporation in the future, this scene would always be his shame.
"You’re ruthless, but let’s wait and see. I’ll see the day you kneel and beg me." Chairman Hu kicked the chair over and walked towards the door. He even shouldered into Xu Ke heavily on his way out.
"Tidy up the president’s office, and don’t forget to hand over to me later. I believe Chairman Hu won’t resort to such lowly tactics as delaying the handover, at the cost of harming the company’s interests, just to spite me." Xu Ke dusted off the spot where Chairman Hu had hit him and spoke loud enough for everyone in the conference room to hear.
Chairman Hu paused slightly on his way out, followed by a loud door slam. Luckily, the glass quality was strong enough not to be damaged by him.
"Alright, let’s continue with our previous topic." Xu Ke, with a calm expression, walked to the head position and kicked the chair previously occupied by Chairman Hu aside. He told the executive assistant on his right, "Take this chair out and bring in a new one."
The addressed assistant, a young girl, blushed as she saw Xu Ke talking to her gently, and given Xu Ke’s striking appearance, if not for her professional ethics, she would have already approached him for his contact information.
"Oh, okay." The assistant replied, her face turning red, and hurriedly went outside to fetch a chair.
"Why isn’t anyone speaking? Do I need to call on you one by one like during school?" Xu Ke’s voice was gentle, and combined with his face, he truly seemed harmless. But they hadn’t forgotten that Xu Ke had just ousted Chairman Hu from the president’s position and replaced him seamlessly. Those present were not fools.
Now, with a slight glance from Xu Ke, they felt as if they might become the next Chairman Hu. One by one, they began eagerly demonstrating their capabilities, fearing that Xu Ke might not be familiar with the company’s specific circumstances. Some quick-witted ones even briefed the company’s basic situation, causing others to feel annoyed and envious.
When the assistant returned with the new chair, she saw the scene of everyone in the meeting room enthusiastically showcasing themselves, leaving her dumbfounded.
As the meeting concluded, no matter what the executives thought personally, or which faction they supported, their attitude towards Xu Ke had clearly changed. Throughout the meeting, Xu Ke rarely spoke, but whenever he did, it was always to the point. Not a single word from him was wasted, and his acumen regarding market strategies was astonishingly high, making them wish they could get inside his head to see what else he knew.
This was the first time in their tenure that they felt a meeting passed so quickly.
After the meeting, Xu Ke directly headed to the president’s office. Although Xu Corporation had changed over the years he was not there, in Xu Ke’s mind, it was as if he had a map. Without anyone guiding him, he arrived precisely where he intended to go.
As he pushed open the door, seeing a familiar face inside, the smile on Xu Ke’s face became even more elegant. For a moment, Chairman Hu thought he saw Xu Ke’s father, that almost devilishly clever man, standing before him.
"I knew you hadn’t left. Did you want to tell me something? You’re not here for the handover, are you?" Xu Ke relaxed on the sofa, looked at Chairman Hu across from him, and slowly rubbed his fingers.
The way Chairman Hu looked at him made him uncomfortable, as if he was being seen through to another person.
"I’m here to warn you, don’t be too arrogant. Do you think you’re great just because you hold the majority of Xu Corporation’s shares? Do you think you’re some kind of righteous hero? Do you enjoy imagining people like us groveling at your feet? Wake up, stop your hero dreaming. Your success last time wasn’t because of your prowess, it was because I underestimated you. This time I’m ready; it’s still uncertain who will win between the two of us." Chairman Hu lit a cigar and looked at Xu Ke through the hazy smoke with disdain.