Chapter 124: The Nightmare Descends!

(Cough, cough, Fourth Brother, listen carefully. I’m not saying you’re unqualified to fight for the top three spots. I’m just telling you, I won’t let you easily crush me without a proper fight. If you want war, then let it be a fair and honorable battle. Brothers and sisters, do you still want me to continue with my midnight updates tomorrow? And what about the monthly votes? We absolutely cannot let Fourth Brother surge ahead. If he does, there will only be two updates tomorrow!)

As night deepened, the entire East Sea was cloaked in darkness. Liu Shihui sat alone in his office, looking down from a great height upon the city below. This had become one of his long-standing habits. Standing there, he felt like a monarch at the peak of power, with the masses beneath him.

He still remembered that over twenty years ago, he was nothing but a penniless boy. As the city grew, Liu Shihui seized his chance and soared to great heights. Now, he was part of East Sea’s high society. Wealth had brought him endless riches, yet it only fueled his hunger for more.

For profit, no means were off limits.

Having come this far, Liu Shihui’s hands were far from clean. He gently swirled the wine in his glass before slowly finishing it.

“Director Liu!” Suddenly, a voice called out. Liu Shihui turned to see a man steadily approaching him.

He returned to his chair and calmly asked, “Tang Kaiwen, what’s the situation? How are the shares of Qingxue Group doing now?”

Tang Kaiwen bowed slightly and quickly replied, “Director Liu, rest assured. We now hold twenty percent of Qingxue Group’s shares. After this round of sell-off, Qingxue’s stock has plummeted to a low point. If we continue acquiring, it’ll only cost us twelve hundred to secure thirty-five percent of the shares. We could even control over thirty-seven percent. With that, we’ll have a voice on Qingxue’s board!”

“Excellent!” Liu Shihui broke into a broad smile, genuinely pleased. “Xiao Yu, that woman, all her hard work—gone just like that. Truly a pity!”

Tang Kaiwen chuckled, “Director Liu, you flatter yourself. Qingxue Group will only thrive under your hand. Xiao Yu was always destined to be just a stepping stone for you.”

“Haha!” Although he knew Tang was flattering him, Liu Shihui couldn’t help but laugh heartily. “Exactly, exactly. Xiao Yu was meant to be my stepping stone!”

Tang Kaiwen hesitated, seeming to want to say more. Liu Shihui narrowed his eyes and asked, “Tang Kaiwen, is there something else?”

“Yes,” Tang replied hesitantly. “Director Liu, I’ve noticed something troubling. Over the past three days, someone has been quietly buying shares of Liu Group. They already control ten percent. I suspect someone is targeting us.”

“Targeting us?” Liu Shihui narrowed his eyes further but shook his head. “Do you know who they are?”

Tang Kaiwen shook his head. “They’re a foreign investment company. I’m not sure what their exact intentions are. Director Liu, should we prepare in advance?”

“Only ten percent,” Liu Shihui shook his head again. “Even if they sell all their shares, it won’t affect us much—unless something major happens to Liu Group, like what’s happening with Qingxue. Ten percent won’t cause a storm.”

Tang Kaiwen frowned, softly urging, “Director Liu, I think we should still prepare.”

“Our funds are all tied up in the attack on Qingxue,” Liu Shihui replied. “We won’t have much capital in the short term. Don’t worry, they can’t cause much trouble. Once we acquire Qingxue, our stock price will climb even higher.”

Hearing this, Tang Kaiwen nodded and said, “Very well, Director Liu. I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm,” Liu Shihui waved him off lightly. Just then, his phone suddenly rang.

At the sound, Liu Shihui’s eyelid twitched involuntarily, a sinister premonition gnawing at his heart. He shook it off and pulled out his phone—calling from none other than Wang Hechen, the city’s police chief.

“Hello?” Liu Shihui swallowed nervously. “Chief Wang, what can I do for you?”

A stern voice responded, “Shihui, there’s been a problem. Xiao Yu has been released.”

“What?” Liu Shihui’s pupils contracted sharply. A chill raced up his spine to his head, cold sweat breaking out instantly. He stammered in disbelief, “Chief Wang, you must be joking! How could she be released?”

“Xiao Yu presented decisive evidence just now,” Chief Wang said rapidly. “I don’t know the details, but Liu Shihui, be very careful.”

With that, Wang Hechen abruptly hung up.

Liu Shihui’s face went pale. Decisive evidence? What could Xiao Yu possibly have? This scandal had grown huge, and with insiders involved, it was said to have been orchestrated by her. Where could she have gotten proof of her innocence?

His whole body broke into a cold sweat, as if countless ants crawled beneath his skin.

“Calm down, calm down!” he forced himself to stay composed, slapping his cheeks lightly. His mind raced logically: though he didn’t know the evidence’s nature, the timing was still in his favor. The media was on his side. Everyone knew Qingxue had used low-quality beef. The stock had already crashed. Once the next round of buying started tomorrow, he could firmly take over Qingxue.

His phone rang again. Liu Shihui’s pupils constricted violently as the caller ID displayed a name he knew all too well—Xiao Yu.

She was calling him personally.

He took a deep breath, steadying his emotions before answering, “Director Xiao, congratulations! I didn’t expect you to produce such critical evidence. Truly remarkable.”

On the other end, Xiao Yu let out a soft laugh. “Not at all. All thanks to you, Director Liu. If not for your kindness, how could a lowly woman like me have survived prison?”

Though polite, her tone was laced with deadly menace. Liu Shihui believed without hesitation that she wanted to kill him. He clenched his teeth and said seriously, “Director Xiao, I don’t see any meaning in your release now. Perhaps, starting tomorrow, Qingxue Group may no longer belong to you.”

“Is that so?” Xiao Yu chuckled coldly. “Liu Shihui, I’ve navigated business for years. Do you really think I’m so easy to deal with? Why don’t you investigate immediately—are the shares of Qingxue still intact?”

Liu Shihui’s pupils narrowed as he called Tang Kaiwen, “Check Qingxue’s shares at once!”

“Yes!” Tang Kaiwen left swiftly.

Minutes later, Tang returned with a grim expression. “Director Liu, bad news. Half an hour ago, Qingxue’s shares were eaten up. Now their shares are recovering.”

“Useless,” Liu Shihui ground his teeth, shouting into the phone, “Xiao Yu, you’re just grasping at straws!”

“Heh heh,” Xiao Yu’s voice rang with amusement. “By the way, I forgot to tell you—I’ve secretly acquired ten percent of your Liu Group shares. Tell me, what will happen if I start selling tomorrow?”

“Director Xiao, you must be joking!” Liu Shihui sneered. “Ten percent might cause us some losses, but it won’t cripple Liu Group. Don’t dream of bringing us down!”

“Are you so sure?” Xiao Yu chuckled again. “I’ll give you one night to prepare. You must be curious about the evidence I hold, right?”

Liu Shihui’s pupils contracted fiercely. Xiao Yu continued, “I’ve sent the evidence to your email. Enjoy.”

Liu Shihui shuddered, fumbling hastily to open his computer and check his inbox. There were two video files.

He swallowed and opened one, and immediately, a disgraceful scene appeared.

It was his only son, Liu Kaifeng, in a tender embrace with Wang Zuo.

“Damn you, Xiao Yu!” Liu Shihui roared, shutting the video furiously. He opened the second video, but as he watched, his bones seemed to melt, and he collapsed weakly into his chair.

This evidence was enough to clear Xiao Yu’s name but also enough to drag Liu Group into the abyss.

The nightmare had arrived. (To be continued…)