Chapter 280: Call Me the God of Wealth!

To be honest…

Li Qianqian felt like her luck had been in the dumps lately.

It all started with campus recruitment.

Back then, she had just landed a job. But before she could even work a full two days, the company’s boss suddenly switched industries to start making toys. The entire food department was laid off.

After much difficulty, she finally got into Hongsheng Group.

Written test, interview—she pushed through every hurdle and obstacle, and at last, she was accepted into the company’s food planning department.

Just as she was ready to spread her wings and show what she could do, the boss decided to transfer her to the secretary department.

At first, Li Qianqian didn’t understand the reason behind the transfer. But after a long analysis session with her best friend last night, her scalp had gone numb.

Sure, she’d read plenty of CEO romance novels in the past, and she’d fantasized about steamy encounters with a handsome CEO in the office, in a car, in the kitchen, on the grass…

But those fantasies involved dashing, well-groomed CEOs.

This one…

Li Qianqian was a loyal member of the “looks matter” club. She couldn’t handle the idea of an old man who looked about the same age as her dad having certain thoughts about her.

So, on her way to work this morning, Li Qianqian had already made up her mind to confront Secretary Yang.

Either she stayed in the Food R&D Department, or she’d quit and look for another job.

However…

Just as she spent the entire commute mentally preparing herself, the moment she stepped into the office, she saw several people gathered together, whispering about something.

As a newcomer, Li Qianqian didn’t feel comfortable squeezing in with the veterans. But no sooner had she sat down than a young guy leaned over to her.

“Hey, Li Qianqian, did you hear?”

“Our salary for this month is being delayed until next month.”

“What?!”

“Are you serious?!”

Li Qianqian’s face was full of shock.

She had only just started working here a month ago. Today was supposed to be her first payday at Hongsheng Group.

If the salary was really going to be delayed…

She’d be eating dirt for the next few weeks.

In that moment, Li Qianqian completely forgot about confronting Secretary Yang. She joined the crowd of coworkers and started asking for details.

After a while, she managed to piece together bits and pieces from their conversations.

Apparently, the company had started a new project, and the capital turnover was slower than expected. On top of that, with the year-end approaching, the banks had tightened their financial controls.

That’s how things ended up like this.

Supposedly, this info came from someone in finance, but no one could say for sure if it was true.

Having already experienced a company collapse before, Li Qianqian remained skeptical about the whole thing.

…

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office.

Luo Guosheng no longer had the fiery temper he’d shown yesterday. His face was full of worry as he flipped through his phone book.

Beside him, Hong Ze was also going through another record book.

After a while…

“Boss, what I’ve got here is a list of bad debts from the past two years. Finance has already tried to chase them down.”

“Keep looking. Find one and I’ll give you a 5% bonus,” Luo Guosheng ordered without even lifting his head.

He continued flipping through the small phone book in his hand, back and forth, until he finally settled on a number.

He picked up the newly installed office phone and dialed.

“Beep… beep… click…”

The call connected.

Luo Guosheng immediately cleared his throat.

“Hello, is this Sheng Chenghong? Boss Sheng?”

“This is Luo Guosheng, from Hongsheng Group.”

“Hahaha, hello, hello, hello…”

…

“Yes, about that notice yesterday for the restructuring bridge loan…”

“Two hundred million…”

“No problem, no problem, I’ll think of something…”

Click.

Luo Guosheng slammed the phone down in frustration, then went back to flipping through his phone book.

At that moment, Hong Ze seemed to have found a number. He picked up his phone and made the call.

But under Luo Guosheng’s hopeful gaze, Hong Ze shook his head.

“Phone’s off…”

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Luo Guosheng frowned.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and in walked the alluring Secretary Yang. She stood at the doorway, stretching the phone cord from her desk, and called into the office:

“President! Someone from Jiangzhou Bank is here.”

Upon hearing that, Luo Guosheng exchanged a puzzled glance with Hong Ze.

Then a spark of hope lit up in his eyes.

“Invite them in!”

However…

Five minutes later, when three representatives from Jiangzhou Bank stood before Luo Guosheng and politely explained that they were here to collect on a loan, his face darkened to an unsightly shade.

“Wasn’t the due date tomorrow?” Hong Ze asked, his expression equally grim.

The manager leading the group gave an awkward smile.

“Apologies, CEO Luo. We just wanted to see if we could collect a bit early. It’s just a bridge loan after all…”

At this point, Luo Guosheng felt his blood boil at the mere mention of the word “bridge.”

He couldn’t help but respond with a biting tone:

“Don’t worry.”

“The funds will definitely be in your bank account by tomorrow.”

“See them out.”

The last two words, Luo Guosheng practically spat out through gritted teeth.

He watched the three people from Jiangzhou Bank walk away.

Then he slumped back into his chair.

With a heavy fist, he slammed the table.

“Outrageous!”

“Announce it tomorrow! From now on, no department in the group is allowed to use Jiangzhou Bank’s cards!”

But what Luo Guosheng didn’t expect was—

Over the next hour or so, every bank that had financial dealings with Hongsheng Group came knocking, one after another.

By the time the last two girls from Ruifeng Bank left, their sarcastic and mocking tone still hanging in the air, Luo Guosheng was so furious that he fainted on the spot.

He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The sight of him lying there terrified the two bank employees. Their faces went pale as they stammered, “It’s not our fault,” and turned to flee in panic.

As a result—

There was no hiding the news anymore.

In no time at all, word spread like wildfire: the group was in debt, banks were showing up to collect, and the Chairman had passed out from rage.

Even if Hong Ze wanted to contain it, there was nothing he could do.

All he could do was watch as the Board of Directors turned the hallway outside the infirmary into a shouting match that resembled a street market.

“We have to split the family assets! It’s the only way!”

“Split? With what? You think you can divide anything before the debts are settled?”

…

“Impeach Luo Guosheng! Launch a full investigation into his accounts! This group doesn’t belong to him alone!”

“Impeach? And replace him with who? Who’s going to clean up this mess?”

…

Hong Ze leaned silently against the wall, watching the old men argue.

For some reason, he felt like laughing.

After a while—

The door to the hospital room suddenly opened.

A female doctor with glasses stepped out.

“Enough! The patient needs rest!”

After scolding them, she swept her gaze across the crowd and stopped at Hong Ze.

“Mr. Hong, the Chairman wants to see you.”

Moments later—

When Hong Ze entered the special care room in the infirmary and saw the man lying in bed, he was startled by how pale and bloodless Luo Guosheng looked.

“Chairman, you…”

Luo Guosheng forced a weak smile.

“Just overworked… and emotionally overwhelmed…”

“With some rest, I’ll be fine…”

Seeing that Hong Ze wanted to say more, Luo Guosheng gently shook his head and slowly sat up.

“Let me finish…”

Cough, cough, cough…

“I actually… woke up a while ago…”

“I was just lying there… thinking.”

“All this turmoil in the group… it seems to have started after Shang Jie… was removed from her position…”

Hearing this, Hong Ze couldn’t help but ask,

“You mean… someone inside the group is stirring the pot?”

Luo Guosheng didn’t deny it. He took a deep breath and said with some difficulty,

“At the time… I thought it was Shang Jie… after all, she needed to fight for power in the Board of Directors…”

“But today, I really thought it through…”

“It’s not Shang Jie…”

“From beginning to end… she had no reason to betray the Luo family…”

“Then who could it be? Someone who even knows what’s going on inside your home?” Hong Ze asked again.

But—

Luo Guosheng didn’t answer. He simply let out a long sigh.

“Maybe…”

“We’ll know by tomorrow…”

——————

The next day.

The sky was high and clear, the setting sun hanging low in the distance.

Though the sunlight still shone, autumn had deepened.

A regular autumn coat was no longer enough to keep out the creeping chill.

Inside the classroom, Miss Jiang flexed her stiff fingers.

She pulled her collar up as high as it would go.

Then lowered her head and began checking the exam papers.

After a long while—

Once she was sure everything was in order, Miss Jiang gently set down her fountain pen.

She glanced at the watch on her wrist.

Today was November 22nd.

Thursday.

The time was 4:10 in the afternoon.

Less than twenty minutes remained until the final biology exam ended.

Taking advantage of the time—

Miss Jiang began reviewing her plans.

If the information was correct, then the news of Hongsheng Group’s financial crisis should have already spread throughout the company.

Panic would be setting in among the staff.

Then—

The banks would have received orders to collect payments today.

So, unless something unexpected happened—

The bank representatives would be stationed there, refusing to leave without the money.

At the same time—

There would likely be individuals with private lending disputes against Hongsheng Group showing up to demand repayment.

As for how many—

Miss Jiang didn’t have an exact estimate.

But facing so many creditors—

According to what she’d learned from Madam Shang, the group’s accounts were still short about two million before the books could be balanced.

Of course—

That was only Miss Jiang’s rough calculation.

The exact shortfall would have to wait until the tax officials finished their audit.

Hmm…

At this moment—

The tax officers should still be in Hongsheng Group’s Finance Department.

She wondered how that was going.

………

To be honest—

Li Qianqian felt like her eyes had been opened today.

Standing on the balcony, she had seen it with her own eyes—

One car after another pulled up in front of the group’s building.

Three to five people got out of each vehicle.

Some were sharply dressed bankers in suits.

Others wore uniforms, clearly from some government department.

She even saw quite a few burly, thick-necked men with buzz cuts or shaved heads—looking every bit like gangsters.

They got out in groups of three or five.

And started climbing the steps to the building.

Walking toward the group headquarters building.

“How’s it looking?”

“Ninth batch already.”

“Wow, Li Qianqian, do you think all these people are here to ask for money?”

“What else? Here to play mahjong?”

Li Qianqian shot an annoyed glare at the sweet but clueless female colleague beside her.

Then her gaze returned to the window.

The group’s financial troubles were now pretty much common knowledge.

But given the size of the company, it wasn’t going to collapse overnight.

So most people still chose to show up for work as usual.

Just as Li Qianqian was about to head back to her desk, she caught sight of something through the window.

A car, moving as slowly as a tractor, crawled into an empty spot in the side parking lot.

Then, two girls stepped out.

The driver wore a hat, had a slender figure, and looked fairly young.

As for the girl who got out from the passenger side—she was stunning, breathtakingly beautiful.

Li Qianqian froze in surprise.

She looked familiar.

She searched her memory.

And in that instant, she stood rooted to the spot in shock…

………

At that moment, the CEO’s office was unusually crowded.

The once spacious and luxurious room was now packed with twenty or thirty people.

They stood in small groups.

Some smoked, others chatted.

The air was thick with smoke and noise.

“Old Luo, can I get my 250,000 today or not?”

“Give us an answer.”

A round-faced man wearing a thick gold chain called out.

With someone taking the lead, the others all turned their eyes toward the man seated calmly in the boss’s chair—Chairman Luo Guosheng.

“Cough, cough…”

Luo Guosheng let out a couple of light coughs, then looked toward a young woman from the bank sitting by the window and said politely, “Miss, would you mind opening the window a bit more?”

The woman was momentarily stunned. After glancing around and realizing he was talking to her, she quickly responded with an “Oh” and got up to open the window wide.

Once the smoke had cleared somewhat, Luo Guosheng turned to the man with the gold chain.

“And you are?”

“Longsheng Company. Seventh Little Dragon!”

The man patted his chest proudly.

“Just call me Brother Long.”

“Cough, cough…”

Luo Guosheng coughed lightly again and gave an apologetic smile.

“Brother Long, is it…”

“I have two proposals. Let’s see if you and the rest of the brothers here can accept them.”

The moment it became about their money, everyone perked up and turned their attention to him.

Even the bank staff on the other side leaned in.

They were all curious to see how Luo Guosheng planned to handle these streetwise types, especially with no cash on hand.

The group chairman, now in his fifties, pulled a stack of blank paper from his drawer and placed it on the desk. His tone was warm as he spoke.

“Gentlemen of the community.”

“Today, Hongsheng Group has been sabotaged by petty schemers, disrupting our business operations.”

“But if you believe in the group’s strength, and in me, Old Luo, as a man of my word, I’m willing to personally write IOUs for each of you.”

“In one month, I’ll repay double the amount owed.”

Double?!

Everyone in the room was stunned by Luo Guosheng’s boldness.

These IOUs from the street folks—some were just a few thousand, others thirty or forty thousand—but together, they added up to over a million.

Doubling that would be a huge payout.

Immediately, several of them looked tempted.

But not all of them were so easily swayed.

Brother Long, for instance, shot back with a question.

“Old Luo, it’s not that I don’t trust you.”

“But look at the situation today.”

“If you suddenly disappear, where are we supposed to collect that double?”

He had a point.

The offer was tempting, but only if they could actually collect.

The room fell back into a tense silence.

But Luo Guosheng didn’t seem flustered.

He calmly opened the drawer again and took out a spring-loaded knife, placing it gently on the desk.

The move caused a stir among the crowd.

But Luo Guosheng simply waved a hand and smiled kindly at them.

“Either sign the papers and come back in a month for double the money…”

“Or right now…”

He pointed to his own chest.

“Stab me.”

“Then you can forget about getting a single cent.”

His expression was deadly serious.

The streetwise men couldn’t help but feel a chill.

These days, the ones you had to watch out for weren’t the loud and violent types.

It was the ones who had money, power, and were willing to risk everything to play hardball.

“Luo Boss, are you threatening us?”

Luo Guosheng shook his head.

“Old Luo is just laying out the facts.”

“What path you choose is entirely up to you.”

With that, he turned away from them and looked toward the bank representatives.

“Ladies and gentlemen.”

“I know you’re just following orders from above.”

“But is it really worth going head-to-head with an old man like me over a monthly paycheck?”

Maybe it was the pressure from Luo Guosheng’s presence, but the bankers—men and women alike—fell silent.

Seeing this, Luo Guosheng cleared his throat again.

“I’m sure you’ve seen the financials.”

“There’s no money in the accounts, so you’ve come to me.”

As he spoke, he suddenly bent down, opened the drawer again, and pulled out a stack of cash, placing it on the desk.

Then he gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Not gonna lie.”

“This is all I’ve got left.”

“If you’re willing to give me five days—no, just two.”

“Once the payment from the Blackrock Group comes in…”

“Every cent owed to your banks, principal and interest, will be paid in full.”

As he spoke, he pushed the money on the table forward.

“If you’re willing,” he said, “this little bit of cash should be enough to buy you all some afternoon tea.”

In an instant, the office fell into a brief silence.

The bank representatives exchanged glances, unsure what to say.

The group of street toughs just kept smoking in silence.

Just as everything seemed to be unfolding exactly as Luo Guosheng had planned—

Suddenly—

A round of applause echoed from the back of the crowd.

A clear, crisp female voice, like spring water flowing over stones, cut through the noise and drifted into Luo Guosheng’s ears.

“CEO Luo,” the voice called out.

“Impressive.”

“One hand gives, the other takes. A blow, then a toast.”

“You’ve got all these people dancing in the palm of your hand.”

Everyone turned toward the voice.

They saw a girl, bright as the midday sun, leaning casually against the wall by the door.

She wore a radiant smile, still clapping as she spoke.

Faced with this sudden interruption from a beautiful young woman, everyone in the room looked puzzled—including Luo Guosheng.

He quickly realized this girl wasn’t with the bank, nor did she seem to have anything to do with the street crowd.

Frowning, he couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, who are you?”

But instead of answering directly, the girl gave a shy little smile.

She pushed off the wall and strolled into the room, speaking as she walked.

“Me?”

“I’m here to bring you money.”

The moment those words left her mouth, everyone in the room was stunned.

Bring money?

Someone was actually bringing money to Hongsheng Group in a situation like this?

In an instant, all eyes turned to Luo Guosheng, eager to understand what was going on.

But Luo himself looked deeply troubled.

Because he could feel it—this girl was radiating hostility.

“Miss, I’d appreciate it if you could explain yourself,” he said coldly. “What money are you talking about?”

The girl looked genuinely surprised, even a little taken aback.

“Boss Luo!” she exclaimed. “Didn’t you just agree a while ago to sell me that plot on Longcheng Road in the West District, along with those four shops in City Center, for three million?”

“Look, I even brought the money!”

She pulled a bank card from her pocket and waved it in her hand.

“Boss Luo, you can’t go back on your word now!”

Money?

Real money?

And three million at that?

In a flash, the creditors who had all but given up hope now turned their full attention to Luo Guosheng.

But…

Why did his face look so grim?

…

The plot on Longcheng Road in the West District covered about twenty mu.

Hongsheng Group had bought it two years ago for four million through a public bid from the Qinghu District Authority. It was a planned development site.

The original plan was to wait until the company had more capital, then establish a construction branch to develop the land into either a shopping center or residential buildings—a tentative step into real estate development.

As for the four shops in City Center, Luo Guosheng had purchased them under the company’s name, but they were actually private investments.

Though each shop was small, they brought in a decent income every year.

But all of this was off the books—things no outsider should know.

And now, out of nowhere, this girl was trying to buy all of it for just three million, right in front of everyone. Assets worth at least six million.

There was no way Luo Guosheng could agree to that.

But in the current situation, with the bank reps and the street enforcers all stirred up by her words, even if he refused, these people—driven by money—would find a way to force his hand.

Watching his carefully laid plans unravel thanks to the sudden appearance of this girl, Luo Guosheng’s face darkened further.

And when he connected the dots with what he had suspected earlier, his voice turned cold.

“It was you two, wasn’t it?”

Miss Jiang knew exactly what he meant.

She really wanted to puff out her chest and say proudly, “Yeah, it was me.”

But then she remembered she’d also stolen his wife.

That made her feel a little guilty.

With a sheepish smile, she said, “CEO Luo… sorry about that…”

(End of Chapter)