Chapter 351: Chapter 349: Big Trouble Has Arrived
"This is bad, Director Si. Salsi Group, whom we had an agreement with, has suddenly gone back on their word. They just sent an email stating they want to initiate a bidding process."
Jian Xi’s heart skipped a beat. Could Big Brother be seizing this opportunity? But she never mentioned a bidding process!
Si Yuhuan remained calm and composed, showing no hint of panic. "Find out how many companies are participating in the bid and report back to me immediately."
"Yes!" Yan Qing nodded at once and left to carry out the order.
Jian Xi guiltily raised her head and peeked at him.
"Is Jian Group also among them?"
"This... I..."
Jian Xi’s fingers flew across her phone screen, and she quickly received a reply from her big brother.
"No! Our Jian Family really isn’t involved!"
Si Yuhuan approached step by step. His oppressive aura made Jian Xi feel short of breath. A guilty conscience needs no accuser; she naturally lacked confidence.
"Si Yuhuan, don’t you trust me?"
"Should I trust you?" Si Yuhuan grabbed Jian Xi’s small hand, pinning her against the sofa behind her. He leaned over her, and Jian Xi felt the world spin.
"I’m warning you! It’s broad daylight! If you dare do anything out of line, I..."
Jian Xi struggled.
Si Yuhuan tightened his grip.
Little woman! Such a liar! She probably doesn’t realize that whenever she lies, her eyes dart around. The Jian Family was involved in this!
"AH!" Huang Ying suddenly burst in. Seeing the scene, she quickly covered her eyes.
Jian Xi struggled out from under Si Yuhuan, her face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
"I... I... We were just playing a game."
Si Yuhuan’s expression darkened. He always said it was best not to have outsiders in this villa.
Huang Ying, seeing Si Yuhuan’s murderous gaze, hurriedly explained, "I just came down for a glass of water. Please, continue, continue..."
Jian Xi felt she couldn’t explain herself. She had just adamantly told others how uninterested she was in men, and now here she was, getting involved with one. It felt a bit hypocritical.
"Si Yuhuan, this is all your fault!" Jian Xi, flustered and exasperated, exclaimed, "I said the Jian Family wasn’t involved, and we’re not! Even if we wanted to be, do you think you’d stand a chance of winning? Just look at how hollowed out your Haohan Group has become!"
"You think I’m finished just because Luo You is gone?"
"What else? In the chip industry, innovation is key, requiring constant research. Your Haohan Group first had its cash flow cut. Then it experienced turmoil, and its equity almost disintegrated. It was just one step away from bankruptcy. How can you be so confident that Haohan Group is still as glorious as it once was?"
"Success isn’t eternal. What’s there to be so smug about?"
Si Yuhuan smiled meaningfully. "You really are easily satisfied."
"What do you mean?" Jian Xi sensed a hidden meaning in his words.
He deliberately didn’t elaborate, making Jian Xi rather anxious.
Could Si Yuhuan have an ace up his sleeve?
Jian Xi was curious.
"You should be thinking about why someone would choose this critical moment to oppose me. What are their true intentions?"
Si Yuhuan’s hint made Jian Xi’s expression instantly turn grave. "You mean the mastermind behind this is the same group that kidnapped Mingming?"
"That’s a possibility."
Soon, Yan Qing presented a list.
Jian Group was indeed not among the bidders, but they had previously been in close contact with senior management and numerous directors of Salsi Group.
Si Yuhuan gave Jian Xi a profound look.
Jian Xi knew she was in the wrong and lowered her head, offering no defense.
"Tianyao Group... Interesting."
Seeing his biggest competitor emerge, a cold glint flashed in Si Yuhuan’s eyes.
"It shouldn’t have anything to do with Fu Shengyuan," Jian Xi said.
Si Yuhuan was displeased. "What? Are you already defending him?"
"Si Yuhuan! Stop being unreasonable!" Jian Xi shot him a glare. "I approached him for a collaboration a while ago, wanting to... well, you know. He had already discussed the intention to cooperate with the board. After I backed out, he probably couldn’t halt the process. This bid might just be an accident."
"In my life, there are no ’maybes,’ only ’definites’."
Si Yuhuan instructed Yan Qing, "Investigate thoroughly."
Jian Xi muttered, "Sharp-tongued and harsh, cold and heartless."
"Speak a little louder."
Si Yuhuan glared at her.
Jian Xi fumed internally. He’s just being vindictive, wasting manpower, materials, and money! If Fu Shengyuan were involved in this whole affair, she would have died a hundred times over. Why would he have let her live until now? Still, it’s better to investigate and be absolutely sure.
Only then did Si Yuhuan withdraw his deathly gaze.
After Yan Qing investigated, it turned out just as Jian Xi had said: Fu Shengyuan had been compelled to travel to W Country to personally negotiate the Salsi Group acquisition.
"Employees from Tianyao Group mentioned that Fu Shengyuan seemed to have argued with his eldest uncle before he left."
Eldest uncle?
"Fu Wenxin... now there’s a formidable figure. It’s said that if Fu Shengyuan weren’t so outstanding, Fu Wenxin might have become the current Family Head."
Jian Xi had heard of him. This man was far more formidable than that Fu Wenxiong. At least Fu Wenxin possessed intelligence, cunning, and skill! In comparison, Fu Wenxiong and his son were utter fools, almost comically idiotic. Thinking about all the things they had done to her, she was lucky Fu Shengyuan had helped resolve them. Recalling this, she realized she still owed Fu Shengyuan a favor. He had claimed it was just a convenient way to handle family matters, but in reality, he did it to put her mind at ease.
Jian Xi felt she should put in a good word for him.
"Si Yuhuan, the acquisition is Tianyao Group’s decision, not really much to do with Fu Shengyuan. Don’t tell me dealing with Si Junyan has made you so paranoid you’re seeing enemies in every shadow?"
The man pinched her cheek. "All’s fair in war. You can’t underestimate this Fu Shengyuan. If he can securely hold the position of CEO of Tianyao Group, do you really think he’d let himself be controlled by others?"
Putting himself in Fu Shengyuan’s shoes, Si Yuhuan didn’t believe that someone who could secure the CEO position would be so easily controlled.
That made sense. She had been foolish. In some respects, she was far inferior to Si Yuhuan. To think she could firmly control Yaowang Group without Li Bin was just wishful thinking. Her good fortune in this life had compensated for many shortcomings. Staying away from being love-struck certainly made life much more enjoyable.
"Then I’ll test him."
Disregarding Si Yuhuan’s objections, Jian Xi secretly contacted Fu Shengyuan.
"What made you call me?"
Jian Xi feigned composure. "Jian Group is also interested in acquiring Salsi Group. You beat us to it and initiated a bid. Can’t I ask President Fu what your intentions are?"
"If you want to collaborate, I’m available anytime. If you don’t intend to acquire... Xixi, this time, I must succeed. I have my reasons."
Fu Shengyuan’s tone clearly conveyed his predicament.
He was usually so carefree and unrestrained; Jian Xi had never seen him like this. She found herself believing him somewhat.
"I’m just asking, no other meaning. I’m curious why you’re so focused on Salsi Group."
"You don’t know?" Fu Shengyuan retorted.
"Know what?" Jian Xi was baffled.
Fu Shengyuan said, "The whole world knows by now that Salsi Group is Haohan Group’s target. Everyone is scrambling for it. If I were a step too slow, wouldn’t I be handing the opportunity to someone else?"
What? How did this news leak?