Who does Huaming Capital truly belong to?
Previously, Ou Yunchen had suspected that Tong Li and Tong Zekai were merely managers acting on behalf of someone else, and the real behind-the-scenes boss was Colin.
Therefore, when Ou Yunchen proposed using Huaming Capital as bait, he was met with strong opposition from Colin.
Colin: "You want to sacrifice my company?"
Ou Yunchen: "No, it's about showing sincerity in cooperation."
Colin: "You and Gu Yilong merge my company, and you both win. What do I get?"
Maggie: "If he wins, you win."
Colin snorted again. He had heard enough of such talk, and he hadn't seen any money in hand yet.
Maggie: "You have to play the long game to catch the big fish. You need to understand this!"
Colin: "That's Huaming Capital. I rely on it for my pocket money."
Maggie: "Think about it, once Ou Yunchen controls the Bilderberg Group and the Tang Empire, won't all of that be yours?"
Colin: "The money Scion gave to ATL is still lost. I haven't recovered a single cent."
Ou Yunchen: "If you offer Huaming Capital, you'll get half of all future profits from ATL."
Only then did Colin's eyes light up. This was what he wanted to hear!
Colin: "You know, only a scumbag gives neither love nor money. You have to give me at least one, right?"
This remark made both Ou Yunchen and Maggie laugh.
Ou Yunchen: "If I give you love, and no money, I suppose it's not impossible."
Colin: "That won't do. You should save your love for... for Her Royal Highness."
Maggie: "How is Su Ruiyi these days?"
Ou Yunchen: "Pretty good."
Colin: "Don't always be busy with your career. Show some concern for your woman once in a while, or I'll really try to snatch her away."
Ou Yunchen smiled, feeling a flicker of nervousness.
Colin: "What about the Tang Empire? That woman seems to be working hard to get into the Bilderberg Group too."
Maggie: "I don't know if it's because Axe is really nearing his end, but she has indeed started to court some people from the Bilderberg Group."
Colin: "For some reason, hearing you say that makes me actually hope Axe lives a long, long life."
Maggie: "Me too..."
Ou Yunchen: "Me too..."
Is that true? The hopes of the three of them were certainly not the same. Someone genuinely wished for this adopted son to live a little longer, long enough to witness the disintegration of the Tang Empire, which would be even better...
Colin: "Do you think if we really manage to take down the Tang Empire and Axe dies, Michelle will be left with nothing?"
Maggie: "What? You're still worried about her?"
Colin: "She's my dream girl. If I could sleep with her, I'd have no regrets in this life."
Maggie: "Don't even think about it. She'd rather die than spare you a glance!"
Colin felt a little indignant. He didn't think he was inferior, at least he could match Axe in looks!
Maggie: "What about you, do all you men think like this?"
Maggie suddenly turned her head towards Ou Yunchen. After all, everyone knew Michelle was a stunner, and with her supermodel title, no man wouldn't fantasize about her...
Ou Yunchen: "Think about what?"
Maggie: "Don't you want to have her?"
Ou Yunchen: "No."
Maggie: "Hypocrite, I don't believe you."
Ou Yunchen: "Then why are you asking?"
Before leaving, Maggie glared at Ou Yunchen and Colin. On this matter, she actually found Ou Yunchen as annoying as the perverted Colin!
Colin clapped Ou Yunchen on the shoulder, his tone eager, as if Michelle were already in his grasp.
Colin: "Listen carefully, this woman is mine. You only get a turn after I've had my fill."
Ou Yunchen: "I—absolutely—will—not."
Colin: "Hey!"
Colin cursed at Ou Yunchen's retreating back, but Ou Yunchen left with a mischievous smile.
Even now, just thinking about that arrogant woman gave him a headache. He really disliked Michelle when she spoke, finding her as annoying as Axe...
So, it was just a small joke. He hoped Colin wouldn't take it seriously. No one was going to snatch Axe's woman from him; she was his brother's woman...
***
With Maggie's help, Ou Yunchen finally got his wish and met Gu Yilong, who had squeezed him into his busy schedule.
As soon as Ou Yunchen saw Gu Yilong, he immediately extended his hand.
Ou Yunchen: "Mr. Gu, hello. I am Ou Yunchen. This is our first meeting. Please bear with me."
Gu Yilong was about to say they had met before, but he was cut off by this remark.
Gu Yilong: "Hello."
Maggie: "It's like this, Ou Yunchen is a good friend of mine. We've known each other for many years, and he wanted to meet you."
Gu Yilong: "I... also wanted to see him."
Maggie was taken aback. The way he said it, it was as if they had known each other before.
Ou Yunchen: "Ah, it's about the Huaming Capital matter, isn't it? I genuinely hope to cooperate with Mr. Gu."
Gu Yilong: "Yes. Maggie told me about an institution wanting to launch an attack on Huaming Capital. I'm indeed very curious what kind of enterprise would dare to make such a decision."
Maggie finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Maggie: "Ou Yunchen is a highly capable entrepreneur. Under his leadership..."
Gu Yilong: "I know."
Gu Yilong's eyes were fixed on Ou Yunchen, and he interrupted Maggie's words. He displayed aggression, but not in a way that he would pounce and tear the prey apart. He simply watched the prey before him with amusement...
Maggie became nervous. Gu Yilong was really not giving her any face at all...
Gu Yilong: "I just want to know how you persuaded Huaming Capital to agree to be acquired by you."
Ou Yunchen hadn't expected Gu Yilong to launch the attack first. His words were undoubtedly telling the two people present to be careful, as he knew everything.
Ou Yunchen: "To get you to cooperate with me, I had to use some methods."
Gu Yilong: "Cooperate with me? What's in it for me to swallow Huaming Capital? Dingsheng merely plays in the capital circles. If I wanted to merge, why would I need you?"
Ou Yunchen: "I want you to become number one on the Hurun Rich List."
Gu Yilong burst into laughter. He was indeed a difficult person to get close to. Under his sharp gaze, no one could play any tricks.
Gu Yilong: "Do you think I care?"
Ou Yunchen: "I believe that with Mr. Gu's strength, reaching the top spot is very achievable. However, things are different now. Mr. Gu, you won't only fail to be number one, but you will forever rank behind them."
Gu Yilong: "If I wanted to be number one, I could be at any time."
Ou Yunchen: "You can't be."
Gu Yilong's piercing gaze made Ou Yunchen exclaim internally that this man's aura was too powerful. If he hadn't had some courage, he would have wet his pants long ago.
Gu Yilong: "What did you say?"
Ou Yunchen: "I said, you, can't be number one!"
Maggie: "No, he doesn't mean it like that..."
Maggie whispered to Ou Yunchen, urging him to restrain himself and not anger Gu Yilong.
Ou Yunchen: "Mr. Gu, I didn't mean to oppose you. I just want you to see the current situation clearly..."
Ou Yunchen analyzed the pros and cons after Michelle took charge. He even cautiously observed Gu Yilong's expression. Whenever Michelle was mentioned, this fierce beast seemed to be concealing the unease in his eyes.
Ou Yunchen: "As far as I know, Michelle needs to achieve something to secure her position in the Tang Empire..."
Gu Yilong: "I don't want to be the one who offends people."
Ou Yunchen: "I will do it."
Gu Yilong raised his icy gaze, as if he were reading the young man's mind.
Gu Yilong: "Offending the Tang Empire will lead to a terrible death."
Ou Yunchen: "As I said, I'll help you become number one, and you must do me a small favor."
Gu Yilong: "What favor?"
Ou Yunchen: "I have no other choice. Even if you push me into a fire, I will fight the Tang Empire to the end."
Gu Yilong: "What is it!"
Ou Yunchen: "I want you to approve my entry into the Bilderberg Group."
Gu Yilong re-examined Ou Yunchen. He was so ambitious at such a young age, it was indeed a little like himself back then!
Gu Yilong: "Why do you want to join the Bilderberg Group?"
Ou Yunchen: "Who wouldn't want to be the best in the world? The pursuit of never-ending status is my life's goal."
Gu Yilong looked at Ou Yunchen, then at Maggie, and then he smiled.
Gu Yilong: "Maggie, your friend has quite an ambition."
Maggie: "Yes, I told you, he's very capable..."
Gu Yilong: "I will consider it."
Gu Yilong still didn't give a definitive answer, leaving Ou Yunchen uncertain. He caught up and stopped Gu Yilong, who was about to leave.
Ou Yunchen: "Mr. Gu, do you remember what I said when we first met?"
Gu Yilong: "I don't remember."
Ou Yunchen: "We have a common goal."
Gu Yilong: "How do I know if your goal is the same as mine?"
Ou Yunchen: "You want the Tang Empire. I'll help you."
Gu Yilong suddenly stopped. He turned his head, his gaze sharp.
Gu Yilong: "You want the Tang Empire too?"
Ou Yunchen: "No, I want Axe's life."
Gu Yilong looked at Ou Yunchen disdainfully, now finding the young man too arrogant.
Ou Yunchen grabbed Gu Yilong, who was about to leave.
Ou Yunchen: "Eternal runner-up?"
Gu Yilong: "What?"
Ou Yunchen: "Are you willing to always be the backup?"
Gu Yilong, shocked, felt his anger about to erupt from his eyes.
Ou Yunchen: "Forever suppressed by others, forever unrecognized..."
Gu Yilong: "Be careful, young man, you've angered me!"
Ou Yunchen: "Let me help you. No matter who it is, people will only remember the first place."
Gu Yilong, who had raised his fist, suddenly relaxed it and patted Ou Yunchen's face with seemingly little force.
Ou Yunchen seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. They glanced at Maggie in the distance, then both smiled at each other and parted ways casually.
After Gu Yilong's motorcade had left, Maggie walked over to Ou Yunchen and asked what they had discussed.
Ou Yunchen: "I asked him what he needed me to do for him to agree to cooperate."
Maggie: "What did he say?"
Ou Yunchen: "He didn't say anything. He told us to wait for news."
Maggie didn't believe that the tense atmosphere just now had only involved such a brief exchange, but she wasn't worried about Ou Yunchen betraying her, as their interests were already so intertwined that neither could leave the other.