Chapter 175 - Brother-in-Law, Can’t I Sit in Your Car? (2/2)
Some wrote on a piece of cardboard, filling the entire space with intricate details of the losses they had suffered. The cardboard was placed upright on the street. They stood beside it wearing white bandannas on their forehead, containing the words: Return My Money!
They stood there without moving, allowing all other passers-by to see what they were up to.
A middle-aged woman cried out in anguish and wailed at everyone who passed by her. “We’re all ordinary people who struggle to save up our money. We don’t know how to invest in stocks or investment funds, so we gave our money to the professionals to help us. When they took our money, they promised us this was a guaranteed fund. Even if they didn’t earn anything, they promised that our money would not disappear and they would give it back to us. But now, we don’t even have a single cent left!
“We saved all this money month-by-month by scrimping and saving. It was intended for our son, for him to get married. We’re not greedy. We didn’t have any intention to become rich overnight and that was why we chose this guaranteed fund. We were prepared for the outcome of having no return as long as our capital was still there! Now, this company can’t even return our capital, and they can’t even give us an explanation! The company owner hasn’t shown his face for a few days already!
“Where’s our justice! These company owners only know how to bully us, hardworking poor people. Ask the company owner if his conscience is clear when he has lost all our hard-earned money!”
Another even raised up Yu Zidong’s black-and-white picture in a black photo frame. It was exactly the kind of photo used for deceased people.
“Everyone, look closely! It’s this person! This is the useless and corrupt businessman who has deceived ordinary citizens and swindled our money away. He used our money to cover up other investors’ debts. Now, he’s not only failed to return our money, he has also disappeared into thin air. We have nowhere else to complain to because his company has closed down and he isn’t allowing us to go in! This isn’t one or two thousand we’re talking about here. It’s more than ten thousand! Ten thousand is a loss that many of us cannot bear! For all we know, he might not have had the intention to help us invest at all! He might have just scammed us by taking our money and making a run for it!
“All of you must remember this man and this company. Never come to this company ever again. Even if a new company is set up, don’t ever trust that company if the boss is this fella!”
Yu Keyao had never imagined that the company’s difficulties had reached a point of no return.
Her heart fell into an icy bottomless pit, and her lips were trembling incessantly. She did not notice that Chang Lai had stepped down from the car and opened the door for her.
“Miss Yu, please come down,” Chang Lai implored.
Yu Keyao found it all too surprising that Qi Chengzhi had wanted her to come to the company.
Her limbs ran cold, and her handheld tightly onto the side handle as she got down from the car. At that precise moment, she was particularly worried that the crowd would recognize her as Yu Zidong’s daughter.
She looked to the right and saw Qi Chengzhi’s car parked just ahead.
Yu Keyao grasped her bag firmly and walked over to the Range Rover.
“Miss Yu,” Chang Lai called her from behind.
She stopped, turned around, and watched as Chang Lai came to her. He remarked politely, “I will relay a message that Young Master Cheng has for you.”
“Isn’t he inside the car?” Yu Keyao asked. It was evident that she wanted Qi Chengzhi to tell it to her personally.
Ignoring her question, Chang Lai continued. “Young Master Cheng said that he would protect Song Yu even if you make the video viral and cause the internet folks to condemn her. People’s attentions are easily diverted, and with time, public opinions will shift and voices of dissent will fade away. Their lives will continue as usual after that.
“But your family’s company, Miss Yu, will die completely if it crumbles. Rectifying this loss won’t be easy. It is your choice, Miss Yu,” Chang Lai said plainly. “Also, Young Master Cheng knows of your ambition to become a fashion designer. If the company ceases to exist, so will your future.”
Chang Lai finished his words and nodded to her. “That is all that Young Master Cheng wishes me to tell you. I won’t be sending you. Goodbye.”
Yu Keyao face changed into all sorts of expressions as she gnashed her teeth and watched Chang Lai get into the car.
When she finally came to her senses, she turned around to look for Qi Chengzhi. The car, however, was already some distance away.
Yu Keyao looked at the chaotic mass of people and felt a sudden sense of helplessness coming over her.
…
…
Qi Chengzhi sent Song Yu back to her workplace and went back to Qilin.
“Young Master Cheng, Yu Zidong has been waiting in the parlor.” Cheng Dongge put down his cell phone. “He has been here since noon.”
Qi Chengzhi nodded and walked over to the parlor, with Cheng Dongge following closely behind.
With a push of the door, the strong smell of smoke came crashing to their faces. The parlor was so densely filled with smoke that it was hard to open one’s eyes.
Yu Zidong sat alone on the sofa. His legs were spread open and his elbows were placed on top of his thighs. One hand was holding a cigarette and he was leaning forward. His eyes were transfixed on the floor between his legs, where a pile of cigarette ash was scattered all over.
Qi Chengzhi was not accustomed to the smell of smoke, having quit smoking for quite some time already.
Yu Zidong did not notice Qi Chengzhi’s arrival. He seemed to be so lost in his own thoughts that his face looked miserable and older by a few years. Even his vitality looked like it had been sucked out of him.
Qi Chengzhi frowned and greeted him, “Director Yu.”
Yu Zidong looked up abruptly but did not stand up. Having been humiliated by Qi Chengzhi to such an extent, Yu Zidong was in no mood to continue currying favor with him.
Yu Zidong loosened his tie, as if he, too, began to feel the effects of the thick smoke.
On the table beside him was an ashtray, and he put out his cigarette in it. Cheng Dongge walked over to the window and opened it to let some fresh air in.
Qi Chengzhi re-entered the room only when the smoke had cleared up.
There was no small talk from Yu Zidong and he cut to the chase immediately. After what seemed like an uncountable number of cigarettes, his voice was very hoarse. “What will it take for you to spare my company? Name me your condition. Tell me something, at least, so I can know what I should do.”
Qi Chengzhi walked silently over to the window beside him, standing righteously beside it. The sun rays entered the room, radiating on him and making him look even taller.
When Qi Chengzhi faced Yu Zidong, the latter could not see too clearly and had to squint because of the sun rays.
“Director Yu, have you ever thought about why I attacked your company?” Qi Chengzhi’s voice was indifferent, and his expression was also exceptionally frigid.
“Because I pestered Song Yu and her parents,” Yu Zidong replied. His voice was cracked in a way that suggested his throat had been filed down using sandpaper. Red streaks appeared in both his eyes, and an indignant unwillingness characterized his words.
He could not bring himself to use the word ‘harass’, so he beautified his sentence by using the word ‘pester’.
Qi Chengzhi snickered and sneered. His tall figure loomed over Yu Zidong and he replied coldly, “That’s only one reason. When I brought up the subject of your company to warn you, you still went and harassed my father- and mother-in-law. You’re courting your own demise. This is the second reason.
“This afternoon, Miss Liang came to Chengshi. She stopped Song Yu and apologized profusely, but when she knew that Song Yu would not forgive her no matter how much she begged, she got angry and decided to slander Song Yu right in front of Song Yu’s colleagues. The remarks she made were completely unreasonable. In fact, she doesn’t seem to realize that she’s in the wrong, and it has given Song Yu a lot of complications and embarrassment. This is reason number three.
“Do you know why it took me so long to return? It’s not to make a show of pride in front of you, Director Yu, I’m not that childish. It is entirely because of the delay caused by your daughter. Just earlier, your daughter came to threaten both Song Yu and me. She thought that she could blackmail us into sparing your company. This is reason number four.”
Qi Chengzhi placed both hands into his pant pockets and looked at Yu Zidong with disdain. “By these four reasons alone, why should I even spare your company?”
Yu Zidong’s mouth opened wide in disbelief. He was completely in the dark over Liang Lihua and Yu Keyao who went to look for Song Yu.
He formed his hands into a tight fist and rued the inability of those women to make things right!
Qi Chengzhi noticed his movements and said plainly, “It seems you are unaware of your daughter’s and wife’s actions, Director Yu.”
“I really didn’t know.” Yu Zidong felt helpless and wronged. It was a painful feeling indeed when one’s own family was the cause of one’s downfall. He was on the verge of vomiting blood.
He felt around his pocket and took out his pack of cigarettes. He then realized that he had just finished smoking his last cigarette.
“To tell you the truth, it’s not like the entire situation can’t be redeemed.” Qi Chengzhi said suddenly. Yu Zidong looked up at him with full of hope.
“In fact, the only thing that really irks me is Miss Liang. Time and again, she has insulted and harassed Song Yu both verbally and physically. Nothing seems to give her peace, and nothing can stop her either. She’d turn into a complete lunatic once she goes insane.” Qi Chengzhi ambled over mindlessly to Yu Zidong. “Speaking of which, if your wife was a reasonable person, to begin with, it wouldn’t have to come to this, Director Yu. She not only goes around accusing people; she has even offended her own little sister. She’s now willing to throw away her self-respect by begging for forgiveness, but what need is there for all this? If you knew that all these things would happen, wouldn’t you have prevented it before it did?”