133 Don't Expect an Easy Time

Shen Ze knew he was finished; there was no longer any possibility of reversing his fate. His visit to Secretary Hu was nothing more than a desperate, final gamble.

He sat helplessly on the floor, the realization that his status, power, and glory would all vanish upon losing his job piercing his heart like thousands of needles. After an unknown amount of time, he stood up and walked to the window, gazing down at the cityscape of Huaijiang. This was likely the last time he would ever stand within the headquarters of the Feihong Group.

He let out a long sigh, his eyes filled with sorrow and despair. As he turned to leave, he caught sight of the notes and documents Secretary Hu had left on the desk. Driven by curiosity and professional instinct, he flipped through them—and was immediately struck with shock.

Lin Qi intended to swallow the Fangyuan Group within three months and had even drafted such a detailed business plan! As a former Vice President, Shen Ze understood the significance and feasibility of these documents. His heart hammered in his chest; he realized that if he wanted to make a comeback, this information would be his greatest weapon. Without a second thought, he pulled out his phone and snapped several pictures in quick succession.

Moments later, Secretary Hu returned. Shen Ze sat by the door, putting on a show of misery, and immediately stood up to ask, "Secretary Hu, how did it go?"

Secretary Hu looked dejected. "It’s no use. I tried, but I just ended up getting a tongue-lashing from President Lin. Vice President Shen, you should go to the Human Resources department and process your resignation. Resigning on your own terms might save you some face; if you’re officially fired, you won’t be able to survive in this industry anymore..."

"I understand. Thank you," Shen Ze said, his face twisted in pain as he left the office. Once outside, however, his expression turned cold and dark.

Lin Qi, if you won't let me live in peace, I won't let you either!

Shen Ze processed his resignation at the Human Resources department and immediately hurried to the Fangyuan Group. Because the two groups had frequent collaborations, Shen Ze had visited often and knew the layout well, leading him straight to Chai Wuyan’s office. The staff at Fangyuan, unaware that Shen Ze had already been fired, cleared his path without question.

"Oh? Vice President Shen, what brings you here?" Chai Wuyan asked from behind his desk, smiling.

"President Chai, don't call me Vice President anymore. I've resigned," Shen Ze said, sitting across from him and shaking his head in resignation.

"Oh? What happened?" Chai Wuyan looked surprised. He knew Shen Ze was highly capable; why would he be suddenly dismissed?

Shen Ze recounted the events. Upon hearing the story, Chai Wuyan laughed heartily. "That Lin Qi is such a hypocrite! He clearly had his eye on that girl, and even though you brought her to him, he not only refused her but fired you too! At the end of the day, you were just unlucky. He’s a new boss looking to establish his authority, and you just happened to walk right into the line of fire."

Shen Ze nodded. "Exactly. Killing the chicken to scare the monkey."

Chai Wuyan laughed for a moment before turning serious. "So, Vice President Shen, are you here to ask for a job?"

To Chai Wuyan, the incident with the woman was trivial. He assumed Lin Qi had made a mountain out of a molehill just to show off his new power, making Shen Ze a convenient scapegoat. He valued Shen Ze’s abilities and knew that bringing him into the Fangyuan Group would be a significant advantage. He prepared himself to lowball Shen Ze's salary, knowing that since the man had just been fired, he held all the leverage.

But Shen Ze shook his head. "No, I’m not here to ask for a job."

Chai Wuyan looked puzzled. "Then what is it?"

"I have something I want to sell to you," Shen Ze replied.

He pulled out his phone, opened the photos he had taken, and handed it over. Chai Wuyan began to scroll through the pages. His expression shifted from confusion to shock, then to anger, despair, and helplessness. His hands began to tremble, and his back was soaked with cold sweat.

Seeing this, Shen Ze took the phone back and smiled. "How much are you willing to pay for this, President Chai?"

According to the business plan, the Fangyuan Group would be swallowed by the Feihong Group within three months. The new president of the Feihong Group was clearly no ordinary man—young, yet ruthless and as cunning as any veteran. While Chai Wuyan had read the plan, he couldn't memorize every detail, meaning he had no choice but to buy it.

"What price do you have in mind?" Chai Wuyan asked seriously.

"One hundred million," Shen Ze said.

"Deal."

Chai Wuyan agreed without hesitation. When it came to the survival of the Fangyuan Group, he would pay ten times that amount if necessary. Although Chai Wuyan couldn't wire one hundred million in cash on the spot, the two signed a contract, and the funds were to be transferred within a month.

After obtaining Lin Qi's business plan, Chai Wuyan immediately summoned all his executives for an emergency meeting.