Chapter Fifty-One: Reclaiming the Shares

"Who are you looking down on?"
"Of course I look down on Liu Yiran. And you, too. Aren't you supposed to be so impressive? Didn't you even dare to stand up to internet celebrities? Why are you such a coward in the face of a murderer? Not even daring to let out a single word."
The furious host thrust the microphone in Ye Qiu's face, wishing he could devour him whole, as if pinning all of Wu Yong's crimes on the Ye-Liu Group.
This man was a minor television host named Zhouzi. He used his position at the TV station to make short videos to gather fans and sell products, amassing several million followers.
"Where was your security? Isn't Ye-Liu Group's security said to be as capable as martial arts masters when protecting President Liu? Why didn't they stop that person this time?"
"You've now proven your AI, but that was a human life! How can you be so heartless?"
He spat at Liu Yiran.
"Watch out, big sis," Ye Qiu said, pulling Liu Yiran aside. With a swift kick, he sent the reporter flying.
"You dare hit someone in front of so many people?" Zhouzi scrambled up from the ground and lunged at Ye Qiu. "You're a cowardly weakling. Why don't you stand up to the murderer? Coward!"
"Smack."
Ye Qiu slapped Zhouzi across the face. "Why didn't you go up just now?"
"Smack."
"You care so much about social responsibility, but where were you when the textbook incident happened?"
"Smack."
"You were happy to ride others' coattails and profit from others' misfortune, but you never mention that, do you?"
After several slaps, Zhouzi's cheeks were swollen.
"Damn it, you scramble to grab attention over trivial matters, but when something serious happens you shrink away like a turtle. Where's your sense of social responsibility now?"
Ye Qiu scolded as he hit him. Zhouzi, eyes blazing with fury, could only glare back at Ye Qiu, not daring to retaliate.
Now he realized that the man before him truly didn't care about his reputation. When a fake boxer meets a real champion, Zhouzi dared not challenge Ye Qiu any further.
"And you," Ye Qiu said, turning to Chu Shu.
"Ah!"

Chu Shu shrieked and darted behind Tong Tiexing for cover.
Tong Tiexing was just about to rebuke Ye Qiu when his phone rang.
The previously chaotic scene fell silent in an instant, with everyone looking toward Tong Tiexing. After all, just now Liu Ye had said that after ten minutes, Tong Tiexing would receive a call from the bank.
Tong Tiexing glanced at the caller ID.
It was Vice President Zhang from the commercial bank.
Tong Tiexing deliberately put the call on speaker. Not only to let everyone see his close relationship with Vice President Zhang, but also to signal to the partners present that he was certainly not short on funds—didn't they see how well-connected he was with the bank?
Tong Tiexing, now like a proud peacock, surveyed the crowd with superiority.
Come on.
Let the bank say the loan has been approved.
Even better if he could exchange a few polite words.
He thought, then I could promise more business with your bank in the future.
Tong Tiexing suppressed his excitement and spoke with feigned indifference: "Vice President Zhang, it's just a loan of a few hundred million. Why trouble yourself to call me personally?"
"Mr. Tong, here's the situation. After an assessment by our risk control department, your enterprise is deemed at risk of a funding break, so the previously approved loan is now on hold. Once your capital chain is no longer at risk, we can reconsider the loan."
What?
Is this vice president out of his mind?
I'm seeking a loan precisely because my capital chain is tight!
If I had money, why would I come crawling to the bank?
Tong Tiexing reined in his surging anger and forced himself to speak calmly: "Vice President Zhang, isn't this a bit irregular? Our company is valued at over a billion, and this is just a loan of a few hundred million. If you act like this, what entrepreneur will dare to approach your bank for loans in the future?"
"Mr. Tong, my apologies, but the risk control team has already evaluated your assets," Vice President Zhang replied coolly. "Your real estate and businesses are all classified as non-performing assets. Only your shares in Ye-Liu Group have value. However, our risk control team has just discovered that you've started selling off your shares, and after dilution, your remaining equity is insufficient for a reputation-based loan. Interestingly, Director Tong here insisted on holding his shares even before the stock price surge. Such loyalty over profit is something our bank deeply admires."
With a note of sarcasm, Vice President Zhang ended the call.
Tong Tiexing's face froze.
The failure to secure a bank loan wasn't critical—he could still seek financing through other means, or at worst, sell off the group's shares he still held.
But just now, in front of so many people, he'd answered the vice president's call, and the bank had classified his assets as non-performing. Now, like sharks smelling blood, all his partners and creditors would surely swarm.

As Tong Tiexing stood there, face ashen, trying to think of a way out of this embarrassment, his phone rang again.
This time it was another commercial bank.
Having learned his lesson, Tong Tiexing didn't use the speakerphone.
"Director Tong, your company is facing significant risks. We will temporarily freeze your current funds, and you must immediately repay your previous loans."
As soon as he hung up, the contractor called.
"Director Tong, we can't keep working for you unless you reimburse all our earlier outlays—and the project payments need to be made in advance, or else we have no confidence to continue."
A string of calls left Tong Tiexing dizzy. At this moment, Chu Shu, oblivious as ever, continued to bluster at his side: "Uncle, if Zhang's bank won't lend to us, we still have City Commercial Bank. We've worked with them for so long, a few hundred million is nothing, even over a billion would be easy. We just won't work with Zhang's bank anymore—we'll have our partners withdraw their funds, and get Young Master Zhang to move his money to another bank!"
"Shut up," Tong Tiexing snapped, glaring at Chu Shu.
"President Liu, I'm only thinking of the company and shareholders. As for the AI project—"
Ye Qiu cut him off with a mocking smile. "Director Tong, are you trying to back down?"
"Back down? Nonsense. Who do you think you are?" Chu Shu retorted arrogantly, pointing at Ye Qiu. "We're still the company's third largest shareholder—"
"According to our previous partnership agreement, if a shareholder acts against the company's interests, the shareholders can vote to buy back that director's shares."
Liu Yiran interrupted Chu Shu, stepping forward with graceful poise.
"With so many members of the media present, there's no need for a press conference. As president of Ye-Liu Group, I hereby announce that Tong Tiexing has acted against the company's interests. I now call a vote to reclaim the shares in his possession."
"I agree," Ye Qiu said, raising his hand at once.
"I agree too," said another, drawing a venomous glare from Tong Tiexing.
"Zhang Yu, you—"
"Director Tong, you've gone too far. While you provided the first round of financing, we all invested too. The company has grown beyond a one-man operation. The group has social responsibilities. For those no longer suitable, the group must act accordingly."