Ling Qingyu''s cruel smile frightened all the directors here, pausing their hands from reaching the papers handed over by Zhao Xiurong.


    Their hands felt like a knife hanging over their skin, just a little before cutting them over.


    Sharpness and stress conflicted in their consciousness.


    Ling Qingyu folded her arms and leaned back, stretching her spine in the process. She was calmly smiling at the panicking directors.


    All the board members had worried faces, especially when the papernded on the desk before them.


    No one dared to have a look to the point that Ling Qingyu became bored.


    "The reason why I said your votes are ineffective is written on the paper." Ling Qingyu spoke unceremoniously. "I''ve recently acquired a substantial portion of thepany''s shares enough to give me a majority stake in both board and general meetings."


    Gasps of surprises rippled through the room, and the directors exchanged incredulous looks. Ling Qingyu had subtly shifted the bnce of power without their knowledge.


    No, every director thought, if what Ling Qingyu said was the truth, they were doomed to fail from the beginning.


    This meeting was the test of their loyalty, not a coup drama they expected. Unwilling to believe the result, the directors all grasped the papers and scrutinized everything, trying to find faults, at least, tofort themselves the paper was forged.


    Reading the sentences over and over again until everyone swallowed the bitter pill. The arrow was on the loose and there wasn''t any remedy to save themselves.


    "Chairman Ling," Li Wei spoke, attempting to regain control of the situation, "we believe that a change in leadership structure—"


    "—is precisely what I have in mind," Ling Qingyu interjected, a subtle smile ying at the corner of her lips. "Come to think of the entire problem, it''s true we have a leadership problem and I intend to address this issue in today''s meeting."


    Chill ran through every director''s spine and their face frozen from fear. Li Wei, Zhang Hao, and Gu Ling had their fingers trembling.


    Huang Mei, despite knowing the bad ends, rarely smiled in relief, her eyes gentle and soft as if watching her child already grow up and soar into the sky.


    Tears welled in her eyes and felt satisfied at Ling Qingyu''s response.


    Su Ruomei and Zhao Xiurong felt their bodies rx, after clearly seeing Ling Qingyu''s victory on sight.


    "As a result," Ling Qingyu continued, "I believe it''s in our best interest to undergo a change in directorship. I will be appointing new directors who align with ourpany''s vision in the future."


    Li Wei, Zhang Hao and Gu Ling exchanged nces from shock to disbelief. Their coup had failed miserably before it even fully materialized.


    Some of the directors were beginning to suspect if Ling Qingyu''s ident was true. After all, Ling Qingyu''s image of an old fox who yed people like puppets attached to the strings was spread around the circle.


    Gu Ling''s voice stammered in desperation. "Chairman Ling, we were only trying to ensure thepany''s stability in your absence."


    Ling Qingyu snorted and gazed at Gu Ling, whose expression appeared grim. "Stability cannot be achieved through a power struggle. It requires unity and a sharedmitment to our goals."


    Li Wei''s group sighed in regret at their unsessful attempt. The worst situation for them was to lose the membership of the board and earn money behind the scenes.


    Maybe sometimeter, they could make aeback although the possibility was very slim since Ling Qingyu owned 65 percent of thepany''s shares.


    Ling Qingyu restructuring board members didn''t cost them too much. It was a pity, thispany would no longer be in their hands.


    "Is there any rejection of this conclusion?" Ling Qingyu mocked her group of directors, and most of them paled. "I''ll notify the names of the new directors, on behalf of the majority of the shareholders'' opinion."


    Her ironic words bit into their ears since everything was foregone. Their only expectation was for Ling Qingyu to adjourn the meeting.


    Unfortunately, Ling Qingyu had more ns in mind. Their disappointment could only grow. Nobody refuted Ling Qingyu''s proposal of reshuffling the board members.


    To be honest, Ling Qingyu somehow was aware the coup would happen if she returned to thepanyter and requested Zhao Xiurong for help to facilitate buying shares.


    It was like an instinct of her to avoid and prepare for the other''s ill intent. It wouldn''t be wrong to say, she foresaw everything and the conspiracy of Li Wei''s group was utterly useless.


    Some would ask what would she do if there wasn''t any system to provide her with wealth. Very simple, threatening others—particrly important members—through legal measures. These directors had some dirty hands, Ling Qingyu had already investigated.


    Exploiting them in time could turn the tide in her favor. But Ling Qingyu must thank her system as she now had more options.


    "Since ourpany deserves a fresh start, unburdened by past conflicts," Ling Qingyu sent her smile to everyone. But her smile seemed more like a devil''s whisper. "I''ll continue a second proposal. A liquidation process."


    The directors were stunned again and lost their voices. Faces paled as the implications of Ling Qingyu''s words sank in.


    As expected of the title of ruthless queen in the business world, they should never expect mercy from her. Cutting the root of the grass was her conventional method.


    Li Wei stammered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Liquidation? That would—"


    "Yes, that would effectively sever all connections you have with thepany," Ling Qingyu interrupted his sentence and finished it. "Don''t worry. The process will ensure a fair valuation of your share, and thepany will buy them back."


    Don''t worry my foot, the directors cursed back in their minds. These words were no different from killing them directly.


    Gu Ling''s eyes widen at the realization. "You want to remove us from thepany altogether?"


    Ling Qingyu''s gaze remained steady. "It''s the most prudent way to guarantee thepany''s future without the cloud of past disagreements."


    Zhang Hao''s expression tightened, his voice growing sharp. "Chairman Ling, this is too extreme. We can negotiate better terms without sufficing acrimony—"


    "I assure you, the terms will be fair and in ordance with legal procedures and the contracts we signed since the founding of thispany." Ling Qingyu asserted. "Thepany''s well-being is my priority, and I believe that a fresh start is necessary."


    Hearing her words, Zhao Xiurong and Su Ruomei covered their mouths, controlling their peals ofughter but their quivering shoulders already expressed their moods.


    The rest of the directors hadints—this was a naked revenge without a waste of time. Who believed the mouth of a single person inside this room?


    Everyone expressed righteousness but their acts served like swords to cutoff the opponents.


    One of the directors outside of Li Wei''s group clenched his fists and pounded the desk, drawing everyone''s eyes. "You''re cutting us outpletely?"


    Ling Qingyu nodded, her tone unwavering. "I ammitted to moving forward with a team that shares thepany''s vision and values."


    Even Huang Mei, watching from the sidelines, had her eyelids twitched. Miss Ling Qingyu, you were too deep in the act.


    She must even admit her skills were inferior to Ling Qingyu''s of disying righteousness.


    Li Wei''s voice trembled with a mixture of anger and resignation. "This is a hostile move, Chairman Ling."


    Ling Qingyu leaned forward, her eyes intense, ring at each member of the board. "My decision is final; your refusals have no effects and will not be epted."


    Li Wei stood up, losing hisposure, and yelled. "This move is outrageous. There is no way we''re gonna ept this. It''s a tant dictatorship. No organization going through such autocratic waysst long."


    Su Ruomei''s eyes narrowed at the old man''s behavior but wasn''t surprised by the way Ling Qingyu had acted throughout the meeting.


    If she were to rece him, she might be worse,pletely resorting to violence.


    "Nothingsts," Ling Qingyu retorted. "In this world, nothingsts forever. And I have to disagree with your usation, Mr. Li. I detest autocracy and wouldn''t practice this school of thought. In fact, my move is to centralize so that thepany strengthens its unity and efficiency."


    Ling Qingyu also craved tosh out like Li Wei did but must prevent herself from following suit.


    Her reputation and prestige would be attacked if the rumors spread across the circle. This was also the reason why she still acted and shouted slogans like ''righteousness''.


    Her every move felt like being monitored despite no recording tools avable in the room. But words spread out of the mouth.


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    Li Wei couldn''t listen any longer and pointed his finger at Ling Qingyu. "You''re misusing thepany''s authorities for your own good. This is a tant exploitation from the seat of the chairman and abhorred by the entire circle. If not for the face of your grandpa, where would we support yourpany in its infancy."


    Ling Qingyu''s eyes chilled the onlookers as she spoke with emphasis. "Don''t bring the senior culture to press over me, Mr. Li. It is the respect I held for my grandfather that I tolerated your various acts until now. Even then I''m still merciful. If you don''t toast my wine, I''ll move on to my next step."


    The room quieted down after Ling Qingyu and Li Wei shed. Both fought with each other''s momentum until Ling Qingyu slid the folders in her hand to Li Wei.


    "If not for Grandpa''s face, you would have no time to jump like a clown in front of me," Ling Qingyu''s words were merciless. "Including you and you."


    Zhang Hao and Gu Ling were included out of nowhere. Huang Mei''s corner of the mouth twitched.


    Li Wei looked down but didn''t open the folder and asked. "What''s inside?"


    "You''ll regret it if you don''t take a look at it. You too." Ling Qingyu replied. Thetter part of her sentence was meant for Zhang Hao and Gu Ling.


    While these men stood up and read the paper inside the folder together, Ling Qingyu dered. "By the decision of the board, I represent the majority''s wish—Removing the directors in the case of abusing power, disregarding thepany''s life and death for selfish reasons, exploiting loopholes, and being irresponsible for the duty the board member must adhere to.


    I, as Chairman, will temporarily take charge of the board until the election of shareholders resumes. Any objections?"


    Of course, there were! Too many—the directors had the same thought in their minds. For the first time, their vibrations rang at the same frequency.


    But rejection was useless since Ling Qingyu dered the percentage of her shares. And everyone decided to stay back to avoid Ling Qingyu''s barrel.


    Although liquidation hurt them, no oneined at Ling Qingyu.


    What if there was another guillotine on their necks? They could swear to Heaven—if Ling Qingyu always didn''t have a way, let there be thunder upon them.