Chapter 102 – Discussing Strategies

What was supposed to be a remedial conference had devolved into little more than a farce. Each board member was a seasoned schemer, and when trouble struck, their only concern was to distance themselves from blame. It was always someone else’s fault; safeguarding their own interests was the priority.

At that moment, Geng Huaizhong, chairman of Xunyuan, appeared in the doorway of the meeting room.

His hair, streaked with black and white, was slicked back, and his expression radiated an innate authority without the need for anger. Perhaps this was a common trait among veteran entrepreneurs, forged in the crucible of the marketplace, where wisdom and decisiveness were etched unmistakably onto their faces.

A single piercing look from him silenced the unruly crowd below.

Outside the glass walls, harsh white light gathered into beams, refracting between the transparent buildings. After days of relentless rain, the sudden arrival of clear weather was almost ironic.

Those with their backs to the windows had nothing to fear from the sunlight, but those facing it were compelled to squint, their pupils shrinking to withstand the onslaught.

Geng Huaizhong drew out a mahogany chair and sat, letting his thoughts settle for a few seconds before lifting his hawk-like eyes to survey everyone in the room.

Seeing the chairman's silence, a few members grew restless, eager to offer their “insightful” opinions.

The unfinished conference thus resumed its chaotic course.

Geng Huaizhong listened, unmoving.

Nearby, Xu Shixi opened his mouth to speak, but Geng Huaizhong raised a hand, signaling him to wait.

Tang Dai observed this and likewise chose silence.

“Are you finished?” Geng Huaizhong’s deep voice cut through the hubbub, shooting straight down the length of the conference table. “If not, go on. Once you’re done, we’ll discuss how to remedy the project.”

“Chairman Geng,” an older board member, nearly Geng’s equal in age, replied, “it’s not that we want to complain. This is construction, not child’s play—mistakes can’t simply be undone. This blunder could wipe out the company’s net profits for the first half of the year.” His words were careful, every syllable tied to profit and money.

The others echoed in waves: “Exactly,” “That’s right,” “True,” “Well said,” and so on.

“I understand the board’s concerns. This loss isn’t just yours, it’s mine, and more importantly, it’s the company’s.” The fire in his eyes still burned. He knew that as Xunyuan’s backbone, he could not fall easily. He could break, but never bend. In truth, he was bound to the company’s fate.

“Chairman,” Xu Shixi clenched his fists, thumbs pressed against his index fingers, channeling his anxiety into pain. “I’m deeply sorry. My personal negligence has placed the company in this unprecedented predicament.”

“What use are apologies now?” someone said coldly.

“I’ll take full responsibility for this mistake,” Xu Shixi insisted. He was a man who cared about his reputation; buckets of cold water had awakened his pride but dulled his reason.

“So how do you intend to take responsibility?”

“Do you have enough money to compensate?”

“What’s the point of empty promises?”

“I have a solution!” Tang Dai shouted, her emotions fraying as she tried to keep her voice steady.

“What solution?” Geng Huaizhong seemed to hear a melody from the heavens, his wrinkled face brightening with hope. “Tell us, so we can consider it together.”

Xu Shixi stared at Tang Dai in surprise, recalling her earlier words to him and wondering if her plan could be the key to resolving the Happy City crisis.

He thought it over. Whenever everyone else was at their wit’s end, Tang Dai always managed to come up with a way forward.

“We need to move the Shangda development next door further back,” Tang Dai said, reorganizing Xu Shixi’s earlier plan and presenting it to the company’s leaders. “At present, it’s the only way to minimize the company’s losses.”

Geng Huaizhong fell into deep thought. Xunyuan and Shangda were almost at daggers drawn. In business, defeating a rival elevated one’s standing; why create obstacles for oneself?

“Shixi, what do you say?” Geng Huaizhong tossed the question to Xu Shixi. He did not let this mistake overshadow Xu Shixi’s abilities. Xunyuan had reached its current state through countless bumps and hurdles, but he had always endured. Now, age had caught up with him, and though his heart was willing, his strength was lacking. The challenges and battles were for the young to tackle.

Geng Huaizhong had only one son, now twenty-seven or twenty-eight, born when Geng was forty—a late child. He cherished him dearly, granting every wish. Yet, excessive indulgence led his son to idleness and apathy. He cared nothing for the company his father had built, preferring to travel the world. He told Geng Huaizhong that his greatest wish was to visit every corner of the globe. As for the company, he could sell it for billions, enough for several lifetimes, and not waste energy on daily management.

From persuasion to pleading, from pleading to scolding, from scolding to abandonment, from abandonment to resignation—in just a few years, Geng Huaizhong learned to let go. He relinquished his son, but could not bring himself to let go of the company.

When he first met Xu Shixi, the young man was inexperienced. Perhaps for men, maturity only comes after years in society. But Geng Huaizhong, a keen judge of talent, saw his ability and brilliance at once. His gaze, his speech, his insight—far beyond his peers. For a company as high-barrier as Xunyuan, even a janitor had to pass rigorous screening: age, education, experience—all were assessed, let alone a planning manager.

Xu Shixi’s appointment was the result of Geng Huaizhong’s determined advocacy. Lacking practical experience, he started as an assistant.

Yet, no matter how bright, his light could not be hidden. In darkness, it shone even stronger.

Within three years, Xu Shixi became planning manager, conquering countless challenges along the way. But now, he faced a disaster without precedent. His face was stiff with disappointment. “Actually, I’ve privately approached Shangda’s head.”

“What was their attitude?” Geng Huaizhong interrupted urgently.

His pale face betrayed his heart, pounding as if struck by a wooden mallet. “They said—”

“What could they say? They’re surely delighted! Just waiting for us to slip up so they can reap the rewards,” a board member interjected, never missing a chance to avoid being overlooked.

Xu Shixi ignored him. “They said—”

“They said everything could be negotiated,” Tang Dai completed Xu Shixi’s hesitant sentence.

Geng Huaizhong knew Shangda’s penchant for kicking others when they’re down, and could see the gravity in Xu Shixi’s expression, so he did not place much faith in Tang Dai’s words.

Xu Shixi was even more confused. He had approached Shangda multiple times, only to be turned away each time. On his last attempt, he dodged the bodyguards at the site entrance for a brief exchange, but still failed. Had Tang Dai met them secretly, or was she merely throwing up a smokescreen to ease the deadlock?

He wrote his doubts in his eyes, directing them at Tang Dai, but she refused to acknowledge them.

“What demands did they make?” a board member asked.

“Their demands are simple,” Tang Dai replied to the group.

“Simple for them, perhaps, but for Xunyuan, it’s extremely difficult.”

“Do they want a stake in the Happy City project?” Geng Huaizhong cut to the heart of the matter.

“This is outrageous! That’s nothing but profiteering.”

As expected. Xu Shixi had foreseen this outcome. Human desire is a bottomless pit.

The meeting went on for half a day, voices overlapping, but in the end, nothing had changed.

Xu Shixi once again looked to Tang Dai. This time, their eyes finally met. He could see she seemed confident, composed, as if she held the answer. Did she have a solution, or was it something else?