“Today, I’ve asked you all here to bear witness, and this shareholders’ meeting has an important decision to vote on.”
The room fell silent.
Then, an uproar erupted!
Embezzlement?
Gu Zhaoye had misappropriated Yuanqi Tech’s funds?!
Impossible!
When had Gu Zhaoye ever lacked money?
Even if he wanted to splurge, he wouldn’t need to touch Yuanqi Tech’s funds—his personal wealth was more than enough!
What could possibly drive him to go to such lengths to embezzle?
Gu Zhaoye had no vices—no gambling, no involvement in anything shady.
As the Gu family’s promising heir, why would he dig his own grave like this?
As the shareholders exchanged stunned glances, heavy footsteps echoed outside the meeting room.
Everyone turned to see the door pushed open by Gu Zhaoye’s assistant.
Gu Zhaoye followed, entering with a grim, weary expression but still maintaining his domineering CEO demeanor.
No matter the situation, he couldn’t let his aura falter.
He walked in, ignoring the others’ gazes, found a seat, and sat down.
Looking directly at Gu Zhaoping, he said,
“Whatever you have to say, say it.”
The shareholders fell silent.
Having just heard Gu Zhaoping’s accusations, Gu Zhaoye’s appearance left them unsure whether to be shocked or see him as a clown.
How could he commit such a massive mistake and still sit here so calmly, acting like he was daring her to come at him?
Didn’t he know he was likely about to be removed?
After sitting, Gu Zhaoye glanced at Gu Zhaoping and looked away, partly to maintain his composure and partly because he didn’t want to meet her eyes.
Though he hated to admit it, facing Gu Zhaoping’s gaze gave him a heavy sense of pressure and a twinge of guilt.
He couldn’t even hold her stare.
Gu Zhaoping held the USB drive, pausing briefly as he interrupted, then looked at him with a hint of amusement.
“Got anything to say in your defense?”
Her tone was that of a judge addressing a criminal.
Gu Zhaoye’s irritation and frustration deepened.
Frowning, he suppressed his anger and said,
“I admit I was wrong before, but I’ve made amends.”
“And there are more important things to do. I just hope we can resolve this quickly and move on.”
He tilted his head toward Gu Zhaoping, adding,
“Oh, by the way, Sis, you probably don’t know yet, but Gene Group just proposed a collaboration with Yuanqi Tech. Their representative has already arrived in the country. After this meeting, I’ll be busy sealing that deal, so please understand—we need to wrap this up fast.”
Gu Zhaoye leaned back, crossing his legs in a more comfortable pose, his expression calm.
At that moment, the other shareholders froze, realizing why he was so confident.
Gene Group was arguably the world’s most dominant energy conglomerate.
How had Gu Zhaoye suddenly secured a collaboration out of nowhere, with their representative already here?
Some realized that if this was true, Gu Zhaoping’s plan to punish and remove Gu Zhaoye might have to be delayed.
After all, if Gu Zhaoye was removed, who could handle the Gene Group deal?
Someone couldn’t help but ask,
“Gu Zhaoye, is that true? They want to collaborate with Yuanqi Tech? What’s the deal about?”
Gu Zhaoye gave a cold smirk.
He hadn’t planned to explain much, but with everyone staring, his pent-up frustration surged.
He said lightly,
“New energy batteries. What about it?”
“Everyone knows that’s a hot sector right now. Their group holds multiple patents. With Yuanqi Tech’s foundation, partnering with them can significantly cut costs and boost efficiency. Plus, they’re very sincere and have already offered a profit-sharing plan.”
Talking about this, Gu Zhaoye quickly regained his former swagger.
He couldn’t help but marvel inwardly at how timely this collaboration was.
Yesterday, he’d been anxious, even despairing, but today, Mr. Lin said the representative had landed.
With this deal in hand, his chances of turning the tables had grown significantly.
He was certain the old man knew the importance of this collaboration and would at least give him a chance to prove himself.
Gu Zhaoye finally felt some confidence return.
His posture was relaxed, but his hand secretly clenched.
Good thing he came in time—the old man hadn’t announced a final decision yet.
He still had a shot at turning this around.
But the next second, as Gu Zhaoye looked at the shareholders, he noticed an odd expression on their faces.
He paused, a wave of confusion and unease rising in his chest.
What did this mean?
Their faces showed no shock, no admiration—just a strange look, as if they were watching something peculiar.
Gu Zhaoping just stared at him quietly, saying nothing, and so none of the shareholders spoke either.
After a long pause, it was Second Uncle from the Gu family’s second branch who cleared his throat and spoke,
“Zhaoye, you arrived suddenly. Let your sister finish speaking first.”
Gu Zhaoye’s heart skipped a beat.
Why, even after he mentioned the collaboration, did everyone still act like it was no big deal and want to hear Gu Zhaoping finish?
What had Gu Zhaoping said before he arrived?
Did they not even care that he wasn’t here yet?
He slowly turned to look at her, only then noticing the USB drive in her hand.
“Before you talk about your deal with Gene Group, maybe you should take a look at this, Gu Zhaoye.”
Hearing Gu Zhaoping’s casual tone, his heart jolted.
Then he watched her plug in the USB drive, and a PowerPoint began playing on the large screen behind her.
This scene was eerily reminiscent of when Gu Zhaoping had caused his financing to fail at Yuanqi Tech.
His heart pounded wildly, an overwhelming sense of dread surging within him!
His eyes widened as dozens of pieces of evidence flashed onto the screen, each one clear and logically laid out.
The shareholders stared, dumbfounded, realizing Gu Zhaoping had been holding back earlier!
Suspecting Gu Zhaoye of possible embezzlement and debt concealment?
This was hard evidence!
As the information appeared, Gu Zhaoye’s eyes widened in shock.
He hadn’t even processed what it was at first, but as he understood, memories long buried flooded back, his heart racing!
Wait, could this be…?
How did Gu Zhaoping get her hands on this?
How did she even think to investigate these things?
Wasn’t Yuanqi Tech an ironclad operation under his control?!
Why did Gu Zhaoping have these contract records?
“After Gu Zhaoye’s financing failure, when he shut himself away, I took over handling Yuanqi Tech’s financial issues. In doing so, I discovered numerous procedural loopholes and several suspicious transactions.”
Gu Zhaoping’s tone was cold,
“Why did you embezzle company funds to invest in Ruan Nian’s movie?”
Looking at the transaction records she’d compiled, Gu Zhaoye’s mind went blank.
These weren’t vivid in his memory.
He didn’t even know how Gu Zhaoping had dug them up, but seeing them now, he realized—they were real.
A few years ago, Ruan Nian had a project that ran into funding issues, and she asked if he could step in to keep it going.
Gu Zhaoye didn’t know why, but he invested.
It was strange—he hadn’t planned to, so why did he agree?
It wasn’t a small project.
Even for Gu Zhaoye to take the lead investor role, it required significant funds.
He vaguely remembered being impatient with Ruan Nian’s plea, not wanting to agree, but somehow he did.
He couldn’t recall how he’d redirected those funds, but Ruan Nian was grateful, and their relationship deepened.
Later, no one brought it up.
Ruan Nian’s film flopped quietly, unnoticed, and Gu Zhaoye himself seemed to forget about it.
Until now, it was like a hammer struck everyone’s minds, leaving them in disbelief.
What?
He actually embezzled funds?
Why would he make such a decision?
Was he insane?
He did this for Ruan Nian?!
Gu Zhaoye stared at Gu Zhaoping, lips trembling, his mind completely blank.
“As you all can see, Gu Zhaoye’s recent actions have far exceeded the Gu Group’s tolerance. On one hand, as a Gu family member, he shows no sense of responsibility, endangering lives. On the other, as Yuanqi Tech’s CEO, he embezzled funds and concealed accounts. On behalf of the Gu family, I propose to the shareholders…”
Gu Zhaoping paused,
“Remove Gu Zhaoye, freeze his accounts, apply for asset preservation, and, most importantly, file a lawsuit against him.”
Before anyone could react, Gu Zhaoping finished, her proposed consequences far more severe than anyone had imagined, leaving them stunned!
“For the time being, at Grandpa’s suggestion, I will take over Yuanqi Tech and adjust its development plans. What you may not know is that we’ve already reached a collaboration intent with Aurora Green Energy Group, and the contract can be signed immediately to form a research team.”
She coldly scanned the room,
“This proposal requires a two-thirds majority to pass. Shareholders, please vote.”
Gu Zhaoye was utterly shocked!
He didn’t even have time to process the gravity of her words!
Remove him?
Had Gu Zhaoping lost her mind to propose this?
Was she ignoring the Gene Group deal?!
He blurted out in disbelief,
“Gu Zhaoping, do you know how important the Gene Group collaboration is right now?! You’re proposing to remove me?”
Gu Zhaoping looked at him, suddenly letting out a soft laugh,
“The one who contacted you from Gene Group was Mr. Lin, right?”
Her tone was calm,
“Gu Zhaoye, want to guess how he found you?”
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