Chapter 35: Cripple Him

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you won't pay us back?" Huang Haiming demanded angrily.

Yang Chen explained, "When I said it had nothing to do with me, I meant that you need to speak to me respectfully, rather than acting as if I personally owe you money. I am telling you the truth: I don't have the funds to pay you back right now, but I certainly will when I have the money in the future. As the Chairman and major shareholder of Sihai Group, I will do everything in my power to save the company."

The expressions of the investors softened, and their attitudes improved significantly.

"Sir, we aren't blaming you. We know it’s not your fault; we just want to know what your plan is."

"Exactly, exactly. We were just a bit anxious earlier; we apologize. This is our hard-earned money. If it's really gone, we won't be able to go on. Please, have mercy, you must pay us back."

"Can you give us a rough timeframe? That way, we can have some peace of mind and not live in fear every day."

...

Yang Chen gestured for everyone to be quiet and said, "I can’t give you an exact date for the payout. I can only say as soon as possible, and no later than this time next year, everything will be repaid with the agreed-upon interest. After all, we are talking about 50 billion, not 500. You need to give me time to generate revenue so I have the funds to pay you. The company is in a very difficult position right now, so please don't kick us while we're down. If you force the company into bankruptcy and liquidation, you will truly lose everything. The land and real estate projects of Sihai Group are all mortgaged to the bank; if we go into bankruptcy, the banks will be paid first, and you won't get a single penny. Do you understand what I mean?"

The clients nodded in acknowledgment and quickly put away their banners.

However, Professor Huang Haiming spoke up: "Don't try to fool us! We’ve come here many times, and every time you make excuses to brush us off. We aren't so easily fooled this time. You must pay us back today, or I will die right here!"

Huang Haiming ran to the entrance, picked up a bucket of gasoline, and charged back, terrifying everyone.

Yang Chen quickly signaled for Chen Xi and the others to step back, while the security guards raised their steel poles, wary that Huang Haiming might try to take everyone down with him.

Yang Chen said urgently, "Professor Huang, this is uncalled for. First, the company doesn't have the money. Second, I never promised a payout within a year. If you keep playing these tricks, I’ll have to suspect that you were sent by someone else to cause trouble. By ruining the reputation of Sihai Group, you only make it harder for me to earn money, which means there is even less hope for everyone to get paid. You are hurting others and yourself."

The other clients quickly urged Huang Haiming to stop, telling him the situation hadn't reached the point of life and death.

"If I can't get back the savings of half my life, what is the point of living? Either give me my money today, or I die here!" Huang Haiming shouted.

At that moment, Huang Haiming's colleague, Li Junqiang, spoke up loudly: "Old Huang, that’s enough. Why are you still acting? Everyone, don't be afraid! What he has in that bucket is water, not gasoline. Zhang Lei, the boss of Changhui Auto Trading, paid him to organize this protest."

Huang Haiming’s face turned red with rage, and he cursed, "Li Junqiang, what the hell do you mean by that? Am I not working for everyone’s benefit?"

Li Junqiang retorted, "Give it a rest! We are here because we genuinely want our money, but you were paid to come here and stir up trouble. Don't you dare pretend this is for the benefit of others. I can't stand your behavior any longer; it must be exposed! Chairman Yang has already said he will pay us within a year. Everyone, please wait patiently for news and don't let yourselves be used by Huang Haiming as accomplices in his harassment."

The clients immediately began to berate Huang Haiming.

"You call yourself a professor? How can you be so shameless?"

"You’re profiting from other people's misery. Have you no conscience?"

"We are going to Jiangcheng University right now to file a complaint against you. You are unfit to be a teacher!"

...

Huang Haiming hurriedly threw down the bucket of water and scurried away in embarrassment.

Li Junqiang shouted, "Chairman Yang, we will give you time to earn the money. Keep it up, we look forward to good news from you."

The other clients joined in, cheering for Yang Chen.

Yang Chen smiled and said, "As long as you don't come here to cause trouble, I will be able to pay you soon. Everyone, please head back."

The clients packed their belongings and left Sihai Group.

Yang Chen turned and walked into the company, saying, "Chen Xi, notify Xu Zhaoji, the head of the Property Management Department, to see me in my office."

Chen Xi nodded and quickly called the Vice President in charge of property management, Xu Zhaoji.

As soon as Yang Chen reached his office, Xu Zhaoji arrived.

"Chairman Yang, what are your orders?" Xu Zhaoji asked.

Yang Chen pulled Xu Zhaoji close and whispered, "I have reached my limit with Zhang Lei, the president of the Jiangcheng branch of Changhui Auto Trading. Find someone to take him out. Make it clean and leave no trouble behind."

Xu Zhaoji nodded and replied, "Understood. Leave it to me."

Yang Chen nodded and patted Xu Zhaoji on the shoulder, signaling him to proceed.

Yang Chen sat at his desk, lost in thought for a while, before getting up and taking Liu Mei to the Investment Department to attend to business.

Half an hour later, Yang Chen finished his work for the day, intending to take Liu Mei home for a swim and some sunbathing. However, Chen Xi received a call from the front desk reporting that Yang Mu, the Chairman of Jiayue Entertainment, had brought the company's artists to see Yang Chen.

Yang Chen had no choice but to return to his office to wait for Yang Mu.

Soon, Yang Mu arrived with over 20 artists from Jiayue Entertainment, including the company's leading star, Huang Min.

Yang Mu greeted Yang Chen on behalf of all the artists and then requested a private meeting.

Yang Chen nodded, and Liu Mei along with the other artists stepped out.

Jiayue Entertainment had come out in full force today for one purpose: to ask for money.

Ten years ago, in order to create a pretext for raising funds, Wang Sihai launched the "Sihai Mineral Water" project, targeting the mid-to-high-end market. He chose the then-rising star Huang Min as the spokesperson, who also became his mistress.

Back then, Wang Sihai was a permanent fixture in the top three of the rich list, sometimes even reaching the top spot. With his influence, Huang Min quickly became a top-tier national star, demanding 100 million per television series, and Jiayue Entertainment grew rapidly in his shadow.

To please his mistress, Wang Sihai constantly invested in films and dramas for Jiayue Entertainment, most of which flopped, resulting in massive losses.

Five years ago, Wang Sihai stopped fully honoring his investment promises. For example, if he promised to invest 300 million in a project, he would only provide 100 to 200 million, leaving Jiayue Entertainment to cover the shortfall, with the promise that he would pay it back later.

The result was predictable: Wang Sihai's unpaid debts piled up. By the time he fled, the unpaid investment amounted to 550 million, all of which had been covered by Jiayue Entertainment.

If those films had made money, Jiayue Entertainment might have survived, but how could projects Wang Sihai invested in solely to please his mistress ever be profitable?

Every film lost money, and now Jiayue Entertainment could no longer sustain itself, leaving them no choice but to ask Yang Chen for a way to recover some funds.

After hearing Yang Mu's explanation, Yang Chen asked, "So, you want me to take on Wang Sihai's debts?"

"Although these were Wang Sihai's operations, they were investments made in the name of Sihai Entertainment. Since Sihai Entertainment is part of Sihai Group, I have to come to you, Chairman Yang, to find a solution. Don't you agree?" Yang Mu replied.

That old scoundrel Wang Sihai was truly disgusting; he always used the company's name to satisfy his personal desires.

Seeing Yang Chen remain silent, Yang Mu continued, "To say nothing else, Huang Min gave her best years to Wang Sihai; she shouldn't have to sacrifice it all for nothing. She is still owed 180 million in fees. Since ancient times, there has never been a case of taking something for nothing. Don't you agree? The lady put in the hard work, and she should be paid what she is owed."

Yang Chen: "..."