Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 71
by Little PandaGame Theory [Strategic Competition/Power Play]
I hereby announce the dismissal of Luo Zhouping from his position as Vice President!
When Shiyi arrived at the conference room, she unexpectedly saw someone – Luo Zhouping sitting among the shareholders, completely at ease. Shiyi met his eagle-like gaze without the slightest hesitation. Behind her, Pei Tian whispered, “Why is he here too?”
Fishing in troubled waters [ๆธพๆฐดๆธ้ญ | Hun Shui Mo Yu | taking advantage of a chaotic situation] had always been Luo Zhouping’s specialty. Now that Wei Hui was absent and he had suffered one setback, how could he possibly surrender? Those rumors were likely spread by Luo Zhouping himself.
After Shiyi took the chairman’s seat, one of the senior shareholders said, “President Wei, we heard you’re dismissing President Luo? Isn’t this inappropriate? President Luo has devoted his entire life to Wei Tian. You can’t just dismiss him like this – wouldn’t this discourage us old-timers? Who knows who might be next!”
After these sarcastic remarks, several shareholders nodded in apparent agreement. Shiyi, seated in the chairman’s position, spoke: “I believe you’re all longtime shareholders and this isn’t your first time in Wei Tian’s conference room. Even I, as a newly appointed vice president, know Wei Tian’s rule: nothing should harm Wei Tian’s interests, correct?”
“I personally don’t care, as I’m just a vice president of Wei Tian now, but please consider – if Wei Tian loses profits, who is most directly affected?”
“It would be you shareholders, wouldn’t it? Let me calculate – if that piece of land in Bianjiang hadn’t been acquired under Wei Tian’s name, everyone’s losses would have been around 2 billion.”
Her words changed the expressions of every shareholder in the conference room. The purpose of the Bianjiang land hadn’t been widely known, so these senior shareholders were unaware. Some had even planned to use this reason to overthrow Shiyi, after all, spending 1 billion on a wasteland seemed like gambling with Wei Tian’s future.
Seeing everyone’s varied expressions and guessing that Luo Zhouping hadn’t told them the truth, she spoke more firmly: “Could it be that President Luo hasn’t told everyone about the land’s purpose?”
Luo Zhouping indeed hadn’t mentioned this. Some senior shareholders present had private connections with him and would support him regardless, but others were uncertain. Hearing about such high profits, who would be foolish enough to still help him? He had previously used moral coercion, trying to remove himself by claiming Shiyi wanted to control Wei Tian right after taking office, which was why these senior shareholders had been righteously indignant on his behalf, plus there was Wei Hui’s illness.
Yes, Wei Hui’s illness!
Luo Zhouping raised his hand: “President Wei, no need to say more. We came today mainly to clarify one thing – is Chairman Wei’s illness true or not?”
“Currently, there are widespread rumors, and the stock price keeps falling. You just took office, so you might not care, but aren’t we shareholders the ones suffering the losses?”
“Exactly, is Wei Hui really sick or not?”
“Is it heart disease?”
“President Wei, you can’t keep Wei Hui hidden away, can you?”
Shiyi, hearing their discussions, placed her hands under the table, clenching them tightly, though her face remained calm. Finally, as Luo Zhouping stared at her intently, he asked: “What does President Wei’s silence mean?”
Several senior shareholders exchanged doubtful glances. Under everyone’s scrutinizing gaze, Shiyi nodded and said: “Yes, Chairman Wei is currently undergoing surgery.”
“How could this happen!”
“So it’s actually true!”
“How could you hide this from us!”
“This is outrageous!”
“What about the falling stock prices!”
Her words left Luo Zhouping stunned. He had been thinking that Shiyi would never reveal Wei Hui’s illness. Despite his long investigation, he hadn’t been empty-handed, but he lacked substantial evidence. If he had concrete evidence, he would have already confronted Shiyi and threatened her to reinstate his position, but he hadn’t found any.
So Shiyi’s self-disclosure left him puzzled – what kind of move was this?
He now doubted every word from Shiyi, after all, having been thoroughly outmaneuvered by her once, he couldn’t view this woman through the same lens as three years ago!
Luo Zhouping glared at Shiyi like a tiger eyeing its prey, but she remained poised and graceful. Wei Hui’s illness would eventually become known – it couldn’t be hidden forever. However, she wasn’t foolish enough to tell them about the heart condition. So she continued: “Please don’t worry, President Wei isn’t beyond medical help as rumored. Her recent car accident left her right leg weak, requiring a wheelchair. This overseas trip is just for minor surgery – she’ll return soon.”
These words were carefully calculated. Wei Hui’s illness had been strictly confidential. Even if Luo Zhouping knew something, he couldn’t know the current stage of her condition. If he truly knew, he wouldn’t be sitting in this conference room but would be openly negotiating with her instead.
Though Shiyi had limited interaction with Luo Zhouping, her meticulous mind easily deduced his plan – he was trying to use board pressure to force his reinstatement.
Indeed, this was Luo Zhouping’s intention. He exchanged glances with a nearby shareholder, who stood up and said: “If that’s the case, doesn’t this mean Chairman Wei needs time to recuperate?”
Shiyi thought for a moment, then nodded: “Of course.”
The senior shareholder smiled coldly: “Isn’t this exactly when Wei Tian needs experienced people? President Luo has devoted half his life to Wei Tian. President Wei, dismissing him now – are you trying to monopolize Wei Tian?”
Shiyi’s elegant brows furrowed, her clear eyes meeting the shareholder’s fierce gaze like crossing blades. She smiled: “If I wanted to monopolize Wei Tian, I couldn’t even get past you all, could I?”
“Moreover, President Luo clearly cares more about his own company now, willing to harm Wei Tian’s interests. Should such a person remain at Wei Tian?”
The senior shareholder glared coldly: “That’s not for you to decide! It’s for us shareholders to decide. Since when did Wei Tian become a one-person show? If President Wei can dismiss people with just one word, what are we shareholders for?”
“Exactly, we’re being completely disregarded!”
“One person can’t decide everything!”
“Even Wei Hui wouldn’t dare dismiss a vice president without authorization!”
Luo Zhouping’s expression shifted from confusion to a silent smile, appearing confident. Shiyi saw the directors’ reactions and nodded: “What exactly are the shareholders suggesting?”
She maintained a steady composure, sitting quietly in the chairman’s seat amid various criticisms, her expression unwavering. Several shareholders exchanged glances before one spoke: “A show of hands won’t work with an even number of people present. Let’s be practical – I have 8% shares. Those who support President Luo’s reinstatement can vote with their shares.”
“How about that?”
Shiyi herself held 25% of shares. In a simple vote, she would have been secure, but with all shareholders voting, her 25% seemed less significant. Judging by Luo Zhouping’s demeanor, he had likely won over more than half the shareholders. Given her recent appointment and the unconfirmed news about Bianjiang, the shareholders’ doubts were natural, and their reluctance to vote for her was understandable. Shiyi hesitated long before Luo Zhouping couldn’t resist asking: “Does President Wei disagree? Or does President Wei have a better solution?”
Shiyi’s fingers tapped the table before she nodded: “I agree.”
“However, please wait a moment while Pei Assistant retrieves something.”
She spoke quietly to Pei Tian. The senior shareholders raised no objections. Pei Tian quickly left the conference room and made a call: “President Du, if you’re not busy, please come to Wei Tian.”
Half an hour later, the conference room door opened. Pei Tian led in a sharply-dressed man. Du Yuehan greeted everyone: “Sorry I’m late. I heard there’s a vote – count me in.”
Seeing Du Yuehan, Luo Zhouping smirked. Du Yuehan’s shares were fewer than his own – his presence wouldn’t change much. He had expected something more from Shiyi, but it was just Du Yuehan. Shaking his head, he said: “President Wei, shall we begin?”
Shiyi nodded: “Yes.”
As expected, Luo Zhouping’s supporters were the majority, while most of her supporters were minor shareholders. The gap was clear: 34% on their side versus 31% on hers, even including Du Yuehan’s 3% shares. The winner was obvious.
Luo Zhouping smiled: “Are you satisfied with this result, President Wei?”
Shiyi lifted her eyelids to look at him, smiling impassively: “So President Luo’s reinstatement is set in stone?”
After being suppressed by Shiyi for so long, Luo Zhouping finally had his moment of triumph. He smiled: “I wouldn’t dare. I just believe effort always yields returns. I’ve devoted myself…”
Before he could finish, there was a knock on the conference room door. Shiyi glanced at Pei Tian, gesturing him to open it. Attorney Cheng stood outside. To everyone’s astonishment, she strode into the conference room and respectfully addressed all directors: “My apologies for interrupting your meeting, but I have an announcement. Before the new year, Chairman Wei registered her marriage with Miss Wei Nuan in Country Y and transferred all her assets to Miss Wei Nuan’s name. I’ve recalculated – Miss Wei Nuan now owns 45% of Wei Tian’s shares, making her the largest shareholder.”
She finished speaking and walked to Wei Nuan’s side, nodding in greeting, then displayed all transfer and notarization documents on the large screen. Shiyi sat in the chairman’s seat, silent. On the other side, the previously triumphant Luo Zhouping’s face dramatically changed, turning pale as paper. His plump fingers trembled as he pointed at the screen, shouting: “Impossible!”
“This is impossible!”
Shiyi stood up, hands pressed against the table. Her delicate features had grown sharp, her eyebrows carrying the same intensity as Wei Hui’s, her gaze cold, her profile tense. Her voice floated across the conference room: “Are there any other opinions?”
“If not, I now announce the dismissal of Vice President Luo Zhouping!”
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