Chapter 44: The Shareholders’ Meeting

Tang Chen was no idiot. With the System’s troublesome nature that killed without consequence, it would never just hand over such an awesome battle car to him for nothing. There had to be a catch.

System: “Respected Host, your paranoia is just too severe. This System can swear on my personality that this reward truly comes with no strings attached. This Extravagant Battle Car is simply for you to drive around and have fun.”

Tang Chen’s lip twitched. What personality? You don’t even have a personality! You’re not even human!

Tang Chen sighed and said, “Alright then, this Young Master will temporarily believe you. But such a flashy set of wheels can’t be driven out casually. I need to pick a truly badass day to roll out.”

System: “Suit yourself. This System won’t pry into such matters.” As the System spoke, Tang Chen’s pocket suddenly glowed once more. Tang Chen reached in, pulled out a golden key, then carefully tucked it away.

As for the System’s suggestion that he go find a place to test drive the car, Tang Chen flatly refused. He genuinely didn’t want to be famous anymore. He was going to keep a low profile.

“Dad! That bastard actually did this to you!” Meanwhile, at City Central Hospital, Young Master Guo stood outside an intensive care unit (ICU) room. Staring at his father lying unconscious on the hospital bed, he clenched his fists in furious rage.

Not long ago, it had been him lying in a hospital bed. Now he was out, and his father was in here. The irony was just too much. And it was all because of that man, Tang Chen!

When he found out his father intended to get revenge for him, Young Master Guo had been pretty excited. But revenge hadn’t happened. Instead, his own father was beaten until he had multiple, complex fractures everywhere. Even if he woke up, he’d likely be bedridden for the rest of his life. How could anyone NOT hate under such circumstances?

“Tang Chen! You and I will never stand under the same sky!” Young Master Guo slammed his fist hard against the wall with a heavy thud. Then, remembering something, he gritted his teeth, pulled out his mobile phone, and made a call.

The call connected. “Bro,” Young Master Guo said, his voice filled with fearful respect. “Come back to the country. Dad’s been beaten into a vegetative state.”

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, over ten days had gone by. Tang Chen spent them quite comfortably. At school, he not only enjoyed the admiring gazes of students but also had the woman he liked by his side. Life was pretty good.

The Principal had spoken to Tang Chen two or three times already. The end of the month was approaching fast, and he was really anxious. What if Tang Chen didn’t get the stock ownership transfer contract? Then wouldn’t he get forced out of the school for good?

But Tang Chen sure knew how to keep someone hanging. He kept telling the Principal to believe in him, trust him, that he wouldn’t disappoint him. The Principal had no choice but to mentally hypnotize himself into believing Tang Chen could pull it off. And so, they reached the end of the month: the day of the Shareholders’ Meeting.

Inside the Principal’s office, a long table now stood in the center. Eighteen middle-aged men in sharp business suits sat facing each other, cold smirks on their faces. Among them were Xie Tingfeng and his father, plus Hu Weidong and his father.

Director Xie, sporting a bandaged head, glared coldly at the Principal seated in the chair at the head of the table. He felt both anger and joy. Angry because this bastard not only got him beat up so badly but also failed to punish the offending student appropriately. Joyful because he had allied with the other seventeen shareholders ready to kick the Principal out of office today!

“Principal Wang,” Director Xie spoke first, eager to strike. “All eighteen shareholders are gathered here. Can we start the meeting now?” He couldn’t wait to boot Principal Wang out.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on the Principal’s forehead. He wanted to start too, but Tang Chen said he had to wait until he returned. So Principal Wang forced a smile and said, “Well… everyone, just wait a little longer.”

“Wait for what!” Director Xie slapped the table hard and sprang to his feet, his voice icy. “Principal Wang! Honestly, I don’t know if you’re deliberately stalling or what? We, all eighteen shareholders, are here! We could have started long ago! Yet you keep saying wait, wait, wait! Do you even respect the shareholders?!”

Director Xie’s outburst officially started the siege. The other shareholders began speaking aggressively one after another, quickly backing Principal Wang into an impossible corner.

Principal Wang started to crumble under the pressure. “Alright, alright,” he conceded. “Let’s start the Shareholders’ Meeting right away then. Everyone, feel free to discuss openly.”

Director Xie grinned smugly. Finally. He shot a look at Director Hu beside him – Hu Weidong’s father. Director Hu immediately caught his drift.

“Principal Wang,” Director Hu began, a hint of malice coated in cool sarcasm. “Seems to me our school’s been having quite a few… incidents lately.”

Principal Wang heard the thinly veiled accusation and offered a bitter smile. “Director Hu, I’m not entirely sure what you mean.”

Director Hu snorted. No need to play dumb, Principal Wang. Everyone sitting here knows exactly what I’m talking about. Take that incident recently, for example.” His tone sharpened. “A student forming his own gang right here at school! Threatening and bribing other students into attending some big confession stunt on the sports ground! You telling me you didn’t know about this, Principal Wang?”

Principal Wang cleared his dry throat. “This… yes, I was aware of the matter. But what significance does it have to our meeting today?”

Director Hu let out a loud bark of laughter. “What significance?” His eyes hardened to ice. “Gentlemen! What I heard was this: Our Principal Wang was present at the scene himself! Not only did he fail to stop this reckless behavior, he stood idly by while that student, Tang Chen, flung cash around! Result? Absolute chaos! And I hear students got injured fighting over the money! Any truth to this?!”

“What?! How could such a thing happen?! Simply disgraceful!”

“Principal Wang! Explain yourself! We supported you as Principal, not to tolerate such things!”

“As an educator, such incidents should be stopped immediately! Why did you let it proceed? Some secret involved?”

The other shareholders were all experienced foxes. Hearing Director Hu’s words, they murmured their agreement, the implications clear: Pressure the Principal! Force him to explain!

Principal Wang stammered, “I… I tried to intervene! But you know… so many students. The situation was… difficult to control.” His defense sounded weak, cornered by pressure he couldn’t fight.

“Difficult to control?!” Director Hu’s voice rose sharply. “Nonsense! It’s outright dereliction of duty! If you knew things could spiral out of control, why weren’t precautions taken? Why weren’t security guards summoned to disperse the crowd? Why did you tolerate this travesty?!” Director Hu paused, letting his insinuation hang heavy in the air. “Unless… that student has some special connection to you? A relative? Or maybe… your own secret bastard son?! How else would you so blatantly ignore the students’ safety?!”

Principal Wang felt utterly furious. He’d expected these men to gang up on him, but the actual pressure was overwhelming! How could he fight them alone?!

And that final sneer! Why? How could he answer?! Admit he had a deal with Tang Chen?!

“This…” Principal Wang faltered, his resolve crumbling.

“Hmph! Explain!” Director Hu demanded, seizing his moment. “We are shareholders! We have the right to know the facts!” Satisfied he’d thrown the final blow, Director Hu sat back down.

Director Xie was secretly thrilled. His turn now. He stood up dramatically. “If you can’t provide a satisfactory explanation,” he declared, his voice ringing with triumph, “then it only proves you are entirely unfit for this position! You are unworthy of being Principal! I propose we remove you from office immediately and select a suitable candidate!”

“Agreed!”

“I second that! The Dean of Student Affairs might be a good choice.”

“Exactly! Anyone will do! Just get us a responsible Principal!”

“You have no right to remove me!” Principal Wang shot up, slamming his fists on the table. Since they’d dropped all pretense, there was no need to hold back.

“No right?” Director Xie scoffed, a cruel smirk spreading across his face. “The combined shares held by us eighteen directors exceed yours! How is that not a right?!”

Cold sweat soaked Principal Wang’s back. What now? If Tang Chen didn’t come soon… he was done.

BANG!

The firmly closed door was kicked open with brutal force. Tang Chen swaggered in, a bright, cheerful smile plastered on his face. “Well, well, Principal Wang! How come there are so many dogs in here? Hosting an animal mating meeting?!”

“Get out!” Xie Tingfeng roared, spotting his nemesis. Instantly, the memory of his humiliating beating surged back, drowning him in fury. “You don’t belong here!”

“Why should this Young Master get out, you idiot? If you can be here, why can’t this Young Master?!” Tang Chen dismissed the angry shout like it was buzzing static. He strode confidently into the room.

“Get lost!” Enraged beyond reason, Xie Tingfeng lunged forward, aiming a vicious kick straight at Tang Chen.

“Get lost yourself, you mother-lovin’ idiot!” Tang Chen sidestepped with ease. Then, his hand flashed out – SMACK! – a crisp, brutal slap landed squarely on Xie Tingfeng’s cheek. Xie Tingfeng spun wildly, like a top whipped around, then crashed heavily onto the floor.

“My son! You scumbag! DIE!” Director Xie bellowed, grabbing the heavy chair behind him and swinging it wildly towards Tang Chen.

Tang Chen’s eyes turned icy cold. He was faster. As Director Xie jerked the chair upward, Tang Chen’s foot shot forward like a piston—THUD!—catching him dead center in the groin. Before Director Xie could even crumple, another blindingly fast slap cracked across his face, sending him sprawling next to his son on the hard floor.

“You dared attack this Young Master?!” Tang Chen roared down at the fallen pair. “You asked for this!” He snatched up the heavy wooden chair Director Xie had tried to use. Without hesitation, Tang Chen hoisted it high overhead and brought it crashing down—WHAM!—onto Director Xie’s exposed back.

CRACK! The legs of the chair splintered violently from the sheer force. A choked grunt escaped Director Xie before his eyes rolled back, and he lay completely still, unconscious. Tang Chen spun towards Xie Tingfeng, still moaning on the floor. A savage kick exploded across Xie Tingfeng’s jaw—thump—and he went utterly slack, also knocked out cold.

Tang Chen casually tossed the wrecked chair aside. He dusted his hands off. “There. Much better,” he announced pleasantly, his eyes sweeping the stunned room. “Now… shall we continue the meeting?”