Chapter 25: Number One in the World [25] Part 1

As Shu Heng completed her postgraduate entrance exam retest, Wang Yuanfei, who had been locked up for over ten days, was finally released by the relevant authorities. For the first time, he saw the complete sky and breathed in the utterly fresh air.

After verification, Wang Yuanfei did not have the guts to commit treason or sell state secrets. The data he had taken out was indeed for expanding the market. However, his personal life was extremely chaotic—not just the scandals that had been exposed now, but also many hobbies that were hard to evaluate.

Wang Yuanfei had barely toed the line of the law. His dealings with others usually emphasized mutual consent, so he was testing the edges without violating any specific regulations.

After repeated warnings not to break relevant laws, Wang Yuanfei was transferred from the national security department to the public security department.

He posed no threat to national security, but Wang Yuanfei had been involved in spreading rumors and slander that damaged a citizen’s image, so he needed to bear the corresponding legal responsibility.

After the transfer, Wang Yuanfei could finally contact the outside world. Once he connected with his lawyer, he learned just how many changes had occurred in those short ten-plus days.

The forced resignation due to the scandal was within Wang Yuanfei’s expectations. When an executive endangered the company’s entire image, this approach effectively separated the two, minimizing the company’s losses as much as possible.

As a major shareholder holding ten percent of the shares, Wang Yuanfei could accept the company’s emergency measures.

But upon learning that he could not return as president—not even as vice president—his face instantly changed.

“With rumors, I can reconcile with Li Jianwei. As long as it’s handled well, there won’t be much impact. Why can’t I return to a position in the company?” Wang Yuanfei questioned his lawyer.

“President Wang, you might want to discuss this with headquarters. I have no authority over these matters,” the lawyer said good-naturedly. “Right now, what I can do is expedite lifting your detention so you can handle these things personally.”

For the sake of the generous compensation, the lawyer was willing to tolerate some irrational behavior from his client.

Realizing he still needed the lawyer’s help, Wang Yuanfei instantly went silent. “Sorry, I lost control of my emotions.”

Under the lawyer’s arrangements, Wang Yuanfei gained temporary freedom, though he was ordered not to leave Sea City and to be available at a moment’s notice.

After leaving the police station, Wang Yuanfei rushed straight to the company. There, he saw that his president’s office had been rearranged, and the person sitting in the boss’s chair had changed.

“Why are you here?” Wang Yuanfei frowned tightly. “This is my office. Please leave.”

“President Wang—no, Young Master Wang—you should ask the board about that. My appointment was approved by board vote,” Executive Chen said with a beaming smile. “You could also ask the chairman who’s working from home. I’m sure he’ll give you a satisfactory answer.”

“I hold ten percent of the shares and have the right to demand a shareholders’ meeting to discuss this!” Wang Yuanfei said coldly. “If you want to go against me, I suggest you think it over carefully.”

“Young Master Wang, rather than worrying about staying in this office, I suggest you have a good talk with the chairman,” Executive Chen replied, his expression unchanged.

“During this time, the other two young masters Wang have been particularly active. If the shareholders’ meeting goes ahead smoothly, there might even be a vote on whether to appoint one of them as vice president in charge of the relevant business.”

Executive Chen’s words made Wang Yuanfei’s face change again and again. He could easily oust the man before him, but if it were one of his cheap little brothers taking the position, it wouldn’t be so simple to remove them.

Wang Yuanfei did hold ten percent of the shares, but his father controlled even more and could completely suppress him.

“By the way, Little Wang Executive seems to have the idea of visiting President Li. If you don’t do something, Young Master Wang, you might regret it,” Executive Chen reminded him kindly.

He was enjoying the spectacle and fanning the flames—the more they fought, the better it was for him, and the steadier his seat in the boss’s chair became.

–

The Little Wang Executive they mentioned did indeed arrive at the entrance of Zhizhu Technology. He knew the rules and made an appointment in advance. After waiting a full three days, he finally got a twenty-minute meeting slot.

President Li appeared in the conference room right on time and placed her phone face down on the table after sitting.

“Hello, President Li. This is the cooperation proposal I brought. Please take a look,” Little Wang Executive said humbly. He hadn’t even sat in the chair before President Li arrived.

Setting aside whether this man had any ulterior motives, his attitude was far more pleasing than Wang Yuanfei’s—at least he knew his own weight.

It was a decent cooperation proposal, but dispensable for Zhizhu Technology.

“You have ten minutes to convince me to work with you,” Li Jianwei said as she closed the document and pushed it back.

“President Li, this contract is the most favorable I can offer you right now. Once we cooperate, I can use it to persuade the board to let you acquire two percent of Photon Dynamics’ shares through a technology investment.”

“You won’t need to invest much—just continue authorizing some patents for our use. We’ll still pay the patent fees.”

In simple terms, it was giving away two percent of the shares for free. Even with Photon Dynamics’ stock plummeting, its market value was still in the tens of billions, making two percent worth around five hundred million.

“You know, Wang Yuanfei once said he would give me half of his shares, but he never moved beyond words and took no action,” Li Jianwei said, crossing her hands on the table and looking straight at the young man in his early twenties before her.

“I hope you don’t stir up bad memories. When you have the ability to turn your promises into a black-and-white contract, then I’ll consider signing it.”

Little Wang Executive did not get discouraged. “I understand what you mean, President Li. Please give me some time. I’ll fulfill my promise within a month.”

“As you wish,” Li Jianwei replied calmly, watching as Little Wang Executive bowed and left.

Only after his figure completely disappeared did Li Jianwei pick up the phone on the table, revealing the ongoing call screen.

“Did you hear that? Your cheap little brother wants to secure two percent of the shares for me,” Li Jianwei said, her voice tinged with amusement. “What benefits can you bring me?”

“President Li, my mother and I together hold two point three percent of the shares. I’m willing to sell them to you at below-market price,” a clear female voice came from the other end of the line. “This is the greatest sincerity I can offer right now.”

Li Jianwei remained unmoved. In business, she wouldn’t favor someone just because they had a way with words—unless that person was Shu Heng.

“If you sell me the shares at a low price, what role will you take in Photon Dynamics’ management?” Li Jianwei cut to the chase. “You haven’t even held a position at headquarters. Your promises sound even more empty than your cheap little brother’s.”

“My father is a very suspicious man. He won’t hand shares to a son who threatens him, but he doesn’t see me holding shares as a threat. I’ll soon become one of the company’s directors, taking over some of my father’s duties.”

“To be honest, I’ve already reached an agreement with at least a third of the shareholders in private. Photon Dynamics’ upper management is full of good-for-nothings who only care about their own interests, with no regard for the damage their actions cause the company.”

“We all agree that a thorough overhaul is needed to clear them out, allowing Photon Dynamics to develop steadily instead of eating away at its foundations.”

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. We’ll proactively report the gambling-related live streams to the authorities and undergo a three-month internal rectification.”

“President Li, you can enter at that time. If handled well, you might even become Photon Dynamics’ de facto controller.”

Wang Qian laid it all out in one go. Her chips were limited, so she had to throw everything at once to seize the opportunity.

Li Jianwei did not reply immediately, staying silent. Only when Wang Qian’s confidence began to waver, doubting if her offer was enough to sway her, did she finally speak slowly.

“Why are you doing this—practically handing Photon Dynamics over on a platter?” Li Jianwei said. “It doesn’t seem to benefit you at all.”

“President Li won’t allow a social platform unfriendly to you to keep thriving,” Wang Qian’s tone softened.

“Photon Dynamics may bow to you now out of necessity, but once they catch their breath or you show a weakness, those who’ve suffered losses won’t let it go easily.”

“I don’t think those people are your match, let alone the unshakable backer behind you.”

“And if Photon Dynamics faces a major crisis, I’ll be used as a bargaining chip in a marriage alliance to give it breathing room.”

“I don’t want to be a pawn at others’ mercy. I’m not interested in Photon Dynamics anyway. What I want is a hefty sum of money to take my mom and leave Sea City for somewhere else to start over.”

Li Jianwei tapped the table lightly with her bent fingers. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained is right, but mere rectification isn’t enough to break things down. You might as well secretly support your cheap little brother to challenge Wang Yuanfei, exposing all of Photon Dynamics’ internal issues in the process.”

“If you truly have no ambitions for Photon Dynamics, do as I say. Hold onto the shares you have now and don’t move them. Once I control Photon Dynamics, they’ll be your foundation for the future.”

Li Jianwei detected no issues in Wang Qian’s words—her motives and follow-up plans all made logical sense.

However, Li Jianwei disliked handing over control to others. She preferred having everything firmly in her grasp.

As for the shareholders Wang Qian had convinced, Li Jianwei didn’t think they had the guts for a major purge. They were all sly old foxes—who knew if they were just using Wang Qian as a tool, feeding her the words she wanted to hear?

After a moment’s thought, Wang Qian made her decision. “Alright, President Li. Whatever you say, I’ll do.”

Better to go all-in with Li Jianwei than trust her lecherous, selfish father. At least the former had reliable character and wouldn’t force her into marriage with someone she disliked.

–

Hua University’s efficiency was high. Three days after the retest, they announced the proposed admission list.

Shu Heng, who had been anxiously awaiting the results, confirmed it immediately and sent the email—checked countless times already—to Professor Gong Li’s inbox with a hint of nervousness.