Morning, in the chairman's office on the top floor of the Gu Financial Group, the atmosphere was heavy.
Gu Chengyu sat leisurely on the sofa, legs crossed, as if he were just there for a casual chat.
Gu Zhenting, seated behind the expansive desk, however, was frowning more and more deeply.
"You want to move against the Shen Family? And take half their assets?"
Gu Zhenting put down the document in his hand and looked at his son, his tone puzzled. "Chengyu, have you forgotten the Gu family's strategy?"
"We hold shares in various major financial groups, share some non-core technologies for mutual benefit, and our goal has always been outward-facing: to consolidate and integrate the economic lifelines of small and medium-sized nations, to make the Gu Group an unshakable top-tier global financial power, not to fight amongst ourselves!"
He stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet to pour a drink, his tone intensifying with clear disapproval.
"Over the years, you were the one driving this strategy, and you've seen the results."
"Now the Gu Group stands at the pinnacle of the world, admired by all. And you suddenly turn your guns on our own, and on the Shen Family, a family with whom our ancestors shared a generational bond?"
"Are you that bored?"
Gu Chengyu lifted his gaze to meet his father's. There was no hint of jest in those phoenix eyes.
"Father, that was before."
"Now, it's different."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze icy as he looked at Gu Zhenting. "Shen Que has set his sights on my woman."
"And it's not just looking. He used some... methods that I find disgusting."
He gave a slight, disdainful smirk, his tone casual yet firm. "I'm merely taking half of the Shen Family's assets as a small punishment, a warning."
"Considering the past ties between our two families, the fact that I haven't swallowed the entire Shen Family whole is already me, Gu Chengyu, giving him face."
"You—!"
Gu Zhenting was so angry he nearly threw his glass. He pointed at Gu Chengyu. "You insolent brat! Do you have any idea what you're saying?"
"For a woman, you'd start an internal feud? Have all the lessons on weighing pros and cons you learned over the years gone to the dogs?"
"Weighing pros and cons?" Gu Chengyu scoffed, standing up unhurriedly and straightening his cuff, his demeanor both noble and arrogant. "Father, you've misunderstood one thing."
"I came here not to discuss this with you, but to inform you."
"That half of the Shen Family's assets, I will have."
He turned and walked towards the door, his voice not loud but filled with confidence and arrogance. "You just sit back and wait to reap even greater profits and assets."
With that, he pulled open the office door and walked out without looking back.
Leaving Gu Zhenting standing alone, still clutching his drink, his chest heaving.
"That unfilial son!"
"Relying on a bit of talent to act recklessly, and this time it's actually for a woman?"
...
Half a month later, financial news reported: Former giant Shen Group suffers heavy blow!
Gu Group intervenes forcefully; Shen Group's core trade routes and multiple cross-border collaborations face sudden changes, suspected of being blocked by top-tier resources!
Shen Group stock plummets for days, market value evaporates shockingly!
Marketing accounts join the fray: Digging into the core lifelines of the Shen Financial Group.
The Shen Family's most profitable industries are not their glamorous media empire, but their low-key tourism and global trade sectors.
Recently, the Gu Financial Group acted with lightning speed, applying pressure directly through political and military channels, and within half a month has quietly seized control of the Shen Group's trade transactions.
Gu Chengyu, the young master of the Gu Group, his methods are so ruthless, the industry is in an uproar!
The four great families, known for presenting a united front, suspected of their first internal rift?
The Shen Group's core industries face major crisis?
Meanwhile, in the study of the Shen Family's old residence, the atmosphere was oppressive.
Shen Que leaned back on the sofa, dark circles under his eyes, hair slightly disheveled, his whole person exuding exhaustion and weariness.
On the computer screen before him, those financial news pages were still open.
The soft sound of wheelchair wheels sounded.
Eldest Brother Shen wheeled himself in, placing a cup of hot tea on the coffee table in front of Shen Que.
He glanced at the tablet screen, then at his brother's state, and sighed.
"I've seen the news."
"The Gu Family came on so strong this time, hitting right at the vital spot. What's the reason?"
Shen Que raised a hand to rub his face roughly, his throat dry.
He was silent for a few seconds before speaking hoarsely, not avoiding the issue. "Brother, this time... I was in the wrong first."
He paused, then confessed. "I touched someone I shouldn't have, angered Chengyu."
"It's that girl you saw at the hospital last time. She's also the one Chengyu likes."
Eldest Brother Shen looked at him, understanding flashing in his eyes, then turning into deep helplessness.
He sighed. "You fell for the same woman? It's just that they are mutually in love, and you tried to force your way in, leading to this falling out between brothers?"
Shen Que silently acknowledged it, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
Eldest Brother Shen's voice grew heavier. "A-Que, you clearly knew Chengyu was serious this time, different from before. You shouldn't have touched his person."
He wheeled closer. "Besides, over these years, although Chengyu has an arrogant nature and acts domineeringly, he has sincerely maintained brotherly bonds with you few brothers."
"He never misses your birthday parties, and never tries to steal the spotlight; he comes to lend you support."
"For collaborations with our families, he only wants to deal with you all, solidifying your standing within your own families."
"There might be some calculation of benefit in that, but there's also genuine feeling."
"You went too far this time..."
Looking at his brother's haggard appearance, his heart softened, and he gentled his tone. "Go and apologize. Bow your head, show some humility."
"Stop stubbornly holding out. Not for the Shen Family's sake, but for your own."
"After all, the Shen Family's two most profitable industries were both built up by your own hands."
"On top of that, you secretly transferred the shares of Shen Media, along with the chain hotels and supermarkets—those traditional industries—to me, behind the clan and father's back. What you actually have left in your hands are just the trade and tourism sectors."
"If Chengyu continues to target the tourism industry, what will you do?"
"How can someone as proud as you accept having nothing? Go and apologize, A-Que."
After a long while, Shen Que seemed to have all the strength drained from him. He slumped back against the sofa, covering his eyes with his arm, his voice weary.
"Brother... you don't understand..."
"It's not that I don't want to bow my head."
"I just can't accept it... why I never even got a chance, and lost so miserably..."
"I was truly sincere too..."
Eldest Brother Shen sighed. In the end, it was all for that girl.
Well, sons born to two ultimate love-struck individuals growing up with love-struck brains themselves... it's hardly surprising.
