Chapter Forty-Three

The procedures had long been completed, and the project had already broken ground, yet suddenly a series of land debt issues sprang up one after another, like mushrooms after the rain. Clearly, during the initial investigation, the claims were distinct and there were no disputes regarding debts. The main person in charge of this development had resigned early last year. At first, Yi Xiaoyu didn’t notice anything amiss, but now he sensed something was wrong—the feeling of having been set up grew stronger.

To secure the next loan for the project, these debt issues had to be resolved first. However, the problematic asset had already been bundled and transferred multiple times, ultimately ending up with a company Yi Xiaoyu had never even heard of. Yi Xiaoyu had no intention of swallowing such a loss in silence, but if the project stalled because of this, he would be the one to suffer most. Litigation alone would take months, perhaps half a year, just to gather evidence. The company had invested heavily in the project already—if the subsequent funds didn’t follow, the losses would be...

After much effort, Yi Xiaoyu finally met the legal representative of that company. He had never imagined it would be him. Even upon seeing him now, Yi Xiaoyu found it hard to believe; he’d always ensured his younger brother never had the chance to stab him in the back. He knew Yi Yu always had the ambition, but he thought Yi Yu lacked the capability.

“Brother,” Yi Yu said with a grin, “seeing how surprised you are makes me really happy. I know you probably have a lot of questions for me, I—”

“None,” Yi Xiaoyu interrupted, his expression blank. “Your actions, combined with your and your mother’s character, I can understand everything. As for how you managed to deceive me so thoroughly, how you passed through every checkpoint—honestly, I have no interest in the details.”

“I know. My mother and I—”

“Don’t nauseate me with your and that woman’s affairs. You win this round; whatever the loss, I’ll accept it.” Yi Xiaoyu prepared to open the file in his hand, his tone indifferent. “Let’s get to the point. About your company—”

“Brother,” Yi Yu interrupted with another smile, pressing his hand atop Yi Xiaoyu’s file. “I haven’t finished. I know you don’t care about this money. As long as the problem is solved, no matter how high my price, you won’t care, right?”

Yi Xiaoyu brushed Yi Yu’s hand aside. “Do you really think you’re the CEO? With your shell company, what leverage do you have to bargain with me?”

Though his face remained calm, Yi Xiaoyu’s heart was in turmoil. The moment he saw Yi Yu, his anger nearly scorched his reason. If the opponent weren’t Yi Yu, he could negotiate calmly, even if he was dissatisfied. But facing his most disliked brother, he couldn’t hide his contempt.

Yi Yu simply smiled, unhurried, and slid a document from his briefcase across the table to Yi Xiaoyu. “This is what I want you to see.”

Yi Xiaoyu, half skeptical, opened the file. As he read, his expression changed dramatically. The company had grown to outpace its competitors, and Yi Xiaoyu’s firm had indeed used some less-than-honorable tactics—not uncommon in the industry, provided there were no loose ends, confidentiality was tight, and any gaps were quickly patched. The document Yi Yu held contained details about a scandal from three years ago. Though Yi Xiaoyu himself wasn’t involved, some high-level executives had acted without his knowledge for higher profits. Those responsible were demoted to varying degrees afterward, but the company had made billions from the incident.

Yi Xiaoyu’s subsequent handling was swift and discreet, so the matter soon faded. Even if someone tried to investigate, the lack of evidence rendered them powerless. The key was that it didn’t affect any third parties—no one would bother spending time and resources digging deeper.

Yet now Yi Yu had unearthed everything with ease; every detail and piece of evidence was laid bare in the file. If it leaked, the company would face at least half a year of lawsuits and investigations. Whether it could be resolved was another matter; compensation wasn’t the main concern, but the ongoing project’s bank loan would be out of reach for months. With heavy early investments and no follow-up funds, the company would not only lose profits but might also face loan recalls—a chain reaction of losses difficult to estimate.

“Brother, may I state my conditions?” Yi Yu asked with a gentle smile.

Yi Xiaoyu closed his eyes, then slowly opened them. “How did you get these documents?” He couldn’t fathom it—the people involved had no reason to betray the company. Revealing the incident wouldn’t benefit them and might drag them into lawsuits. Even if they didn’t care about the company, surely they cared about their own reputations.

But besides those people, who else...

“You haven’t answered my question yet,” Yi Yu reminded him.

Yi Xiaoyu stared at Yi Yu. “Go on, what are your terms?”

Yi Yu smiled softly. “I want forty-five percent of your shares.”

“Your appetite is enormous,” Yi Xiaoyu sneered. “You think you can seize control of the company with just this document?”

“The company isn’t yours alone. You may be able to absorb billions in losses, but what about the others? Those who trusted you and partnered with you—can they bear these losses?”

“I see I’ve underestimated you,” Yi Xiaoyu regarded Yi Yu as if he were a stranger. “Forty-five percent? Can you even afford such a sum?”

“The funds I have on hand are sufficient to buy all your shares, if you wish.”

“Then why leave me fifteen percent?”

Yi Yu grinned. “Out of sentiment, of course. We are brothers, after all. If I go too far, Dad will surely scold me again.”

“Where did you get your money?”

“Ah... I’ll tell you once you sell me the shares.”

Yi Xiaoyu didn’t answer immediately. He was unwilling to simply comply, but now he was determined to find any way possible to keep the project alive.

He invited the loan officer who had previously helped him out for tea, but the man politely declined with various excuses. Yi Xiaoyu tried reaching out to other contacts but achieved nothing. Procedures that should have gone smoothly now faced inexplicable obstacles. Days passed without progress; his anxiety grew.

Every day, Old Yu prepared delicious meals at home, waiting for Yi Xiaoyu to return. Each night, Yi Xiaoyu arrived exhausted, collapsing onto the sofa and falling asleep.

After a shower, Old Yu climbed into bed, hugged his wife, and nuzzled her affectionately. “Xiaoyu, I’ll take care of you from now on.”

Yi Xiaoyu didn’t even open his eyes. “Fatty, I want to punch Yi Yu.”

A strange light flickered in Old Yu’s gaze. He stroked Yi Xiaoyu’s shoulder gently and asked, “He’s your brother, after all. Honestly... whether you or he makes money, it’s still the Yi family’s.”

“I just feel awful,” Yi Xiaoyu whispered. “Getting bitten so hard by my own brother makes me feel like all these years were wasted.”

“...Xiaoyu, you have me,” Old Yu said, holding him tight. “From now on, I’ll be the pillar of the house. Don’t worry, I’ll never let it fall.”

“All right,” Yi Xiaoyu smiled. “You’ll be the head of the family from now on. I’ll eat your food, use your things.”

“Mm-hmm, as long as you listen to me, I promise to keep you fair and well-cared for.”