Chapter 20: Shamelessness Knows No Bounds

"Alright then, thank you."
"No need to be so formal."
The three of them walked to the entrance, where Xiu'er came forward.
"Young Master, there's something I need to report to you."
Mu Yiren turned to Ling Xiao and said,
"Why don't you... take care of your business first?"
"No need. Go wait in the car, I'll be there in a moment."
"Okay."
As Mu Yiren and her companion left, Xiu'er leaned in close to Ling Xiao and whispered,
"Young Master Ling, Officer Sun wishes to see you."
Ling Xiao frowned slightly.
"Understood."
"Should we go now?"
"No."
"Uh... Are we just going to leave him hanging? Isn't that... a bit much?"
"You can tell him not to wait."
With that, Ling Xiao turned and walked away, while Xiu'er smacked her forehead in exasperation.
"Heavens, when will the Young Master's arrogance ever be tempered?"
Ming Cheng came over, chuckling.
"The Young Master is a prodigy, destined for greatness—why should he hold back?"
Xiu'er sighed helplessly.
"Master Ming, please, don't add to the chaos. I'll go deal with Officer Sun. The Young Master doesn't seem in a good mood, so follow him closely. Make sure nothing goes wrong, and when he's finished, bring him over at once."
"Understood."
Coco started the car. Ling Xiao took a seat in the back, beside Mu Yiren. Just as they were about to leave, Ming Cheng flung the door open, and Coco quickly hit the brakes.
"What are you doing?"
Ling Xiao frowned slightly,
"It's fine. He's with me. Let's go."
At Ling Xiao's word, Coco fell silent, though she couldn't help but mutter under her breath,
"Strange people always attract strange companions."
Ming Cheng grinned mischievously.
"Little girl, I admit my Young Master is strange, but I assure you, I'm perfectly normal!"
Coco's eyes widened in surprise.
"You can hear me?"
"Of course."
Ming Cheng wore a smug expression, making Coco pout adorably, her cheeks puffed out in indignation. Ming Cheng glanced at her, and even his aged face flushed with embarrassment.
...
The car soon arrived at Yi Ren Corporation. The four stepped out and made their way straight to the rooftop conference room.
Along the way, employees pointed and whispered about Mu Yiren.
Clearly, rumors had been circulating.
Everyone understood that in a short while, Mu Yiren might no longer be the president of Yi Ren Corporation.
Yet, there was no sympathy for her; instead, people seemed to relish her misfortune.
Victory crowns the king, defeat brands the outlaw.
Such is the cold reality of society—it is not a place for seeking pity.
The four entered the meeting room, where thirty or so shareholders large and small had gathered.
Everyone clustered around Chairman Wang, flattering him with sycophantic smiles, resembling a pack of lapdogs—utterly revolting.
Upon seeing Mu Yiren and her companions enter, the crowd straightened, sneering at her.
Chairman Wang chuckled.
"President Mu, I give you credit for at least having some backbone, daring to show up here. I thought you might try to hide, hoping to protect your presidency!"
He shrugged, spreading his hands in a triumphant gesture.
"Though, it wouldn't have done you any good! Ha ha ha ha..."
As Chairman Wang laughed, the others joined in, just as lackeys echoing their master.
Mu Yiren took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and spoke coldly,
"Chairman Wang, what are you really after?"
Chairman Wang was about to answer when his gaze fell on Ling Xiao and Ming Cheng beside her, and he frowned.
"Hey, who are these two? This is the Yi Ren Corporation board meeting! How did they slip in?"
Mu Yiren shot him a frosty glance.
"They are my friends, and as president, I have the authority to invite them to attend."
"Hmph! Still acting high and mighty! But it doesn't matter anymore. Soon enough, you won't be able to put on airs. Let you enjoy, for the last time, the prestige of being president!"
Tightening the knot on his tie, Chairman Wang beamed proudly.
"President Mu, gathered here are thirty shareholders, large and small. Based on our collective decision, we have resolved to remove you from your position and appoint me as president of Yi Ren Corporation!"
"My Mu family owns forty-five percent of Yi Ren Corporation's shares! What right do you have to remove me?"
"Heh heh heh... True, your Mu family holds forty-five percent—the largest share of the company! But so what? All the shareholders here combined hold fifty-one percent! That's an absolute majority! By company regulations, we can overrule your position! It's in the rules, so you can't blame us!"
"Don't even think about it! You all said before that if I secured the Omega deal and brought the company back to profit, I could continue as president! You break your word!"
"Ah! Don't put it so harshly, President Mu! It's precisely because you secured the Omega deal that our Yi Ren Corporation is about to thrive! That's why we need someone like me to lead the company to even greater glory!"
Mu Yiren laughed coldly.
"Can you be any more shameless? If the deal failed, the company would belong to you. If the deal succeeded, it still belongs to you! So I, Mu Yiren, have been working for nothing, tailoring a wedding dress for you all?"
"President Mu, you can't blame us! The former president passed away too soon, and you're still too young! Tell me, which board member here truly respects you? If the old president had lived and mentored you for seven or eight years, perhaps we wouldn't say anything. But your Mu family is simply out of luck. Heaven itself has decreed your downfall—no one else to blame."
Mu Yiren trembled with rage, pointing at Chairman Wang's face and berating him,
"Wang Ke! You—! You are utterly heartless! Back then, if not for my father, you would have starved! Without him, you would never have enjoyed today's success! Yet instead of repaying his kindness, you turn on the Mu family. My father must have been blind to welcome a wolf into his home and save a beast like you!"
Wang Ke felt no shame. He shrugged, wearing a smug smile.
"Nothing I can do—it's the will of Heaven! I didn't wish your father dead, but alas, fate claimed him. Heaven favors me, destined for wealth and success. What can you do about it?"
"You—!"
Mu Yiren tried to speak, but Wang Ke waved her off.
"Ah, President Mu, say no more. I know what you want to say! There's no need to insult me and waste everyone's time. I'm not as heartless as you claim. If you truly refuse to relinquish the presidency, I'll compromise. My eldest son, Wang Xin—you know him, handsome and capable. If you agree to marry him, it would be a perfect match! Then, our families would be united, and who holds the presidency wouldn't matter at all! Don't you think that's reasonable?"