A Chan – CH 061

Chapter 61: Second Rewrite (2)

These words had been buried in Zhang Jingchan’s heart for eight years, never spoken to anyone, not even his mother. Today, they poured out in one breath.

Li Weiyi looked at him, her eyes filled with shock and pain. Zhang Moyun, however, seemed to have been punched hard, disoriented, and cold all over. His voice trembled as he grabbed Zhang Jingchan’s arm, asking, “Why…why are you saying these things? Who are you? Who are you really?”

Zhang Jingchan pried his fingers apart one by one, his face ashen. “Who I am doesn’t matter. What year I came from and where I came from don’t matter either. I’ve already watched you die twice before my eyes—no, three times. If I see it a fourth time, I won’t have come.”

A tear fell from Zhang Jingchan’s eye. Zhang Moyun took a deep breath and called out, “Ah Chan…”

Li Weiyi covered her mouth with her hand.

At this moment, everything in the room was silent. Neither the sunlight outside the window, nor the faint steam rising from the teapot, nor the father and son finally opening their hearts to each other.

Until the knocking sounded again.

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Zhang Moyun gave Zhang Jingchan a deep look, then glanced at the obedient Li Weiyi beside him. He released his son’s hand, straightened his shirt collar, and said, “Come in.”

The newcomer paused, noticing the three sitting behind the computer, then sensed the awkward atmosphere and the redness in their eyes. He smiled sheepishly and said, “Chairman, we’ve been waiting outside for ages. We wanted to ask what’s going on with Secretary Zhang.”

The newcomer was Li Yunmo’s father, Li Jinxiong, the group’s construction director. He was still wearing thick work clothes, his face was weathered, and his voice was booming like a foreman’s.

Zhang Moyun: “Cheng Chuan and Liu Ying are both outside?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s Xu Yi?”

“He said he went to Jianshe Road to handle some matters at the store.”

“Tell Xu Yi to come back immediately. Tell Zhang Fengming and Wu Mingrui to drop what they are doing and come here.”

Li Jinxiong was taken aback. This meant that all of Zhang Moyun’s most powerful confidants from the company’s top management would be present. But Li Jinxiong didn’t ask any questions and went out to handle the matter.

“You can leave now. Let me think about what to do,” Zhang Moyun said.

Li Weiyi and Zhang Jingchan exchanged a glance and slowly stood up. Zhang Moyun smiled. His earlier loss of control was incredibly brief. When this man made up his mind and sat upright behind his desk, he once again exuded the aura of a powerful and ruthless leader.

“Don’t worry, you’ve sharpened the daggers to cut Fuming’s throat and sever the ropes for me. If I can’t handle what comes next, I’ve wasted these past few decades,” he said.

Zhang Jingchan walked to the door, stopped, turned back, and said, “Dad, goodbye.”

Li Weiyi also waved sweetly, finally no longer needing to pretend: “Uncle, see you in 2022.”

Zhang Moyun’s pupils suddenly contracted. The two of them had already walked out the door.

Zhang Moyun sat alone for a long time, until the midday sun was blindingly bright. He reviewed the plan on the computer several times, memorizing it thoroughly, before clicking “Permanently Delete.”

“Xu Yi, call everyone in.”

Zhang Moyun sat behind the table, looking at each of their faces, wanting to speak, but his throat was hoarse. He cleared his throat, his face now displaying the familiar resolute and decisive expression.

“You are all the pillars of Fuming, my family, my closest friends, my right-hand men, managing construction, finance, procurement, marketing, human resources… I called you here to discuss a crucial decision:

“From this moment forward, all of Fuming’s ongoing projects are to cease construction. All receivable funds must be recovered within three days by any means necessary. All accounts payable must be withheld, including all employee salaries. A secret bankruptcy liquidation of the group will be initiated, all assets will be inventoried, and some will be mortgaged—we will find a way to borrow another 40 million from the bank, bringing the total to 90 million for me. Whether Fuming can repay all its debts in one fell swoop, including the money borrowed from you, depends on this. Do you all understand? From this moment on, Fuming has no other path but this one I have chosen.”

Everyone was shocked, their faces paling.

Cheng Chuan was the first to speak: “But… Brother Yun, if this happens, won’t Fuming… won’t it… be completely finished?”

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Liu Ying, her eyes red, said, “Chairman, what do you need 90 million for? The group is facing a cash crunch; this is taking away the group’s last hope! Don’t you want Fuming anymore?” Tears streamed down her face.

The atmosphere became heavy. Even Li Jinxiong, Zhang Moyun’s most loyal supporter, had red eyes: “Brother Yun, I don’t understand! Those projects, all our hard work, you don’t want them anymore? Vienna…we spent so much money building Vienna Villa, so much money! It’s already more than half completed; if we stop now…”

Zhang Moyun’s second brother, Zhang Fengming, stared wide-eyed, seemingly unable to comprehend what was happening. Zhang Moyun’s brother-in-law, HR Director Wu Mingrui, like Xu Yi, remained silent.

Zhang Moyun raised his hand, and everyone quieted down. He gave a bitter smile and said, “Fuming is already a complete mess. We spread the bait too wide; it’s beyond saving. This isn’t your fault; it’s all my poor decision-making. But I assure you, I, Zhang Moyun, will not run away. I will always be here, and my wife and children will be here too. To tell you the truth, I have reliable inside information to invest this 90 million, but I can’t go into details right now. If it succeeds, it will pay off all the group’s debts in one fell swoop. Fuming will go bankrupt, but everyone here will be able to walk away unscathed. As for me, I’ll probably be penniless, with nothing left. I’ve made this decision. There’s no need to try to persuade me anymore. Think about it. Those who are willing to come with me to the end, stay. Those who aren’t, please keep your words to yourselves; you can leave Fuming at any time.”

The crowd’s expressions shifted. Some exchanged glances, some were anxious, and some remained silent. A moment later, Zhang Moyun asked, “Have you thought it all through? Second brother, you’re my own brother; you go first.”

Zhang Fengming sighed and said, “You said it yourself, we’re brothers. Whatever you say, I’ll do! We’ve all followed you to success; we can’t be ungrateful. Now that you say the inside information works, it definitely works! I trust you!”

Li Jinxiong had also composed himself, though his expression was sorrowful. He said, “Brother Yun, I’ll listen to you.”

Cheng Chuan: “I’ll listen to you.”

Wu Mingrui: “We’re family; I have no objections.”

Liu Ying wiped away her tears. She always possessed a boldness and decisiveness in the business world that rivaled any man. She said, “Chairman, I think Fuming still needs me. I won’t leave. Although I joined later, you’ve always treated me well these past few years. I won’t abandon you.”

Her eyes shimmered with tears. Zhang Moyun simply smiled, said nothing, and finally, his gaze fell on the youngest, Xu Yi.

Xu Yi adjusted his glasses, his face still bearing a gentle and handsome smile: “I am your assistant. My goal is execution, not questioning. I have noted down all six points you mentioned and will definitely supervise their implementation.”

Zhang Moyun suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face. He patted Xu Yi’s shoulder heavily and nodded, saying, “I didn’t misjudge you! So what if Fuming goes bankrupt! Brothers united, their strength can break gold! Once we get through this, do you think I, Zhang Moyun, can’t make a comeback? I’m not even 50 years old yet. If I can build one Fuming, I can build another! I’ll say it here: I will remember all your kindness today. When I turn things around, I will repay you handsomely!”