C32 In the Future I will be the One Who Decides!!

As the security team burst out wielding electric batons, chaos quickly ensued throughout Ann's Group.

Qian Duoduo, accompanied by Doggy Lee and others, made his way to Chairman Lee's office. Upon noticing the directors' furtive behavior, he let out a mocking sneer. "Our boss has called an emergency meeting. Get to the meeting room and wait there like good little directors."

Qian Duoduo stood with his hands on his hips, radiating arrogance, which only served to provoke laughter tinged with fury from the other directors. "Old Qian, seems your boy has come into his own," they taunted. "Thinks he can threaten us now, does he?"

Chairman Lee responded with a sneer of his own, turning his gaze to a middle-aged man nearby. Qian Zhongguo, upon hearing this, could only offer a wry smile. Deep down, he dreaded the thought of the board clashing with Ann Lan, but Chairman Lee's intimidation left them no choice but compliance.

"Qian Duoduo..." Qian Zhongguo began, intending to urge his son to steer clear of the brewing storm.

But before he could finish, Qian Duoduo jabbed an electric baton towards his nose, declaring contemptuously, "Chairman Qian, our boss made it clear: noncompliance will be met with this." He waved the baton. "Care to feel its sting?"

Qian Zhongguo's eyebrows shot up, his eyes blazing with fury. How dare this upstart threaten his own father?

"Brothers, give the other directors a taste of their own medicine," Qian Duoduo commanded. "And let's show Chairman Qian that our security department isn't to be trifled with!"

Qian Duoduo knew his father's tells all too well. A raised eyebrow always meant trouble was brewing. But Lin Chen's orders were not to be ignored, so he decided it was time for a demonstration.

With a series of sharp cracks, the electric baton connected with Chairman Lee and the others, sending powerful currents coursing through them. Their hair stood on end as their bodies shook uncontrollably.

Witnessing the spectacle, Qian Zhongguo shuddered, his eyes bulging in shock. His son was serious?

"Dad, I'd think twice about crossing the boss," Qian Duoduo warned. "If he loses his temper, even I won't be able to save you."

Amidst the commotion as the security guards harassed the other directors, Qian Duoduo seized the moment to quietly remind his father.

Though his acquaintance with Lin Chen was brief, Qian Duoduo recognized Lin Chen's significant talents. Anyone who crossed him was bound to meet an unfortunate fate.

"You ungrateful child, I'm your father. Do I need your protection?"

"Stop this instant, or I'll smack you across the face!"

How could Qian Zhongguo, as a father, heed his son's advice? With a swift motion, he rose from his chair, bellowing at Qian Duoduo.

"Smack!"

Confronted with his father's obstinance, Qian Duoduo resorted to using an electric baton. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to go too far against his own father; a quick shock was all he administered before retracting the baton and assisting his father out to the corridor.

"Dad, remember how you always wanted me to get serious about life, to stop just coasting along, waiting for the end?" Qian Duoduo said, standing tall and speaking earnestly to his father. "Well, I've figured out what I want to do."

The fury on Qian Zhongguo's face melted away at his son's words. He gazed at his son with piercing intensity before speaking gravely, "Are you sure about this? That man may be skilled, but he's equally adept at stirring up trouble. Following him could lead to unpredictable outcomes."

A father knows his son best, and Qian Zhongguo understood the subtext of his son's declaration.

"Dad, you've said it yourself—if you live your life in fear, you'll never achieve greatness. The boss has been loyal and generous to us brothers, and he's a good man at heart. I'm confident I'm not wrong about him!"

Qian Duoduo's smile broadened as his father refrained from rebuke.

"Son, if you've made your choice," Qian Zhongguo said after a moment's contemplation, "then I'm with you. We won't pull our investment from Ann's Group."

He recognized his son's motives; it was all to prevent a rift between him and Lin Chen.

As a father, how could he not harbor the same concerns?

His son was resolute in his decision to follow Lin Chen, leaving him no choice but to support Ann Lan.

"Dad, didn't you notice the acne scars on my face are completely gone?"

"This is a new product Boss developed for Director Ann, and I'm the first one to try it."

Buoyed by his father's support, Qian Duoduo couldn't resist offering a couple of pointers.

Qian Zhongguo, upon hearing this, finally took note of his son's now spotless complexion, which was not only free of blemishes but also remarkably fair and smooth.

"This... is Lin Chen's new product?"

"How can that be!"

Qian Zhongguo was astounded.

If his son's claims held true, Ann's Group wouldn't just avoid bankruptcy with this new product.

It could very well become a mythic success in the cosmetics industry!

"Dad, all you need to know is that with Boss at the helm, Ann's Group will never collapse!"

"For now, you'd better head to that emergency meeting."

With that, Qian Duoduo picked up his electric baton and returned to his office to continue disciplining the chairmen.

Ten minutes later, Lin Chen entered the meeting room to find most attendees bruised and battered. He nodded in approval.

"Lin Chen, as a mere member of the security department, what gives you the right to call an emergency meeting?"

"And to let these thugs from security beat us up?"

Upon Lin Chen's arrival, one of the directors immediately confronted him with fury.

"If you don't provide an explanation today, don't be surprised if we all resign!"

"Yes, we demand an explanation!"

"Or else, we resign en masse!"

The company's other senior executives joined in the clamor.

Lin Chen subtly made his way to the director's side.

He lifted his arm and delivered a powerful slap to the man's face.

"Pfft!"

A spray of crimson blood and several teeth were ejected.

Lin Chen then faced the assembly with an impassive gaze.

He asked coolly, "Now, does anyone else have any objections?"

Objections?

To hell with objections!

When a man dares to strike a director without a second thought, who would dare raise a voice?

"Since there are no further objections, I'll begin with a question."

"Since no one has any objections, I'll start with a question," Lin Chen began. "Who was it that bullied Director Ann?"

A hush fell over the room as Lin Chen's words hung in the air. Everyone knew the culprits were a few of the directors, but who would dare voice that truth?

With a sudden "Bam!" Lin Chen grabbed one of the directors by the head and smashed it down onto the desk. Blood instantly smeared across the man's face.

Unperturbed, Lin Chen demanded, "Spill it. Who bullied Director Ann? Come clean, and maybe I'll let you keep a couple of your front teeth."

Chairman Lee, witnessing Lin Chen's brash demeanor, slammed his hand on the table and barked, "Lin Chen, you're crossing the line! We were merely discussing the redistribution of company assets after divesting!"

"If you keep assaulting people, do you really think we won't call the police?"

Asset redistribution? Lin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, sensing the issue was more complex than it appeared. If the matter had been settled previously, why was Ann Lan so upset now?

"Ann's Group is strapped for cash and can't afford to buy out the board's shares," Qian Zhongguo chimed in, eager to align himself with Lin Chen. "So, the directors decided to swap the Group's factories and subsidiaries for shares."

"You want to trade Ann's Group's factories and subsidiaries for your shares?" Lin Chen retorted icily. "You must be out of your minds! That would turn Ann's Group into nothing but a shell company."

He might not be well-versed in business, but Lin Chen understood that without factories, there'd be no production base. And without the subsidiaries, the distribution network Ann's Group had built over the years would vanish overnight.

"Why should we care about Ann's Group's fate when we're pulling out our investment?" Chairman Lee scoffed with disdain.

"Lin Chen, don't think you can run amok just because you know a few tricks," he warned. "This is all legal. Unless you can come up with the cash to buy our shares quickly, Ann's Group's only option is bankruptcy!"

It was clear to Chairman Lee that Lin Chen was determined to help that woman, Ann Lan, save Ann's Group.

Chairman Lee could see it clearly—Lin Chen was intent on helping that wretch Ann Lan save Ann's Group. But the more they tried, the more determined he was to thwart their plans. Lin Chen wasn't blind to Chairman Lee's cunning maneuvers. Yet, he was well aware that brute force wouldn't resolve this issue.

"Lin Chen, I've done some quick math," Qian Zhongguo began. "If I don't pull out my investment and tap into my savings, we're only two hundred million short to acquire the remaining directors' shares. If you can come up with that amount in a week, Ann's Group will avoid bankruptcy."

As he spoke, Qian Zhongguo rose to his feet, addressing Lin Chen with a deliberate pace. The truth was, Qian Zhongguo wasn't short of two hundred million. His challenge was a test for Lin Chen. If Lin Chen could produce the funds within a week, he would prove himself worthy of a steadfast future at Ann's Group. If not, even if Lin Chen developed an extraordinary product, Qian Zhongguo would join the other directors in withdrawing their investments.

"Two hundred million?" Lin Chen responded confidently. "Consider it handled."

He locked eyes with Qian Zhongguo and his son Qian Duoduo, accepting the challenge without hesitation. The other directors, upon hearing Qian Zhongguo's proposition, were visibly shaken. They couldn't fathom why, with Ann's Group in such dire straits, Qian Zhongguo would throw his support behind Lin Chen and Ann Lan at this pivotal moment.

"Qian," Lin Chen said after the decision was made, "those troublemakers who showed up earlier—give them a good thrashing! They had the audacity to harass Director Ann in her own company. I want to see just how brave they really are!"