Chapter Ten: The Belated Cleansing

  Deng Qun's sighs didn't get any response, so the old man suddenly shook his head and burst out laughing, "You're not telling the truth!"

  Let this suspicious old man guess, Wu Lun has given up pretending, swept his eyes across the crowd, and collided with several gazes. The guy next to him had already attracted enough attention, and it was hard not to be the focus when he was around. But what Wu Lun didn't know was that the difference in identity between Deng Qun and Wu Lun was what drew people's attention. Beiguan Investment's strength can rank among the top three in Beicheng, and Deng Qun is both a director and general manager of Beiguan. As an individual, he is also a well-known golden finger in the investment circle, while Wu Lun is just a small assistant who has just entered the investment industry. Therefore, when hearing Deng Qun's occasional loud laughter, it was far from the kind of awkward exchange between a seasoned senior and a junior that people imagined, and everyone couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

  Yuanzi glanced at Wu Lun not far away and smiled to Li Na, "It seems that I did more than enough today, but it's like this, you must hold on tight, when he becomes famous and wealthy, you won't have the opportunity you have now."

  "It's the same if he becomes famous and successful, then he won't look down on me anymore. What's the use of holding onto him now?" Li Na lightly bit her soft lips, although she said so, but her heart couldn't help tightening up.

  A glimpse of desolation flashed in Yu's eyes, and he smiled, saying, "If you pursue pure goodness and beauty, perhaps you'll end up with nothing."

  Just as Li Na was about to savor the garden's scenery, Cui Zimin invited everyone to take their seats.

  Under the deliberate arrangement of the garden, Wu Lun and Li Na sat together. Deng Qun gave up Cui Zimin's invitation to squeeze over with Wu Lun, seeing that the knives and forks were ready, he knew they were going to have Western food, muttering to himself, "He just relies on this set to pretend to be a gentleman in front of women, but being a real gentleman is not necessarily so, I know this guy is very particular, but it's all nonsense."

  Li Na let out a snort and quickly covered her mouth, but Deng Qun was talking about their big boss. As they continued eating, everyone's attention soon focused on them. Cui Zimin arranged his knife and fork in the precise 5:25 position as always, and ate with perfect etiquette, but this time it felt somewhat artificial because there was a stark contrast - Wu Lun's movements were clean and efficient, without any signs of deliberate manipulation, giving off a natural rhythm that made him seem very at ease, without any hint of stiffness. Wu Lun didn't say much, but whenever Li Na struggled with her actions, he would help her out with a wave of his hand. Looking at Li Na's bright red smile, it was hard not to get the illusion that they were just guests at a "Cinderella and Prince Charming" dinner party.

  Just as everything was about to end perfectly, people saw Wu Lun drinking tomato cheese soup with a spoon floating back and forth in front of him. If it were a child, it should be fun, but Wu Lun obviously wasn't. Cui Zimin's mouth twitched, others either smiled slightly or had a hint of disdain, Li Na buried her face while eating, she was laughing so hard that her face turned bright red, and she thought Wu Lun was adorable! Of course, it was also because she made him become like this, although it ruined a kind of perfection, but it let her see the mark of a woman in Wu Lun's words and deeds.

  "After dinner, "Yuanzi, I'll have the driver send you back; Liwen, you can ride with Yuezheng since it's on the way; Lü Chong and Chenglua come with me for a bit, we can take care of some things while we're at it." Cui Zimin said, avoiding the angry gaze of Liwen, glancing at Deng Qun, "Director Deng seems to have had a bit too much to drink, why don't you find a room to rest in and I'll come send you later, how does that sound?"

  Deng Qun casually waved his hand and followed the waiter away, without any sign of drunkenness.

  Everyone dispersed, Cui Zimin told Lv Zhong and Cheng Lü about Deng Qun's intentions. Cheng Lü was shocked, she finally knew why Deng Qun appeared at today's banquet. "Uncle Cui will let it happen? We can use avoiding same-industry competition to stop UBO from acquiring Beiguang Investment."

  Choi Jaemin shook his head, "My father is no longer in a position to interfere, UBO's intentions have already been explained to him. Initially, UBO wanted to acquire the remaining shares of Re Xing Investment from our Re Xing Group, with the intention of taking full control. They had a strong desire to take control of an investment company in Beicheng, and if it wasn't for Re Xing, they would have chosen another investment company in Beicheng. Although UBO's offer price for the remaining shares of Re Xing was not low, my father refused; just a few days ago, I heard that UBO and Zimu Investment were in talks to acquire 51% of Beiguang Investment, which is held by Zimu Investment. My father and I both thought it was impossible for Zimu Investment to transfer the shares, but unexpectedly, Zimu Investment agreed so quickly. At the banquet, Deng Qun told me that both parties had already signed a transfer agreement, completely unexpected."

  "Why does UBO suddenly want to acquire a controlling stake in an investment company? They didn't have such intentions before." Lü Chóng asked.

  "My father told me that UBO Bank's people have the intention to develop in China, and the current acquisition is to find a platform for them to exert themselves," said Cui Zimin.

  Cheng Lu asked, "Is it someone from the Huang family?"

  Chui Tzu-min nodded, "It seems to be Huang Yi's youngest daughter."

  Lü Chóng was astonished, UBO Bank is a family business in Singapore, and Huang Yìzhèng is the second generation heir of the Huang family. With UBO's strength, Huang Yìzhèng intentionally acquired such a platform to train his children, which is not a big deal. In fact, the current Rong Xing Investment was established for the same purpose by Cui Zìmín's father.

  "How did those two companies deal with the issue of same-industry competition?" Lü Chóng continued to ask.

  Choi Tzu-min sighed, "After UBO acquired shares of Beiguang, it became the largest shareholder of both Beiguang and Chongxing. The inevitable competition between them must be resolved. Deng Qun came this time under the name of Beiguang Investment to re-propose acquiring the remaining shares of Chongxing Investment."

  Lü Chóng's mouth was a bit bitter, Beiguang Investment's industry ranking is higher than that of Zhongxing Investment, and the scale of assets managed is even twice that of Zhongxing. It's not surprising that Beiguang Investment would acquire Zhongxing Investment if the price is attractive enough, and Zhongxing Group might really sell Zhongxing Investment to get out of this passive situation, but what about himself?

  Chui Zimin sneered, "Lü Chóng, what's with that expression? Do you think I'm going to sell Rongxing Investment? We're currently at a disadvantage, but what Rongxing Investment means to me, you're not unaware of."

  "The key is Cui's idea over there, reviving investment is important for us, but it may not be the case for Revive Group."

  "I'll go talk to Father, so you guys need to cooperate with me, stabilize the emotions of the company's employees, especially Yue Zheng. He just came from Beiguang and knows about the acquisition of Chongxing Investment by Beiguang, his situation will be very awkward. You now need to consider how to explain this matter to Yue Zheng and make him quickly start business development, so that Chongxing Investment can develop faster, we'll have more autonomy."

  Lv nodded heavily, "It depends on Cheng Lü now, if she can hold Li Wen steady, Yue Zheng won't leave."

  Cheng Lu gave Lv Zhong a light glance, and Cui Zimin mediated with a gentle smile.

  Lü Chóng suddenly thought of something, "What does Director Cuī think of Wú Lún? I think this new person can be properly cultivated."

  Cheng Lü's face turned cold. How could she not know the intention behind Lü Chóng's sudden mention of Wú Lún? He was trying to use Cuī Zì Mín to suppress her.

  Choi Jaemin's footsteps faltered, "I don't want a small assistant to cause conflict between the two of you. Handling the revival well requires your joint efforts. As for Wu Lun, it's not important, maintaining the status quo is also what Garden asked me to guarantee."

  Lü Chóng couldn't help but be stunned for a moment. Although the banquet was called a "dusting off" gathering, Wu Lún's participation as a small assistant must have been due to Yuánzi's arrangement. But who would have thought that Yuánzi would say something like "maintaining the status quo" to Cuī Zìmín?

  Cheng Lü couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter, unsure whether she was laughing at Lü Chong's misfortune or Wu Lun's twists of fate.

  Cui Zimin adjusted his glasses and smiled helplessly. "Alright, let's go now. Deng Qun that old fellow must be getting impatient."

  [Thanks to Mu Tian Shui for proofreading]