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The glass door of the procuratorate slid open silently in front of Qi Fengnian. He tightened his grip on the briefcase, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The whistleblower's report in his bag was incredibly heavy; it was the culmination of his three years of painstaking work, painstakingly gathering information for his "nibbling away" plan.

"Mr. Qi, you've arrived." The young prosecutor hurried forward, but his eyes couldn't help but glance at the bulging briefcase.

Qi Fengnian nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile hidden in the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

He knew that the moment this document was opened, Zhao Xin's seemingly indestructible business empire would begin to crumble.

Meanwhile, at the bestseller display stand of Wangfujing Bookstore in Beijing, a new book with a black cover was placed in the most conspicuous position.

The three large, gilded characters of "The Gilded Age" were dazzling under the lights, and the author was listed as "an insider".

But those in the know understand that this was a revenge plot devised by Nalan Changsheng and Chen Hongxiong while they were in prison.

The bookstore manager, wiping sweat from his brow, directed his staff: "Add fifty more copies! They've almost sold out in just two hours!"

He opened the title page, where the introduction, printed in bold, read: "All characters are based on real people; any resemblance is not a coincidence."

"Yes, manager!"

The book details how a "Mr. Zhao" built his business empire through methods such as marrying into a family, betrayal, bribery, threats, and commercial espionage.

Most fatally, every single thing mentioned in the book is supported by real-life cases that are obscured but traceable.

When Zhao Xin's assistant, Xiao Liu, rushed into the president's office, the book was already lying quietly on the large mahogany desk.

Zhao Xin tapped lightly on the cover with his fingers, the rhythm quickening until he finally swept the book to the ground.

"Contact the legal department immediately and sue the publisher for defamation!" Zhao Xin's voice was like ice, but Xiao Liu noticed the bulging veins on his temples.

“Mr. Zhao, I’m afraid it’s too late…” Xiao Liu swallowed hard. “The people from the procuratorate are already downstairs.”

"what?"

"Mr. Zhao, what should we do now?"

"Contact Qi Dongcao and persuade Su Ning to come see me."

"Yes, Mr. Zhao, I'll contact Qi Dongcao right away."

Footage of Zhao Xin's arrest was played repeatedly on financial news that evening.

His expensive custom-made suit contrasted sharply with the cold handcuffs, and the frozen expression on his face was not one of fear, but of incredulous shock.

It was as if, until the very last moment, he didn't believe that anyone would actually dare to touch him.

Three days later, in the conference room at the headquarters of Jinhai Group, Wang Houde looked around at the directors present and slowly smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on his suit.

"According to the company's articles of association, I will hold a press conference tomorrow to announce the election procedures for the interim chairman." His gaze lingered for a moment on Zhao Xin's empty seat. "I hope everyone is prepared."

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

Everyone knows that this election is just a formality; the real power struggle has already begun in the shadows.

The meeting room in the detention center was cleaner than I had imagined, but the pervasive smell of disinfectant reminded visitors of the nature of the place.

Looking at the man across the glass who seemed to have aged ten years overnight, Su Ning found it hard to reconcile him with the once-powerful Zhao Xin in the business world.

“Su Ning, I need your help to take back Jin Hai.” Zhao Xin got straight to the point, his voice hoarse. “That old fox Qi Fengnian has joined forces with Wang Houde, and Nalan Changsheng is also pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

Suning fiddled with the lighter in his hand, the metal casing making a crisp sound as it opened and closed.

"Mr. Zhao, you're barely able to take care of yourself right now. What do you have to offer me in terms of terms? Or do you think I'd be interested in your meager assets?"

“I own 38% of Jinhai.” Zhao Xin leaned forward, the handcuffs scraping against the table with a harsh sound. “I’ll give you half. And…”

He lowered his voice, "The dirt on all the shareholders and senior executives of Jinhai Group is enough for you to control the entire board of directors of Jinhai Group."

The lighter stopped clicking.

Su Ning narrowed his eyes; the offer was much more generous than he had expected.

"Including Wang Houde's?"

“That’s right! Including everyone.” Zhao Xin’s lips curled into a twisted smile. “I never completely trust anyone, so I’ve always had a backup plan from the very beginning.”

Suning's profile, lost in thought, was reflected in the glass.

He knew Zhao Xin's promise was like a venomous snake's kiss, but the opportunity was too tempting.

"Deal." Finally, he extended his hand, making a devilish deal with Zhao Xin through the glass, "But I need to see the materials first."

Back in his office on the top floor of the CBD, Suning plugged the USB drive into his computer.

The screen quickly displayed a dense array of folders, each named after a senior executive of Jinhai.

He opened the folder named "Wang Houde," which contained detailed financial transaction records and several blurry but recognizable videos.

"The old fox really is cunning..." Su Ning chuckled, then opened the relationship graph software to visualize Zhao Xin's network of influence.

Among the intricate network of connections, several key nodes are flashing red; these are the fulcrums he can leverage.

Just then, the assistant knocked and came in: "Mr. Su, Ms. Qi and Mr. Wang both called to ask how your decision is going."

“Tell them I will be attending a press conference tomorrow,” Su Ning said, her eyes never leaving the screen, “but not in the capacity they expect.”

He clicked print, and the relationship graph slowly emerged from the advanced printer.

On the edge of the drawing, Su Ning circled several names with a gold pen; these were people he could bribe or threaten.

As for the shares promised by Zhao Xin... that was just the first step in the plan.

……

The next day, reporters had already set up their cameras and microphones in the lobby of Jinhai Industrial's headquarters.

The receptionists whispered among themselves: "I heard Zhao Xin is really finished this time. The audit team has been in the finance department for three days now..."

Qi Dongcao stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her clothes. The dark blue suit accentuated her sharp features.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from my second uncle, Qi Fengnian: "Remember! Today is just the beginning."

As she walked toward the stage at the press conference, a barrage of flashbulbs went off.

"Dear media friends, given the current special circumstances of Jinhai Group, the board of directors has decided to establish a brand-new management structure..." Her voice was clear and powerful, and the logo of "New Jinhai Group" slowly unfolded on the large screen behind her.

In front of the television in the detention center, Zhao Xin punched the wall.

He watched as his former confidante and adopted daughter, Qi Dongcao, calmly announced the demise of his business.

Meanwhile, Suning, who had promised to help him, was sitting in the front row of the press conference, a meaningful smile on his face.

This was actually Suning's plan, designed to draw out everyone's ambitions so they could take them all down in one fell swoop.

……

At this time, Jinhai Group was in complete chaos. Qi Dongcao and Wang Houde were busy purging Zhao Xin's old subordinates, and the shareholders were all in a state of fear.

Just then, Suning made its move.

He used the incriminating information provided by Zhao Xin to meet with each of the shareholders of Jinhai Group.

The conference room was filled with smoke. Suning leaned back on the leather sofa, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. Sitting opposite him was Li Wanshan, the second largest shareholder with 8% of the shares.

"Mr. Li, I heard you have an illegitimate child in Australia?" Su Ning smiled slightly and pushed a document over. "Also, that 'special' loan three years ago, it seems it didn't go through the company's proper procedures, did it?"

Li Wanshan's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"President Su, let's talk this out..."

“Sell the shares to me at 90% of the market price.” Su Ning’s tone was calm, but brooked no refusal. “Otherwise, these materials will be on the desks of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Procuratorate tomorrow, and then you’ll be going in to sing ‘Tears Behind Bars’ with Zhao Sanjin.”

"..." Li Wanshan gritted his teeth and struggled for a long time before finally signing the contract.

The same scenario played out with various shareholders, with some suspected of insider trading, some of tax evasion, and some even involved in murder cases.

It's well known that the real estate industry is notoriously corrupt, and many people agree that it's a place where you make dirty money.

In just two weeks, Suning used coercion and enticement to aggressively acquire shares, increasing its stake from 19% to 35%, becoming the largest shareholder of Jinhai Group.

Of course, given Zhao Sanjin's nature, he must secretly hold more shares; it's absolutely impossible that he claims it's 38%.

Of course, having shares alone is not enough; Suning needs the support of the board of directors.

He directly contacted Zhao Xin's former allies, including banking tycoons, local political figures, underworld brokers, and even Zhao Xin's "front men."

"Zhao Xin is finished. Do you want to sink with him?" Su Ning sat on the top floor of the Kyushu Technology Building, overlooking the entire city. His tone was icy on the phone. "Support me, and you can continue to make money; oppose me, and you'll be purged."

Some hesitated, but more chose to compromise.

After all, Suning has more than just dirt on its employees; it also has real assets.

The Jiuzhoufang e-commerce empire, the UnionPay Jiuzhoupay financial network, and the technological influence of Pineapple Mobile are all things that Zhao Xin, a nobody from humble beginnings, could not provide.

Furthermore, with Grandma Zhao (Zhao Xin's mother) suddenly turning against them and transferring her 5% stake in Suning free of charge, the situation was completely reversed.

45% stake!

It is only 6% away from absolute control.

Suning directly announced: "We will acquire any company willing to sell 6% of our shares at a 30% premium!"

The news sent shockwaves through the market.

Several minority shareholders rushed to sell their shares, fearing that if they were a step too late, they would be placed on Suning's "liquidation list".

Ultimately, Suning officially gained control of Jinhai Group with a 51% stake!
The board of directors convened urgently. Suning sat in the main seat, looked around at everyone, and smiled:
"From today onwards, Jinhai Group will be officially renamed 'Jiuzhoufang Real Estate Company'."

There was an uproar.

But no one dared to object.

Suning's ambitions don't stop there.

He quickly integrated resources and developed the "Jiuzhoufang Plaza" commercial complex in first- and second-tier cities across the country, creating a super real estate project that integrates shopping, entertainment, finance, and technology.

At the same time, he used UnionPay's Jiuzhou Pay financial channels to launch "Jiuzhou Loan" to provide real estate loans for homebuyers, further monopolizing the market.

In just six months, Jiuzhoufang's market value doubled, and Suning's business empire officially took shape.

When the news reached the prison, Zhao Xin flew into a rage.

"Suning! You beast!!" He pounded the wall furiously, his knuckles bleeding. "I gave you shares, and you dared to swallow my Jinhai!!"

The prison guards watched coldly, without reacting.

Zhao Xin slumped to the ground, finally realizing that he had lost completely. Jinhai Group had been completely absorbed by Suning, leaving not even a bone behind.

……

In Grandma Zhao's hospital room, sunlight streamed through the curtains, illuminating her aged yet kind face.

She leaned against the headboard, holding a bowl of steaming red date porridge in her hands, and looked at Su Ning sitting on the edge of the bed with a smile.

“Ba Liang, come on! Try Grandma’s porridge.” She scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and said, “This was your favorite when you were little.”

Su Ning took the bowl, her fingertips touching the old man's wrinkled hand, and her heart trembled slightly.

"Thank you... Grandma," he said softly, taking a bite, the sweet and glutinous flavor melting on his tongue.

Grandma Zhao's eyes curved into crescent moons: "How is it? Still the same taste, right?"

Su Ning nodded, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face: "Mmm, it's delicious."

This was the first time in over a decade that he had genuinely called her "Grandma".

In the days that followed, Su Ning would take time every day to visit Grandma Zhao at the hospital.

Sometimes, he would bring her some fresh fruit, peel it, and hand it to her; sometimes, he would push her wheelchair and take her to the garden downstairs to bask in the sun; sometimes, they would just sit quietly, with Grandma Zhao knitting and Su Ning reading documents, occasionally looking up at each other and smiling.

“Ba Liang, do you still remember when you were little?” Grandma Zhao suddenly asked. “You always loved to pester me to tell you stories.”

Su Ning put down the documents, her eyes softening slightly: "I..."

Grandma Zhao smiled and took out a yellowed photo album from the bedside table: "Look, this is a photo from your fifth birthday."

The little boy in the photo is smiling brightly, being held in Grandma Zhao's arms, with the garden of the Zhao family's old house in the background.

Su Ning stared at the photo, her throat tightening slightly.

"Back then, you were so mischievous! You always loved climbing trees, and even if you fell down, you wouldn't cry. You'd just dust yourself off and climb back up." Grandma Zhao sighed softly. "Later... you left, and Grandma looked for you for a long time."

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Grandma."

Grandma Zhao shook her head and held his hand: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

“Grandma, actually I still have some memories left in my mind, but they are all from that abandoned factory. I was terrified at the time, after all, I killed three people, so even though I suspected my adoptive father’s motives, I didn’t expose him. Later, my adoptive father, Su Daqiang, was really good to me. Since I had no memories left, I simply started over.”

"I see! Actually, your dad had already taken care of everything for you. After all, those three people were heinous kidnappers."

"Grandma, I'm sorry! I've let you down."

"No! You're so successful now, how could I be disappointed!"

"..."

One evening, Grandma Zhao took a document from under her pillow and handed it to Su Ning.

"Su Ning, this is for you." At this moment, Grandma Zhao also changed how she addressed Su Ning.

When Suning opened it, he was shocked to find that it was a share transfer agreement for 5% of Jinhai Group's shares, and Grandma Zhao's name had already been signed.

"Grandma, this..."

"Take it." Grandma Zhao patted his hand. "Grandma is old, there's no use keeping these things. You're better than your father, I'm at ease with Jinhai in your hands."

Suning gripped the document tightly, feeling a tightness in his chest.

This equity stake represents not only power, but also a weighty trust.

"Grandma, I won't let you down."

Grandma Zhao smiled, tears welling in her eyes: "Silly child, Grandma only wants you to be safe and happy, that's more important than anything else."

Grandma Zhao's health was deteriorating, but she still waited for Su Ning to come every day with great enthusiasm.

Sometimes, she would suddenly bring up the past...

"Your dad was just as stubborn as you when he was a kid..."

"Your mother's braised pork is absolutely amazing..."

That winter, you had a fever, and I carried you to several hospitals...

Su Ning listened quietly, as if trying to make up for the lost years, little by little.

Until that day, Grandma Zhao held his hand and whispered:
“Su Ning, promise Grandma... don’t hate your father, he... was a pitiful person too.”

After a long silence, Suning finally nodded: "Okay."

Grandma Zhao smiled contentedly, then slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.

……

Just after Su Ning completed his takeover of Jinhai Group, he received a call from his adopted younger brother, Zhao Yange, who told him that Grandma Zhao was dying.

The hospital corridor smelled strongly of disinfectant.

Su Ning stood outside the ward, her fingers trembling slightly.

“Brother…” Zhao Yange’s eyes were red and her voice choked with sobs, “Grandma… is dying.”

Suning pushed open the door, and the old man on the hospital bed was already barely breathing.

The moment she saw Su Ning, her cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, and her withered hand rose slightly, as if trying to grasp something.

"Su Ning..." Grandma Zhao's voice was so weak it was almost inaudible, "It's good that you're back..."

Su Ning grasped her hand, her throat tightening.

He disliked the Zhao family and Zhao Xin, but he couldn't bring himself to be indifferent to this old man.

drop……

The electrocardiogram monitor is drawn in a straight line.

The doctor shook his head: "My condolences."

Suning closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The last elder in this world who truly cared for him has passed away.

Grandma Zhao's funeral was held at the Zhao family's old house. It was drizzling, as if the sky itself was mourning.

Chen Hongxiong stood at the base of the wall in the distance, a cold smile on his lips.

He had just been released from prison after receiving a reduced sentence and couldn't wait to watch this "good show".

“Old Mrs. Zhao is dead, Zhao Xin is in jail, and Su Ning is in power…” he muttered to himself, “It’s truly heaven’s help.”

On the other side, Qi Dongcao, holding a black umbrella, slowly walked towards the mourning hall.

She grew up in the Zhao family, and Grandma Zhao treated her like her own granddaughter. She couldn't leave this kindness unreturned.

However, she was stopped by Chen Hongxiong as soon as she reached the door.

"Oh! Isn't this Miss Qi?" Chen Hongxiong said sarcastically, "An outsider here to join the fun?"

Qi Dongcao glanced at him coldly, ignored him, and walked straight toward the coffin.

She knelt down and kowtowed three times, tears streaming silently down her face.

"Grandma... I'm sorry... I'm late."

At the funeral, Huang Yuyang stormed in with a group of people, only to be stopped by the Zhao family's bodyguards.

"Zhao Xin said you're not qualified to see the old lady off!" the bodyguard said coldly.

Huang Yuyang's face was ashen, but he quickly changed into mourning clothes and forced his way in.

"The old lady treated me well when she was alive, so it's not too much for me to kowtow, is it?" he sneered, then knelt before the coffin and kowtowed heavily.

But after getting up, he lowered his voice and said to Huang Fangfei (his sister) beside him:
"Zhao Xin is finished. Jinhai Group should be ours! What is Suning anyway?"

Huang Fangfei's expression changed: "Are you crazy? Are you causing trouble now?"

"Sister! How harshly has Zhao Xin treated us all these years? Now that the opportunity has come, are you still going to put up with it?"

Snapped!
Huang Fangfei slapped him hard across the face: "Shut up! Do you know what the situation is like now? Su Ning has taken control of the whole situation. What do you have to fight him with?"

Huang Yuyang was about to retort when suddenly...

boom!
Zhao Dabiao (Su Ning's maternal uncle) rushed up and kicked Huang Yuyang to the ground!
"You bastard! You dare to cause trouble at the old lady's funeral?!"

The scene was chaotic for a moment, but it was quickly brought under control by Suning's people.

Qi Dongcao walked to Su Ning's side and whispered:
“Suning, Huang Yuyang can no longer be allowed to stay; he is secretly trying to win over shareholders.”

Su Ning's gaze was icy: "I know! He's nothing but a clown."

He looked at the coffin, his mind already made up.

Grandma Zhao's funeral became a battlefield for a power reshuffle.

In prison, Zhao Xin knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly in front of the iron bars.

"Mom...your son is unfilial..."

But soon, his tears turned into hatred.

“Su Ning…you dare to play me…I will make you pay with your blood! I will never have a bastard son like you again.”

He picked up the prison phone and dialed a number.

"Hello? It's me! The plan... can begin."

After the funeral, Nalan Changsheng and Chen Hongxiong met secretly in a secluded teahouse.

“Zhao Xin has already contacted me,” Nalan Changsheng sneered. “He wants to use us to deal with Su Ning.”

Chen Hongxiong narrowed his eyes: "So... should we help or not?"

"Help?" Nalan Changsheng scoffed. "Of course we'll help! But not for Zhao Xin, but for ourselves."

He took out a document, on which it was clearly written...

"Jiuzhoufang Technology Equity Attack Plan"

"Suning thinks he's won? Ha! The game has only just begun."

...(End of chapter)