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Suning stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Jiuzhoufang Real Estate Group headquarters building, looking down at the traffic flowing like ants below.

His cold, handsome face was reflected in the glass. At the age of twenty-two, the corners of his eyes already showed a maturity beyond his years.

"Mr. Su, these are the minutes from today's meeting." The secretary gently pushed open the door and placed a stack of documents on his desk.

Suning didn't turn around, but simply nodded slightly.

After the secretary left, he turned and walked towards the large solid wood desk, where Zhao Xin had once sat.

There was a newly delivered package on the table, but there was no sender information.

He used a utility knife to cut open the seal, and a key and a note fell out.

"See you at the usual place. Your uncle."

Suning gave a cold smile.

Zhao Dabiao, Zhao Xin's former brother-in-law, is also his own uncle.

Now he is the first person he kicks out when purging Jin Hai's old subordinates.

Zhao Dabiao might be very loyal to him, but he might also pledge his loyalty to Zhao Xin, so Suning cannot allow such an uncontrollable factor.

This key was the locker key for the private club they used to frequent, and Zhao Dabiao obviously didn't dare to come to the company to find him directly.

The phone vibrated, and the screen displayed "Zhao Shanghong," the biological mother of this body and Zhao Xin's ex-wife.

Su Ning stared at the name for a few seconds before finally pressing the answer button.

"Eight... Aning, your father will be out next week." Zhao Shanghong's voice was filled with cautious joy. "I'm going to pick him up, will you come with me?"

“I’m very busy,” Su Ning replied briefly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the key. “Jiuzhou Real Estate has just completed its restructuring, and there are many things to handle.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "A-Ning, he is, after all, your father..."

“Let me correct you! I have never acknowledged him as my father. My father will always be Su Daqiang.” Su Ning interrupted her. “Besides, when he set up this scheme, he didn’t treat me like a son. If I had been even a little bit naive, the entire Kyushu Group’s internet business would have been his.”

"..." Zhao Shanghong on the other end of the phone understood this principle perfectly well, but she never expected Su Ning's methods to be so ruthless.

After hanging up the phone, Suning took a brown paper bag from the safe.

Inside was a "secret plan" that Zhao Xin had given him before he went to prison, containing dirt on all the former senior executives of Jinhai Group, including financial fraud, commercial bribery, and even several unreported murder cases.

Zhao Xin's original words were: "Before I get out, use these to make them behave."

But Zhao Xin didn't expect that Suning wouldn't follow the script he had envisioned.

After obtaining these materials, the first thing Suning did was to convene a board meeting and remove all these "veterans" from the board, including his own uncle Zhao Dabiao.

"Your father wants you to stabilize the situation temporarily so he can make a triumphant return when he comes out." Yang Ce's words still echoed in Su Ning's ears.

This former legal counsel for Jinhai Group is now Suning's most trusted advisor.

As Suning picked up his coat to leave, the internal phone rang.

"President Su, Chen Hongxiong is downstairs and wants to see you."

"Let him wait." A glint of light flashed in Su Ning's eyes. "Just say I'm in an important meeting."

"Yes, Mr. Su."

Three hours later, when Su Ning finally appeared in the meeting room, Chen Hongxiong was already looking ashen-faced.

This man, who was about the same age as Su Ning, had a sharply defined face, and a scar on his right eyebrow made him look particularly fierce.

"President Su, you have quite the airs," Chen Hongxiong sneered. "Even that Zhao Sanjin would have to be very polite to me."

Suning sat down unhurriedly and gestured for his assistant to pour tea.

"Does it have anything to do with me?"

"you……"

“I’ve just taken over the group. I used to work in the internet industry, so I really don’t know much about real estate. There’s a lot going on.” He pushed a document over. “This is the material you requested from Yang Ce, all the evidence about that incident fourteen years ago.”

Chen Hongxiong eagerly opened the document, his fingers trembling slightly.

But soon, his expression changed from expectation to confusion, and finally to anger.

"What kind of evidence is this? Just a few photos and blurry bank statements?" He slammed the file shut. "Where's the evidence that Zhao Xin hired someone to kill my whole family? Didn't Yang Ce say he had irrefutable evidence?"

Su Ning took a sip of tea, her eyes as calm as a deep pool.

"Chen Hongxiong, don't be anxious! This is all Yang Ce gave me, but I feel things might not be that simple."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever wondered why Nalan Changsheng would suddenly approach you and tell you that Zhao Xin is the mastermind?" Su Ning put down his teacup. "As far as I know, the Nalan family and the Qi, Chen, and Wang families are sworn enemies."

Chen Hongxiong narrowed his eyes: "Did you find out something?"

Suning took an old-fashioned tape recorder out of his briefcase and pressed play.

Amidst the crackling of electricity, an aged voice slowly spoke:

"Zhao Xin came to me and asked why I sent people to kill the Chen and Wang families. I told him that I was also framed by the Chen and Wang families, and they had evidence against me. I told Zhao Xin to take the evidence to Nalan Changsheng."

Chen Hongxiong's face turned deathly pale: "This is..."

“The recording Qi Wufu left behind before his death.” Su Ning turned off the recorder. “The enemy you’ve hated for fourteen years is actually the one who took the blame for the Qi family. Nalan Changsheng used your hatred for Zhao Xin to make you a pawn in his revenge.”

The meeting room was eerily quiet.

Chen Hongxiong's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Impossible," he muttered. "I saw the assassin get out of Zhao Xin's car with my own eyes."

“That was arranged by Nalan Changsheng.” Su Ning’s voice was as cold as ice. “You were blinded by hatred and lost even the most basic judgment. If Zhao Sanjin was the real culprit, he should have killed you back then, and there would be no need for him to raise Qi Dongcao.”

Chen Hongxiong suddenly sprang to his feet, grabbing Su Ning by the collar: "You're in cahoots with Zhao Xin!"

He reached for his waist with his other hand.

Suning was prepared and broke free with a sidestep, simultaneously delivering a chop to Chen Hongxiong's wrist.

A pistol fell onto the carpet with a dull thud.

"Possessing firearms illegally is an even more serious crime." Su Ning picked up the gun and took out a voice recorder from his pocket. "Adding to what you just admitted to, it's enough to give you a heavy sentence."

Chen Hongxiong was stunned, then burst into wild laughter: "Good! Very good! You truly deserve to be Zhao Sanjin's good eldest son."

He lunged at Su Ning, shouting, "I'll take you down with me even if I die!"

Five minutes later, when the security guards rushed into the meeting room, they found Chen Hongxiong lying on the ground with a bruised and swollen face, while Su Ning was slowly adjusting his cuffs.

Players like Chen Hongxiong, who are known for their high spending on in-game purchases, are a joke; they are no match for Suning.

"Call the police," Su Ning said to the security guard. "Yes, Mr. Su."

Then he crouched down and whispered in Chen Hongxiong's ear, "Your mother is in the special care ward of Renhe Hospital. I will arrange for someone to take care of her. This is my last act of kindness towards you."

When Chen Hongxiong was taken away, he glanced back at Su Ning, his gaze so complex it was chilling.

Hatred, resentment, despair, and a hint of barely perceptible relief.

……

Three days later, Zhao Xin was released from prison.

Zhao Xin's brother-in-law, Huang Yuyang, was also driven away by Su Ning, who picked him up in that familiar black Mercedes.

As soon as they got in the car, Zhao Xin asked, "Yu Yang, where's Suning?"

"I don't know! I've already been kicked out by him," Huang Yuyang replied dejectedly.

Zhao Xin sneered: "Go straight to the company."

"Brother-in-law, I think we should forget about it! Jinhai Group no longer exists."

"..." Zhao Sanjin understood this principle perfectly well.

When the car was driving through the city, Zhao Xin called for it to stop.

He walked to a roadside bookstall and picked up a copy of "The Gilded Age"—a book written by Chen Hongxiong that exposed the inside story of the Jinhai Group.

The bookseller said enthusiastically, "This book is selling very well. The self-made entrepreneur in it is a role model for young people!"

Zhao Xin turned to the title page, which contained the protagonist's biography—he was based on Zhao Xin.

He closed the book and threw it back onto the stall: "It's outdated."

When Zhao Xin stepped into Jiuzhou Real Estate, all the employees stopped what they were doing.

Although this former business tycoon was wearing an ordinary jacket, the oppressive aura he exuded made the air seem to freeze.

He walked straight to the chairman's office and pushed open the door...

Su Ning was sitting in his original seat, with the latest equity structure diagram of Kyushu Real Estate spread out in front of him.

Zhao Xin's name is no longer among the major shareholders, and even his confidants have been swept away.

"Mr. Zhao, welcome back." Su Ning looked up with a polite smile. "Perfect timing, there's a document that needs your signature."

At this moment, Zhao Xin's gaze involuntarily fell on the document on the table, which was a statement of voluntarily relinquishing all equity in Jinhai Group.

“You’re more capable than I thought.” Zhao Xin’s voice was calm, but the veins on his temples betrayed his anger. “Su Daqiang trained you very well! I underestimated you.”

Su Ning stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet, and poured two glasses of whiskey: "Your idea is good! But unfortunately, I don't trust you at all. When you had Qi Dongcao contact me, it meant I had already roughly guessed your true purpose."

He then handed Zhao Xin a glass of whiskey, saying, "But don't worry, I haven't touched a penny of your properties and savings. It's enough for you and Huang Fangfei to enjoy your retirement."

Zhao Xin didn't take the wine glass, but suddenly asked, "Where's Chen Hongxiong?"

"He was formally arrested yesterday on suspicion of multiple murders and illegal possession of firearms. This second time, it won't be so easy." Su Ning took a sip of her drink. "By the way, Nalan Changsheng was also taken away by the police last night, suspected of commercial fraud and organizing a criminal organization. What a coincidence, isn't it?"

Their gazes met in mid-air, neither looking away first.

"How about leaving some shares for your younger brother, Zhao Yange?"

"No! He's your son, he has nothing to do with me."

Finally, Zhao Xin suddenly laughed: "Good! Very good! You're ruthless enough! No wonder you're Zhao Sanjin's son."

“…” Su Ning simply drank his whiskey without saying a word.

Then Zhao Sanjin picked up a pen, signed his name on the document, and said, "But son, remember one thing..."

"Old ginger is spicier?" Su Ning raised an eyebrow and answered quickly.

“No.” Zhao Xin threw down his pen. “It’s like the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. I will not give up so easily.”

"Haha, great! I'm waiting for your triumphant return."

At this point, Zhao Sanjin was naturally unwilling, but if he didn't transfer these 19% of the shares to Suning, Suning had plenty of ways to dilute these shares.

Suning, however, gave these shares to Qi Dongcao and Wang Hou, which can be considered a way of distributing shares.

……

When Qi Dongcao pushed open the door to Suning's office, he was reviewing the renovation plan for Jiuzhoufang Plaza.

It's worth noting that the former Jinhai Group also owned some commercial complexes, which Suning plans to rename as "Jiuzhoufang Plaza".

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating half of his face and highlighting his sharp features.

"Su Ning, do you have to be so ruthless?" Qi Dongcao put the coffee on the table, her voice filled with disapproval. "After all, Dad has never done anything to wrong you."

Su Ning paused slightly with the pen in his hand, and a small dot of ink smudged on the paper.

He raised his head, his eyes as cold as the Siberian permafrost.

“Dongcao, I thought you were a smart person, but now you’ve disappointed me so much.” He closed the folder. “The business battlefield is not a place for moral hypocrites and overly compassionate people.”

Qi Dongcao bit her lower lip: "But he has already handed over his most core businesses to you..."

"Hmph! He had no choice but to hand it over." Su Ning sneered. "He set up a scheme to bring me back to take over Jinhai, just to use me to stabilize the situation so he could make a 'triumphant return' after his release from prison, right? Too bad..."

He stood up, walked to the window and looked down at the panoramic view of the city. "I understand the workings of capital better than he thinks. I can't be so naive as to believe in his morality."

Qi Dongcao noticed that Suning's computer screen displayed an equity structure diagram, and Zhao Sanjin's name had been moved to the very edge.

She suddenly realized that the twenty-two-year-old in front of her had been a man-eating tiger from beginning to end.

“Moreover,” Suning turned around, a cold smile playing on his lips, “my main business is in internet e-commerce, and Jinhai Group’s physical retail network perfectly fills the gap in our offline presence. This acquisition is perfect.”

"You're not even going to show Dad the last bit of mercy?"

Su Ning's eyes never left the screen: "Sister Dongcao, do you know why Zhao Sanjin lost?"

Before she could answer, he continued, "Because he thinks I'm a fool! I learned to do business from a young age in Shanghai."

He opened a new proposal titled "Online and Offline Omnichannel Integration Solution".

In this strategic layout that combines internet e-commerce with physical retail, Suning has already seen a more distant future, a grand future that Zhao Sanjin can never comprehend.

Outside the window, the setting sun dyed the entire city blood red.

The shadows in the office gradually lengthened, swallowing Suning's figure into darkness.

Only the light from the computer screen reflected on his face, flickering intermittently.

...(End of chapter)