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Suning stood in the test hangar of the Fish Aero X1, its silver-gray streamlined fuselage reflecting the cold light of the overhead lights.

He reached out and ran his hand over the air intake of the vertical takeoff and landing engine, feeling the cool touch of metal on his fingertips.

This product, hailed by the American magazine "Frontiers in Technology" as a "revolutionary product that will change the way we travel in the 21st century," is currently sitting quietly in this independent R&D center, far from the headquarters of the Wang Group.

"Mr. Wang, the FAA certification has been rejected again." Technical Director Lin Yi walked over quickly, his tablet displaying the latest email. "This time they raised seventeen more security concerns than last time."

Suning took the tablet, a cold smile creeping onto his lips: "The seventeenth rejection, a record."

He swiped the screen, and the obstructive intent hidden beneath the technical jargon became blatantly obvious. "Have the Ministry of Justice prepare the materials; we'll file a complaint with the WTO."

The phone vibrated in my pocket.

The words "Second Master" on the screen made Su Ning's brow twitch; calling at this time was anything but ordinary.

He strode toward his office, and after the fingerprint lock was recognized, the smart system automatically activated the anti-eavesdropping mode.

"Second Master, I'm on the safe line."

The old man's hoarse but powerful voice came from the other end of the phone: "Those people held another secret meeting today. The Americans offered 30% more per share than the market price."

Suning's fingers tapped unconsciously on the desk, the rhythm quickening.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the setting sun bathed the entire R&D park in a crimson hue.

His decision three years ago to sever ties with the core technology from the Wang Group now seems incredibly prescient.

Those shareholders from Taiwan have always treated the mainland market as nothing more than a cash machine.

“They can’t sell it.” Su Ning’s voice was calm. “The right of first refusal clause you set up back then…”

“But the clause is only valid for four months.” Wang Zongyao coughed twice. “Moreover, the Americans are lobbying the Taiwanese authorities to declare that the clause is ‘incompatible with the Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Act.’”

The air in the office suddenly felt thick and sticky.

Suning walked to the window and saw engineers conducting final flight checks on the test track.

The Fish Aero X1 rose gracefully vertically, like a silver dragonfly hovering in the twilight.

This scene should have made him proud, but now it feels like a sharp blade pressed against his throat.

"Second Master, I have an idea." Su Ning turned around and took out a folder labeled "Phoenix Project" from the safe. "It's time for the Wang Group to consider delisting."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of papers turning over.

Wang Zongyao was clearly looking at the same document, the one that Suning had personally delivered last week.

"Duoyu, have you calculated how much capital is needed? Although the stock price has dropped by 30%, it's still a long way to acquire the shares held by those people..."

"Second Master, if we factor in the anticipated US sanctions, the stock price will fall further." Su Ning opened his computer and pulled up a financial model. "I've already had the shell companies in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands prepare the cash flow. The key is to be quick, before they can react..."

A rapid knocking interrupted him.

The assistant rushed in, looking flustered: "Mr. Wang, we just received news that the U.S. Department of Commerce has added the Wang Group to the Entity List!"

Suning's pupils suddenly contracted.

This is at least two weeks earlier than expected.

He immediately switched to the stock market interface, and the stock price of Wang's Group plummeted like a kite with a broken string, triggering the circuit breaker mechanism in the blink of an eye.

"Second Master, it's starting." Su Ning said in a deep voice into the phone, "Have Attorney Chen activate Clause 4.3 immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Suning took out an antique-looking copper key from deep inside a drawer.

This was something Second Master gave him separately when he handed over the Wang Group, saying it was the Wang family's "life-saving charm".

He didn't understand then, but now he finally does...

The safe containing the key contained Wang Zongyao's shares, which he had secretly acquired through various offshore companies in his early years, accounting for a full 18% of the Wang Group.

With his current public ownership of shares in the Wang Group, this battle to protect his equity is now completely won.

Lin Yi rushed in, flustered: "President Wang, the media is reporting on the Entity List issue, and the representatives of the shareholders in Taiwan are demanding an immediate video conference!"

Suning gripped the key tightly in his hand, the sharp metal edges digging painfully into his palm.

He looked out the window. The Fish Aero X1 was undergoing a high-speed taxiing test, the roar of its engine penetrating the soundproof glass like the howling of an awakened beast.

“Tell them I’ll be there in an hour.” Su Ning opened the wardrobe and took out the custom-made suit he only wore on important occasions. “Also, notify the finance department to suspend all fund transfers to the Taiwan subsidiary.”

"Yes, Mr. Wang."

In the dressing mirror, 39-year-old Su Ning saw the same light shining in her eyes as the day Second Master found her.

He still vividly remembers the seemingly flattering but actually contemptuous looks from the Taiwanese shareholders when he took over this business empire three years ago.

At the time, they were just waiting for this "nouveau riche" from mainland China to bring down the group so that they could legitimately introduce American capital.

The phone vibrated again.

It was an encrypted message from Second Master: "Duoyu, I have contacted the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. They are willing to provide a bridge loan. The condition is that you must ensure that the core technology does not leave the mainland."

Suning's fingers, which were tying his tie, trembled slightly.

This wasn't nervousness, but rather the excitement of finally reaching the decisive moment.

He opened the safe and took out a stack of share transfer agreements...

These are the shares he secretly acquired from minority shareholders through various channels over the past six months. Combined with the portion secretly held by the second master, the total is close to 51%.

The video conferencing system automatically turned on, and all twelve boxes lit up simultaneously.

The faces of the Taiwanese shareholders appeared on the screen; some were ashen-faced, while others had a smug look in their eyes.

Li Shiming, who is in charge, is the group's third-largest shareholder and also the one with the closest ties to the United States.

"President Wang, you must explain why the core technology isn't under the group's control!" Li Shiming cut to the chase. "Now the entire group is being sanctioned, and the stock price has plummeted by 40%. You bear full responsibility!"

Suning slowly adjusted his cuffs, and only after all the cameras were pointed at him did he slowly speak: "Page 56 of the 2018 Board of Directors' minutes clearly records your resolution to oppose the Group's investment in new energy research and development. You were the ones who called it a 'bottomless pit of money'."

“Times have changed!” another shareholder slammed his fist on the table. “Now the Americans have made it clear that as long as we include flying car technology in the group’s assets, they will reconsider the sanctions!”

Suning suddenly laughed.

This smile silenced everyone on the other side of the screen.

They then noticed that the display screen behind Suning was broadcasting a live webcast of the Fish Aero X1's first public test flight...

More than 20 million people watched online, and the barrage of comments was full of amazement.

"Do you all remember the equity transfer restrictions my second uncle implemented back then?" Su Ning clicked on the remote control, and the conference room's large screen switched to a page of legal documents. "Any shareholder attempting to sell shares to foreign investors will automatically trigger the preemptive repurchase clause."

Li Shiming's expression changed drastically: "This clause has been deemed invalid by the legal team..."

“The interpretation that doesn’t fit is from Taiwan.” Suning then switched the screen to show the ruling from the Supreme People’s Court in Beijing. “But the Wang Group is registered in the Cayman Islands and its headquarters are in Xihong City, where the legality of the terms has just been confirmed.”

"..." At this moment, the shareholders present were completely dumbfounded.

The stock price continued to fall, but Suning knew that it no longer mattered.

He looked at the camera, his voice as calm as if he were discussing the weather: "Now I'm giving you two choices: sell your shares to me at 80% of today's closing price, or wait and see if the stock price drops another 50% tomorrow."

Just as the shareholders were getting agitated, the office door was pushed open again.

Second Master Wang Zongyao walked in leaning on a cane, followed by five bank representatives in suits.

The old man smiled confidently at the camera: "I forgot to tell you all, the Bank of China just approved a 300 billion yuan acquisition loan."

Suning took the tablet from his assistant, which displayed a confirmation letter of funding that had just been sent by Credit Suisse.

When he looked up, he saw that several shareholders on the screen had already started wiping their sweat.

The moment of reckoning has finally come for this game.

“Oh, right,” Su Ning said as if suddenly remembering something, pulling a brass key from her pocket and waving it around. “My second grandfather left me more than just this. He also left me 18% of the group’s shares, which he acquired over the past twenty years through various channels.”

There was deathly silence in the conference room.

Li Shiming's face contorted on the screen for a moment before the connection was suddenly lost.

But that's irrelevant now. Suning knows that when the sun rises tomorrow, the Wang Group will usher in a new era.

……

Suning stood in the boardroom on the top floor of the Wang Group headquarters, his fingers tracing the gleaming mahogany conference table.

The thirty-two leather seats were empty, and the electronic screens on the wall were all black. Only the skyline of Xihong City outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was gradually awakening in the morning light.

Just a month ago, this place was a battlefield where various forces were vying for power.

Now, with the completion of the final equity transfer, this 60-year-old business empire has completely shed its status as a listed company and become a private enterprise under his complete control.

"Mr. Wang, the China Securities Regulatory Commission has approved our delisting application." The general counsel handed over the last document. "From today onwards, the Wang Group will no longer be subject to any shareholder's control."

Suning took the document, his gaze falling on the spot where the listed company's logo used to hang. Now it was completely empty, like a wound after a piece of rotten flesh had been cut away—painful, but finally clean.

"Notify all department heads that there will be a meeting at nine o'clock." Su Ning loosened his tie. "It's time to show the Americans what the Chinese can do without their 'guidance'."

As he turned around, he caught a glimpse of the paper shredder in the corner of the conference room.

There were still a few scraps of paper left inside, which were the board meeting minutes that the Taiwanese shareholders had angrily torn up before leaving.

Su Ning curled a cold smile at the corner of his mouth, took out a stack of brand-new documents from his briefcase, and the four words "Phoenix Project" embossed in gold on the cover shone brightly in the morning light.

……

The main server room on the third basement level is ten times busier than usual.

In the holographic projection, the group's new organizational structure resembles a thriving technology tree, with each branch marked as representing a breakthrough area: 7-nanometer lithography machine, quantum computer prototype, Fish Aero X2 flying car...

"Mr. Wang, the X2's range test results are in!" The chief engineer excitedly pulled up the data. "1024 kilometers! More than double that of the previous generation!"

The technical team erupted in cheers.

Suning stared at the screen showing the flying car being tested on the Qinghai Plateau. The silver-gray fuselage swept across the snow-capped peaks, like a phoenix reborn.

This groundbreaking product, which was banned from entering the US by the Federal Aviation Administration for "security reasons," is about to have a full-scale explosion in the Chinese market.

"Mass production progress?"

"The Hefei factory has completed its automation upgrade and will be able to produce 50 units per day next month," the production director said, swiping a tablet. "But our inventory of carbon fiber materials and avionics chips is only enough to last three months."

Suning's eyes darkened.

Both of these key materials are on the U.S. sanctions list.

Just as he was about to speak, his assistant rushed over: "Mr. Su, your wife called and said she's waiting for you in the garage."

"I see."

In the private area of ​​the underground parking garage, Liu Yifei leaned against a low-key black Hongqi car.

Upon seeing Su Ning approach, she took off her sunglasses, the weariness in her eyes unable to conceal the brilliance within.

"Why don't you go up?" Su Ning held his wife's slightly cool hand.

"I wanted to give you a surprise." Liu Yifei opened the back door of the car, revealing three sealed metal boxes inside. "They were just shipped from Dalian Port. They contain 99.9999% pure electronic-grade polysilicon, enough for the lithography machine project for six months."

Suning touched the Russian label on the box in shock: "How could you..."

“Remember Vladimir, whom I met at the Bordeaux Wine Association? He’s now the second-in-command of the Russian Ministry of Industry,” Liu Yifei said casually, then took out a document from her bag. “In addition, the Middle East sovereign wealth fund is willing to provide interest-free loans on the condition that we help them build a flying car production line.”

Sunlight streamed in through the garage skylight, casting dappled patterns of light on his wife's delicate profile.

Suning suddenly remembered their wedding seven years ago, when the media said the marriage was a business transaction.

Who would have thought that this actress, who was considered a pretty face by outsiders, would now become his strongest supporter?

"When you did the buyback, how many assets did you pledge?" Su Ning suddenly asked.

Liu Yifei blinked: "Three villas, two private jets, all the wineries and luxury brands under my ownership, and... all my jewelry."

Seeing her husband's expression change, she added with a smile, "Don't worry, I haven't touched the dowry my mother gave me. Besides..."

She leaned close to Su Ning's ear, her warm breath carrying the familiar scent of perfume, "Second Master secretly told me that once the lithography machines are mass-produced, all of this will be recouped with interest."

The car phone suddenly rang.

The hoarse voice of Second Master Wang Zongyao came through: "The military leaders want to see the flying car tomorrow morning. Also, the head of the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund will arrive this afternoon, specifically requesting to discuss investment in lithography machines."

After hanging up the phone, the couple smiled at each other.

In the past six months, as US sanctions have intensified, state capital, which once kept its distance from private enterprises, is now gravitating toward the Wang Group at an alarming rate.

"Let's go home! I want a child." Liu Yifei opened the car door.

"Okay! I have to go to Hefei tomorrow. There can't be any mistakes in the mass production of the X2."

His wife nodded knowingly, then suddenly grabbed his tie, forcing him to lower his head, and left a rose-scented kiss on his lips: "Don't overwork yourself, Mr. Wang."

She winked mischievously, "The whole company is counting on you now."

"Let's go home and make a baby."

……

The lights in the Hefei factory stayed on all night.

Suning stood in the control room, looking down at the automated production line through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The robotic arm, like an elegant dancer, precisely assembles every component of the flying car.

Three months ago, this place could only produce traditional electric vehicles.

"Mr. Wang, I have a question." The factory manager hesitated before speaking, "The American software company notified us that starting next week, we are prohibited from using their industrial design software."

Suning didn't even flinch: "Switch to domestic alternatives."

"But the conversion takes time, and there are functionalities involved."

"Then let's work overtime!" Su Ning suddenly raised his voice, which echoed in the control room. "Tell the team that for every day the conversion is completed ahead of schedule, everyone's bonus will double!"

He walked to the window, where the first batch of Fish Aero X2s, rolling off the production line, were neatly arranged in the night, ready to be shipped to experience centers across the country.

These flying cars, which have been ridiculed by American media as "science fiction toys," have already exceeded 50,000 units in pre-orders.

The phone vibrated.

It was a photo sent by his wife, Liu Yifei: she had made a delicious four-dish meal and a soup, with the caption "Waiting for you to come home for dinner."

Su Ning's cold expression softened for a moment. He replied, "I'll be back when I'm done."

Putting down his phone, Su Ning turned to the technical team: "The military is coming to inspect tomorrow morning; I need the X2 to perform a formation flight demonstration. Also..."

He pulled up an encrypted blueprint and said, "Make the vertical take-off and landing module a separate, detachable type, with a reserved weapon interface."

The engineers exchanged surprised glances.

This change means that flying car technology may be converted for military use.

But no one objected...

With the United States increasingly tightening its grip, the lines between commerce and defense are becoming increasingly blurred.

At 3 a.m., when the last X2 unit rolled off the production line after completing testing, Suning received even more exciting news: Shanghai Microelectronics announced a collaboration with the Wang Group to jointly overcome the final technical hurdles of the 7-nanometer lithography machine.

This means that China's semiconductor industry will gain true autonomy.

On the return helicopter trip, Suning looked down at the Yangtze River Delta before dawn.

Amidst the scattered lights, the research and development center and factory belonging to the Wang Group shine like a string of pearls.

"A true entrepreneur can make the entire industry chain shine together."

Outside the porthole, the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds.

On the highway below, a transport truck bearing the Fish Aero logo is heading towards Shanghai Port...

There is a cargo ship waiting to transport the flying car to Russia.

The American blockade? It's just a small roadblock that you have to go around.

Suning opened his tablet and brought up a world map.

The above lists the overseas sales centers planned to be established over the next three years: Minsk, Tehran, Karachi...

Each red dot represents a chess piece that is about to be placed.

He tapped the screen lightly, and a new red dot appeared on the map...

A small country in Latin America has the world's largest lithium reserves.

As the helicopter began its descent, Suning saw his wife standing on the rooftop of the headquarters building, waving beautifully at him.

This scene suddenly made him feel happy.

The Wang Group, which was torn apart by various forces a year ago, is dead, and the new phoenix is ​​about to spread its wings and soar.

“Notify all senior executives,” Suning told his assistant, “starting next week, the group will officially launch the new logo.”

He pulled up the design drawings...

A phoenix reborn from the ashes, its outstretched wings forming the letters W and S, is both an abbreviation of the Wang family name and a declaration of "king" and "victory".

...(End of chapter)