Tension perated the Gu family’s villa. Master Gu nervously paced as he unsuccessfully tried contacting the n he had enlisted. He feared they had been apprehended by the authorities.
"Please stop pacing, you’re making dizzy," Mada Gu implored.
Master Gu erupted, "How can I relax? If those incompetent fools get caught, we stand to lose much more than money. Kidnapping, attempted murder - they’d imprison without hesitation!"
"But dad," interjected Gu Hua, "you never instructed them to shoot Mr. Tang’s mom."
Master Gu snapped, "You don’t understand. If they even utter my na, our family will be ruined."
Mada Gu wrung her hands anxiously. "What will we do if those n implicate you? Our family’s reputation and business would never recover from such a scandal."
Master Gu pounded his fist on the desk. "You think I don’t know that? If word gets out about my involvent, we’ll lose everything we’ve worked for!"
Just then, Master Gu’s phone rang. He hurriedly answered it, his face draining of color as he listened.
"It was one of the n," he inford his family grimly after hanging up. "The police chased and cornered them. They opened fire during the standoff."
Mada Gu gasped. "Were they..."
"Killed," Master Gu confird. He poured himself a glass of brandy with a shaking hand. "At least they won’t be able to talk now."
Gu Hua looked shocked. "You can’t an you’re relieved they’re dead? This is awful, Dad!"
Master Gu scowled. "Hold your tongue! This is what happens when desperate n take desperate asures. Those fools knew the risks." He downed his drink in one gulp. "Now, we pray their deaths cover our tracks..."
"This isn’t over," Mada Gu declared. "The authorities will investigate those dead n’s connections and dealings."
"Shut up and let think!" Master Gu snapped.
Mada Gu erupted, "Don’t you dare yell at ! This entire catastrophe is your fault. You’re the one who concocted that reckless sche to stop Mr. Tang from testifying."
"Oh, so now I’m to bla?" Master Gu retorted. "You were perfectly happy to go along with my plans to save this family from losing 100 million yuan in that lawsuit. But now you point fingers!"
"Enough!" interjected Gu Hua. "Your bickering isn’t helping. We need to devise a plan quickly before the police uncover anything tying us to those criminals."
Mada Gu scowled. "Well I refuse to go down in flas for your foolhardy plotting. If you won’t take responsibility, I’ll—-"
"Quiet, both of you!" Master Gu growled. "The only responsibility that matters now is sticking together..." He gazed intensely at his wife. "Unless you believe otherwise? In which case, the authorities would undoubtedly like to know how complicit you were in this little endeavor of mine..."
The room fell silent, all eyes fixed on Mada Gu as the weight of her next words hung over the Gu family.
"Fine, what’s your brilliant idea to get us out of this ss?" Mada Gu challenged.
Gu Hua interjected, "We can only wait and pray those fools disposed of any evidence tying us to them."
Master Gu slamd his fist down. "This disaster is the fault of that wretched lawyer, Ao Junfeng! Why did he have to co all the way from Beijing to defend those workers pro bono?"
Gu Hua suggested, "Perhaps soone powerful sent him specifically to target you, dad."
Master Gu wondered aloud, "But who? A rival businessman? An old enemy?"
His words sparked a startling realization in Mada Gu. Could Ao Junfeng be in league with Li Yanyan? As she poured herself so wine with a shaky hand, mories ca rushing back - she recognized Ao Junfeng from sowhere. His face was so familiar, like soone she used to know. Mada Gu concealed her speculations as her mind raced furiously.
Suddenly, Master Gu’s phone rang. He answered with an irritated "What is it?" The man on the other end exclaid, "Master Gu, please hurry! We have an ergency - clients are pulling out and our stock price is plunging!"
"What did you just say?" Master Gu shouted incredulously before dropping his phone in shock. He scrambled to grab his coat as Mada Gu questioned alard, "What is happening?"
"It’s the company..." Master Gu uttered grimly. "Our stock valuation is crashing and clients are withdrawing contracts without notice. I need to get down there now to salvage this situation."
Mada Gu and Gu Hua stood stunned as Master Gu rushed out. How was this possible? It was just one lost lawsuit. Why were clients reacting so swiftly without even waiting for an official statent?
"Could the company’s enemies be making moves already?" Gu Hua wondered anxiously. "Everything was perfectly fine until dad’s plans went array..."
Mada Gu felt a chill down her spine. Perhaps Li Yanyan had not been content to just exact personal revenge. Maybe she had planned this systematic destruction of the Gus all along... But they needed proof before making accusations.
"Go assist your dad at the company," Mada Gu instructed Gu Hua. "We must show a united front. I will see what more I can uncover about the lawyer Ao Junfeng’s background and ties." The mounting crisis may still play right into her hands...
"But mom, I don’t know the first thing about business," Gu Hua protested.
"Then it’s ti you learned," Mada Gu declared. "This company is your legacy - you are the Gu family heir. Now go and fight for what is yours."
Galvanized by her words, Gu Hua grabbed his coat. His mom was right - it was his duty to preserve their family empire, whatever it took. The lessons drilled into him since birth echoed in his mind: Gu’s succeed at any cost.
"I won’t fail you or dad. I’ll prove I have what it takes to lead," Gu Hua vowed vehently.
Mada Gu nodded with stern approval. "See that you do. Now go assist your dad in damage control. Ti is of the essence!"
As Gu Hua rushed out the door with fresh purpose, Mada Gu sank into a chair, exhausted but strategizing. She had to uncover who orchestrated this attack on their company while marshaling all her connections and resources to stop the bleeding. The Gu dynasty would not fall easily. She would groom Gu Hua to withstand anything. They had to prevail, no matter the cost...the Gus bow to no one.
Mada Gu sat alone, lost in thought as the gravity of the situation weighed on her. She reflected back on Li Yanyan’s vengeful threat - that woman never made idle vows. Mada Gu knew her too well. If Li promised hell would break loose, she intended to unleash it.
And this was likely just the beginning...The notion made Mada Gu tremble. If this was Li Yanyan’s opening salvo, what further havoc did she have planned? Could she expose the secrets Mada Gu had kept buried from her husband for years? Would all her dirty laundry get aired out for the whole city to see?
Mada Gu wrung her hands, mind racing through all the ways Li could destroy her. Evidence of her affairs? Proof of her cutthroat tactics? Records of all the rivals she had sabotaged over the years? It could implicate the whole family...
No, she told herself. She refused to cower before Li Yanyan’s threats. Mada Gu had her own dossier of misdeeds to wield if necessary. Two could play at this ga.
She steadied her nerves with a sip of wine. Very well, if Li insisted on initiating war, so be it. The Gus would erge victorious, no matter the collateral damage. Mada Gu would sacrifice anything - or anyone - before admitting defeat. She had fought too long and hard to get where she was.
Let Li Yanyan try her worst. All her pretty revenge would end up in ashes...along with anyone else stupid enough to ally with her against the formidable Gu family empire. This, Mada Gu swore most vehently.
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