"Is there really no way to get any money out?"
After some contemplation, the Chief Financial Officer stretched out five fingers, "We can manage a maximum of five hundred thousand, and that’s only if we cut costs and increase revenue."
After the meeting disbanded, Shen Lan remained visibly distressed.
She had considered using her own money for investment.
But most of her personal savings were already invested in the company, especially recently in order to win a bet, where she put in quite a lot.
At home... she heard there was some trouble recently with shipping, so it wasn’t a good time to ask for money.
Her sister-in-law had been struggling with cash outflows for initial public offerings and had even thrown her dowry into it, leaving her with no spare money to lend.
Back in the office, Shen Lan began scrolling through her contact list, thinking about which boss she could possibly get credit from.
He Wen knocked and walked in, placing a stack of documents on the desk.
"Sis, these are the minutes from the meeting. Please have a look."
"Okay, just leave them there, I’ll look at them later."
He Wen noticed the screen of her phone.
"Sis, thinking about borrowing money again?"
"Yeah," Shen Lan sighed, "That program is really good, I want to take the chance and gamble a bit, variety adds spice, doesn’t it?"
"These big bosses know our company is short on funds; they surely won’t lend us any. Unless they want you to join them for drinks, and didn’t you just blacklist one of them?"
"That can’t be helped; I might just have to endure just another meal."
He Wen was about to persuade her otherwise when she suddenly recalled something, "Sis, don’t you still have some money? Why go borrow from others? There’s still quite a bit left on that card you gave me."
Shen Lan was surprised, "How is that possible? The card I gave you was for buying Mid-Autumn Festival gifts for our staff, there was only about a hundred thousand in it, what could it possibly cover?"
"No, when I swiped it last time I caught a glimpse, there were several zeros. At least... a million."
Shen Lan was stunned, then quickly logged onto mobile banking.
Checking, she found that the account still had a balance of over two million.
The records showed that someone just deposited two million into this account last week.
Shen Lan was shocked.
Seeing her expression, He Wen vaguely guessed something.
"Sis, that’s your personal account, right? Not many people know about it, and ordinary people wouldn’t transfer so much money to you, right? Could it be..."
Shen Lan immediately checked the remitting account.
It wasn’t a foreign IP, but a local IP from the Capital.
Her tone was somewhat disappointed.
He Wen felt a loss too.
"Ah, so it’s not Brother Ming Yu. But he’s been too indifferent, not keeping in touch and only calling occasionally to casually inquire after you, that’s just..."
"Enough, don’t say anymore." Shen Lan’s face looked troubled, "I owe him that. If I hadn’t pushed him so hard back then, his illness wouldn’t have gotten so bad. It’s all in the past. If avoiding it makes him feel better, then let it be."
He Wen wanted to say more, but Shen Lan’s phone rang, and she had to close her mouth and step aside.
It was a strange incoming call, but Shen Lan still answered.
"Hello, Xiao Lan, oh no, I mean, Mr. Shen, long time no see—hss, it’s me, President Zhao. We just had drinks a few days ago. I was out of line that night, I shouldn’t have said those things at the table and then made improper advances. You were right to call the police..."
Shen Lan was both astonished and intrigued.
You should know that President Zhao is notoriously ill-tempered and not easy to provoke. A few days ago, at a dinner party, he became furious when she refused to drink with him, and the conflict escalated to the point where both of them ended up at the police station.
Even so, he still didn’t apologize or reconcile, and she was busy with other things, so she didn’t bother anymore and just blocked him.
But today, he unexpectedly called to say all this.
"President Zhao, what are you trying to sell me this time?" Shen Lan squinted her eyes.
The sobbing from the other end was almost audible.
"Mr. Shen, I really have no other intentions. I called today solely to apologize. It was my fault before, and I hope you, being magnanimous, can forgive me. Oh right, about that advertising spot we were both bidding for – I don’t want it anymore. You can have it. Please, you must forgive me."
Shen Lan was even more astonished.
That prime-time advertising spot had always been fiercely contested by President Zhao’s company; how could he suddenly give it up?
"Would you be willing to forgive me then?" freēwēbnovel.com
The voice on the other end became exceedingly cautious.
Even He Wen was shocked, her eyes wide as she mouthed, "Is he on the wrong medication?"
Shen Lan shook her head, then smiled, "President Zhao is willing to give up such a big piece of the pie for me, how could I not forgive? Just keep things honest, and we’ll still be good friends."
"Good, good, good, that’s great, thank you, Mr. Shen."
President Zhao clumsily hung up the phone, then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He glanced at a circle of bodyguards in black suits surrounding him before his gaze settled on a man in the corner wearing a peaked cap, his face unclear.
"Big, big brother, I made the call and apologized, can I go now?"
The man answered coldly, and the bodyguard restraining him let go of his hands.
President Zhao quickly nodded and bowed as he dashed out of the private room, scrambled down to the basement, and dove into his car.
The assistant, seeing his state, was very puzzled.
"President Zhao, why be afraid of those people? Don’t we have brothers on our side? Just a phone call away."
President Zhao threw the handkerchief he was holding onto him.
"Nonsense, what do you know? Didn’t you see the emblem that the chief bodyguard had on? That’s the damn Gu Group seal, something no one dares to imitate. That man must be from the Gu Family, a force we cannot afford to offend!"
"Shen Lan seemed to have a tough temper, but unexpectedly, there’s such a strong backing behind her. Xingmei Entertainment’s future is boundless. From now on, remind our people to be polite to them, and don’t provoke anyone we shouldn’t."
"Yes, President Zhao, I’ll remember that."
Inside the private room, the chief bodyguard looked towards the man sitting in the corner who had not moved at all.
"Sir, is everything settled?"
The man nodded, "Mhm."
"What shall we do next..."
"No, no need for you, you guys can go ahead."
About a dozen people gradually left the private room.
After seeing everyone out, Jiang Mingyu finally took off his hat, revealing a stubbly face, and sighed deeply before collapsing on the sofa.
The first time threatening someone... it really was quite a peculiar feeling.
Lanlan should be a bit happier now, right?
Now that he had returned to the country, he would do his best to help her and make up for everything he owed her.
Just as Jiang Li had said.
Everything is up to us.