Phoenix’s Revenge: The Business Battle

Chapter3:Hostile Takeover

"Malicious short-selling?" Gu Wanqing's voice trembled with disbelief, carrying a sense of helplessness in the night breeze of the open rooftop garden at Shengshi Capital. She fixed her gaze firmly on Shen Xubai, trying to discern any hint of jest in his calm expression. However, his eyes, as deep and solemn as the night sky outside, were full of seriousness and gravity.

"Is the information reliable?" she pressed, her tone laced with anxiety. For Jinlin Technology, already on the brink of collapse, this was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

Shen Xubai nodded and set his wine glass down on the stone table with a faint clink. "My sources have always been trustworthy. Moreover, the recent trends in Jinlin Technology’s stock price confirm this. A large influx of short positions, combined with the spread of negative news, is steadily eroding investors' confidence in Jinlin Technology."

Gu Wanqing’s face turned pale. She had been tirelessly working to restore investors' trust, but with little success. It now appeared that there was another hidden force secretly exacerbating the situation, intent on pushing Jinlin Technology into the abyss.

"Who’s behind this?" Her voice carried a trace of anger. She understood well that such a massive capital move could not be made without substantial power.

Shen Xubai shook his head, a glimmer of coldness flashing in his eyes. "We’re still investigating. The methods are subtle, and we have not yet identified the exact mastermind."

Anxiety filled Gu Wanqing’s heart. She sensed that this was no mere coincidence, and that it was likely related to the accident at the annual meeting. Cheng Yu's betrayal, the appearance of the woman in red, and now this sudden malicious short-selling—all of these seemed to point to a meticulously orchestrated conspiracy.

"Mr. Shen, what should we do now?" Gu Wanqing looked to Shen Xubai, knowing that with Shengshi Capital’s strength, they might find a way to counteract this.

Shen Xubai was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "Since the enemy has already taken action, we cannot sit idly by. Miss Gu, your betting agreement remains valid; I will not alter it due to external factors. However, I will provide the necessary support."

He paused before continuing, "First, we need to stabilize Jinlin Technology’s stock price. We cannot allow it to fall further. I will arrange for funds to enter the market and temporarily prop up the stock. Secondly, we must identify the mastermind and their motives as soon as possible. Only by understanding our opponent can we devise an effective counterattack."

Gu Wanqing nodded, feeling somewhat reassured. With Shen Xubai's help, at least they wouldn't be fighting alone.

"I will do everything I can to cooperate," she said. "I will contact the management of Jinlin Technology to stabilize the internal situation and actively assist with our investigation."

In the following days, Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai worked closely together. Shen Xubai mobilized Shengshi Capital’s resources to stabilize Jinlin Technology’s stock price, temporarily halting the bear market's assault. Meanwhile, Gu Wanqing led her team in a deep investigation of the media and accounts spreading rumors, hoping to find traces of the shadowy figures behind the scenes.

At the same time, Gu Wanqing did not neglect the internal situation at Jinlin Technology. She meticulously studied the company’s financial reports, patents, and market prospects, trying to identify undervalued assets that could restore investors' confidence.

In a thorough discussion with Jinlin Technology’s CEO, Li Ming, Gu Wanqing astutely noted that while the company’s core technology had a competitive edge, there were clear deficiencies in its market promotion and commercialization. This might have been one of the reasons the company's valuation was low and vulnerable to short-sellers.

Gu Wanqing shared her analysis with Shen Xubai. After hearing it, his eyes flashed with approval.

"Miss Gu, it seems you’ve truly invested yourself in this. Your analysis makes perfect sense. Jinlin Technology's technology is indeed impressive, but the lack of an effective market strategy is like a miser with a treasure chest who doesn't know how to turn it into wealth."

He paused before continuing, "Perhaps we could reconsider our roadshow strategy, focusing on Jinlin Technology’s technological innovations and future market potential. At the same time, we could bring in strategic investors, offering them broader market channels and resources."

Gu Wanqing found Shen Xubai's suggestion very insightful. She immediately began revising the roadshow plan, shifting the focus from the previous financial data and growth projections to the company's technological strengths and future prospects.

At the same time, Gu Wanqing continued to investigate Cheng Yu and the woman in red. She had a persistent feeling that the crisis at Jinlin Technology was connected to this. Through various channels, she learned that the woman in red, Zhao Lin, was a client manager at another investment bank and had an ambiguous relationship with Cheng Yu.

Gu Wanqing tried to contact Zhao Lin, but received no response, which deepened her suspicions.

Just as Gu Wanqing was feeling helpless, Cheng Yu reached out to her again. This time, his tone was more anxious and unsettled.

"Wanqing, I have something important to tell you," Cheng Yu’s voice trembled.

Gu Wanqing hesitated for a moment before agreeing. She needed to know what he had to say.

They arranged to meet at a quiet corner of a coffee shop. Cheng Yu looked even more haggard than the last time they met. His eyes were sunken, his face unshaven, and he appeared to have aged years in a short time.

"Wanqing, I’m sorry. I know I’ve made many mistakes, and I don’t expect your forgiveness. But there are things I must tell you," Cheng Yu said bluntly, his tone grave.

Gu Wanqing looked at him, her gaze calm, signaling for him to continue.

"The incident at the annual meeting was orchestrated," Cheng Yu whispered, his eyes scanning the surroundings nervously.

A jolt ran through Gu Wanqing’s heart. She had suspected this for some time, and now it was finally confirmed.

"Who did it?" she immediately asked.

Cheng Yu shook his head, a look of fear crossing his face. "I don’t know. That night, Zhao Lin suddenly approached me, saying an important client wanted to discuss a collaboration. I, blinded by temptation, followed her to the backstage preparation room. I never expected..."

He paused and continued, "I suspect it was all a trap, aimed at destroying your roadshow and sabotaging Jinlin Technology."

Gu Wanqing’s brow furrowed tightly. If what Cheng Yu said was true, then the hidden forces behind this weren't just targeting her but the entire Jinlin Technology.

"Why are you telling me this now?" Gu Wanqing demanded.

Cheng Yu smiled bitterly. "I was never certain before, and... I was afraid. But seeing the current state of Jinlin Technology, I can’t stay silent anymore. Wanqing, I know I’m guilty, but I don’t want you to be dragged into this too."

Gu Wanqing fell silent. She knew Cheng Yu’s words might not be entirely trustworthy, but the way he looked now didn’t seem like he was entirely lying either.

"Is there anything else you know?" she pressed.

Cheng Yu thought for a moment before responding, "That night, Zhao Lin mentioned a name... something like 'Fang'..." He struggled to recall the rest.

"‘Fang’?" Gu Wanqing searched her mind, but found no clues.

"Wait, I remember!" Cheng Yu suddenly said, "She mentioned that person was from Shengshi Capital... but I’m not sure exactly who."

Gu Wanqing’s heart sank. Shengshi Capital? Could it be Shen Xubai? That couldn’t be possible—he had always been helping her.

"Are you sure it was someone from Shengshi Capital?" Gu Wanqing asked again.

Cheng Yu hesitated. "I’m not entirely sure. She just casually mentioned it, and I didn’t think much of it. But her tone sounded like she was very familiar with that person."

Gu Wanqing’s emotions were in turmoil. If someone from Shengshi Capital was behind this, what role was Shen Xubai playing? Had he been helping her only to use her?

"Do you remember any more details? How did Zhao Lin and this person communicate? Or did they have any special way of addressing each other?" Gu Wanqing pressed for more information.

Cheng Yu shook his head, indicating that he didn’t know anything else.

Gu Wanqing stared at him, filled with doubts and uncertainty. She didn’t know how much to trust him, or if she should believe him at all. However, the clue he provided certainly pointed her toward a new line of investigation.

After parting ways with Cheng Yu, Gu Wanqing immediately relayed the information to Shen Xubai. Upon hearing it, his expression grew grave.

"Someone mentioned Shengshi Capital?" He furrowed his brows.

Gu Wanqing nodded and repeated everything Cheng Yu had told her.

Shen Xubai fell into a moment of contemplation before speaking. "I’ll have someone investigate the internal situation. If one of our people is behind this, I won’t let them off easily."

In the following days, Shen Xubai initiated an internal investigation at Shengshi Capital. Meanwhile, Gu Wanqing kept working through various channels, trying to gather more information about Zhao Lin and the mysterious "Fang" figure.

Through diligent effort, Gu Wanqing uncovered a clue. It seemed that Zhao Lin was backed by a mysterious benefactor who had strong ties to a company called "Fangda Technology."

"Fangda Technology?" Gu Wanqing shared the name with Shen Xubai.

At the mention of the name, Shen Xubai’s face turned ashen.

"Fangda Technology... that was a project Cheng Yu was in charge of," he said in a low voice.

Gu Wanqing’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Cheng Yu was behind all of this? But why would he do such a thing?

"Mr. Shen, what does this mean?" Gu Wanqing asked, confused.

Shen Xubai took a deep breath, his expression growing complicated. "Fangda Technology was a project we previously invested in, and Cheng Yu was responsible for it. But for various reasons, we eventually decided to pull out of the investment. Cheng Yu was very displeased at the time."

Gu Wanqing’s understanding clicked into place. It seemed Cheng Yu was holding a grudge, seeking revenge against Shengshi Capital, and Jinlin Technology’s IPO had become a pawn in his game. He had used Zhao Lin to approach Cheng Yu, created chaos at the annual meeting, and spread rumors to maliciously short-sell Jinlin Technology’s stock, all with the aim of ruining the project and causing Shengshi Capital to lose.

"So what should we do now?" Gu Wanqing asked.

Shen Xubai’s eyes gleamed with cold determination. "Since he’s already made his move, we’ll fight him to the end. Miss Gu, your betting agreement still stands. I will help you uncover the full truth and make sure the mastermind pays for their actions."

He paused before continuing, "But before that, we must stabilize the situation at Jinlin Technology. Since the enemy has already started, they will certainly employ more tactics. We must be fully prepared."

In the ensuing days, Gu Wanqing and Shen Xubai launched a counterattack. They worked tirelessly to clarify the negative rumors surrounding Jinlin Technology, while secretly gathering evidence of Cheng Yu and Fangda Technology’s wrongdoing.

By chance, Gu Wanqing stumbled upon a secret agreement between Cheng Yu and Fangda Technology. The agreement detailed how Cheng Yu had exploited his position to leak Shengshi Capital’s business secrets to Fangda Technology, promising to assist them in acquiring Jinlin Technology’s core technology should its IPO fail.

Upon reading the agreement, Gu Wanqing fully understood Cheng Yu’s conspiracy. He hadn’t only betrayed her; he had also betrayed Shengshi Capital. His actions were utterly despicable.

Gu Wanqing handed the agreement to Shen Xubai. After reading it, his face darkened, as though a storm was about to break.

"This despicable scoundrel!" he spat with fury.

"Mr. Shen, can we take action now?" Gu Wanqing asked.

Shen Xubai nodded, his eyes cold with resolve. "Of course. We will make Cheng Yu and Fangda Technology pay for their actions."

He immediately arranged for people to capture Cheng Yu and Zhao Lin, and the secret agreement between them and Fangda Technology was made public. The news sent shockwaves through the financial world, completely ruining Cheng Yu's reputation and causing Fangda Technology’s stock price to plummet.

Meanwhile, Shen Xubai took swift and decisive measures to stabilize Jinlin Technology’s stock price, regaining the trust of investors.

With Shen Xubai’s assistance, Gu Wanqing finally succeeded in completing the IPO roadshow for Jinlin Technology. Though the process had been fraught with obstacles, the result was gratifying. On the day of the listing, the stock was eagerly sought after by investors, with prices soaring.

Standing on the bell-ringing platform at the stock exchange, Gu Wanqing watched as the numbers on the screen climbed higher and higher, her heart filled with excitement and reflection. She had done it—she had not only proven her capabilities but had also delivered a powerful blow to those who had harmed her.

Beside her, Shen Xubai smiled, his gaze filled with admiration and an indescribable emotion.

"Miss Gu, you did an outstanding job," he said softly.

Gu Wanqing turned to him, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Shen. I could never have succeeded without your help."

Shen Xubai shook his head, a flicker of tenderness in his gaze. "No, Miss Gu. This is all your own effort. You possess extraordinary intelligence and unwavering determination. You deserve all of this."

As Gu Wanqing was about to respond, her gaze unconsciously fell on the jade ring on Shen Xubai’s hand. In the bright lights of the exchange, it shimmered with a warm glow.

A strong feeling of familiarity surged in Gu Wanqing’s heart. She looked at Shen Xubai, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Mr. Shen, three years ago, why did you save me?" she finally asked.

Shen Xubai fell silent for a moment before slowly lifting his hand, gently caressing the ring, his gaze becoming distant.

"Because... ten years ago, on the campus of Columbia University, you once saved me," his voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a hint of warmth from memory.

Gu Wanqing’s heart jolted, as if struck by a lightning bolt. Ten years ago, Columbia University? Campus salvation? A rush of fragmented memories flooded her mind...