Li Feng, upon hearing this, looked at Xu Qing with a troubled expression.
Seeing his face, Xu Qing grew worried. Although Li Feng intended to make their relationship public, whether he did so was one matter. Whether Hu Yuanyuan would accept it was quite another.
This was not some trivial issue. No woman could easily accept such a thing. Xu Qing had never heard of any woman willing to share her man.
In ancient times, women tolerated concubines because they had no status. But this era was different. Modern women excelled in many fields, often surpassing men, and they would never allow another woman to share their partner.
She had worked with Hu Yuanyuan for a long time and understood her character to some extent, but she could not guess how Hu Yuanyuan truly felt about this.
“Li Feng, just tell me.” Seeing his expression, Xu Qing feared Hu Yuanyuan had rejected her. Her unease grew.
“Alas!”
Li Feng sighed and said, “Xu Qing, perhaps you should ask Yuanyuan yourself.”
“No, I want you to tell me.” Xu Qing shook her head vigorously. How could she dare ask Hu Yuanyuan directly? Was she supposed to say, I like Li Feng. May I share him with you?
She felt that if those words left her mouth, Hu Yuanyuan might beat her senseless. Besides, she could never bring herself to say them.
“I can tell you, but…” Li Feng looked at her with a sly grin.
“But what?” Xu Qing, missing his mischievous smile, asked eagerly.
“But before I tell you, you must first…” Li Feng leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
“You…” Xu Qing stared at him, a flush of embarrassment in her eyes. She had not expected him to ask for something so intimate.
“If you will not do it, I will not say.” Li Feng adopted a roguish air.
“I… I…” Xu Qing hesitated, unsure what to do. She desperately wanted to know Hu Yuanyuan’s reaction, but what Li Feng asked was far too embarrassing.
Li Feng smiled. “If you are unwilling, then forget it. I will not speak.”
“Li Feng, you always bully me…” Xu Qing said helplessly as she knelt down. To her, Hu Yuanyuan’s attitude mattered most. As for Li Feng’s request, she could treat it as an expression of affection.
A quarter of an hour later, Xu Qing looked up and asked, “Li Feng, now will you tell me? What did Manager Hu say when she learned about us?”
“She said nothing.” Li Feng replied.
“What?” Xu Qing’s first instinct was that he was lying, but she quickly realised he was not. Hu Yuanyuan truly had said nothing, and he had made her do this on purpose.
“Yuanyuan really said nothing.” Li Feng smiled at her anxious face. “However, she has known about our relationship for several days now. If she intended you harm, she would not have waited until now.”
Xu Qing paused, then understood. He was reassuring her. Thinking back to Hu Yuanyuan’s behaviour towards her since their affair began, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Very well, Xu Qing. In a moment, I need you to do something else for me.” Li Feng said gravely.
“What is it?” Xu Qing eyed him warily, fearing another embarrassing request.
“It concerns the company. Shortly, I want you to issue a public announcement.” Li Feng said.
“An announcement? What announcement?” Hearing it was business, Xu Qing asked promptly.
“Announce to the public that, after prolonged effort, the company has successfully developed a maglev car, with production slated to begin as early as the first half of next year.” Li Feng said.
“A maglev car? Really?” Xu Qing asked in delight.
“Indeed. Make the announcement exactly like that.” Li Feng nodded. Launching the maglev car after Intelligent One had always been his plan. He had introduced Intelligent One first, partly because the company was already researching it, and partly because the maglev car required Intelligent One technology.
Now, this maglev car was the bait he was casting for those plotting against Fengyuan Group. He believed no one could resist its allure.
The concept of maglev cars already existed, with nations researching them. In one or two years, the first would emerge. But with Li Feng here, that history had changed.
Moreover, his maglev car was not a first-generation model. It was an intelligent version integrated with Intelligent One.
“Wonderful. With this announcement, those who resigned will surely return.” Xu Qing said excitedly.
“Return?” Li Feng gave a cold laugh. “Since they have left the company, they should never dream of coming back.”
“Li Feng, you…” Xu Qing looked at him in shock, unsure why he felt this way.
“What use is keeping people who lack faith in the company? Though much has happened lately, their salaries were never withheld. If they chose to leave, let them stay gone forever.” Li Feng said coldly.
“But among the one-third who left, most were middle and senior management. Without them, the company cannot function.” Xu Qing said.
“That is simple enough.” Li Feng smiled, pulled out a sheet of paper, and handed it to her. “After announcing the maglev car news, promote the people on this list according to their new positions.”
“Yu Xiangdong, Liu Ruyan…” Reading the names, surprise flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes. She knew them all. They were the company’s top performers.
She glanced up at Li Feng. She had not realised that, despite his infrequent visits, he understood the company so thoroughly.
“Precisely. They will form the new senior leadership of Fengyuan Group.” Li Feng nodded. The major purge was nearly complete. Though the mole remained, it was not yet time to remove him.
“Li Feng, does Manager Hu know about this?” Xu Qing asked after a moment. After all, Hu Yuanyuan had always handled company matters. She was still adjusting to taking orders from Li Feng.
“I am the chairman. I can decide everything for the company. As for Yuanyuan, I will speak to her.” Li Feng said firmly.
“Understood.” Xu Qing nodded.
With that, she stood, straightened her clothes, and prepared to leave. She worried that lingering in the office might lead Li Feng to further mischief.
Li Feng did not stop her. He rarely stayed long at the company, and it was time for him to depart as well.
One hour later.
“What? A maglev car?” Qin Feng was the first to receive news of Fengyuan Group’s maglev car announcement. Shock covered his face. “Elder Xu, what is your view? Why would Li Feng reveal a maglev car now? Has he truly developed it?”
Elder Xu shook his head. “No one can say for certain. But whether Li Feng has actually developed it or not, this news can only mean he is planning a major move.”
“A major move?” Qin Feng narrowed his eyes.
“Yes. Recently, both Fengyuan Group and Hu Yuanyuan have faced setbacks. Young Master, do you believe Li Feng is launching the maglev car simply to make money?” Elder Xu said.
“Elder Xu, are you saying this maglev car is bait cast by Li Feng?” A sharp glint appeared in Qin Feng’s eyes.
“Very likely.” Elder Xu nodded. “Young Master, Li Feng is not the sort to suffer losses quietly. We have clashed with him many times, and each time he has struck back fiercely. Now Fengyuan Group has been battered to the brink of closure. Hu Yuanyuan lies in hospital after an assault. Several members of Li Feng’s Black Eagle team are dead. Li Feng himself nearly died in a bombing. Given his character, he would never let this pass without revenge.”
Qin Feng nodded. Having suffered heavy losses to Li Feng multiple times, he understood the man’s nature well.
“However, Elder Xu, according to family intelligence, the attack on Hu Yuanyuan likely came from the Hongmen. Though another party is suppressing Fengyuan Group, would Hongmen even be interested in this maglev car?” Qin Feng asked.
“Not necessarily.” Elder Xu shook his head.
“Why not?” Qin Feng asked, puzzled.
“Young Master, consider which Hongmen figure sought to kill Li Feng this time.” Elder Xu said.
“Chen Junyi.” Qin Feng looked up at Elder Xu, still confused. “Elder Xu, would the maglev car truly interest Chen Junyi?”
“Young Master, Hongmen is not merely an underworld organisation. It also controls Longmen Group, one of the world’s top five hundred companies. Think what Longmen Group has been researching these past years.” Elder Xu smiled.
“Maglev cars.” Qin Feng’s expression changed abruptly.
“Exactly. Young Master, imagine if Chen Junyi learned Li Feng had already developed a maglev car. What would he do?” Elder Xu said.
“He would seize it, naturally. Longmen Group has researched maglev cars for a decade without success. If another succeeded first, a decade of effort would be wasted.” Qin Feng replied without hesitation.
“More than that. The maglev car project was Chen Junyi’s own proposal. It affects his standing in Hongmen. Moreover, Li Feng is his enemy. The moment Chen Junyi hears this news, his first instinct will be to obtain the maglev car data.” Elder Xu nodded.
“So Li Feng has set a deadly trap using the maglev car data, aimed specifically at those sent by Chen Junyi.” Qin Feng drew a sharp breath, shock flickering in his eyes.
Then, an icy gleam appeared. “What a cunning Li Feng. I have no intention of letting his plan succeed.”
