In the president’s office of Xiangfeng Investment Company, a young man looked arrogantly at Hu Yuanyuan and said, “President Hu, I am Wang Hu from the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission. Due to Xiangfeng Investment Company’s violation of the Securities Trading Law, I represent the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission in fining your company three hundred million Huaxia dollars.”
“A fine of three hundred million, why?” Hu Yuanyuan stood up abruptly, glaring coldly at the young man named Wang Hu.
“This is the decision of the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission, President Hu. Do you have any objections?” Wang Hu sneered disdainfully. As a commission official, he had a pride others lacked. In Huaxia, they were the referees of the securities market. Right or wrong was their call, no reasons or conditions needed.
“Indeed, I have objections. Please tell me which securities law Xiangfeng Investment Company has violated,” Hu Yuanyuan said coldly. The company was already under inexplicable attack, and her mood was sour. Now, a three-hundred-million fine pushed even her patience to the limit.
“President Hu, I’m here to notify you. If you have objections, take it up with our superiors. But let me tell you, if you don’t pay the three hundred million, we will freeze your trading accounts,” Wang Hu said with a mocking smile. A mere investment company president daring to challenge him? She must be tired of living.
“You…” Hu Yuanyuan glared at Wang Hu.
Wang Hu remained unmoved.
“If you want to fine our company, show us the penalty notice,” Xu Qing said coldly from the side.
“Penalty notice? None,” Wang Hu replied. A penalty notice from the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission? That was the biggest joke in the world.
“No penalty notice, and you expect to fine our company?” Hu Yuanyuan’s face darkened, a cold glint in her eyes. “Even if you’re from the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission, without a notice, how do we know this isn’t your personal agenda?”
Wang Hu’s face tightened. “President Hu, what are you implying?”
“Without a penalty notice, who knows if this fine is your idea or the commission’s? There’s no related information on the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission’s website,” Hu Yuanyuan said coldly.
“President Hu, we didn’t publicise the report to spare your company’s reputation. Don’t mistake our kindness for weakness,” Wang Hu said.
“You’d be so kind?” Hu Yuanyuan said sarcastically.
“President Hu, are you paying the three hundred million or not?” Wang Hu said impatiently.
“Pay, why wouldn’t we?”
At that moment, the office door opened, and Li Feng walked in, looking at Wang Hu. “It’s just a three hundred million fine. Xiangfeng Investment Company will pay. Assistant Xu, notify the investment department immediately to sell our stocks at market price to raise three hundred million Huaxia dollars for Mr. Wang Hu.”
“This…” Xu Qing hesitated, looking at Hu Yuanyuan.
Hu Yuanyuan glanced at Li Feng, surprised by his decision, wondering if he’d lost his mind. But then Li Feng winked at her subtly, and she said to Xu Qing, “Do as Vice President Li says.”
“You’re Vice President Li Feng, I presume. Quite sensible,” Wang Hu said smugly.
“Oh, you know me?” Li Feng feigned surprise.
Wang Hu said, “Vice President Li Feng of Xiangfeng Investment Company, how could I not know?”
“Heh, wait a moment. In just fifteen minutes, we can complete the stock sale,” Li Feng said with a smile, carrying a meaningful undertone.
“Vice President Li is indeed straightforward,” Wang Hu nodded, satisfied.
Fifteen minutes later, Li Feng handed Wang Hu a cheque. “Here’s the three hundred million fine. Please keep it safe.”
Wang Hu took the cheque and smiled, “Rest assured, I know what to do. Farewell.”
After Wang Hu left, Hu Yuanyuan voiced her confusion. “Li Feng, Wang Hu was clearly taking advantage of us. Why did you give him the three hundred million?”
“If we didn’t, our earlier efforts would be wasted,” Li Feng said calmly. “It’s obvious this is their third move. From suppressing our stocks to the brokerage forcing us to liquidate, and now this fine from the Tianhai City Securities Regulatory Commission, they’re clearly trying to drain us.”
“But without that three hundred million, our company is as good as gone,” Hu Yuanyuan said, worried. The brokerage had forced them to liquidate most of their positions, and now, with this fine, the company was left with only a few tens of millions.
“As good as gone? That’s only temporary,” Li Feng said with a smile, sitting on the sofa. “Since they want to play, let’s play big.”
“Are you sure?” Hu Yuanyuan said gravely.
“If I weren’t, would I be sitting here so calmly? Don’t forget, this company is mine too. We need it to earn money for our son’s diapers,” Li Feng said, half-joking.
“What’s next? We don’t even know who’s behind this,” Hu Yuanyuan said, concerned.
“Who says?” Li Feng smiled.
“You know? Who is it?” Hu Yuanyuan’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. Her painstakingly built company nearly collapsed, and she’d never hated someone so much.
“Our old friend, Sun Xipeng,” Li Feng said calmly, looking at Hu Yuanyuan. Sun Xipeng, her suitor, was likely behind this, largely because of her.
“Him?” Hu Yuanyuan was incredulous. How could it be Sun Xipeng? How could he do such a thing?
“This afternoon, I traced the funds suppressing our company. They came from Sun Group, so it’s likely Sun Xipeng. But there’s probably someone else involved. Two days ago, three billion flowed into Sun Group, and that money clearly isn’t his. Someone else is orchestrating this,” Li Feng explained briefly.
“Sun Xipeng?” Hu Yuanyuan’s face shifted. She didn’t doubt Li Feng was settling personal scores. If he wanted to, he wouldn’t have let Sun Xipeng off so easily last time. With Li Feng’s methods, Sun Xipeng was no match. But she never imagined Sun Xipeng was behind this.
What did he want? Xiangfeng Investment Company? If it were someone else, she’d believe that was the goal, but not Sun Xipeng. The only explanation was revenge.
Revenge for what?
Hu Yuanyuan recalled when Li Feng publicly humiliated Sun Xipeng at the company. It started because of Sun Xipeng, but Li Feng disciplined him in front of everyone. With Sun Xipeng’s proud nature, he likely couldn’t bear it. That could be why he targeted the company.
In the end, it all came back to her. If not for her, there’d be no conflict between Sun Xipeng and Li Feng, and today’s events wouldn’t have happened.
Hu Yuanyuan felt dejected. The root cause was herself, something she never anticipated.
Was this what they meant by a femme fatale?
