Chapter 205: First Strike
Tension permeated the Gu family’s villa. Master Gu nervously paced as he unsuccessfully tried contacting the men he had enlisted. He feared they had been apprehended by the authorities.
"Please stop pacing, you’re making me dizzy," Madame 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 me 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 name, our family will be ruined."
Madame Gu wrung her hands anxiously. "What will we do if those men 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 involvement, 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 men," he informed his family grimly after hanging up. "The police chased and cornered them. They opened fire during the standoff."
Madame Gu gasped. "Were they..."
"Killed," Master Gu confirmed. 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 mean you’re relieved they’re dead? This is awful, Dad!"
Master Gu scowled. "Hold your tongue! This is what happens when desperate men take desperate measures. Those fools knew the risks." He downed his drink in one gulp. "Now, we pray their deaths cover our tracks..."
"This isn’t over," Madame Gu declared. "The authorities will investigate those dead men’s connections and dealings."
"Shut up and let me think!" Master Gu snapped.
Madame Gu erupted, "Don’t you dare yell at me! This entire catastrophe is your fault. You’re the one who concocted that reckless scheme to stop Mr. Tang from testifying."
"Oh, so now I’m to blame?" 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."
Madame Gu scowled. "Well I refuse to go down in flames 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 Madame 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 mess?" Madame Gu challenged.
Gu Hua interjected, "We can only wait and pray those fools disposed of any evidence tying us to them."
Master Gu slammed his fist down. "This disaster is the fault of that wretched lawyer, Ao Junfeng! Why did he have to come all the way from Beijing to defend those workers pro bono?"
Gu Hua suggested, "Perhaps someone 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 Madame Gu. Could Ao Junfeng be in league with Li Yanyan? As she poured herself some wine with a shaky hand, memories came rushing back - she recognized Ao Junfeng from somewhere. His face was so familiar, like someone she used to know. Madame 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 exclaimed, "Master Gu, please hurry! We have an emergency - 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 Madame Gu questioned alarmed, "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."
Madame 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 statement?
"Could the company’s enemies be making moves already?" Gu Hua wondered anxiously. "Everything was perfectly fine until dad’s plans went array..."
Madame 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," Madame 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 time you learned," Madame 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 vehemently.
Madame Gu nodded with stern approval. "See that you do. Now go assist your dad in damage control. Time is of the essence!"
As Gu Hua rushed out the door with fresh purpose, Madame 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.
Madame 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. Madame 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 Madame Gu tremble. If this was Li Yanyan’s opening salvo, what further havoc did she have planned? Could she expose the secrets Madame Gu had kept buried from her husband for years? Would all her dirty laundry get aired out for the whole city to see?
Madame 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. Madame Gu had her own dossier of misdeeds to wield if necessary. Two could play at this game.
She steadied her nerves with a sip of wine. Very well, if Li insisted on initiating war, so be it. The Gus would emerge victorious, no matter the collateral damage. Madame 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, Madame Gu swore most vehemently.
