By the time four years had passed, the winds were beginning to shift in the Liu Corps - ones which threatened to overthrow Hai for good. Past loyalties once buried under the rug were slowly resurfacing with the tides now starting to change. Change when the Liu Corps was beginning to suffer losses.
Projects derailed and projects lost - Hai quickly became the center of the media's attention in the worst way possible. Salvage was underway, but there was only so much he could handle. News in the business circle was already painting a picture of the Liu family's downfall.
"Hai, I-I will talk to the shareholders!" Chunhua said one day, worry marred across her face. Hai's humiliation in the public was hurting her more than anything else in the world. Harsh rumors that floated around him crushed her heart into pieces.
He laughed. "Why are you worried, dear? Everything will be fine!"
"How…? How will everything be fine? Chen Guiren told me! Voting will be held next month and if you don't get majority votes, you will…" tears brimmed her eyes and she trembled.
"Hai…I don't care if you are the CEO or not, but I won't stand for your humiliation. You have worked hard, you made Liu Corps reach where it stands now so how can they just…There is definitely some misunderstanding which we can still sort it out..!"
"Aye, aye! Calm down, my lovely wife, your husband is not so weak. This storm will pass too~" he pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "You worry too much."
"It's all your fault!"
"Sorry, sorry, I will definitely handle it. I promise!" he grinned. "By the way, I am suuuper hungry!!"
"Are you throwing me out of some important conversation?" Her eyes squinted.
He sweated. "How would I even dare to do that to you, my dear?"
She pursed her lips. "I will cook something nice for you. You have become a little thin. I don't like it."
Once Chunhua stepped out, the merry smile from his lips fizzled out and he exhaled a deep breath. He grabbed his phone and dialed a number.
"Did you talk to that Wu guy?"
Guiren remaining silent.
"It won't be that easy, Hai. The narrative against you in the market is only getting worse."
His eyes closed.
"Why didn't you cast them away when you had the chance? You know those shareholders were always very loyal…to that man."
He smiled. "Enemies outside are more dangerous to contain than the ones inside."
"I know. And you did a good job in containing them for all these years. But the water will soon spill over, Hai. The tide will wash you away with it. Your family too."
He didn't respond.
"We need to act soon. Those snakes were always waiting for this chance. They already have a candidate to replace you."
"I know."
Silence.
"Hai, have you thought about handing the power over to Jinhai? Recommend him to be the next CEO."
"He is twenty-four. He wasn't supposed to take charge for another one or two years. This is too soon, and I don't want the transfer of power in such stormy weather. Besides, my recommendation means shit now."
"Think about it, Hai. The winds are changing. What we probably need is someone else steering the ship."
In the silence of his room, his fingers crossed against the back of his neck.
Think, Hai. Think. How to sail through this storm?
Releasing a tired breath, he looked up and found Jinhai standing right before him. Though taken aback, all his fatigue flushed away in an instant.
"Jinhai, my boyyy! What's up~"
Jinhai's expression was measured and neutral. "Hand over the power, Dad. I need you to step back."
He blinked twice, then laughed. "Aish, you are just like Chunhua. Don't worry, son. I will be fine-"
"I am not worrying about you."
He bent over very slowly, his eyes locked at his. A hint of something dark and foreboding quietly bubbled underneath his gaze.
"I want the reins now. I want to become the King now. So, Dad - it's time you really take a step back."
"I disagree, Jinhai-"
"Your disagreement is irrelevant to me."
He stared. "It's not the right time, Jinhai."
"I have a feeling it will never be the right time for you. Are you hesitant in handing it over to your son? Or to the name that I have?"
Hai froze. His fingers stilled and it became difficult to breathe. For a brief moment, the room felt smaller like something unseen had pressed in on him from all sides.
"…What do you mean?" His voice remained light, but the smile didn't return to his lips.
Jinhai didn't answer immediately. He straightened, gaze steady and unblinking.
"Do you still hesitate after all these years?"
Silence. The air grew heavier.
Hai attempted to brush it off. "You are overthinking."
"I am not you, Dad," Jinhai cut in, his tone calm but final, "neither am I him."
That line struck his core deeper than anything else. Hai's gaze sharpened slightly. "This isn't about the past. This is about timing. You think taking over in the middle of a storm is a good decision?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
"No," Hai said firmly as he rose. "A leader doesn't jump into chaos blindly. You stabilize first, then take control."
"A leader doesn't wait for stability," he replied.
Their eyes met. Same blood, same sharp glint, but something in Jinhai's felt colder. More certain. More ruthless. More unforgiving.
Jinhai continued, his voice low. "You held onto them because you believed you could control them. Now they are turning on you. I won't make the same mistake."
A wry smile laced Hai's lips. "Are you mad at me for my decisions?"
Jinhai raised a brow. "Not really. You did the right thing then. Works for me because now I can let hell loose now. Right or wrong, I don't give a damn. I will carve my path in blood if I have to."
