Rich Cat A Would Never Fall in Love with a Fake Heiress - Chapter 42.3

This year’s shareholders’ meeting had officially begun.

During Secretary Liu’s lengthy opening remarks, Mo Li scanned the room and spotted several familiar faces.

Lin Qianying, Second Uncle Mo Huli and his esteemed nephew Mo Rufeng, along with some of the company’s veteran employees… among others.

The meeting was attended by over twenty people, including even some minor shareholders with stakes of less than five percent. Meanwhile, hundreds of other shareholders and investors were following the proceedings via video conference from behind their screens.

With the exception of major unforeseen events, the Mo Corporation’s annual shareholders’ meeting was held like clockwork, unwavering year after year.

The high level of attention it garnered was closely tied to the overall direction of the Mo Corporation.

Mo Li had reviewed the core projects to be discussed at this meeting, all were highly sought-after prime land plots and new technology initiatives with government backing and stable prospects.

Securing such lucrative projects meant that performance targets and expenses for the year would be well covered.

The voting system at the shareholders’ meeting was based on the shareholding proportions supporting a particular proposal. A proposal would pass if the shares in favor outweighed those against.

This was also an opportune moment for aligning with factions and currying favor. Smaller shareholders who couldn’t secure major projects could use this chance to gain goodwill and secure a share of the benefits.

After outlining the company’s general situation, Secretary Liu presented the first bait.

“The medical project involves implantable hearing aids. The R&D team for this device is fully assembled, and the development concept is sound and feasible. Preliminary results are expected by the end of the year.”

Mo HuLi declared smugly, “I’ll take charge of this one. I’ve previously managed Mo Corporation’s chain of hospitals and have built some connections there.”

Mo’s father had the same idea and nodded, about to voice his agreement.

“I disagree.”

Mo Wang spoke up abruptly.

When she first appeared at the meeting, everyone had instinctively averted their gaze, afraid of being associated with her in any way.

But once she spoke, her opinion could no longer be ignored.

Mo HuLi wasn’t the first to object. Instead, he broke into a cold sweat and sat rigidly in place.

Back when Mo’s father fell ill, Mo HuLi had schemed against him, only to be severely punished later. Mo Wang had personally exposed his involvement in illegal arms dealing, leading to his imprisonment for several years.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was the person he feared most in his life.

Mo’s father stepped in to back him up, confronting Mo Wang aggressively.

“Oh? And what do you suggest?”

Mo Wang smiled calmly. “I believe it would be more appropriate for Qiang Wei Pharmaceuticals to collaborate with Mo Corporation’s private hospitals in a joint venture to develop this project.”

She took a breath and glanced down at her documents. “But given your petty nature, you probably wouldn’t agree. So, I think handing the project over to the Lin Corporation would also work.”

“They have a strong partnership with A City Medical University and can easily connect with the professors there.”

Publicly rebuked, Mo’s father gritted his teeth in anger.

The shareholders present naturally sided with Mo’s father, but none wanted to openly involve themselves in the Mo family’s internal conflicts, so they remained silent.

In the subsequent vote, however, Mo Huli secured the project with a clear majority.

He didn’t seem particularly pleased. Instead, he nervously glanced at Mo Wang’s expression, forcing an uneasy smile before falling silent.

Mo Li was puzzled as she looked at Mo Wang. She knew that Mo Wang never acted without a purpose and disliked doing things pointlessly.

From the dynamics at the meeting, it was clear that Lin Qianying of the Lin Corporation held significant shares, and the Mo family remained highly vigilant of her, seizing every opportunity to suppress her influence.

As for Mo Wang, who had returned like a sudden strike after seven years, she was even less welcome.

Neither of them stood a chance of securing the project.

Mo Li glanced at the voting interface and her pupils suddenly contracted. Unnoticed by her, Mo Wang’s shares had already reached 14%, more than a percentage point higher than her own.

After that, several projects presented by Secretary Liu found suitable leaders, and Mo Wang did not speak up to obstruct again.

Mo Li formed a reasonable speculation.

Was Mo Wang trying to gauge everyone’s intentions and calculate their shares against her own hidden cards?

Once the key projects were assigned, the shareholders began proposing their own plans and opinions. The discussions were amicable, and time passed quickly.

Mo Li even developed the illusion that the meeting would conclude peacefully.

Mr. Mo cleared his throat lightly, preparing to summarize the meeting.

“Everyone here is a veteran of the company. We’ve come this far thanks to our mutual support, overcoming malicious competitors.”

He glanced subtly at Mo Wang, who responded with a smile.

“The Mo Group has always exemplified the demeanor of a major corporation. Now, Mo Li has proven herself capable during the Luo family crisis and is about to become engaged to Qianying.” Mr. Mo’s face broke into a timely smile.

Mo Li knew her father was about to propose her promotion to permanent president, but she felt little inner turmoil.

“The world and the enterprise ultimately belong to the younger generation. I believe her position as acting president should be made permanent.”

Scattered applause followed, and Mr. Mo’s smile deepened, wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes.

“Of course, I fully respect everyone’s opinions. We will decide this matter through a vote.”

“I object.”

Lin Qianying’s voice cut through the meeting, abrupt and sharp.

Her eyes held an air of arrogance, as if looking down on everyone, yet her face maintained a proper smile.

The hidden dagger was finally revealed.

“At the same time, I propose the removal of Mo Li from her position as acting president.”

As soon as she finished speaking, all the shareholders fell silent, avoiding eye contact.

Mr. Mo, caught off guard by this betrayal from his future daughter-in-law, was momentarily stunned.

“Why?”

Lin Qianying shrugged. “Because I feel our engagement isn’t yet finalized, and she’s been too cold toward me, hardly the demeanor of a responsible Alpha.”

Mr. Mo was visibly angered. He slammed the table and said in a low, controlled voice, “Qianying, this is a shareholders’ meeting, not a place for nonsense.”

“I agree with Director Lin. President Mo is a talented young individual, but leading the entire company as the official president is too much for someone so young and prone to acting on impulse.”

Mo Li didn’t need to look up to know who was speaking.

Was this Mo Wang’s so-called “taking what she deserved” starting by bringing her down?

Feeling defiant, Mo Li refused to comply with Mo Wang’s wishes.

“I’ve held this position for years. Even if I haven’t achieved great merits, I’ve committed no faults. Why should my role as acting president be suspended?”

Mo Li defended herself, her voice soft but clear.

“President Mo, your emotional instability is an issue. Many employees have witnessed you publicly assaulting senior executive Mo Huli. Such behavior, showing disrespect for elders and employees’ human rights, has a severely negative impact.”

Mo Wang pinpointed the flaw in Mo Li’s defense but never once looked at her throughout.

Resting her chin on her hands, she watched Mr. Mo’s furious reaction.

She presented a set of photographic evidence.

“Here is the proof.”

Before anyone could lean in for a closer look, Mr. Mo immediately grabbed the photos. His face shifted through shades of green and purple as he struggled to control his temper.

He slumped back into his swivel chair. “Then let’s proceed with a vote. Fair and just, surely no one can object to that.”

After speaking, he still glanced uneasily at Lin Qianying.

After all, the Lin family held the second-largest share among those present. However, Mo’s father was more confident that his shareholders would follow his lead, believing the decision-making power ultimately rested with him.

As for the public backlash caused by the live-stream scandal, he could hire media to quell it.

At this thought, he shot Mo Li a reproachful look. It felt as though he had raised a failure, who had to be exposed at such a critical moment.

Mo Li wrestled with the choice between pleasing Mo Wang and keeping her position, ultimately voting for herself.

After all, aside from the Mo Corporation, it seemed she had nowhere else to go.

She couldn’t just stay at home waiting for others to support her forever. Mo Li smiled self-deprecatingly at the thought.

The voting results came out in just two minutes, with a small number of shareholders choosing to abstain.

The share value supporting her formal appointment was 43.53%.

The share value in favor of her temporary suspension was 45.20%.

Only a handful had voted for her suspension, but it was a fatal blow. Lin Qianying’s twenty shares, combined with Mo Wang’s fourteen and Mo Huli’s ten percent, sealed the outcome.

Seeing the defeat as inevitable, Mo’s father was left speechless.

After a long pause, he asked in resignation, “Then tell me, if she steps down, who is qualified to take over?”

The shareholders immediately broke into a chorus of flattery, urging Mo’s father to retain the position.

This was exactly the reaction he had hoped for. “I will not take the role,” he said, crossing his arms. “My health hasn’t been good lately. These old bones deserve some rest.”

Mo Wang remarked leisurely, “As for who is qualified, that should be decided by the board of directors, not within the scope of the shareholders’ meeting.”

She then beamed brightly. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to recommend myself.”

The shareholders’ meeting ultimately concluded in this tense, dagger-drawn atmosphere.

Mo Li felt nothing out of the ordinary.

While riding the elevator, someone surprisingly dared to share it with her, even patting her shoulder in consolation.

But Mo Li had only one thought:

No work tomorrow.