The Possessive Villain Is Too Clingy [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 41.1

When Old Man Chu was taken away, Chu Ning was enjoying a leisurely moment at a café beneath the Chu Corporation building.

To say she felt no familial affection at all would be untrue. Despite the tangled web of complicated relationships, Old Man Chu had always been quite caring toward her and Chu Hui.

But if Old Man Chu didn’t step away from the corporation for now, Chu Ning would have no chance to take over.

Finishing the last sip of her coffee, Chu Ning picked up her phone.

“Little brother, Grandpa’s been arrested. You need to come back for a few days,” she said calmly.

Chu Hui froze for a second before laughing it off. “Sis, stop messing with me. How could Grandpa get arrested? If it were true, you wouldn’t be so relaxed about it.”

Chu Ning’s tone instantly sharpened. “Chu Hui, I’m not joking. Do you think I took a leave of absence just to come back to Haicheng for fun?”

“W-what?” Chu Hui was startled by the shift in her tone. “Sis, what’s going on?”

Instead of answering, Chu Ning issued an order. “I’ve booked you a flight for tonight. Pack your things immediately. When you ask for leave, just tell them the truth. Tomorrow, they’ll see the proof in the news.”

Though Chu Hui struggled to accept what his sister was saying, he was somewhat aware of the Chu Corporation’s troubles.

He didn’t dare refuse. Leaving the training field at once, he quickly packed and set off for home.

That same night, Chu Hui arrived at the Chu estate.

Li Xia hurried over to finalize the power of attorney, after which Chu Ning briefed Chu Hui on the corporation’s current situation and the authority he was now inheriting.

Chu Hui looked miserable. “Sis, I don’t understand any of this! I can’t handle it!”

Clutching her arm, he spoke his mind honestly.

Chu Ning’s expression was stern. “I’ll help you. You just need to follow my instructions. But you won’t be going back to school anytime soon.”

“And forget about soccer for now. If the Chu Corporation collapses, forget the school team—you might not even be able to finish university!”

Chu Hui shuddered. He had been planning to hand the company matters over to his sister and rush back to school. But after her warning, he realized he couldn’t just abandon his family’s affairs.

The news of Old Man Chu’s arrest dominated headlines the next day.

Vice Chairwoman Ling of the Chu Corporation held a press conference, insisting that the company’s operations remained unaffected.

Yet the Chu Corporation’s stock continued to plummet, dropping 60% from its yearly peak.

Three days later, Qinbao made a public disclosure.

The stock’s nosedive was partly due to the sluggish real estate market and partly because retail investors were dumping shares. The market was flooded with Chu Corporation stock that no one wanted to buy.

But Qinbao had been steadily purchasing over those three days, accumulating a 5% stake—enough to trigger a disclosure. Suddenly, the market sensed the whiff of a hostile takeover.

When Ye Zhixia learned of Old Man Chu’s arrest, she no longer held back. She drove straight to the Chu estate.

Chu Ning came out to greet her. Seeing Ye Zhixia pull a suitcase from the trunk, she couldn’t help but lower her eyes to hide a smile.

“I’ve cleared my schedule. Starting today, I’m staying at your place to help you strategize,” Ye Zhixia declared without a hint of hesitation.

Their last farewell had made her realize that Chu Ning intended to reveal their relationship to the public.

Chu Ning said nothing, her gaze as calm as still water. She gave a slight nod.

As Ye Zhixia followed Chu Ning upstairs, she briefed her on the organized information about Zhulin:

“The stocks issued by the Chu Group account for 30% of its total shares. Based on Zhulin’s profits over the years, acquiring 5% of them wouldn’t be a problem. If we consider asset pledges, credit, and other methods, we could even secure 10%.”

Chu Ning crossed her arms, tilting her head as she looked at Ye Zhixia with a questioning gaze. “White knight?”

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Zhixia’s eyes as she nodded solemnly.

Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Chu Hui came bounding over eagerly to greet his sister and her friend.

“White knight?” Standing at the doorway, Chu Hui looked down at his white T-shirt and blushed shyly. “Am I really that dashing?”

Ye Zhixia and Chu Ning both burst into laughter at his cluelessness.

Meanwhile, the invisible Xiao Mi, hovering nearby, scoffed disdainfully with its head raised. [He doesn’t even know what a white knight is. This rich young master isn’t half as sharp as me, the flying Xiao Mi.]

Chu Ning shot Chu Hui a look, signaling him to carry Ye Zhixia’s suitcase.

Only after obediently taking the luggage did Chu Hui hear his sister explain in a lecturer-like tone: “A white knight is when a company facing a hostile takeover seeks a ‘friendly’ company to collaborate with, achieving the goal of jointly fending off external threats. That ‘friendly’ company is called the white knight.”

Chu Hui was utterly baffled by her explanation. Glancing at the suitcase in his hand, he joked self-deprecatingly, “So I’m just a white squire?”

This was Ye Zhixia’s first time meeting Chu Hui, and she could already sense his innocent, simple-minded nature.

With a gentle smile, she said to him, “The white knight helps the Chu Group fight off enemies, while the white squire protects your sister’s safety. Both have their roles to play.”

Chu Hui immediately beamed. “This sister really knows how to say nice things!”

Chu Ning shot him another glance, and he promptly reined in his grin, following behind the two respectfully.

After placing the luggage in the guest room, Chu Hui was about to excuse himself to let his sister and her friend chat in peace.

But Chu Ning grabbed him before he could leave. “Don’t run off. There’s only a Premier League match tonight—nothing that important! Listen carefully to what your sister Xiaxia and I are discussing. Whether you understand it or not, you’ll need to know it someday.”

Chu Hui looked aggrieved but could only nod sadly in agreement.

The three entered the office on the villa’s top floor. Chu Ning and Ye Zhixia sat facing each other, while Chu Hui pulled up a chair beside his sister like a secretary.

“We can’t touch Zhulin’s cash flow for now,” Chu Ning outright rejected Ye Zhixia’s proposal. “There are other forms a white knight can take. Using cash flow should only be the last resort.”

Ye Zhixia nodded in agreement. While a direct acquisition bid was straightforward, the risks were high. If the opposing side was too strong, Zhulin could easily lose.

She laid out what she knew: “As soon as Qinbao made their move, I looked into their recent situation. Qinbao’s assets, cash flow, and profits can’t compare to Zhulin’s. Logically, they shouldn’t be able to outbid us.”

“But keeping an ace up our sleeve is definitely better.”

Chu Ning leaned back in her chair, wagging a finger. “Qinbao wouldn’t act using only their own assets. What you see now is 5%, but in reality, it’s more than that. Didn’t you ask me before who Chen Jianhua was collaborating with?”

Ye Zhixia suddenly realized: “Chen Jianhua and Chu Xiao!”

“What about my brother?” Chu Hui asked innocently.

Back when Chu Tianheng and Chu Xiao were driven out of the family, Old Master Chu deliberately hid the real reason from Chu Hui.

Chu Ning hadn’t spent much time with Chu Hui and never had the chance to discuss such serious matters.

“Stop calling a thief your brother!”

“Stop calling a thief your brother!”

Ye Zhixia and Chu Ning both snapped at Chu Hui simultaneously.

Chu Hui shrank back in fright.

“Chen Jianhua doesn’t hold any shares himself, but in the last real estate vote, someone firmly supported him. If we count that shareholder, they still control at least 17% of Chu Corporation’s shares.”

Ye Zhixia gasped in shock: “That much?”

Ye Zhixia had no access to Chu Corporation’s internal meetings and didn’t know that, aside from Chen Jianhua, there were other shareholders aligned with them.

Chu Ning nodded, her pupils lifting slightly as she pondered: “Right now, Zhulin absolutely cannot use funds to buy shares. My plan is to have Chu Corporation issue new shares in exchange for a ten-year agency right for ‘Cloud Dragon Valley.'”

Ye Zhixia couldn’t help but clap: “Brilliant!”

Since Chu Ning hadn’t established Zhulin under her own identity, this plan was entirely feasible.

“But such an asset swap requires a vote from shareholders or the board, and the approval must reach at least two-thirds…” Ye Zhixia reminded her. “If there are people from their side among the shareholders, can we really pull this off?”

Chu Ning’s expression turned serious: “Chu Corporation has a board of directors where directors vote on behalf of shareholders. Our seats are already secured, but now it depends on how the external directors vote.”

Though Chu Hui didn’t understand much about corporate affairs, he knew his sister was dealing with something critical—something that could determine the life or death of the entire Chu Corporation.

–

The next day, Chu Ning took Chu Hui to the company. Before leaving, she said to Ye Zhixia, who was sitting in front of the computer: “Please keep an eye on Zhulin and the stock market situation.”

Ye Zhixia felt uncomfortable hearing Chu Ning’s words—they sounded too formal, as if spoken to a colleague.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. She secretly resolved that once everything was over, she would definitely “punish” Chu Ning properly.

After Chu Corporation paid out the wages, though all projects remained suspended, the headquarters at least maintained a semblance of calm.

Chu Ning led Chu Hui into the company building, but instead of heading to the office, they went straight to the large conference room.

On the day Old Master Chu was taken away, Chu Ning had already notified all major, minor, and medium shareholders, board members, and company executives to attend this meeting.

Naturally, Chen Jianhua, Feng Hang, Mr. Cai, and the directors representing them were excluded.

Chu Ning presided over the meeting, with Chu Hui and Li Xia seated on either side.

The shareholders and directors below were far from convinced. As seasoned veterans in high positions, how could they tolerate two barely-graduated kids running the show?

But Chu Corporation was now at a critical juncture. Chu Hui had just come of age and was the legally authorized representative of Old Master Chu. Out of respect for the old master, they had no choice but to attend.

“Good day, esteemed elders. I am Chu Ning. My grandfather has authorized my younger brother Chu Hui, but as he is not well-versed in business matters, I will be presiding over today’s meeting.”

The conference room was eerily quiet. Several of the older shareholders didn’t even lift their heads, instead rocking their chairs absentmindedly.

The impatient minor shareholder couldn’t hold back, muttering under his breath, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play. I doubt she even understands the financial reports.”

The people around him stifled smirks.

Chu Ning had anticipated this kind of reception today, but she remained poised and unruffled.

“Chu Corporation’s stock has plummeted by nearly 60%. I’m sure everyone here understands that if this continues, the losses won’t stop at just 60%.”

At the mention of profits and losses, those who had been ready to mock Chu Ning suddenly realized they were the real laughingstock.

The atmosphere grew tense. The previously indifferent attendees now placed their hands on the table, their attention fixed on this university student standing before them.

Chu Ning smirked inwardly. As expected, self-interest was everyone’s weak spot.

The impatient minor shareholder couldn’t contain himself any longer and blurted out, “Young Master Chu’s company made a public acquisition bid yesterday. I believe he’s here to save Chu Corporation. He was doing just fine at Tianxing Entertainment—a real talent. Who knows what Chairman Chu was thinking, firing Vice President Chu and Young Master Chu and bringing in Chen Jianhua instead, landing us in this mess…”

The others nodded in agreement. Chairman Chu was the majority shareholder, so no one dared speak against him openly. But now, faced with two young upstarts, they felt free to vent their frustrations.

“I admit that my grandfather’s decision to bring in Chen Jianhua was a grave mistake,” Chu Ning declared loudly.

Chairman Chu’s management philosophy wasn’t entirely without merit, but at the very least, his appointment of Chen Jianhua had been a colossal error.

Though Chu Ning and Chu Hui now represented Chairman Chu, they had no obligation to cover for his missteps. On the contrary, pointing out his mistakes and aligning themselves with the grievances of those present would earn them more trust.

The attendees looked at Chu Ning with approval.

“But!” Chu Ning’s tone shifted sharply. “Your Young Master Chu isn’t here to save you this time.”

The impatient minor shareholder immediately protested, “How can you say Young Master Chu isn’t here to save us? This is a matter of life and death for the company! Miss Chu, you shouldn’t let your personal conflicts spill over into business.”

Chu Ning straightened her posture, her expression resolute and composed. “As the saying goes, ‘Don’t air your dirty laundry in public,’ but given the urgency of the situation, I have no choice but to tell you the truth.”

Gossip was a universal human trait. Everyone in the room, young and old alike, perked up their ears.

Chu Ning cut straight to the point: “Secretary Jiang, Chu Tianheng, and Chu Xiao are three generations of the same family.”

Her words exploded like a grenade in the conference room.

Chu Ning didn’t stop the ensuing discussions. At most, this revelation would lead people to suspect that Secretary Jiang had been scheming behind the scenes to seize the Chu family’s assets.

Once the murmurs died down, Chu Ning continued coolly, “Secretary Jiang is actually Feng Jing’s illegitimate son. Back when the Feng family fell from grace, his mother went into hiding and infiltrated the Chu family under an assumed name. Feng Jing’s legitimate heir, as many of you may know, is Feng Yiqun of Dasheng Group.”

This bombshell sent shockwaves through the room. One of the three major families in Haicheng—the Fengs—had planted an illegitimate child as a mole in another prominent family!

The murmurs erupted into an uproar, growing louder with no sign of stopping.

The irritable minor shareholder suddenly raised his voice, “Wait a minute! Miss Chu, are you just making up lies to slander Young Master Chu because you don’t want him to take over the Chu Group?”

The crowd quieted down again, turning their attention back to Chu Ning.

Indeed, how could a secret involving three generations be taken as truth based solely on the words of a young girl?

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