Chapter 168: Meeting the Emperor Three

"Welcome, Ms. Yán Qīngwén, Vice President of Yingzhi Group..."

"Welcome, Yán Kāikāi, student of Jingzhou Police Academy..."

"Welcome, Yán Xīnxīn, popular online streamer..."

"You have arrived at the headquarters of the Creator Group. I am your friend, Xiǎo Shuāng, here to remind you that the darkness in life is temporary. The future holds beauty and worth..."

"No appointment necessary, you have VIP access."

As the three Yán sisters stepped out of the elevator, they were taken aback by the scene before them.

The space, though not as grand as the towering headquarters of Yingzhi Group, exuded a minimalist elegance. The entire floor was immaculate, with employees working in a quiet, orderly manner.

The intelligent voice system instantly recognized the trio, delivering a message that resonated with their current emotional state, adding a layer of high-tech sophistication to the environment.

The three sisters exchanged glances, feeling a blend of awe and admiration. The company seemed mysterious, futuristic, and ahead of its time—vastly different from the traditional atmosphere of Yingzhi Group.

A receptionist, dressed in a meticulously tailored skirt, bowed slightly. "Ladies, please follow me."

"Okay," the sisters responded, their voices tinged with unease. Despite being wealthy socialites, they found themselves uncharacteristically nervous.

Yán Qīngwén's heart raced as they walked. *So this is the Creator Group? It's truly on a different level from Yingzhi.* Though this was merely an office building, the company was the largest internet enterprise in China, capable of mobilizing trillions in funds, with a future as bright as the sun.

*Emperor Three...* Yán Qīngwén wondered anxiously, *What kind of person are you? Will you look down on me and refuse to help?*

Finally, they reached the top floor, stopping before a pair of double wooden doors. The receptionist bowed again. "This is the place. I cannot enter; please proceed on your own."

"Okay," the sisters echoed, their anxiety mounting. Emperor Three's aura was palpable, making them tense before they had even met him.

With a soft click, the door opened.

The sisters stepped cautiously inside, their eyes widening in surprise.

The room was surreal—an expanse of pure white stretching across 500 square meters. The walls, floor, ceiling, and furniture were all immaculate white, creating an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Most of the space was empty, except for a long white desk and a pristine white sofa in the far corner. Behind the desk stood a high-backed chair, turned away from the door, its occupant staring silently out a massive floor-to-ceiling window.

The sisters froze at the threshold, mesmerized by the stark, ethereal setting.

"This way," the receptionist's voice brought them back to reality.

*Click-clack...* The sound of Yán Qīngwén's heels echoed in the vast room as they walked towards the desk, their breaths held tight, eyes fixed on the chair's unseen occupant. Emperor Three's presence was overwhelming, even in silence.

"Sit."

A pleasant male voice emanated from the chair. The sisters obediently took their seats, though they remained on edge.

Two minutes passed before Yán Qīngwén gathered the courage to speak. "Emperor Three, I—"

"No need for explanations. I know," the man's voice interrupted from behind the chair. "You have sixty seconds to convince me to help you."

Stunned, Yán Qīngwén faltered. Of course, Emperor Three would be aware of Yingzhi's crisis—such news would hardly escape his notice.

"Fifty seconds left."

"Forty seconds…"

The voice ticked off the seconds, intensifying her anxiety.

"Wait!" Yán Qīngwén blurted out, "Emperor Three, this isn't just help—it's a deal! If you can assist us in retaining our shares, I'll buy them back at a price 20% higher than what you paid. It's a guaranteed profit for you!"

"Thirty seconds."

"I'll add 3% of the shares as a bonus!"

"Twenty seconds."

Desperation crept into Yán Qīngwén's voice. "I'll increase the buyback price by 30%!"

"Time's up."

A soft metallic click resonated as the man behind the chair lit a cigarette. "Ms. Yán, none of what you've said interests me."

Yán Qīngwén's face paled. "Then what will it take for you to agree to this deal?"

"This isn't a deal; it's assistance," the man replied coolly. "Haven't you learned yet to abandon that useless pride?"

*This tone... It's just like Lǐu Dì's!* Yán Qīngwén's heart sank further. She bit her lip, lowering her voice. "I'm sorry, Emperor Three. Please tell me how you would be willing to help us."

There was a pause before the man responded. "To your right is a set of documents containing ten questions. Answer them satisfactorily, and I may consider assisting you."

Yán Qīngwén looked down and saw a stack of pristine white papers by her side. Quickly, she began to read through them.

'Question 1: The flaws in Yingzhi Group's traditional business model.'

'Question 2: How to address the inefficiencies within the group.'

'Question 3: List the names of 30% of the employees to be laid off without affecting operations.'

As she read, Yán Qīngwén's eyes widened. Each question cut to the core of Yingzhi Group's issues—challenging, yet crucial.

The man's voice interrupted her thoughts. "Yingzhi Group's internal mechanisms have aged. Many veteran employees are merely coasting, and the business model is outdated. If these problems aren't resolved, Yingzhi will inevitably decline, even if your father hadn't had his accident."

He continued, "Unless these issues are addressed, Yingzhi is worthless to me."

Sweat beaded on Yán Qīngwén's forehead. Emperor Three had a keen understanding of Yingzhi's weaknesses—she couldn't help but feel a deep respect for him.

Pulling out her trusty metal pen, Yán Qīngwén began scribbling answers on the papers.

Meanwhile, Yán Kāikāi and Yán Xīnxīn exchanged glances. They knew their sister was busy answering the questions, so it was time for them to assist in any way they could!