Chapter 126 — Cutting His Losses

The one thing that City M could boast about was an efficient police force. Other cities were good, but City M's police took the cake. They had won the Country Award for "best police force" several times in a row, and their officers were often dispatched to other cities to help with tough cases.

The inhabitants of City M were a bit more assured than most to sleep with both eyes closed at night.

Unfortunately, this wonderful trait of City M was currently Fen Wucai's worst nightmare. The police had been hounding him for the past few weeks.

He didn't know how they got their hands on the evidence that linked him with King Black, but they suddenly came to his house one afternoon.

At first, he followed them without qualms, confident that they couldn't have found anything. But his confidence quickly evaporated. He then became mute, trying to buy time until his lawyers arrived.

It took them hours, but they were finally able to secure his bail, on the condition that he would be available at all times and fully cooperate with their investigations.

He suspected that they were trained in psychological tactics as well. He was technically a free man, but the way they called him over to the station every two days made it look like he was not, and it was grating on his nerves.

Now, everytime he walked out of his house, he could feel the neighbors' gazes. It killed him to think that they saw him as some sort of criminal.

He was very protective of his reputation, and this was tarnishing his image.

Desperate, he finally caved in and called Li Chuanmo.

"Chairman Li, can I come and see you?"

"Who's this?"

Pretender! Fen Wucai thought, gritting his teeth in anger, but he still had to reply cordially, "It's me, Director Fen." Who asked him to fall into Li Chuanmo's trap?

"Oh, good day. How can I help you?" Li Chuanmo said noncommittally.

"It's like this: I don't know who told the police lies about me, but they've been harassing me, accusing me of trying to sabotage GOLEM. How could I do such a thing? It belongs to our company after all. As you know, I've always been neutral, and I don't interfere in company affairs. This is all just slander, an effort to ruin my good reputation!"

The more he spoke, the more convinced he felt. At the end, he was standing up straight, feeling like a glorious soldier who was ready to die defending the truth!

Li Chuanmo raised a brow. He dropped his pen and with a smile that was not a smile said, " I see. You should take it up with the police. You could sue the police force for defamation. I'm neither the police nor a lawyer ."

The implication was: I can't help you. Why are you bothering me?

Fen Wucai hemmed and hawed, but eventually, his voice became laced with defeat. "What do you want?"

Li Chuanmo did not waste words, "Resign from your position on the Board and cede your shares. Also, pay the fine that will be stipulated in the settlement contract."

Fen Wucai flipped a table in his mind. "Why don't you just kill me!" It was outrageous. He was asking him to give up all he had worked for, just like that.

"I see. Goodbye."

"Wait, wait. Li Chuan—Chairman Li, that's too much. Thankfully GOLEM was not badly affected, and thanks to me, you were able to get more exposure. This is too harsh."

"I don't have time to trade words with you Mr Fen. What have you decided to do?"

The choice was between going to jail or loosing what he was most proud of. It was a difficult choice. That rude brat! I haven't even agreed yet, but he's already calling me Mr Fen. Mr Fen your mouth!

He still tried to haggle, "Let's do it this way: I'll pay the fine. I'll also come to your home to apologize. What do you say?"

"I was stating the only terms I would agree with. Do you think this is a market where you can ask for a reduced price? It's either all or nothing. I don't have so much time. Goodbye Mr. Fen."

"Wait. Don't cut the call, I was only asking. Fine."

"Good. I'll expect your letter of resignation from the Board latest by tomorrow, and the shares should be transferred directly to me. Thank you for your cooperation."

"So soon?? Okay, then what about the charges?"

"I'll contact my lawyers once your letter of resignation arrives at my desk. Without that, there's nothing to talk about."

*Knock knock*

"I understand." Fen Wucai replied.

"It's nice doing business with you Mr Fen. Have a nice day." Pei Yueran had just entered his office, so he wanted to end the discussion with Fen Wucai quickly. He ended the call without waiting for his response.

Fen Wucai: (⁠╯⁠°⁠□⁠°⁠)︵⁠┻⁠┻

His face turned an ugly shade of red in his effort to maintain his calm. After a few seconds, he lost the fight and flipped his table, scattering everything on it and causing a racket.

His secretary ran in, "What happened sir?"

Fen Wucai turned and shouted with red eyes, "Get out!"

His secretary, who had never seen him in such a state, froze for a moment.

In a bid to present himself as a good executive, Fen Wucai had never even frowned at his employees before, much less raised his voice. What was happening today?

When Fen Wucai threw an ink bottle at him however, his brain woke up instantly and he dodged, hurriedly running out of the office.

What was it with these directors and throwing things around? He thought, touching his head gingerly to check for bruises. The director he worked for before also liked to randomly throw things at secretaries.

He swore to himself that if there was a next life, he would rather be a security guard—or anything else for that matter— than be a secretary!

*****

"Why are you smiling so happily? Did something good happen?" Pei Yueran asked, coming closer.

"I was just about to come to your office. Seems you don't want me to come visiting." Li Chuanmo said, a knowing look on his face.

"Why not? You're welcome anytime." Pei Yueran said, looking away. In actual fact, it was true she didn't want him to come to her office.

She didn't think she could handle him being in her office. Since the day they kissed there, her office seemed to shrink whenever he came in, thoughts filling her mind.

She decided it was better to make sure both of them were not there at the same time. Not like being in his office was any better, she mused.

Would she ever be able to see the office as a sacred workspace again?