The Feng Group Building, top-floor conference room.
Today, all the Feng Group's shareholders were present, each with an unpleasant expression.
"Apologies for keeping everyone waiting." A man in a tailored suit strode in.
The shareholders' faces darkened even further.
Xu Lang, the head of Langtao Capital, and currently the Feng Group's largest creditor.
He also held another identity — Xie Beichun's brother-in-law.
Everything had become clear.
The man loosened his tie, a gentle smile hung on his face, but his eyes betrayed the ferocity and ambition of a wolf.
"The Feng Group failed to repay its debts on time. Three days ago, I filed an application with the court, which led to today's creditors' meeting. I will not accept any settlements; apologies to all present. Next, court personnel will establish a liquidation team to take over the Feng Group and proceed with legal asset liquidation."
At the door of the conference room, uniformed liquidation personnel stood ready.
The shareholders finally began to panic.
"Xu Lang, don't go too far. Mr. Feng has only just had his mishap, and you're so eager to kick him while he's down. Karma exists, and you'll get your comeuppance sooner or later."
"Back then, Mr. Feng helped you out of kindness when you were struggling to start your business. Who knew it would be inviting a wolf into the fold? You and Xie Beichun were scheming all along, weren't you…?"
Listening to the shareholders' indignant accusations, Xu Lang's expression didn't change at all, his face still bearing that gentle smile.
"The business world is like a battleground; winners rule, and losers are cast aside. Today, it's me standing here. What is it, are you all so eager to become my enemies?"
These words silenced the room instantaneously.
Debt repayment among shareholders was proportionate to their equity subscription. Should Xu Lang decide to pursue it thoroughly, no one present would escape unscathed.
Mockery flickered in Xu Lang's eyes as he waved his hand, "Let's begin."
"Wait." A slightly youthful voice rang out, and everyone immediately turned toward the source.
Xu Lang squinted, staring at the young man who appeared at the conference room door.
It was a boy dressed in a slightly ill-fitting suit, his hair slicked with an excessive amount of gel, oddly pasted against his scalp — as though he were a child wearing an adult's clothes.
One of the shareholders recognized him, "It's Mr. Feng's son."
Feng Yueyang braced himself, though his knees were trembling. He repeatedly encouraged himself internally, telling himself not to show weakness — after all, he was Feng Chi's son.
"Greetings, uncles of the board. I am Feng Yueyang."
Feng Yueyang walked up to Xu Lang, facing his piercing gaze, forcing himself to stand firm against all the shareholders.
"My father's mishap has deeply saddened me, but I have always remembered his teachings. Now that the Feng Group is at a life-or-death juncture, how can I stand by and do nothing? I will stand with all of you, facing all challenges together."
Feng Yueyang's earlier image had been too unrestrained, leaving the shareholders deeply unimpressed.
But today, these words went straight to their hearts.
"Like father, like son. Yueyang really is just like Mr. Feng."
"The boy has truly grown up. Mr. Feng would surely find comfort seeing this."
With a leader re-emerging, hope started to flicker in everyone's hearts.
But was this kid reliable?
Feng Yueyang raised his voice, "Lawyer Liu."
Lawyer Liu entered, projecting a will onto the screen for all to see.
It was the will Feng Chi had drafted two years ago. Upon his death, all his shares would be inherited by Feng Yueyang.
Naturally, Feng Yueyang had now become the Feng Group's largest shareholder.
Alongside inheriting the shares, he also inherited all the debts.
"Excellent. Debts trace back to their owner. Young Mr. Feng, you certainly haven't let me down."
Xu Lang smiled, his gaze sharp and oppressive.
Feng Yueyang's legs trembled as his eyes instinctively sought out the black-suited bodyguard behind him.
Shen You'an stared coldly at him, which made Feng Yueyang bite his lip before slowly turning back to focus on Xu Lang.
"I certainly won't let President Xu down. Given the Feng Group's mountain of debt, it's the shareholders and employees who are suffering. To protect them, I have no choice but to seek assistance from the bank."
Xu Lang curled his lips in mockery. With Feng Group's current situation, what bank would foolishly invest?
Banks were the coldest capitalists, never touching any ventures unless they benefited.
Clearly, this was a naive young man still dreaming whimsical dreams.
The shareholders harbored little hope either. Over the past few days, several had tried visiting major banks' heads, only to be uniformly refused.
In this ruthless era of capital, profit ruled supreme.
The Feng Group now resembled a ship riddled with holes and on the verge of sinking; anyone stepping aboard at this moment had to be utterly irrational.
The shareholders were clutching at straws, convinced that Feng Yueyang could miraculously save the Feng Group.
It was laughable — like expecting pigs to climb trees.
Just then, the conference room door was knocked on.
A handsome young man stood at the doorway, adjusting the gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, smiling, "Everyone is here."
With that, he stepped inside.
Though still young, his every movement exuded affluent sophistication and expertise. Even with Xu Lang's famed elegance in business circles, he paled noticeably in comparison to this man.
Xu Lang peered cautiously at the man's face.
"Are you… Chairman Lan?" A shocked shareholder hesitantly ventured.
This question was like a bombshell detonated in the silent conference room.
"A chairman at such a young age? Old Zhang, you must be mistaken."
Shareholder Zhang immediately stood up, courteously stepping forward, "Chairman Lan, what brings you here? My sincerest apologies for not welcoming you properly."
Xu Lang studied the man's calm demeanor intensely, his pupils narrowing as realizations dawned.
His secretary hurriedly approached him, whispering, "President Xu, he's Lan Xiping, branch chairman of Tianlu Bank's Spring City operations."
The secretary's words confirmed Xu Lang's suspicions. Without betraying his thoughts, Xu Lang ordered, "Investigate—find out his connection to Feng Chi."
"Understood." The secretary departed swiftly.
Xu Lang clenched his fists, a growing unease brewing within.
"Chairman Lan? You mean Tianlu Bank's Chairman Lan?"
The shareholders were visibly stunned.
Tianlu Bank had emerged as a powerful commercial bank in recent years, expanding with remarkable speed. Its headquarters were located in the global financial hub of Siland, reputed to be implicated in the backdrop of many recent global financial storms.
Its unparalleled capital-attracting ability and precise investment strategies had fueled rapid expansions through mergers and acquisitions of major investment banks worldwide, establishing itself as a formidable international financial powerhouse.
Starting last year, Tianlu Bank had shifted its focus toward the East Asian market, where Hua Country, with its soaring economic growth, became the focal point.
Tianlu Bank established two branches within Hua Country.
One in Jingzhou, the cultural and political epicenter, and the other in the southern economic center of Spring City.
With Tianlu Bank's colossal financial power and razor-sharp investment acumen, countless entities had sought partnerships, hoping to leverage its influence for access to international markets.
However, Chairman Lan had remained a reclusive figure, shrouded in mystery, with few ever managing to meet him.
No one expected him to show up here spontaneously.
Even more surprising was how young and strikingly handsome this chairman turned out to be.
The man smiled modestly with scholarly elegance, "I am Lan Xiping. Today, I've come to discuss collaboration with the Feng Group."
The shareholders exploded in disbelief, as though waking into a dream. None dared to believe.
In their wildest imaginations, no scenario existed where Tianlu Bank might invest. It was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle, but what could Tianlu Bank possibly see in Feng Group, this sinking ship?
At that moment, every shareholder shared one question.
Why them?
Lan Xiping glanced at his secretary, who promptly provided the documents: "Regarding Feng Group's current debt status, our venture division has formulated a debt-resolution strategy. This includes restructuring operations and selling non-controlling equity to lower debt ratios while raising liquidity to ensure business continuity. During this process, Tianlu Bank will dispatch a professional team to manage everything."
With Tianlu Bank taking full control of debt management, concerns melted away.
Xu Lang would have no choice but to comply.
To everyone present, Lan Xiping appeared nothing less than a savior.
As for Tianlu Bank acquiring control or orchestrating a reverse takeover? Nobody worried about that.
Being pulled up by Tianlu Bank was the ultimate aspiration—few could hope for such fortune.
Lan Xiping smiled at Xu Lang, placing a settlement agreement before him.
"President Xu, would you care to sign this agreement?"
Xu Lang's face turned livid.
The original plan had relied on waiting for Feng Group's liquidation process before Langtao Capital shouldered the debts, shaping a reverse takeover to supplant Feng Group entirely.
But now, Tianlu Bank had intervened, throwing everything into disarray.
Xu Lang couldn't grasp why Tianlu Bank would come to Feng Group's aid.