"Ah, the individual in question is Mr. Gawin... the CEO of Wonder Package Thailand."
Li Ming spoke with a deceptive flatness, yet every syllable seemed to exert a physical pressure that anchored the room in a heavy, expectant silence. "He is one of the most influential young executives in Thailand. And most crucially... he is a man who recognizes the untapped potential of our Hydrogen Project—and he is prepared to back it with significant capital."
The atmosphere in the boardroom instantly turned electric with tension. Lu Rong sat as motionless as a marble bust, but his mind was racing, surgically dissecting this new threat. To a financier of his caliber, Wonder Package was a mere packaging giant with zero pedigree in the energy sector. For them to leapfrog industries into an Asian mega-deal of this scale suggested one of two things: either they were reckless gamblers, or there was a profound, hidden architecture to their plan.
"And how certain are you, Chairman, that he possesses the expertise to navigate a sector as complex as energy?" Lu Rong fired back, his tone sharp with suspicion. "A packaging firm meddling in clean energy infrastructure precisely when we are bleeding liquidity... I find the timing more than a little irregular."
Li Ming held Lu Rong's gaze for a long moment, as if scanning for the fear concealed beneath the CFO's mask of corporate concern.
"Why must we meet our investors with cynicism?" Li Ming countered, a cryptic smile tugging at his lips. "It is far more likely they have appraised our project and seen the potential for staggering returns. Indeed, the very fact that a savvy investor is willing to bet on us now serves as a testament to the validity of our path. Despite the temporary crimson on our ledgers, the project's future remains an asset worth fighting for."
Lu Rong's jaw tightened until the muscles bulged. The message was loud and clear. The Chairman was weaponizing this new investor to bolster the project's credibility, effectively securing his own throne under the guise of "strategic growth."
Li Ming offered a smile—soft, yet radiating the predatory satisfaction of a grandmaster who had just reclaimed the board.
"Our new partner will arrive to present his vision tomorrow," Dr. Li Ming announced, his voice booming with renewed authority. "I am convinced that this alliance will be the key that unlocks Southeast Asia for the CK Group. I want this board to rest easy; our Hydrogen Project is not merely alive—it is destined for a triumph that will yield dividends for every one of you in the long run."
The declaration was a formal act of war. Across the table, Lu Rong's loyalists exchanged looks of simmering resentment. Silent signals passed between them, a desperate consensus to prepare for the storm that would arrive tomorrow—a storm named Gawin that threatened to blow their carefully laid coup to pieces.