C95 Who Gave You the Guts??

In North City, the Ocean Building loomed over the Ocean Real Estate Group headquarters. The thirty-third-floor office tower was shrouded in darkness, not a single light flickering against the night sky.

The staff inside the Ocean Building had long since departed for the day or had been instructed to leave. Down in the underground parking lot, a fleet of more than ten off-road vehicles was stationed, with over a dozen men in black standing guard at the sole elevator entrance.

In the chairman's office on the thirty-third floor, Jiang Qi was perched uneasily in the chairman's seat, sweating profusely and continuously refilling his cup with tea, sipping it down nervously.

Loud thuds resonated from outside as several individuals seemed to be forcefully kicking at the door.

"Jiang Qi, get out here! You think locking the door and hiding in your office will save you?" a voice bellowed.

"You realize you're on your last legs, right? You're nothing but a lapdog for the Sunn Family, and now you've had the audacity to turn on your masters. Do you have any idea the kind of trouble you're in?"

Amidst the chaos, Jiang Qi lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, the weight of his situation bearing down on him.

That afternoon, he had put into motion a long-considered scheme, utilizing substantial funds from Lin Yin to manipulate the situation. He had won over the shareholders and covertly acquired enough shares to seize control of the real estate industry.

At the board meeting, Jiang Qi had ousted the Sunn Family's overseers, securing his position as chairman of Marine Real Estate Company. He then promptly dismissed every member of the Sunn Family faction within the company.

He had ambitiously claimed the Sunn Family's financial stronghold in the real estate sector. Yet, he had underestimated their response; the Sunn Family acted with unexpected swiftness. Even as the board meeting was only halfway through, their enforcers were already en route. By the time the meeting concluded, they had expelled all personnel from the company and locked down the entire Ocean Building.

Jiang Qi was no stranger to their tactics; the Sunn Family was intent on crushing him completely.

He had always dreaded this confrontation. Otherwise, with his business acumen, outmaneuvering the Sunn Family's inexperienced executives would have been effortless. He could have easily ousted them.

Had it not been for the Sunn Family's looming presence, Jiang Qi would have long since taken the reins of the Ocean Real Estate Group entirely into his own hands.

The Ocean Real Estate Group was his brainchild. Every asset under the group's umbrella bore the mark of his dedication and hard work!

Suddenly, the wooden door of the office was violently smashed open from the outside. A dozen menacing men stormed in, led by a bald man with an elaborate tattoo on his arm.

They encircled Jiang Qi, forming a formidable wall in front of his desk. The bald man, Lu Guang, sat down across from him with a mocking grin.

Initially, Jiang Qi's eyes betrayed a flash of panic, but he quickly regained his composure. Confronted with the very situation he had dreaded, his fear dissipated.

"Jiang Qi, your woman is cheating on you, and you're nothing but the Sunn Family's lapdog. How dare you brazenly attempt to take over Marine Real Estate Company? Do you really think you're capable?" Lu Guang taunted with a sneer.

"Lu Guang! Say that one more time?" Jiang Qi's eyes blazed with fury, clearly stung by the bald man's words.

The betrayal by the Sunn Family woman, who had made a fool of him, had fueled a deep-seated rage within him for countless sleepless nights. It was this very rage that drove him to abandon his prestigious position and boldly join Lin Yin in a reckless rebellion against the Sunn Family.

"What difference would it make if I repeated it a hundred times?" Lu Guang scoffed contemptuously. "Take him down!"

With that command, several of the burly men lunged at Jiang Qi, sending him sprawling with a couple of well-aimed punches. Blood trickled from his nose as he was pinned down on the desk.

Lu Guang spat on Jiang Qi's head, his face twisted in arrogant triumph.

"Jiang Qi, you're clueless to your own benefit. You refuse the role of general manager, yet you choose to oppose the Sunn Family," Lu Guang said coldly. "Had you not coveted the Sunn Family's company, I would still be addressing you as Director Chiang upon our meetings."

"The Ocean Real Estate Group is rightfully mine; I built it from the ground up!" Jiang Qi declared through clenched teeth. "The Sunn Family, with their influence, have shamelessly snatched it away. How many vile and conscienceless deeds have they committed?"

"That's none of our concern. I'm simply carrying out tasks for the Sunn Family," Lu Guang said, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on Jiang Qi, his voice icy with inquiry, "Since you've got the nerve to pull off such a stunt, who gave you the guts to do it?"

Jiang Qi met Lu Guang's cold stare. "If you knew, you'd regret it!"

"You're still so defiant. Do you really think I won't throw you out of here this instant?" Lu Guang threatened menacingly.

"I've already left a will. If I die in the Ocean Building today, none of you will get away with it!" Jiang Qi declared, his tone grave. He was not intimidated by their threats.

Lu Guang let out a mocking sneer, pulled out his phone, and played a recording. A middle-aged woman's voice cried out for help.

Hearing the recording, Jiang Qi's complexion turned ashen, rage filling his bloodshot eyes. "You monsters! I'll kill you for this. How did you manage to kidnap my mother?"

It never occurred to him that the Sunn Family would stoop so low as to abduct his mother from their hometown just to get to him!

The Sunn Family had resorted to dirty tricks before, but his mother was nearly sixty—an elderly woman and a relative of the Sunn Family. How could they stoop to such cruelty?

They were utterly heartless!

"You might not fear death, but don't you care if your elderly mother is frightened to death?" Lu Guang taunted, a smug look on his face. "Sign this stock transfer contract now, and then tell me who emboldened you!"

"Do you really think you could manage such a financial operation on your own?"

With that, Lu Guang tossed a hefty contract at Jiang Qi's face and dialed a number. On the other end was the voice of Jiang Qi's mother.

Torn inside, Jiang Qi knew that if he didn't comply with Lu Guang's demands, his mother could be killed. Yet, by signing the contract and handing over the Ocean Real Estate Group to Sunn Heng, he would utterly betray Lin Yin's trust.

The billions in assets belonged to Director Lin! Lin had entrusted him without even a legal promissory note or a contract witnessed by a lawyer—such immense trust.

If he signed, Director Lin would have no grounds to reclaim the money later, because Jiang Qi's signature would be on the contract, leaving him as the only one accountable.

Jiang Qi glared at Lu Guang with intense malice, his eyes nearly bursting with rage.

"Don't look at me with such hatred," Lu Guang said nonchalantly. "I'm simply carrying out orders. If you think my methods are underhanded, take it up with Sunn Heng. I'm just following his lead." He shrugged. "You're aware that I'm one of Boss Hu's guys, right? I'm getting paid to handle things for the Sunn Family."

"Sign the contract quickly, and then tell me who's backing you," Lu Guang continued. "After that, you can reunite with your dear mother back in the suburbs."