Chapter 459 - 440: Ripping What You Sow-II

Silence invaded the room after Li Lian's ignorant question. People were confused if Li Lian had asked purely out of curiosity but the smart ones could already pull the idea that it was all but her act.

A person from the left coughed, gathering attention quite deliberately but Li Lian didn't love her eyes or face to look at the man. After all, she was a human, not a dog, thought Li Lian. She won't turn her head to a person who could not use his own mouth to speak like a proper human. 

The man was none other than the person who had backed up Mr. Xie earlier during Elder Fu's questioning, Wan Chengquan. Finding his method of gathering Li Lian's attention failing miserably, the man then said, "Excuse me, Miss Yue. I believe this is all too sudden. With all due respect, this might be the first time half of us ever seen you, and not to mention you are still young. I would like to put my trust in Senior Mrs. Xie's judgment, but as one of the members liable to the vote, I need more than just a word. What we need is a result."

Li Lian's smile grew as she picked her hand to place it before her lips, "How funny to hear that some of you trust only in result when our company's condition is still lacking despite Mr. Xie being the director? I would say you would rather trust in your friend rather than the results."

Mr. Xie's brows twitched upon Li Lian's words, and he said, "Our company is facing a little slump but it is nothing that I can't handle. In fact, we have begun picking a raise in our sales."

"Really?" Li Lian tapped her table for her bodyguard to come beside her. Taking the brown envelope, she then pushed it to the middle of the table with a flick of her finger, "I do hope you mean by a raise in the sale isn't this minuscule number, don't you?"

Someone on Mr. Wan's side laughed, "I don't think you understand how this works Miss Yue, a raise is already a good news. And it will continue to rise soon, little by little."

"I see how patient you are Mr. Guan, but you are the person who doesn't seem to understand how this will work. An object that had been released to fall into a hole will continue to plummet. A raise is great, surely but who could guarantee in this room that the raise would be permanent? And how long will it take for the loss that we suffered from the last few months?" Li Lian asked the man with her eyes sharp, her words were polite but also fierce. "You might have ten years of your life but I never waste my ten years of living for something futile such as waiting."

Mr. Xie had planned his day to be a delightful one that he could remember in his memories for years, but instead, Li Lian appeared and like a horrible thunder break all his hope with a bolt. Clenching his jaw, he couldn't resist himself to retort, "You speak as if you know what the solution to our problem is."

Li Lian looked at her father with bright eyes as the question she had been wanting someone to ask was finally uttered by Mr. Xie. "I do, Mr. Xie. I am glad you finally show interest in finding the solution. If one thing is very different from us is that unlike you, I prefer taking things to action rather than contemplating on what to do."

"What you say is very true, Miss Yue," said Elder Fu, "Then might we hear your suggestion?"

Li Lian was happy to know that at least one person in the room was on her side, and it didn't take long for the amount to grow after Li Lian explained her future project which she had been trying to come up with after coming back from her grandmother's birthday. 

With a little magical help of her husband, Li Jun Wei, the project Li Lian had to suggest was both foolproof and crucial. Elder Fu nodded his head as most people spoke in whisper of how they found the idea to be outside of the box. Mr. Xie who was in the room was also shocked by the number of projects Li Lian offered. It wasn't only one or two projects but ten and a dozen.

"The project can be implemented soon enough but for that," Li Lian smiled, she saw her mother's eyes where her glaring intensity only raises upon their gaze meeting each other. "I will only contribute to these projects if I am chosen as the next CEO. At once, I can warrant you the problem our company face will soon disappear in a blink even."

Mr. Xie clenched his hand, and here he had thought for a single minute that Li Lian had come to save him from the pickle. But the girl instead had come to steal what was his. Even though he was her father!

"Don't you think that is a very depraved and contemptible action from your side, Miss Yue? From what I can see you are threatening us," Mr. Wan said, not liking how the woman was acting like a savior. Mr. Xie had promised him a handsome reward in exchange for being his supporter and his voice on the vote had been directed to Mr. Xie.

"I was thinking of giving everyone in this room a choice. I acknowledge how I lack the result to this company, unlike Mr. Xie but I am very confident of my capability to advance Xie Company for the better result," Li Lian said, "While Mr. Xie had shown everyone his achievements, I had also shown you my capability. Like my father, I also need a warrant for people to choose me."

Mr. Xie creased his brows, "Even if you have the capability, you lack the love for our company. Don't you care what happens if we don't choose you?"

"Of course I care about the company, I just don't want my hard work to be trampled all over and taken advantage of. Also," Li Lian stared back at her father's eyes without losing her fierceness, "I am confident that everyone in this room knows what to do for the best of our company."

Elder Fu hid his smirk over Li Lian's subtle threaten which he didn't mind as in the business world a spice of threatening and slyness is crucial. 

"What will happen now?" questioned Mrs. Xie, demanding an answer. "Don't tell me she will take the company, do you?"

"I don't know!" Mr. Xie admonished his wife's question and run his finger through his hair out of frustration. "For now we need to stop this meeting..."

"Then it's finally time to vote," Li Lian said, coming forward she clapped her hand to have two men coming with a box and paper white cards. "I assume everyone knows how to vote. I also believe that everyone knows what is right for the future of Xie Company."

"Wait! I haven't agreed to this," said Mr. Xie too late as Li Lian had passed the cards. 

"You have gathered the people here, didn't you?" Li Lian asked with a confused expression. Turning her face away from her father she then looked at each person, "After you have finished writing your choice please put the cards on the box. You are also liable for voting, Mr. Xie and I suggest you do it now unless you want to lose your voting voice."

Mr. Xie had many words to go against Li Lian but he was rendered with no moves. He cannot drive Li Lian from the building as she was the largest stockholder and there were few things he could do other than voting his name before Li Lian use the chance to admonish his right to vote.

Once the last person, Elder Fu placed his choice to the box, Li Lian thanked everyone for voting. She looked at Mr. Xie whose foot continue to tap on the floor with anxiety but there was still a smug smile on his face and Li Lian was aware of why. Some of the people, or maybe half of them had already been on Mr. Xie's side as most of them had been promised reward by the man. 

"Thank you for voting everyone, now, Mr. Pei Gu as the natural side will be the one to read the result," Li Lian said, letting Pei Gu come to the place where she stood earlier so everyone could hear his voice in clarity.

When Pei Gu opened the first card, everyone's heartbeat quicken with nervousness, "The first paper goes to Mr. Xie," and Li Lian could see from the place she stood at her father rejoicing with a smile but the smile was short-lived when Pei Gu continued, "Miss Yue."

With the first tie, everything went back to square one, the tension in the room rise and Mr.  Xie wondered why he felt nervous even though he was sure he would win the vote. Not knowing that his premonition was on the mark.