CHAPTER 259: CHAPTER 259: ENTRUSTED WITH A WEIGHTY RESPONSIBILITY

Bian Yue narrowed her eyes, a flash of sharpness passing through, then she smiled and calmly said, "Alright."

Xiangjiang Hotel, top-floor private room.

Shen Jinci was still some time away from arriving, Bai Xu courteously handed the menu to Bian Yue, smiling as he said, "I’m not sure about President Bian’s preferences, so perhaps you could order first."

"Do you have any dietary restrictions, Assistant Bai?" Bian Yue took the menu and said indifferently, "If you have any, I’ll take note."

"I have no restrictions, but I remember President Bian used to have many foods she wouldn’t eat."

"Times have changed, now that I am in this position, I cannot indulge my whims. I have to pretend to eat things I don’t like."

Bai Xu’s smile deepened and he continued Bian Yue’s train of thought, "So, this mess, President Bian had no choice but to take over?"

"Assistant Bai, considering my relationship with the Li Family, is there any need for me to step up for Li Tingmo?"

"I understand your point, but... I was just about to liquidate Feng Cheng, and then you signed for it, which made it somewhat embarrassing." Bai Xu sighed, "This approach might draw criticism for kicking someone while they’re down."

"Before his death, Li Sihe was still scheming against Li Tingmo. If we’re talking about kicking someone when they’re down, it was Li Sihe before me."

Bai Xu was startled by Bian Yue’s straightforward words and paused before speaking softly again, "President Bian, Mr. Li has treated you well."

"I know, which is why I am sitting here. I ask you, Assistant Bai, to kindly not press the Bian Group any further." Bian Yue said this, put down the menu, picked up the tea beside her, and raised it towards Bai Xu.

Bai Xu, looking helpless, drank from his glass, "How did President Bian conclude that I am suppressing Feng Cheng?"

"Li Sihe must have instructed you to relentlessly pursue Li Tingmo." Bian Yue paused, then continued, "Or perhaps, there is something in Feng Cheng that must remain secret, something that cannot be exposed."

"Something secret?"

"Like, how such a big entity got hollowed out. Assistant Bai forcing Li Tingmo to step down and liquidate Feng Cheng is just to eradicate this evidence, right? Perhaps, all this is not just related to Li Sihe, but also inseparable from you."

Bai Xu looked at Bian Yue with a meaningful expression, "Is President Bian threatening me?"

"You misunderstood. I have no interest in the assets that disappeared from Feng Cheng, nor do I wish to investigate. Since Shiheng is gone, the traps he set, I won’t go looking for them. Thus, now that I’ve acquired Feng Cheng, here, it is just part of the Bian Group. All of its past, I will destroy."

Bian Yue spoke these words, gazing into Bai Xu’s increasingly profound gaze and said indifferently, "Does this count as being wise with the times?"

"Miss Bian, you flatter me by saying all this." Bai Xu’s smile was faint, and his tone increasingly mild, "It’s not my place to interfere with Miss Bian’s decisions, I just want to tell you, if you really take over Feng Cheng, the path ahead will certainly not be easy."

With Feng Cheng on the brink of collapse, Bian Yue taking over meant enduring great pain to calm the storms.

Bian Yue looked calmly at Bai Xu, her voice steady and cool, "Assistant Bai, since I’ve chosen this, I’m naturally prepared mentally. I will advance and retreat with this group, as now, it belongs to the Bian Group."

Bai Xu’s eyes held a subtly deep meaning, as he said no more. Instead, he picked up a glass of wine beside him and raised it towards Bian Yue, "Then here, I shall first wish Miss Bian all the best."

The two drank up their glasses, Bai Xu spoke again, his voice now much gentler. He slowly said, "Since President Bian is determined, I am willing to let go, but there is one condition."

Bian Yue sat upright, formally saying, "Assistant Bai, please speak."

"Feng Cheng was once jointly run by Mr. Li and me. If I were to liquidate it now, I could still make some money to start over. But now that Feng Cheng has become part of Bian Group, what should I do?" Bai Xu chuckled, then spoke again, his voice even steadier, "So, I also need some assurance."

"Does Assistant Bai want to keep a position within Bian Group?" Bian Yue maintained her composure as she guessed Bai Xu’s intention, raising her eyes to look at him, her tone gentle, "What position does Assistant Bai desire?"

Bai Xu’s smile faded, "Vice President, 10% of the shares, from now on, Miss Bian will be my immediate superior."

A waiter came in, Bian Yue discreetly ordered food, and with the sound of the door closing, she looked at Bai Xu, "Assistant Bai, Vice President is fine, but 10% of the shares, why?"

"Because I can write off Feng Cheng’s bad debts abroad in one stroke." Bai Xu smiled and composedly said, "President Bian should understand, to wipe out such a huge debt, how much money is needed? With that money, I could also buy 10% of the shares of Bian Group."

Bian Yue understood completely; the bankruptcy of Feng Cheng was a deliberate act of internal and external collusion by Li Sihe and Bai Xu.

Now, with Li Sihe dead, all the power and resources were in Bai Xu’s hands.

Bian Yue reined in her smile, her gaze sharpening as she looked at Bai Xu, "You want shares, I can give them to you, but I want you to sign an agreement with me to manage the core secrets of Bian Group and prevent any interference. If there’s a leak, you are fully responsible."

"Are you comfortable entrusting me with this?" Bai Xu raised an eyebrow, his smile gentle, "Don’t you think I’m the kind of person who should not be given important responsibilities?"

"I don’t keep idlers, and besides, if you dare to sign, I’ll dare to use you."

Bai Xu narrowed his eyes contemplatively, then after a moment, smiled sincerely and said, "I agree, President Bian."

Just as dishes were served one after another, Bian Yue steered the conversation towards light, witty daily topics, and the two spoke relaxed and calmly.

When Shen Jinci appeared, the atmosphere had already become quite harmonious.

He walked in from the outside, dressed in a dark suit, exuding a noble and slightly cold demeanor.

He sat down beside Bian Yue, casually glanced at Bai Xu, then shifted his gaze away, asking Bian Yue how the talk went.

"It’s already settled, Jinci. Let me introduce him, this is my future Vice President, Bai Xu." Bian Yue had a friendly smile.

Instead, it was Bai Xu who was taken aback for a moment before he smiled and said, "I still need to thank President Bian for the favor."

Shen Jinci was reticent during the meal, occasionally rotating the lazy Susan to place Bian Yue’s favorite dishes in front of her.

While doing these, he seemed oblivious to others, truly resembling an ordinary man who had just finished work and was accompanying his wife for dinner.

Bai Xu felt a mix of emotions, looking at the two of them a couple of times more.

After eating, Bian Yue got up to adjust her dress in the restroom, and Shen Jinci straightened her coat for her, hung over the chair back, creating a somber atmosphere as he looked at Bai Xu with a quiet, flat tone, "Speak."

Bai Xu was initially astounded, then smiled and responded, "What would Mr. Shen have me say?"