It was obviously impossible for Li Shu to have done nothing during this period at home. Knowing that there were issues with the people in the company, how could he not have made preparations in advance?
He carried out these actions in secrecy, and very few knew about it. Many pieces of information were found by 1314. Modern networks were utterly defenseless against his system. As long as there was a trace, it could trace it back and find the desired information.
Some of the people present acted cautiously, afraid of being caught out. It took several twists and turns before he found accurate information. Some were more careless, and he didn’t know if it was because they were genuinely unconcerned or simply confident, all the information was revealed after a few simple flips.
Of course, the current expressions on their faces were the most exciting. Clearly, they hadn’t expected to have been caught not by their enemies, but by Li Shu himself, and what they had done was exposed in front of everyone.
They stared at the screen in front of them. Those strings of characters were like the ghostly chains of life and death. When they did these things, they weren’t afraid, but now they were terrified. If these things were exposed, their lives would be ruined forever.
“President Li, Family Head, what do you mean by this?” Someone stood up and asked with a solemn expression.
Li Shu played with his fingertips, his tone somewhat indifferent. “It doesn’t mean anything. I just want you to know that I know everything about your affairs, what I should know and what I shouldn’t know. As for what to do next, I don’t think I need to say it. You already know.”
“You’re going too far!” Once this kind of evidence was made public, the damage would not only affect them but would also target the behemoth, “Linshe”.
“Linshe” was indeed the leading domestic enterprise, but no matter how powerful the enterprise, it could not withstand such a blow. Most of the senior executives had things that would bring stains on their records. Without mentioning the general public, just passing the higher-ups would be impossible. What exactly did Li Shu want to do? And how did he know this information? Moreover, besides these, did he have more in his hands? They thought their past was well hidden, but was it?
At this moment, most people were panicking. They even forgot to think about how Li Shu controlled their computers. Their minds were full of what to do next.
It was at times like this that no one dared to be the first to ask questions. The first bird to stick its head out gets shot, and they were all afraid of becoming the first one to stick their heads out.
Li Shu had asked 1314 to send the document to each computer. The documents on each computer correspond to the shameful things the owner had done. Sometimes you need to shock people, but you can’t offend them too much at once. If you push them to their limits, it will be worth it.
“I know what everyone has done during my absence,” Li Shu paused, looked around the meeting room and took in everyone’s frightened expressions. He continued with satisfaction, “Assistant Xu, what were you discussing before I arrived? Tell me about it, and then we’ll continue that topic.”
Assistant Xu organized the files in front of him, stood up, and repeated the content of the meeting just now without any personal emotions. With his narration, the intentions of some people became too obvious.
After he finished speaking, he nodded to Li Shu and then sat down. Li Shu nodded, “Then let’s continue the previous topic. The so-called ‘if you take on a responsibility, you should fulfill that duty’ applies in the company as well. It applies to me, and it applies to all of you. Don’t you agree?”
“What exactly do you want to do?” Li Song gritted his teeth and asked.
He didn’t know what was displayed on the screens of others, but judging from their reactions, it was obviously related to their own interests. What was displayed in front of him were things he had done in the past, some happened recently, others more than twenty years ago. The events varied in scale, but without exception, these were things Li Shu shouldn’t have known.
It’s hard to say if it’s a coincidence, but among so many incidents, the only thing missing is him plotting against Li Shu. He now doesn’t know if Li Shu really didn’t know or deliberately left it out. What exactly was his purpose?
“Actually, it’s quite simple. My goal is the same as yours. Some people hold positions in the company and do nothing but, uh, line their pockets. Personally, I believe this phenomenon is detrimental to the company’s development. What do you all think?”
As soon as Li Shu said this, he touched the interests of almost everyone. Now, they couldn’t remain calm anymore. They all stiffened their necks, and fire almost spewed from their eyes.
“Li Shu, you’re going too far,” Li Wei, the third son of the Li family, pointed at Li Shu’s face. “This is the company of the Li family, not just yours. What right do you have to do this?”
“Li Shu, you’re just the head of the family now. It’s true you have more shares than each of us individually, but don’t forget, your shares are only slightly more than each of ours separately. Do you have to kick all of us out of the company at once? Isn’t that a bit too much?”
“What you’re doing violates the family rules!”
The Li family members whose sore spots were poked jumped up to argue. They were right. Li Shu didn’t really have that much authority. “Linshe” is a family business that shelters the entire family. Since its inception, its nature has been determined. Li Shu really couldn’t turn this company into his own. Of course, his purpose wasn’t here either.
“Did I say I want to kick all the Li family members out of the company? Aren’t these your own words?”
As soon as Li Shu finished speaking, the noisy conference room instantly quieted down. People who usually had good relationships and had cooperated with each other looked at each other. Indeed, Li Shu hadn’t said he wanted to kick them all out, but…
“Wasn’t that what you meant earlier?”
Upon hearing someone ask back, everyone nodded subconsciously. Indeed, Li Shu’s words made them feel that he wanted to drive them all out of the company. After struggling for so long, Li Shu’s words negated their past efforts and contributions. How could they accept that?
People are always like this. For their own interests, at critical moments, they can unite with anyone, including opponents and enemies. Naturally, they can also stab their friends in the back for their interests.
“Li Shu,” Li Song said with a stern face, “shouldn’t you explain to us before this what you’ve been doing for the past six months when you didn’t come to the company? Speaking of dereliction of duty, isn’t this also negligence on your part?”
“That’s right,” someone chimed in. “President Li, shouldn’t you give us an explanation too?”
“Explanation? Don’t you all know the reason why I didn’t come? I was ill and needed rest.”
“Ill?!” Li Song asked in a low voice. He thought Li Shu hadn’t clarified earlier because he didn’t want others to know about it. He never expected that at such a crucial moment, Li Shu would openly mention it without any hesitation. It would be difficult for his plans to proceed smoothly after this.
“Yeah, I am quite curious about it too. I haven’t told anyone outside about this. How did it spread throughout the entire company? Oh, not just the company now, many people know I was sick. Tell me, how did this news become common knowledge?”
This matter had spread everywhere, as if suddenly one day everyone knew. So, these people really don’t know where the source came from.
“President Li was really ill before?”
“What? So you would rather believe rumors but not what I say myself?” Li Shu raised an eyebrow.
Of course not. It’s just that this person was involved in Li Song’s plan and knew some inside information. His thoughts were the same as Li Song’s. Unexpectedly, Li Shu blurted out this matter himself.
“I thought you all knew about these things. Okay, now that the confusion is cleared up, let’s talk about business.” Li Shu tapped on the table, and the bodyguard behind him handed out the files in his hands to everyone present.
They took the documents in confusion and opened them. As they read the contents, their eyes widened in disbelief.
“This… this…”
“I didn’t expect that Big Brother would have such thoughts and do such things.” Li Shu’s tone was low, but his expression remained unchanged as usual. However, no one paid attention to these now. Their attention was completely drawn to what they held in their hands. They had never imagined that some people who appeared to be dedicated to the company would secretly do such things.
Ever since Li Shu unexpectedly appeared at the company, Li Song had a feeling that his plan was doomed to fail. Who would have thought that this time it wasn’t as simple as drawing water with a bamboo basket, but rather a real trap that he had fallen into.
The hand holding the document continued to exert force, and creases soon appeared on the paper. Li Song lowered his head and stared at the words on the white paper. Each black word was like a death spell that bound him tightly, leaving him with no way to escape.
He looked up. Li Shu was sitting upright in the main seat with a calm expression on his face. There was a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. At this moment, how could he not understand? When he was plotting against Li Shu, perhaps the other party had already set up the trap, just waiting for him to fall into it.
He was still complacent about the success of his plan. Perhaps that person had been watching him all along, observing his self-righteousness and cleverness, and maybe even making fun of him with the kid next to him.
“I have already sent this document to the police. Big Brother, before the police arrive, do you want to explain to us?” Li Shu was smiling. In Li Song’s eyes, his smile was like a demon descending.
After snapping out of the shock, all fingers pointed at Li Song. “Linshe” was the foundation of the Li family, but what had Li Song done? He secretly sold the company’s shares at a low price for his own benefit. Compared to other illegal activities, this act was clearly intolerable to the Li family members present.
This time, the target of the accusations changed hands.
“Someone like Vice President Li shouldn’t be sitting in this position at all!”
“I thought he was so dedicated to the company. It turns out he only did a good job on the surface. For instance, the company’s profits have been declining recently, apparently it was because someone was secretly benefiting themselves.”
“Yeah, exactly…”
All kinds of unpleasant words were hurled at Li Song, and those who had worked with Li Song were eager to cut off ties with him, afraid of being caught in the crossfire.
This meeting ultimately became Li Song’s burial ground. After this incident, Li Song would completely lose his voice in the Li family. Moreover, because it involved corporate espionage, he had to make a trip to the police station.
The meeting ended with Li Song being taken away in public. Through this incident, the Li family members further understood how terrifying Li Shu was. Moreover, Li Shu held their fate in his hands. Whether in the company or in the family, they didn’t dare make any moves in front of Li Shu.
Li Shu had no intention of doing anything to these people. If he compared the company to a big tree, the Li family members were the branches. Without branches, no matter how strong the tree was before, it would wither and die after a brief flourishing period.
During the summer vacation, Li Heyuan officially entered the company. Half a year later, he firmly established himself within the company, and Li Shu gifted him five percent of the shares as a birthday present. As for the mole in the laboratory, Zheng Heshuang took care of it.
Another year passed, and Li Shu’s body could no longer hold up. After a simple cold, his health rapidly deteriorated. Despite trying various medications, none seemed to work.
He lay weakly in bed, like a flower that would wilt at any moment.
His body quickly became thinner, and finally, he had to be admitted to the hospital. This time, regardless of his reluctance, Li Heyuan insisted and forcefully took him to the hospital. He also called back Zheng Heshuang and others who were abroad.
In fact, they all knew that this time, there was really no way out.
Listening to the countdown of the system, when there was only one day left, Li Shu called Li Heyuan over. He patted the head of the boy who was taller and stronger than him, saying, “I want to go home. Take me back.”
Perhaps realizing something, Li Heyuan, who had previously refused, finally agreed, “Okay…”
Li Shu was so weak that he couldn’t get out of bed and walk. Li Heyuan silently lifted him up, wrapped him in thick clothes, and carried him to the car.
During the journey, he didn’t say a word and had a stern face. However, upon closer inspection, one could see the unremitting pain in his eyes.
Li Heyuan didn’t dare to speak. He feared that if he uttered a word, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his tears.
After getting into the car, Li Shu leaned against the boy’s shoulder, feeling drowsy. He had been like this for some time now, awake only a few hours a day. His soul was affected by this body, and most of the time, he felt drowsy.
Therefore, he didn’t know that after he fell asleep, the boy stared at him with eyes full of extreme reluctance, unwillingness, and possessiveness… eventually, everything blended into a dense blackness that was bottomless.
Li Heyuan stared at the man’s sleeping face. He had done this countless times recently. Only when the other person was asleep could he dare to show his emotions so openly without worrying about being discovered.
He adjusted his position and held the man in his arms. He didn’t know since when he could hold the man so easily. However, he could no longer just look up at that unreachable person as before, but he also didn’t like being in a state of panic like he was now.
He longed to tell Sir that he was afraid. Afraid that one day, this person would just sleep forever, never opening his eyes to look at him again, never smiling and encouraging him. Just thinking about it made Li Heyuan’s heart ache unbearably. He always acted normal in front of Li Shu, but it was all a forced disguise.
Actually, he had long been unable to bear it.
When Li Shu woke up, it was already dark outside. The afterglow of the setting sun poured in from the window. Li Shu propped himself up and felt a bit stronger.
Under the sunset, the entire city was bathed in orange-red light, presenting the unique beauty of dusk.
When Li Heyuan came in, he saw Li Shu sitting at the bedside, looking out the window. His pale face was more rosy than usual. Li Heyuan’s eyes darkened, he suppressed the bitterness in his heart and pretended to be calm, “Sir, are you awake?”
“Come here.” Li Shu glanced at the boy he had raised for two years and waved his hand.
Just like in the past, Li Heyuan walked over and squatted beside the bed, looking up at the person on the bed. He seemed to anticipate what would happen next. His heart was in turmoil, and he wanted to say something, but his throat seemed blocked, unable to utter a single syllable.
As for what needed to be explained and arranged, Li Shu had already made arrangements. However, he still couldn’t rest assured.
Neither of them spoke. They just faced each other under the afterglow of the setting sun.
Suddenly, Li Shu reached out and touched the boy’s cheek. “Silly boy, why are you crying?”
Li Heyuan didn’t speak. He just carefully looked at the man in front of him, using his eyes to outline his features—the exquisite brows and eyes, the straight nose, the slightly pale lips… He wished time could freeze at this moment. He was willing to exchange anything for it.
Li Shu gently wiped away the tears from the boy’s face. This was the first time he had seen tears from the boy. He knew the boy would be sad when he left, but he didn’t expect this boy, who never cried, to shed tears in front of him.
“Sir…” Li Heyuan covered the hand on his face with his own. The hand was somewhat cold, as if it could chill his heart. His voice was choked with sobs, and he could hardly utter a complete sentence. “Sir, please don’t leave. Please… don’t leave me…”
A bitter feeling surged into his heart, and Li Shu used his other hand to gently stroke the boy’s hair. “Okay, I won’t leave.”
But this time, both of them were aware that this was just an empty promise. However, Li Heyuan couldn’t care about that anymore. He clung to this last straw as if it were his lifeline, murmuring, “Sir, you’ve promised me. You won’t leave me.”
“Yes,” Li Shu’s voice was very soft, “I won’t leave you.”
Li Shu had Li Heyuan sit on the bed. He leaned against his shoulder and spoke a lot to him. This time, unlike every previous time, it was Li Shu who kept talking, while Li Heyuan became the listener.
After a brief moment of vigor, continuous exhaustion followed. Li Shu’s voice became smaller and smaller, and gradually faded away. Li Heyuan sat silently for a while, then embraced the person who had fallen into a deep sleep in his arms.
As night fell and darkness gradually enveloped the room, Li Heyuan continued holding the person until their breathing gradually ceased, until the body in his arms grew colder.
It was unknown how much time had passed, perhaps a very long time, or perhaps just an instant, the boy suddenly tightened his arms and hugged the person in his arms tightly with such a strength that it was as if he wanted to embed the person into his body.
The boy’s eyes were red and his voice was hoarse: “You said you would always be with me—”
Li Shu’s soul floated in the void, wrapped in warm and gentle light. He immersed himself in this warmth until he heard the piercing alarm: [Alarm! Alarm! Happiness value dropped to negative! Mission failed! Alarm…]
Li Shu suddenly opened his eyes and raised his hand to shield himself from the glaring light.
The mission… failed?!
