After divorce, I can hear the voice of the future

Chapter 846 This is an order, not a choice
"Mr. Lu, how do you think this matter should be resolved?"

Xu Jiayin stared at Lu Liang for a long time, as he was recalling everything that had happened recently.

Apart from offering concessions to Hengtai Group in the Sai Wan Ho development project, there was nothing else that offended Lu Liang.

A small real estate development project would take several years to earn over a billion Hong Kong dollars, which seemed insufficient to justify Lu Liang's sudden attack on him.

Although Xu Jiayin didn't know the cause, and Lu Liang probably wouldn't explain it to him, he could reverse-engineer the result Lu Liang wanted.

Lu Liang smiled faintly, finally picked up his teacup, and took a sip: "Actually, it's easy to solve. Hengtai has so much land reserves and so many high-quality projects in hand. Selling off some of them would be enough to repay Tianxing Financial's loan."

Xu Jiayin's face was gloomy, she gritted her teeth and said coldly, "At the end of the year and the beginning of the new year, it may not be so easy to sell. President Lu, do you have any companies you would recommend?"

When Lu Liang said he would help Hengtai acquire the Zheng family's New World Development, he had already confided in Lu Liang about the current predicament of Hengtai Group.

Hengtai Group is like a luxury cruise ship that is all show and no substance.

If they keep moving forward, there is still a chance to reach the shore. But if they stop, all that awaits Hengtai is the sinking of the giant ship.

Lu Liang is clearly going back on his word, changing his initial plan to help the giant ship move forward and reach the shore to now wanting to dismantle the ship and cut his losses in advance.

He wanted to know who had the power to change Lu Liang's mind, or whether Lu Liang wanted to get involved in the real estate market.

Lu Liang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Tianxing Financial only cares about whether the loan funds can be repaid on time."

Xu Jiayin was taken aback, a look of doubt appearing on her face. Her tone softened as she said softly, "President Lu, is there something I, Xu, have done to offend you? If so, I would like to formally apologize to you here."

After all, those bank presidents all knew that if they forced Xu Jiayin to her death, or forced Hengtai to her death, they would lose everything.

If the company and its people are alive, even with a loan of 10 billion yuan and annual repayments of 30 to 50 million yuan, at least there is hope of clearing the debt.

Lu Liang wanted to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, and he only wanted the eggs.

Hengtai Group is such a large, established company, even if it's heavily indebted, it still has some good meat to offer, and he doesn't want any of it. This clearly doesn't conform to normal business logic.

Lu Liang said calmly, "President Xu, you're too kind. You haven't offended me in any way, so there's no need for you to apologize."

"Even if I die, let me die knowing why," Xu Jiayin pleaded, her face no longer bearing its former toughness.

Lu Liang's style was too domineering. As soon as he arrived in Hong Kong, he acquired Chinese Estates Holdings, criticized HSBC, suppressed Standard Chartered, and almost dominated the financial industry. He also instructed Emperor Entertainment to integrate the entertainment industry and enter the media and education industries.

But things have come to this point. Finance and entertainment are Lu Liang's main businesses, so even if others have opinions, they dare not say anything. Including Hengtai Group's acquisition of New World Development, which is essentially a merger of peers and belongs to the internal contradictions of the real estate industry.

However, if Lu Liang insists on forcing Hengtai to its death and supporting a new real estate representative, Lao Xu is confident that he can unite with them to launch a campaign against Lu Liang.

After all, the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" should be understood by those companies. Hengtai, which followed Lu Liang's lead so closely, still ended up like this. What chance do they have?

However, Lu Liang didn't care who would take over Hengtai in the future, nor did he make any designation, as if he only cared that Hengtai was dead.

Faced with this situation, Xu Jiayin had no chance of winning and was powerless to resist. After all, her competitors could simply sit back and watch, reaping the benefits and taking a slice of Hengtai Group's profits.

Unless someone's brain is squeezed in a door, they wouldn't risk offending Lu Liang by helping Hengtai.

Faced with Xu Jiayin's pleading, Lu Liang sighed, "President Xu, why do you think I'm trying to harm you?"

Xu Jiayin was taken aback. This was precisely the kind of confusion he couldn't understand. Forcing Hengtai to his death was a thankless task for Lu Liang.

Xu Jiayin wanted to ask for the reason, but Lu Liang stopped talking. He stood up and said, "The 27th of this month, which is also the day before the Spring Festival, is the final repayment deadline that Tianxing Financial will give to Hengtai."

As Lu Liang passed by Xu Jiayin, he gently patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Brother Xu, I hope you won't put me in a difficult position."

"Farewell!"

Lu Liang pushed open the office door, turned his head slightly, and glanced at the cameraman, whose face was full of shock.

Lu Liang smiled and said nothing, just as he had been instructed beforehand, treating them all as if they were invisible.

He summoned Sun Zheyuan to prepare the car, and they headed to their next destination: Huangmeng Media Group, which had merged with Haomeng Productions.

Upon seeing this, the filming director, Zhang Zhiyuan, quickly came out to greet Xu Jiayin: "Ms. Xu, if there's nothing else, we'll be leaving now."

He was backstage, monitoring the data sent by the cameraman in real time. The content revealed from just the two of them talking was beyond explosive.

He didn't even dare to imagine how much public outcry it would cause if this segment were broadcast.

But a new problem has arisen: Lu Liang probably agrees to filming, but Xu Jiayin's decision is uncertain.

Xu Jiayin glanced coldly at Zhang Zhiyuan and quickly followed Lu Liang's footsteps: "President Lu, let me see you off."

Although it was humiliating, he knew very well how Hengtai's market value of 5500 billion yuan came about, and how Xu, the richest man in China, had become the second richest man in China. He should have fallen from grace, but instead, he rose to even greater heights.

All of this is thanks to the support of Tianxing Financial. To put it bluntly, it was Lu Liang's order, not his choice.

Even if we assume that Lu Liang has no reason to harm him, before we find out the truth, it's best not to show that he's fallen out with Lu Liang, whether publicly or privately.

The Zheng family of New World is the best example of someone who is an enemy of Lu Liang, while the Yang family of Emperor Group is the best example of someone who is a friend of Lu Liang.

No one wanted to miss the chance to be Lu Liang's dog.

"Mr. Lu, wait for me." Xu Jiayin smiled and waved hurriedly, finally boarding the elevator that Lu Liang was riding in.

As the elevator descended and was about to reach the first floor, Xu Jiayin said softly, "President Lu, I will think about it carefully."

He glanced at Lu Liang out of the corner of his eye, trying to glean some clue from Lu Liang's expression.

Lu Liang hummed in agreement, looked straight ahead, and strode out when the elevator doors opened.

"Take care, Mr. Lu." Xu Jiayin stood at the company entrance, watching Lu Liang drive away. Just as Lu Liang was heading to Huangmeng Media for an inspection, Xu Jiayin returned to her office.

He summoned his trusted confidants and senior executives who were located in mainland China for an impromptu video conference.

"I just spoke with Mr. Lu. The final repayment deadline for Tianxing Financial's $90 billion loan is the 27th of this month."

Upon hearing this, everyone at the meeting was stunned. The CFO even bluntly asked, "Chairman Xu, where do we get the funds?"

He was Xu Jiayin's confidant and knew that the group's public statement that it had 2500 billion yuan in cash reserves was just a vague statement.

For example, include this year's profits in advance, or include the revenue from newly approved projects.

Five can be added, but four cannot be abandoned, which is why there is a cash flow of more than 2000 billion.

Everyone says that Jia Yueting, the boss of LeEco, is a fake accountant, but compared to Xu Jiayin's actions, Jia Yueting is just a novice.

After all, if they don't do this, they can't raise funds from the market. Providing an umbrella on a sunny day and taking it back on a rainy day is a common practice of banks.

A company can only raise funds if it has enough money; if a company is short of money, it cannot raise funds.

"Quiet down, Mr. Lu has also provided a solution."

Xu Jiayin spoke softly and slowly, a stark contrast to her attitude when she was with Lu Liang. As she explained the plan, her gaze swept across everyone's eyes, observing their expressions, much like an ancient emperor inspecting his civil and military officials.

"Isn't this a plan adopted by Wanda to protect itself?"

“Chairman Xu, if we do the same, the group’s stock price will definitely fluctuate wildly, and it may even attract the attention of regulatory and risk control departments.”

"Chairman Xu, we really can't agree to this! Hengtai can't withstand any investigation!"

Everyone unanimously opposed Lu Liang's proposal. It's easy to say "cutting off one's own arm," but few people actually did it.

Besides, it's not a matter of life and death right now, so why cut off your own arms?

They actually had an unspoken subtext: perhaps Lu Liang was only dissatisfied with Xu Jiayin, not with them.

Old Xu is gone, and that's it.

But their interests are closely related to Hengtai Group; if they are gone, then they are truly gone.

It was noisy and disruptive for more than half an hour.

Everyone unanimously rejected Lu Liang's proposal, but not a single constructive word was offered.

"Meeting adjourned, we'll discuss it again!" Xu Jiayin's face was gloomy as she turned off the video conference and dismissed everyone in the meeting room.

He should have realized sooner that asking those incompetent people in the group would be less effective than figuring it out himself. It's not that they lack ability, but in the face of crisis, everyone only thinks of themselves.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door, and before Xu Jiayin could answer, a graceful figure pushed the door open and entered.

Xu Jiayin looked up, her sharp gaze suddenly softening: "Dandan, you're here."

"I heard that Chairman Xu is feeling very down, so I came to check on him." Bai Dandan, the head of the dance troupe, smiled and walked behind Old Xu, extending her ten fingers to press the acupoint between his eyebrows.

"Ha, it's more than just being annoyed. It's no exaggeration to say that we're facing the same crisis as ten years ago, or even a more serious one." Xu Jiayin sighed and then recounted the whole story in more detail.

After all, compared to those incompetent executives, he trusted Commander Bai, who had been with him for many years.

The group's senior executives are equivalent to civil and military officials in ancient times, while Commander Bai is like the chief eunuch in ancient times.

The power of eunuchs was based on imperial power. If imperial power was gone, they would just be castrated men who could not have sex.

Commander Bai frowned: "Why did President Lu do this?"

"I want to know too!" Xu Jiayin smiled wryly. If he knew, he wouldn't be so worried.

After pondering for a long time, Commander Bai said softly, "This matter is thankless and exhausting for President Lu, so what he said about not harming Chairman Xu might be the truth."

"So what if it's true?" Xu Jiayin asked.

"Perhaps we should really listen to President Lu's advice."

Commander Bai said earnestly, "Chairman Xu, you often say that President Lu's vision is unmatched and his market sense is exceptional. Perhaps he has sensed something."

"Dandan, only you understand my perspective and consider my feelings." Xu Jiayin sighed and took the other's hand.

He knew perfectly well that Lu Liang might know something, and that the matter was so serious that it couldn't be discussed openly.

But he couldn't bring himself to make Hengtai Group follow Wanda Group's example and take drastic measures based on just a little speculation.

Commander Bai said softly, "Chairman Xu, isn't Hengtai's situation better than before?"

If Evergrande Group were to collapse before entering the Hong Kong property market, Xu Jiayin would be doomed.

But now, with Hengtai holding half of Hong Kong's real estate market, the collapse of Hengtai means that Xu Jiayin may not die, but at least she will have a dignified ending.

She also had her own selfish motives. If Xu Jiayin were gone, she would also be gone and unable to enjoy everything she had now.

But if Hengtai simply falls from the top domestic real estate company to the second or even third tier, her life will not change at all.

"It is indeed better than before." Xu Jiayin remained silent, feeling unwilling but seemingly helpless.

(End of this chapter)