Granting You a Second Life 145 Leaving Themselves An Escape Route

Qin Song: "Don't pay any mind to him. His father was an undertaker."

Zhou TingFeng 'What has the PA's father got to do with anything?!"

Zhou TingFeng: "Mr Qin. I am here to discuss our business plan seriously. I don't think it's appropriate for you to be diverting your attention elsewhere. Just because you are going to marry my sister doesn't mean you can treat us however you want. I have come here strictly for business purposes and merit should be given where its due."

Qin Song faced Zhou TingFeng and the smile was gone from his lips. His piercing gaze and cold demeanor made it feel like the room temperature had dropped a few degrees.: "Let's talk business, then shall we? I am well aware of the current state of the Zhou corporation. The stock prices are rapidly declining and all of your business are hemorrhaging money. You are well on your way to declaring bankruptcy."

Zhou TingFeng: "Every corporation experiences ups and downs. The economy is currently unstable but we will weather out the storm. Our Beauty venture will succeed." He had to make sure it succeeded this was his opportunity to prove himself to the Zhou family.

Qin Song clasped his fingers together and leaned forward on the desk: "This business plan is a work of fiction. All the figures in this proposal and especially the predicted profits are simply something you must have plucked from your fantasies because they make no sense at all. You precited you would turn over 50 million in your first year? Yet, you haven't even made 1 yen. You have the tenacity to ask for 500 million? This is clearly just asking for money to plug the holes in a sinking ship. Or you want to use my money to solely fund this ill-prepared idea. Where is your investment? Why should I lose my hard-earned money? You have not yet produced any beauty products, you haven't trialed them, there is no solid information about production costs, packaging, and marketing. Everything is based on theory."

Zhou TingFeng: "We have spoken to various outlets in malls and prestigious..."

Qin Song: "You have approached prestigious stores who have said they would be interested in trialing the products. Yes, I have read that part of the document, you have listed many retailers. They were just humoring you, probably because you said I would be getting married into the family and investing in the business. How can anyone, even a small stall owner make a decision when they haven't even seen a final product?" 

Zhou TingFeng: "Our product is unique and we believe in it. We will hold an event to trial our product range in a months' time. We will be inviting representatives for all the retailers listed. Our other potential investors will also be present at the event."

Qin Song: "We'll talk then. I look forward to the event."

Zhou Tingfeng walked out with angry steps; he was more determined than ever.

Qin Song: "Clearly the Zhou family stocks aren't falling fast enough."

Wu Xing: "I will rectify this."

Qin Song: "Did we confirm whether the Zhou family had any involvement with the incident on that night?"

Wu Xing: "Yes. A maid in the Zhou family confirmed she had overheard a few conversations regarding the Zhou family marrying into the Qin family. Everyone except Zhou TingFeng was involved."

Qin Song: "What about the products for the new beauty line?"

Wu Xing: "Zhou TingFeng knows nothing. He was put in charge of this product at the last minute."

Qin Song: "Ah they're leaving themselves an escape route."

Qin Song: "Continue to buy all the stocks of the Zhou corporation for rock bottom prices. Leave Zhou TingeFeng a lifeline. Show him some of the evidence we hold. It's up to him whether he faces reality or not. Give him one of your father's business cards to remind him of his fate." Certain people had to have one foot in the grave sometimes before they believed what was right before them. 

Wu Xing: "Yes boss."

Qin Song: "Is the engagement party still being held?"

Wu Xing: "Yes miss Zhou Fengmian is sending special electronic invites that are presented to the guests directly. They have to RSVP at the moment the invite is shown." 

Qin Song smiled with an evil glint in his eye. He was also invited to the engagement party. Zhou Fengmian had invited him and his family to attend a dinner at her family home to discuss the wedding date in a small intimate setting between the two families. 

Qin Song: "Guess it's finally time."

He took out his smartphone and dialed a number: "Ping Mo have everything ready in 3 weeks; it will be on the 15th of this month. Prepare screens so the video can be seen by everyone. Put a montage in the beginning."

Ping Mo: "Okay boss. I'll have it all prepared."

Qin Song put his phone away and checked the time: "Uncle Shen should be here in 40 minutes don't disturb me until then."

Wu Xing: "I'll notify everyone." He quietly left the office and closed the door behind him.

Qin Song rested his head on his chair and thought about the Zhou family.

Zhou Fengmian's father; Zhou Yu Yong clearly underestimated his business acumen. 

Many people assumed that Qin Song was given the position of CEO simply because of fate. The inheritor of the Qin family would always be the eldest of the children of the main family. However, this didn't mean that they would be the most suitable for the position. 

They would have to constantly prove themselves. Qin Song worked tirelessly to become the head for two reasons. Firstly, he didn't want his brothers to be constrained by the Qin family. Secondly, He didn't want what happened to his eldest uncle to happen to his brothers. 

His father, Qin Weimin was the second oldest of his siblings. His eldest uncle Qin Wen had no affinity for business, he was a gentle soul who was more adept at art, poetry, and literature. This did no stop the Qin family from forcing him to go against his nature and becoming the head. 

Qin Weimin would always hold himself back in regards to his abilities so as not to outshine his eldest brother and make the situation worse for him. However, this plan eventually backfired, when the Qin family realized Qin Weimin's potential. The Qin family resented Qin Wen for his ineptitude and constantly compared him to his younger brother. Some in the Qin family interpreted it as the eldest brother suppressing the youngest brother because of greed. Rumors circulated and harsh remarks and criticism were fired at Qin Wen, even his parents constantly chastise him and remind him of his inadequacies and wished that he was never born. That he was the embarrassment of the Qin family and how they wished Qin Weimin was their firstborn. 

Qin Wen tried to maintain a strong attitude but there was only so much a person could take. He soon became depressed and eventually committed suicide. His suicide note was an apology to his brothers and sister for not fulfilling his role as their eldest brother. If Qin Song's grandparents were saddened by Qin Wen's passing they didn't show it. They immediately pushed Qin Weimin into the position of the future head of the Qin family. 

Qin Song didn't want history to repeat itself. He knew that his father didn't hold onto such backward practices but the extended branches and older generation of the Qin family did. Surprisingly, his aunt and one of his uncles also believed in old fashioned practices. Qin Song's grandfather had also detailed the old rules of inheritance as well as the rules that the Qin family had to abide by in his will. 

From the age of 16, Qin Song had been working his way up the company. There was not a single department he hadn't worked in from the mailroom to the PR department, secretarial department, HR, accounting, etc. The list was endless. He would not ride on his father's coattails. He had taken online courses to get both his degrees in economics and mathematics and various other qualifications; this enabled him to be able to work 9 to 5. He had an affinity to numbers. He could plot graphs and charts in his mind, visualize and calculate statics, odds, and probability. Even with his skills, he would never allow himself to become complacent. He always studied new business theories and economics. He watched the stock market, read about politics and took any opportunity to talk to experts in their field.

Chapter end