Ou Yunchen leaned his aching head against his office chair, tapping his forehead with a clenched fist. He hadn't anticipated running a company would be so demanding.
Although the company's operations had stabilized, a tricky issue demanded his attention. He knew his own capabilities weren't enough to make an investment company truly shine.
Mrs. Su had granted him some authority, yet he still felt a sense of being watched. Lawyer Ma also seemed untrustworthy.
Therefore, he urgently needed reliable partners. Glen Grah represented a breakthrough. His next step was to continue expanding his network.
Glen Grah's trust in Ou Yunchen entirely depended on their covert investigation into ATL's background.
When Bern learned from the bank that this was a company funded by a mysterious overseas tycoon, the vast sums of capital were enough to prove ATL's strength.
Although Bern wished to learn more about ATL and its hidden benefactor, the bank could only provide limited information. This was why Bern had paused his actions.
However, this was all thanks to Ou Yunchen's prior arrangements with the bank. Few people in the world could maintain hidden accounts with a bank.
Even Glen Grah lacked such privilege. Thus, the novice Bern was inevitably impressed by the exaggerated insider banking information.
Secretary: "Mr. Ou, this is a courier from China. I've already signed for it."
Ou Yunchen eagerly opened the package. He had paid a hefty sum to Sister Hong for its contents. The photographs inside were his leverage to threaten the wife of the chairman of Guolian Seafood!
Ou Yunchen confirmed that the photos showed Yang Anqi's unrestrained interactions with dancers at a bar. Only then did he safely place the photos back into the document bag.
The secretary continued, "Sister Hong has sent another package to the address you provided. I checked; it's already out for delivery."
Ou Yunchen nodded. "Got it. Make me a coffee, then you can go home."
After the secretary left, Ou Yunchen, while shaking the file bag, called Yang Anqi.
—In a call with Yang Anqi—
Yang Anqi: "Who is this?"
Ou Yunchen: "Should I call you Angel, or should I call you the wife of the Guolian Seafood chairman?"
Yang Anqi: "You are... Ou Yunchen?"
Ou Yunchen: "I still prefer calling you Angel. Don't you think that's better?"
Yang Anqi: "Why are you calling me?"
Ou Yunchen: "I need a favor. I wonder if you're willing."
Yang Anqi: "I don't have time now. We can talk later."
Yang Anqi was about to hang up.
Ou Yunchen: "How about I have a word with your mother-in-law?"
Yang Anqi's hair stood on end. Just hearing about her formidable mother-in-law sent a shiver down her spine.
Lately, her sense of crisis had been severe, and the atmosphere at home was tense.
After marrying Li Zhong for so many years, she hadn't conceived a child. Her mother-in-law's cold remarks had become frequent, even suggesting in private that Li Zhong should divorce her.
Although Li Zhong assured her he wouldn't divorce her, Yang Anqi always held the belief that a man's word was unreliable.
Yang Anqi: "Three minutes. I'm very busy."
Ou Yunchen: "I'd like to invite you and your husband to Sworz for a few days, and perhaps sign a procurement contract."
Yang Anqi: "What do you mean? Procurement of what?"
Ou Yunchen: "Have you heard of the crayfish infestation in Sworz? Guolian Seafood is such a renowned food processing company. Buying some crayfish back would be quite suitable, wouldn't it?"
Yang Anqi: "You're not a bartender anymore? Now you sell crayfish?"
Ou Yunchen: "If Angel is unwilling to patronize my business, I must find other ways to make a living."
Yang Anqi: "Then you can directly contact Guolian Seafood's procurement department. Why are you looking for me?"
Ou Yunchen: "I'm simply looking for a shortcut."
Yang Anqi: "I can't help you. Find someone else."
Ou Yunchen: "Mother's Day is approaching, isn't it? I've sent a gift to your mother-in-law. I wonder if she'll appreciate you as a good daughter-in-law after seeing it."
Yang Anqi: "What do you want? Don't you dare do anything rash!"
Ou Yunchen: "Nothing much, just some of your past indiscretions. Ah, look at the time. It should be delivered soon. Then we'll have a chance to chat further about how Guolian Seafood can procure crayfish."
—Call ends—
Yang Anqi, who was getting her hair done, didn't even have time to wash out the dye. With hair full of coloring cream, she quickly left the salon.
Yang Anqi yelled at the driver, "Drive faster! To my mother-in-law's house!"
The car sped along. As it stopped at the courtyard gate, a delivery man rang the doorbell. Yang Anqi rushed out of the car and intercepted the courier.
She snatched the package and checked the name on it.
"Leave it to me," she said.
The delivery man was startled. "Then please sign here."
After the delivery man left, Yang Anqi opened the package.
Her face turned pale when she saw the photos. The moments of her being close to dancers had been secretly captured. If her mother-in-law saw these, she would fly into a rage, and her marriage to Li Zhong would be completely over.
Yang Anqi returned to the car and immediately called Ou Yunchen back.
—In a call—
Yang Anqi: "You're threatening me?"
Ou Yunchen: "How can this be considered a threat? I'm helping you. If it weren't for me, and it were someone else, your marriage might have ended already. But don't worry, as long as you obediently cooperate with me for Guolian Seafood, I'll make these photos vanish from the face of this earth!"
Yang Anqi: "Do you keep your word?"
Ou Yunchen: "The faster you get Li Zhong to Sworz, the faster I'll make those unsavory things disappear without a trace."
Yang Anqi: "Wait. Li Zhong does want to expand his business, but I'm not sure he'll be willing to buy your crayfish in Sworz!"
Ou Yunchen: "Persuade him to come to Sworz. If the cooperation is successful, you'll get credit. But if he doesn't even come..."
Yang Anqi: "I have a way to get him to Sworz, but you'd better be a man of your word, or I won't let you off!"
—Call ends—
Although Yang Anqi was confident she could bring Li Zhong to Sworz, Ou Yunchen had to think ahead. What if Li Zhong refused to procure them?
What method could make Guolian Seafood happily purchase Sworz's crayfish?
An untimely phone call interrupted Ou Yunchen's thoughts.