Businesses without ties to the Tang Empire could not survive any financial storm.
Yet, this Ou Yunchen always acted unexpectedly, profiting greatly from the recent GameStop incident!
When the stock price was driven down by Gabe, he was the only one buying calls!
It was like a horse race: if an underdog that no one bet on won the championship, the rewards of hundreds or even thousands of times the stake would leave everyone stunned!
Michelle was deeply puzzled. How could such an insignificant person with no background accurately grasp market information?
But no matter how she investigated, the man named Ou Yunchen had no connection whatsoever to genuine old money!
What baffled her even more was that this guy controlled a company called AtL but hadn't made a single cent from GameStop. What was his game?!
Michelle mused, unconsciously touching the necklace around her neck. The more she looked at Ou Yunchen, the more he seemed familiar.
However, her thoughts were interrupted by the arguing voices.
Gabe was arguing with others again, this time demanding investment.
But this time, no one was willing to extend a helping hand to this madman.
Michelle had seen through Gabe. His repeated failed judgments on GameStop had completely driven him into a corner. He would become a burden to the Empire.
Under Michelle's forceful reprimand, the meeting finally concluded.
After everyone had left the conference room, Michelle had her lawyer contact Griffin and Cohen, arranging to meet them again that evening.
The meeting location was extremely discreet; she didn't want anyone else in the Empire to know about it.
Michelle: "Do you remember what I told you after you insisted on helping Gabe back then?"
Griffin: "You said all consequences should be borne by oneself..."
Michelle: "At the time, I thought it was wise for someone to learn a lesson with money, but if that person is too foolish, no amount of money can teach them."
Griffin: "Now that no one is helping him, I think Gabe will be much more restrained..."
Michelle: "I called you here because I want you to do something to correct your past mistake."
Griffin and Cohen were a bit nervous. They knew Gabe must have angered Michelle, but any words of persuasion now would seem like insubordination.
Michelle: "Darwin owes too much money. I don't think such a company needs to exist anymore. You two make it go bankrupt."
Griffin gasped. This was undoubtedly the end of Gabe, their good brother!
Griffin: "Can we reconsider this..."
Michelle: "Are you going to pay off his debt?"
Cohen quickly interjected: "Michelle, why us?"
Michelle: "No one is better suited than you two to make a conceited person admit their mistakes."
Griffin: "We can find someone else to do it, so it won't hurt Gabe."
Michelle: "I don't think Gabe still wants to be friends with you. If you're unwilling to lend him money anymore, do you think he still considers you brothers who share fortune and hardship?"
The two fell silent for a moment. Michelle continued: "Give me your answer now."
Griffin: "I mean, if we assume Darwin goes bankrupt..."
Michelle: "I don't like assumptions; I only want results."
Griffin and Cohen exchanged glances. In their hearts, they knew very well that friendship was friendship, and interests were interests. Otherwise, they wouldn't have coexisted peacefully for so many years.
Gabe's poor performance meant he had to be eradicated, not just by his former friends but even by stakeholders within the group.
Otherwise, the repercussions would be endless!
After Griffin and Cohen left, Michelle breathed a sigh of relief, closing her eyes and leaning back in her seat, exhausted.
Recent events had been one setback after another. If she could barely hold the Empire together with a pretense, then the failure of Axe's heart transplant plan was what truly kept her up at night.
Now, whenever she faced Axe, Michelle couldn't help but want to cry. She hated her own powerlessness, and she was terrified of watching Axe slip away with nothing she could do!
The lawyer returned to the car, and Michelle's demeanor shifted back to that of a decisive leader.
Lawyer: "Lin Yi called back, saying she's already on her way back."
Michelle: "Let's go, we're going back too."
When Michelle returned home, Lin Yi was already sitting on the sofa.
Michelle: "Would you like something to drink?"
Lin Yi: "Anything."
Michelle: "Then let's have some whiskey."
As Michelle poured the drinks, just as Lin Yi reached for hers, Michelle pulled her hand back slightly.
Michelle: "I forgot to add ice. Neat, is that okay?"
Lin Yi: "That would be even more perfect."
Michelle handed the glass to Lin Yi again and sat down on the adjacent sofa.
Michelle: "Is everything alright in LA?"
Lin Yi: "As usual."
Michelle: "I think you've been a bit irresponsible lately."
Lin Yi immediately tensed up. She didn't belong to the Tang Empire, yet she often handled imperial matters for Michelle.
Lin Yi: "What?"
Michelle: "Alright, stop playing dumb. I'm much easier to deal with than your boss."
Lin Yi was even more confused.
Michelle: "Drink your whiskey. You might need some courage next."
As she spoke, Michelle stood up, took a file from the table, and handed it to Lin Yi.
Michelle: "I've been thinking about where the operation went wrong. We were so perfectly coordinated, how could an outsider have gotten there first?"
Lin Yi: "I told you it was an accident!!!"
As Lin Yi spoke, Michelle opened the file. Inside was a clear, enlarged photograph.
And in the car sat a figure too familiar to be unfamiliar!
Even though the brim of her hat obscured most of her face, Lin Yi could recognize at a glance that it was the "o" she had encountered that day!
But Lin Yi had to pretend she didn't.
Lin Yi: "Who is this?"
Michelle: "You don't recognize her?"
Lin Yi remained silent. Michelle, from an unknown location, produced a handgun and pointed it at Lin Yi's head.
Michelle: "The person who stabbed you, and you say you don't recognize them?"
"I suspected you from the start. You're top-tier among the top-tier! Wouldn't photographic memory be your forte? You tell me you didn't get a clear look?!"
"Speak!!! Who is he!!!"
Lin Yi: "Oh, you mean that day? I remember now. Looking at it, it does resemble the person who stabbed me."
Michelle's gun remained pointed at Lin Yi. She no longer believed this woman who had suddenly appeared would help her.
Michelle: "It's good you remembered. Tell me honestly, were you in cahoots?"
"You've always been working against Axe. How could you be so kind as to stay by my side? On the surface, you were instructed to protect me, but in reality, you had another motive – to kill Axe?"
Lin Yi let out a cold laugh. What an imaginative woman!
While protesting her innocence, Lin Yi seized an opportunity, quickly lowered her head, grabbed the whiskey glass from the table, and swung it with all her might, knocking the gun from Michelle's hand.
Hearing the commotion in the living room, people outside quickly rushed in. By then, Lin Yi had subdued Michelle and pinned her firmly against the wall.
K: "Lin Yi, you're crazy! Let go of her!"
Lin Yi: "Am I crazy, or is this b**** crazy? She starts doubting me as a mole out of the blue. How many times have I saved you, and now you doubt me! Are you blind, or has your conscience been eaten by dogs!"
K: "Let her go first, let's talk this through properly!"
Lin Yi: "Make her apologize to me!"
As Lin Yi applied more pressure, Michelle couldn't help but let out a pained cry.
At this moment, Axe, who was upstairs, heard the noise and quickly took the elevator down.
Seeing Michelle held tightly by Lin Yi, Axe shouted in reprimand.
Only after seeing Axe did Lin Yi reluctantly release Michelle.
Lin Yi: "Control your woman, and don't anger me!"
With that, Lin Yi walked over to the photograph, pocketed it, and then, while everyone was preoccupied with Michelle's dislocated arm, she slipped away from Axe's sight.
Axe: "Michelle, how are you? What were you arguing about? Don't provoke her. She's a cleaner, but when she gets serious, she'll do anything."
Michelle: "Then why did you agree to let her stay here!!!"
Axe was at a loss for words. Lin Yi had once been his most detested rival, yet whenever Michelle was in danger, it was Lin Yi who came to her rescue.
After a few instances, he had understood Lin Yi's position: she was entrusted with a mission and would protect Michelle's safety at all costs.
Moreover, he was currently unable to personally protect the woman he loved. Lin Yi's presence was the best security guarantee!
Michelle rubbed her shoulder. She understood Axe's reasoning, but she also had her own difficulties. If Lin Yi had her own agenda, and that agenda was to harm Axe, then she would have to fight this woman to the death!