Chapter 145 - Chapter 145: What a Beautiful Comeback!
Chapter 145: What a Beautiful Comeback!
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
After a few minutes, All Man announced everyone’s current percentage of Phantom shares held.
Lu Zhi’s stake was 27% after he sold the 10% he previously held.
Elder Tao’s stake was a little higher than his, at 28%!
He had gone from zero to 28% in such a short time!
It was obvious that the Tao family was determined to buy Phantom!
Lu Zhi might really lose this time!
The other shareholders voted using their shares one after another.
After they voted, Ah Man announced the interim results.
“The vote currently stands at 28% for Chairman Lu and 38% for Elder Tao. Director Liao, you’re the only one who hasn’t voted. Would you like to cast your vote to re-elect the Chairman of Phantom?”
Elder Tao’s got 10% more votes than Lu Zhi!
The difference was rather obvious!
Everyone who supported him secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
Elder Tao said with a smile, “I’ve already discussed this with Director Liao. He supports me. Lu Zhi, you’ve lost.”
He looked extremely confident like he had already taken over Phantom.
Lu Zhi’s expression was indifferent. “Director Liao has to verbalize who he supports to make his vote count.”
Even now, Lu Zhi still wouldn’t give up!
Elder Tao replied, “Fine. Let’s hear it from him then.”
Everyone in the conference room looked at Liao Changqing.
The difference in votes between Lu Zhi and Elder Tao was already obvious. The 14% shares held by Liang Changqing would decide the next Chairman!
Liao Changqing, who had been silent all this while, looked up and said unhurriedly, “I support… Lu Zhi.”
As soon as he said that, the entire conference room went into a frenzy!
That was not what he said when Elder Tao invited them to dinner!
The smile on Elder Tao’s face disappeared instantly. He asked coldly, “Who did you say you support?”
Liao Changqing met his gaze without hesitation and repeated, “I support Lu Zhi.”
Elder Tao’s expression immediately turned dark.
He stared at Liao Changqing like he was a dead man.
Liao Changqing explained, “Since Lu Zhi took over Phantom, the company has been doing well and growing. I trust him and am happy to leave Phantom in his charge. Therefore, I support him unconditionally.”
Lu Zhi clasped his hands and said nonchalantly, “Grandpa Tao, no one knows who the winner is until we are down to the wire. Don’t you think so?”
Elder Tao’s face was tensed as he replied through gritted teeth, “You’re right.”
Ah Man stood up. “Shares supporting Chairman Lu have accumulated to 42%. He’s overwhelmingly elected…”
Before she could finish, Elder Tao raised his hand and interrupted her.
“I still have shares to announce. Who asked you to announce the results?”
Ah Man was stunned.
Elder Tao clapped his hands, and the door to the conference room was pushed open.
Tao Niannian walked in and placed a share purchase agreement on the table. “My grandfather has secretly bought another 5% of shares from the market.”
Elder Tao had 38% shares in his favor, plus this 5%, he had a total of 43%!
The situation was reversed once again!
Elder Tao narrowly won!
“Lu Zhi, you’re still too young.”
No one knew who the winner was until they were down to the wire indeed.
He had kept a trump card in case Liao Changqing betrayed him!
That was because his informant at the Lu residence had told him that Liao Changqing had gone there to see Lu Zhi!
Elder Tao was in a good mood.
Tao Niannian also smiled proudly and said, “Phantom belongs to the Tao family now.”
The few directors who were sweating profusely just now reacted and began to flatter Elder Tao.
“Elder Tao is brilliant!”
“Congratulations to Elder Tao for becoming Phantom’s new chairman!”
“We haven’t supported the wrong person. Elder Tao, please take care of us in future.”
They didn’t forget to mock Liao Changqing as they flattered Elder Tao.
“Director Liao, how can you go back on your promise to Elder Tao?”
“Yeah. You can’t go back on your word. Do you regret it now?”
“It’s too late for regrets now…”
Liao Changqing’s face remained calm as he listened to the sarcastic remarks around the room.
Lu Zhi also looked at everyone calmly.
Just as everyone was chatting passionately, Qi Feng received a call and walked up to Lu Zhi.
He whispered, “Sir, the front desk says that someone has sent over a share purchase agreement and it would give you an additional 2% shares free of charge.”
“Yes, please let the dispatcher in.”
“Yes.”
Qi Feng went out to fetch the dispatcher personally.
“Lu Zhi, no matter how much you whisper to your assistant, you won’t be able to change the situation.”
Tao Niannian walked up to Lu Zhi in her seven-centimeter heels.
She was strutting arrogantly to tell Lu Zhi that this was the outcome when he went against the Tao family!
Who asked him to protect that slut, Jiang Yining?
He deserved to lose an entire company!
As soon as she finished speaking, the door to the conference room was pushed open with a bang.
Qi Feng brought the dispatcher to Lu Zhi and said respectfully, “This is our Chairman Lu.”
The dispatcher who brought the share purchase agreement was a girl who looked like a junior high school student. She spoke in a childish voice, “Big brother, someone asked me to give this to you.”
Lu Zhi took the document and glanced at it. He threw it on the table and asked, “Who is that person?”
“She won’t let me say it. But she’s giving you these shares for free and asked you to go for it!” The girl said before she pumped her fist in a cheering gesture with a bright smile.
Lu Zhi patted her head and said, “Okay, I will definitely do my best.”
The girl nodded and ran out.
Tao Niannian was standing very close to Lu Zhi. When she caught a glimpse of the words “share purchase” on the document, her heart skipped a beat, and she had a bad feeling.
But she wouldn’t believe it.
“Lu Zhi, you’re kidding, right? Can’t you afford to lose a mere subsidiary? You even found someone to send you a fake share purchase agreement? You are too funny!”
“This is a notarized document. If you think it’s fake, you can find someone to verify it.”
Lu Zhi curled his lips into a smile. There was no warmth in his eyes.
Tao Niannian didn’t believe it. She picked up the document and studied it closely.
A few seconds later, she dropped the document.
It was actually a real share purchase agreement!
Elder Tao realized that something was wrong. He stood up and asked, “Niannian, what are you looking at?”
“Grandpa…”
“Old Master Tao, Chairman Lu has just received another 2% of Phantom shares. That makes his total votes 44%.” Ah Man’s voice was loud and clear. “If you don’t have any other shares, then I will announce the results of this election.”
Elder Tao eyes widened as he looked at Lu Zhi in disbelief.
Where did he get the shares?
Lu Zhi looked at him and enunciated every word in his next sentence.
“Other than this 2%, the 10% I sold is currently under my wife’s name. She didn’t come to the meeting today, so I’m representing her. Elder Tao, 1 now have 54% in votes. What do you have to win against me?”
He sold and bought his shares, moving them from the left pocket to the right, to trick the Tao family.
He had already predicted the outcome when he started fighting this war.
When he saw the Tao family and those fence-sitters celebrating just now, his heart did not waver at all. He even wanted to laugh.
The conference room was in an uproar!
No one expected Lu Zhi to have a trump card!
Even if the Tao family bought all the shares that were traded on the open market now, they still wouldn’t be able to win against Lu Zhi!
He had made a beautiful comeback!
This was tantamount to giving everyone who had betrayed him a loud slap in the face!
The board members who supported Elder Tao had ashen faces as they slumped in their chairs.
Elder Tao and Tao Niannian were speechless.
They had spent tens of billions of yuan to acquire Phantom, but they lost terribly in the end.
What face did they still have?
The conference room went deadly silent after a while.
Liao Changqing stood up, smiled, and shook hands with Lu Zhi. “Congratulations.”
“It happened as expected. No congratulations are in order.” Lu Zhi said, “Are you free to come to my house for dinner tonight?”
“Another day. I have to accompany my wife tonight.”
“Okay.” Lu Zhi didn’t force the issue.
The two of them walked out of the conference room together, chatting and laughing, leaving behind a bunch of dejected people..