A cunning light flashed across Director Xie's eyes inadvertently before quickly fading away. However, Murong Ye had still caught it sharply.

The chilling demeanor of Murong Ye grew stronger. Immediately, he shot a look that cut like a blade at Director Xie. "Director Xie, don't go too far!"

Clearly, Director Xie had seized this opportunity to blackmail Murong Yunxi. As a novice in the business world, Murong Yunxi had done a fairly good job recently, but Director Xie was an experienced old fox. It was easy for anyone with good observation skills to detect his ill intentions.

Murong Yunxi, who had a smile on her face, only replied confidently, "Then it's a deal!"

Murong Ye turned around to look at Murong Yunxi, admonis.h.i.+ng her in an undertone, "Yunxi, doing this will cost you a lot. It's quite unfair for you!"

Murong Yunxi relaxed a little and gave Murong Ye a rea.s.suring expression, as if she was telling him not to worry.

Then, she stood up and opened the laptop on the table of the meeting room. After mumbling to herself for a while, she connected the computer to the projector.

"I believe this chart explains everything. Do I still need to add anything?"

Confused, the group turned their heads toward the projection screen and got really astonished. They immediately rushed over to it together.

The front of the projection screen was crowded by six brains that seemed to almost intend to enter it.

Murong Ye didn't run over there with them, but his astonishment was no less intense than theirs.

A faint smile appeared on Murong Yunxi's face as she looked at these people. This was exactly what she had expected. She had planned to give this "masterpiece" as a big present for the New Lunar Year to everyone during the reunion dinner on the eve of the Spring Festival. This meeting of the Board had happened quite unexpectedly and thus disrupted her scheme.

However, the calmest person on the spot was actually Murong Lanxia. All along, Murong Lanxia had taken no interest in these things. She had put her heart and soul into her own artistic career and paid no attention to them. She didn't even understand this chart and ignored the implications of those numbers and curves.

As she supported her cheek with one hand, her eyes floated outside of the window. It was as if nothing in this place had anything to do with her. She was absorbed in her own thoughts.

She was like this during every board meeting of the company. She only attended these meetings for the attendance's sake but offered no opinion on anything.

Murong Haotian finally digested the information presented by the chart. He seemed to be skeptical as he hurriedly took out his cell phone to check something. His face turned darker as he swiped through.

Murong Yunxi also took her time as she sat at the table, observing the struggles of these people. Several of them eventually accepted the news. What followed was, of course, their excitement and budding wors.h.i.+p of Murong Yunxi. They believed in people who could help them earn money, especially by doubling it, and Murong Yunxi was their cash cow.

Murong Lanxi gave her a flattering smile. "Yunxi, my dearest, is all this your work?"

Murong Yunxi nodded lightly and looked at Murong Lanxi in a very composed manner. She couldn't help recalling how unkindly Murong Lanxi had treated her. She had loathed her since their first meeting. Now, her fawning face was just disgusting.

"When did you do it? This must have taken a lot of effort and hard work! Thanks a lot!"

"No, it was nothing. I just prepared this greeting gift for everyone last night on impulse. The New Year is coming. You can consider this as lucky money for everyone." Murong Yunxi sounded very casual, but n.o.body actually knew what kind of pain it had taken to finish this. She had stayed up until dawn before going to bed.

These words attracted quite a few more glances from the group. Some people saw it as bragging and sneered at her, while those who believed her wors.h.i.+pped her even more intensely.

Murong Haotian and Murong Chengtian belonged to the first category. They even suspected that Murong Ye might have done all this to help her out.

Naturally, the most uncomfortable person in the room was Director Xie, who looked as purple as an eggplant. His embarra.s.sment was almost unbearable.

Transferring all his company shares to her felt like ripping off a part of his flesh. By losing the stocks of the Murong family, he could surely get a great sum of money. However, who would not want to have more money in the long run? Virtually n.o.body was stupid enough to hand their shares over to another person without a good reason.

As Director Xie was calculating how to turn around the situation in his favor, Murong Yunxi spoke up. "Director Xie, do our earlier words still count?"

Director Xie was stunned. Did he dare to withdraw what he had just said in front of so many people? In a private situation, he might indeed have done so, as this concerned tens of millions of dollars in income. Now that Murong Yunxi had such a great power to earn money, the company had an immeasurably bright future. Besides, during the early years, he, Director Wu and Director Yang had worked as hard as Murong Qingtian and practically spent all their lives there. This was why Murong Qingtian had allowed them to have these stocks as a reward. However, now that all these people were staring at him, how could he deny his own words? Even though the situation forced him to do so, it was difficult to do this in front of such an audience.

"Those words… Those words, of course, still count. However..."

Before the word "however" could come out of Director Xie's mouth, Murong Yunxi interrupted him, giving him no opportunity to voice the other half of the sentence.

"Alright then. Let's finish the equity transfer between us today before all the members of the board." As soon as she said this, Murong Yunxi turned around and told Murong Ye, "Brother, could you ask the lawyer of the company to come here?"

The lawyer was always on standby at the company. Although this was on short notice, the lawyer arrived unexpectedly within five minutes after receiving Murong Ye's summoning call.

Director Wu took a look at Director Xie. He couldn't help regretting bitterly his intent to corner Murong Yunxi. It was also clear to anyone who observed that although Director Xie had counted on taking advantage of Murong Yunxi just minutes ago, he was taken advantage of in the end. Now, Murong Yunxi was bent on punis.h.i.+ng him as a warning for everyone else. Director Xie definitely could not get away with what he had done easily.

But I was also against Murong Yunxi earlier. Will she take revenge on me after she is done with Director Xie?

Director Wu felt so guilty that, despite the wintry weather, sweat trickled down his head.

Director Xie was more restless in his seat. He wished to find a suitable reason to reduce his loss, but while he was still struggling to find a way, the lawyer came in.

The lawyer always had a template for agreements such as equity transfers. Thus, after only adjusting a few words, the doc.u.ment could be used and signed.

As he held the equity transfer agreement in black and white, Director Xie panicked completely. Even the hand holding the pen was shaking. He couldn't bring himself to sign it.

Upon seeing Director Xie acting like this, Murong Yunxi couldn't help saying, "What now? Do you regret this, Director Xie? I used to admire you because I thought you were a righteous man with a great reputation. An honest man who meant what he said and kept his own word… A good person that I might still cooperate with in the future. However, if you…"

Director Xie wiped the cold sweat off his forehead in a haste and said humbly, "Oh, no, no, I don't regret it, of course. I only feel a little ashamed that I just made your acquaintance. I thought that we would be good colleagues, yet it will all be over today."

Director Xie tried to suck up to Murong Yunxi a little, in hopes that the girl would be generous enough not to be too hard on him.

However, Murong Yunxi was no longer soft in nature. She understood that if she wanted to be strong and independent, it was necessary to climb up the ladder by stepping on others. On this occasion, Director Xie happened to be a stepping stone for her. How could she be soft?

"It doesn't matter. We will have other opportunities to cooperate in the future. Director Xie, please sign the contract now. We're all eager to go home and go shopping for New Year's!"

Director Xie gave Murong Yunxi a last look. His face was as dark as it could possibly be. He hadn't expected that such a young girl would be so stone-hearted and resolute in her decision.

However, he was aware that there was nothing he could do to reverse this. Director Xie held up the pen and scribbled his name on the agreement. Then, he handed it to the lawyer.

Murong Yunxi took out a small checkbook and signed a check with the pen. She then signed the contract and gave it to the lawyer along with the check.

It seemed that everything had been resolved. However, a serious problem began to bother Murong Yuntian and Murong Chengtian and dominate their hearts...

The next day was the eve of the Chinese New Year, the most important holiday of the Chinese nation. The whole city was filled with the atmosphere of the festival. On the streets, everything expressed happiness and peace. Every home would be crowded and joyful that day.

As a big clan, the Murong family was no exception. They also created a festive atmosphere that day. Every corner of the old mansion was arranged and decorated carefully. It started looking different even from the entrance to the hill. Big red lanterns hung on both sides of the flat mountain road and clouds of colorful lights decorated the branches of the trees. All this made the originally-plain mountain road look splendid and colorful.

Murong Yunxi, Murong Ye and the others drove in a car toward the old house. The day was short in the winter. Thus, it began to get dark at just five pm. The sights of lights and colors along the mountain road seemed to excite Niannian more.

Children liked the New Year holiday by nature. As she stared at everything, Niannian got so exhilarated that she danced and sang the "Happy New Year" song repeatedly.

Murong Yunxi couldn't help saying jokingly, "Niannian, you have sung this song about 100 times on the way. You might not be tired of it, but our ears are growing calluses. You don't want us to become deaf on the first day of the New Year, do you?"

Murong Ye rushed to Niannian's rescue by saying, "She is happy. Let her sing as much as she wants. It is such a festive happy song that it deserves to be sung at this moment! Niannian, sing it as much as you please. Your Uncle enjoys your song very much."

Niannian was wearing a red Tang dress that day. She looked auspicious and adorable herself, but this dress made her look even more pleasant. Murong Ye wanted to wors.h.i.+p and pamper her like a little fairy maiden.

Murong Yunxi smiled and said, "Alright, today is the New Year. I shan't put a damper on you guys. However, if your ears grow calluses, don't come blaming me!"

The car was driving higher and higher on the hill. The old mansion was on the hilltop, and the car had already gotten halfway up the hill. In no time, they would reach the gate of the house. However, the chauffeur suddenly panicked when the vehicle started moving unsteadily as if it was drawing a dragon on the road.

Murong Ye noticed that something was wrong. He scowled and asked calmly, "What's the matter?"