Chapter 8 Investors Withdrew Funding_1

Old Master Zhang was flabbergasted upon hearing Li Haixiao's words, right then and there. Wasn't the agreement to discuss a collaboration? How did it suddenly turn into a confrontation about using his daughter, Li Jiayuan? Unwilling to accept the situation, Old Master Zhang chased after Li Haixiao's car. He didn't want his long-planned strategy to go down the drain. He still wanted to give it his all, hoping to obtain Li Haixiao's forgiveness and to collaborate with him on the Nanxi project. However, by the time he caught up with Li Haixiao, there were several middle-aged people standing by his side, and Old Master Zhang knew exactly who they were. These individuals were the behind-the-scenes investors for projects funded by Zhang Corporation, one being Shen Yang and the other Deng Chao. When Old Master Zhang saw these investors laughing and talking with Li Haixiao, he knew their relationship was definitely not ordinary. Seeing Old Master Zhang's complexion turn sour, his secretary suggested they return to the company. Old Master Zhang gestured with his hand for the secretary to remain silent, deep in thought. After much contemplation, Old Master Zhang decided to confront Li Haixiao in person and ask about his relationship with the investors, fearing it was as extraordinary as he suspected. This would also be an opportunity to pretend he hadn't seen that cunning old fox, Li Haixiao, and to take a good shot at his pride.

"Oh~ Isn't that Boss Shen Yang?" Old Master Zhang approached the investors nonchalantly and feigned surprise when he saw the other investor, Deng Chao: "Oh, it's not just Boss Shen Yang here, even Boss Deng Chao is present! What a pleasure, what a pleasure. May I ask what the two of you are doing here? Is there another new project in the works?" While speaking, Old Master Zhang sat down next to Shen Yang and Deng Chao, intentionally ignoring Li Haixiao as if he were thin air.

"President Zhang, what brings you here?" Shen Yang said, giving Old Master Zhang a thoughtful look.

"Nothing much, I was just strolling around the area and happened across you two." Old Master Zhang was determined not to let Shen Yang and Deng Chao find out he had followed Li Haixiao and learn about their connection. He needed to find out about their relationship with Li Haixiao from their own mouths: "May I know what brings you here?"

Deng Chao couldn't help himself and said, "President Zhang, have you really not noticed President Li here?"

The question from Deng Chao really felt like a slap in Li Haixiao's face. Originally, Li Haixiao thought Old Master Zhang would mention having just met him, but instead, Old Master Zhang came up with the line, "Oh dear, President Li, how come you're here? Don't tell me you've been here all along." Old Master Zhang looked at Li Haixiao with a sly glint in his eye. Seeing Li Haixiao at a loss for words, Deng Chao hurriedly tried to smooth things over, wishing to let the matter rest, but Old Master Zhang was no pushover.

"President Zhang, you must be joking, right? President Li has indeed been sitting here all along, even before you arrived!"

Far from feeling embarrassed, Old Master Zhang added fuel to the fire: "Oh, I really didn't see President Li here; it seems my old eyes are failing me. How could I have missed such a prominent person sitting right here? He's not exactly a small dog, now is he?" Old Master Zhang was clearly comparing Li Haixiao to a dog. Although Li Haixiao was younger, Old Master Zhang had the nerve to refer to him as 'old man'. A man as sharp as Li Haixiao would definitely understand Old Master Zhang was likening him to a dog, and just as he was about to explode with anger, Old Master Zhang added, "Oh my, listen to me ramble on. Honestly, President Li is a human, not a dog. What a comparison to make! Right, President Li? Please don't take it to heart!" Old Master Zhang finished, not forgetting to pat his mouth with his hand.

Deng Chao, Shen Yang, and both secretaries were all stunned. Although Old Master Zhang verbally stated Li Haixiao was a human, not a dog, his words still lumped Li Haixiao in with dogs!

Li Haixiao finally couldn't contain his anger. Slamming his palm on the table, he stood up and pointed at Old Master Zhang: "You, you say that again, something about humans and dogs, as if you're such a saint yourself."

No one expected Old Master Zhang to have a public quarrel with Li Haixiao right there. Shen Yang, Deng Chao, and the two secretaries exchanged glances, silently questioning whether Old Master Zhang and Li Haixiao were going to come to blows. They all knew that Old Master Zhang had misunderstood something and that he was deliberately acting ignorant of Li Haixiao's presence, intentionally comparing Li Haixiao to a dog, and deliberately trying to provoke Li Haixiao. On the other hand, President Li had done nothing and was being compared to a dog out of the blue.

Before the two could start arguing, Shen Yang had already stepped in to mediate, "President Zhang, President Li, please calm down and hear me out. Boss Deng and I were here having tea when we happened to see President Li come in. We had met President Li once before, so when we saw him come in, we went over to say hello. We had just sat down when, lo and behold, you arrived. But why did you come in looking like you were about to explode?" After explaining to Old Master Zhang, Shen Yang didn't forget to seek Li Haixiao's agreement and turned to ask, "Right, President Li?"

"Hmph, you're not wrong, but I'd like to know who came in barking mad like a rabid dog," Li Haixiao wasn't willing to be insulted by Old Master Zhang.

Old Master Zhang was initially skeptical of Shen Yang's words and turned to ask Deng Chao. Seeing that Deng Chao and his own secretary were nodding as well, he realized he had misunderstood Li Haixiao.

Old Master Zhang turned to Li Haixiao with an apologetic smile, "President Li, I truly am sorry. I didn't grasp the situation and wronged you, please forgive my oversight just this once."

"Hmph!" Li Haixiao left in a huff.

Old Master Zhang believed their words, unaware that by the time he caught up to them, Li Haixiao had already finished his discussions with the two investors. Li Haixiao had been considering whether to pull Deng Chao and Shen Yang's investment over his daughter's issue, but after being likened to a "dog" by Old Master Zhang, he decided that Zhang Corporation must pay a price. Right after leaving, Li Haixiao sent a message to Shen Yang and Deng Chao saying 'withdraw investment'! After exchanging a few pleasantries with Shen Yang and Deng Chao, Old Master Zhang also took his leave.

The next morning, the company called to report that the investors had pulled out. As soon as Old Master Zhang arrived at the company, he convened a board meeting where he asked, "Can anyone tell me what happened? Why did the investors withdraw, and how can they just pull out like that? What exactly is going on?"

The other directors looked at Old Master Zhang as if he were an idiot, leaving him baffled as he asked, "Why are you all looking at me? This has nothing to do with me."

The board members retorted, "It has nothing to do with you? You well knew the relationship between Shen Yang and Deng Chao with Li Haixiao. Yet you still insulted Li Haixiao, calling him a dog and comparing him to one. No wonder they decided to withdraw their investment, hmmph!"

Completely perplexed, Old Master Zhang questioned, "They have a relationship? Wasn't it just a single meeting?" Old Master Zhang continued to express his disbelief.

"Heh, just a single meeting? You believe that? Now look what's happened, they've withdrawn their investment, and with such a huge funding gap in the company, you figure out how to handle it yourself." After speaking, the board members collectively walked out, leaving only Old Master Zhang in the conference room. Old Master Zhang never expected that the investors he trusted yesterday would have such an extraordinary relationship with his business rival.