Chapter 9: The Huge Funding Gap_1

Old Master Zhang pondered and realized that it was his own fault for being too trusting. He had not expected their relationship to be so extraordinary. What was he to do now?

"President, please calm down. Don't get upset and ruin your health. So the investors have withdrawn; it happens. What we need to do now is figure out how to fill the financial gap, don't you think?" Old Master Zhang's assistant meant to comfort him, but unfortunately, he brought up the very issue that should have been avoided. The company had just faced investor withdrawal and was on the verge of bankruptcy, and Old Master Zhang was in no mood to be reminded of this. Upon hearing his secretary's words, Old Master Zhang fainted on the spot and was admitted to the hospital.

The hospital.

"Doctor, what's wrong with my dad? Is there anything serious?" Upon hearing that his father had been hospitalized due to the investors pulling out, Zhang Zhentian rushed to the hospital anxiously.

"Oh, you mean President Zhang is your father, right?" the doctor asked Zhang Zhentian.

"Yes, yes, that's my dad. Please tell me, is he alright? Speak quickly!" Zhang Zhentian was frantic, grabbing the doctor's hand and pleading for an answer.

"Don't worry. President Zhang is okay. He just fainted from a fit of rage. As long as he isn't further agitated, he should be fine," the doctor reassured Zhang Zhentian. "After he goes home, make sure he doesn't get upset again, or the consequences could be unimaginable."

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll be careful. Thank you, doctor," Zhang Zhentian said before going to see Old Master Zhang.

As soon as Zhang Zhentian entered the hospital room, he saw his father lying in bed, his hair slowly turning white, his face beginning to fill with wrinkles. Zhang Zhentian felt uncomfortable seeing his father so haggard, and reflecting on their unhappiness over his love interest, he felt genuinely remorseful. After all, his father wasn't unreasonable; he just wanted the best for his son, a smoother path forward with fewer setbacks. Instead, it was he who had failed to understand his father and had been rebellious. In such behavior, how was he any different from a brute?

Seeing his father's current state, Zhang Zhentian felt overwhelmed with mixed feelings and began to doubt whether his actions had been right or wrong. After a while, he decided not to go against his father anymore, provided his father no longer opposed his relationship with Xia Jing.

Not long after Zhang Zhentian sat down beside the hospital bed, Old Master Zhang woke up, "Dad, are you awake? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Do you feel dizzy?" Zhang Zhentian was thrilled to see Old Master Zhang wake up. Old Master Zhang, hearing his son's rush of questions, thought silently that Zhentian still cared about him, that he still had a place in his son's heart. He felt consoled by Zhentian's eager inquiries and realized that his son had indeed been raised well and knew to be filial.

"I'm fine, just a little dizzy. I'll be okay with some rest. By the way, Zhentian, how's the company doing?" Old Master Zhang asked about the company as soon as he spoke, which made Zhang Zhentian feel a bit unhappy.

Zhang Zhentian impatiently replied to Old Master Zhang, "The company's fine for now, Dad. What exactly is going on with the company? Hasn't its operation always been good? I've never heard of any investors pulling out before, so why are there investors pulling out now? And it's not just any investors, but the two who invested the most."

"Enough of that. This matter, well, it's my fault, Zhentian. You should still remember Li Corporation's heiress, Li Jiayuan, right?" Old Master Zhang sighed and still decided to tell the whole story to Zhang Zhentian. He also wanted to see if Zhang Zhentian would go to Li Corporation to find Li Jiayuan because of the company, "I asked you to have a matchmaking date with Li Jiayuan, hoping to bring you two together, and to have you let go of that other woman. But things backfired because of Li Jiayuan's father, the President of Li Corporation, which led to the investment withdrawal of Shen Yang and Deng Chao..."

Old Master Zhang recounted the incident to Zhang Zhentian, naively thinking that Zhang Zhentian would rush out and go to Li Corporation to get an explanation from Li Haixiao. However, what he didn't expect was that instead of running out, his son came to question him.

"Dad, don't push the blame onto others. This problem is definitely your fault. Why did you have to use someone else's daughter? Everyone knows that you and President Li are business rivals, and that President Li loves Li Jiayuan the most. Whatever Jiayuan wants, President Li will surely provide for her. You knew very well that although President Li commands power and influence in the business world, he is indeed a doting father. You used Li Jiayuan; did you think a doting father like President Li would let you off, would spare the company? Couldn't you have considered the consequences? Also, couldn't you tell that Shen Yang and Deng Chao were putting on an act for President Li? You fell into a trap set by others, and like a fool, you jumped right in. Aren't you asking for trouble? Nobody else is to blame for this; it's because you used someone's daughter. If you wanted to cooperate on the Nanxi project, why didn't you just talk to him directly? Why did you have to start by approaching his daughter? Now look what happened."

Elder Zhang felt furious and frustrated to see his normally shrewd father so easily fall for someone else's schemes.

Old Master Zhang, having listened to his son, realized that he hadn't said anything wrong. If he hadn't tried to take advantage of someone else's daughter, would there be no financial shortfall now? Would things be a lot simpler? Alas, it was his own folly!

"Zhentian, help your father. The company is my life's work; I can't let it just go bankrupt." Old Master Zhang clung tightly to Zhang Zhentian's hand, looking at him pleadingly.

Zhang Zhentian was about to refuse when he heard Old Master Zhang's phone ringing.

"Hello, what's the matter?"

"President, the company's financial shortfall is growing bigger and bigger. If we don't get any money in now, the company will have to shut down. What should we do about this?"

"I know. I'll handle this matter as soon as possible." Old Master Zhang said and hung up.

Zhang Zhentian overheard his father's conversation with the company's president and fell silent, unsure whether or not to lend a hand.

Old Master Zhang initially thought that being hospitalized would temporarily avoid the problems facing the company, but the financial gap grew wider, beyond the capabilities of a few billion to fill. Just when Old Master Zhang was preparing to declare the company bankrupt, Xia Jing's investment brought the company back into operation. Old Master Zhang had never expected that it wouldn't be Li Jiayuan but the much-underestimated Xia Jing who would ultimately save the company. After the near-collapse of the company, Old Master Zhang slowly began to feel a favorable impression of Xia Jing in his heart, but of course, that's another story.