Chapter 6: Repeated Humiliation

Zhou Yang deposited a million yuan into the ATM machine to avoid his mother's questions and her worry if she found out.

When he returned home, the lights in the living room were still on.

"Yang, they didn't give you a hard time, did they?" Wang Lanzhi was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief when her son came back.

"No, you can rest assured, they won't come again. Gang had a change of heart, and in a fit of generosity, he gave me ten thousand yuan for dad's medical expenses."

Zhou Yang said with a smile, handing the ten thousand yuan to his mother.

"Your dad and I don't need much money, keep it for yourself."

Wang Lanzhi waved her hand to refuse, speaking earnestly, "After you went to prison, if it weren't for Xue helping our family, your dad and I would have been driven to our deaths by them long ago. As the old saying goes, 'When you drink water, remember the source.' When you have time, take some things over to Xue, have a chat and apologize."

Zhou Yang knew his mother wanted him to mend his relationship with Su Xue.

To take responsibility and marry his secretary, Li Ya, he had abandoned his girlfriend, Su Xue. Su Xue not only held no grudges but also took care of his parents, which made Zhou Yang even more ashamed to face her.

"Mom, I understand. I'll go thank Xue when I have time."

Zhou Yang stuffed the money into his mother's hand, said something noncommittally, and headed for the bedroom.

The next morning.

Zhou Yang got up, ate the breakfast prepared by his mother, and went to look for Li Ya at Sheng Guang Group.

Sheng Guang Group, CEO's office.

"What?! Gang got his legs broken last night? Who did it, was it Zhou Yang?"

Li Ya sat up in shock and anger, questioning her brother, Li Hao.

"Him? That convict and loser has that kind of capability? I heard Gang offended someone important last night, and he and all his lackeys got taken down. Zhou Yang just had a lucky break," Li Hao said with a sneer.

"Don't underestimate Zhou Yang. Back in the day, his fortune of a billion yuan wasn't just dumb luck. Could it be... he made connections with some desperate criminals in prison?"

Li Ya's eyes darted back and forth rapidly, pondering the possibilities behind this.

"So what if he had a fortune of a billion yuan back then? He still ended up eaten away by our family without leaving a crumb, and now he's worse off than a dog. Sister, stop worrying for no reason. I know people on the streets. If he doesn't lie low like a good dog and dares to stir up trouble, I can waste him and throw him into the river within minutes!" Li Hao said with disdainful laughter.

"I hope it was just dumb luck. I'll find a way to appease Zhou Yang's mood. Without my order, you aren't to touch him. After all, even a rabbit will bite when cornered. What's more, if something happens to him, it will damage our family's reputation and the group's honor if it gets out. Understand?"

Li Ya softly warned her idle, trouble-making younger brother.

"Sure, my dear sister, I drank too late last night; I'm going back to sleep," Li Hao said as he hung up the phone.

Secretary Zhang Yan came in after knocking and spoke respectfully, "CEO, there's someone named Zhou Yang who wants to see you."

Li Ya stood up, her imposing and unapproachable authority radiating around her.

"Send the word down to call a high-level group meeting. Anyone not present within three minutes is immediately dismissed!"

"Yes!"

Secretary Zhang Yan bowed in response and walked out.

Li Ya curled her lips, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she said to herself, "Zhou Yang, since you're not giving up, I'll make sure you lose all hope and understand that you'll never have a chance to turn things around!"

Meanwhile.

Zhou Yang was sitting on the sofa in the group's lobby, waiting for the staff to report back.

Among the staff members coming and going, some recognized the former CEO, Zhou Yang, but not a single one dared to approach and greet him. Sympathy, ridicule, mockery, contempt... all kinds of gazes fully displayed the spectrum of human nature.

"Mr. Zhou, please come with me."

Zhou Yang stood up and followed the staff member to the conference room.

The conference table was filled on both sides with high-level managers of the group. Most of Zhou Yang's former subordinates had been replaced with unfamiliar faces.

Li Ya was sitting at the head of the conference table, her demeanor cold and superior.

Zhou Yang walked to the end of the conference table, where there were no chairs, so he could only stand.

"Zhang Yan, why didn't you prepare a chair for CEO Zhou? What is this incompetence?!" Li Ya feigned displeasure as she scolded

She had purposely had her secretary, Zhang Yan, remove the last chair to slap Zhou Yang, the former CEO, in the face in front of everyone, demonstrating her absolute power within the group!

"I'm sorry, President Li, it was my negligence. I'll arrange for someone to bring a plastic stool right away," Zhang Yan said, collaborating in the act to humiliate Zhou Yang with respectful words.

Ha ha ha...

The group's top executives treated Zhou Yang like a pitiful clown and burst into raucous laughter.

Zhou Yang's former subordinates looked uncomfortable, either picking at their fingers or rubbing their temples, not joining in Li Ya's mockery of Zhou Yang.

Li Ya silently seethed with anger, keeping note of these individuals, ready to trump up charges and kick them out of the group!

"I'm sorry, Director Li, sorry everyone, I was stuck in traffic and arrived two minutes late."

Liao Chengzhong, the marketing department's general manager, hurried in, repeatedly offering an apologetic smile. He was one of the few old loyalists in the group, and on seeing Zhou Yang, he was momentarily taken aback.

"CEO Zhou..."

Just as he uttered these words, Liao Chengzhong realized the danger and swallowed the rest of his sentence.

Zhou Yang saw fear in his eyes and nodded in response.

Li Ya sneered inwardly, using Liao Chengzhong as a warning to the others, observing who would dare maintain even the slightest relationship with Zhou Yang!

Secretary Zhang Yan caught the president's look and immediately understood, sternly saying:

"The president declared before the meeting that anyone not present within three minutes would be dismissed on the spot. I trust all senior executives received the message. CEO Liao, you are five minutes late. Do you even have President Li in your eyes? Go immediately to the HR department to submit your resignation!"

Everyone was astounded, and the room fell silent.

Liao Chengzhong felt like he had been struck by lightning, unwilling to see a lifetime of effort go down the drain, he knelt before Li Ya, who was young enough to be his granddaughter, and begged for mercy, crying, "President Li, I have been nothing but loyal to you and the group. Please give me another chance!"

Li Ya reveled in the feeling of being feared and worshipped, like a queen on high, and said coldly and mercilessly, "For a conglomerate as large as this, it's vital to have rules. I'm sorry, CEO Liao, but you can go and enjoy your retirement."

Liao Chengzhong read Li Ya's thoughts and knew further pleading was pointless. He stood up, pointed at Li Ya, and cursed through gritted teeth:

"Fine, I quit!"

"You venomous woman. You schemed to take over CEO Zhou's company and assets, plotted to drive out the group's loyal executives and replaced them with your inept cronies, causing the group to suffer losses year after year. I'll just wait and see how you lead Sheng Guang Group to its demise!"

Zhou Yang's heart ached upon hearing that the enterprise he had built with his own hands was heading towards decline!

Li Ya slammed the table as she stood up and shouted, "Security, throw this old fool out!"

Security escorted Liao Chengzhong out of the meeting room, and his cursing gradually faded away in the corridor.

With one decisive showing of authority, the group's senior executives were left silent as cicadas in winter.

Li Ya saw that all the senior executives sat up straight, looking extremely respectful and loyal towards her, and her vanity swelled with satisfaction as she enjoyed the feeling.

"Since we now have an empty chair, move it over there for CEO Zhou to sit."

Li Ya spoke as if bestowing a favor to her secretary.

"No need. If I am to sit, I will only sit in the seat that is mine. I will not accept your charity. Sooner or later, you will all regret making clowns of yourselves," Zhou Yang said indignantly, voicing his despair over his group's corrupt state.

The crowd laughed heartily, paying no heed to the clown's provocation and ranting.

Having had her fill of humiliating Zhou Yang, Li Ya raised her hand to quell the laughter and spoke with a mocking tone:

"Now that CEO Zhou has been released from jail, should I return the shares and the CEO position to him? Perhaps the senior executives should vote."

"Those in favor of Zhou Yang resuming his role as CEO of the group, please raise your hands!"