Chapter 40: The True Villain and the Hypocrite

Just as Chen Qingbin was about to swing his golf club, Long Aotian announced loudly, "Chen Mengyun of the Chen family has pledged 12 billion to the slum redevelopment project."

"What!?"

Crack!

Chen Qingbin fared worse than the other two. He didn't fall, but upon hearing the news, he lost control and twisted his waist with such force that everyone heard the crisp sound of his bones cracking.

Chen Qingbin quickly struggled to say, "Quick, my... my waist..."

Lu Guanghong hurriedly asked, "Old Chen, what's wrong? You're a noble with money, and now your waist is giving out too?"

Chen Qingbin, drenched in sweat, said, "Quick! Help me up!"

Leng Tianhao chimed in, "I can't, I'm a fallen noble, and my own waist isn't doing so well either. Haha, 12 billion! Your daughter is impressive. I give a thumbs-up to you wealthy nobles!"

Xu Zhiyun had no choice but to support Chen Qingbin, "Damn, Old Chen, you really twisted it badly! Is 10 billion worth it? In my opinion, anything under 20 billion isn't worth it. Look at you, take it easy, take it easy..."

The three old men with injured backs sat in a row, now equally disheartened.

Only Xu Zhiyun stood leaning on his golf club, amused by the sight of the three.

"Hahaha, look at you three, always boasting so loudly. One has a son of great talent, another a daughter of unparalleled brilliance, and Old Chen, you're the most exaggerated. Your daughter is usually so obedient, why is she causing trouble now? Haha, now with your three big families backing the slum project, I can sleep well tonight."

The three old men glared at him. Xu Zhiyun only grew more pleased.

"Oh? Are you all mad? Oh, we've been friends for so many years! Let me tell you, Old Chen, you really don't need to be upset. 10 billion is a lot, but it's not a life-changing amount! Look at Old Lu, his son blew 50 billion in one go, and he's still holding his ground! The most pitiful is Old Leng, from what I understand, you're about to invest nearly 5 billion. Can your family recover from that? Hahaha!"

Leng Tianhao was furious, but as soon as he tried to sit up straight to retort, the pain in his waist flared up.

Xu Zhiyun swung his golf club around a few times, "Look, four of us came to play, three got injured, and only I remain, laughing at the winds of change."

He turned around, preparing to swing.

Chanting to himself, "Regrettably, Emperor Qin and Han Wu lacked literary grace, Tang Zong and Song Zu were slightly less flamboyant, the peerless Genghis Khan knew only to bend his bow and shoot eagles."

Then he turned back, smiling slyly at the three fuming old men, and said with a smirk, "All past."

Then facing the distance, he declared loudly, "To count the truly great, we look to the present!"

With that, filled with fervor, ambition, satisfaction, and a domineering spirit, he swung with all his might!

At the same moment, Long Aotian calmly stated, "Xu Xuejiao, representing the Xu family, has invested 20 billion."

"What!?"

Snap!

"Ah—! My waist!"

Now, four old men sat in a row.

Leng Tianhao nodded, "What did Old Xu just say? That 10 billion isn't enough to break the bank, how much would it take then?"

Chen Qingbin replied, "He said 20 billion!"

"Ah!" Leng Tianhao exclaimed, "Old Xu, your family has hit the mark! Your daughter really has guts. As a fallen noble, I can only cough up nearly 5 billion."

Chen Qingbin added, "At least my daughter cares for me, she didn't go for 20 billion. So, Old Xu's daughter is the bold one! I think Xu Xuejiao is the one with great talent and brilliance!"

"Yes, yes."

Lu Guanghong took a deep breath, "This is bizarre! What's going on with the four of them? Did they plan this together?"

Xu Zhiyun couldn't hold back his anger, "Get me my phone, I need to ask that damn girl what's going on!"

The other three old men chorused, "Then you lose! You're the first to make a call!"

"I've lost 20 billion, why should I care about losing? What are you all thinking? Who here isn't losing!? Still worrying about winning or losing!?"

The other three old men were taken aback, realizing he was right, and each had their secretaries bring their phones.

The four old men, each clutching their waists, called their children.

...

In the bathroom, Lu Chengwen sat arrogantly on an art sofa.

The system's female voice announced, "Congratulations, host, for investing in a grand project that could lead to the bankruptcy of the Lu family."

"Thank you, thank you," Lu Chengwen said, shaking his crossed leg, "I've lasted three days, isn't it time for my reward?"

"Please wait, we need to verify, dear!"

"Verify, verify, I'm not in a hurry."

Lu Chengwen felt invincible.

How did I come up with such a genius idea!? To bankrupt my own family, how did I think of that?

And the risk is completely controllable!

Lose to a certain extent, cut losses immediately, take all the remaining assets, and move the family elsewhere.

With my business acumen, start anew, continue making money.

Even if I can't become a multi-billionaire like now, being a billionaire, what's the difference!?

None!

No difference to me at all!

Most importantly, once I accomplish this feat, I'll completely disappear from Long Aotian's radar.

Then, do I still need to tried every possible way to avoid her? He won't even bother to look at me!

System: "Host, we've verified, the reward you can receive this time is limited."

"Ah? Why? After all I've done, can't I get more? You need to be fair, right?"

"It's like this, if you can completely bankrupt the Lu family, for every 10 billion lost, there will be a 100 million bonus in the real world, which you can claim after returning to reality."

"And now?"

"Now your pharmaceutical company's stock has evaporated several billion, but the company is still operating, and the stock price could fluctuate at any time, so it can't be exchanged."

"What about the slum redevelopment project?"

"Sorry, dear, the slum project hasn't officially started yet. You need to actually lose the family assets to get the corresponding bonus."

Lu Chengwen angrily said, "Then I've lasted three days without being killed, shouldn't there be a reward!?"

"Yes, dear!"

"We've given the host three choices. First, a copy of the 'Sunflower Manual'. With this manual, you can set it as your foundational manual and continuously upgrade it with points. As the level increases, your strength will gradually..."

"Next one."

"Dear, this is our recommended package! If you choose the 'Sunflower Manual', we'll also send you ten beauties..."

"Next, next, next!" Lu Chengwen muttered, "If I'm upgrading the 'Sunflower Manual', what do I need beauties for!?"

"Oh, the second choice is an experience card for the 'Immovable King Divine Skill'. With this card, you have one chance to be invincible, defending against all physical attacks, with no upper limit to defense."

"That's not bad."

Lu Chengwen rubbed his chin: Too bad it's only a one-time opportunity, if it were unlimited, that would be awesome, then I wouldn't have to fear Long Aotian anymore.

"What's the third one?"

"The third is a top-tier 'Dragon-Subduing Palms' experience card, only once. With this card, you can instantly kill any opponent, anyone you dislike can be instantly eliminated. Except for Long Aotian himself."

Lu Chengwen thought, what do I need the 'Dragon-Subduing Palms' for?

Except for Long Aotian? I don't have any other opponents I want to kill, this is useless to me.

"I choose the 'Immovable King Divine Skill'."

"Okay, please keep it safe. By the way, the assets you lose and the profits you make, every 10 billion threshold, can be exchanged for a 100 million bonus in the real world. But we will only calculate the total for you, you cannot extract the bonus in both directions."

"So, I either make money like crazy or lose money like crazy, is that what you mean?"

"Yes, dear!"

"Got it."

"But dear, you need to pay attention to the method. You can't do anything beyond reason."

"For example?"

"For instance, you can't directly transfer assets to strangers, that doesn't count; you can't deliberately overpay for goods, that doesn't count either; you can't intentionally damage valuable assets, like destroying antiques, burning buildings, overpaying for insurance claims, etc..."

"Don't worry, I don't need such lowly methods, I can still lose my way to a future!"

Lu Chengwen laughed.

So far, things are progressing quite smoothly.

My family has assets worth several hundred billion, if I continue to lose at this rate, keeping a few billion as capital is enough, the rest can accumulate tens of billions in bonuses in the real world!

Tens of billions!

That's an unimaginable fortune for most people in their lifetime.

But, I must accumulate bonuses by losing money, making money won't do.

Right now, I'm the fattest sheep in Snow City, if I continue to make money... Long Aotian, who wants to take over the Four Great Families, will eventually come after me.

And my parents only have a son, no daughters to join Long Aotian's harem.

This is a dead end for Lu Chengwen.

The only way out is to quickly collapse the Lu family, then Long Aotian will lose interest in me.

Move the family south, content to be a less conspicuous rich man, and both I and my family can survive.

...

Leng Tianhao looked at Leng Qingqiu, "Qingqiu, tell me, what were you thinking?"

Leng Qingqiu replied, "Lu Chengwen doesn't make losing deals, and both Xu Xuejiao and Chen Mengyun have invested heavily. I think this could be a golden opportunity. Our Leng family must not fall behind."

Leng Tianhao sternly said, "4.9 billion, you've calculated that all our cash, the family's future, is to be bet on this, right?"

"Yes," Leng Qingqiu said resolutely, "The more desperate the situation, the more we need to be bold. I believe my judgment is correct."

Leng Tianhao slammed the table, "Then what about that piece of land? What are we going to use to secure it?"

"It's a choice between two, and I've made my decision."

"You don't have the authority to make such decisions, you're just a CEO, you don't have that kind of decision-making power!"

"You sent me to the meeting, I represent you, the words have been spoken, and the contract with the government has been signed. We must pay this money."

"You..."

Long Aotian, who had been silent, put down his wine glass and stood up, "Qingqiu, you've made a big mistake this time."

"What's it to you?"

"Don't be rude! Aotian is now my advisor."

Long Aotian smiled slightly, "We can breach of contract, I can use my connections to minimize the losses. Then quickly secure that piece of land."

"I will not agree to breach of contract."

Long Aotian seriously said, "Qingqiu, don't you understand yet? What kind of person is Lu Chengwen? He's just a scheming profiteer, how can you trust him?"

Leng Qingqiu coldly looked at Long Aotian, "I can see his heart, it's pure, clean, while you, you're the true villain, pretending to be righteous."

Leng Tianhao said, "Enough! I've announced, next week we'll hold a board meeting, I will reappoint Long Aotian as the CEO of Qianfeng Group, and you, be his deputy."

"What are you saying!?"

Leng Tianhao snorted, "Also, your engagement with Lu Chengwen is canceled!"