The press conference was brought to a close at that point, though some reporters were still shouting out questions. One reporter's question in particular grabbed his attention.
"Chairman Li, now that the software has been leaked, there are sure to be many copycats and pirated versions coming out on the market. Do you have any strategy to counter this future loss?"
Li Chuanmo stopped walking, turned back and smiled, but everyone that saw that smile trembled. It was chilling. He looked straight into the main camera as he spoke.
"I'm aware of the intricacies of this incident. The real deal will always be copied, but it can never replace the genuine thing, so I'm not bothered about that. The main point I want to emphasize here is that when caught —and it will be soon— the criminal behind this incident will be sued within an inch of their lives and will pay heavily for the damages the company has incurred. That's all."
Li Chuanmo had said all he needed to say. He left amidst more clamour from the reporters. Pei Yueran also left silently and went to meet him at the parking lot.
The game was on.
*****
Fen Wucai fumed in rage as he watched the live news. What did that little boy think he knew that made him so bold and self-assured? It irked him to see that Li Chuanmo did not look anxious or panicked. He even had the wherewithal to threaten him.
Good, very good.
He texted the hacker he had paid again, warning him to hide his tracks well. The hacker was someone he found on the dark web, hailed as one of the best in the hacking industry, and it had cost him a lot to hire him.
But he didn't mind the cost, as long as his goal was achieved. What he stood to gain would be endless.
He was the longest standing shareholder in the Li company.
When Li Qianye's father started the company, it was owned solely by the Li family. They were rich enough to fund the company and expand it sufficiently.
During the tenure of Li Qianye however, the rules had changed, and their company was being targeted for being too big a fish. They had grown large enough to be a significant threat to the city's economy.
Even the government wanted to absorb the Li family company, but because of their deep roots, the Li family fought back and won. However, they had to compromise by selling some of their shares and forming a Board of Directors to act as checks and balances.
Thus the current situation.
Li Chuanmo wasn't against the Board of Directors. He actually believed that they were a necessary part of such a large conglomerate as theirs. But he could not tolerate someone trying to step on his head and snatch away what his family had worked for all these years.
Fen Wucai was also the president of the largest branch of the company —Li Real Estate, until a year ago, when he retired. In actual fact, he didn't want to step down, but one of the policies of the company was for all employees to retire at the age of 65. It was put in place by Li Qianye's father, and it had remained unchanged since.
He had thought of many ways to claim a share of the huge company over the years, but without success.
He had even considered marrying his eldest daughter into the Li family, but aside from the fact that Li Chuanmo was not interested, he too secretly disdained the idea of that orphan boy becoming his son-in-law.
His daughter, Fen Chunmei, also whined at that time that she didn't want to be ridiculed by her friends for marrying a social climber.
He eventually had to discard the plan.
Now, he started to wonder again. The marriage cannot hold with Li Chuanmo, but didn't the Li family have other children? And legitimate ones at that.
He had two daughters and one son. His son was a bit older than the Li twins but that was not a problem since such marriages were commonplace in their circle.
His daughter on the other hand just celebrated her 19th birthday. She was considered young, but they could get engaged first and get married when she turned 21.
There had not been much progress in that area since both twins were out of the city while his own children were in City M, but he planned to get it going soon.
Through his sources, he had heard that the were almost done with their studies, and they would be back to the city by the end of the year.
Before then though, he had to make sure he reduced Li Chuanmo's influence in the company. The meeting with the Board of Directors would be a great place to start. He needed to drum up support for his cause and make sure the other Directors would at least vote to extend the probation period.
As he sat there, he continued to scheme and plan, the TV ignored.
*****
"Mo, I finally found the rat. I traced his IP address to City A. Do you have any idea who it could be?" Jiang Philip announced excitedly immediately Li Chuanmo picked his call.
They had been talking and working together everyday, trying to perfect the software in time for its release – which was coincidentally going to be a day before the meeting with the Board of Directors.
"I have a suspect, but I would need more evidence to confirm it. I'll get my people on it, don't worry."
"No no no, this concerns me as well. That rat wanted to sabotage my brain child. I have to catch him with my own hands. I'll be coming to the country once we finish the preliminary version and send it into testing in a couple of weeks."
Jiang Philip's father was a native, who met and got married to his mother while schooling abroad. His mother was from Country F.
Li Chuanmo relented. "Fine. Should I prepare to host you?"
"No no, I'll be going straight to City A. The earlier I catch him, the earlier I'll be able to perform well on my girlfriend. I've been unable to get it up properly since..."
Li Chuanmo cut him off, mocking him mercilessly. "Spare me the details, you degenerate. Poor Aunty Kathy, having a son like you."
"Whatever. You're just jealous because you're starved. How is Yueran? Have you guys gone to third base yet?"
Li Chuanmo directly ended the call. Talking to his friend sometimes was a test of his patience.
On another note, no wonder his thoughts had been obscene lately. With a perverted friend like this, it was hard to be a saint.
*****
The examination week at First International was always intense. The week preceding it was always very quiet, making the school feel like a cemetery. The students spoke in whispers and spent most of their time reading.
But during the week of the final examinations, the noise level would increase progressively, until the last day, when the floodgates of pandemonium would break loose.
The teachers had tried to curb this trend, but to no avail. It had now become a tradition.
For Han Yichen, exam week was the same as any other week, except for the fact that the school environment would be too noisy.