The process of transferring shares finally concluded, and Ouyang Xue locked herself in her office. Sitting at her desk, surrounded by ledgers, agreements, and cash, she felt as if she had just awoken from a dream. A profound fatigue washed over her, leaving her feeling drained. She buried her face in her folded arms on the desk and cried.
She cried because her chest felt tight, suffocating her with frustration and sadness.
After a few minutes, feeling somewhat relieved, she lifted her head and rested her chin on her arms, staring blankly ahead. She pondered whether going to Shenzhen for reconciliation was a mistake. Accepting the withdrawal of shares might have been impulsive, or perhaps she had no other choice. Likely, it was both. By accepting the withdrawal, the worst outcome was an additional 300,000 yuan on top of the 1 million yuan investment risk, a bearable loss. Refusing would have led to endless disputes, complaints, and accusations, ultimately pointing back to her brother. He would accept the withdrawal without fuss, and their cooperation would lose its meaning.
Whose problem was Ge Lü Shi Company, anyway? Who insisted on seeking advice from an expert? Who needed the company to solve their survival and career issues?
Commercial investments entail risks, and hiring an expert means bearing those risks. If you can't handle the risks, don't join in. How could it end up like this?
Thinking it over, she felt she had no choice and had made the right decision. She'd rather see the company go bankrupt than continue working with them. Whether to fight the lawsuit or not, whether the company won or lost, she decided to focus on her restaurant business.
Resolving to see her brother, she tidied her desk, placing important items in the safe. After freshening up and changing into casual clothes, she grabbed the court documents and some Shenzhen specialties—Nanshan lychees, Longgang (You Bird), and Jin Gui oranges. She instructed the restaurant manager on some tasks and drove to Jiahe Garden.
On the road inside the Jiahe Garden community, she passed Liu Bing's car. Both cars slowed down instinctively, but neither stopped. Just moments ago, they were signing agreements together; now, they were strangers. She found this fleeting moment less awkward.
Parking the car and feeling calm, she walked upstairs.
Ding Yuan Ying opened the door, inviting her in, and called out to the kitchen, "Xiaodan, Ouyang is here."
Rui Xiaodan answered from the kitchen.
Ouyang Xue combined her bags into one hand, pulled out three copies of the court documents and share transfer agreements, and handed them to Ding Yuan Ying. She then placed her handbag on the sofa and brought the Shenzhen specialties into the kitchen. The countertop had a few (You Bird) eggs and a half-prepped bunch of chives, indicating plans for chive scrambled eggs. The rice in the electric cooker hadn't been washed yet, and Rui Xiaodan was washing her hands.
Ouyang Xue said, "It'll be a while before you can eat. Let's eat out."
Rui Xiaodan replied, "I just got off work and haven't even finished prepping these chives. Ye Xiaoming and the others just left."
Ouyang Xue said, "I know, I saw them on the way."
Noticing the tear stains in Ouyang Xue's eyes, Rui Xiaodan asked, "Were you crying?"
Ouyang Xue said, "How could I not? The company feels like a kindergarten, and I'm not the nanny! It drives me crazy!"
Rui Xiaodan smiled, peeled a lychee, tasted it, and said, "Delicious!" She then placed the food in the fridge, saying, "Forget it, I'm not confident in cooking this meal. You guys talk, and then we'll go to that Miao restaurant you mentioned."
Ouyang Xue, looking around the kitchen, remarked, "Your kitchen is getting more equipped. You're really settling in."
In the living room, Ouyang Xue recounted the events of the past two days.
As Ding Yuan Ying read the documents, he listened to Ouyang Xue's account. He smiled at Feng Shijie's debt swap and Liu Bing's request to stay with the company but grew serious when he heard about Lin Yufeng's dramatic statement to the reporters. After reading the lawsuit and transfer agreements, he placed the documents on the coffee table.
Rui Xiaodan listened intently. Her involvement in the company's inception gave her a unique perspective on its fate. Was the lawsuit the beginning of a myth or the start of a downfall for Wang Miao Village? Was the share withdrawal a result of cultural attributes or a limitation of judgment? Would the law permit and society accept the redistribution of wealth under the guise of fair competition? The elements needed to validate the myth were surfacing.
Ouyang Xue said, "Now I'm the only one left in the company. What should I do? I only know how to run a restaurant. Even without the lawsuit, I can't manage this company, let alone with it."
Ding Yuan Ying said, "Respond to the lawsuit first. Without a trial, it's hard to resolve. If we lose, it's simple—the company is theirs, and it's no longer our problem. If we win, the company becomes valuable. You can sell it, manage it, restructure it, or run it yourself. The choice is yours."
Ouyang Xue said, "I consulted a lawyer. The fee ranges from 15% to 30%. For a 6 million yuan case, even at 15%, it's 900,000 yuan. I might as well give the company to the lawyer."
Ding Yuan Ying laughed, "Who says you must hire a lawyer? The case isn't complex. As long as you can present the facts clearly, you'll be fine. Xiao Ya Wen has good qualities, some legal knowledge, and business experience. Your company can pay her 200,000 yuan to act as your litigation agent. Go to Beijing and talk to her."
Ouyang Xue asked, "If Ya Wen can handle it, then can't Xiaodan do it too?"
Ding Yuan Ying replied, "She can, but it's not suitable. Xiao Ya Wen may have conflicts with her work, but the cost of those conflicts is low. Xiaodan's job doesn't allow her to appear in the media, and her time is hard to coordinate."
Rui Xiaodan joked, "200,000? My eyes are red with envy. For such a simple case, give me 50,000, and I'll handle it."
Ouyang Xue asked, "Brother, do you think we were engaged in unfair competition?"
Ding Yuan Ying said, "Ask Xiaodan, she's the lawyer."
Rui Xiaodan said, "As of now, I still believe that any legal competition is fair competition. If legal competition appears unfair, it's not a problem with the competition itself but with the law. This case's legal relationship isn't complicated; it's the perspectives, angles, and stances that are. I need to think about it."
Ouyang Xue said, "If even you need to think, then I definitely don't want to."
"I need to think..."
"I need to think?"
Suddenly, Rui Xiaodan was struck by the significance of her own words.