Chapter 337 — Two Roads to Choose From
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Of course, his nightmare had only just begun. Before he could even think of a countermeasure, he was summoned for a talk with Gu Pengzhan.
Jin Gubang knew that Gu Pengzhan's summoning him could mean nothing good. He did not want to go, but he had no choice. For now he was under another's roof and had to bow his head; Jin Gubang could only sigh and shuffle his way to Gu Pengzhan's office.
Qing Bo stood smiling at the office door. Seeing Jin Gubang approach, his smile widened. "Deputy Chairman Jin, Mr. Gu is waiting for you inside."
"I know..." Jin Gubang waved his hand weakly and walked into Gu Pengzhan's office.
Originally, he had still hoped to use Li Cihua's help to turn things around, but now it appeared that if Li Cihua did not finish him off, that would already be a mercy—asking for his help? In his dreams.
"Deputy Chairman Jin, please, have a seat!" Gu Pengzhan gestured toward the sofa beside his desk and said to Jin Gubang.
Jin Gubang seemed to have aged more than ten years in an instant. He cast Gu Pengzhan a despondent glance, then plopped himself down on the sofa. "Gu Pengzhan, just say what you have to say. No need to beat around the bush!"
Jin Gubang could no longer be bothered to fence with Gu Pengzhan. There was no need for it now. Once he had dealt with Gu Pengzhan here, Li Cihua would still be waiting on the other side.
And besides, he was no match for Gu Pengzhan anymore. Why keep up the deadlock? Better to say plainly whatever there was to say, and see just what Gu Pengzhan wanted.
"Very well. Since Vice Chairman Jin puts it that way, I will speak plainly too." Gu Pengzhan nodded. "I'll give you two paths to choose from. The first: I will investigate exactly how much money you have skimmed from the company over the years, and then send you before a court."
"Ha... Gu Pengzhan, tell me the second." Jin Gubang was no fool. Hearing Gu Pengzhan speak, he knew at once this was not the path he was meant to choose, for it benefited no one.
"The second path: hand over the shares in your possession to me, and what is past shall be forgotten." Gu Pengzhan spoke mildly.
"Gu Pengzhan, don't push your luck! The shares in my hands are worth several hundred million at the very least! And you would just take them back like that?" Jin Gubang sprang to his feet at the words, glaring at Gu Pengzhan.
"The money you have skimmed from the company over these years must come to about that figure as well, no? Even if not several hundred million, a hundred or two million at the least." Gu Pengzhan smiled. "How many years in prison would two hundred million buy you? Weigh it against the shares, and choose for yourself."
"Give me another hundred million!" Jin Gubang hesitated a moment, then named his terms.
Gu Pengzhan had only been opening high to settle low. Hearing this, he gave a cold snort. "Fifty million."
"Eighty million!" said Jin Gubang.
"Agreed, then. Done." Gu Pengzhan's own mental price had been a compensation of roughly a hundred million; by comparison, eighty million was already a very low figure.