Chapter 455: The Insatiable Shareholders of Worry‑free Residence

Chen Yang, can you really take on twenty-something thugs by yourself?" Yexin was shocked by the news report. After all, they'd known each other for so long, yet she had never seen Chen Yang get into a fight.

Early in the morning, Chen Yang was summoned by Yexin to Xinghui Financial Investment Company, thinking something important had come up. He never imagined this woman just wanted to gossip about him.

This kind of clickbait gossip—only you would believe it. If there really were twenty-something thugs, I'd run faster than my wife.

Yexin teased, 'You dare abandon Little Lin and run off alone? Aren't you afraid she'll settle the score later?'

Chen Yang shrugged and said nonchalantly, 'You just don't get it. My skills aren't as good as my wife's; staying would only become a burden for her.'

Yexin thought Chen Yang made a point. When it comes to fighting, Lin Wei has never feared anyone since childhood. Of course, it's also possible the number of thugs was exaggerated. 'In my view, there were at most ten people there that day. With the two of you working together, you could handle them exactly.'

Chen Yang shook his head and told Yexin, 'You guessed wrong. I wasn't there that day; the one who got beaten was Zhang Jun.'

Hearing that, Yexin couldn't help but curse. It turns out she wasn't just hearing exaggerated gossip—it was a fabricated story with altered plot.

'This Dongjiang Entertainment News is trash as bad as toilet paper, making up stories to swindle me out of money. The day I run into their editor-in-chief, I'll definitely give them a piece of my mind!'

Chen Yang laughed, 'A one‑yuan newspaper is just for fun. If I didn't tell you the truth, wouldn't you be happy anyway?'

Yexin snorted, 'Is that all it's worth? As a news outlet, fabricating stories without evidence—where's your professional ethics?' After saying that, she ordered Chen Yang, 'Hurry up and have your company's legal department send them a lawyer's letter. Such a corrupt media outlet must be sued into bankruptcy.'

Chen Yang ignored her suggestion. As long as the other side's reporting didn't harm his and Lin Wei's image, let them spin whatever they like. Honestly, if we had to send lawyer's letters to every outlet, the legal department staff would drop dead from exhaustion.

'Sister Yexin, you called me over first thing in the morning—surely it's not just to gossip, right?'

Yexin's face instantly turned serious. She told Chen Yang, 'Your International New City project is making too big a splash—lots of people are jealous. I've satisfied this demand, failed to satisfy that, and I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. Why not spin off part of the project? That would lower your investment risk and reduce my headaches a great deal.'

Chen Yang immediately rejected her suggestion. He said, 'Big sis, I'm undertaking this project not to make money, but to leave a mark in Xingcheng. In the coming decades, I want people to think of my name automatically whenever they mention Dongjiang New City.'

Yexin broke out in goosebumps upon hearing that. 'You're seriously messed up, kid. Not being an official, what good is fame?'

Chen Yang chuckled, 'Does not being an official mean you can't seek fame? Those international finance bigwigs do charity all over the world—isn't that just for fame?'

Yexin snapped, 'How can you compare yourself to them? They have so much money they don't know what to do with it, while you're running a project and still have to borrow everywhere. The day the bank's interest isn't paid, you'll just be waiting to cry.'

Chen Yang said calmly, 'Big sis, you just don't understand. The more I owe the bank, the better the bank's bigwigs treat me. If the Dongjiang New City project runs into trouble, they'll be the ones most wanting to cry.'

Yexin reminded Chen Yang, 'Don't forget, you also invested thirty billion yuan. If the project runs into trouble, the bank loses only state money, whereas you lose your own hard‑earned cash.'

Chen Yang sighed and asked Yexin curiously, 'From what you're saying, if I can't satisfy the shareholders of Worry‑free Residence, they'll try to scrap this project, right?'

Yexin nodded. 'That's exactly the feedback I've received so far.'

Chen Yang thought for a moment, then told Yexin, 'I have two solutions; please pass them along.'

'First, they can set up a company and take equity in the project under that company's name. They don't need to put up any money—I'll directly give them a ten percent stake.'

'However, after they acquire the stake, they must not interfere with the project's progress for personal gain.'

'Second, if the first plan doesn't work, I'll go straight to the Provincial Committee and confront the bigwigs, telling them they've been threatening me behind the scenes. Then they won't get a single cent, and they'll have to endure the wrath of the Provincial Committee bigwigs.'

Yexin heard this, frowned slightly, and said, 'You little brat, you've offended them all. Even if you finish the project smoothly, you'll never be able to get by in Xingcheng again.'

Chen Yang said indifferently, 'If I can't make it in Xingcheng, I can go to Deep City. I built a commercial complex there with a ten‑billion‑yuan investment; housing a few companies is no problem.'

Seeing Chen Yang's mind made up, Yexin didn't say anything more. In fact, she also wanted to see which side the provincial bigwigs would favor in this struggle of interests.

If Chen Yang gains the upper hand, she'll put in extra effort to seize control of Worry‑free Residence.

If Chen Yang is at a disadvantage, she'll have to gradually shift her assets outside Dongjiangsheng.

Because in those shareholders' eyes, her interests are tied to Chen Yang's. Once a conflict arises, it's hard to return to the former harmony.

And just as Yexin had anticipated, the shareholders of Worry‑free Residence are indeed insatiable. They demand that Chen Yang hand over at least twenty percent of the shares, otherwise they'll band together to sabotage the Dongjiang New City project.

After receiving the news, Chen Yang drove straight to the Provincial Government to find Liu Jianghua.

'Governor Liu, the Dongjiang New City project might have to be halted.'

Upon hearing that, Liu Jianghua's face shifted slightly, and he bluntly rebuked Chen Yang, 'The provincial leaders just finished the groundbreaking ceremony for this project, and now you're saying you don't want to continue? What do you want to do?'

Chen Yang deliberately sighed, 'Someone's jealous that I got this project and insists I pay them kickbacks. If I refuse, they'll try to scrap it. I figure they'll eventually sabotage it, so I might as well halt work now—at least that would minimize losses to the greatest extent.'

Liu Jianghua still had some understanding of the cliques within Dongjiangsheng. After Zhou Zhixin's interest group collapsed, the only circle that could make Chen Yang wary was that of Worry‑free Residence.

But he was also curious. Chen Yang is clearly a member of that circle, so why is he stirring up internal strife?

'Chen Yang, since the project has already broken ground, it can't just be stopped. If anyone tries to block it, the provincial authorities will naturally step in to resolve the issue.'