Chapter 74: Boardroom Confrontation

"Director Lu, I have only just arrived, why are you questioning me already?"

Wei Er helped Director Shi onto the sofa.

Only then did he look toward Lu Chen with a face full of confusion.

Director Shi nodded slightly at everyone, gave Lu Chen a deep look, and silently began to preheat his Cigar.

"Director Wei Er, it seems your hearing is not very good."

Lu Chen took a puff of his Cigar, slowly exhaled the smoke, his eyes carrying a hint of playfulness.

Professor Li reached out and touched Lu Chen's arm, shaking his head slightly.

Luosha looked back and forth between Lu Chen and Wei Er with great interest, sipping her coffee.

"Director Lu, you are a bit too impatient. Director Wei Er called this board meeting today, and we are not yet clear on the specific agenda; you might as well wait a while."

A foreign director with a strange accent spoke up at this moment, his posture extremely haughty, a flash of disdain in his eyes.

"Since there are questions now, let us begin. Please have the recorder start documenting directly. I am old and don't really want to move around, so shall we keep it simple?"

Director Shi glanced at Lu Chen, took a puff of his Cigar, crossed his legs, and spoke in an aged voice.

"Let us start the record from Director Lu's question just now."

"Old Shi, you are joking now. Today's agenda does not involve what Director Lu mentioned."

Wei Er's hand, which was preheating the Cigar, paused slightly. After a long while, he took a puff of the Cigar and then spoke.

"Wherever you wish to hold it, that is where we shall hold it."

"I am only here to listen, but recently Xianggang has been in an uproar. Your financial innovation—my subordinates have reported it to me as well."

Director Shi glanced at Lu Chen, took a puff of his Cigar, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

He picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip to moisten his throat before continuing to speak.

"I am quite interested as well; I propose adding the matter Director Lu mentioned."

"Of course, if you are interested, after the core agenda concludes, this proposal of yours shall serve as the second agenda item."

Wei Er glanced at Old Shi, and seeing Old Shi nod slightly, he then looked at the surrounding directors.

Seeing that no one objected, he continued.

"Then the 734th Crown Board Meeting now begins. Today's core agenda is to provide an explanatory statement regarding the securitized financial innovation, the usage of recently absorbed funds, and the supportive fees to be distributed to all directors."

Wei Er stood up, bowed slightly, and began his speech.

The recorder used strange symbols to quickly document every word Wei Er said in the corner.

"Then I shall pose questions regarding the issues in Director Wei Er's speech just now."

Lu Chen stood up, bowed slightly to the surrounding directors, and then sat back down.

"Regarding the issue of fees, where does the capital come from? Is it from a dedicated securitization account? Also, regarding this type of combined investment known as securitization, are there any restrictions on the fields we invest in?"

Lu Chen tapped the armrest lightly, a flash of sharp light in his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Professor Li paused, then continued to smoke silently.

Luosha toyed with her coffee cup, her eyes seemingly carrying a hint of appreciation.

"No, no, no, Director Lu, your questions are not the most important ones right now. Let Director Wei Er explain them to you later."

The foreign director glanced at Lu Chen, then at Wei Er, before speaking.

"What is most important now is how much in fees we can get from this matter and what price we need to pay."

Lu Chen swept a sharp gaze over the foreign director, then turned his head to stare straight at Wei Er.

"Ahem, very well, I shall provide the necessary explanation for the questions raised by Director Lu."

Wei Er watched Lu Chen's performance, swallowed, and slowly took a puff of his Cigar without standing up again.

"But I do not need to explain anything that goes beyond the rules; this is a decision made by the Crown."

His crossed legs paused slightly, and after a few seconds, he spoke again.

"For the explanations the directors require, there will be meeting minutes later, and the Crown's external stance must be consistent."

Wei Er took another puff of his smoke and began to recount the contents of the securitization project again.

Throughout the entire narrative, he only provided detailed introductions regarding the profits and the pooled funds.

The three foreign directors' breathing even became a bit rapid.

It was not until Wei Er finished speaking that he looked toward Lu Chen.

"Director Lu, you are also a core member of this project, so are you satisfied with this explanation?"

"Director Wei Er, is this an attempt to turn a transaction into an endorsement?"

Lu Chen frowned, and his finger tapping the armrest paused slightly.

He took a puff of his Cigar, slowly exhaled the smoke, and shifted his crossed legs into a more comfortable position.

"Would you like me to bring out the contract for the directors to confirm the facts you stated? More importantly, Director Wei Er, you did not answer my question."

"No, no, no, Director Lu, securitization has already been promoted now, and not just in Xianggang. Its operation is not by the Xianggang Crown Board, but passed by the Crown Board, so your question is not important; we have the Zonghang endorsing us."

A hint of helplessness appeared in Wei Er's eyes. He waved his hand, and the recorder took a document bearing a Wax Seal out of a briefcase and handed it to Wei Er respectfully.

"Director Lu, this document has not been opened yet. Why don't you open it?"

"Director Wei Er, this is not the right of a director on the Xianggang Board."

Lu Chen shrugged and did not take the document folder Wei Er handed over.

Instead, he took a puff of his Cigar, though the Cigar was pinched tightly.

A beam of light seemed to shoot from his reddened eyes.

"My questions have always been clear: how it is to be utilized, and the risks. Since the Zonghang is endorsing this, does that mean all the risks we bear are assumed by the Zonghang?"

"Director Lu, this matter is naturally assumed by the Zonghang regarding our Xianggang portion of the risks."

A relaxed smile appeared on Director Wei Er's face.

He shrugged his shoulders and placed the Cigar solemnly onto the ashtray.

In front of everyone, he picked up a utility knife from the coffee table and slowly slid it open.

He began to slowly scrape away the Wax Seal.

"This is the reward provided by the Zonghang based on the financial innovation we proposed; the previous sum of funds was also provided by the Zonghang."

Wei Er stood up, walked in front of every director, and only continued speaking after showing the document to each of them.

He lingered in front of Lu Chen longer than he did with the other directors.

"Now that all the directors have finished reading the document that was only flown in from the Zonghang yesterday, is there still any need to discuss the second agenda item?"

Wei Er glanced at Lu Chen with a hint of smugness, his tone rising slightly.

He put the document back into the file bag, sealed it with a new Wax Seal, and placed it on the coffee table.

He picked up the Cigar, took a puff, and slowly exhaled the smoke.

"Then, regarding the first agenda item, please cast your votes on the opinions of all directors."