Chapter Thirty-Two: Quick, Come Give Your Sister a Kiss

Inside the conference hall, the atmosphere once again fell into silence. However, this time the focus shifted from Zou Tao to Lan Tian, and with that, no further surprises were expected. The brief lull was soon drowned out by a cacophony of applause and congratulatory voices.

None of those present were fools. Apart from the so-called shareholders who had already sold their shares to Lan Tian and were merely putting on a show, the remaining minor shareholders all joined in the applause and congratulations, without a single voice of opposition.

Who would dare joke around? This young man, despite his age, had managed to subdue even the cunning Zou Linsen, and had seized the company that man had built over a lifetime. How could the minor shareholders possibly have the courage to stand against him?

“You damned wretch! I’ll fight you to the end!” Zou Tao, seeing the harmonious scene and realizing that Lan Tian’s takeover of Forest Real Estate was all but set in stone, was so furious that his eyes reddened and blood rushed to his head. Shouting furiously, he snatched a chair and made to hurl it at Lan Tian, so startling Wang Ling at his side that she shrieked in terror.

A cold glint flashed in Lan Tian’s eyes—he had been waiting for an excuse to act. It was as though someone had delivered a pillow just as he was about to doze off.

Wang Ling felt as if her vision blurred; she hadn’t seen Lan Tian move, but in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Zou Tao, gripping his throat with a single hand, and—astonishingly—lifting his entire body off the ground!

My God! How much strength would that take?

Wang Ling stared at Lan Tian in disbelief, her mind racing with confusion. To lift a man over 1.8 meters tall with one hand? The strength in Lan Tian’s arm was unimaginable!

Zou Tao’s face flushed a deep red at once. The immense pressure on his throat forced his tongue out of his mouth, and the suffocating sensation made his mind haze over.

Desperately, he clutched at Lan Tian’s hand, trying to pry it away, but to his horror, that hand was as unyielding as forged steel, unmoved by all his strength!

In that moment, faced with the young man he had always looked down upon, true fear struck him. He was over 1.8 meters tall, and a little overweight—the last time he weighed himself, he had been over 160 jin—yet here he was, lifted as if he weighed nothing at all!

Lan Tian paid no attention to the terror in his eyes. He said indifferently, “If you want to die, I can oblige you.”

With that, under the astonished gazes of all present, he tossed Zou Tao aside as easily as if he were a rag doll.

Zou Tao flew across the room as if struck by a speeding car, crashing into the conference hall’s wall before finally coming to a halt.

A bitter sweetness surged in his throat; he spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness on the spot.

“Where on earth did this new chairman come from?” All were stunned into silence, exchanging glances in utter shock. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Oh dear, I may have used a bit too much force…

Lan Tian awkwardly scratched his nose, then said with an air of innocence, “As you all saw, he attacked first. You can’t blame me for this.”

At that, he deliberately glanced at Zou Linsen. “Don Zou, wouldn’t you agree?”

Zou Linsen did not reply. His expression was ashen, and he too had been frightened by Lan Tian’s display. He didn’t dare utter a word, turning and striding out without looking back.

As for the unconscious Zou Tao? If he hadn’t provoked such a terrifying figure, Zou Linsen would still be chairman of Forest Real Estate, the undisputed wealthiest man in Ning City! If that wastrel weren’t his own son, Zou Linsen would have loved nothing more than to stab him to death right then and there!

Let him be damned.

“Call security and have that kid dragged out. Don’t let him disrupt the chairman’s meeting! Now, let’s welcome the chairman’s guidance!” After a long silence, it was General Manager Li who finally broke the ice.

Lan Tian couldn’t help but freeze for a moment—shameless people really were everywhere these days.

“Forget guidance; I’ll keep it brief.” He sighed, then continued, “First, as of today, I will serve as chairman of Forest Real Estate. I trust there are no objections?”

“None at all! We believe the company will reach new heights under your leadership, Chairman Lan!” The executives all chimed in with smiles, as though they truly welcomed him with open arms.

“Good. Mr. Zou Linsen is about to report to the authorities, so let’s set him aside. As for Zou Tao, he is dismissed from his duties as Chief Financial Officer; all other positions remain unchanged.”

Genuine smiles broke out on the shareholders’ faces, especially those who had sold their shares to Lan Tian or whose secrets he now held—they were positively beaming.

Not only did they retain their shares, but most of them were also company executives. They had expected the new chairman to send them packing, but to their surprise, everything remained as it was. What an unexpected windfall!

“Finally, the company’s legal department is hereby dissolved. All legal affairs of Forest Real Estate will henceforth be handled exclusively by Wang Ling Law Firm.” Lan Tian turned to look at the dazed Wang Ling beside him, smiling as he spoke.

“At least you have some conscience!” Wang Ling was momentarily stunned, then shot him a playful, coquettish glance.

“Well, that concludes today’s shareholders’ meeting. Dismissed!” Lan Tian finished with a grand gesture.

And thus ended a meeting that could well shift the entire economic landscape of Ning City.

Half an hour later, a striking dark blue Aston Martin, under the mixture of envy and resentment in the eyes of passersby, pulled up outside a café not far from Forest Real Estate.

“I’m starving! I feel like I’ve just fought a war. I’m exhausted!” Wang Ling sat opposite Lan Tian, devouring pastries with abandon.

“Slow down, no one’s fighting you for them.” Lan Tian glanced at her with a wry smile.

Gone was the image of the elite lawyer; now she was simply a hungry little glutton.

“Tell me, President Lan, you’re the richest man in Ning City now, and this is all you’re treating me to? Don’t you feel the least bit embarrassed?” Wang Ling joked, eyeing the smiling Lan Tian with a hint of genuine amazement.

This man seemed to have a cheat code these days. He’d spent huge sums without batting an eye—fine, real estate was an investment, but this? To transform overnight into the wealthiest man in Ning City was simply outrageous!

If Chen Xiaoxuan heard about this, she’d probably be so shocked she’d wet herself!

Imagining Chen Xiaoxuan’s reaction, Wang Ling couldn’t help but break into a mischievous grin.

It would be quite a sight!

“Come on, I just gave you a generous gift—have you forgotten already? Don’t think I don’t know: with all Forest Real Estate’s legal work in your hands, your annual earnings will easily reach this figure.” Lan Tian smiled, holding up five fingers.

“Oh please, five million is pocket change to a tycoon like you, President Lan! But I suppose it means a lot of work for poor little me.” Wang Ling pouted.

“Really? I’d hate to see you overworked. Want me to find someone else?” Lan Tian teased.

“Don’t you dare!” Wang Ling shot him a glare, then suddenly softened her tone, “A little work is nothing if it’s for you, Lan Tian. Oh, you’re just too cute—come here, let big sister give you a kiss!”

Lan Tian stared, dumbfounded, and scrambled back in panic.

What a little rogue of a woman!