98: Chapter 99 Never Acknowledge Them: The Coldest Protection from the Shen Family of Beijing

The study fell into a long silence.

After a long while, the old man put down the old purple clay teapot in his hand and let out a long, soft sigh: "Since the floodgates have been opened, there is no use in saying more. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it... Whether times are good or bad, only the future will tell."

After lamenting the fate of the family, the old man changed the subject.

His cloudy yet still sharp eyes looked at Secretary Shen Hai, asking seemingly casually: "What about that kid? After experiencing this earth-shattering business war in the Yangtze River Delta, how is he doing now?"

Although the old man did not name names, Secretary Shen Hai certainly knew who his father was asking about when he said "that kid."

Facing his father's inquiry, Secretary Shen Hai straightened his expression, without any concealment or sugarcoating.

He directly reported the number that would terrify an ordinary person: "It is tragic. This time, in order to completely repel the capital from the north, the entire Shanghai business circle has suffered a severe blow, with direct economic losses exceeding one billion US dollars. And the vast majority of this astronomical debt is pressed onto that kid's shoulders."

Hearing the term "one billion US dollars," even the old man, who had seen his fair share of storms, could not help but twitch the corner of his eye slightly.

That was equivalent to nearly ten billion RMB. Pressed onto a young man who had just turned twenty, it was enough to snap a person's spine!

"However..." Secretary Shen Hai observed his father's expression, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration: "This kid did not show any timidity or retreat because of this huge amount of money, which would be enough to make anyone despair."

"Oh?" The old man raised his eyebrows slightly.

"As soon as the war subsided, he immediately threw himself into post-disaster reconstruction."

Secretary Shen Hai's tone carried a hint of admiration: "Now, the entire Jiyuan Technology and Meituan are under his iron-fisted control. He is methodically restoring the original business order and profit model."

Secretary Shen Hai picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and gave a conservative yet reassuring forecast: "Based on the terrifying money-making ability currently displayed by the platforms in his hands, as long as there are no major mishaps and he continues steadily... If he is fast, five or six years. If he is slow, eight or nine years, he will be able to completely pay off this ten-billion-yuan debt!"

Hearing the repayment forecast of "five to nine years," which had a very long span but was full of absolute confidence, the study fell into a brief silence again.

A moment later, on the old man's stern, stone-like face, a rare, heartfelt smile appeared.

"This kid is really a tough nut who dares to act and take responsibility."

The old man picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, gently stroking the warm, smooth pot body, his eyes revealing reminiscence and emotion: "His ruthlessness really follows his mother's personality completely! Even with a sky-high hole to fill, he stubbornly refuses to bow his head. Back then, when he said he would sever ties with the family, he really made a clean break. It's been so long, and he has stubbornly endured without contacting the family even once."

Seeing the sadness in his father's eyes, Secretary Shen Hai keenly sensed that while the old man appeared to be evaluating his grandson, he was actually deeply missing his third sister, who had left in anger many years ago.

Blood is thicker than water; where in this world is there a father who can truly be hard-hearted?

Secretary Shen Hai's heart stirred, and he leaned forward slightly, tentatively suggesting in a low voice: "Dad, since the business war in the south has subsided and the Shen Family has taken this opportunity to fully enter the game, should I... go to Shanghai privately to contact that kid and sound him out? By the way, I could also use this as an excuse to ease the relationship between the third sister and the family?"

In Secretary Shen Hai's view, Shen Du had now grown into a major tycoon holding a ten-billion-yuan plate. He had already proven his value.

At this time, it would be only natural for the Shen Family to take the initiative to extend an olive branch and provide a little protection.

However, faced with his son's proposal, the old man's expression turned cold in an instant. He turned his head sharply. His gaze, which had previously held some warmth, instantly became as sharp as a hawk's, and he sternly cut him off decisively: "Do not contact him!"

Secretary Shen Hai was startled by this sudden severity and looked at his father with some confusion.

"You couldn't contact him before, and now, even more so!" The old man stared fixedly at Secretary Shen Hai, his voice low and permeated with a chilling gravity.

"Do you think the Shen Family being in the limelight right now is a good thing? You should know better than anyone. Now that the Shen Family has actively broken decades of rules, coupled with the fact that national-level policies have just been implemented, do you know what this represents behind the scenes!"

The old man pointed towards the door and warned word by word: "From today on, the Shen Family has officially stepped onto a very dangerous tightrope! I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at us in the dark, waiting for us to fall from the heights into the abyss!"

Secretary Shen Hai's heart contracted sharply, and he instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He finally realized what his father was guarding against.

In this cruel meat grinder of politics and capital, the Shen Family was now the most conspicuous target.

"At this critical juncture, we in the Shen Family must never expose any flaws or weaknesses to the outside world!"

The old man's voice carried a deep, restrained feeling of protecting his own: "Once you go to contact him now, it is equivalent to telling all the political enemies and opponents in the world that the young man named Shen Du is the most fatal weakness of our Shen Family! At that time, what will greet him will be even more terrifying open attacks and secret arrows than the Beijing Circle!"

The old man took a deep breath, forcibly pressing that intense affection back into the deepest part of his heart. His tone returned to being absolutely cold: "Since the child Du'er has already proven with his own fists that he can stand on his own, let him stay away from this vortex of the Shen Family that could explode at any time, and let him grow wildly on his own outside."

No contact, no engagement, no acknowledgment. This is what this old man, who has spent his life in the military and politics, can give to his own grandson in this treacherous new era—the deepest and most absolute family protection!

Faced with this stern warning from the old man, Secretary Shen Hai no longer dared to have any wishful thinking. He straightened his expression and nodded solemnly: "Understood, Father. I will personally give instructions that no one in the Shen Family will disturb his life."

As the hustle and bustle of New Year's Day gradually faded, and the 2012 calendar just turned to a new page, the commercial landscape of Shanghai had already been completely reshaped under Shen Du's iron-fisted control.

In the quiet of the night, inside the president's office of Jiyuan Technology, Shen Du stood alone in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the brilliant, sleepless city beneath his feet that he had completely conquered.

Just then, a long-lost and crisp mechanical system sound suddenly exploded in the depths of his mind without warning: [Ding! Congratulations to the host, you have triggered and completed main mission three: 'Famous in Shanghai'! ] [Checking mission settlement conditions...] [Target market value requirement: reach five hundred million RMB market value, over-fulfilled!] [Similar market share requirement: at least 30% share, absolute monopoly has been achieved and exceeded!]