408: Everything is over.

"Dad! Uncle Zhang! Uncle Zhao! Uncle Bai!" Qin Yu violently pushed open the conference room door and rushed in, his face pale, panting heavily, holding a tablet in his hand.

"It's bad! I... I just received news. Tengda... they've privately contacted several of our remaining biggest clients, offering a 'bundled solution' we absolutely cannot match. They also hinted... hinted that if we go bankrupt, they are willing to take on some of our key staff and 'valuable' technical assets! They're preparing to swallow us up! Also, downstairs... there seem to be reporters staking out. There might be another negative story about to break!"

This news was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.

"They've gone too far!!" Zhang Long slammed his fist on the table, the back of his hand turning red, but more than anger, it was a sense of powerless indignation.

"It's over... all over..." Zhao Hu slumped back into his chair, closing his eyes.

Bai Zhantang abruptly stood up, then sat back down weakly, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Qin Zhenhua felt as if an invisible hand had seized his heart, nearly suffocating him.

He suddenly looked at his son Qin Yu, his eyes filled with a final, almost frantic hope and plea.

"Xiao Yu! Quick! Call Miss Lei again! Now! Immediately! Beg her! Beg her to act quickly! We can't wait any longer! One day, no, even a few more hours, and Tianqiong will be utterly destroyed! Tell her, we'll agree to any condition! Just beg her to save Tianqiong! Hurry!!"

His voice was hoarse and shrill, filled with the despair of having nowhere left to turn. Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, and Bai Zhantang all stared intently at Qin Yu with eager, desperate eyes, as if he were their last lifeline.

Qin Yu was also frightened by his father's reaction and the rapidly deteriorating situation of the company. He fumbled to take out his phone, his fingers trembling from tension and fear, almost unable to unlock the screen.

His mind went blank, leaving only one thought: call Sister Lei! Beg her! Immediately! Right now!

At this moment, he could no longer afford to care about anything else.

Tianqiong Technology was the foundation of his family, the life's work of his father and uncles, and his own future security.

If the company was gone, everything would be over.

He found Lei Jun's number, took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice so it wouldn't tremble, but upon dialing, he was met with a busy signal.

His heart sank. He dialed again. Still busy.

Overwhelming fear instantly engulfed him. Could it be that Sister Lei wasn't even answering her phone?

Qin Yu's fingers frantically tapped and redialed on the phone screen, as if it weren't a touchscreen but a life-saving button that needed to be pressed with all his might.

With each call, he desperately prayed in his heart: Answer! Sister Lei, please answer! I'm begging you!

However, all that came from the receiver was the monotonous, repetitive, heart-sinking "beep—beep—" of a busy signal, or simply, "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."

Once, twice, three times... five times... ten times... Time slipped away with each unanswered call, every second like a blunt knife sawing at Qin Yu's nerves.

Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. His hand gripping the phone was strained so hard that veins bulged and his knuckles turned white.

He tried to think from another angle: Could Sister Lei be in a meeting? Handling more important matters? Her phone on silent? Would Lei Ying or Lei Yue perhaps answer? But all his self-reassurance seemed futile and weak in the face of the persistent reality of no one answering.

Despair, like icy seawater, slowly crept up from his feet, soaking through his entire body.

He leaned back against the cold wall, his body slowly sliding down, until finally, with a thud, he collapsed onto the floor, utterly dejected.

The phone slipped from his powerless, loosened grip, falling to the ground. The screen was still lit, displaying the record of his last failed call attempt.

His eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling.

The last shred of strength and hope he had been clinging to completely dissipated with this unanswered call.

Sister Lei... isn't even answering her phone... Does she think we're too much trouble and doesn't want to get involved? Or... does even she think Tianqiong is beyond saving? This thought sent a piercing chill and overwhelming despair through him.

Deathly silence filled the conference room.

Everyone's gaze followed Qin Yu's actions: from eager anticipation, to tense waiting, to watching him dial repeatedly, be disappointed each time, and finally slump to the ground.

Qin Yu's dejected, spine-less appearance more powerfully announced the result than any words could — Miss Lei Jun could not be reached.

The color visibly drained from Qin Zhenhua's face, leaving it deathly pale.

His previously straight back hunched over, as if all his vitality had been sucked out in an instant.

Looking at his son collapsed on the floor, his heart felt as if gripped by a cold hand, the pain almost suffocating.

The last... last hope... gone too? Miss Lei... really isn't going to help? Of course, what is Tianqiong Technology to her? Just a few shares she can casually discard.

Perhaps her previous agreement was merely out of politeness, or just a casual word of comfort to Xiao Yu?

How naive and laughable it was of me to actually pin all my hopes on that!

Immense disappointment and even deeper despair, mixed with regret over his own misjudgment, nearly overwhelmed him.

He seemed to already see the miserable scene: the company going into bankruptcy liquidation, the life's work of his old brothers coming to nothing.

After Zhang Long punched the table, his arm remained trembling, not withdrawn.

Watching Qin Yu collapse, seeing Qin Zhenhua age instantly, the last shred of stubborn courage he had been clinging to vanished completely.

He slowly withdrew his hand, covered his face, his shoulders trembling slightly. It's over. Completely over.

Even that mysterious Miss Lei couldn't be reached, or was unwilling to intervene.

Tianqiong Technology was like a small boat surrounded by a school of sharks, with no external force left to rescue it. His

half a lifetime's struggle, was it going to end in such humiliation? It's so unfair! But... what else can be done?

Thick despair and deathly silence permeated the conference room.

Each person was immersed in their own painful thoughts, without even the strength to comfort one another.

Just then, there was a cautious knock on the conference room door. The female secretary peeked in, her face showing obvious nervousness and unease, her voice small: "Chairman Qin, Chairman Zhang... Young Master Chen from Tengda Technology is on the phone. He called the president's office directly. Should... should we take the call?"

Young Master Chen? At this time?

That name was like a needle, instantly pricking all the nerves in the room that were on the verge of breaking.

Qin Zhenhua sharply raised his head. His bloodshot eyes flashed with a moment of shock and confusion, quickly replaced by anger and humiliation.

That Chen guy? What does he want calling now? To gloat about victory? A hypocritical show of sympathy?