Chapter 698: Please help me, brother-in-law

Shang Yanxiong's desire to enter the new energy vehicle market was truly a move born of necessity.

Shanghe International was essentially a trading group, with an annual operating volume of lithium battery raw materials exceeding ten thousand tons, ranking among the top five in the country for footwear exports, and similarly fifth for clothing exports. Its assets were very substantial, but that was all there was to it.

Previously, like all large enterprises, it had been heavily asset-invested in the real estate industry.

Now that the bubble had burst, it had no choice but to begin transforming.

Fortunately, he still had the Shanghai Americas Club.

The truly impressive aspect of Shanghe International did not lie in The Group's own business, but in the fact that it held shares in most of the enterprises throughout the entire club. As long as those enterprises thrived, the Shang Yanxiong family could thrive as well.

Even if his own industries ran into trouble, he could still receive dividends from who knows how many companies within the club every year.

What's more, he still had his daddy in the United States.

"Shanghe International has currently secured agency rights for over 20 high-end luxury car and new energy vehicle brand series, claiming to possess a customer base of over 300,000 high-end car owners. Upon entering the market, they certainly appear aggressive."

"The so-called development of an Autonomous Driving System is a concept proposed by his younger sister, General Manager Shang Xinlan, and his younger brother, Shang Yanxi."

"They believe The Group should possess some technological DNA, rather than just acting as a low-end raw material supplier."

President Wei Rusi analyzed the situation calmly for Zheng Qian.

After leaving the Chunshen Club, Zheng Qian rushed back to The Group without a moment's delay.

Over the past few days, he had been shuttling back and forth between the club, The Group, and the research institute; he had never been this busy in his entire life. However, seeing progress in each industry, he didn't feel tired.

What's more…

Every place had the scent of a different girl.

Zheng Qian was playing with black silk while contemplating these serious matters.

This left President Wei Rusi with flushed cheeks, panting incessantly.

She truly couldn't understand Zheng Qian's strange train of thought; with his hands being so restless, how could his mind remain so clear?

It made her want to be "trained" by him.

[Knock, knock, knock—]

"President Zheng, Ran Ruqiu has arrived."

"Let her in."

As soon as the words fell, Ran Ruqiu walked in, her high heels clicking against the floor.

Today was her first direct contact with Zheng Qian. Looking at the man before her who had defeated Shang Yanxiong twice head-on, there was inevitably a trace of something unusual in her eyes. However, there was even more resentment, though she hid this emotion well.

"President Zheng, I saw the report. You… want to participate in the Artificial Intelligence competition?"

Ran Ruqiu took the opportunity to sit on the sofa in front of Zheng Qian.

Zheng Qian nodded slightly. "Come, please sit, Ran Ruqiu. You've seen the relevant reports, I assume? Do you have any advice?"

Ran Ruqiu hesitated, as if she finally made up her mind.

"President Zheng, don't flatter me! Um… could you also allow a few engineers from my Semiconductor Chip company to participate? This event is the largest AI algorithm competition in history, a rare opportunity. Mainly, the relationship between you and us is not ordinary, is it?"

Ran Ruqiu was certainly good at handling things.

As she spoke, she brewed and poured tea for Zheng Qian and President Wei Rusi.

She smiled and nodded at President Wei Rusi. "Hello, President Wei Rusi. I've long admired your name; seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved. You were already a famous private equity fund expert in university. Originally, at Dawei Capital, you had the opportunity to serve the world's top private commercial banks, and Dawei Capital even had the chance to go head-to-head with JPMorgan Chase, but unfortunately…"

Before she could finish, President Wei Rusi curled her lips faintly.

She looked deeply at Ran Ruqiu, as if she smelled some unusual "scent."

"There is nothing unfortunate about it; Dawei Capital is a thing of the past."

"I am currently at the best private bank in the world, which is Qianlu Bank."

President Wei Rusi's voice was cold, yet crisp.

Ran Ruqiu also saw something else in her eyes.

However, she still looked at President Wei Rusi with a smile.

A woman capable of not being completely suppressed by President Wei Rusi in terms of aura certainly had her strong points. At the very least, she could maintain that sense of confidence and composure, but who could truly explain what lay beneath that smile?

Suddenly, a trace of melancholy appeared on her face, which had previously been plastered with a smile.

It even carried a faint sense of grievance.

"President Zheng… oh no, brother-in-law, I know that when Jin Lu returned home, I raised objections. But you understand, originally after Ran Xiang stepped down from the position of chairperson, I was the most promising candidate, and then suddenly, another older sister appeared…"

"Having someone take a piece of the cake, one is bound to feel uncomfortable, right?"

Zheng Qian looked at her noncommittally, signaling for her to continue.

Ran Ruqiu breathed a slight sigh of relief, looking at Zheng Qian with a pitiful expression. "Brother-in-law, I apologize for my previous ignorance. Although it is too late to pledge my loyalty now, it is better than saying nothing at all. My mother also educated me…"

Zheng Qian lit a cigarette and looked at her calmly. "What did your mother say to you?"

"She told me to mind my words and not to care too much about the family assets. Brother-in-law, I truly understand now; I shouldn't have defied Jin Lu. From now on, I will firmly support all of her decisions and guarantee that I will no longer play dirty tricks behind her back."

Ran Ruqiu answered nervously and hurriedly.

"Oh? What kind of dirty tricks did you play behind her back?" Zheng Qian said with great interest.

"Previously, I obstructed her return to the family, and… I once tried to win over President Ran Hongchun. He is from the second branch, and although he is a matrilocal son-in-law, his words still carry some weight. Brother-in-law, I really know I was wrong."

As she spoke, Ran Ruqiu actually knelt directly in front of Zheng Qian.

President Wei Rusi frowned tightly.

She was very displeased by Ran Ruqiu's action.

However, Zheng Qian did not stop her, letting her kneel before him, weeping and pleading.

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, tears welling in her eyes, making her appear very aggrieved and pitiful. "Brother-in-law, the Semiconductor Chip company I lead is currently at most in the mid-to-high range domestically; being stuck in the middle makes it very hard to achieve results. But your Qianlu Research Institute is different!"

"It has already reached the world's top level. Please… please help me!"

"If Matriarch Ran Meilian and the others return from the United States and find that Century Ranxing hasn't made any progress, they will definitely be furious! By then… by then I will definitely…"

It seemed that whenever she thought of Matriarch Ran Meilian, a look of intense fear flashed in Ran Ruqiu's eyes.

It was as if Matriarch Ran Meilian represented the most terrifying thing in the world.

But at this moment.

Zheng Qian asked a completely unrelated question.

"Have you met my mother-in-law? Oh, that is, Jin Lu's mother, Ran Changxi."