Chapter 126: I had someone check, do you have a problem with that?
The plot twist came too fast, leaving everyone in shock.
Liu Hong felt deeply aggrieved. He had thought this man was an ant he could crush at will, only to discover he was the company’s chairman—his direct superior. The realization left him speechless.
The company employees watching from a distance peeked out, their mouths agape in astonishment.
This young man is a company director? The news is staggering. If it’s true, then what about President Su? This is the Su family’s enterprise, so how did an outsider end up in charge?
Putting that aside, even if Lin Mu was the chairman, Liu Hong had already apologized. How could he refuse to accept it?
Liu Hong’s face darkened, and he said in a grave voice, "Young man, it’s wise not to burn your bridges. You’re pushing things too far."
"Pushing things too far?" Lin Mu sneered. "When you were aggressively threatening me, smashing things, and having me detained, did you consider that we might meet again?"
Liu Hong was silent.
"So, now that you see my status is higher and my background stronger than yours, you plan to brush it all aside with a simple apology?" Lin Mu said indifferently. "The world doesn’t work that way."
Zhou Qian and Captain Wu exchanged a look. Isn’t this young man being too unforgiving? The man already admitted he was wrong, so why won’t he let it go?
Liu Hong’s face turned ugly. He gritted his teeth and said, "In any case, I am still the manager of the sales department. I made a mistake, but I’ve already apologized. As a director of the company, don’t you have even that much magnanimity?"
He declared this with an air of self-righteousness.
Even Zhou Qian nodded slightly, thinking things hadn’t reached a point of no return. Since Lin Mu is the chairman of Boheng Pharma and reached this position at such a young age, he must not be a short-sighted person. Forgiving Liu Hong this time could win over people and establish an image for himself of being magnanimous and tolerant. It would be incredibly beneficial for him.
The other employees thought the same.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, a smug smile appeared on Liu Hong’s face. He had been with Boheng Pharma for many years, and his connections and contributions were plain for all to see. Even if Lin Mu is the chairman, he’s new here. How is he going to get any work done if he doesn’t build a good relationship with us veteran mid-level employees?
"So, I advise you to let this matter go," Liu Hong said magnanimously, with a grand wave of his hand. "In light of your position as a company director, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight and drink three glasses as a penalty. We’ll call it even."
With these words, he not only brushed aside his own wrongdoing but also painted himself as a generous and forgiving man. If word of this got out, everyone would praise Liu Hong for understanding the bigger picture and knowing when to be diplomatic. If Lin Mu continued to pursue the matter, he would be the one who looked petty.
Jin Cheng glanced at Lin Mu, wanting to speak, but ultimately held his tongue. After all, he was just a legal advisor. Lin Mu was the one in charge. Moreover, as far as he knew, the acquisition of Boheng Pharma had been handled by a man named Ning Xian, so he wasn’t aware of Lin Mu’s true capabilities, even though Mr. Ning had repeatedly warned him to treat Young Master Mu with respect.
"Heh, are you telling me what to do?" Lin Mu suddenly found the situation amusing. He looked at Liu Hong and said, "You paint yourself as the innocent, weaker party, thinking an apology absolves you of your mistakes? Then you try to pressure me from the moral high ground? Are you even worthy?"
Liu Hong was speechless.
"But I’m the company’s sales manager! Without me, how will the company conduct its business?" Liu Hong’s face flushed with humiliation.
"As of now, you’re fired," Lin Mu stated calmly. The more leeway you give people like him, the more entitled they become. Lin Mu was an expert at dealing with his kind.
"What?" Liu Hong shouted. "On what grounds? What right do you have to fire me?"
"On the grounds that I am the Chairman." Lin Mu didn’t even glance at him, turning instead to Jin Cheng. "Lawyer Jin, please contact the disciplinary committee. I plan to audit all of the company’s business transactions. The sales department will be a top priority. Is that a problem?"
"No problem!" Jin Cheng immediately agreed, inwardly shocked at Lin Mu’s methods. For a man like Liu Hong, who held such a key position, it was impossible that he didn’t have his hands dirty. One investigation would bring everything to light.
Even Zhou Qian and Captain Wu felt a jolt. This kid was ruthless. It was like pulling the rug out from under him.
"You... you dare!" Liu Hong was furious, but his heart was pounding with anxiety. He knew better than anyone that his hands weren’t clean. In his years as sales manager, he had skimmed countless benefits for himself. When Su Weiye was in charge, he would turn a blind eye. He had even quashed Su Ke’er’s attempts to investigate. After all, Liu Hong controlled too many valuable network resources. If he resigned in anger, it would be a huge loss for the company.
"Lawyer Jin, I’m leaving this in your hands. If anyone has dared to line their own pockets, solicit bribes, or use the company’s name for personal gain, punish them or prosecute them as the law requires."
"Yes, sir!" Jin Cheng accepted the order and left immediately. Before he went, he gave Liu Hong a deep, meaningful look. This guy... he’s finished.
Liu Hong’s face went deathly pale, and he collapsed to the ground. "President Lin, I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong. Please, spare me this one time, I beg you," he pleaded, looking pathetic.
But Lin Mu paid him no mind.
He brought this upon himself. Shaking his head with a sigh, Captain Wu left with Zhou Qian.
Zhou Qian glanced back at the tall, imposing figure, her beautiful eyes shimmering. Hmph. This guy is certainly ruthless.
"Notify all department managers to be in the conference room for a meeting in five minutes. Anyone who is late can get lost!"
Leaving these words behind, Lin Mu departed.
「Five minutes later.」
Assistant Taozi, who had served the previous chairman, entered the lounge and said respectfully to Lin Mu, "President Lin, the meeting has started."
"Mm, thank you." Lin Mu set down the documents he was holding and rose to walk to the conference room.
Boheng Pharma was a large company with over a dozen departments and numerous employees, but it was this small group of just over a dozen people now sitting in the conference room who controlled its vast operations.
"President Su, we have a mountain of work to do. What’s so urgent?" said Yang Ye, the manager of the R&D department, sounding somewhat impatient.
"Exactly, President Su," Tang Feng of the Human Resources department added slowly. "The Chairman has been gone for so long that there’s unrest in the company. This isn’t good for us."
"Could it be that the Chairman has returned?"
Su Ke’er’s expression was as cold and unapproachable as ever, which was enough to make the others fall silent.
"President Su, I just saw people from the disciplinary committee auditing every department. What’s going on?" asked Zhou Ziming from the Risk Control department, his tone hinting at a challenge.
"What?" Yang Ye slammed his palm on the table. "The Chairman hasn’t returned, so who has the audacity to investigate the departments?"
The conference room fell silent.
"I ordered the investigation. Do you have a problem with that?"