Chapter 192: Chapter 192

After Fu Zhengjun’s death, all his shares went to Fu Jichen alone.

Wei Ronghua had no objections. As for Fu Yuling and Fu Feibai, one only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun all day, while the other wasn’t interested in the family business. They were asked beforehand and both expressed no interest in the shares.

Thus, Fu Jichen’s stake in the shares surpassed those of his uncles and aunts, becoming the second largest shareholder after Mr. Fu.

Originally, even though Fu Jichen was the president of Jun Mountain, he didn’t have the sole say in major decisions, which required board meetings and voting to implement.

Now, the entire group had seemingly become Fu Jichen’s domain. As long as Mr. Fu didn’t oppose, he could proceed boldly without considering others.

Some people couldn’t sit still, wanting to pull him down, and rumors naturally emerged. They didn’t even need evidence; just a clash of words and many would believe.

Even those who didn’t believe would sow seeds of doubt in their hearts, unsure when they might take root.

Qu Mo, hearing Song Fang’s words over the phone, found it equally absurd. How could anyone be foolish enough to spread rumors about the boss’s ancestry? Wouldn’t the Fu Family know if he’s the biological son of General Manager Fu?

No, perhaps those people thought General Manager Fu had died and there was no evidence?

But, isn’t the Fu Family still chaired by the chairman?

Qu Mo took out the cigarette box from his pocket but hadn’t had a chance to light it when he saw Fu Jichen coming down the hill. The man’s tall figure was enveloped in the tree shade, his stern face covered in gloom, suggesting that his trip up the mountain hadn’t gone as hoped.

Putting the cigarette box back in his pants pocket, Qu Mo opened the car door and got out to meet Fu Jichen, repeating Song Fang’s original words.

"Which board directors are causing trouble?" Fu Jichen’s tone was indifferent, as if he didn’t take this matter to heart.

"Song Fang didn’t say." Chapters first released on novel•fire.net

Fu Jichen bent down and sat in the car, his fingertips caressing the palm-sized handlepiece. The jade was much smoother and more lustrous than when he first received it, evidently often played with.

"Back to the company," Fu Jichen ordered.

Qu Mo started the car, glanced at the boss through the rearview mirror. Since Miss Shen’s incident, the boss had presented an increasingly cold and distant demeanor, unfathomable. Hesitatingly, he said, "Want to have lunch before going back?"

It was already past lunchtime, and with the boss not at the company, the secretary certainly hadn’t ordered food for him.

Fu Jichen looked down at the jade in his palm: "No need."

Qu Mo said no more, quietly driving back to the city, heading to Junshan Group Headquarters Building.

When Fu Jichen got out of the car, his phone rang; it was Song Fang calling. Already at the company, he didn’t answer, taking the exclusive elevator up.

Passing by the secretarial office, Fu Jichen glanced casually, catching sight of Song Fang anxiously making calls. As Song Fang turned around, he saw the boss’s figure, instantly relieved, and rushed over to him, saying, "Chairmen Li, Zhao, and Lin have arrived; they’re in the reception room."

"How long have you been at Jun Mountain?" Fu Jichen asked unhurriedly.

Song Fang, sweating profusely, paused at the words, instinctively replied, "Five years."

"Five years isn’t short, panicking over a little issue ?" After saying this, Fu Jichen glanced at his watch, "Have them come to my office in five minutes."

After Fu Jichen departed, Song Fang calmed down. His panic wasn’t from the board directors suddenly causing trouble, but because the rumors were spreading too quickly.

A colleague mentioned that all sorts of company chat groups were discussing this matter. If it escalated, whether it reached the network or made the newspapers, the impact would be very negative. To say nothing else, the company’s stock taking a hit would be first and foremost.

The background of the executive being in doubt wasn’t something to joke about.

In the president’s office, Fu Jichen lit a cigarette, quietly standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, exhaling clouds while overlooking the vehicles and pedestrians on the street, seemingly tiny like ants.

Five minutes later, several board directors arrived.

Fu Jichen turned around, his gaze calm as still water, sweeping across their faces. Song Fang omitted one person; Chairman Fang was also present.

He was from Fu Jianfang’s side; this information wasn’t difficult to find out.

Fu Jichen paced to his desk, extinguishing the cigarette butt in the ashtray, then sat down in his executive chair, lips forming a faint smile, faintly mocking, "No board meeting today, quite rare for the directors to come so collectively."

Chairman Fang was about to speak when the glass door of the office was knocked twice, interrupting his chance to begin.

Fu Jichen said "Come in," and the secretary wearing a skirt suit brought in the brewed tea, first serving Fu Jichen, then placed the other four cups on the coffee table in the guest area and left quietly without disturbing anyone.

"Sit down and have some tea, let’s talk things over slowly."

Fu Jichen leisurely sipped his tea, making the four who came look as anxious as monkeys.

The few people sat down, and none of them drank tea. Chairman Fang was the first to confront: "Mr. Chen, surely you’ve heard the rumors about the company. We have come over with no other intention than to know if Mr. Chen plans to clarify matters?"

The other three nodded, Chairman Fang’s words echoed their thoughts.

Fu Jichen put down his cup, his hand resting on the table, fingertips lightly tapping without a trace of nervousness from being questioned, maintaining his calm demeanor: "What rumors?"

"Mr. Chen, you don’t have to feign ignorance," Chairman Fang said bluntly, "Even if you haven’t heard, your assistant should have informed you. General Manager Fu is dead, we all feel deeply saddened. Ultimately, the group bears the Fu name—although the shares we hold may not be large, if there’s any problem with the group’s management, it will certainly affect our interests, and we cannot sit idly by. We want to address this before the situation escalates by proving your stance."

Fu Jichen responded, "Prove what?"

Chairman Fang and the other directors exchanged looks, the conversation had already reached this point, and continuing to evade would lose its meaning.

What could he prove? Naturally, whether he is the legitimate son of Fu Zhengjun!

Fu Jichen stood up and walked slowly towards the directors, his voice, though not loud, echoed with authority in the office: "Of the directors here, even the youngest is over forty; the saying goes, ’At thirty, a man stands firm; at forty, he should not be confused.’ Not being confused means not being deceived by external things, which seems somewhat dubious in this context."

Chairman Fang’s facial muscles twitched slightly, wanting to say something but found no rebuttal.

"Such baseless rumors are not only believed by the directors, but they come asking me for proof," Fu Jichen said, looking at them without any reservations, "Have any of you heard the saying ’He who asserts must prove’? You should be asking those who spread the rumors for evidence."

"The key issue is the rumor has already spread widely, if it hits the press, it will affect the company’s stock!" Chairman Fang’s voice was agitated, spitting words energetically.

"Since Junshan Group was founded, it’s not been without stock fluctuations; even the most powerful listed companies experience ups and downs, as far as personal interests Chairman Fang mentioned, I understand. I can also assure you, as long as I have food to eat, the directors will certainly not go without."

The directors were not foolish, they heard the nice words, but Fu Jichen’s tone was quite unfriendly and utterly impatient.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Fu Jichen deliberately waited a few seconds, and since no one voiced further opinions, he directly issued a dismissal: "I have a transnational video conference scheduled next, so I won’t keep the directors any longer."

The few left with a grim expression, sleeves fluttering.

At seven o’clock in the evening, Fu Jichen returned to the Fu Family’s old house.

The old master, affected by the passing of his eldest son, had poor health, hence the children and grandchildren frequently visited the old house.

The whole family sat in the dining room eating, just like the night when Fu Zhengjun had his accident, with two empty seats. One of these seats will never have anyone sitting again, and as for the other seat...

Fu Jianfang asked the maid bringing the dishes: "Where’s the sister-in-law, why wasn’t she called to eat?"

"The Madam is ill, resting in the bedroom." The maid set down a dish.

Fu Jianfang showed concern: "Why is she always sick, did we ask for a doctor?"

The maid turned around as she was about to head to the kitchen but stopped to answer: "The doctor came by, she had two bottles of IV fluids this afternoon, and got some medication."

Fu Jianfang glanced at the old master at the head of the table, sighed profoundly, and spoke earnestly: "The sister-in-law cannot continue . After dinner, I’ll go up and see her." Then she reminded the old master, "Dad, you must also take care of your health. Eldest brother is gone, but you still have the few of us."

The old master was sipping soup, did not respond directly, but merely glanced at her.

Fu Jianfang offered him a comforting smile, then changed the subject to the hearsay circulating in the company: "Dad, you’ve been closed off for days, you might not be aware that there are rumors going around the company..." As she spoke, she glanced sideways at Fu Jichen across from her, who didn’t even lift his eyelids and continued to focus only on picking food, "All saying Fu Da isn’t eldest brother’s biological son. No idea who is so immoral as to spread such rumors, creating havoc at the company, I heard it stirred several directors."

With a "bang," the old master slapped chopsticks down on the solid wood dining table.