Inside the high-level conference room of one of Hua Country’s top fashion magazines, YW Company, Ai Shengnan frowned while listening to her subordinates’ reports. As a company leading the fashion trend, even the style of YW’s conference room was full of fashion elements. The walls were adorned with some stunning photo spreads from YM magazine, including international stars. In 2020, YM’s market value once reached over 4 billion, and Ai Shengnan, as the major shareholder holding the vast majority of shares, had a net worth of 2.6 billion. Even though YW hadn’t peaked, its valuation had reached as high as 600 million, making it one of the benchmark companies in Hua Country’s fashion industry. "Chief Editor Ai, the acquisition agreement from Black Swan Group has been sent over. In a week, their chairman will personally come to discuss the acquisition details." Black Swan Group wanted to create its media portal, and a fashion magazine was indispensable. YW Company not only held a place in Hua Country’s fashion industry but also had a solid user base. Moreover, YW Company’s headquarters was right in Shanghai, making it a nearby and obvious choice, and Gu Bai’s first target was set on YW Company. Although YW had a reputable standing in the industry, it had always been financially in the red. With Black Swan Group’s acquisition proposal, every shareholder in the company had their thoughts. Black Swan Group was undoubtedly a giant capital presence in Shanghai now; compared to it, YW was like a kitten encountering a tiger, hardly a match. Moreover, the company had only a high valuation but was always in loss. Where did the money to cover these losses come from? Wasn’t it from the shareholders? The sudden acquisition invitation from Black Swan Group gave these shareholders a glimpse of hope. Before Ai Shengnan could respond, a shareholder spoke up: "If Black Swan Group’s offer is reasonable, I suggest accepting their acquisition request. Our company has been losing money continuously, and continuing this way may lead to a dead end. This acquisition might be an opportunity for the company. After all, Black Swan Group, as a giant capital, has sufficient funds to support YW’s development." All the remaining shareholders unanimously agreed. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦·𝘯𝘦𝘵 After such prolonged losses, these shareholders had long wanted to exit the scene. If Gu Bai could acquire according to the valuation, these shareholders could not only recoup their losses but even make a profit. Listening to these shareholders, Ai Shengnan’s face, an intersection of icy coldness and charm, showed a trace of anger. This bunch of shareholders are so short-sighted. Although YW lost quite a bit over the years, its name recognition was established. She had already begun contacting foreign luxury brands for partnerships. Once cooperation was established, the magazine could immediately turn a profit. Originally, she intended to persuade these shareholders to invest more, but the acquisition proposal from Black Swan Group disrupted all her plans. Now, let alone expecting these people to invest, they couldn’t even steady the company’s situation. "I am the majority shareholder of the company. As long as I disagree, no one can acquire YW from me." Ai Shengnan said coldly to these shareholders. As soon as Ai Shengnan finished speaking, the shareholders were stunned for a moment, then the first one to speak up retorted, "Chief Ai, you are ignoring the company’s development! You know the 2017 financial report! A loss of 16 million in one year! That money is all real money spent, and we invested in the company to make money. But for years, we’ve seen no return, and we lose money every year. Now you’re saying you disagree with the acquisition? Put another way, even if you refuse Black Swan Group’s acquisition, Chief Ai, do you think the current loss-making YW Company can last long?" These words were well-founded, and not even Ai Shengnan could find a retort. After half a minute of silence, Ai Shengnan spoke with a slightly weaker tone. "The company’s losses are about to end. I am already in talks with domestic and international cosmetics and luxury brand companies for collaborations. Once a partnership is established, the company could immediately reverse its ongoing losses." "Chief Ai, did you not say this at last year’s shareholders meeting? The year before, didn’t you say this? Year after year, how long do you expect us to wait? Initially, when you wanted us to invest, you said there would be a return in at most two years. But five years have passed, and collectively we have lost more than 50 million in YW! Is this your promise to us shareholders?" Knowing she was in the wrong, Ai Shengnan didn’t refute his words but instead persuaded gently: "Next year, next year the company will definitely turn a profit. Selling the company at this time is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. I hope you can consider it carefully." "No need to consider. If Black Swan Group’s offer is appropriate, we will agree to the acquisition." The shareholder’s tone was firm, without a hint of hesitation. Ai Shengnan, a woman who had survived the corporate world for so many years, was no ordinary person. She immediately retorted angrily: "I currently hold 55% of the company’s shares! I am the majority shareholder with veto power; I will not agree to the acquisition agreement." Chairman Gu adjusted his glasses, the reflection on the lenses obscuring his eyes. "Chief Ai’s disagreement doesn’t matter. Our previous investment agreement stated that if the company fails to yield a return for investors, they have the right to demand the majority shareholder repurchase their shares at market price. I hold 20% of YW’s shares. Based on the company’s 600 million valuation, Chief Ai can pay me 120 million to buy back all my shares. Whether YW is acquired then will have nothing to do with me." To demand divestment and a withdrawal face-to-face was to tear the cordial facade. "I have 7% of shares. I also request Chief Ai to buy them back." Once someone took the lead, the remaining shareholders all began to pressure. Looking at this group of investors in front of her, Ai Shengnan was full of anger. With a 45% share, based on the valuation, it was worth 270 million; if she had this much money, would she be in this predicament? It turns out that YW Company was already in a financial crisis, and Gu Bai’s acquisition agreement was just the final straw that broke them. Looking at the silent Ai Shengnan, the shareholder who held 20% of the shares stood up and said coldly, "If President Ai can’t come up with the funds to buy back the shares and continues to insist on exercising your rights as the major shareholder, I will personally contact the Black Swan Group to sell my shares to them. Then you can play with the Black Swan Group by yourself." After saying that, he directly walked out of the meeting room. The other shareholders who were pressing for answers also followed suit one after another. Watching the departing shareholders, Ai Shengnan had to maintain her strong woman facade, expressionless. The assistant softly called out in front of Ai Shengnan. "You all go out first. I’ll be alone for a while." Hearing her instruction, the others in the meeting room exchanged glances and slowly walked out. In the now empty meeting room, Ai Shengnan finally shed her strong woman disguise and leaned on the conference table, struggling to hold back her emotions. "Black Swan Group..." Ai Shengnan softly murmured to herself. The scene of meeting Gu Bai at Sea View No.1 that day surfaced in her mind. That sunny, handsome young man became the last straw that broke her in less than two months. On the other side, Gu Bai, unaware that his acquisition had pushed Ai Shengnan to the brink of desperation, was strolling around Henglong Square with Yi Yiyi and Qi Man. Qi Man also did not expect that the only time Gu Bai asked her out in nearly a month, he would bring Yi Yiyi along. Furthermore, with a woman’s intuition, she clearly knew that Yi Yiyi had already been won over by Gu Bai. The atmosphere among the three was somewhat subtle. Gu Bai was fine; he was testing the waters by bringing Qi Man and Yi Yiyi out with him. Neither of them was his girlfriend, but he had been intimately involved with both. If they ended up at each other’s throats, then there was no need to do such things in the future, and he wasn’t worried about Qi Man developing any thoughts because of it. If Qi Man was uncomfortable or couldn’t accept it, then he could simply end their dealings. Gu Bai had no intention of racking his brains like an ancient emperor, trying to balance his harem of concubines. All he wanted was the blessing of having beauties around him, akin to an emperor’s fortune. As for Yi Yiyi, she would certainly not develop any ideas. Before her commitment, she was well aware of Gu Bai’s relationship with Qi Man and had already prepared herself mentally; it was just somewhat awkward to face her roommate. For Qi Man to say she completely accepted it would be impossible, but she was smart and didn’t show it. She knew Gu Bai well; if she angered Gu Bai by causing a scene over this, she would definitely be the first to be out. How to deal with Yi Yiyi afterward depended on her subsequent actions. And this was exactly the atmosphere Gu Bai wanted to see most. Yi Yiyi clung to Gu Bai’s left arm, while Qi Man, unwilling to be outdone, wrapped her arm around Gu Bai’s right, drawing envious looks from passersby. Two top beauties, each with a distinct style—one a sweet young girl, the other a mature woman. Yet both were attached to one man, a dream for many men... For the rest of the day, Gu Bai wandered through luxury brand stores with the two. Since Qi Man and Yi Yiyi were willing to compromise and coexist peacefully, he naturally wanted to make it up to them. There was no way Gu Bai would spend time and effort coaxing them; as his business empire slowly expanded, even his 20 billion was almost insufficient now. But the money spent on the two women was merely a drop in the bucket. A playboy relies on high-end tactics to deceive those women. Gu Bai no longer needed that. The operation was merely spending more money; if money could ensure his women coexisted harmoniously, it was the simplest solution for him. Suddenly, a stunning figure emerged in his mind. That pure white figure far away in the Celestial Province. Since returning to Shanghai, it seemed he hadn’t talked to Yan Shen. He should find an opportunity to nurture that relationship, as he couldn’t let a 101-star beauty slip through to someone else.