CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 214: CHAOS OF WAR, THE FINAL RUSH_3

But he had never anticipated that the other party’s appetite would be so immense.

Since its establishment, Baise Entertainment had grown stronger, and with multiple rounds of financing, the number of shareholders had become quite numerous. However, most of the shares were controlled by a few long-standing shareholders, such as himself and Jiang Wangtao. Unfortunately, Jiang Wangtao, who was initially brought in merely as a manager, held a small stake, never exceeding 5% in total. Ye Zhonghuai, on the other hand, controlled 23% of the shares.

Entertainment companies, unlike internet businesses, didn’t typically employ dual-class share structures or similar arrangements separating ownership from control. Generally, shares directly translated to voting rights.

Previously, with the company rapidly expanding and Jiang Wangtao’s capabilities satisfying the board of directors, he had been allowed to continue serving as a director. But as Ye Zhonghuai’s dissatisfaction with him intensified, Ye Zhonghuai naturally made it a priority to oust him. However, most people in the company supported Jiang Wangtao. After all, who wouldn’t like a leader who could make them money?

Left with no other choice, Ye Zhonghuai could only bring in external forces. Taking advantage of Jiang Wangtao’s hospitalization, he privately contacted potential sellers and poured money into acquiring shares. The source of these funds was, of course, Derek, the man standing before him.

But was his money so easily obtained?

To cover for his son’s mistakes, Ye Zhonghuai had already spent a considerable amount of his savings. Add to that Derek’s ambition and Habes’s strategic maneuvers, and naturally, the vast majority of the shares fell into Habes’s hands.

After a series of maneuvers, Ye Zhonghuai’s shareholding settled at 19.2%, while Jiang Wangtao’s plummeted to a mere 1.3%. The shares of other stakeholders were either acquired or similarly diluted.

Habes now directly held over 40% of the company’s equity.

Now, Derek was demanding 10% of the shares, his objective self-evident. If Derek succeeded in obtaining those shares, the consequences were all too predictable. Although not an absolute controlling stake, anything over 51% would give Habes the power to manipulate the entire board of directors.

By then, would there even be a question of who called the shots at Baise Entertainment?

On the surface, there were two choices, but in reality, there was only one path. In the event of failure, he would become the first sacrifice. No matter which option he chose, he would be forced from his comfortable chairman’s seat, reduced to obediently following Derek like a loyal hound.

But did he truly have a choice now?

Choosing not to proceed meant the massive investments already made would be lost; forgoing this opportunity would essentially render all his previous efforts worthless. The company was already resentful of his ousting of Jiang Wangtao. If this venture also failed, tarnishing his record further, any future attempts at development would be fraught with difficulty. After all, Jiang Wangtao was no pushover. Did Ye Zhonghuai truly believe it had been simple for Jiang Wangtao to lead the company to its current success? While a direct power grab might be a long shot for Jiang Wangtao, making things exceedingly uncomfortable for Ye Zhonghuai would be easy.

Choosing to proceed offered slim chances of success, and failure would leave him with no way out.

Ye Zhonghuai was caught in extreme turmoil.

"Dear Ye, you don’t need to rush your answer. I can give you time to think..."

"But I don’t have time!"

Perhaps due to the immense pressure, Ye Zhonghuai became somewhat hysterical. But he quickly composed himself.

"Sorry..."

"No! You don’t need to apologize. This is already the third time you’ve said sorry, Ye. I just need a simple answer—yes or no. I don’t want to hear anything else!"

"..."

"Alright, Mr. Derek, I choose the second option. I want to try again!"

"OK, OK, I respect your choice. So, please go back and get ready. I will have someone cooperate with you."

Exiting the Meijia Building, Ye Zhonghuai appeared somewhat dazed, yet his eyes held no confusion, only the bloodshot intensity of a desperate gambler.

"Xu Qingqiu... Jiang Wangtao!"