Chapter 193
The plan was proceeding smoothly.
After conducting due diligence and confirming the potential of the high-quality oil fields I had provided, Haixin Group had contacted Wang Jin-hee’s secret company.
The first stage, convincing Wang Hao, and the second stage, persuading Haixin Group, were complete. All that was left was to let Wang Hao enjoy the profits from the initial investment and then dump the worthless oil fields on him.
But I couldn’t shake off my unease. “It’s too smooth.” A major corporation like Haixin Group, entering a new and risky industry like energy development with such a large investment, without any hesitation?
I paced back and forth, muttering, “Of course, some businesses require risky investments. But those are usually small companies with growth potential, not established giants like Haixin Group.”
The more you had to lose, the more cautious you became. Why would a company with a stable and profitable business engage in a high-risk, high-return gamble?
That’s why I had prepared so many incentives: detailed geological surveys, research papers on energy development… I had planned to gradually convince Wang Hao and Haixin Group through Oh Xiang. But they had jumped in headfirst, even before I had presented all my evidence. “This is strange. Too strange.”
There had to be another factor influencing their decision. “Damn it, what is it?”
The key question was, “What’s their motive?” What were they hoping to gain from this investment? “Am I overthinking this? Maybe they were already considering investing in energy development, so it was an easy decision.” But I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was amiss. Just then, Wang Jin-hee entered the room. “What are you doing?”
She had moved into my Shenzhen mansion for convenience and to maintain the appearance of a close relationship, as we were now openly engaged in a power struggle against her brothers. “I’m just… feeling uneasy.”
She shook her head. “You’re still worried about that? Everything is going according to plan. What’s the problem? It’s good that they’re so eager.”
I couldn’t explain my intuition to her, so I just kept my concerns to myself. It was frustrating. “The secret company contacted me. They want to buy the oil fields.”
“Is… that so?” She seemed surprised by my lack of enthusiasm.
“You’re really acting strange. This is the first time I’ve seen you so hesitant. Anyway, I told them to offer 200 million dollars and try to finalize the deal at around 150 million dollars,” she said with a sigh.
The actual value of the high-quality oil fields we had offered as bait was over 200 million dollars. They were guaranteed to make a profit even if they immediately resold them after acquiring them for 150 million dollars. “Alright.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, don’t worry.”
I couldn’t back out now, after all the preparations, and Wang Jin-hee wouldn’t tolerate it either.
I would proceed cautiously and meticulously.
“Alright, thank you,” she said, and after she left, I immediately called Li Yang. – Li Yang speaking.
“Director Li, mobilize all our resources and keep a close eye on Wang Hao, Wang Chen, and the Haixin Group executives. Everything they do, everyone they meet.”
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But you said we should be discreet…
The closer we got, the greater the risk of exposure. I had instructed them to be discreet, but I couldn’t ignore my unease.
“Are your informants reliable?”
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Of course.
“Good. Tell them to prioritize gathering information, even if it means taking risks. I want to know everything.” My Baek In-hwi squad was organized into a cell structure. The field agents only knew their direct superiors and were unaware of the organization’s true size or purpose.
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Yes, sir.
I hung up the phone and muttered with a grim expression, “I hope I’m just being paranoid…”
Despite my unease, Haixin Group’s foray into energy development was progressing smoothly. And Wang Hao, leading the acquisition, had achieved a significant victory.
“HAHAHAHA! See, Father? What did I tell you?!”
The oil field he had acquired from Wang Jin-hee’s secret company for $150 million was generating an annual profit of $20 million. It would pay for itself in eight years, and they could even resell it later, like real estate. A guaranteed profit. That’s why companies were so eager to invest in energy development, despite the high risk of failure. High risk, high return.
And Wang Hao was currently enjoying the peak of high return.
His father nodded with a satisfied smile. “Well done, son. I’m proud of you.”
“We have to expand our business. This is the perfect opportunity! Energy is our future! We have a responsibility, as a leading Chinese company, to become a global energy giant!” Everyone applauded his grand declaration.
And I joined in, offering my congratulations. “That’s excellent news, congratulations.” He had been frowning at me, but now he said with a smug expression, “Thank you. But how much can you make from selling used goods? A 1% profit margin? Energy development is where the real money is. This is what a real man does. Why waste time on pennies?”
I ignored him and said to his father, “Chairman.”
“Yes, son-in-law?”
“I’m sorry to be a wet blanket, but energy development is not as easy as it seems. You might have been lucky this time, but…” I had a reason for objecting, despite supporting this project behind the scenes. By playing the role of a naysayer, I could reinforce his belief that he was on the right path. He would think I was just trying to sabotage him, not offering genuine advice.
“I acquired Daehoo Energy along with Daehoo Electronics, and it was in a terrible state, riddled with debt from failed projects. We’ve sold off most of the non-performing assets, but it still required a massive investment to normalize the company. The potential rewards of energy development are high, but the risks are even higher. You should proceed with caution…” Wang Hao interrupted me. “Of course there are risks! But you can minimize them with proper research and information! Father, you’ve seen the results!”
His father nodded. “Thank you for your concern, son-in-law, but I’m not worried.”
What? He was also optimistic? I had expected him to agree with my concerns and then use that to persuade Wang Hao to be more cautious. But his reaction was unexpected. “I’ve done my research. Hao is right. With reliable information, you can minimize the risks.”
My eyes narrowed at their words. ‘They’re both confident in the information they have.’ My unease was justified. They were receiving information from someone about energy development, and they trusted that source implicitly. ‘This is not good…’ If they were receiving accurate information from an expert, they might be able to identify the worthless oil fields I was planning to sell them.
I forced a smile. “Ah, reliable information, you say?”
Wang Hao puffed out his chest. “Of course! It’s the best information in China!” His father nodded in agreement.
Wang Jin-hee, who was sitting next to me, also looked worried. She had also realized the implications for our plan.
I licked my lips, thinking, ‘I’ll have to find another way if this doesn’t work.’ The key was for them to trust the information I was providing. Give them a taste of success, and then quickly dump the worthless assets on them. But if they were also receiving information from another source, they would be torn between the two, and it would complicate the plan.
“Would you like some help, son-in-law?” Chairman Wang said, as if he was about to introduce me to his source. Wang Hao immediately objected. “Father! He’s our competitor! Information is crucial in this industry, especially in the energy sector! We can’t share it with Daehoo Energy, not at this stage.” His father hesitated and then said apologetically, “I’m sorry, son-in-law, but Haixin Energy is our priority right now. Please understand.”
“Of course, I understand. Hahaha.” I was disappointed, but I couldn’t do anything about it. “But we should still meet, shouldn’t we? I heard she’s arriving soon.”
Meet who?
I looked at Wang Jin-hee, who also seemed confused.
The butler approached Chairman Wang. “She’s here, sir.”
“Oh, is she? Bring her in.”
I waited nervously, wondering who this reliable expert was. And then the door opened, and my eyes widened. A beautiful woman with long, straight hair, a delicate nose, and clear, bright eyes entered the room. Wang Jin-hee was also beautiful, and I had seen many attractive women among my heihaizi, but this woman was the most beautiful I had ever seen.
I stared at her, mesmerized, as she walked towards us, the clicking of her high heels echoing through the room. Then I suddenly realized what I was doing and snapped out of it. ‘Damn it!’ Staring at another woman in front of my wife, especially at her family’s house… I had no excuse.
I turned to apologize to Wang Jin-hee, but she wasn’t looking at me. She was staring at the woman, her face a mask of shock.
“It’s been a while,” Chairman Wang said.
The woman smiled brightly. “Yes, it has.”
“How have you been?”
“Very well. How did it go?”
“It went well. Thanks to your advice, we made a significant profit. It was worth over $200 million.”
The oil field? This woman was his source of information? She seemed too delicate and innocent for such a rough and tumble industry. He suddenly seemed to remember my presence and said, “This is your first time meeting my son-in-law, isn’t it? He’s a busy man, and I rarely see him myself, but he happened to be free today, so I thought I’d introduce you. Say hello.”
And then I heard Wang Jin-hee whisper,
“Sister?”
Sister?
The woman waved at her. “Jin-hee, it’s been a while. Five years since my wedding?” Her sister? The one she had talked about, the one who had been forced into a strategic marriage? The one she had vowed never to become? “Nice to meet you, brother-in-law. I’m Jin-hee’s older sister.”
Chairman Wang said with a proud smile, “This is my eldest daughter, Wang Jin-mi. Her husband is an executive at China National Petroleum Corporation, a state-owned company, and his father is a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. She’s the one who provided the information about the oil field.”
Ah, that explained everything.
Of course, they would trust the information from his eldest daughter, married to the son of a powerful politician and an oil company executive.
She smiled brightly. “Brother-in-law, I look forward to getting to know you.”
My unease vanished instantly, replaced by a sudden surge of alarm.
“Brother-in-law?” she asked, tilting her head, seeing my silence. She was different from Wang Jin-hee. I had sensed her ruthlessness, her ambition. But this woman…
I gulped. “N-nice to meet you.”
“Let’s get along,” she said with a smile.
This was more than just a potential setback for my plan. I had dismissed her as a victim of a strategic marriage, an insignificant figure. But my intuition was screaming,
‘She’s dangerous.’