Chapter 72: The Second Wave of Assault

Facing Wei Jiacheng’s words, Wei Xueying could only nod repeatedly in agreement. The pressure of two billion was immense, but her focus now was on her father’s surgery. She understood that even with the medical experts from Eagleland, the operation could only reduce the risks—it could never guarantee complete success.

Before the operation, she dared not bring up anything that might agitate Wei Jiacheng; after all, it was this very two billion that had caused her father’s cerebral hemorrhage and stroke in the first place.

“Mr. Wei, it’s time for your surgery.” Two nurses in pale green uniforms entered through the door.

“Dad, just focus on your surgery. Tomorrow, I’ll have a good talk with Lu Siyuan. No matter what, I’ll do my best to secure this partnership,” Wei Xueying said, hoping to ease her father’s worries as the surgery time approached.

“It’s not just doing your best—you must secure this deal. Last time, with the Shangjiang Business Alliance, their terms were too harsh; you failed to win it, and I don’t blame you,” Wei Jiacheng paused, then continued, “But for Lushi Group, I spoke with Lu Changyun over the phone, and their terms seem reasonable. So you have to make it happen.”

While Wei Jiacheng spoke, the two nurses had already started moving him onto the stretcher.

But he didn’t stop talking. “Xueying, don’t give up on Swan Group until the very last moment. You must believe that Swan Group can survive this.”

“All right, all right,” Wei Xueying nodded repeatedly. Though she didn’t quite agree with her father’s desperate search for sponsors, she shared his determination to never give up on Swan Group.

Even if she was preparing to package and sell the company, it didn’t mean she’d truly abandoned it. That stubbornness, inherited from her father, was in her bones.

Following her father’s stretcher, Wei Xueying sat down on a chair outside the operating room.

Hua Tianyu had been silent throughout, listening and piecing together the threads of the entire affair.

If Wei Xueying and her father had every reason to never give up on Swan International, then Hua Tianyu, for the sake of Dragon Soul’s revenge and the perfect gene evolution technology, also had every reason to help Swan International through this crisis.

When only he and Wei Xueying remained in the corridor outside the operating room, Hua Tianyu finally spoke: “Can you tell me what exactly is going on with the two billion funding shortfall?”

Two billion was no small sum. Without understanding the ins and outs, it was hard for Hua Tianyu to know how to help.

Wei Xueying sat upright for a long while before she began, “It’s a long story. It starts more than two years ago.”

“That’s all right, go ahead. You’ve been carrying this two billion problem alone for too long. Once you’ve told me, maybe I can help.” Hua Tianyu’s tone was gentle.

A fleeting smile crossed Wei Xueying’s face. She took his words as a bit of comfort. Waiting for her father’s surgery, she might as well chat with him to pass the time.

“Over two years ago, Shu Yue publicly published a paper on perfect gene technology, revealing part of our group’s research findings.”

“The purpose was to attract the attention of some consortiums and investors, since continuing our biotechnology research required huge investments.”

“Though Swan Group was profitable in many areas, diverting large sums into this field would have severely strained our financial system and jeopardized our cash flow.”

Hua Tianyu listened intently, sensing the crux of the matter was near.

“As expected, Shu Yue’s paper drew attention from several consortiums, the most prominent being Ximen Investment Group, part of the Jiuzhou United Investment Fund.”

At the mention of Ximen Investment Group, Wei Xueying took a deep breath. She felt a sense of powerlessness regarding Ximen Investment.

She continued, “Ximen Investment’s intended amount was one billion, promising funds would be in place within three months. At the time, no other consortium could match the amount or the speed with which Ximen could provide funds. So after much deliberation, my father and I chose to partner with them.”

She paused for a long time after speaking, for what came next was what had driven Swan Group into dire straits—something neither she nor her father had foreseen.

Hua Tianyu didn’t hurry her; he could tell from her expression that these memories were painful.

“But Ximen Investment had two additional conditions. The first was that they wanted ten percent of Swan Group’s shares. That’s not an unusual term; many investment companies acquire shares in growing businesses as part of their investment strategy.”

“Besides, at that time, Swan Group’s scale was far from one hundred billion, so selling ten percent for a billion wasn’t a bad deal for us.”

“And the second condition?” Hua Tianyu asked. Ten percent equity wouldn’t lead to a two billion funding gap; the real issue must lie in the second condition.

“The second condition was a profit guarantee. It’s not very common, but not unheard of either.”

“A profit guarantee?” Hua Tianyu, a soldier-king, wasn’t well-versed in business jargon; this was his first time hearing the term.

“Yes, a profit guarantee,” Wei Xueying sighed and explained, “It means that within two years, if Swan Group achieves the profit target set by Ximen Investment, they’ll invest another billion, taking only five percent more of our shares.”

“In other words, they’d invest two billion in total for fifteen percent of our shares. By any measure, that was a great deal for us.”

“And if you failed to meet the target?” The most dangerous cake is always the most tempting one—the old saying never lies.

“If we failed, we would have to buy back their initial one billion investment for two billion.”

Wei Xueying pressed her forehead as she finished the sentence.

With these words, Hua Tianyu finally understood the origin of Swan Group’s two billion problem.

No wonder he always sensed a subtle sorrow beneath Wei Xueying’s stunning beauty.

There was such a story behind Swan Group, a situation likely known only to a select few within the company; even Wang Hong was completely unaware.

Perhaps Liang Hui knew? But given his relationship with her, it was impossible she would have told him.

Still, though he now understood the source of the two billion problem, Hua Tianyu had a few more questions for Wei Xueying.