Rebirth of the Scumbag and the Retribution of the White Lotus

The morning sun streamed through the curtains. Zhao Shufang sat by the study window, a new business plan in hand. Her gaze was deep, and her mind was reminiscing about their conversation yesterday. She knew Shen Yu wouldn't let her go easily. Every proposal he made was full of tentativeness, especially the one about future cooperation. Shen Yu was a business genius, appearing gentle on the surface, but possessing a deep mind. She knew that if Shen Yu decided she was no longer a pawn under his control, he would surely increase the pressure on her.

"If Shen Yu can really take down the Zhao family, then wouldn't our partnership become his pawns again?" Zhao Shufang muttered to herself, feeling uneasy. She needed to make a decision, and this decision would not only affect her own future, but also the fate of the entire Zhao family behind her.

At this time, Zhao Yongkang walked into the room and saw Zhao Shufang looking down at a document. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke: "Shufang, Shen Yu will be here today. How do you plan to respond to him?"

Zhao Shufang looked up at her father, a hint of calmness in her eyes. "Dad, we can't drag this on any longer. Although Shen Yu's plan has advantages, he never helps us unconditionally. I think our cooperation has reached a fork in the road, and it's time to make a choice."

Zhao Yongkang sighed. "I understand what you mean. If Shen Yu can help us regain our footing, it would be a good opportunity for the Zhao family's future. But if we rely entirely on him, I'm afraid we will be controlled by others."

Zhao Shufang nodded: "That's right, so I plan to propose our own conditions."

She paused, her eyes sharpening. "Shen Yu does have power, but we can't just be passive recipients. We need to let him know that the Zhao family is not his vassal, but an independent entity capable of controlling the situation."

Zhao Yongkang was speechless for a moment. He was obviously surprised by Zhao Shufang's idea, and also felt a little worried. "Shufang, you're moving too fast. Shen Yu's strength should not be underestimated. If you do this, he might turn around and join forces with Li Xin to launch a pincer attack on us."

A glint of determination flashed in Zhao Shufang's eyes. "Dad, there's no turning back. If we continue to be conservative, the Zhao family will always have to fight behind others' backs. I don't want to see the Zhao family being held hostage by these people anymore."

Zhao Yongkang was silent for a moment, then finally lowered his head. "Okay, since you've made up your mind, I support you. But remember to be prudent and don't let things get out of hand."

Zhao Shufang smiled slightly, her eyes firm: "Don't worry, I will know how to handle it."

Zhao Shufang arrived at Shen Yu's office on time. Shen Yu was already sitting at the table, holding a document in his hand, as if waiting for her arrival. Seeing her come in, Shen Yu smiled: "Miss Zhao, you are on time. You are really a punctual person."

Zhao Shufang nodded gently and sat down at the table. "Mr. Shen, I've looked over your plan and feel that some areas need adjustment. Especially regarding the flow of funds and resource allocation, I have some different opinions."

Shen Yu frowned slightly, obviously not expecting Zhao Shufang to make such a straightforward suggestion: "Oh? What do you think, Miss Zhao?"

Zhao Shufang unfolded the document in her hand and pointed to one item. "In your proposed plan, the flow of funds is too concentrated in certain areas, which will greatly reduce our flexibility later on. Furthermore, the government approval process is too complicated. If we rely entirely on these resources, our plan progress will be significantly affected."

Shen Yu looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "You've indeed made careful preparations. I understand your concerns. We can try to make some adjustments in the allocation of funds."

Zhao Shufang nodded and continued, "Beyond that, I think we can increase our investment in technology and the market. If we put more resources into technological research and development, we will not only enhance our competitiveness but also gain more government support. I hope Mr. Shen can consider this."

Shen Yu put down the documents in his hand and looked at her seriously. "Ms. Zhao, I know you are not simply making suggestions, but have given them thorough consideration. I admire your vision."

Zhao Shufang smiled faintly: "Cooperation is mutual. Only when everyone benefits from it can it go on for a long time."

Shen Yu paused, his eyes darkening as if he were weighing something. He was silent for a moment, then finally spoke, "Ms. Zhao's proposal is unique. I will consider your suggestion. We can try to optimize it in terms of funding and resources."

Zhao Shufang breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't show any sign of relief. "Mr. Shen, I hope we can reach a more clear agreement in our future cooperation."

Shen Yu smiled, a hint of deep meaning in his eyes: "Miss Zhao, what you want is definitely more than just this. What you want is probably far more than just a business cooperation, right?"

Zhao Shufang was taken aback for a moment, but then she regained her composure. "Mr. Shen, your observation is very sharp. I do have a suggestion, which is that we should maintain our independence while maintaining cooperation. The Zhao family does not want to be controlled by any party, but rather hopes to maintain the dominant position in the cooperation."

Shen Yu looked at her, seemingly pondering the feasibility of this proposal. After a moment, he nodded gently, "I understand. Miss Zhao hopes to maintain cooperation while protecting the independence of the Zhao family. I can accept this."

Zhao Shufang breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank you, Mr. Shen, for your understanding. I believe that our cooperation will be even smoother."

Shen Yu chuckled. "No rush, Miss Zhao. We still need to discuss the next steps step by step. I believe we can reach a consensus."

Zhao Shufang stood up and nodded politely: "Thank you, Mr. Shen. I also look forward to our further cooperation."

As she left, Zhao Shufang's mood calmed, but her heart was still pounding. She knew Shen Yu wouldn't let her go easily; every small concession he made was a sign of his consideration for her. At this point, she was no longer a mere pawn, but a rival capable of standing on equal footing with Shen Yu.

Zhao Shufang walked out of Shen Yu's office, her eyes gleaming with determination. She was about to face the most crucial battle, and the outcome of this battle would determine whether the Zhao family could truly gain a foothold, and would also determine the direction of the game between her, Shen Yu, and Li Xin.

She took a deep breath and prepared herself mentally: no matter what, she must win this round.