12dz Chapter 903: Continue Searching
Chapter 903: Continue Searching
An Yu sat in a leather chair in Antai Technology's top-floor office, her fingertips tracing the list of debts spread out on her desk, the edges of the paper fuzzy from her unconscious twisting. Outside, the sky had darkened, the neon lights of the city streaming in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, yet they barely illuminated her eyes. The densely packed list of numbers was like a death warrant, from payments to suppliers to bank loans to liquidated damages demanded by partners. Each item was enough to crush the company her father had founded.
"Mr. An, the last batch of equipment from the Chengdong warehouse has been loaded. The buyer said they'll be paying tonight, which will probably cover the three million owed to Hongyuan Building Materials." Assistant Xiao Chen pushed open the door and entered, his voice thick with fatigue. He had worked with An's father for years, watching Antai Technology grow from a small workshop to a major player in the industry. His current state of affairs pained him more than anyone else.
An Yu nodded, her voice a little hoarse. "Got it. Have the finance department keep a close eye on it. Transfer the money to Hongyuan as soon as it arrives. Don't let them come to us to ask for it anymore." She paused, then added, "Also, apologize to the old warehouse employees and give them the highest severance pay possible. Don't let them suffer any injustice."
Xiao Chen replied "Okay", and when he turned around, he hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help but say, "Mr. An, actually... if Mr. Teng is willing to help, we don't have to sell so many things."
At the mention of Teng Zijing, An Yu's eyes darkened. Ever since she was released from the detention center three days ago, Teng Zijing had been by her side, helping her deal with the mess left by the closure of Antai Technology. He hadn't mentioned any help, but he had quietly arranged for a team of lawyers to sort out all the legal disputes and even helped her fend off many creditors who came to collect their debts. But An Yu knew that the more Teng Zijing acted like this, the less she could rely on him - Antai Technology was the An family's hard work, and she couldn't let it become a reason for her to rely on Teng Zijing.
After Xiao Chen left, silence returned to the office. An Yu stood up and walked to the French window, watching the endless stream of cars below. A huge weight weighed on her heart. She recalled her father when he first started the company. Back then, he'd leave early and return late every day, his hands always smelling of motor oil, yet he always told her, "Xiao Yu, An Tai must be the most reliable company. We owe no one a penny, and we never owe anyone a favor." But now, she had to sell off assets to pay off her debts. Even her father's most prized machine tool, imported from Germany, had been sold to a competitor at a low price.
"What are you thinking about?" A familiar voice came from the doorway as Teng Zijing walked in, carrying a thermos bag. He was wearing a casual black sweater today, looking less aggressive and more gentle than usual. "Didn't you have dinner? I asked my aunt to make your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and vegetable porridge."
An Yu turned around and forced a smile: "Why are you here? Didn't you say you had an important meeting tonight?"
"You're more important than anything else." Teng Zijing placed the thermos bag on the coffee table and opened the lid. Steam instantly filled the air, carrying the aroma of food. He pulled An Yu to sit on the sofa and handed her the bowl and chopsticks. "Let's eat first. We can talk after dinner if there's anything else."
An Yu took the bowl and chopsticks, but she had no appetite. She looked at the sweet and sour pork ribs in the bowl, remembering that every time she was in a bad mood, her father would make this for her, and her eyes suddenly reddened.
Teng Zijing noticed something was wrong with her and reached out to gently wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes. His voice softened, "Are you still thinking about the company?"
An Yu nodded, her voice tinged with tears, "Zijing, I've sold almost everything Dad left behind, but it's still not enough to pay off my debts. Am I really useless?"
"Don't say that." Teng Zijing held her hand, the warmth of his palm passing through his fingertips, making An Yu feel a little more at ease. "You've done a great job. If it were someone else, they would have panicked in the face of such a big thing, but you're still insisting on repaying your debts and thinking about your employees' severance pay. That's much better than many people."
An Yu lowered her head, tears dripping into the bowl, creating a small splash. She knew Teng Zijing was trying to comfort her, but the pressure of reality was too real to be solved with just a few words of comfort.
Teng Zijing was silent for a moment, then, as if he had made up his mind, he said, "An'er, I have some overseas assets under my name, as well as an energy project agreement I previously signed with Europe. If I liquidate these, it would be enough to pay off all of Antai's debts and get the company up and running again."
An Yi suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of shock: "What did you say? No, absolutely not!" She knew how important the assets that Teng Zijing mentioned were. He had been eyeing that energy project for three years before he got it. How could he give up just because of Antai Technology?
"I know what you're thinking." Teng Zijing interrupted her, looking at her firmly. "I'm not helping you, I'm investing. Antai Technology has a solid foundation and is just experiencing temporary difficulties. With an injection of capital, it will recover quickly. Besides," he paused, a subtle tenderness in his voice, "you are the person I want to spend my life with. Your business is my business. I don't want to see you suffer so much."
"But that's your hard work!" An's voice was a little excited. "I saw how much you invested in that energy project. You spent a month in Russia last winter to negotiate it and almost froze yourself. How could I ask you to give up your own career for An Tai?"
"You can start a new career if you lose it, but you only have one." Teng Zijing's tone was serious, without a trace of joking. "Besides, I believe in your ability and the potential of Antai Technology. If you're willing, I can always have the financial team come over to coordinate and transfer the funds to Antai's account."
An Yu looked into Teng Zijing's eyes, those always sharp ones now filled with care and support. She was deeply moved, but her mind told her she couldn't do this. Antai Technology was the An family's responsibility, and she had to shoulder it herself without dragging Teng Zijing into it.
She took a deep breath and slowly shook her head: "Zijing, thank you. Thank you so much for helping me, but I can't accept it."
Teng Zijing frowned, as if he didn't expect her to refuse: "An Yu, don't be polite to me——"
"I'm not being polite," An Yu interrupted him, a hint of stubbornness in her eyes. "I know you're doing this for my own good, but An Tai is my father's hard work, and I have to find a way to keep it. If I rely on your money to save it, then An Tai won't be the same An Tai anymore, and I'd be letting my father down."
She paused, tightened her grip on Teng Zijing's hand, and softened her tone. "I know things are difficult right now, but I still have some client resources. The cooperation I previously discussed with the southern side has only been put on hold. I'll try again, and maybe there will be a turnaround. Even if I really can't save An Tai in the end, I want to face it with dignity, rather than relying on others' help."
Teng Zijing looked at her determined eyes, feeling both distressed and proud. He knew An Yu's temper. Once she made a decision, she would not change it easily. He was silent for a while, then sighed: "Okay, I respect your decision."
An Yu was a little surprised. She thought Teng Zijing would persuade her again, but she didn't expect him to agree so quickly.
"However," Teng Zijing changed the subject, his eyes brimming with seriousness that brooked no refusal, "you can't handle this alone. If you encounter a problem you can't solve, you must tell me immediately. You are not allowed to hide it from me. Also, you are not allowed to go without food or sleep like you did the past few days. If your health collapses, what good will it do to save your life?"
An Yu looked at his worried expression, her heart warmed, and she nodded: "Okay, I promise you."
Teng Zijing smiled, picked up the spoon, scooped a spoonful of vegetable porridge and handed it to her mouth: "Then eat first, the porridge is getting cold."
An Yu opened her mouth and drank the porridge. The warm porridge slid down her throat and warmed her heart. She looked at Teng Zijing and suddenly felt that no matter how difficult the future was, as long as he was by her side, she would have the courage to face it all.
After dinner, Teng Zijing spent some time with An Yu sorting out client documents before driving her home. The car stopped downstairs at An Yu's house. Teng Zijing watched her get out and said, "Go upstairs and get some rest. I'll accompany you to the south tomorrow to discuss cooperation."
An Yu was stunned for a moment: "Don't you need to take care of your own business?"
"My business is not as important as yours." Teng Zijing said with a smile, "Besides, I also want to see how my girlfriend negotiated the cooperation, so I can learn from her experience."
An Yu was amused by him and nodded: "Okay, see you tomorrow."
Only after watching An Yu walk into the hallway did Teng Zijing drive away. He had already arranged for someone to contact the client in the south, and the other party had already agreed. As long as An Yu went to discuss the details, the cooperation would basically be finalized. He didn't tell An Yu because he didn't want her to feel dependent on him. He wanted An Yu to win back what belonged to her through her own abilities, and he would protect her from her sight.
An Yu returned home, turned on the lights, and looked at the empty house. She no longer felt as lonely as before. She went to the study, took out her father's photo, gently wiped the dust off it, and whispered, "Dad, I will work hard and will definitely keep An Tai. I won't let you down."
The neon lights outside the window still flickered, but this time, Anyu's eyes lit up. She knew the road ahead was long and full of challenges, but she was no longer afraid—for she knew someone would always be there for her, supporting her and facing every storm with her. And Antai Technology, like a small ember, would surely reignite as long as there was hope.