Chapter 367: Crushing the Tyrant’s Scheme

“So, Mr. Hu, what’s your plan?” Zhou Can looked on with a playful grin.

Success comes to those who prepare; those who don’t, fail.

Ever since Zhou Can learned that Hu Haikun was plotting against him, he’d taken every precaution. Now, faced with Hu Haikun’s provocation, he barely flinched.

“Hmph. Leeches like you need to be kicked out of the company to protect everyone’s interests.”

Hu Haikun stood there, all fake righteousness, shouting for Zhou Can’s removal like he was some moral guardian.

Mr. Li, the rest of the staff—they all kept silent. Some even watched with gloating smirks, happy to see trouble.

“I own 50% of the company’s shares. You’re just an outsider, Hu. Tell me, how will you kick me out? Do you really think a bit of power puts you above the law?”

Zhou Can was genuinely curious just how sinister this man could get.

“That’s simple. Based on the market, your 50% share is worth ten million. I’ll buy it from you right now,” Hu Haikun said, raising a finger to name his price.

“So half of Jin Yu Interactive is only worth ten million?”

Zhou Can honestly hadn’t expected such a shamelessly low offer.

Given Jin Yu Interactive’s current value, it was easily worth at least a hundred million. With all its potential, that could easily double.

Only offering Zhou Can ten million? That was blatant daylight robbery.

“Don’t push your luck. Offering you ten million is already being generous. If you refuse, you might not see a single cent,” Hu Haikun threatened, brimming with confidence. He clearly thought he had every angle covered before bringing Zhou Can here.

At this point, there was no point in negotiating further.

“A mosquito boasting like a lion—that’s funny. I say no. What are you going to do about it?” Zhou Can’s smile went cold—he didn’t bother hiding his disdain.

“Looks like Dr. Zhou doesn’t know what’s good for him. You two, teach him some manners.”

Hu Haikun ordered his two bodyguards.

Both bodyguards moved in, one on each side. As they closed in, one suddenly reached for Zhou Can’s shoulder using a practiced grappling move.

This bodyguard was clearly no amateur.

His attack was fast as lightning, muscles bulging—there was real power here.

People said Hu Haikun kept a whole crew of thugs around, but his two fiercest bodyguards were Scarface and Black Dragon. Both were notorious for their violent pasts, having survived bloody fights across the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Their skills spoke for themselves.

After all, you don’t survive Southeast Asia’s worst if you’re weak.

The man grabbing at Zhou Can had to be the infamous Black Dragon.

Zhou Can grinned, showing his teeth, then struck back without hesitation.

The two traded blows so fast they blurred—Black Dragon packed more power and speed. With every clash, Zhou Can felt pain shoot through his arm.

Compared to Black Dragon, fighting was just a hobby for Zhou Can. Losing wasn’t a surprise.

Right at the critical moment, Scarface made his move.

A heavy kick lashed out, landing right on Black Dragon’s side.

Black Dragon grunted and crashed to the floor.

“Wait, did that bodyguard just attack his own partner?”

The room erupted in shock.

Both guards belonged to Hu Haikun, yet Scarface dropped Black Dragon in a single kick. If that wasn’t a blunder, what was?

“Scarface, what are you doing?”

Hu Haikun’s face darkened. His voice was cold and sharp.

Meanwhile, Zhou Can quickly pulled out a pair of handcuffs and restrained Black Dragon, twisting his arms behind his back.

He even tied up his legs with rope.

During all this, Scarface just watched, face impassive, making no move to stop Zhou Can.

Hu Haikun fumed, pounding the table and cursing loudly.

“Scarface, get in there! I pay you twenty grand a month—you’re not here to watch!” Hu Haikun finally sensed something was very wrong.

But Scarface just stared him down, silent and unmoving.

Soon enough, Zhou Can had Black Dragon tied up tight.

“So, are we ready to have a real talk now, Mr. Hu?”

Zhou Can asked with a relaxed smile.

“You’ve got some tricks, I’ll give you that. But you really think buying off Scarface after he’s been with me for over seven years is enough to win? You’re way too naive.”

Despite both of his top bodyguards falling into Zhou Can’s hands so easily, Hu Haikun was unfazed.

Men like him had survived countless storms, faced every kind of danger. Each time he walked out alive, it only made him tougher inside.

After so much tempering, Hu Haikun was steel-hearted.

“Naive? At least I’m not your age and still acting like a child. You called me a leech for owning half the company but doing no work, collecting a share each month. Then let me ask you: after scheming to kick me out and grab over 60% of the company, are you here to run a charity? Or just to line your own pockets?”

Zhou Can launched a full-on counterattack, sharp as a whip.

“Back when I started this company with Boss Li, we put up real money. Without our investments—our sweat in the early days—there never would have been a Jin Yu Interactive. Now that we’re profitable, you get jealous and try to steal it with dirty tricks? You’re not even worthy of trying.”

Zhou Can wasn’t wrong about any of that.

Making money after investing—it’s only right and fair.

He and Mr. Li planted the tree. Now that it finally bore fruit, some outsider shows up to grab the peaches and boot out the gardener? What world would allow that?

Hu Haikun took the verbal onslaught, face twisted with rage.

Bang!

He slammed his palm on the table and snarled, “You’ll see just how worthy I am soon enough!”

“Still dreaming, Mr. Hu? Evil deeds catch up to everyone. Maybe to you I’m just a nobody doctor, powerless and unimportant, but let me say this: some people are beyond your reach. Today I’m personally sending you to prison, and you’ll rot there for life.”

Zhou Can spoke with absolute confidence.

“One light can banish a thousand years of darkness. I’m that light—the one who sweeps away evil.”

Hu Haikun just sneered at Zhou Can’s threats, unfazed.

“Let me show you what my Golden Shield Security Company is really capable of! Come in here and let this kid see the truth!”

Hu Haikun shouted toward the door.

The conference room door swung open—but instead of Hu Haikun’s hired thugs, real police officers stormed in, weapons at the ready.

Not the muscle Hu Haikun expected.

“I’ve done nothing illegal! You can’t arrest me. I want to see my lawyer—our company has legal representation!” Now, Hu Haikun finally panicked.

He hadn’t considered Zhou Can would call the cops.

And for this many to show up? Clearly, this was no small case.

“Hu Haikun, you’ve been implicated in serious crimes. You’ll have to come with us for questioning.” Cold silver handcuffs clicked shut on his wrists.

The lead officer waved. “Take him away!”

Then he turned to Zhou Can with a smile. “Thank you, Mr. Zhou, for the solid evidence that helped us crack this major organized crime case. Hu Haikun was slippery—we could never pin anything on him before. But justice always catches up; this time, he’s done for and will face the full power of the law.”

Both Black Dragon and Scarface, tied up on the floor, were arrested too.

Outside, all of Hu Haikun’s ‘security guards’—every last one—were hauled away.

Under the name Golden Shield Security Company, he’d employed nearly two hundred ‘guards.’ On the surface, they were legitimate, but they were really his enforcers, helping him commit all sorts of crimes.

Now, they were all rounded up in one massive sweep.

“Scarface, why’d you betray me? How much did that kid Zhou pay you?” Even after his arrest, Hu Haikun couldn’t let it go.

Scarface just spared Hu Haikun a cold glance, then turned to Zhou Can.

“Mr. Zhou, thank you for saving my life that morning. Thank you for convincing me to turn my life around—to become someone useful to society.”

Everything in this world happens for a reason.

Zhou Can saved Scarface by accident that day, never expecting any return.

But Scarface had tracked him down to thank him. Only then did Zhou Can learn Scarface worked for Hu Haikun, and that the incident in the river wasn’t some accident.

Someone had set it up—someone wanted Scarface dead.

Scarface still wasn’t sure, but he suspected Hu Haikun wanted him silenced because he knew too much.

Zhou Can gave him guidance, pointing the way out of his criminal life.

Scarface agreed to turn over a new leaf and help Zhou Can bring down the cancer that was Hu Haikun.

After that, things got simple: with Mr. Li and others, they coordinated from the inside, luring Hu Haikun in.

“Scar, do your time and come out clean. I’ll get you an honest job. You can be a stand-up man and never worry about Hu Haikun coming after you again.”

Zhou Can promised him.

With someone as skilled as Scarface, once he’s straightened out, he could work as a company bodyguard—protecting their high-profile talent.

He could even train other bodyguards, building a solid security team.

“So… was it truly Hu Haikun who tried to kill me that time?”

Scarface trembled after Zhou Can spoke.

“Hu Wei, tell Scarface the truth!”

Zhou Can glanced at Hu Wei, who had already defected to Hu Haikun.

Handcuffed and in police custody, Hu Haikun’s eyes went wide with disbelief.

“You… You all betrayed me—for this Zhou kid? What could he possibly offer you?”

Hu Haikun was consumed by frustration and confusion.

“Dr. Zhou is the man I respect most. Watch your words!” Hu Wei looked at Zhou Can with deep respect—clearly full of admiration.

“But you’re my godson… Why would you choose a doctor over me?” Hu Haikun roared.

Hu Wei ignored him and turned to Scarface. “Remember during the attack—did you feel dizzy, like you had no strength?”

“Yes!”

Scarface nodded.

“That was because Hu Haikun drugged you. He knew you were hard to beat, so he dosed you to sap your strength. That way, his men could take you down before you could even fight back.”

Hu Wei really lived up to being Hu Haikun’s godson—he’d uncovered even that secret.

Scarface’s body trembled again as he stared at the now awkward-looking Hu Haikun.

“So it really was you.”

Just four words, but each was like a knife.

No matter what sentence Hu Haikun got, if he ever got out, Scarface would never let him go.

What he needed to worry about now was whether Scarface would deal with him inside prison.

Soon, everyone involved in the crimes was taken away by police.

Hu Wei went with them.

He’d spread nasty rumors about Su Qianqian online, something Zhou Can could never forgive. For a traitor like Hu Wei, prison was the only fit.

“Let’s get back to the meeting! Usually, I run things around here, but since President Zhou is here today, let’s all hear a few words from him.”

Mr. Li looked at Zhou Can with newfound respect.

That was different from before.

He knew just how many tricks Hu Haikun had up his sleeve. Until now, he thought Zhou Can had no option but to go along quietly.

Because honestly, Hu Haikun seemed unstoppable.

Not just because of his army of thugs, but because he had legal ways to snatch away Zhou Can’s shares.

If all else failed, he could have bankrupted Jin Yu Interactive and set up a new company with the same team—a classic bait-and-switch.

Faced with someone that powerful, it seemed hopeless. Yet, in less than twenty minutes, Zhou Can had the police sweep them all up.

Judging by how things looked, the best-case scenario for Hu Haikun was life in prison.

Most likely, he’d be given the death penalty.

After all, Hu Haikun had blood on his hands—his crimes were as foul as they were numerous.

Meanwhile, Zhou Can still looked as easygoing as ever—just a sharp, confident young man.

Who would’ve guessed, in a blink, Zhou Can tore out Hu Haikun’s rotten roots?

His decisive methods and absolute control had Mr. Li looking at him in a whole new light.

Before, Mr. Li split the company evenly with Zhou Can out of friendship.

He never said it, but he’d always thought Zhou Can was getting the better deal—though he’d given willingly.

Seeing Zhou Can’s skills today changed all that.

Mr. Li now regarded Zhou Can as his true equal—in strength and status.

And so came his new sense of respect and awe.

Gathering evidence, turning someone like Hu Wei, getting deadly thugs to switch sides… Zhou Can achieved what ordinary people never could.

“Most of you already know me! Honestly, I’ve been a hands-off boss, leaving most of the work to Mr. Li. So here and now, I want to thank him.”

Zhou Can looked at Mr. Li with genuine gratitude.

“Haha! President Zhou might slack off day-to-day, but when it counts, he delivers. If not for his planning, Hu Haikun would’ve taken over the company. That would’ve been a disaster.”

Mr. Li laughed heartily, not daring to take all the credit himself.

The room filled with enthusiastic applause—for Zhou Can, and for the teamwork of the two bosses.

Zhou Can raised his hands for calm, and the applause quickly died down.

“Jin Yu Interactive got to where it is thanks to everyone’s efforts. Success is for everyone, not just a few. Mr. Li and I will work on fairer company management and compensation plans. And once we’re listed, veteran staff with real contributions will receive their own shares—you’ll all become true company owners.”

Zhou Can had been planning this for a while: to distribute some shares among the employees.

Only by uniting can the company grow even bigger.

There’d be plenty to figure out, of course—they’d need a real plan.

Another round of applause rang out.