Chapter 4: I want to create my own company
Xiong Zhi sat on her usual chair. Her seat was across Zhou Min, and Linfeng sat beside him. Her grandfather sat at the head of the table as usual.
Only silence was heard at the long table. Even the sounds of their eating could not be heard.
Xiong Zhi broke the silence and asked her grandfather.
"Grandfather, I wish to build my own business," she said out of the blue.
The three men were shocked for different reasons.
The old man was shocked because his granddaughter spoke for the first time during a meal! And she was the one who initiated it.
Zhou Min, the head butler, aide of Mr. Xiong, was shocked when he heard her speak. This was the first time he listened to another set of words from her aside from 'yes, grandfather' and her usual line in the mornings. It was the longest time she spoke with new words!
On the other hand, Linfeng was shocked because of her words. How could a mere teenager build her own company? Even if she had money, she must have capabilities, connections, and strong will to not let the company go bankrupt.
"Come again?" Her grandfather asked her, still shocked from earlier.
"Grandfather, I wish to live independently and become capable of helping you with the company. My parents still have their shares in Xiong Corp. I know I have reach twenty to inherit their shares. But while I'm young, I want to build my own company. "
Because of her incompetence in the last lifetime, her life became miserable. She had twenty-seven percent of the shares of Xiong Corporation, her family's company, for generations. Xiong Corporation was the biggest company in Country C and was consistently in the top ten companies ranking overseas.
Those were branded with her surname.
But she had not coveted it, thinking that if she joined in the Xiong family battle, fighting for shares and inheritance of the Xiong's wealth, it would bring her troubles or possibly cost her her life. She was naive. Playing safe, meek, and obedient was never right. She forgot that she was at the top of the food chain. Many hungry wolves had been waiting for her. It was the world of 'eat or be eaten.' Her most significant mistake was not partaking in any of it, becoming the easiest target.
But this time, it would not be the same. She would strike at them first and catch them unprepared. She would build her own power, her own company.
The old man recovered his wits when he heard those words.
What is this girl saying?!
"Xiong Zhi, do you know what you are saying? Building your own company? Do you think it's so easy that everyone can do it?! You girl, I know you are not a brat. You should listen to me like you always do. Study and graduate. You can help me by not bringing trouble to our surname. I will let you marry than to expand our business. I already have someone in my mind."
Xiong Zhi clenched her teeth. Because of this… because she agreed readily, her life was doomed.
"Grandfather, Zhi'er is serious. I may be young. But I'm determined. As grandfather said, Zhi'er always listens to you. I never disobeyed your words. This time, Zhi'er only has one wish. It is to allow this granddaughter to be independent and capable. Grandfather, you are a Xiong. I'm also a Xiong. It runs in our blood to become on top of the world. If I'm weak, waiting to wed someone you have chosen, and become simply a decoration, am I worthy of being a Xiong? Grandfather, I want to prove myself to you and see what I'm capable of."
'And to avenge Linfeng and me... I must become strong.'
She silently added in her mind.
The three men once again were shocked, furthermore, for different reasons.
The old man seriously pondered her words.
By using the legendary name of Xiong, Xiong Zhi had hit the old man at his weak spot, knowing the old man gave much importance to their surname. Even when her mother got married, the old man still used their surname, dominating her husband's.
Zhou Min was shocked this time because he just learned that the young miss had such a sharp tongue. Although only a few words came out, it was all straightforward and directly hit the spot.
Linfeng was shocked because of the girl's strong will.
She might have been cold and expressionless, but she was not meek like they said. It seemed like he has an interesting Young Miss.
Linfeng's lips curled up slightly. His gaze was intriguing while looking at Xiong Zhi.
Xiong Zhi was indifferent to all of it. She was focused on waiting for her grandfather's answer. No matter what, if she had to do it secretly, then she will. She just only needed a little money in creating a company. She had plans. She might have looked sixteen, a girl who just started blooming at her age, learning about the world, but inside, her soul was a twenty-three-year-old adult who had already experienced the ugly side of this world and even death itself.
She looked at her grandfather with unwavering determination.
This look moved her grandfather's heart. But he steeled his heart. In business, there was no family. If you were healthy and intelligent, you would rise to the top. But if you're weak, you would be eaten and never be seen again. That was how cruel this business world was. That was also one of the reasons why he did not want her to enter the business. He would instead choose to let her marry a wealthy and capable man.
Looking at his beautiful granddaughter's eyes, he could not help but feel proud. He knew she was intelligent and that she knew the rules of this world. However, her granddaughter was still young. How could she survive in this dangerous world?
The old man was torn between 'yes, you can' and 'no, you cannot.'
Finally, after a long silence, the old man sighed.
"If you really want, go ahead. But you will never get a penny from me. I will not stop you. Since it is your own company, build it from scratch."
Xiong Zhi exhaled the breath she was holding.
"Of course, grandfather, I will not disappoint you. But... may I withdraw a little money from the savings that my parents had left for me? I only need 10 million. I will return it after two years with twenty percent interest. Since I did not earn money from my savings, I will just borrow it then return it immediately after."
(A/N: Don't forget, they were a wealthy business family that runs for many generations. So their treasury contains many billions..that's why 10 million is 'only' and 'little' for them. )
"What if you go bankrupt? Or your company did not expand at all or cannot return the ten million after two years?"
Her grandfather taunted her.
"I will marry the man you choose and never speak of this like it never happened," she confidently replied.
She would never marry that man. Hence, she would never let herself fail.
"Since it was your money to waste, I don't have any complaints. But I would like to see your company's growth. You must set a goal."
"My goal is that after four years, the moment I turn twenty, I will have a strong company in my hand. Enough that its name will even reach your ears," Xiong Zhi said with a stoic face.
"Hahaha! Indeed, you are a Xiong. Don't disappoint me, lass. I laughed today, and it will be bad if you make me feel humiliated later. I would like to see what you can achieve in mere four years."
"Thank you, grandfather. I will fulfill my promise. But you must give me your word to never intervene with my business within this period. Nor send me to marriage with any man. If I succeed in four years, built my own company, and proved my abilities, I will choose the man that I will marry," Xiong Zhi said determinedly.
"Fine! It's a deal. Hahaha!" The old man continued to laugh.
In his heart, a mark was left by her granddaughter.
In the years to come, he would remember this scene when he first witnessed the change in his granddaughter and the start of her legend in the business world.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone