Chapter Two: A Million Is Not the Finish Line

Tang laughed as well, but there was no humor in it. “Negative net assets of 3.4 million. Court seal tomorrow. Power cut at midnight. You are not buying a company. You are buying thirty-seven collection notices.” Deep inside the workshop, gold text hovered above a dust-covered production line. [Remaining viable startup attempts: 1.] [If power is cut, core experimental data will be permanently lost.] [Time until mandatory disconnection: 10 hours, 46 minutes.] “I’m buying the notices,” Shen said, “and your final chance to switch that line on.” Tang’s bitter smile vanished. Outside the industrial park, a black sedan stopped. In the back seat, Gu Chengze opened Guoliang’s debt file.