Chapter 45: The Opponent's Achilles' Heel

Yu Ling's face turned pale instantly. She felt as if countless gazes were piercing her like needles, filled with sympathy, concern, and even more so, doubt and pressure.

While Wang Dehai's accusations were harsh, they weren't entirely unfounded. She was indeed responsible for the Southeast Asian market, and in her efforts to meet deadlines, she hadn't conducted sufficient in-depth field research. The immense grievance and heavy pressure were like a boulder, hammering down on her heart and causing her vision to darken. She knew she had become a victim of Hongyuan's pressure on Chuangshi, and perhaps even of Wang Dehai's personal venting of anger.

Lin Wei's face was also extremely ugly. She suppressed her anger and said, "Boss Wang, regarding personnel arrangements and plan adjustments, we will internally..."

"Internal?" Wang Dehai sneered, "Director Lin, my time is precious. I only give you three days! After three days, I want to see a brand new plan that satisfies me! And," he looked at the pale Yu Ling again, his eyes full of malice, "I demand the replacement of the core person in charge! Otherwise, there's no room for negotiation!" He left the ultimatum, not giving Lin Wei a chance to speak, and stood up and left arrogantly with his assistant.

The conference room fell into an oppressive silence, and heavy pressure weighed on everyone's heart like a physical object.

Yu Ling returned to her workstation, devastated. The overwhelming humiliation and fear of being replaced left her hands and feet cold. She stared at the savagely criticized proposal on her computer screen, feeling a wave of despair. Three days? To overturn and redo the work, and then deal with Wang Dehai's deliberate provocations? It was simply impossible! Her career seemed to be on the brink.

After a daze, Yu Ling dragged herself back to Apartment 1601. The entrance light was still on, and the living room was filled with the aroma of food. Zhao Chen, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen, a look of cautious concern on his face. "Are you back? Wash your hands and eat. I made your favorite meal today..."

"I'm not hungry." Yu Ling interrupted him, her voice tired and hoarse. Without even glancing at him, she walked straight to the bedroom. She just wanted to lock herself up now, not wanting to see anyone, especially him.

Zhao Chen's smile froze. He stared at Yu Ling's closed bedroom door, his brow furrowed. He was acutely aware of her unusual low spirits and despair. Was this more than just a cold war; it was more like... a profound blow?

He silently took off his apron and walked to the bedroom door. He didn't knock, but spoke through the door in a very low voice, with an unmistakable concern: "Lingling, what happened?"

There was dead silence inside the door.

Zhao Chen waited patiently for a moment, then spoke again. His voice was low and steady, carrying a strange soothing power: "Tell me. Are you having trouble at work?"

Perhaps the concern in that voice was too genuine, or perhaps Yu Ling was truly isolated and helpless at the moment, the grievances, anger, and despair that had been pent up in her for the entire day finally broke through the cold dam.

She flung the door open, staring at Zhao Chen outside with red eyes, her voice filled with tears and accusations: "Tell you? What's the use of telling you?! Can you help me deal with Wang Dehai of Hongyuan?! Can you stop him from replacing me?! Can you let me come up with a plan that will 'satisfy' him within three days?!" She spoke incoherently, pouring out all the humiliation and pressure she had suffered in the meeting room.

Zhao Chen listened quietly, his expression devoid of impatience, only focused concentration and solemnity. When he heard the key words "Hongyuan Group," "Wang Dehai," "Southeast Asian market," "deliberately making things difficult," and "changing the person in charge," a cold, sharp light flashed in the depths of his amber eyes, like a cold star, so fast that Yu Ling couldn't catch it.

After Yu Ling vented her anger, her chest heaved violently, and she finally couldn't hold back her tears. She felt like a complete loser, crushed by the dual pressures of work and marriage.

Zhao Chen reached out his hand, and this time, Yu Ling didn't have the strength to pull away. His warm fingers gently brushed away the tears on her cheeks, his movements filled with a heart-wrenching tenderness and compassion. He didn't offer empty words of comfort, but remained silent for a moment, as if thinking about something.

Then, his deep voice rang out in Yu Ling's ear, strangely calm and guiding. "Lingling, don't panic. Anger won't solve the problem. I have some impression of Wang Dehai." His tone was flat, as if he was stating an insignificant fact. "Doesn't he have a nephew who runs a subsidiary in Southeast Asia under Hongyuan called... something like 'Taifeng Resources'?"

Yu Ling raised her head through tearful eyes and nodded bewilderedly. Wang Dehai's nephew, Wang Jun, was in charge of Hongyuan's mining investments in Southeast Asia, and Taifeng Resources was one of its core subsidiaries. This was no secret within the company.

Zhao Chen continued in a chatty yet suggestive tone, "I remember... a while ago, while browsing the international news, I seemed to see one or two reports about environmental protests somewhere in Southeast Asia. It seemed to involve a Chinese-funded resource company. I can't remember the details, but you could... look them up? Especially pay attention to the official websites of local environmental organizations or the blogs of independent investigative journalists. Sometimes, 'small issues' overlooked by the mainstream media can actually reveal deeper issues."

He paused, looking at Yu Ling's gradually widening eyes, which were filled with shock and a hint of light. The corners of his mouth curled up in an almost imperceptible, meaningful arc, and his voice lowered even more, with a kind of bewitching power:

"The business world is like a battlefield, Lingling. Sometimes, a frontal assault won't work, so you have to learn... to find your opponent's weak spot and strike a fatal blow. Information... is the most powerful weapon."

Zhao Chen's words were like a bolt of lightning that tore through the darkness, instantly splitting the fog of despair in Yu Ling's heart!

Environmental protests? Terra Firma? An overlooked problem? A weak spot? A fatal blow?

These key words collided and reorganized fiercely in her chaotic mind! A bold and almost crazy idea suddenly took shape in her heart!

She suddenly pushed Zhao Chen's hand away, not caring about the tears on her face, and rushed back to the bedroom like a gust of wind. She slammed the door shut and even locked it!

Zhao Chen stood outside the closed door, listening to the sudden, rapid tapping of a keyboard. The "gentle concern" he'd deliberately maintained on his face vanished in an instant. Deep in his amber eyes, only a bone-chilling coldness and a sense of control and indifference remained.

He pulled out his phone. Instead of an international news app, the screen displayed an extremely simple encrypted messaging interface. With a tap of his finger, a pre-programmed command was instantly issued:

"Target: Taifeng Resources, Southeast Asian subsidiary. Original evidence chain related to environmental protection, labor, and land disputes. Highest priority, immediately sent to email address 'S'. Anonymous."

After issuing the order, he put away his phone, his expression expressionless, as if he had simply handled a trivial matter. He turned and walked into the living room, poured himself a glass of water, and gazed calmly out the window at the dazzling city lights. His stern profile was reflected in the glass, his eyes as deep as a bottomless, cold pool.