In their office, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei stared at the piles of documents and files on their desk, lost in thought once more. Meng Yanchen rubbed his temples, breaking the silence: "It seems the conventional methods are unlikely to solve the problem. We need to find another way." Fan Shengmei's eyes were resolute: "Yes, I'll review my network again; maybe we can find a turning point." The two rekindled their fighting spirit, preparing to face a new round of challenges, though they wondered if this arduous fundraising journey would finally bring them hope.

The morning sun shone on the city's skyscrapers as Meng Yanchen drove to a large bank. Dressed in a sharply tailored dark suit, he strode into the bank's imposing lobby. The bank's manager was already waiting in the conference room. As soon as Meng Yanchen sat down, he got straight to the point, explaining the current situation and future plans of the Fu Group, hoping to secure an urgent loan. The manager frowned slightly, looking troubled: "Mr. Meng, you know the market situation is complex right now, and there's been a lot of negative news about the Fu Group recently. We really need to consider this carefully." Meng Yanchen's heart sank, but he remained calm. He explained in detail that the negative news was malicious smear campaigns by competitors, and that the Fu Group had a solid foundation and strong profitability. However, the manager only smiled politely, responding with ambiguous words. As Meng Yanchen left the bank, the sunlight shone on him, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart.

Meanwhile, Fan Shengmei also began to take action. She carefully selected a smart business suit and called several friends and business partners she considered to have good relationships with, arranging meetings with them. In a quiet coffee shop, Fan Shengmei sat opposite a business owner she had previously worked with. She sincerely explained the current predicament of the Fu Group, hoping the other party would invest. The boss gently stirred his coffee, his eyes revealing hesitation: "Ms. Fan, I admire your abilities and believe in the potential of the Fu Group, but this matter has escalated too much. I need to discuss it with the board of directors." Fan Shengmei knew in her heart that this was merely a polite refusal, but she still maintained a smile and thanked him for his consideration. As she left the coffee shop, the noise of the street reached her ears, but Fan Shengmei found it particularly jarring.

Undeterred, Meng Yanchen rushed to a well-known investment firm. The firm's office was luxuriously decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the bustling city streets. Meng Yanchen sat around the conference table with his investment team, presenting the advantages and development prospects of the Fu Group with precise data and clear logic. However, the head of the investment team responded only indifferently: "Mr. Meng, your project is indeed attractive, but we have received some information that makes us hesitant to invest in Fu Group." Meng Yanchen knew that a mysterious investment group must be behind this. He argued his case, trying to dispel their concerns, but ultimately to no avail. Stepping out of the investment firm's building, the wind howled, and Meng Yanchen instinctively tightened his collar.

Fan Shengmei continued her efforts. She met with an entrepreneur she had met at an industry event. In the entrepreneur's office, Fan Shengmei again detailed the situation of the Fu Group, earnestly hoping for his assistance. The entrepreneur leaned back in his chair, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Ms. Fan, I understand your situation, but investment always involves risk. The Fu Group's situation is unclear right now, and I really dare not act rashly." Fan Shengmei felt a pang of disappointment, but she firmly stated that he could contact her anytime if he changed his mind.

Throughout the day, both Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei had faced numerous rejections. As night fell and the city lights shone brightly, Meng Yanchen returned wearily to the Fu Group office, where Fan Shengmei had just arrived as well. They exchanged a glance, needing no words to understand the helplessness and exhaustion in each other's eyes. "It seems the mysterious investment group's influence is greater than we imagined," Meng Yanchen said, sitting on the sofa and rubbing his forehead. Fan Shengmei sat down beside him. "But we can't give up like this; there must be another way."

Over the next few days, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei continued their arduous journey. Meng Yanchen visited one bank and investment institution after another, while Fan Shengmei contacted one friend and business partner after another, but the responses they received were mostly rejections. Each rejection felt like a heavy hammer blow to their hearts, but they persevered through gritted teeth.

During a meeting with a small investment company, Meng Yanchen keenly sensed their unusually cautious attitude, seemingly deliberately avoiding key questions. Suspicious, Meng Yanchen didn't leave immediately after the meeting but instead used his connections to privately inquire about the investment company. After some effort, he discovered that this company appeared to have intricate connections with a mysterious investment group. Furthermore, during his investigation, Meng Yanchen unexpectedly uncovered some unusual signs in the mysterious investment group's financial operations, signs that likely pointed to illegal activities.

Meng Yanchen immediately told Fan Shengmei about his discovery. Fan Shengmei's eyes lit up with surprise: "This might be a breakthrough. If we can prove they've broken the rules, we might be able to turn things around." The two decided to follow this lead and investigate further. While continuing to raise funds, they carefully collected evidence of the mysterious investment group's financial irregularities.

In the process of gathering evidence, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei encountered numerous difficulties. Relevant information was tightly guarded, forcing them to search for clues from the smallest details. Each clue required a significant investment of time and effort, and the slightest misstep could alert the suspects. But they did not back down; with unwavering perseverance and keen insight, they gradually pieced together key information.

Meanwhile, fundraising continued with difficulty. Meng Yanchen revisited several banks that had previously rejected him, attempting to persuade them with a new proposal. He meticulously analyzed the Fu Group's repayment ability and future profit expectations, speaking earnestly and sincerely. Although the bank managers were somewhat moved, they still did not immediately agree. Fan Shengmei was also busy; she re-examined her network and contacted an old classmate she hadn't heard from in a long time. This classmate now held a senior position in a company, and Fan Shengmei confided in him about the Fu Group's predicament, hoping for assistance. Her classmate expressed willingness to consider it, but also imposed some stringent conditions.

As the days passed, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei, while struggling to raise funds, also made some progress in their investigation of the mysterious investment group's illegal activities. They discovered that the group appeared to have manipulated stock prices and illegally transferred assets in some financial transactions. However, these clues were not yet conclusive enough to constitute strong evidence for a counterattack.

Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei sat in their office, looking at the collected materials, their hearts filled with both anxiety and anticipation. "We're very close to the truth. With a little more effort, we're sure to find the key evidence," Meng Yanchen said. Fan Shengmei nodded, "Yes, we can't let up on fundraising either. Maybe the next organization we visit will agree."

However, as the investigation deepened, they also felt the pressure from the mysterious investment group. Anonymous calls came to Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei's phones, warning them to stop the investigation. But Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei were not intimidated; they knew that only by uncovering the true face of the mysterious investment group could the Fu Group's crisis be truly resolved.

After yet another unsuccessful visit to an investment firm, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei walked down the street. A light rain began to fall, wetting their hair and clothes. Meng Yanchen looked at Fan Shengmei, his eyes filled with heartache: "Xiaomei, you've had a tough time." Fan Shengmei smiled slightly: "Don't say that, we're facing this together. As long as we don't give up, there's always hope." Encouraging each other, they continued walking, their figures appearing so resolute yet so lonely in the rain.

Back in their office, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei, without even wiping the rain off their clothes, immediately immersed themselves in analyzing the clues and adjusting their fundraising plans. They knew that time was of the essence, and every minute and every second was crucial.

Will Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei be able to successfully raise funds? Will the clues to their discovered violations become the key to their counterattack? Everything remains to be seen, and all they can do is continue to persevere on this difficult path.