In the public relations office, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei were engaged in a heated discussion with their team about solutions. However, each idea they came up with seemed unable to perfectly resolve the current predicament. Looking at the busy yet somewhat chaotic scene, Fan Shengmei grew increasingly anxious. Meng Yanchen glanced at her inadvertently, their eyes meeting briefly before quickly looking away. At that moment, investigators rushed in, their faces grave as they whispered a few words in Meng Yanchen's ear. Meng Yanchen's expression changed drastically.

"Are you sure?" Meng Yanchen's voice was low and tinged with coldness. The investigator nodded slightly, his eyes full of certainty. Meng Yanchen took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. He knew that he had to remain calm to lead his team through this crisis.

"Everyone, stop what you're doing." Meng Yanchen raised his voice, and the office instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on him. "After investigation, this rumor is not accidental, but rather the work of old forces in the industry association colluding with rival companies. They are attempting to use this opportunity to suppress our Fu Group and damage our reputation." Meng Yanchen's voice was firm and powerful, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, conveying an undeniable determination.

Fan Shengmei's heart tightened; she hadn't expected the forces behind this to be so complex. Looking at Meng Yanchen's serious expression, she knew this crisis was more serious than she had imagined. Despite still harboring resentment towards Meng Yanchen, at this moment, she decided to temporarily put aside her personal emotions and fully assist the company in dealing with the rumors.

"Mr. Meng, what should we do?" a public relations staff member asked anxiously. Meng Yanchen pondered for a moment and said, "First, we need to issue a formal statement to directly respond to these rumors and emphasize the position and attitude of our Fu Group. The statement should be concise, clear, and well-founded, so that the public believes we are innocent."

"I'll go prepare the statement right away," a copywriter said immediately, then quickly turned on the computer and began typing.

"Secondly, we need to leverage our media relations and get major media platforms to speak on our behalf. We should contact media outlets that have long-term partnerships with us, explain the situation to them, and try to gain their support. At the same time, we must closely monitor online public opinion and promptly address negative comments." Meng Yanchen continued to methodically arrange the work.

"Okay, Mr. Meng, I'll take care of it right away." The staff member in charge of media relations nodded in response, turned around and walked out of the office to start making phone calls to the media.

"Fan Shengmei, you are responsible for collecting our company's recent positive performance and project results, compiling them into data as supporting materials for the statement. This data and results will powerfully refute those rumors." Meng Yanchen looked at Fan Shengmei, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

"No problem," Fan Shengmei replied succinctly, then immediately got to work. She turned on her computer and began searching for relevant information in the company's internal system, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Over the next few hours, the public relations office was a hive of activity. The copywriters focused intently on drafting statements, meticulously considering every word; the media relations staff were constantly on the phone, communicating and coordinating with various media outlets; and Fan Shengmei carefully reviewed the company's performance data, ensuring the accuracy of every single piece of information. Meng Yanchen paced back and forth in the office, occasionally stopping to check on the progress of various tasks and offer guidance.

After the initial draft of the statement was completed, Meng Yanchen, Fan Shengmei, and others gathered around the computer, reviewing it word by word. "The wording here could be stronger, showing our zero-tolerance attitude towards rumors," Meng Yanchen said, pointing to the screen. Fan Shengmei nodded slightly and said, "And here, the part mentioning project results could be more detailed, highlighting our strengths and innovations."

After some revisions, the statement was finally finalized. Looking at the statement on the screen, Meng Yanchen said firmly, "Release it immediately, and assign someone to monitor online reactions." The public relations team quickly followed Meng Yanchen's instructions, publishing the statement on the company's official website, major social media platforms, and industry-related websites.

Following the release of the statement, differing opinions began to emerge online. Some netizens expressed approval of the Fu Group's statement, believing the company's response was timely and sincere; however, others, influenced by rumors, remained skeptical. Meng Yanchen frowned as he looked at the online comments.

"Mr. Meng, so far the statement has had some effect, but there are still many negative voices. We need to take further measures," the staff member in charge of public opinion monitoring reported.

Meng Yanchen pondered for a moment and said, "Arrange a press conference and invite major media outlets to attend. I want to personally explain this matter to the public. At the same time, prepare some exclusive materials to display at the press conference to increase our credibility."

"Okay, Mr. Meng, I'll arrange it right away." The staff member immediately went to finalize the details of the press conference.

Listening to Meng Yanchen's arrangements, Fan Shengmei couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for his decisiveness and composure. Although their relationship remained cold, she had to acknowledge Meng Yanchen's abilities in handling the crisis.

"Fan Shengmei, I'm entrusting you with preparing the materials for the press conference. Make sure to highlight the key points and let the media and the public see our strength," Meng Yanchen said earnestly to Fan Shengmei.

"Don't worry, I'll do my best," Fan Shengmei replied. She knew the importance of this mission and dared not slack off in the slightest.

In the following days, Fan Shengmei devoted herself entirely to preparing the materials for the press conference. She carefully selected information on the company's major project achievements, awards, and authoritative industry certifications in recent years, creating a beautifully designed PowerPoint presentation. She also prepared relevant video materials to present them more intuitively to the audience at the conference.

Meng Yanchen was busy communicating with the media, confirming the list of attendees for the press conference, and ensuring that all major mainstream media outlets would be present. He also discussed with the company's legal team, preparing to take legal action against accounts and platforms that maliciously spread rumors, in order to combat the spread of rumors from a legal perspective.

As the date of the press conference drew closer, the atmosphere within the Fu Group grew increasingly tense. Although Fan Shengmei and Meng Yanchen were making final preparations for the conference, they still rarely communicated, exchanging only brief words when necessary.

Finally, the day of the press conference arrived. The venue was decorated simply yet solemnly, and reporters from various media outlets arrived early, awaiting Meng Yanchen's appearance. Fan Shengmei, dressed in a smart business suit, arrived ahead of time to double-check the playback of the PowerPoint presentation and video materials.

Meng Yanchen walked into the press conference venue and saw Fan Shengmei busy at work. He paused slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He straightened his tie, took a deep breath, and walked to the center of the stage.

"Good afternoon, friends from the media. Today, I stand here to respond to the false rumors circulating online about our Fu Group." Meng Yanchen's voice resonated throughout the venue through the microphone, his gaze fixed firmly on the reporters below.

Following this, Meng Yanchen explained in detail the origins of the rumors and the measures taken by the Fu Group to counter them. He presented the materials prepared by Fan Shengmei, using data and facts to demonstrate the Fu Group's strength and innocence. The reporters in the audience took careful notes and occasionally asked questions.

"Mr. Meng, how much impact do you think this rumor will have on the Fu Group's business?" a reporter asked.

Meng Yanchen smiled and replied, "Although the rumors may have some impact on our reputation in the short term, I believe that with our efforts and everyone's support, the Fu Group will be able to recover quickly and develop more steadily. We have the confidence and the strength to meet any challenge."

The press conference went smoothly, and Meng Yanchen's answers won the approval of the reporters. Afterwards, major media outlets published reports on the Fu Group's press conference, and public opinion gradually shifted, with more and more positive reviews of the Fu Group emerging.

Fan Shengmei breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the press conference succeed. Standing in a corner of the venue, she watched Meng Yanchen surrounded by reporters, her heart filled with mixed emotions. Meng Yanchen seemed to sense Fan Shengmei's gaze; he turned to look at her, and their eyes met. This time, Fan Shengmei's eyes held less coldness.

However, despite the success of the press conference, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei both knew that the crisis was not entirely over. The old guard in the industry association and rival companies could take new actions at any time. Moreover, their strained relationship wouldn't be easily mended. How would they face the new challenges ahead? And in what direction would their relationship develop?