Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei were staring at a table full of documents, diligently piecing together clues and trying to devise a complete strategy to deal with the mysterious investment group. Suddenly, Fan Shengmei's phone rang, breaking the silence of the office. She glanced at the caller ID, her brow furrowing slightly; it was Su Ran calling. Meng Yanchen also noticed the change in Fan Shengmei's expression and cast an inquiring glance his way. Fan Shengmei hesitated for a moment, then pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Su Ran." Fan Shengmei tried her best to make her voice sound calm.

"Shengmei, I have an important business event here. It involves many prominent figures from various sectors. If you come, you can expand your network and it will definitely be helpful to you." Su Ran's voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a hint of enthusiasm.

Fan Shengmei glanced at Meng Yanchen subconsciously, only to see him frown slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. Fan Shengmei felt conflicted. She knew this might be a good opportunity to gather more information, perhaps even uncovering clues about the mysterious investment group, but she was also afraid that Meng Yanchen would misunderstand.

"This... I need to think about it," Fan Shengmei said hesitantly.

"Don't hesitate, this is a rare opportunity. Many people want to participate but don't have the chance. If you agree, I'll arrange a car to pick you up right away," Su Ran continued to persuade.

After hanging up the phone, Fan Shengmei looked at Meng Yanchen and said with some difficulty, "Yanchen, Su Ran invited me to a business event. He said it could help me expand my network. I think this might yield some useful information, but I'm also worried..."

Meng Yanchen remained silent for a moment. He was indeed feeling uneasy; Su Ran's repeated appearances around Fan Shengmei were clearly motivated by ulterior motives. However, with the company facing a crisis, having another channel for obtaining information was not necessarily a bad thing.

“Go if you want to,” Meng Yanchen said, trying to keep his tone calm. “But be careful, Su Ran is… hard to talk about.”

Fan Shengmei was somewhat surprised by Meng Yanchen's answer; she had originally thought he would object. Seeing the slightly helpless look in Meng Yanchen's eyes, Fan Shengmei felt a warmth in her heart; she knew he was thinking of the bigger picture.

"Yes, I'll be careful. Actually, I'm hesitant too, because I'm afraid you'll be unhappy," Fan Shengmei said softly.

Meng Yanchen smiled wryly: "Now is not the time to worry about these things. The company's crisis is the most important thing. If you can get any clues about the mysterious investment group from the event, that would be even better."

Next, the two began discussing how to use the event to gather information. Meng Yanchen walked to his desk, took out a piece of paper, and wrote as he spoke: "When you get to the event, first observe who is attending, especially those who might be connected to the mysterious investment group. If you have the opportunity, try to talk to them and probe their intentions, but whatever you do, don't reveal our purpose."

Fan Shengmei nodded seriously, her eyes fixed on the key points written down by Meng Yanchen, as if she wanted to engrave them in her heart.

"Also, be careful of your safety. If you encounter any danger or anything seems wrong, call me immediately," Meng Yanchen instructed, his eyes full of concern.

“I understand. So, in what capacity should I communicate with them? Should I just act as an employee of the Fu Group?” Fan Shengmei asked.

Meng Yanchen thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but don't overemphasize your relationship with me. Just say you're in charge of business development for the Fu Group and you're here to look for cooperation opportunities. This way, you can show your identity without attracting too much unnecessary attention."

Looking at Meng Yanchen's focused expression, Fan Shengmei couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. Despite the ups and downs they had experienced, they were still able to cooperate seamlessly when facing a crisis.

As the discussion deepened, Meng Yanchen provided Fan Shengmei with a detailed analysis of possible scenarios and corresponding solutions. In the office, soft lighting bathed the two women, surrounded by piles of documents; the atmosphere was serious and focused.

"By the way, if you encounter people from competitor companies during the event, don't get into conflicts with them. Try to gather information from their words and actions," Meng Yanchen added.

Fan Shengmei took a deep breath, feeling like a soldier about to go to battle, with both nervousness and anticipation in her heart: "Don't worry, I'll adapt to the situation."

Time flew by amidst the tense discussions, and more than an hour had passed before they knew it. Fan Shengmei had a clear plan for the tasks in the activity, and Meng Yanchen also felt that the preparations were almost complete.

"Then go back and prepare. When does the event start?" Meng Yanchen asked.

“Su Ran said he’d pick me up at 6:30 at 7 p.m.,” Fan Shengmei replied, glancing at the time.

Meng Yanchen nodded: "Okay, then go back and change into something suitable. Remember, safety comes first."

Fan Shengmei returned home and carefully selected a suitable dress. It was a black, fitted dress with delicate lace embellishments on the neckline and cuffs, exuding both elegance and sophistication while maintaining the competence of a professional woman. Standing in front of the mirror, she meticulously arranged her hair, her mind constantly replaying the key points Meng Yanchen had instructed her.

At 6:30, Su Ran called on time to say she was downstairs. Fan Shengmei took a deep breath, picked up her handbag, and walked out of the house.

When Su Ran came downstairs, she saw Fan Shengmei and her eyes lit up: "Shengmei, you look so beautiful today."

Fan Shengmei smiled politely: "Thank you, thank you for your trouble."

Along the way, Su Ran enthusiastically introduced the event to Fan Shengmei, saying that many business tycoons and well-known investors would be attending. Fan Shengmei smiled and responded outwardly, but inwardly she was thinking about how to complete her task.

Soon, the car arrived at the event venue. It was a luxurious hotel banquet hall, with crystal chandeliers emitting dazzling light. People dressed in gorgeous attire moved about and chatted in the hall, and the air was filled with a faint scent of perfume and champagne.

As soon as Fan Shengmei stepped into the banquet hall, she felt an invisible pressure. Following Meng Yanchen's instructions, she began to observe the people around her discreetly. At this moment, Su Ran led her to a group of people and introduced them: "Shengmei, these are all senior figures in the business world. This is Fan Shengmei, in charge of business development at the Fu Group."

Fan Shengmei greeted them with a smile, but in her heart, she wondered if any of them were connected to the mysterious investment group. As she chatted with the group, she kept a close eye on her surroundings; a silent information war was quietly unfolding…