Real fangs

"Oh my! Mr. Cui!" Mr. Wang's voice clearly betrayed a hint of surprise and barely perceptible nervousness. "Why did you call me personally? I'm so honored!"

"Look at you, after cooperating for so long, isn't it only right to give a call and say hello?" Cui Yu chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the other party's unusual behavior. "I heard your business has been booming lately, with your production lines fully booked? Congratulations!"

He asked the question very skillfully.

It seemed like a compliment, but it actually hit the nail on the head—the other party had previously used "production line adjustment" as an excuse.

There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the phone before Mr. Wang's dry laugh came through: "Heh... it's alright, it's alright, just making a living. Mr. Cui, you flatter me too much."

"How can you call this a compliment? We have so many orders that even our small order has to be delayed for two weeks to make way for you. Isn't this booming?" Cui Yu's tone was still smiling, but the weight in his words had increased slightly.

"It seems Mr. Wang has caught the fast track. I wonder which business is so lucrative that we can all be envious?"

He cast out the real bait, probing the source of the "more profitable" order.

Mr. Wang stammered, "Uh... well... Mr. Cui, you're joking. It's just... just some scattered orders that happened to come together. How can it compare to a big project like 'Starry Sky'? There was a sudden minor malfunction in the production line. Yes, a minor malfunction! We didn't mean to, and we're really sorry for the trouble it has caused you..."

The other party was clearly starting to panic and was becoming incoherent.

It even overturned the previous explanation of "production line adjustment" and turned it into a minor malfunction.

And eager to end the conversation: "Um... Mr. Cui, I have some things to take care of here, what do you think..."

"Alright, then I won't disturb Mr. Wang's fortune-making any longer." Cui Yu knew when to stop, his tone still gentle. "However, Mr. Wang, our contract is in black and white, and the penalty clause is clearly stated. Of course, I believe this is just a minor accident and can definitely be resolved as soon as possible, right?"

He subtly touched upon the pressure of breach of contract penalties, both giving the other party a way out and setting a bottom line.

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll do it as soon as possible! I'll do it as soon as possible!" Mr. Wang hurriedly assured him.

I can almost picture him wiping his sweat on the other end of the phone.

The call has ended.

The smile on Cui Yu's face vanished instantly, replaced by a deep silence.

He put down his phone and looked at Meng Yihe, who had somehow appeared at the door of his cubicle.

“It’s not a production line adjustment, it’s a ‘minor malfunction’,” Cui Yu repeated the other party’s contradictory statements. “He’s lying, and he’s very scared. Someone must have put more pressure on him or offered him a better price, making him willing to breach the contract to delay us.”

Meng Yihe showed no surprise after hearing this.

"Find out who it is," he said coldly. "'Dingsheng' is trying to cut off our capillaries bit by bit."

...

Almost at the same time that Cui Yu ended his call with Mr. Wang of Cinda, in the director's office of "Dingsheng Capital".

Ji Nan was listening to her subordinate's report.

"President Ji, 'Starworld' reacted quickly, and their official statement was very effective; public opinion has begun to subside. In addition, we noticed that their joint command center is frequently contacting various partners, especially small and medium-sized suppliers, and it seems they are reassessing the risks."

The tone of the subordinates on the screen was meticulous.

Ji Nan gave a soft "hmm" and her gaze fell on a newly delivered report, which was "Starworld's" powerful and data-driven statement.

"As expected. If they didn't even have this much of a reaction, they wouldn't be worthy of being my opponent," she commented calmly.

Ji Nan's gaze swept over another brief message. It said that the owner of "Xinda Building Materials" seemed somewhat nervous and uneasy after just receiving a private phone call from Cui Yu.

"The interference objective has been achieved."

Ji Nan closed the reporting window and gave instructions via the internal communication line.

"Phase one complete. Proceed to the next step: get their project approved, and create a little 'unexpected surprise'." Her command remained concise and vague, yet it sent a chill down the spine of the executor on the other end of the communication line.

"Yes, Mr. Ji."

The call has ended.

Ji Nan leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on the bustling city outside the window.

The chessboard has been set up, and the pieces are being placed.

She wanted to see if the two directors of "Starry Sky" could still maintain their composure and efficiency in the face of attacks that were no longer just tickles.

While Ji Nan's cold, decisive orders were being implemented silently within "Ding Sheng," at the Xing Huan Group's joint command center...

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe's response has also been quickly deployed.

After a brief eye contact with Meng Yihe, Cui Yu called out to the outside room without hesitation, "Zhao Lei."

Zhao Lei responded and arrived: "President Cui?"

"Go check 'Xinda'. I need to know who has recently contacted their CEO Wang, what price they offered, or what kind of pressure they put on him. Financial records, new contracts, unusual transactions—every detail, dig it up three feet deep."

This will be a targeted and in-depth investigation.

"Understood!" Zhao Lei's expression hardened, and he immediately accepted the order and left.

Almost at the same time Zhao Lei turned around, Meng Yihe's cold voice echoed in the office area. He didn't raise his voice, but everyone subconsciously stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

"Attention everyone." Meng Yihe's gaze swept across the room. "'Dingsheng's' goal is not only public opinion, but also our supply chain and project progress process."

He spoke steadily, yet clearly, issuing a comprehensive directive: "Lin Xueyue, immediately take the lead in revising the list of all third-tier and above suppliers. Within one hour, I need to see an updated risk assessment report and a list of alternative solutions based on the current situation."

"Wu Hao, adjust the project schedule model accordingly, incorporating potential supply chain delays and new approval risk variables into the calculations. I need to see the extent to which the critical path is affected. Xu Rui, Gao Yuan, Shen Xinyi, assist Lin Xueyue and Wu Hao by providing assessment data and risk points in your respective fields. Ding Sheng's Plan B will definitely not stop at this level of harassment."

The busy atmosphere in the command center lasted for less than half an hour before it was interrupted by a rapid ringing of an internal telephone.

It's Cui Yu's route.

He pressed the answer button, and the anxious voice of Lao Zhang, the construction site manager, immediately came through the speaker, so loud that several people nearby instinctively looked up.

"Director Cui! Something terrible has happened!"

Cui Yu frowned: "What's the rush? Speak slowly, what is it?"

"It's...it's that batch of custom-made large keel hoisting equipment! The transport convoy collided with a truck that suddenly broke down on the detour route! Our equipment mounting frame was knocked askew, and the main body was also slightly deformed! Now they're arguing that it's entirely our fault, and the convoy is stuck on the road, in a dilemma! It won't be able to reach the construction site until tomorrow at the earliest!"

Old Zhang's voice was choked with sobs.

"This equipment is waiting to be installed; several subsequent processes depend on it! We can't afford any delays in the construction schedule!"

The entire office area fell silent instantly.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Cui Yu.

Cui Yu's face instantly darkened, and his voice became even lower than usual:

"Is the person alright?"

"The person is fine! It's the equipment..." Old Zhang hurriedly replied.

"As long as everyone is alright," Cui Yu interrupted him, speaking faster.

"Listen, immediately contact the manufacturer to send an engineer to assess the equipment damage, and take photos and videos to preserve evidence. As for the transport truck, have them call the police and go through the proper insurance process; don't try to settle things privately. At the construction site, immediately adjust the work order, focusing on the steps unaffected by the equipment. We can make up for the lost time later."

His instructions were clear and decisive, instantly calming the panic on the other end of the phone.

"Yes! Yes! Mr. Cui, I'll take care of it right away!"

Old Zhang seemed to have found his pillar of support and readily agreed.

The phone call ended, but the command center remained deathly silent; the air seemed to freeze.

This was by no means a simple accident.

Customized equipment, critical paths, detours, trucks that suddenly break down, and complicated liability determinations... every aspect seems suspicious.

Meng Yihe stood beside Cui Yu's table, her face icy cold.

The two exchanged a glance and saw the same judgment in each other's eyes.

"An accident?" Meng Yihe's voice was so cold it could drop ice shards.

“What a coincidence.” Cui Yu slowly uttered three words, tapping his fingertips heavily on the table. “‘Dingsheng’s’ ‘little accident’ came really quickly.”

This is the true fang of Plan B.

This is no longer a superficial delay or harassment, but a precise strike directly at the project's Achilles' heel. The objective is clear: disrupt the core rhythm and create maximum chaos and delays.

“Zhao Lei.” Cui Yu suddenly looked up.

"Here!" Zhao Lei immediately stepped forward.

“You personally go and contact the transportation company. I need to know everything about that truck that ‘suddenly broke down’—the driver’s background, the company’s background, the insurance records, every detail! This wasn’t an accident; it was a deliberately staged incident.”

"clear!"

Zhao Lei looked serious, turned around and quickly left.

Meng Yihe has already turned to the operations team: "Wu Hao, immediately recalculate the construction period, and create models for equipment delays of three, five, and seven days respectively. I need to see the worst-case scenario. Lin Xueyue, contact backup equipment suppliers, inquire about prices and availability, and prepare for the worst."

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe stood in the center of the busy scene.

"It seems they're serious about this," Cui Yu said.

Meng Yihe glanced at the complex progress charts on the screen: "Then let them see what it feels like to kick a hornet's nest."

Everyone in the command center was focused on dealing with the chain reaction caused by the equipment accident.

Cui Yu was on the phone with the insurance company, discussing the details of the claims process in a cold tone. Meng Yihe stared at the initial delay data that Wu Hao had just calculated, her brows furrowed.

At this moment, Zhao Lei returned hurriedly, his face serious with a sharp edge as if he had found a weakness.

He walked straight to Cui Yu's table.

As soon as Cui Yu hung up the phone, he immediately reported in a low voice: "President Cui, we found it. The company registered for that truck is a shell company, established less than three months ago, with no actual business records, and most importantly..."

Zhao Lei paused, then emphasized his words.

"The registered capital of this shell company can be traced back to a private equity fund, and one of the fund's major investors is an investment entity under 'Dingsheng Capital'."

"So this is definitely not an accident."

Although the clues were indirect, the intention was clear enough—this was an "accident" meticulously planned by "Dingsheng".

A chill, belatedly felt, suddenly ran down Cui Yu's spine.

This time, the equipment was damaged, causing a delay in the construction period...

What if?

What if the angle of the collision had been any more unpredictable? What if there had been injuries or fatalities?

Dingsheng dared to take such a risk in order to slow down the project!

Just as he was about to speak, the intercom on his desk and a personal cell phone rang almost simultaneously.

The internal screen displayed "Vice President Wang's Office".

The name that popped up on the private phone screen made Meng Yihe's pupils shrink slightly – it was the CEO.

The oppressive feeling of an impending storm instantly reached its peak.

Cui Yu and Meng Yihe exchanged a glance and instantly reached a tacit understanding.

Cui Yu took a deep breath, answered Vice President Wang's call first, and put it on speakerphone.

"Cui Yu! Is Meng Yihe next to you? What exactly is going on over there?!"

Vice President Wang's anxious, even angry voice immediately rang out.

"I just received news that a serious accident occurred during the transportation of important equipment to your construction site, and the construction period will be delayed? Rumors are already spreading! The board of directors just called to inquire! What guarantees did you make before?!"

Accountability came swiftly and forcefully.

Almost the instant Vice President Wang finished speaking, Cui Yu's personal cell phone, which was on the table, was still vibrating persistently.

The CEO's name is like a silent death knell.

Meng Yihe spoke into the speakerphone: "President Wang, the incident did happen, but it was not an accident; it was sabotage. The other party's methods were very covert, but we have already obtained preliminary evidence pointing to 'Dingsheng Capital'."

He succinctly and directly characterized the incident, turning the "accident" into "malicious competition."

Vice President Wang on the other end of the phone paused noticeably, his anger unexpectedly interrupted: "'Dingsheng'? Is the evidence conclusive?"

"The connection of the capital chain has been found. The registered capital of the shell company used by the other party came from a fund closely related to 'Dingsheng'."

Cui Yu took over the conversation, his tone calm and certain, but his eyes were filled with an icy glint. "This is a premeditated and reckless commercial attack."

He emphasized the words "regardless of consequences," and Meng Yihe, who was standing next to him, instantly turned cold. He immediately understood the unspoken meaning behind Cui Yu's words—this time it was about equipment, but what about next time?

"Peak" has already crossed the line.

As Cui Yu spoke, he reached out and hung up the still-vibrating call from the CEO without changing his expression.

This move, though seemingly bold, conveys confidence and determination: we can handle it, and we must handle it.

Vice President Wang was silent for a few seconds, seemingly processing the information. His tone softened, but the pressure did not lessen.

“Even if ‘Dingsheng’ is behind this, the project delay is a real fact! The board and investors only care about results! I don’t care what methods you use, you must make up for the lost time! The impact must be minimized! Otherwise…”

“Understood.” Meng Yihe’s voice carried an unprecedented resolve. “We have activated the emergency plan. We will make up for the lost time. And ‘Dingsheng’ must pay the price for their actions.”

"That's for the best!" Vice President Wang said, then slammed the phone down.