Chapter 97 You are not alone
Around three or four in the morning, Lin Yao dozed off for a moment, then woke again, feeling as if he wasn't asleep. He held her hand with one hand, the other in her hair, stroking it now and then. She pulled away from his embrace, moved up, and pressed her face against his. "Why aren't you asleep?" With the lights off, she could only see the outline of his face. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Can't sleep?" "Often?" "Sometimes lately. Today's special, I'm so happy." He held her close. She kept thinking about the pressure behind him. "What are you thinking about? Tell me, okay?" He was indeed thinking a lot, about a hurdle he would soon have to overcome. Once that was over, he wanted to take her to many things, including meeting Chen Yi. He knew there was still a long way to go before they could finally be together, and he would walk that path for her to the end. Their world wasn't just the two of them; it also included the family and the business he supported. This meant their love was different from others. She knew that too. "I'm not thinking about anything. Just sleep well." "Are you under a lot of pressure? You're worried about Tongya, right?" She pressed her face closer to his. "Why bring up Tongya again?" "Lin Yuxun, I know you haven't accomplished what you want to do yet, and it must be weighing on your mind. You're not alone now, and you can't shield your stress from me. Otherwise, I'll be guessing every day." "No need to guess. I've just thought of some things I want to do in the future. Now that I have you, I can handle any pressure. Don't worry." "If you don't let me participate, I won't. But you need someone to talk to about your stress, unless I'm not your closest person right now and I'm not part of your future plans." "Are you provoking me?" He laughed and sniffed her face. "You're the only one I have. I cherish our relationship. I want to do two big things next month. The biggest one is introducing you to my mother. Before that, I have to overcome a hurdle. I really feel uneasy if I don't." "When you say hurdle, you mean clearing out the people, right?" "Next month is almost the time. But for me, it's just a small hurdle, don't worry. The one who has to overcome the big hurdle is Lin Guanghui." He said that the person who really had to overcome the big hurdle was Lin Guanghui, and only he knew what he meant. He didn't want to talk too much with her at this moment. He'd been thinking it over very thoroughly these past few days. Whether it was Zhong Chengbing or Jiang Zhiping, he believed everyone was Lin Guanghui's pawn, and that Lin Guanghui always prioritized profit over personal connection. To eliminate them, Lin Guanghui would have to do it himself. He could just hand over a sharpened knife. Patience...
At three or four in the morning, Lin Yao fell asleep for a while and woke up again. She always felt that he was not asleep. He was holding her hand with one hand and stroking her hair with the other hand from time to time.
She pulled out of his arms, moved up, and put her face against his, "Why aren't you sleeping?"
With the lights off, she could only see the outline of his face.
He moved and kissed her forehead, "I can't sleep."
"You often can't sleep?"
"It's been happening occasionally lately. Today is special, I'm so happy." He held her close.
She always thought about the pressure behind him.
"What are you thinking about? Tell me, okay?"
He had indeed thought a lot about the hurdle he would soon have to overcome. After this hurdle, he wanted to take her to do many things, including meeting Chen Yi. He knew that there was still a long way to go before he and she could finally be together, and he would walk this road to the end for her.
Their world wasn't just about the two of them; it also included his family and the burden of his business. This meant their relationship was different from others, and she knew it.
"Nothing. Just sleep well."
"Are you under a lot of pressure? You're worried about Tongya, right?" She pressed her face closer to his.
"Why are you mentioning Tongya again?"
"Lin Yuxun, I know that what you want to do now has not been accomplished yet, and it must be weighing on your mind. You are not alone in the situation we are in now. You can't shield your stress from me, otherwise I will be guessing every day."
"No need to guess, I've just thought of some things I want to do in the future. Now that I have you, I can handle any pressure. Don't worry."
"If you don't let me participate, I won't participate, but you have to talk to someone about your stress, unless I'm not the person closest to you now, and I'm not part of what you're going to do in the future."
"Are you provoking me?" He laughed and sniffed her face. "You're the only one I have. I cherish our relationship. I want to do two big things next month. The biggest one is to introduce you to my mother. Before that, I have to pass a test. If I don't pass this test, I'll feel uneasy."
"When you say pass, you mean clearing people, right?"
"Next month, the time will come. But for me, it's just a small hurdle, don't worry. The one who really has to overcome the big hurdle is Lin Guanghui."
He said that the person who really had to pass the hurdle was Lin Guanghui, and only he knew what he meant. He didn't want to talk too much with her at this time.
He'd been thinking this through thoroughly these past few days. Whether it was Zhong Chengbing or Jiang Zhiping, he believed everyone was Lin Guanghui's pawn, and that Lin Guanghui always prioritized profit over affection. To eliminate them, Lin Guanghui would have to do it himself. He could just hand over a sharpened knife.
Patience has a time limit. He needs to resolve the issue within the next month. He also promised Lin Yushan that he can't let her wait any longer. He wants to transfer the pressure to Lin Guanghui.
This will be a game between him and Lin Guanghui, and his capital in the game is to make Lin Guanghui think that he will be a better chess piece and a chess piece that must be chosen.
A month later, the person who handed him the sharpened knife was the auditor.
Auditors are not stupid. They have a strong sense of risk and decided to do so after weighing the pros and cons. Li Xuan helps him analyze on the one hand, and he also has his own set of thinking systems.
He did a lot of calculations.
He believed the issues uncovered by audits over the past few years were sufficient to conclude that Jiang Zhiping and Zhong Chengbing had major problems, but he was wary of their special relationship with Lin Guanghui, so he technically obscured the taint. He always felt that if a major problem were brought to Lin Guanghui's attention, he would protect them. After all, it was a private enterprise, and Lin Guanghui had the final say on whether to pursue responsibility. And this was indeed the case. He had raised some minor issues, but they did not attract Lin Guanghui's attention, and the business sector was not rectified. To protect his job, he simply preferred to keep his hands dirty. This made him feel extremely depressed and uncomfortable, and he was close to depression if he continued.
He'd been looking for a job since last year. In his forties, he couldn't quite land a high-end position, neither a low one nor a high-end one. He was, after all, a senior audit executive, and he'd felt embarrassed to just blindly send out resumes. But working in internal audit didn't offer him the chance to build strong connections outside the company. Unable to find a suitable opportunity, he asked close friends like Li Xuan for help. Lin Yuxun told him that after the audit was complete, he could transfer to the medical aesthetics sector as Chief Financial Officer. The guaranteed salary and long-term stability appealed to him.
Most importantly, he believed that he could play a valuable role and be valued by Lin Yuxun. After all, Lin Yuxun was his biological son. Compared with Zhong Chengbing and Jiang Zhiping, he was clean and had no evidence. With this evidence given to Lin Yuxun, he believed that he could make those two go away.
Lin Yuxun also gave him some risk protection, saying he wouldn't send the two men to jail, but would simply provide a way to prevent them from retaliating, ensuring the company's continued health. Furthermore, if Lin Guanghui did protect them, he would also ensure they could work in his own sector.
Now, according to Lin Yuxun's instructions, he comes to the club to see him once a week since the audit started.
This is the fourth time I've come to see him.
"How much have you completed?" Lin Yuxun personally made tea for him.
"The workload this year was so heavy that we've only completed half. But I don't think we need to complete it all. I've followed your instructions and conducted an in-depth investigation into the areas you raised questions about. These alone constitute major issues." Auditor Feng pulled documents from his bag and spread them out on the table. "We've been bolder this year, and the problems are more serious than in previous years. These are the issues and data we've compiled. I've copied all the supporting documents for your records."
"Tell me more specifically."
"Jiang Zhiping's transfer of benefits to that company was primarily through underpricing, resulting in losses of at least 8 million yuan last year."
That company owns two medical aesthetic clinics. Lin Yuxun privately discovered that she actually controlled them. He simply needed Feng Audit to provide him with data to see if the amount involved was serious. He even suspected that Lin Guanghui was tacitly allowing this to happen.
"She also provided the same price for the medical beauty products she supplied to Zhong Chengbing. It's her own group, so I won't trace it back. However, it indirectly caused the financial data of the medical beauty sector to look much better, which is a disguised form of fraud."
Lin Yuxun sneered as he sipped his tea, "Profits are thinning, but she's quite good at balancing her financial figures."
“Yes, there is the issue of early recognition of revenue and delayed accrual.”
"Where's Zhong Chengbing?"
"He's mainly dealing with bidding issues." Auditor Feng spread out the documents and pointed at the data. "There are too many irregularities in the procurement of raw materials and equipment. Most of them use emergency purchases and exclusive agency as excuses to designate suppliers. This year, we imported medical aesthetic equipment, but the same model was quoted much lower by another agency. We have many hospitals, so the cumulative losses are over 10 million yuan. I've kept the decision-making records and process as evidence. These were all made by President Zhong on his own, acting as if he were the sole agent. The biggest issue is the bidding for the new plastic surgery hospital built last year..."
"Okay, I know about the project, just give me the documents." He interrupted.
Lin Yushan had been patiently checking Zhong Chengbing's phone for a month, checking his text messages and bank accounts. She had kept records. The agent for the imported medical aesthetics equipment was actually a cousin of his, and he was likely the actual controller. Lin Yushan had also found traces of this on Zhong Chengbing's phone.
He just wants Auditor Feng to provide data.
He collected the information bag and brought it back to Lin Yao in the evening.
Lin Yao invited Fang Qin out for dinner that evening. Fang Qin had been at Tongya for a week and was already working with Lin Yushan on the human resources plan for a major personnel change at Tongya. Knowing she was new and had a lot on her plate, Lin Yao privately met with her to ask if she could help.
He sat alone in the living room waiting for her.
"What's wrong?" She walked in and saw that he was in a bad mood.
"I'll wait for you. I'll talk to you and then I'll go do something."
"What's the big deal? Do you need to talk while doing things?" She laughed at him.
"This is important. I need your instructions. Besides, I'll feel more at ease staying with you for a while." He came over and hugged her, taking a deep breath on her shoulder. "I can't let Lin Yushan continue to suffer, not for another day. I need to talk to Lin Guanghui tonight."
This time he revealed his pressure to her. The pressure he had to face tonight was too great.
“The audit was completed in just one month?”
"No, but I already have the data I need."
She knew the outcome of the talks. Either Lin Guanghui would clean up the two of them and hand over the business segment to him and Lin Yushan, or it would collapse and all the previous efforts would be wasted.
"Just do it when you're ready. You have to take this step." She patted his back.
"If it doesn't work out, will you think I'm a failure?"
She smiled, "If the deal goes through, you and your sister will have a heavier burden. If it's another outcome, that's Tongya's fate, a fate chosen by the founders themselves, not something you're unwilling to bear. Then you'll truly be free, Lin Yuxun, and you'll be truly free as you wish." She pinched his face, "Any outcome is not a failure."
"I'll be back when I'm done. Give me a kiss." He relaxed a little and tilted his face to wait for her.
She straightened his face, stood on tiptoe and kissed his forehead, "I'll go with you. I'll wait for you outside."
He parked the car in the usual place.
She said she was taking a stroll along the Ersha Island riverbank. She was actually quite nervous, and she was getting anxious just sitting there waiting. He pulled her back and forced her into the car, saying it was too late and unsafe. He told her not to get out and wander around, but to wait in the car. If she didn't obey, he would go back and pack up.
Seeing him walk towards the big house, she couldn't help but burst into tears. She always felt that the time they had been together was too good. When she first started dating him, she wanted to not care about the results, just love and experience it. Lately, she couldn't help but wonder what the outcome would be between them.
She always didn't believe that things would go smoothly, and didn't believe that she would always be happy. Now looking at the house, she inexplicably felt a sour feeling, and always felt that the house would take away her happiness.
He has been coming to this house more frequently recently, mainly to take the initiative to ease the relationship with Lin Guanghui and show his sincerity in front of him.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw Lin Yushan in the hall, looking uneasy.
She had just come out of Chen Yi's room. Chen Yi had told her that the two siblings should go to Lin Guanghui's place together, and neither of them could be missing.
She had communicated with him on the phone. The brother and sister entered Lin Guanghui's study one after the other.
Lin Guanghui usually stayed in his study until midnight every night. It was past ten o'clock, and he was full of energy, reading a book with his glasses on.
He had little education, but was a skilled businessman, obsessed with fame and fortune. But in his old age, he took up reading. His large study was mostly filled with collectibles and ornaments.
"What's wrong with you?"
Seeing the brother and sister come in, he put down the book in his hand, took out his glasses, leaned back on a Huanghuali chair bought at an auction, and glanced at the "rebellious son" who had never taken the initiative to enter his study, with a serious face.
Both of them stood in front of his desk.
Lin Yuxun didn't intend to beat around the bush and directly handed the file bag in his hand to his desk. He spoke first, "Dad, these are some business segment problems found by the group's recent internal review. They are of a serious nature. We are here to report to you." His voice was steady.
Lin Guanghui was even calmer than him. He glanced at the file bag and didn't even touch it. He knew what he wanted to do.
"What did you find out?"
Lin Yuxun did not avoid the issue and stated all the problems of Zhong Chengbing and Jiang Zhiping one by one.
Lin Guanghui's face darkened when he heard this. He knew that Jiang Zhiping and Zhong Chengbing were more or less corrupt. He wanted to catch the big and let go of the small. He needed to use them to do things and also needed several parties to check and balance each other. Moreover, a son-in-law and a confidant both obeyed him. If he gave them some convenience in their positions, he could ignore them as long as the loss was not excessive and they could fulfill the value he wanted them to play.
But this report put the problem in written form and laid out on his desk, and since it was handed to him by his own son and daughter, he couldn't ignore it.
"Audit? When did our audit become so competent? Or is there someone behind the scenes directing it?"
He understood instantly that the so-called "audit findings" were the product of careful planning. What his son handed him was not a report, but a knife, forcing him to cut off his left and right arms.
"Yes, it was me. I intervened to understand the real situation. For several years, they didn't dare to reveal their true situation. Now, as a member of the group and as your son, if I find any problems, I have the responsibility to report them to you."
"Responsibility? You've been rebelling against me since you were a teenager. Have you ever acknowledged me? You're talking to me about responsibility? You're forcing me to abdicate!" Lin Guanghui suddenly stood up and slammed the table. "You're using this evidence to force me to clean up my mess! And then what? Can you handle it?"
Lin Yushan, who had been forbearing, burst into tears instantly, "Dad! We forced you? Do you know what Zhong Chengbing did to me? He controlled me, humiliated me, and betrayed me! Why did I endure it? It was all for your consideration, for Tongya's stability, to avoid making things difficult for you and bringing shame to you. I endured it until now. I checked his phone, and the evidence from his phone plus these is enough to ensure that you can deal with him decently..." She looked at the file bag, "As for Jiang Zhiping, you made Mom suffer so much for her. Mom is sick, and you let Tongya be eaten away by her. You don't care about me and Lin Yuxun. Don't you care about Tongya's future?"
This was the first time Lin Yushan exploded in front of him.
Lin Guanghui was shocked by Zhong Chengbing's betrayal of her, and even more shocked that she could tolerate Zhong Chengbing in order to deal with him more smoothly.
As a father, he wanted to use these materials to deal with Zhong Chengbing's bullying of her. But Jiang Zhiping had his concerns.
He carried a pair of children on his back.
Lin Yushan was so excited that she was a little unsteady on her feet. Lin Yuxun supported her as she was about to collapse.
"Dad," Lin Yuxun said solemnly, "I am indeed forcing you to make a choice, but it's not me or this report that's forcing you. It's reality. It's the reality that Tongya is being mistreated by these people, and an auditor dares not do anything. Do you think it's just one auditor who dares not act? I'm afraid everyone is afraid to act. If you acquiesce and condone Jiang Zhiping's situation, she will rely on your affection and balance and will only become more and more unscrupulous."
Lin Guanghui turned around and looked at his son with a stern look in his eyes.
Lin Yuxun looked him in the eye and said word by word, "Do you think she's just a pawn in your game? In the long run, she'll have enough leverage. When she finds her interests are threatened, she'll retaliate. The longer it takes, the more capital she has to retaliate. Is she truly willing to be just a pawn? ... She's already left a way out for herself. That related party is her way out! Even invisible evidence will be left to implicate you later!"
This made Lin Guanghui feel heartbroken.
He did not point out their special relationship, but pointed out a fatal risk that he was most reluctant to think about, but which was absolutely there.
"Dad, do you think Lin Yushan and I will be like her? Don't forget, we are a family. Mom told us that even if you betrayed her, she would still say so. She didn't come, which gave you great protection. As a family, we can have different opinions, but we will never betray you. Lin Yushan and I will be exchanged for Jiang Zhiping. Think carefully."
A long silence.
Lin Guanghui looked at the two of them and asked, "What responsibility can you two take?"
Lin Yuxun knew he was starting to think about "cleaning up the family business" after asking this question, so he reassured him, "Lin Yushan and I are capable of shouldering any responsibility you wish to place on us. If they leave, we have the ability to ensure a smooth transition."
Lin Guanghui was actually feeling a heavy sense of fatigue. He stopped looking at his children and looked at the information bag on the table. He spoke gently, "Leave the materials here... Go and get some rest."
He didn't say how to deal with it, nor did he make any promises, but the four words "leave the materials behind" have already announced the fate of Jiang Zhiping and Zhong Chengbing in Tongya.
Around twelve o'clock, Lin Yao stood outside the car waiting.
The person who came out of the house came hurriedly and walked towards the person who could support him to walk the rest of the way with a smile.
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