Chapter 22: Joining forces to break the deadlock
After receiving the malicious and threatening message, Su Lingwan stood alone in her study for a long time. Her initial anger gradually settled into a cold determination. Instead of deleting the message, she saved it as evidence.
She didn't immediately go downstairs to find Huo Linshen. This was her battlefield, and she needed to sort out her thoughts first and find the key to breaking the deadlock. Huo Zhenbang's choice of such a despicable method precisely showed that he was not completely sure of stopping her in the formal bidding.
She sat back down at her desk, spread out the Luminance materials and bidding requirements, her mind racing. Huo Zhenbang's goal was simple: to use a scandal to kick her out before the bidding even began, or at least severely damage her reputation and make her proposal uncompetitive.
To fight back, she needs to do two things: first, thoroughly clarify her relationship with Zhou Jinyan and dispel the rumors; second, come up with an absolutely outstanding plan in the bidding that will silence all doubters.
The first thing requires evidence and timing. The second thing requires strength and wisdom.
The sound of conversation in the living room downstairs could be heard faintly, but the atmosphere was clearly not harmonious. Su Lingwan could imagine Huo Linshen's cold attitude towards his smiling tiger uncle.
About half an hour later, the study door was pushed open and Huo Linshen walked in. His face was even colder than before, with a thin layer of frost between his brows.
"He's gone?" Su Lingwan put down the pen in her hand and looked up at him.
Huo Linshen walked over to her, his eyes fixed on her calm face, a subtle flicker of surprise in his eyes. He expected her to panic, to feel wronged, but she wasn't. She seemed unusually calm, even possessed by a fierce eagerness to try.
"Yeah." He sat down on the chair next to her and rubbed his brow. "He came to 'remind' me to pay attention to the reputation of the Huo family and not be deceived by certain... people with unknown backgrounds and flawed character."
The words were spoken tactfully, but the malice was not concealed at all.
"I received a MMS." Su Lingwan pushed her phone in front of him. On the screen were those familiar photos and the threatening text message. "It seems that your third uncle's methods are not so new."
Huo Linshen stared at the phone screen, his eyes instantly sharp as ice blades, and the low pressure emanating from him almost froze the air. He picked up the phone, carefully examined the unfamiliar number, then took a photo of it with his own phone and sent it to Assistant Chen with only two words attached: [Check.]
After doing all this, he put down his phone, looked at Su Lingwan, and said in a low voice with a hint of suppressed anger: "Leave this matter to me."
"No." Su Lingwan shook her head and looked at him firmly, "Huo Linshen, I want to handle this matter myself."
Huo Linshen frowned: "Ling Wan, this is not the time to show off."
"I'm not trying to be brave." Su Lingwan met his gaze filled with worry and disapproval, her tone calm but unquestionable, "This is directed at me. If every time I encounter something like this, I can only hide behind you and let you come forward to solve it, then I will never be able to truly gain a foothold in Hong Kong or in the Huo family. They will always think that I am just clinging to your vines."
She paused and continued, "Besides, this is also part of the bidding process. If I can't even withstand this level of slander and pressure and prove my innocence, then I have no right to lead 'Luminance'."
Huo Linshen stared at her in silence. The girl's clear eyes gleamed with undeniable determination and wisdom. He suddenly realized that he had never truly understood her. She wasn't just the bright and beautiful girl who needed his care, but also a warrior with an independent soul and a strong heart.
A complex emotion surged in his heart, including worry and an indescribable pride.
"What do you want to do?" He ultimately chose to respect her decision, but added, "I'll be behind you."
Su Lingwan felt his trust and support, and her heart warmed. She laid out her initial thoughts: "First, I need to contact Senior Zhou Jinyan. He's the person involved and the most powerful witness. We need to unify our story and find other classmates who were sketching with us back then and can prove our innocence. Second, I need to find out where these photos originally leaked from and who's behind it."
Her thinking is clear and her logic is rigorous.
Huo Linshen nodded: "As for Zhou Jinyan, if you need me, I can arrange for someone to contact his family in Nanyang and put some pressure on him to ensure his cooperation."
"Not for now." Su Lingwan refused. "I trust my senior. Besides, using power to oppress others will only make us look inferior and make us look guilty. I will communicate with him personally."
The way she handled the situation, with a frank and unyielding attitude, made Huo Linshen look at her with new eyes.
"As for tracing the source," Huo Linshen's eyes flashed coldly, "Chen Ming is already checking that number. I will have him follow this clue and dig out the person behind it. I will also clean up the Huo family."
The two quickly reached a consensus and acted separately.
Su Lingwan immediately called Zhou Jinyan overseas. Zhou Jinyan, on the other end of the line, was surprised and angry when he heard about this. He immediately promised to cooperate fully, immediately looking up the itinerary records, flight information, and contact information of other classmates who had traveled with him. He even provided a large number of photos from the sketching period to prove that their work was purely academic exchange and team activities.
At the same time, Su Lingwan asked Selina to contact several media outlets with good relationships in the name of the studio, preparing to issue a clarification statement and present evidence at the appropriate time.
Huo Linshen, on the other hand, acted even more decisively. Assistant Chen, with exceptional efficiency, quickly tracked down the number sending the MMS message—an underground information trafficker specializing in shady dealings. Following the lead, despite the dealer's tight-lipped statements, Huo Linshen, employing unconventional tactics, was able to track down the funds, ultimately channeling them to a shell company closely tied to Huo Zhenbang.
Although the chain of evidence cannot directly incriminate Huo Zhenbang, it is enough to make him lose face within the family.
A few days later, just as rumors about Su Lingwan's "improper conduct" and "using tricks to curry favor with the Huo family" were intensifying in a small circle, Su Lingwan and Zhou Jinyan almost simultaneously issued a joint statement on their personal social media and several influential art and business media.
In their statement, the two openly acknowledged their acquaintance and joint sketching experience, emphasizing that it was purely artistic exchange and teamwork. They also included group photos of the sketching team, their itinerary, and numerous photos demonstrating the large number of people involved. Zhou Jinyan even directly shared a photo of himself with his partner, indirectly clarifying his relationship with Su Lingwan.
Su Lingwan's studio issued a lawyer's letter, severely condemning the malicious rumor-mongering and spread of false information, and stated that it has obtained relevant evidence and will pursue legal responsibility.
This combination of punches, clean and efficient, with solid evidence and a strong attitude, instantly dispelled the rumors that had been spreading widely. Many people began to sympathize with Su Lingwan's situation and praised her calmness and courage in handling the crisis.
At a high-level meeting within the Huo Group, Huo Linshen seemingly casually mentioned some recent malicious slander against the group's partners and presented some evidence of fund flows. Although he did not name anyone, his cold eyes and suggestive words made Huo Zhenbang, who was present, turn pale and feel very uneasy.
The rumor storm was perfectly resolved by the two of them working together inside and outside in a lightning speed.
That evening, Huo Linshen arrived at Su Lingwan's studio. She was hunched over her desk, putting the finishing touches on the reorganization plan for "Luminance." The halo of the desk lamp outlined her focused profile, exuding a calm yet powerful charm.
Huo Linshen did not disturb her, but just leaned against the door frame and looked at her quietly for a long time.
Su Lingwan felt his gaze, raised her head, and gave him a tired but bright smile: "Are you here?"
Huo Linshen walked over, hugged her from behind, rested his chin on her neck, and took a deep breath of the fragrance of her hair.
"Thank you for your hard work." There was a subtle hint of heartache in his voice.
Su Lingwan relaxed in his arms and shook her head: "Not bad. On the contrary, I feel that... after this incident, my thinking is clearer."
She picked up the nearly finalized proposal on the table and handed it to him. "Look, this is the direction I'm repositioning 'Luminance' to—'New Chinese Elegant Luxury.' No longer blindly following the footsteps of top Western brands, we'll explore Eastern aesthetics, using modern design language and cutting-edge craftsmanship to interpret our own cultural heritage. Just like..."
She paused, then turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling. “Just like you said before, ‘light arises on its own.’”
Huo Linshen took the proposal and glanced through it. The market analysis, design concepts, and operational strategies were clearly organized, insightful, and full of creativity and business acumen. He had to admit, this proposal far exceeded his expectations.
He closed the proposal, looked down at the glowing woman in his arms, and a surge of uncontrollable emotions surged in his heart.
He raised his hand and stroked her cheek, his fingertips gently caressing the faint dark circles under her eyes. His voice was low and tender: "Su Lingwan, you always surprise me."
Su Lingwan looked at the undisguised admiration and love in his deep eyes, her cheeks slightly hot, but her heart seemed to be filled with honey.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
This kiss was unlike any before. It was no longer a tentative, plundering kiss, nor a sign of passion. Instead, it was filled with cherishment, appreciation, and a tenderness bordering on reverence. He delicately sucked at her lips, his tongue gently probing inside, dancing with hers, as if savoring a rare treasure.
Su Lingwan closed her eyes, feeling his gentle but irresistible attack. Her body gradually became weak, and she could only snuggle in his arms, passively enduring this intimacy that carried a sense of reward and possession.
After the kiss, both of them felt a little breathless.
Huo Linshen rested his forehead against hers, his breath hot and his voice hoarse: "I will be there on the day of the bidding."
Not as a protector, but as a witness.
Witness how his pearl conquers everyone with its own brilliance.
Su Lingwan looked at him and nodded vigorously: "Okay."
Outside the window, the night deepens.
Inside, the two people, after joining forces to break the deadlock, became more and more indestructible in their common battles and mutual appreciation.
There may be more challenges ahead, but at this moment, they are fearless.
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