One stone stirs up a thousand waves!
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was instantly thrown into turmoil. An insider had leaked information, an unprecedented scandal.
The top leadership was furious, and a storm of self-investigation suddenly swept through.
As the only special agency of the Hong Kong government capable of investigating all political and business officials except the Governor, the infighting among various factions within it is another matter.
Even the Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption's (ICAC) highest-ranking official's apology could not prevent the Ning Group's stock price from plummeting.
The market crashed immediately upon opening, experiencing a precipitous drop!
In the stock exchange, the plummeting price charts fueled a panic that spread like wildfire.
Countless phone calls were made incessantly, and the brokerage's lobby was packed with pale-faced, distraught investors.
"How could this be? How could the Ning family do such a thing?"
"It's all over! My entire fortune is in there!"
"The Ning family values its reputation so much, how could something like this happen? Impossible! Someone must have framed them!"
"The Ning family's working capital has been completely swindled! Sell it off quickly!"
Doubt, anger, and fear collided fiercely in the air.
The phone lines at Ning's public relations department were inundated with calls. Faced with a deluge of negative news and so-called "ironclad evidence," even someone with superhuman abilities would be overwhelmed and stressed.
Other listed companies under the Ning family were also greatly affected. No matter how hard the top traders tried to support the market, the flood of selling continued unabated.
The straight downward green line on the stock chart even caused many related Hong Kong stocks to plummet.
After all, the Ning family is involved in too many industries, from real estate and shipping to technology...
The area downstairs at the Ning Group headquarters building was already packed with reporters who had caught wind of the situation.
A black Bentley struggled to a stop amidst the heavy crowd.
The car door opened, and Ning Bingyu, dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, stepped out with a cold and expressionless face.
The reporters surged forward like sharks smelling blood!
Long lenses and short lenses were pointed at him, flashes of light like a dense downpour, and the clicking sound was incessant.
"Young Master Ning! Are the reports about the Ning family and Jialin colluding to defraud banks true?"
"Where did the funds for the Huangpu Garden project go? Did your joint scheme involve any improper transactions?"
"Chen Jingsong's testimony identifies Jialin as Ning's front company, and Ning's as the mastermind behind it all. What do you think, young master?"
"The stock prices of Ning's related listed companies have all plummeted. As CEO, what measures have you taken to deal with this?"
The flashes of light came on like a sudden downpour, so bright they made it hard to open one's eyes.
With Tony and a large number of bodyguards clearing a path for him, Ning Bingyu walked through the crowd without saying a word, his face cold, and strode towards the elevator.
Instead of going to his CEO office, he pressed the button for the floor where the chairman was located.
"bite--"
The elevator doors opened. Outside the chairman's office, the secretary was already waiting respectfully, his expression equally solemn.
Ning Bingyu pushed open the heavy solid wood door, and a dull and oppressive atmosphere rushed out.
He immediately spotted his eldest cousin, Ning Man'an, standing in front of the large mahogany desk.
Her face was pale, her lips were tightly pressed together, and her usual sharp and commanding presence had vanished, leaving only silence.
On the table in front of her were several seals representing her power, as well as several thick stacks of confidential documents.
This gesture silently proclaims the transfer and relinquishment of a certain power.
The person sitting in the main seat was not his uncle, the current chairman Ning Zhengkun.
Instead, it was his grandfather, the pillar of the Ning family, who should have been resting in a sanatorium—the old master of the Ning family.
The old man had been paralyzed for a long time and his body was withered, but his cloudy old eyes were as sharp as a hawk's.
"Grandpa!" Ning Bingyu entered and greeted him respectfully with a nod.
The old man nodded slightly: "Sit."
He looked at his son, Ning Zhengkun, and said in a deep voice, "Zhengkun, Man'an lost this round. What do you have to say?"
Ning Zhengkun, after all, was the helmsman of the Ning family for many years. Although his expression was not good, he remained calm: "Yes, Father, Man'an lost, and that's it. I have nothing to say."
The old man nodded, no longer looking at him, and turned his gaze to Ning Man'an: "Man'an, what about you?"
Ning Man'an closed her eyes tightly for a moment, and when she opened them again, all that remained in her eyes was exhaustion and resignation.
The strong woman, who was always known for her coldness, composure, and decisiveness, had to lower her proud head at this moment.
She answered in a hoarse voice, "Yes, I lost. I was careless in my personnel management and failed to realize that several of the financial managers who had worked for me for many years and whom I had personally promoted... had all been bribed and had their signatures and company seals forged."
“The money in the joint account was misappropriated right under my nose… This is my dereliction of duty and my incompetence.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Man'an stood up and bowed deeply to the old man and Ning Zhengkun.
"I'm sorry, because of my negligence, I have caused great trouble and losses to the family. I take full responsibility."
"I am now transferring all authority over related projects at headquarters, relinquishing my position as an independent director of the group, and handing over half of my shares."
She was not the group's designated successor; their main business was originally in Macau.
According to the Ning family's rules, no matter how well she does in the gambling and hotel industries in Macau, she is not allowed to interfere with the decision-making power of major projects of the group.
The Huangpu Garden project was originally her real opportunity to prove that she was no less capable than A-Yu.
With the support of the old man and her father, she is the official heiress of the group and can compete with Ah Yu!
but……
She lost!
Ning Man'an's eyes darkened, and her originally powerful aura dimmed.
The old man stroked the prayer beads in his hand, and after a long while, he said in a hoarse voice—
“Man’an, times are changing. You need to prove that your abilities are no less than A-Yu’s. I’ve given you a chance.”
Ning Man'an closed her eyes briefly: "...It's my fault."
The old man allowed her father to support her in working on the board of directors, which was already a form of recognition from her grandfather for her past business achievements.
She was too hasty.
Old Master Ning, his eyes clouded yet sharp, surveyed his heirs in the room—
"My Ning family's children may have ambition and the means to suppress competitors, but they must guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and have a long-term vision. I hope you are willing to accept the consequences of your bet, and from now on, be cautious and self-disciplined, and wholeheartedly assist A-Yu!"
The old man was very old; sitting there, he looked like a silhouette from a history book.
The sound seemed to come from the depths of time, making people subconsciously listen with solemnity.
Ning Man'an lowered her eyes and said in a deep voice, "Yes..."
The old man shifted his gaze from Ning Man'an to Ning Bingyu, who had remained silent throughout.
"If the Ning family can weather this crisis, A-Yu will be the main decision-maker on the board of directors. Do you understand?"
Ning Zhengkun's back stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment; his father was taking away his power!
The old man's gaze returned to Ning Zhengkun, carrying a hint of cold command—
“Zhengkun, you’ve reached the age where you can enjoy your grandchildren. Young people are ambitious and can keep the ship steady. We old folks shouldn’t hold them back.”
"When you have time in the future, just help A-Yu with his work. Give him some pointers on important matters. Let the young man take the lead."
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