The following day, with the release of recordings and more photos, the scandal quickly ignited the entire Japanese business community. The media dubbed the incident the "office scandal." It was shocking that a high-ranking executive like Watanabe would do such a thing in his office. Moreover, the recordings also involved bribery, the transfer of benefits, and issues related to negotiations and banquets with major global partners!
This time, not only Watanabe Shi, but even the Rohm Group couldn't withstand it. Countless partners were dragged down, and public opinion was in an uproar. The relevant departments had no choice but to symbolically announce a thorough investigation.
In the afternoon, the ROHM Group claimed that there was no such secretary and that Watanabe Shi's secretary was male. Despite the repeated denials, when public opinion came crashing down like a flood, no one cared about the truth. The ROHM Group's stock price plummeted by 17%, and the situation was getting out of control.
That day, the group conducted a thorough investigation into Watanabe Shi. Watanabe Shi was very frank and told the whole story, pointing the finger at Lu Feng. Facing the chairman, he even claimed that he could commit seppuku to prove his innocence, but Ruixin Laboratory must not be sold to Jiafeng Electronics.
The meeting room was quiet. Watanabe felt that no one believed him, and he said emotionally, "I really could commit seppuku to prove my innocence, I absolutely did not do it!"
Hirata Ichiro, sitting to the side, glanced at everyone and said, "I believe Watanabe-kun. Secretary Nayuki, bring the knife!"
Nayuki was very embarrassed. Wasn't Hirata Ichiro just adding fuel to the fire?
Sakata cleared his throat, feeling he should say something, otherwise Watanabe Shi would have no choice but to commit seppuku today. He said, "Whether it's true or false is not important. What's important is that there's a huge uproar outside, and we need to calm the anger!"
Watanabe was dumbfounded. He had worked at the company for twenty years. Even if he hadn't made any great contributions, he had certainly put in a lot of hard work. Wasn't Sakata's implication that he should resign first and then be rehired?
He refused to accept it; his dignity would not allow him to accept such an insult!
"I resign!!" Watanabe Shi stood up and roared, "I will never come back. For twenty years, I've been with a bunch of cowards, with no progress whatsoever, still just a supplier for companies like Motorola. I've said it more than once: embrace Wall Street, embrace capital, grow and thrive! I resign!!"
"Watanabe-san!" Sakata exclaimed anxiously, standing up to try and persuade him.
Watanabe turned around, bowed to everyone, and said with a somber expression, "I'm sorry for the trouble. Goodbye!"
After saying that, he left without looking back.
There were dozens of senior executives in the meeting room, each with different thoughts. Some were relieved that he was finally gone, while others felt sorry for him. In any case, he had already decided to leave.
In the evening, Rohm Semiconductor Group announced that Watanabe Shi had resigned for personal reasons, and the board of directors had approved it. The next day, Watanabe Shi held a press conference. Facing the barrage of questions from reporters, he did not admit that he had done the things that were exposed, but that he had been framed by others.
At the press conference, he bowed and apologized for occupying media space and disturbing everyone's lives.
That noon, Watanabe Shi and Yoshida Toichi sat down to eat together. Watanabe Shi couldn't eat much and found the songstresses playing music next to him rather displeasing, so he waved them away.
"Watanabe-san, why bother? It's good that you're out here. I'll talk to the Motorcycle board about putting you in charge of the overseas branch sometime," Yoshida Toichi suggested.
"I can't swallow this!" Watanabe Shigeaki slammed his fist on the table. He had seen all sorts of storms, but he had capsized in Lu Feng's little ditch.
"It's just a small company, dealing with him is a piece of cake!" Yoshida Toichi said, raising his glass. "He wants to develop communications, to get pagers in mainland China, you know. You know, right now, the best-selling pagers in mainland China are Motorola!"
"Whoosh!!" Watanabe Shi's eyes lit up. At his age and with so many years of wealth, he wouldn't care about anything except a lot of money. But he had to get his revenge.
He picked up his wine glass, clinked it against Yoshida Touichi's, and said, "Then I have to apply for a job at the motorcycle company. I have a pretty good relationship with your president."
"Don't worry, you're in charge of the external marketing department. You wouldn't even notice a small company like this, would you?" Yoshida Toichi laughed, clinked glasses, and downed his drink in one gulp.
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