Secretary Chen's words struck Liu Lu like a bolt from the blue.
Fake?
How could that be!
These technical data are the result of her and her team's painstaking efforts; every line of code and every parameter has undergone countless tests and verifications.
She clenched her fist tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Absurd!" Liu Lu's voice was filled with suppressed anger. "Schedule a video conference immediately. I want to talk to them in person!"
When the video call connected, the person in charge on the other end of the line appeared arrogant and repeated the accusation of "data fabrication" in broken Chinese.
Liu Lu suppressed her anger and clearly explained the source and authenticity of the data, and offered to have it verified by a third party.
The other party, however, evaded the issue and kept making new unreasonable demands, from technology sharing to profit sharing, pressing forward step by step, as if they were convinced that Liu Lu's side was in the wrong.
Liu Lu keenly realized that this was not just a technical issue.
The demands made by the other party became increasingly unreasonable, even involving the group's core secrets.
A chill ran through her as she realized she might have fallen into a carefully laid trap.
This is not cooperation, it's plunder!
"Engineer Li, immediately conduct a comprehensive check of all the data to see if there are any signs of tampering!" Liu Lu made a decisive decision, and at the same time instructed Secretary Chen to contact the legal team to prepare for the upcoming legal battle.
Technical expert Li reported with a grave expression: "General Manager Liu, our preliminary investigation revealed that our internal network was attacked by an unknown entity. Although we prevented the data leak in time, the attacker may have already obtained some critical information."
Liu Lu's face grew even more somber.
The other side is proceeding cautiously, clearly having come prepared.
They first stole technical information, and then used it as an excuse to try to acquire or force the group to hand over its core technology at a low price.
This is a meticulously planned conspiracy, and she stands at the eye of the storm.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
“Mom…” It was Xiao Bei’s voice.
Liu Bei cautiously pushed open the door, holding a drawing in her hand, and timidly walked to Liu Lu's side.
"Mom, I drew a picture for you."
Liu Lu took the painting, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
In the painting, a female superhero in a suit is bathed in sunlight, standing on a ferocious monster, with a confident smile on her face.
The image of Superwoman is clearly a reflection of herself.
With her innocent and childlike strokes, Xiao Bei depicted her all-powerful mother in her heart.
"Mom, you're as amazing as Superman! You can definitely defeat all the bad guys!" Little Bei looked up at her with eyes full of admiration.
Liu Lu hugged her daughter tightly, her heart filled with strength.
Yes, she can't fall down. She still has her daughter to protect and her company to safeguard!
She took a deep breath, placed the painting on the desk, and her eyes regained their resolve.
"Engineer Li, have you found anything?" Liu Lu's voice was calm and firm.
"Mr. Liu, we've made a major discovery!" Technical expert Li exclaimed excitedly. "I carefully analyzed the data they provided and found obvious logical errors and signs of data tampering. Their so-called technological breakthrough is nothing but a fabrication!"
A cold smile appeared on Liu Lu's lips.
"Very good! Organize this evidence, and I'll make them pay for their actions!"
The video conference was held again.
Liu Lu abandoned her previous forbearance and directly presented the evidence to the other party's face.
"Everyone, I think you need to explain what's going on with these data?" Liu Lu's voice was cold, carrying an unquestionable authority.
The other party's face changed drastically. He stammered and tried to explain, but Liu Lu's sharp gaze rendered him speechless.
The other representatives exchanged glances, their eyes darting around, clearly already feeling guilty.
“Now, it’s time for us to talk about the real terms of cooperation.” Liu Lu’s tone was unquestionable, carrying the confidence of someone in control of the situation.
She slowly pushed a new cooperation agreement in front of the screen, her sharp eyes sweeping over the faces of each person on the other side. "Sign it or not, the choice is yours."
The other representative's expression shifted like a palette of colors, and the conference room fell into a deathly silence.
Just then, Secretary Chen suddenly walked up to Liu Lu and whispered a few words in her ear.
Liu Lu's expression instantly turned serious...
“Wait,” Liu Lu interrupted the other person’s silence, “I need to reconsider.”
The news brought by Secretary Chen was like a bucket of cold water poured over Liu Lu's head, instantly extinguishing the hope that had just been rekindled.
Within the group, some people began spreading rumors that she deliberately concealed the risks of cooperation for personal gain, putting the group in danger.
Some even began to question her abilities, believing that she was no longer suitable to lead the group.
Liu Lu suppressed her anger, got up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the bustling city below.
The business empire she built is now teetering on the brink of collapse due to this fabricated charge.
She took a deep breath, turned to Secretary Chen, and said, "Summon all department heads. We'll have a meeting in ten minutes!"
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy; the managers all had serious expressions and shifty eyes.
Liu Lu looked around and said in a deep voice, "I know that there have been some rumors circulating within the group recently, which have had a negative impact on my reputation and the group's reputation."
She paused, then her tone became even more resolute: "I can tell everyone here clearly that we did nothing wrong in this collaboration! The other company is the real mastermind; they deliberately tried to steal our technology, even resorting to forgery and framing!"
Liu Lu presented some of the evidence and explained the current situation; however, some supervisors still looked skeptical.
A marketing manager stood up and asked sharply, "Mr. Liu, since you say we're not wrong, then why did the other company do this? And aren't the group's stock price falling and customers being lost facts?"
Liu Lu took a deep breath, about to explain, when another technical supervisor stood up, his tone laced with sarcasm: "President Liu, you keep emphasizing that the other company is fabricating evidence, but do you have any solid proof? If not, why should we believe you?"
The constant questioning left Liu Lu feeling powerless.
She knew that these supervisors didn't really distrust her; they were just worried about their own interests being harmed.
She looked around and said firmly, "I know everyone is worried right now, but please believe me, I will definitely give you an explanation!"
After the meeting, Liu Lu returned to her office and rubbed her temples wearily.
Secretary Chen brought over a cup of coffee and gently comforted him, "Mr. Liu, please don't worry too much."
Liu Lu forced a smile, picked up her coffee, took a sip, and the bitter taste spread in her mouth.
She knew that this battle had only just begun, and the real challenges were yet to come.
Just then, Secretary Chen's phone rang.
She answered the phone, and her expression instantly turned serious.
"Mr. Liu..." Secretary Chen said urgently after hanging up the phone, "I just received news that the other company has made new moves..."
Liu Lu suddenly stood up, her eyes sharp as knives: "What move?"
Secretary Chen took a deep breath and slowly said, "They...they actually..." She hesitated, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Liu Lu's heart sank suddenly, and an ominous premonition surged into her mind.
"What happened to them?" she pressed.
Secretary Chen bit her lip, but finally spoke up: "They...they actually released our so-called 'falsified data' to the media..."
Liu Lu's face instantly turned ashen, and a surge of anger burned fiercely in her chest.
"Fine, very well!" she said through gritted teeth. "Since they want to play, then we'll play along to the end!"
She walked to her desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number.
"Hello, it's me..." Liu Lu's voice was cold and firm, "Help me investigate something..."
Liu Lu was not blinded by anger.
She knew that anger would not help at this moment, and only calmness could help her find a way out of the predicament.
She quickly convened the group's core team and presented the bad news brought by Secretary Chen along with the evidence she had gathered.
On the projection screen, documents, emails, and analysis reports from Li's technical expert team presented irrefutable evidence, exposing the opposing company's conspiracy.
"I know everyone is confused and worried right now," Liu Lu said calmly and firmly, "but I want to tell you that we haven't lost! Although the other company's methods are despicable, their evidence is full of loopholes. We have enough strength and enough evidence to prove our innocence!"
Liu Lu presented further evidence of potential problems with the other company, including suspicious internal emails, financial statements, and technology patents.
She analyzed the other party's intentions clearly and explained her response strategy.
She frankly acknowledged the difficulties the group is currently facing, but also firmly expressed her determination to overcome them.
Her words acted as a reassurance, gradually winning the trust of some employees.
The atmosphere in the meeting room began to subtly change, with the initial doubt and panic gradually being replaced by calm and confidence.
Just then, the other company suddenly offered a seemingly tempting new proposal.
They indicated their willingness to withdraw the previous charges and continue cooperating on more favorable terms.
This news has once again caused divisions within the group.
Some managers believe this is a rare opportunity and they should seize it to reach a settlement with the other party and avoid greater losses.
However, Liu Lu felt that things were not so simple.
She keenly sensed that this might be another trap set by the other party.
The other company's previous tactics were so despicable, so their sudden show of goodwill must be suspicious.
"Secretary Chen," Liu Lu instructed in a low voice, "arrange for a comprehensive evaluation of this new plan immediately. I need to know what they're really up to!"
Secretary Chen accepted the order and left, and the conference room fell silent once again.
Everyone is thinking and weighing the options.
Liu Lu's gaze swept across everyone's face, her eyes deep and resolute.
Suddenly, Liu Lu's phone vibrated.
She picked up her phone and glanced at it; her expression instantly turned serious.
“Everyone,” Liu Lu’s voice was low and serious, “I just received a message…” She paused, her gaze fixed on the profile picture of the other company’s representative on the screen, “The other company’s CEO… has suddenly disappeared…”
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