Jiang Tingchen put his arm around Ning Nanxue's shoulder and they both turned away from the window.
His voice was low but warm, like a campfire late at night, dispelling the chill of anxiety.
"Xue'er, don't worry. I've already contacted Huayun to find out which link violated the environmental protection clause. No matter how clever Xu Zhao's methods are, they will leave traces."
Ning Nanxue nodded gently, her fingertips tapping a gentle rhythm on the documents on her desk. "I've never worried. I just didn't expect them to be so deeply embedded in the Environmental Protection Department."
"Business is like a battlefield. It's about fighting back." Jiang Tingchen pursed his lips and smiled, gently holding her waist from behind. "I want to see how Fu Chen and Xu Zhao deal with the next situation."
In the conference room, the atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if the air had frozen.
When Ning Nanxue walked into the room, everyone's eyes were on her.
Some were panicked, some were confused, and some were complaining.
"Everyone, please rest assured." Ning Nanxue's voice was calm, yet contained an unquestionable power. "Suspending the project does not mean terminating it. What we need to do is find the root cause of the problem, not panic."
"Mr. Ning," said Liu, the head of the Finance Department, standing up, his voice trembling slightly, "the penalty for breach of contract could be as high as hundreds of millions. This would be a fatal blow to the company!"
Ning Nanxue turned to look at him, her face calm. "Manager Liu, are we officially implementing this?"
"Not yet, but—"
"Since it hasn't been executed, how can there be any talk of breach of contract?" Ning Nanxue looked around the room. "I need everyone to remain calm and work step by step. The technical department will continue to refine the plan, the legal department will study the relevant terms, and the public relations department will prepare a response plan. We still have time."
These words acted like a tranquilizer, gradually easing the atmosphere in the meeting room.
Ning Nanxue stood in front of everyone, her back as straight as a pine tree, like an unshakable mountain.
At the same time, a triumphant atmosphere permeated Fu Chen's office.
He held the wine glass, and the crystal liquid sparkled with an amber glow under the light.
"Ah Chen, congratulations." Xu Zhiru came over with a plate of exquisite fruit and gently placed it on the coffee table in front of him, her movements gentle as if she was afraid to disturb his good mood. "I said A Zhao would be able to help."
Fu Chen took a sip of wine, feeling the burning sensation as it slid down his throat. "Don't be too happy yet. They must have some tricks up their sleeves."
"But at least it proves that Ning Nanxue is not invincible," Xu Zhiru carefully sat down on the corner of the sofa, folding her hands on her knees, "Some people on the board of directors have begun to waver."
Fu Chen was about to respond when his phone suddenly rang. The name displayed on the screen made him frown slightly.
"Xu Zhao." He answered the phone in a calm tone.
"My dear future brother-in-law," Xu Zhao's lazy voice came through the microphone, with obvious pride, "I heard that the Environmental Protection Bureau has already taken action? Congratulations, you have won the first battle."
"Thanks to you." Fu Chen said in a restrained tone.
"Oh, don't be so polite," Xu Zhao said with a hint of contempt in his laughter. "I think you also understand that this kind of 'special service' is not cheap. The first phase of the reward is 20 million, and it must be received today."
Fu Chen's fingers clenched the wine glass tightly, almost crushing it. "Xu Zhao, this number is a bit..."
"Don't bargain with me," Xu Zhao's tone suddenly turned cold. "The environmental protection department needs to be taken care of, and Howard needs to be appeased. I've done everything you asked me to do, and now it's your turn to fulfill your contract."
Fu Chen was silent for a moment, his mind racing. He simply didn't have that much liquidity in his personal account, and the company account couldn't be used anytime soon.
"Give me three hours." Fu Chen finally said.
"Okay, I'll call you back in three hours." Xu Zhao hung up the phone.
Fu Chen put down his wine glass, his expression gloomy. Xu Zhiru noticed the change in the atmosphere and approached cautiously.
"Ah Chen, what's wrong? What did Ah Zhao ask for?"
"He wants 20 million, and it must be in his account today." Fu Chen stood up and walked towards the computer. "I have to find a way to raise this money."
"So much?" Xu Zhiru said with a worried look on her face. "Do you have that much money in your personal account?"
"No." Fu Chen said coldly, tapping his fingers on the keyboard and logging into the company's financial system. "We can only withdraw funds from the company."
"But this..."
"Can you come up with any other solution for me?" Fu Chen raised his voice, then forced himself to calm down. "I'm sorry, I'm not targeting you. But now we are on the verge of collapse, and we can't let Xu Zhao give up halfway."
Xu Zhiru lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly. "I understand, Ah Chen. Ah Zhao has a strange personality, but he really helped a lot."
Fu Chen quickly operated the computer and transferred a sum of money originally intended to be paid to a long-term partner into an account under his control.
This embezzlement of public funds was like a time bomb, but he had no choice.
"Zhiru, don't tell anyone about this." Fu Chen turned off the computer and said in a low voice, "Especially the people on the board of directors."
Xu Zhiru nodded, her face filled with worry and dependence: "I will always stand by you, Chen."
Fu Chen took the fruit she handed him, but he felt a heavy burden in his heart.
The anxiety that had nowhere to go came like a tide, drowning him.
Xu Zhiru leaned in closer, her slender fingers carefully adjusting his tie. "Ah Chen, you always carry all the pressure on your shoulders," she said softly. "This will pass. Believe in Ah Zhao, and believe in yourself."
Fu Chen didn't respond, just looked out the window.
Xu Zhiru's gentleness made him feel suffocated. This unprincipled behavior was bound to have a price to pay.
At the same time, Secretary Chen was quickly recording instructions in Ning Nanxue's office.
"Immediately contact all mainstream media outlets and publicly announce our active cooperation with the environmental investigation." Ning Nanxue spoke calmly, her fingertips tapping rhythmically on the table. "Also, have the PR department focus on directing public attention to the suddenness and secrecy surrounding the introduction of this 'new environmental clause.'"
"Yes, President Ning." Secretary Chen nodded. "Do you want to emphasize that we have always attached great importance to environmental protection?"
"This must be emphasized. Have the Public Relations Department prepare all of Fu's environmental data from the past five years, with a focus on the improvements I've taken since taking over." Ning Nanxue stood up. "Also, request a detailed report from both the Technical Department and the Legal Department. I want it within two hours."
After Secretary Chen left, Jiang Tingchen closed the door and walked to Ning Nanxue.
"This kind of investigation could be very time-consuming," Jiang Tingchen said solemnly. "The network of relationships within the Environmental Protection Department is too complex. It's almost impossible to determine where this clause originated."
Ning Nanxue nodded slightly, unbuttoned her suit jacket, and casually hung it on the back of the chair.
"We can't confront them head-on." She turned to Jiang Tingchen. "Since Fu Chen and Xu Zhao dared to set up this trap, they must have been well prepared. We should think from a different perspective."
"What do you think?" Jiang Tingchen asked.
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