Looking at the prepared defense materials, Meng Yanchen turned to Fan Shengmei and said, "We're almost ready, just waiting for them to make their move." Fan Shengmei nodded, her eyes firm: "I hope our efforts will be effective." However, what they didn't know was that at this moment, a storm of rumors targeting the Fu Group was brewing at the industry association, about to sweep in with overwhelming force.
In the secluded meeting room of the industry association, the lighting was dim, and the atmosphere was oppressive and eerie. Several members of the old guard sat around the conference table, their faces bearing malicious smiles. The leader, Vice President Wang, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic "tap-tap" sound, his eyes filled with a sinister glint: "It's time to act. Release those prepared rumors, saying that the Fu Group has engaged in unfair competition in several recent projects, using despicable methods to squeeze out competitors' space." A subordinate beside him quickly nodded, responding obsequiously, "Vice President, don't worry, we've already contacted some small media outlets within the industry; we guarantee these messages will spread quickly."
Soon, posts accusing the Fu Group of unfair competition spread like wildfire on industry communication platforms. Headlines like "Breaking News! The Fu Group is using such underhanded tactics to seize market share!" and "The Fu Group, a cancer on the industry?" instantly attracted the attention of many industry professionals. The online public opinion flared up rapidly, with negative comments flooding in. Meng Yanchen's phone suddenly received a series of message notifications. He frowned slightly, opened the message, and his expression instantly turned serious. Seeing his expression, Fan Shengmei's heart tightened, and she quickly leaned closer: "What's wrong, Yanchen?" Meng Yanchen handed her the phone, his tone grave: "The industry association has taken action. They're spreading rumors online about our company's unfair competition."
Fan Shengmei clenched her fists in anger as she looked at the vile comments on her phone screen: "These people are going too far! They actually used such despicable methods!" Meng Yanchen quickly calmed down and immediately dialed the head of the public relations team: "Activate the emergency plan. Launch a counterattack against the negative rumors online immediately. Compile the evidence we previously collected regarding the misconduct of the old guard in the industry associations and prepare to release it." After hanging up, he said to Fan Shengmei: "Xiaomei, go contact those industry partners with whom we have good relations, explain the situation to them, and try to gain their support." Fan Shengmei nodded, her eyes firm: "Okay, I'll go right now."
On the other end of the internet, representatives from some small companies, unaware of the truth, saw these rumors and joined in the condemnation of the Fu Group. "I've always thought the Fu Group was domineering, but I never expected them to go this far!" "This kind of company should be punished; we can't let them continue to do whatever they want!" These small companies righteously denounced the company in industry chat groups, completely unaware that they had become pawns of the industry association.
On Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei's side, their public relations teams acted swiftly, releasing meticulously compiled evidence of the old guard's misconduct within the industry association, including allegations of manipulating market prices and excluding competitors, through official channels. Simultaneously, the Fu Group's official account issued a statement strongly refuting the rumors of unfair competition, emphasizing that the company has always adhered to fair and impartial business principles and is committed to promoting the healthy development of the industry. Fan Shengmei tirelessly contacted various industry partners, patiently explaining the ins and outs of the matter. Companies with long-term cooperation with the Fu Group and who trusted Meng Yanchen's character expressed their neutrality and awaited further investigation results.
However, things did not develop smoothly as Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei had hoped. Despite releasing compelling evidence, some public opinion remained unfavorable to the Fu Group. A group of online trolls, bribed by industry associations, continuously stirred up trouble and confused the public. "This evidence might be fabricated by the Fu Group; they're just trying to divert attention!" "The Fu Group is wealthy and powerful; what methods wouldn't they use?" These comments misled many uninformed people, causing public opinion to remain volatile.
Meng Yanchen sat in his office, staring at the constantly refreshing negative comments on his computer screen, his brow furrowed, a hint of anxiety in his eyes. Fan Shengmei entered the office and, seeing his expression, felt a pang of heartache. She went to Meng Yanchen's side and gently took his hand: "Yanchen, don't worry too much, let's think of another way." Meng Yanchen looked up at Fan Shengmei, a trace of weariness flashing in his eyes, but quickly replaced by determination: "Xiaomei, this time the industry association is coming on strong, and there might be a mysterious investment group pulling the strings behind the scenes. We can't just sit here and wait to be defeated; we must intensify our counterattack."
Meanwhile, in the industry association's conference room, Vice President Wang, observing the online public opinion, wore a smug smile: "Hmph, Meng Yanchen, let's see how you handle this. So what if you release evidence? As long as our people keep guiding public opinion online, your Fu Group won't be able to escape this predicament easily." His subordinate chimed in, "Vice President, you're brilliant! Shouldn't we add fuel to the fire?" A ruthless glint flashed in Vice President Wang's eyes: "Of course! Continue to intensify the online attacks, and contact more small companies to join in condemning the Fu Group. I refuse to believe we can't bring Meng Yanchen down this time!"
In the conference room of the Fu Group, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei convened an emergency meeting with senior management. Meng Yanchen stood at the front of the room, his expression serious: “Everyone, the company is currently facing a serious public opinion crisis. The industry association is using every means to smear us. We must unite and overcome this difficulty together. The public relations department must continuously monitor public opinion and promptly refute those false claims; the marketing department must strengthen communication with partners and stabilize cooperative relationships; the legal department must prepare relevant legal documents and, once a suitable opportunity arises, file a lawsuit against the industry association.” Everyone nodded and left to carry out their orders.
After the meeting, Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei returned to their office. Fan Shengmei looked at Meng Yanchen, her eyes filled with worry: "Yanchen, although we've taken a series of measures, public opinion is still unfavorable to us. What should we do next?" Meng Yanchen pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "We need to find stronger evidence to prove our innocence, and at the same time, we need to find a way to expose the conspiracy behind the industry association. In addition, we need to gain the support of more neutral forces so they can see the true face of the industry association." Fan Shengmei nodded in agreement: "Okay, I'll contact some neutral industry authorities right away and see if they can speak up for us." Meng Yanchen looked at Fan Shengmei, his eyes full of gratitude: "Thank you for your hard work, Xiaomei. With you by my side, I feel much more at ease."
As night fell, the city's neon lights flickered. Meng Yanchen stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, gazing at the bustling streets outside, his heart heavy. Fan Shengmei walked to his side and gently took his arm: "Yanchen, don't worry too much, we'll definitely get through this." Meng Yanchen turned to look at Fan Shengmei and nodded slightly: "Yes, I believe we can. It's just that this crisis is far more complex than we imagined." The two stood quietly by the window, their thoughts already drifting to the future of this war without gunfire. Could Meng Yanchen and Fan Shengmei turn the tide of public opinion? What further measures would the industry association take? Everything remained uncertain, and they could only continue to grope their way forward through this thick fog, searching for a way out.
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