Chapter 59 A few minutes passed...
A few minutes passed. Li Xingzhou vaguely remembered that Li Mingsheng had mentioned going to meet a reporter from the Capital TV station. He quickly withdrew his gaze from the brooch, took it off, put it in his suit pocket, and went downstairs. Li Mingsheng had been waiting for him in the car for a long time. He didn't linger and got into the car directly.
After Li Xingzhou fastened his seatbelt, the car didn't leave immediately. Normally, the driver would start the car the second after he fastened his seatbelt. This situation was clearly Li Mingsheng's idea.
Sure enough, the next second Li Mingsheng spoke up: "Xiao Zhou, how are your preparations for the live broadcast coming up?"
Without a second thought, Li Xingzhou said directly, "That's about right."
He answered readily, but the atmosphere in the car was not relaxed.
Li Mingsheng's eyes were originally closed, but after hearing Li Xingzhou's words, he slowly opened them after a few seconds. However, he did not look at Li Xingzhou, but looked out the window. "On the surface, this is a clarification, but in reality, it is also a promotion of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. You must make full preparations."
"I see."
“Okay.” Li Mingsheng looked away. “Then let’s set off. Although it’s still a bit early before the live broadcast, it’s okay. We can use this time to go over the scripts with the reporters.”
Li Xingzhou knew that Li Mingsheng valued this live broadcast very much, because it was not a simple live broadcast in the traditional sense, but rather concerned the entire future development of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group.
He hummed in agreement, then rested his chin on his right hand and looked out the window, his gaze fixed on a poster for a piano recital, lost in thought.
Soon the car arrived at its destination, and he and Li Mingsheng got out of the car together, following Li Mingsheng into the broadcasting building in front of them.
Instead of going to the studio first, they went to a small room, similar to a small conference room. Just as Li Xingzhou was wondering what was going on, Li Mingsheng pushed open the door. Li Xingzhou first heard a voice he often heard on the financial channel, and then saw Lin Shuyu stand up from the sofa and smile and nod at them.
"Chairman Li, Young Master Li."
Li Mingsheng said politely, "I'll have to trouble Anchor Lin again today."
"Mr. Li, you're too kind. This is my job, and it's what I should do."
Lin Shuyu's words were extremely official and flawless.
Li Mingsheng nodded, his expression softening slightly at those words. "Anchor Lin is so eloquent yet so humble; she is truly a promising young talent." Then, looking at Li Xingzhou beside him, he added, "We don't have much time left. Xiaozhou, you and Anchor Lin should go over the script one last time."
Li Xingzhou always speaks extemporaneously at events, without needing to go over his notes with anyone. This shows that Li Mingsheng takes this live broadcast very seriously.
Unlike Li Mingsheng, who was full of worry, Li Xingzhou remained calm and nodded to indicate that he understood.
Lin Shuyu looked at Li Xingzhou and said, "Then please come with me, Mr. Li."
Once outside and away from the small conference room, Lin Shuyu slowed her pace. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, she said to him, "403, Shen Nanfeng is waiting for you there."
Before Li Xingzhou could react, Lin Shuyu quickly stepped out of the elevator, stood still, and smiled at him. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought it was a prank. He could only watch as the elevator doors slowly closed and the red floor number gradually jumped to the fourth floor.
"Okay, lights, director, camera countdown ready." The studio, which had been completely dark, suddenly lit up with these words. Lin Shuyu looked at the camera and listened to the director's final announcement through her earpiece, "Five seconds left."
When the director read out the number one, Lin Shuyu didn't leave a gap but immediately continued.
"This is the Capital Channel, a live broadcast from across the country. I am your host, Lin Shuyu. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to host today's live broadcast for Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. Next to me is Mr. Li Mingsheng, Chairman of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group."
The studio camera followed Lin Shuyu's words and focused on Li Mingsheng's face. He was sitting to Lin Shuyu's right, his posture was relaxed, and his eyes looked at the camera casually, but he gave people a strong sense of presence.
That's the kind of gaze one gets from someone who's been in a position of power for years, looking down on all living beings with the ruthlessness that only a decisive and ruthless person would have.
Lin Shuyu paused briefly, giving the camera crew time to move the lens, before continuing, "Let's give them a warm round of applause."
Li Mingsheng smiled as he looked at the camera.
After that, Lin Shuyu didn't directly address the main topic of the day, the poisoning incident involving Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group twenty years ago. Instead, she brought up the new drug that Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group is currently developing and launching. "Chairman Li, this new drug developed by Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group is continuing the previous strategy of offering high-quality products at low prices. There are many opinions online, saying that the decision-makers at Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group have gone mad. With prices constantly rising, are the shareholders of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group not planning to make money? Can we take advantage of today's live broadcast to gossip with Chairman Li?"
The topic Lin Shuyu brought up wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision or an unconventional one; it was something Li Mingsheng had requested beforehand. It wasn't in the press release; it was a last-minute request five minutes before she was on the broadcast stage. The tight schedule left her little time to react or think, but it wasn't a big problem for her. She had done far too many impromptu things while sitting in this position on the broadcast stage.
Sometimes, even though the news report only has a few words, the director will ask you to extend the time in your earpiece and not move on to the next topic. Sometimes, you only have a few seconds to say a long speech. All of this happens in real time in front of the camera. There is no time for you to act out the speech. It tests your on-the-spot reaction. So, Li Mingsheng's five-minute impromptu suggestion was already much better than her past experiences.
"I really didn't know there was such a rumor. I'm out of touch with the times."
He said this with just the right amount of surprise, as if he really didn't know about it.
"With Chairman Li managing such a large group as Shenzhen and Hong Kong, it's inevitable that he won't be able to pay attention to these kinds of rumors."
Li Mingsheng smiled after hearing Lin Shuyu's words, clearly very satisfied.
Actually, he wasn't particularly satisfied with the fact that the other side sent Lin Shuyu to host this live broadcast, because he had heard some rumors about Lin Shuyu. However, after hearing her remarks today, he realized that she was a shrewd person who knew how to read people's expressions and how to speak beautifully and eloquently.
He is indeed a person with some ability.
Lin Shuyu was indeed quick-witted. Seeing Li Mingsheng's expression, she immediately said, "I just took a short break and spent a few seconds browsing the news about the launch of the new drug by Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. I'll read the comments below to Chairman Li and everyone."
Li Mingsheng nodded.
Lin Shuyu held her phone, scrolling through the comments as she said, "At this price, are the decision-makers in Shenzhen and Hong Kong not planning to make any money in RMB?"
"What's going on? This price? Are the decision-makers and shareholders of Shenzhen and Hong Kong really not crazy? I don't believe anyone doesn't like money, especially since another pharmaceutical company has already raised the price of its new product by 10%. Or is it that the profits in the pharmaceutical industry are really too high, so Shenzhen and Hong Kong don't care about this tiny bit of profit? Otherwise, I can't imagine anyone turning down a lucrative opportunity."
Li Mingsheng turned his head to look at her.
After reading the comments, Lin Shuyu met Li Mingsheng's gaze and said, "I'll just read a few of these comments randomly."
He then asked, "What is Chairman Li's opinion on this?"
Li Mingsheng became interested in her question and said with great interest, "It has been said since ancient times that merchants are profit-driven, with only money in their eyes, and all their actions are for making money. On a superficial level, that's not wrong. On a deeper level, we merchants also have a responsibility and obligation to make people feel warmth and happiness in this era. In fact, we only have one goal: the people. When the people are doing well, we are doing well. When the people's happiness index rises, our business will also flourish. We hope that the label of merchants being only interested in profit can be torn off starting with us. We also hope that the people can trust our Chinese pharmaceutical companies. This is what Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group has always been doing, and we hope to do it well in the future."
Lin Shuyu nodded and turned off the screen. "I see."
She glanced up and inadvertently at the studio door, which was tightly closed. She then looked away, pausing for only a second or two. But to the director, this scene made it seem as if Lin Shuyu was waiting for someone.
The director wasn't mistaken; Lin Shuyu was indeed waiting for someone.
According to the original plan, Li Xingzhou should have appeared by now, but he hadn't. She didn't know if something had happened, so she could only press the mute button next to the studio and ask Li Mingsheng, "Hasn't President Li arrived yet?"
Li Mingsheng was also puzzled by this. He had already generated a lot of buzz at the beginning, and now all that was needed was for Li Xingzhou to make his appearance and push the hype to another climax.
Just as they were racking their brains trying to figure it out, the studio door was pushed open.
Everyone in the studio instinctively looked over, including Li Mingsheng and Lin Shuyu sitting on the stage.
Li Xingzhou glanced at the people present, but didn't react to their turning to look at him. He walked straight to the stage and sat down next to Li Mingsheng. "Sorry I'm late because I was busy with work."
Lin Shuyu kept the silencer pressed, so the audience in front of the camera couldn't hear what he said at all.
Li Mingsheng only glanced at him before looking away. "It's alright. Being late is also a way to attract attention and create buzz."
Lin Shuyu glanced at Li Mingsheng, then at Li Xingzhou, and seeing that they were both looking at the camera, she said to the camera as well: "Now, let's officially begin the live broadcast about Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group."
She smiled slightly, looking at the camera, and said, "Let's welcome Mr. Li with even warmer applause."
"Mr. Li, there have been recent online reports claiming that the poisoning incident at Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group ten years ago was not an accident, but a deliberate act. What is your opinion on this, Mr. Li?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a heavy atmosphere filled the entire studio for a moment.
Although everyone present knew it was a scripted live broadcast, they couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy because of this event that had once caused a national sensation.
But Li Xingzhou just stared at the camera without saying a word.
The staff in the studio all looked completely bewildered, exchanging bewildered glances.
Li Mingsheng remained calm and composed, slowly saying each word: "Xingzhou, speak."
After a long pause, Li Xingzhou seemed to have made a crucial decision before saying, "Alright, there are people who know more about the poison incident involving the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group back then and have more authority to speak on it than I do. Rather than having me speak, let him do it."
Upon hearing this, Li Mingsheng's first reaction was shock, but then he realized that Li Xingzhou wanted him to speak.
Unfortunately, the idea was nice, but the reality was harsh.
"Is that alright, Lin, the anchor?"
Before Li Mingsheng could react, Lin Shuyu replied directly, "Of course, then let's invite this person to speak."
As soon as he finished speaking, the studio door opened again.
Once again, everyone looked over.
All eyes were fixed on the face of the man who had suddenly appeared in the studio.
Li Mingsheng also looked over.
He was a tall, dashing man. Although the lights near the studio entrance were dim, Li Mingsheng could still make out a few features of him.
He was now very puzzled: Who was this person? Why did Li Xingzhou know him? Or was this person an actor hired by Li Xingzhou to make the performance more convincing?
All the staff in the studio waited quietly for the person on the stage to speak. No one whispered among themselves. They all wanted to know what was going on. It was different from the instructions they had received earlier.
Li Mingsheng only came to his senses when the man left the gate and walked towards them. He turned his head slightly and asked, "Wait a moment, who is this Xiaozhou? I don't recognize him."
Li Xingzhou's gaze fell on the pair of eyes that emerged from the shadows: "It's Shen Nanfeng, a judge from the People's Court."
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Author's Note: Sorry to keep you waiting. I was called away on a business trip at the last minute. There should be two updates today.
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