Chapter 71: Besides, how can Young Master Huo be certain that I am incapable of turning the tide?

The call was from Sister Tan. Her meaning was clear between the lines—mobilize all resources at once and suppress the scandal as quickly as possible. If it reached the higher-ups, it would be beyond her ability to intervene!

In this unprecedented age of the internet, everyone is their own media outlet, everyone's a judge.

Though Song Mi had been away from the country for some time, she had done all her homework before returning. She was well aware of the power wielded by the masses in the age of new media.

Moreover, since someone was deliberately stirring things up, those active behind the screens were certainly not just ordinary "netizens."

At this rate, swarms of paid posters would soon flood every major social platform, forum, and even private chat groups, endlessly spreading the gossip.

Interception, deletion, attempts at harmonization—none of these would work!

Nowadays, with people's phones practically glued to their hands, rather than trying to control the speed of the spread, it was better to refute the rumors and then create an even more sensational, eye-catching piece of news!

Song Mi was quick-witted and acted fast. After hanging up on Sister Tan, she told Qiao Weiwei they'd be in touch, put on her coat, and strode out.

As she was about to step off the last stair, a voice called from behind, "President Song?"

It was Huo Qingjue. "Here for a meal?"

Song Mi nodded slightly. "I hadn't expected Young Master Huo to be a regular at the Tianxiang Pavilion as well."

"I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

"Coincidentally, I need to go too." Huo Qingjue quickened his pace, catching up to walk just behind her. "Let me see you off, President Song."

Song Mi was always wary of Huo Qingjue. If Sihai Group were to be cut from the project by the leaders, Wan Jia Group would be the most likely to take their place.

How coincidental.

She had received the call during her meal and was in a hurry to return and lead Sihai Group through this public relations crisis.

So, had Huo Qingjue also seen the scandal and was rushing back to prepare, ready to step in should the leaders call, replacing her at a moment's notice? "Young Master Huo, were you, like me, disturbed from your meal by some unexpected surprise?"

That "surprise" was a double entendre.

For her, it was shock.

For Huo Qingjue, it was delight.

"President Song is as straightforward as ever!" Huo Qingjue hadn't had that thought, but once she pointed it out, inspiration struck, and he decided to give it a try. "If I pretended not to understand, in your eyes it would be not mere avoidance, but unworthiness to associate with you."

At his words, Song Mi narrowed her eyes, a habitual gesture, scrutinizing him.

Meeting her gaze, Huo Qingjue continued, "An invitation can't match a chance encounter. May I borrow ten minutes of your time?"

Song Mi didn't refuse.

Just then, Ye Zhao also stepped out. After leaving Tianxiang Pavilion, the two got into her Phantom.

The car's spacious interior, especially the backseat, made it suitable for discussion.

Song Mi sat by the left door; Huo Qingjue took the other side, with enough space in between for three adults.

She hadn't expected Huo Qingjue to be so direct. He asked for the comprehensive renovation plan she'd spent nearly two months preparing, set to be unveiled at the groundbreaking ceremony the next day. "I wouldn't make such a request of anyone else, but President Song..."

He paused here, collecting himself before continuing, "Having witnessed your flair and boldness before, I think it's worth trying."

"Of course, I’ll return the favor in kind."

Today, Huo Qingjue wore gold-rimmed glasses, which lent him a scholarly air.

It seemed that each meeting with him left a different impression than the last.

Soon, Song Mi's red lips curved in a half-smile. "So, you were prepared all along, Young Master Huo?"

She spoke thus, but in truth, she didn't believe Huo Qingjue was the mastermind behind the sudden scandal about Shen Yanye and Tang Lishi.

The logic was simple.

If it were him, he would have had a comprehensive plan prepared beforehand, and wouldn't be scrambling now to ask for a favor.

Of course, he could be feigning innocence to deflect suspicion.

Still, Song Mi was certain that if Huo Qingjue had orchestrated this, he wouldn’t have come to face her afterward.

It simply wasn't logical.

In business, even allies frequently betray each other, and their two families were already rivals.

"Misunderstanding," Huo Qingjue’s gaze was clear and his demeanor calm, then he smiled with composure. "Since we've come this far, let me be frank: someone under your command, Xu Yu, has lately been getting close with my elder brother."

Song Mi quickly caught on. "So, you're afraid of trouble in my backyard, Young Master Huo!"

"But, Xu Yu alone hardly seems worth your offer of an equivalent favor!" she replied lightly, her long lashes falling to conceal her expression.

"One Xu Yu is certainly not enough," Huo Qingjue's tone remained even, part refined, part candid, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Nor did he sound like someone pleading for a favor.

It was as if he was simply negotiating a deal—friendly, mutually beneficial, and even as the party in need, he maintained his dignity.

For a moment, Song Mi regarded this illegitimate second young master of the Huo family with newfound respect.

As she thought this, Huo Qingjue continued, "From what I know, Xu Yu might be planning to stage a ‘deserted city’ stratagem against you."

At that, a cold glint flashed in Song Mi’s eyes, but it vanished quickly, supplanted by a deeper smile. "Oh, so you lay your cards on the table so soon, Young Master Huo?"

"I haven't even agreed yet!" The dimples at her lips were as delicate as pear blossoms, captivating yet tinged with a cool indifference in her honey-hued eyes. Her words took a playful turn. "Besides, how do you know I won't turn the tide?"

"Isn't it rash to presume Wan Jia will definitely replace Sihai?" With that, she folded her arms and met his gaze, unhurried. "A bit hasty, isn't it?"

Only then did Huo Qingjue show a trace of assertiveness, though he maintained just the right balance, never crossing into unpleasantness. "Then I won't take up any more of President Song's time."

With that, he drew a gilded business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. "If fortune smiles on me and you change your mind, I hope you'll get in touch."

He nodded and stepped out of the car.

But he didn’t close the door immediately. As Song Mi glanced over, Huo Qingjue bent back inside, looking at her. "President Song, you misunderstand. Xu Yu's stratagem isn't my trump card."

"If anything, consider it a token of my sincerity."

He flashed a grin, his white teeth gleaming before her eyes. "Goodbye."

...

Sihai Tower, 65th floor, main conference room.

The spacious room was utterly silent.

Soon, Song Mi looked up and swept her gaze around. "There are less than three hours until the end of the workday."

She wasn’t referring to her own or the others’ working hours, but to when the higher-ups—the ones who could eject Sihai Group from the entire renovation project with a single word—would clock out.

Unable to reach Shen Yanye, and without him as the main party to hold a press conference to refute the rumors, even if they concocted a more explosive news story, anything linked to Sihai Group could end up backfiring!

Tang Lishi had already posted a lawyer's letter on her personal and Sihai Group’s official microblogs, sternly declaring legal action against all rumor-mongering platforms.

Within half an hour, her microblog was besieged by netizens, forcing her to disable comments.

Shen Yanye remained silent—not only did he not respond on his social media, but no one could reach him at all.

Not even his wife.

At this point, Song Mi no longer doubted that Shen Yanye himself had leaked the story!

To spite her, he would disregard the company’s interests, understandable. But to trash his own reputation, making himself a public pariah and discarding even the basic dignity of a human being—this she truly hadn’t foreseen!

Is this what they call a man ruthless enough to use even himself as a pawn for the sake of achieving his aims?

Wasn’t he afraid his daughter would disown him?

Shen Yanye had a nine-year-old daughter, and he doted on her.

He really had nothing left to lose!

Time ticked by. Assistant Lin, along with the PR and Jiaxing teams, was doing all they could to counter the paid posters.

But just as Song Mi had predicted, the spread was too fast, and the channels too numerous. Chasing after to intercept, delete, and harmonize was only treating the symptoms, not the disease.

Another ten minutes passed. Song Mi was about to adjourn the meeting.

Just then, Lin Shen reported a new development—Shen Yanlie had apparently come out publicly with a microblog alias!

Though he used a pseudonymous account, sharp-eyed netizens quickly identified one of the boys as Shen Yanlie.

With the previous scandal between Shen Yanye and Tang Lishi, netizens had already dug up everything on the Shen family. Even if Shen Yanlie did nothing, the fact that he was Tang Lishi’s son put him directly in the line of fire.

And now, he chose this moment to come out.

Speculation ran wild online.

Some even claimed that Shen Yanlie might actually be Shen Yanye’s son.

A well-known website soon featured a headline: "Shocking! Brother Becomes Son!"

By four in the afternoon, Shen Yanye was still nowhere to be found.

For the first time, Song Mi decided to let go.

Let fate take its course.

She had done all she could.

What was beyond her power, she could do nothing about.

After Lin Shen showed her the comments under Shen Yanlie’s microblog and several relevant trending posts, about five minutes passed before Song Mi suddenly said, "Let’s adjourn."

With that, she pushed back her chair and stood.

At her words, every heart in the room seemed to skip a beat.

Though Song Mi had only parachuted into the company two months prior, her decisive style as chairwoman had already left a deep impression on everyone.

As the saying goes, a new boss always brings a few fires. Song Mi’s standards were high, but her rewards were generous.

Since her arrival, salaries across all departments had seen significant increases, with benefits and perks also improved.

They worked for money and good treatment, after all.

As for her demanding high quality and efficiency, in the long run, it would only benefit their own careers.

So, throughout Sihai Tower, except for a few planted spies, the majority welcomed and approved of the new culture Song Mi brought to the company.

They had grown used to the fresh, top-down ethos centered around her office.

But just now,

Her weary-sounding, almost listless, "Let’s adjourn," caught everyone off guard.

That word "adjourn," the unmistakable fatigue in her tone, and her tired expression—this was the first time anyone, even Lin Shen, had seen her like this.

A strange feeling arose in everyone’s hearts.

It was hard to define, but it made them want to do something—say something—to make it right again.

Song Mi was already heading for the door.

Across the rectangular conference table, everyone still sat rooted in place.

The first to speak was the current chief of the Western Suburb Old Town Renovation Project. He stood up. "Chairwoman, is there anything else we can do?"

Soon others stood as well. "Yes, Chairwoman, we can’t give up now!"

"Let us help PR!"

"Yes, we can go online to refute the rumors!"

"..."

"..."

More and more people stood, each voicing an idea they believed could help the company and the project in this crisis.

Song Mi listened, then looked around. She saw their enthusiasm, their sense of responsibility, their unity.

They were just employees, paid monthly with bonuses for meeting targets. Even the highest earners in the room might only get a department bonus at year’s end.

All told, a year’s earnings might buy a sports car, or a down payment on an apartment.

Yet at this critical moment, they regarded the company’s troubles as their own, took ownership of the project without reservation.

She couldn’t help but be moved.

She had never felt much affection for any of them; even with Assistant Lin and Lin Shen, she preferred to show appreciation with money rather than emotion.

She believed more in the power of money.

But today, right now, something felt different.

Still, Song Mi never allowed herself to be swayed by sentiment. Even as she appreciated their passion, it didn’t alter her judgment of the situation.

Huo Qingjue hadn’t been rash; her own claim that she could turn the tide—that was the rash one.

Victory and defeat are part of the game. If she lost, she would accept it.

But perhaps it was too early to say. She hadn’t received any notice yet.

And Sister Tan hadn’t called again.

There was still a chance.

Everything depended on the higher-ups.

With that in mind, after taking in their reactions, she stood a moment longer and then, with little emotion, said, "As long as you do your own work well, today, everyone’s overtime pay will be tripled."

"Lin Shen, keep a record."

With that, Song Mi left the conference room without looking back.

...

Meanwhile, at St. Veya Hospital in the capital.

Feng Shengzhi awoke to see her son sitting at her bedside, brow furrowed, lost in thought.

She moved, trying to sit up. He noticed immediately. "Mom, how are you feeling?"

With his help, she sat up against the pillows. "Have I been asleep long?"

Wen Yanli replied, "Almost two hours."

Feng Shengzhi glanced at the faint shadow of stubble on his chin, thinking how he’d rushed over on a midnight flight the night before and hadn’t left since. Her heart ached for him. "Go home, take a shower, get some rest. Come back tonight."

"There are doctors and nurses here. If I need anything, I can call."

Wen Yanli handed her a glass of warm water, then sat back down. "I’ll go after Aunt arrives."

After a sip, she held the cup, looking at him. "Ali, are you angry with me?"

Wen Yanli consciously softened his expression, but his tightly pressed lips didn’t move.

Mother and son sat in silence.

After a while, Feng Shengzhi sighed softly, attempting to explain: "It’s not that I don’t care about my health, it’s just... I really don’t want to stay in the hospital..."

"I’ve spent enough time here in the past."

"And truly, I can endure it; it doesn’t hurt that much, so..."

Wen Yanli finally couldn’t hold back. "What about the medication?"

"Why won’t you even take your medicine?"

"Because... because too much medicine causes hair loss, and weight gain, I..." Feng Shengzhi was honest; she did find the discomfort tolerable.

But yes, she had deliberately avoided her medication lately.

Wen Yanli looked at his mother, unable to accept these reasons. "Mom, is your appearance really more important than your health?"

Faced with her son's worried gaze, Feng Shengzhi felt a pang of guilt. She was about to respond when there came a knock at the door.