In the high-level conference room of the Che Group building, major shareholders had gathered, many of whom had rushed back from out of town at the last minute.
Most of the major shareholders were older individuals who had worked alongside Che Xiayun’s grandfather to build the company. They were loyal to the family name rather than any individual, firmly believing that the group should be managed by someone with the Che surname to ensure stability. However, since Ma Qingyu had been appointed directly by Che Xiayun’s grandfather, internal dissent had been relatively subdued.
The crisis had caught the public relations team off guard. Fortunately, Ma Qingyu returned to the group promptly and issued a series of commands, stabilizing internal morale and preventing the company from facing both internal and external threats.
Yet, the voices of online spectators had grown too loud to ignore. Thousands of shareholders, influenced by public opinion, had sold off their stocks. Media outlets, eager to capitalize on the situation, scrambled to publish related reports.
The hashtag #CheGroup’sActualLeaderSeriouslyInjuredHospitalized had surged to the top of the trending list.
Amid the overwhelming public scrutiny, the group’s stock prices plummeted. Although the public relations and legal teams had issued statements as quickly as possible, they could only curb the decline in stock prices, unable to fully recover the losses incurred.
The shareholders’ meeting began promptly at 2 p.m. As expected, the first question raised by the shareholders was, “Has something really happened to Che Xiayun?”
Ma Qingyu scanned the room and nodded. “She was indeed injured and hospitalized, but there’s no need for concern. She regained consciousness yesterday and is recovering well. Contrary to media rumors, she is not in critical condition or at risk of death.”
“Everyone can review the young master’s medical report from yesterday afternoon. The data is accurate and reliable.”
Secretary Zhou Shi appropriately distributed Che Xiayun’s post-recovery medical report to the shareholders, omitting some “less critical” parameters. The diagnostic report highlighted only low red blood cell counts, abnormally high white blood cell counts, and some inflammation at the wound site, with all other aspects being largely normal.
After the shareholders had reviewed the report and the murmurs in the conference room subsided, Ma Qingyu straightened the documents in front of her. “This incident was sudden, and public opinion has been overwhelmingly one-sided. Under such circumstances, our public relations team responded within two hours, promptly curbing the stock decline.”
In the age of big data, internet users have the memory span of a goldfish. The sooner an effective public statement is issued, the better the damage control.
“Statistics show that over 90% of the shareholders who sold their stocks were retail investors, with only a very small number of major stakeholders exiting.”
Ma Qingyu presented data and reports one by one to the shareholders. After hearing her explanations, most of them appeared visibly relieved.
The meeting lasted until a little past 4 p.m. before concluding.
After all the shareholders had left, Ma Qingyu returned to her office. Suddenly, her vision darkened, and waves of dizziness washed over her. Her legs weakened, and she quickly grabbed onto her desk to steady herself, nearly collapsing.
Zhou Shi was startled by her condition but hesitated to offer physical assistance, considering she was an omega and the young master’s wife. “Madam, are you alright?” he asked, retracting his outstretched hand.
Ma Qingyu closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to stand steady. She felt lightheaded, with cold hands and feet. “It’s nothing. I probably skipped lunch and have low blood sugar. Could you please go to the pharmacy and buy me some glucose?”
“Hmm,” Zhou Shi placed the laptop and documents on the office desk. “You should rest for a while and take care of yourself.”
Ma Qingyu nodded lightly. Zhou Shi quickly turned and left, failing to notice how her fingertips gripping the desk had turned pale, her entire body trembling, her makeup unable to conceal her exhaustion.
The spacious, luxurious office felt overwhelmingly cold, the chill clinging to her limbs like a persistent parasite. Her feet felt as if they were treading on cotton, completely devoid of strength.
Ma Qingyu hadn’t just skipped lunch that day. During the days when Che Xiayun was unconscious, she had suffered day and night unable to sleep due to nightmares, forcing herself to eat during the day but finding it difficult to swallow, and feeling nauseated even when she managed to eat. She had lost a significant amount of weight.
＊
By 9 p.m., things at the corporation had just begun to quiet down. Those working overtime were about to head home when a partner suddenly called, insisting on terminating a recently negotiated contract with the Che Group. Their stance was firm they were even willing to pay the penalty for breach of contract.
Zhou Shi had no choice but to approach Ma Qingyu. “It’s that A-list celebrity you secured last time. He’s only recently gained popularity, and his fanbase is very active. We’ve already released promotional materials about our collaboration with him. The losses from a mid-contract termination would likely exceed the penalty.”
Ma Qingyu rubbed her temples and swiftly wrote a few lines in her notebook. “I understand. Inform the legal department first, then schedule a meeting with them. I’ll handle the negotiations.”
Zhou Shi pulled up the schedule, his brow gradually furrowing. “But your schedule is completely packed for the foreseeable future.”
Ma Qingyu’s hand, holding the pen, paused mid-signature. The nib left a smudge of ink on the paper. She closed her eyes briefly. “Then let it go. Direct the legal department to prepare a lawsuit for breach of contract damages.”
Zhou Shi opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent. “Understood.”
The legal department was already stretched thin, but there was no other option. These were extraordinary times, and everyone was working around the clock.
Ma Qingyu tapped the desk. “Once this period is over, we’ll raise everyone’s salaries and distribute bonuses accordingly. Have the finance department calculate the specifics and increase the year-end bonus budget by another ten percent. As for those resigning, don’t try to retain them, just approve their requests.”
Zhou Shi nodded while quickly taking notes.
After giving her instructions, Ma Qingyu rubbed her eyes and mustered her energy. “You’ve worked hard.”
Zhou Shi shook his head. “Not at all.”
Ma Qingyu forced a faint smile. “Is it really that hard to admit you’ve been working hard?”
Zhou Shi smiled along. “It’s manageable.”
Her phone rang again. Ma Qingyu glanced at the screen and waved her hand. “You can head back to the secretarial office for now. Have someone bring me a cup of coffee later.”
Zhou Shi nodded and hurried off.
Ma Qingyu answered the call. “Hello, Dad.”
Ma Mingzhe’s concerned voice came through. “You’re still at the office this late?”
“There are still a few matters to wrap up,” Ma Qingyu replied, fiddling with her pen and instinctively scanning the office. “How did you know I hadn’t left yet?”
“Oh,” Ma Mingzhe answered casually, “I could hear the echo on your end.”
“Yeah.” Ma Qingyu sighed softly before continuing, “I assume you’ve seen the news?”
Ma Mingzhe acknowledged. “I have. You handled it well this time.”
Ma Qingyu massaged her forehead. “But just now, a celebrity terminated their contract with us, even willing to face a lawsuit. Our legal department is completely overwhelmed right now.”
Ma Mingzhe casually asked, “Who is it? Can I help?”
Ma Qingyu glanced up slightly, thinking for a moment, “Mu Kangshi.”
“Oh, him,” Ma Mingzhe paused, then asked, “Which project is he collaborating with you on?”
“An endorsement for a new beverage,” Ma Qingyu flipped through the documents on the desk. “He’s already filmed the advertisement for our product, the warehouse has stocked a batch of goods, and his face is printed on the packaging. It was originally scheduled to launch at the beginning of next month.”
Ma Mingzhe seemed thoughtful. “I see. It’s late and you’re still working overtime that’s tough. Why not transfer this project to me? Our family’s catering business happens to be related to this area, so we could take in a batch of supplies.”
Hearing this, Ma Qingyu frowned and crumpled the draft paper in her hand. “Dad, I don’t have the authority to decide the direction of a project. A project of this scale requires a board meeting.”
Ma Mingzhe chuckled. “Even though you’re only acting as the chairman for now, it’s just one project. The Che family has a vast business surely they’d give you that much face?”
If she still didn’t understand at this point, she wouldn’t deserve to sit in this office overseeing the entire group.
Ma Mingzhe added, “The Che family’s assets aren’t truly yours. If you don’t have something of your own, you’ll still be constrained by her. I’m thinking of your best interests.”
“I didn’t marry her for the sake of the group.”
Ma Qingyu suddenly felt the pressure of internal and external troubles, her head aching. “Dad, get some rest early. I’m hanging up now.”
With that, she ended the call.
The dial tone buzzed in Ma Mingzhe’s ear after the call was disconnected. He set down his phone and sighed softly, “But the reason I agreed to your marriage was for the Che Group, silly daughter.”
＊
It was already past midnight in the hospital room.
Che Xiayun was suffering from insomnia. Having slept too early in the evening, she woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep. She could only stare blankly at the ceiling, trying to empty her mind in hopes of drifting off again.
Suddenly, the door opened from the outside. Even though the person opening it moved very quietly, the faint sound of the door handle turning still reached Che Xiayun’s ears.
Who could be coming in at this hour?
Che Xiayun panicked slightly and quickly closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep. The light from the hallway seeped through the door crack and fell on her eyelids, making them twitch and her eyelashes flutter.
Could it be an assassin?
Che Xiayun gripped the sheets tightly, then remembered the layers of bodyguards outside and the hidden guards inside the room. Surely, they wouldn’t let an assassin slip in without any commotion?
While she was anxiously pondering this, the person had already entered, closed the hospital room door, and plunged the room into darkness.
Che Xiayun was so nervous she couldn’t help but swallow, her heart racing wildly.
After a series of soft footsteps and the rustling of clothes, the person accidentally bumped into a chair in the dark, producing a dull thud.
Who on earth could it be, coming here so late?
Che Xiayun took two deep breaths, pretending to be startled awake, and mustered the courage to mumble, “Who’s there?”
“It’s me.”
The glow from the phone screen illuminated Ma Qingyu’s face as she rubbed her sore knee. “Sorry for waking you.”
Che Xiayun’s heart, which had been lodged in her throat, finally settled, and she breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, it’s fine. I slept a lot during the day anyway, so I’m having a bit of trouble sleeping now.”
“Mm.”
Ma Qingyu made her way to the bedside by the light of her phone screen and turned on the lamp, instantly flooding the entire hospital room with brightness.
Che Xiayun squinted her eyes to adjust to the sudden glare. “Why did you come back here?”
Ma Qingyu studied her for a moment. “I couldn’t sleep.”
Che Xiayun propped herself up slowly, leaning against the headboard, and glanced at her. “Same here.”
A quiet stillness settled over the room. Unsure of what to say, Che Xiayun lowered her head and began fiddling with the edge of the blanket.
Ma Qingyu pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed, suddenly asking, “Have you changed the dressing on your wound?”
Che Xiayun was about to look up and say, “Yes, of course I have, it’s this late already,” but as she lifted her gaze, she unexpectedly met Ma Qingyu’s eyes. She quickly averted her gaze and changed her answer. “No, I haven’t.”
For some reason, she felt as if there was a desire in Ma Qingyu’s eyes, a hunger to devour her especially when their eyes met. Just now, it had been laid bare, unmistakable and unguarded.
“Then let me change it for you.”
Ma Qingyu retrieved the medical kit, and Che Xiayun obediently offered her hand.
Ma Qingyu carefully unwrapped the gauze, dipped a cotton swab in antiseptic, and gently dabbed it on the wound before wrapping it with fresh gauze and tying it into a neat bow.
Che Xiayun’s eyes followed her movements. Neither of them spoke, and the dressing on her hand was soon changed.
Ma Qingyu rose from her chair, leaned in close to the bedside, and bent down to remove the gauze from Che Xiayun’s neck.
Why had Ma Qingyu come to her in the middle of the night, unable to sleep?
Che Xiayun couldn’t quite figure it out.
As the gauze around her neck was removed, Ma Qingyu caught sight of the long, narrow wound along Che Xiayun’s jawline stitched up in a somewhat ghastly manner. Dipping a cotton swab in antiseptic, she gently touched it to the wound and suddenly glanced at Che Xiayun. “You knew all along, didn’t you?”