A Week (II)

[Day 3]

The article that was posted spread fast like a virus. People who read the article forwarded it and shared with their friends. The controversy of CJ was on its peak.

Inside the CEO's office, President Long furiously slammed his fists on the table. The moment he had entered the company earlier, the directors directly barged into his office and demanded for an emergency meeting.

"We have a team for this! Public Relations, what's the use of PR? What are they doing?! Wastes, they can't even control the media! Delete this article no matter how much it costs! Or just give this SHM some money to shut them up!" President Long was reaching his limit. It was only an article, with very little evidence in it. They could easily knock it down! But it was precisely this very article that was giving him a terrible headache.

"Sir, we've been doing that. We even hired expert hackers to delete it. However, many people had already downloaded the contents and took screenshots of the original article. They keep on reposting and sharing them. We have also contacted SHM, but their answers... w-were not g-good," the team leader of the PR department stuttered at the end. She still remembered how the SHM staff answer them like goons when she called them.

"Haaah? Do you think we can be swayed by money? Haaah? No! We are SHM! Do you know SHM?! Shi Hua Media! By the namesake, we only tell the truth! We, the creators of SHM, will deliver justice! We will—"

She ended the call right there and then. She was scared off by their shouting. All she said was 'hello, we are from CJ—', did not even get the chance to mention the money offer, and they already started ranting. What's more! They even posted this morning, saying that CJ Company called them for bribes so they can pull down the article.

Seeing that post, she almost vomited blood. Although they all knew the purpose of the call, but still, she did not even had a chance to say that to them, alright?! 

So, bribing them or having negotiations was a no-no.

"Then just go to their office! Who will not like money? Just bring them another scoop, that's what they want anyway," President Long only thought that once they stopped posting, this matter will end.

"President, I'm afraid we cannot do that. Their recent post already announced to the public that we contacted them for bribery. If we show up at their office, people would simply confirm their thoughts on that." 

Which was true, anyways. She silently added.

The PR department was also having the same terrible headache as President Long. They received calls from other media companies wanting to get an explanation from them. The public was also truly riled up, demanding for the truth on the matter. 

They had not given clear responses yet. Giving a response required resources. They need evidence as well, to oppose the ones given by SHM.

"President Long, this issue has already affected our business overseas," one of the directors said.

"What do you mean even overseas?!"

The director broke out in cold sweat, but he must still say the bad news.

"Earlier, one of the foreign investors called. They're pulling out from the deal. Also, one of the malls that we had signed with canceled the contract, they even blacklisted us."

"What? They are believing these groundless rumors?!" President Long clenched his fist. This situation was getting even worse.

"President, the evidence they have are really accurate. Just by asking and confirming the people in the transaction list and comparing them together, they will know that the file is genuine. That's why many people believe them. We need to fix our image as soon as possible, people don't trust us anymore."

President Long massaged his temples.

"How they did they even got their hands on those documents? Is there a rat in our company?" he muttered in a low voice. Inside, he was fuming.

"We will investigate. But our image..." 

"Create a new transaction record. Deny everything. Let PR handle the matter."

_______________________

The PR department handled the matter as directed. They knew deep in their hearts that CJ was truly at fault, but they did not have much choice. This was the place they worked at.

They posted an apology and an explanation.

[We are really sorry for our incompetence and for causing misgivings to our dear customers.

First, CJ Company really wishes to thank you for trusting us and giving us a chance to give our explanation.

We deny the file that SHM had posted in their article. We had never seen that transaction record before, what we have is as follows.]

There was an attachment. It was another audit on the same dates with the same people who bought from CJ Company. The file was the same as what SHM had posted, with differences on the accounting, prices, and interest.

[What SHM said about the confirmed fake diamonds that the people had bought, wasn't the culprit already found? We already handled the matter when we found out about the case of the switched diamonds.

So we ask our loyal customers, please continue believing in us as we have been serving the public for a hundred years. We will not put our centennial reputation at stake for these dishonest methods.]

This statement brought the issue to new heights.

People argued. Some sided with CJ while others do not. The upper society even heard of the matter. They supported CJ Company as they were the usual buyers, and they had never received any fake jewelry in their long patronage with the company. 

Aside from that, the company made the PR department and the security team investigate SHM. They reposted the past posts and news that SHM had covered. Since SHM did not have any newsworthy works in the past, CJ decided to use that against them. Their news before had mainly consisted of tailing and confirming rumors of the businessmen having affairs with various mistresses, and the unfair and suspicious movements of small local officials. Because of this background, people started to doubt SHM and began siding with CJ.

Xiong Zhi, who was riding her car to her office, was browsing through her phone.

Well, she could no longer fight the urge and checked the news.

When she read the post of CJ Company, she smiled inwardly.

'What fools... By doing this, they are just digging deeper into their grave.'

She finally put her phone away. She had seen enough, and without a doubt she would be meeting the Vice Director of IHZHI soon.

_____________________

Entering her office, she noticed that one of the private rooms was lit up. She knew that the genius boy was inside the same room again.

She reached for her phone and stared at it. She was wondering what Linfeng was doing right now. Earlier, when Linfeng accompanied her to the building, he said that he had some matters to attend to. In the past life, he always made excuses like that. But she had not given it much thought. Now that her feelings for Linfeng was crystal clear, she began to notice that Linfeng was always busy. How come?

Xiong Zhi always stared at him in the corner of her eyes on their daily travels to school, thus, she noticed that Linfeng was always on his phone. Talking or reading something. Sometimes, he was in a daze, as if thinking of something, then he would start typing on his phone.

'What is he doing?'

Xiong Zhi wanted badly to ask him, but she knew Linfeng liked his privacy, especially now that he had not developed his feelings towards her yet.

She sighed. How come she did not notice all these in the past?

Because of that, she was now in the dark of what Linfeng had been doing.

Riiing.

Xiong Zhi picked up the phone absentmindedly and answered it.

"Hello? Is it Xiong Zhi?"

Xiong Zhi mind quickly cleared. Her eyes brightened and the slightest curve on her lips appeared.

"It is me."

"...I am Fang Dien. Remember me? You went to me last time and gave me three days to well, to decide..."

"Of course. I've been waiting. So, what's your answer?"

"...Can we meet first?"

"Alright. Go to the address that I gave you." She hung up.

He was the reason why she came here today in her office.

_____________

A slender figure of a man with alluring appearance entered Xiong Zhi's office. 

Fang Dien was actually hesitating whether to accept the offer or not. But the girl was right. He had no other choice. 

With her help, he was able to leave the jail for now. But he knew peace would only be for a short while. That bastard would certainly not give up so easily.

That bastard really blocked him from any company he applied for. He was prepared to work on odd jobs. But he had graduated with a bachelor's degree, he could not bring himself to waste his hard won degree. 

Finally, he decided to gamble with the girl's offer.

Arriving at the office, he was startled.

No one was really here.

But what could he expect, IHZHI have not yet formally started operating.

He entered one of the private rooms and he saw a boy typing madly on the keyboard of his computer. Without turning back, the boy said, "She's in the other room."

He closed the door and entered the other room. He saw Xiong Zhi sitting while holding some documents on her table.

He took a seat across her and stared at the documents.

Xiong Zhi pushed the papers closer to him and handed him a pen.

Fang Dien's mouth twitched.

'That's it? No talking?'

Xiong Zhi was clear. Coming here meant signing the contract.

Fang Dien took a deep breath, before he picked up the pen and started signing. He had already read it many times. After he was done, his peach blossom eyes watched Xiong Zhi intently.

"Miss Xiong, I am very grateful to you for giving me this opportunity. No doubt, it was you who used your connections to bail me out. Thank you very much. In return, I will do all my best for this company. I look forward to working well with you."

"I hope you work well. You're the CEO, you will be handling the company. I will just provide potential business deals and approve important deals that you want my opinion on. Aside from that, you will have the word over everything. You will be meeting your Vice Director soon," Xiong Zhi faintly said while taking out another document.

Fang Dien raised a brow.

"Is the Vice Director not yet convinced?" He had a very strong feeling that the person might have been recruited the same way as him. It was a mysterious feeling.

"She already agreed. But she presently is unable to meet us here."

He just nodded. Xiong Zhi handed him the document in her hand. It was a list of names.

"Contact these people, recruit them. If you know someone who could work hard and is certainly loyal, count them in. By next week, this room must be filled with people. This—" she pointed at another page with a list of various companies' names.

"—these companies and establishments, contact them. Invest in their new projects. Take note, invest in new projects only. Demand twenty percent share."

"Twenty? That's too much." No one would agree with such daylight robbery.

"They will. Trust me. I will contact you again after a week. By then, you'll be meeting our Vice Director."

After the discussion, Xiong Zhi stood up,

"You can start now." 

She left the office, leaving him with the keys and the documents. That showed her trust on him.

Fang Dien stared at the list. He took out his phone and searched for every company written on the list. After a while, he was shocked.

These projects that Xiong Zhi wanted to invest were all...

Too mediocre...

Now, he understood why Xiong Zhi was confident that these companies will accept their proposal despite the large demanded share. Turned out no one would want to invest in their lame projects.

And now, IZHI Company wanted to invest. Fang Dien began to doubt.

'This company... Can it really grow?'

Did he make the right decision to work here? With a high school girl as his boss?

'No matter what, she's the boss, and my benefactor. I'll just do my best.'

Of course, little did he know that after a year, those mediocre projects that he previously looked down upon will rise from a tiny bird into a phoenix.

[END OF DAY 3 ]

A/N : remember Fang Dien? Refer to chapter 8 and 9 ^^