The safe was soon purchased.
In front of everyone, Wen Ying placed the remaining Silan products into the box and allowed Zhao Qian to set the password herself.
Only after Wen Ying had left with the box did Zhao Qian come to her senses: Why did I obey her?!
This bewilderment was not hers alone. It was also Zhao Dong’s.
“How could you fail at such a simple task!”
They had rehearsed it countless times. Even a pig could have played the part without ruining it.
Zhao Qian felt both guilty and wronged. “With so many people watching, if I had refused, wouldn’t it have looked as though I felt guilty?”
In truth, it was her pride that had prevented her from kneeling in time to morally blackmail Wen Ying, giving Wen Ying the chance to turn the tables.
In front of Zhao Dong, Zhao Qian dared not admit her mistake.
Zhao Qian had not gone to confront Wen Ying alone. Zhao Dong had also arranged for journalists to be present, hoping to use Wen Ying to divert public attention.
Yet events had not followed Zhao Dong’s plan. He had seen the footage the journalists captured and hesitated over whether to release it.
Silan’s reputation hung by a thread.
Beauty salons across the country were demanding returns.
The cosmetic surgery hospitals were the same.
Even though Zhao Dong offered greater concessions, the hospitals were reluctant to continue the partnership.
They could earn money and commissions with other products without bearing such risk.
Zhao Dong was run ragged. The other two shareholders could no longer sit still. Sara Zhuo informed Dai Chenglan, then came to the door with her son Zhuo Chen, demanding Zhao Dong produce a solution.
Between the lines was the clear message: if Zhao Dong could not resolve the crisis, Silan should be handed to someone capable.
Zhao Dong almost laughed in anger.
Who was this capable person? Dai Chenglan?
Though Dai Chenglan had a forceful personality, the He family businesses were run by He Zhinian. Zhao Dong did not consider her more competent than himself.
Hand it to that inexperienced boy Zhuo Chen?
That would be even more laughable.
Dai Chenglan had at least built the business from nothing alongside He Zhinian and possessed marketplace experience. Zhuo Chen had none.
Even if Dai Chenglan and Zhuo Chen were capable, Zhao Dong would never relinquish control of Silan. He countered Sara Zhuo, “As for who manages Silan, I think Mr Xie is qualified to have an opinion. Have you asked what Mr Xie thinks?”
Things were different now. In the past, Xie Jinghu would heed Sara Zhuo’s pillow talk. Now he only mocked and ridiculed her.
Sara Zhuo fell silent, her gaze towards Zhao Dong unfriendly.
Dai Chenglan stared down at her teacup, lost in thought. Zhuo Chen smoothed things over. “We cannot fight among ourselves now.”
Zhao Dong sneered at Young Master Zhuo’s after-the-fact wisdom. “This is a shareholders’ meeting. Irrelevant people should not be present. Unless one of our shareholders is a minor who requires a guardian to decide on their behalf.”
In a foul mood, Zhao Dong snapped at everyone. Even Zhuo Chen fell quiet.
Dai Chenglan looked up. “Stop arguing. The situation is unfavourable for Silan. With three people all wanting control, no one will persuade the others. I will state my position first: I will follow Director Zhao.”
Dai Chenglan had no choice.
Her son’s company competed with Silan. If she claimed she could rescue Silan from its crisis, Zhao Dong would suspect she and He Zhen were conspiring to destroy it.
As the largest shareholder, Dai Chenglan’s support for Zhao Dong left Sara Zhuo nothing to say. She could only give a cold laugh. “Very well. Let us wait and see how Director Zhao turns the tide.”
Zhao Dong had been wavering over releasing the earlier footage. Sara Zhuo’s sarcasm now left him no room to retreat.
After brief hesitation, he outlined his original plan to the three.
“Divert public attention?”
Zhuo Chen murmured, “The public’s focus is currently on Silan’s product quality. If we release the recording now, their attention will instantly shift to Zhao Qian and Wen Ying…”
Zhuo Chen paused.
Silan’s problems had nothing to do with Wen Ying.
Zhao Dong had chosen Wen Ying to divert attention partly out of personal grudge, partly because she was famous enough and already embroiled in controversy.
Sara Zhuo frowned. “Xie Qian’s girlfriend?”
Zhao Dong nodded. “Exactly. It is not that I am petty and want trouble with her. She jumped out first to kick Silan when it was down. Guess who she is doing it for?”
He mentioned Wen Ying’s blog support for the beauty blogger.
Given Wen Ying’s online popularity, her endorsement was hugely damaging to Silan.
Naturally, it was for Xie Qian.
At the mention of Xie Qian, the lofty Zhuo Chen fell silent.
This wave of negative revelations against Silan had led not only Zhao Dong to suspect Xie Qian’s involvement. Zhuo Chen thought the same.
Xie Qian held shares in Jinhu, had Jiaxin Films, and a logistics company.
Zhuo Chen possessed only twenty percent of Silan.
Their holdings were so unequal. Zhuo Chen had never intended to compete, yet Xie Qian seemed intent on destroying him completely.
In that moment, resentment stirred in Zhuo Chen’s heart.
His sister Zhuo Yue was not Xie Jinghu’s biological child, but he was.
Moreover, his birth had not been the result of Xie Jinghu’s marital infidelity. It was a “legacy issue” from before the marriage.
Both were Xie Jinghu’s sons. Xie Qian had been hurt, but had he himself lived comfortably?
The moral shackles weighing on Zhuo Chen vanished. The young man was no longer tormented and confused. His tone grew cold. “Since it has already been filmed, of course it should be released. Silan is under attack from all sides. We need something like this to shift public focus. If not Wen Ying, there would be someone else.”
Did it matter whether Zhao Qian’s face developed allergies?
No.
What mattered was that the wager between Zhao Qian and Wen Ying bought Silan time to reverse the situation.
Even if Zhao Qian ultimately lost, Silan could still find excuses.
For instance, Zhao Qian was young and not Silan’s target demographic. The products were not designed for delicate young skin. Over-nourishment would naturally cause reactions.
Or they could hire paid commenters to focus the narrative on Wen Ying’s overbearing behaviour.
Wen Ying had forced Zhao Qian, whose age did not match Silan’s target users, to use the products. She had deliberately schemed against her.
“Of course, Qianqian may face some attacks, but it will all be worth it. Her sacrifice is enough to save Silan.”
Zhuo Chen’s thinking grew clearer. Both Zhao Dong and Dai Chenglan looked astonished.
Zhuo Chen had always been awkward and reticent. He rarely expressed his views so directly.
And such candid views.
This was the real Zhuo Chen, was it not?
Without the mask, Zhuo Chen truly resembled his mother Sara Zhuo.
Dai Chenglan’s eyelids twitched uncontrollably.
Previously, when Sara Zhuo claimed Zhuo Chen would inherit Jinhu, Dai Chenglan had thought the chances slim. Now she began to believe Sara Zhuo’s words.
A person willing to discard face entirely did indeed have far greater odds of success than someone who clung to it.
