MAPF Chapter 23

Chapter 23: A Few Moles “No chance.”

Xie Shiwei’s voice vanished instantly.

But he had to finish what he wanted to say.

Xie Shiwei steeled himself and said to Xie Tian’an, “Trust me this once.” Ignoring the people on both sides trying to stop him, he forcefully turned on the microphone and said loudly, “Please be patient, everyone. Within two hours, the truth will come out.”

“During this time, reporters can move freely within the designated area, but the company will block signals internally. We hope everyone respects journalistic ethics and does not report false rumors.”

The reporter from Commercial Times was dumbfounded by Xie Shiwei’s confident demeanor. He immediately sought out informants to verify the leads and, confirming the information was accurate, sneered coldly, intending to argue his case. However, the host nimbly took the microphone away, announcing the press conference was over.

The crowd below erupted again, with all sorts of comments, but most people thought Xie Shiwei was acting crazy. The staff struggled to maintain order.

Xie Tian’an, his face ashen, reprimanded Xie Shiwei, “You did perform well today, but you can’t act recklessly! How dare you make such an unsubstantiated promise using the Group’s reputation? Who gave you the gall?”

The company’s executives also shook their heads and sighed, their trust in Xie Shiwei significantly diminished.

Xie Shiwei had no time to answer or explain to them. He could only bow and ask everyone to trust him. Then, he got up and left, dragging He Qin all the way to an empty lounge and locking the door.

.

This matter could be resolved.

The moment he heard the Commercial Times reporter mention Zhaofeng Group, Xie Shiwei immediately remembered a part of the plot.

In the original novel, this press conference went smoothly without any hitches, but the news of Zhaofeng Group’s scandal did exist, broken by Commercial Times a week after the branch’s opening.

Xie Shiwei guessed that his actions had affected the timeline, causing this event to happen earlier.

The reason he dared to vouch for the company’s reputation was that he knew the so-called internal corruption was a complete fabrication. It was simply a plot device by the author to create dog-blood drama, having the two major factions within Zhaofeng Group engage in infighting, with the head of a subsidiary colluding with others to fabricate facts and deliberately frame the big boss.

In the original novel, this news was resolved in just one day with He Qin’s help.

He Qin had an old friend working in a government enforcement agency named Zhou Ze, who happened to have a close relationship with Zhaofeng’s main company’s big boss.

The subsidiary’s people smugly handed over the false leads to the enforcement agency, thinking their plan would succeed, but they were actually harming themselves.

Zhou Ze had already received a request for help from the big boss. On the surface, he blockaded the investigation of Zhaofeng, but secretly, he raced against time to help the big boss collect evidence of the frame-up. He also informed He Qin, who told Xie Tian’an. Finally, Xie Tian’an came forward to assist Zhaofeng’s big boss in finding the complete chain of evidence of the frame-up, quickly clearing up the truth.

Xie Shiwei clearly remembered this plot point, not because he was interested in dog-blood business warfare, but because according to the original author, Zhou Ze was also quite handsome, his appearance not inferior to He Qin.

.

At this moment, in the lounge, Xie Shiwei’s first words to He Qin were to ask him to contact Zhou Ze and settle this matter.

He Qin looked at his chat box with Zhou Ze and slowly asked, “How do you know I have a friend who can help you?”

Xie Shiwei was stunned for a moment and had to incriminate himself: “Didn’t I have someone investigate you? I know exactly who’s in your circle of friends. I’m begging you, this matter is 100% a fabrication. Your friend will definitely be able to find out the truth. Please, just help me!”

He Qin: “You not only know my friend’s name and where he works, but you also know that he happens to have access to Zhaofeng’s case?”

“I heard he’s high-level, a big boss. These things are usually handled by the leaders, right? Even if he’s not directly responsible for handling it, he’ll at least know the inside story and be able to help.”

He Qin still spoke unhurriedly, “How are you so sure this is a fabrication?”

Xie Shiwei was a little angry: “Why are you asking so many questions? The situation is urgent right now. Can’t we handle the matter first and ask questions later?”

He Qin smiled.

It was the first time Xie Shiwei had gotten angry at him for such a serious reason, and his cheeks were a little red, like a snarling puppy.

He thought he looked intimidating, but in reality, he was completely harmless.

Seeing He Qin’s reaction, Xie Shiwei thought, Laugh all you want, and explained unhappily, “I just had an unpleasant encounter with Sun Yinan last weekend, and the next thing I know, he’s bringing a Commercial Times reporter to make trouble, and specifically timed it for the last two minutes of the Q&A session. Isn’t that an obvious conspiracy? There must be something else going on!”

“Zhaofeng has always been Xie Shi Group’s partner. If there was a problem, would my dad, such a successful businessman, be stupid enough to be kept in the dark for so many years?”

Xie Shiwei’s speech became faster and faster, his tone higher and higher, and the look he gave He Qin was more and more fierce.

Only then did He Qin restrain his smile and say, “I’ve contacted Zhou Ze. As you said, he’s helping Zhaofeng’s chairman collect evidence of the frame-up. He’s currently missing two pieces of the puzzle to form a complete logical chain.”

Xie Shiwei’s emotions did a 180-degree turn, and he was overjoyed: “Good job, He Qin, you’re playing the ‘belittle first, then praise’ game! Quickly tell my dad the news and have him send people to assist in the investigation. Time is running out. Cutting off the reporters’ communication for two hours will definitely make them complain, and if it goes on any longer, things will blow up.”

He Qin informed Xie Tian’an of the current situation and Zhou Ze’s contact information, and then said, “Actually, there’s no need to restrict the reporters from contacting the outside world. Why not let them report wildly? After the truth comes out, the public opinion will be even more favorable to you.”

“No.” Xie Shiwei refused. “Sometimes rumors leave a stronger impression than the truth. Anything that’s unfavorable to the Group, even if it only has a tiny bit of impact, I have to prevent it.”

In the original plotline, although the truth came out, Xie Shi Group later fell into crisis, and many media outlets used this incident to attack the Xie family, even distorting the facts and making it impossible for them to defend themselves.

He Qin shrugged and said, “Alright then.” Then, he lowered his head to reply to work messages.

Xie Shiwei also called Zhang Yingjun to explain the situation and asked him to quietly inform his parents not to worry too much.

The lounge was dimly lit. He Qin stared at the screen for a long time, finished dealing with the backlog of matters, took off his glasses, and pressed his eyes.

“What’s your prescription?” Xie Shiwei asked caringly.

“You even investigated my friends, wouldn’t you know that?” He Qin said playfully.

Xie Shiwei stammered, “…I, I forgot some things.”

“Negative twenty-five degrees. It doesn’t affect my daily life. I wear glasses to relieve eye strain.”

“Oh.” Xie Shiwei miraculously pulled out a bottle of eye drops from his pocket and handed it to He Qin. “Here, for you. I just happen to have some.”

“Thanks.” He Qin took it, tilted his head back to put in the eye drops, but accidentally dripped the liquid on the outer corner of his eye.

“Let me do it.” Xie Shiwei went over to help, took the small bottle from He Qin’s hand, half-knelt behind him, carefully propped open his eyelid, and precisely dropped the eye drops into He Qin’s eye.

He Qin’s eyes were cold and still as he closed them.

Xie Shiwei took the opportunity to look at him as much as he wanted, at He Qin’s drooping eyelashes and his high, straight nose. He licked his lips, thinking that this impotent man was really handsome, even when seen upside down.

He Qin felt Xie Shiwei’s gaze and suddenly opened his eyes, meeting his gaze.

Xie Shiwei’s pupils flickered, and he quickly got up, trying to cover up his intentions: “I was bored, so I was counting how many moles you have on your face.”

He Qin suddenly wanted to tease him and asked, “How many?”

Xie Shiwei blurted out, “Three.”

“Wrong.”

“How many is it then? I didn’t see clearly just now, I’ll count again.”

He Qin got up and straightened his clothes: “No chance.”

“Tch.” Xie Shiwei pretended to be uninterested and straightened his clothes in the mirror as well, but he was actually really trying to remember how many moles He Qin had.

.

A few minutes later, the secretary knocked on the door.

“Shiwei, President He, the matter has been resolved. It’s time to go back.”

Xie Shiwei breathed a sigh of relief and went back with He Qin.

Xie Tian’an apologized for his rashness earlier, and his gaze held an additional layer of scrutiny: “Son, how did you know the truth?”

Xie Shiwei had already thought of a reason and whispered to Xie Tian’an, “Zhou Ze and He Qin are friends, you know. When He Qin heard that guy from Commercial Times’ speech, he felt it was strange, so he asked Zhou Ze and then told me.”

This explanation was also the truth, and it filled in the time gap perfectly.

Hearing this, Xie Tian’an appreciated He Qin’s meticulousness and thoughtfulness even more, casting a loving look at He Qin below the stage.

He Qin, not understanding why, returned a smile.

.

The host announced that the press conference would restart, and Xie Tian’an solemnly announced the results of the secret investigation of Zhaofeng. The audience was stunned and sighed at the chaos of the world.

The reporter from Commercial Times widened his eyes in disbelief, shouting and yelling for everyone to believe him, saying that this was all Xie Shi Group’s PR tactics, and that everyone must believe him, and that he could contact the relevant departments!

As a result, Xie Tian’an directly called Zhaofeng’s big boss and Zhou Ze’s office. The two of them said a few words and publicly proved Zhaofeng’s innocence.

“Zhaofeng will issue an announcement regarding this matter tomorrow, so everyone doesn’t have to worry.”

Now, the reporter was dumbfounded and was dragged away from the scene by several assistants.

Sun Yinan was so angry that smoke came out of his nose, and he slammed his fist on the table fiercely, and then withered like an eggplant after frost.

And the guests who had just laughed at Xie Shiwei for being arrogant and thought he was crazy were now silent, and could only explain this miraculous reversal as a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse.

.

The press conference ended a full hour and ten minutes later than expected. In order not to delay the guests’ time, the original cake-cutting, champagne-opening, and performance segments were all canceled, and the raffle was changed to an online event. The opening ribbon-cutting and group photo were conducted directly.

Solemn music played from the speakers, and the ceremonial staff unfurled a long ribbon, guiding everyone to stand in order.

Chen Ning, who had just been cheered up, had her stomach hurt again by this arrangement.

The remaining segments were her only chance to perform, but now she didn’t even have to go on stage. She stood next to Xie Tian’an on his left side with a forced smile, grabbing a corner of the ribbon.

Xie Shiwei and He Qin stood to Xie Tian’an’s right, each holding onto the ribbon and picking up a pair of appropriately sized scissors.

The music stopped, and the scissors snipped.

The ribbon instantly turned into strips of cloth that everyone held up, and the surrounding confetti cannons continuously sprayed out shattered gold foil and colored streamers. Xie Shiwei was sincerely happy for the Xie family and gave Xie Tian’an a big hug.

Behind them, the staff had set up a background flower wall for the group photo.

Xie Shiwei and He Qin stood in the front row with the Xie family and the company’s senior executives, behind them were all the branch employees who participated in the opening ceremony.

The photographer directed everyone to adjust their positions. Just when everything was ready, Xie Shiwei suddenly heard a faint but jarring scraping sound.

It sounded like something made of steel was moving.

He keenly captured the source of the sound, looked up, and his pupils suddenly contracted.