Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 428 Record of Reducing the Number of Stoves

In the garden of Wenyuhe Mansion in Beiping, the afternoon sun lazily shone among the flowers. Liu Xiaoli held a watering can and gently stroked a blooming rose with her fingertips.

This refers to the "pink Dragonsborg gemstone" that Liu Yifei previously showcased.

Water droplets dripped slowly from the spout, rolling on the petals like sparkling diamonds. She leaned down slightly, inhaling the rich fragrance, her brows and eyes relaxed, completely unaware that her skirt was caught on a flower branch.

Suddenly, a slight tremor came from under my feet, and earthworms in the soil suddenly crawled out of the ground.

Liu Xiaoli frowned and glanced at the swaying water in the pot, assuming it was just construction work on the other side of the river. She straightened the crooked hydrangea pot, her fingertips still carrying the scent of damp moss.

"Sis! Why does the house feel like it's shaking?"

Liu Yifei's aunt, Zhou Wenqiong, ran out of the house in a panic, her slippers shattering the dappled shadows of the trees on the ground.

Her hair was loosely tied up, and she was clutching a half-cup of spilled tea in her hand. She had clearly forgotten to let go because she was nervous, and the rim of the porcelain cup was still rippling with panic.

Liu Xiaoli exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder I felt a slight sway under my feet just now!"

The outdoor ground is flat, unlike the height of a high-rise building where the senses are much more pronounced.

"Ring ring ring..."

Liu Xiaoli took her phone out of her pocket: "Changchang, what's wrong...?"

Su Chang's hurried words on the other end of the phone were like ice picks piercing her eardrums. Zhou Wenqiong watched as her sister stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence, her pupils contracted slightly, and her lips parted slightly but no sound came out.

Just as he was about to speak to wake her, Liu Xiaoli staggered back half a step, knocking over the glass wind chimes on the pergola with the back of her hand.

Amidst the clanging and clattering, came the old mother's heart-wrenching cry.

"Wenqiong! Something happened to Qianqian and Xiaolu!"

A mother's strength is boundless. She seemed to be vulnerable for only a moment. Her fingers tightened suddenly, her knuckles turning white, almost crushing the handle of the watering can. She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, and forcefully suppressed the sob in her throat.

Liu Xiaoli has a resilient character, which is one of the fundamental character traits she instilled in her daughter as a mother.

"Let's go, let's ask the boundary!"

It took Zhou Wenqiong a while to realize what had happened, and she hurriedly caught up with Liu Xiaoli, who was rushing back to her room to get her car keys.

The dancer in her eyes had her back taut at that moment, as if a steel cable stretched from her spine all the way to the back of her neck.

Ideal International Building, North Fourth Ring Road West, Haidian District.

It was the afternoon when everyone was feeling sleepy, and the employees were chatting and laughing in small groups at their workstations.

Some shared local specialties and snacks brought by their parents from other places, while others, whose relatives had not left Beijing, arranged to have a department dinner or a private get-together in the evening.

Despite the barking from Zhu Dake and Nanfang magazine on the internet this week, the company as a whole is still largely immersed in the joy of the celebration.

Suddenly, an urgent report came in, and the building management organized an emergency evacuation of all personnel. Only after receiving confirmation from the bottom of the building did everyone return safely to their workstations and offices.

Ordinary staff members were naturally unaware that, at this very moment, in some corner of the land, their compatriots were suffering misfortune, until a message popped up in the work group, leaving everyone heartbroken.

Xiao Zhang, a top student from the Accounting Department of the Central University of Finance and Economics who just graduated last year, was still biting on a piece of candied fruit brought by his mother when his smile suddenly froze on his face, and sugar frosting fell from the corner of his mouth.

In the break room, a short-haired girl's coffee cup clattered onto the bar, splashing brown liquid onto the gold-stamped "Ask the World 8th Anniversary" logo on her celebratory T-shirt.

Everyone instinctively reached for their phones, and amidst the constant barrage of message notifications, they gasped and mentally read out the terrifying numbers and words.

At this moment, such scenes are happening in every corner of China.

In the skyscraper clusters of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, white-collar workers stare at a coffee cup that suddenly shakes, their fingertips freeze when a news flash pops up on their computer screen, and countless pale faces are reflected in the glass curtain wall. Someone trembles as they dial the phone of a relative or friend in Sichuan Province, the busy tone like muffled thunderclaps hitting their chest.
In a middle school classroom in a county town in Gansu, the chalk in the geography teacher's hand snapped and the blackboard eraser crashed to the ground. The students in the back row pointed at the ceiling fan and exclaimed in surprise. The next second, the whole class rushed under the desks. This was an escape skill they learned from a charity event for the movie "Tangshan".
In the teahouses on the streets of Sichuan and Chongqing, bamboo chairs overturned with a crash, covered teacups shattered into porcelain shards, and old men staggered, leaning against old banyan trees, looking at the dust rising from the north, their hearts ashen.

In the CCTV live broadcast studio, the host took off his headset and wiped his face. The phone in the control room rang incessantly until the latest news from the front line came and was ready to be compiled. Suddenly, the new intern covered his mouth and rushed into the bathroom. A short while later, suppressed sobs could be heard.
When the mountains and rivers mourned together, the 9.6 million square kilometers of land shrank in agony. The waters of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers suddenly became turbid, the outlines of Mount Tai and the Kunlun Mountains hunched over in the twilight, and even the flocks of migratory birds flying over the North China Plain were thrown into disarray.

At that moment, 1.3 billion eyes were simultaneously fixed on that direction, as if their gaze could pierce through the ruins and support those lives that were teetering on the brink of collapse.

In the southwest of the sky, there lies national mourning!
The news spread throughout the company in a short time, but what was particularly unacceptable to the employees at all levels was the rumor from the subsidiary DJI that Boss Lu had also gone to Wolong with several technicians.

shock!
Just as one wave subsided, another arose. Before the employees, still basking in the glory and pride of the eighth anniversary celebration, could recover, the Bank of China, the Bureau of Commerce, and the Market Supervision Administration officially issued notices regarding the company's cash flow and anti-monopoly investigation of its subsidiaries.

Even though it was just a routine investigation, even though the relevant department staff stood politely at the front desk and showed their credentials to Chen Zhixi, who was being received by the company, it was still a routine investigation.

"Director Chen, we are just... just conducting a routine inspection, please don't misunderstand."

"Mr. Lu is an artist I greatly admire and respect, as well as an entrepreneur with a pure heart. We will definitely complete the investigation as soon as possible and clear the name of the company!"

The leader, Li Fu, is the head of the compliance department at the Bank of China. He led the bank's auditors to conduct a preliminary investigation together with the Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.

According to the law, they can act independently at this stage but do not have law enforcement power; they can only request companies to provide information and explanations.

If any relevant clues are discovered, they must be handed over to the Economic Crime Investigation Department for processing.

Chen Zhixi looked at the gentle and smiling tiger in front of her. She had already learned about his identity and the important figure behind him, the bank president, from Dong Shuangqiang, who had a powerful background.

Seeing him calmly and unhurriedly flattering his boss, it was clear that the enemy had already learned of his capture in Zhuge Liang, and thus launched an attack without stopping.

Wang Dajun, Ma Yun, and the others knew very well that Lu Kuan's absence presented the best opportunity to launch an attack; it was a godsend!

Chen Zhixi smiled and replied to Li Fu and the others in a formulaic manner: "Welcome to provide guidance. You can wait in the conference room. I will have the finance and legal departments come over to report to the leaders in a while."

A programmer with slightly thinning hair was submitting expense reports on the seventh floor, the floor where departments such as finance and legal affairs are located.

He watched curiously as Li Fu explained his purpose to Chen Zhixi, then suddenly roared out:

"Are you even human? Where is our CEO Lu right now, filming a short film for the Olympics? And you're here to cause trouble?"

The man in his forties from Dujiangyan had red eyes. He had just spoken to his parents, who were staying at the Beiping Hotel, and cried for a while. His father said that Mr. Lu was truly the family's savior.

When the relevant authorities came to his door, he instantly lost his temper.

The uniformed men behind Li Fu were also very embarrassed and ashamed. They knew that it was unreasonable for them to come at this time and in this way, but they were just low-ranking soldiers!
Where can one resist the manipulation of powerful figures?
Even Xiao Liu's fans, who had been asking questions about the World Celebration video all night, were in this working group. At this moment, they had to put on a serious face and act in a businesslike manner, as the dignity of state officials still had to be maintained.

Li Fu, who came with a purpose and mission, was naturally not afraid. If everyone were as polite as Chen Zhixi, they wouldn't be able to find Wenjie's weakness!

"Director Chen, is this how Wenjie manages its employees?"

"If you refuse to cooperate, things could get serious."

Chen Zhixi sighed inwardly. She had just calmed down from the panic. The subsidiary's leaders in Beijing were rushing to the Wenjie Building. Dong Shuangqiang and Zhuang Xu were presiding over the meeting.

Rumors circulated that Huayi and Ali rallied a group of competing companies to report the situation to the relevant authorities. Although it didn't reach the highest levels of government, it was still a significant struggle.

They need to get an explanation.

Ordinary employees are unaware of this, but Zhuang Xu and Dong Shuangqiang have already learned about it from Han Shanping's report.

"Chang Ke, you go to work first, I'll handle this."

The programmer man's clenched fist trembled at the seam of his pants, his knuckles turning bluish-white. He glanced at Chen Zhixi's tired yet determined gaze behind her glasses, sighed, and left.

All they can do now is work hard and wait for their boss to return.

The newly established film industry behemoth, Wenjie, seems to have encountered attacks from anti-ship ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines just one week after the celebration.

The absence of that highly respected leader made the situation seem even more precarious.

No secrets stay hidden forever; news spread like wildfire within the industry.

The news of the Bank of China and the anti-monopoly department of the Bureau of Commerce's on-site inspection, and the unknown fate of Boss Lu and Liu Yifei, spread rapidly through digital and fiber optic signals, becoming a hot topic.

Beiping, Chaoyang District, Xinchao South Road, Huayi Headquarters.

Wang Xiaolei abruptly pushed open the glass door to the office, his leather shoes making a loud thud on the floor.

His face flushed red, his mouth stretched almost to his ears, and his eyes gleamed with an almost manic joy.

"Brother, isn't this heaven helping me?" He slammed the door shut, making the art frames on the wall shake.

"We only finalized our plans with Director Ni yesterday after hearing he went to Wolong, but we didn't expect this to happen today..."

"Damn!" Wang Xiaolei still had some instinctive sense of shame and couldn't bring himself to say something as outrageous as "I never expected such a good thing to happen today." He only used a single swear word to express his excitement.

After the eighth anniversary celebration of Wenjie, he was really tormented by this inner demon. If he could really "get his wish", he could get rid of all the resentment he had suffered from Lu Kuan's oppression over the years. It would be really gratifying!

"Xiao Lei! Can't you stop acting crazy? What time is it now?"

"The whole nation is focused on national affairs. What will people think of you if they hear you acting like this? Like Fan Jin passing the imperial examination?"

Behind his desk, Wang Dajun looked displeased. His hair was neatly combed back, and his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses were slightly narrowed. His expression was calm and composed.

In stark contrast to his brother's arrogance, he even controlled the curve of his lips perfectly, exuding both composure and undeniable authority.

Wang Dajun, a former reconnaissance soldier, was cautious throughout his life. After leaving the office, he looked around before casually turning back to gesture for his younger brother to sit on the sofa.

"Control your emotions. If you can't control them, drink hot tea to shut your mouth."

Wang Xiaolei said sheepishly, "Okay."

He patiently drank a few sips of tea, but still couldn't help but beam with excitement: "Brother, do you remember a few years ago when Zhou Jun was around? I was quite puzzled at the time. It's one thing for this kid to be good at making movies, but how come he's so smart? He always manages to gain the upper hand."

"There were rumors that he treated Mei Yanfang's illness, and that Yanzi even had her fortune told by him. I was really thinking to myself, this little Taoist priest might actually be a real person."

"This time! Hey!"

Wang Xiaolei slapped his thigh hard, making a sharp "smack" sound, and almost jumped off the leather sofa. His hand holding the teacup trembled slightly, and the tea rippled excitedly around the rim.

"Even if he were a real person, the overwhelming power of this world would still bring him to his death and annihilation!"

"Shut up! Why can't you change your ways?" Wang Dajun was truly enraged this time. The sniping attempt hadn't been fully successful, how could he be so arrogant now?

Haven't we suffered enough from previous near misses?

This time, Wang Xiaolei was unwilling to humble himself any longer. He waved his hand at him and said, "Brother, don't be in such a hurry to scold me. I'm just venting. Once I step out of this door, I guarantee I'll burst into tears without hesitation!"

Wang Dajun looked at him helplessly, knowing that his younger brother had been tormented terribly over the years.

"Nobody can say for sure what Lu Kuan's current situation is. How can you be so sure that something bad has happened to him?"

"Furthermore, death is a serious matter. Don't kick someone when they're down. We're just doing business here, and it has nothing to do with his personal grudges."

Wang Dajun picked up the hot tea as if he had just been teaching his younger brother a lesson, perhaps to hide his barely controllable excitement.

His statement that "the dead are the greatest" clearly shows that he didn't have any benevolent intentions in dealing with this matter.

Wang Xiaolei calmed down and analyzed the situation: "President Ni has really put in the effort this time, and Lao Ma's connections are also working hard, otherwise they wouldn't have acted so quickly."

"Now I'm afraid of interference from Leader Liu."

Wang Dajun calmly shook his head: "People in high positions of power are always hesitant to act rashly. It's true that Leader Liu approves of him, but that's on the condition that he's still alive."

That's a harsh statement, but it's also true.

Who would continue to invest in a dead man?
Lu Kuan is an orphan. If he were to meet with misfortune, and there is no will, this property would be confiscated by the state. On what grounds does Leader Liu step forward?
"Now is the time when the situation is most uncertain, and it is also the time when we are most likely to achieve a breakthrough." Wang Dajun's brows furrowed deeply.

"I've arranged to have dinner with Lao Ma and Deng Wendi tonight. I believe there's still room for further work on this matter; we need to delve deeper and get to the bottom of it!"

He suddenly remembered something and instructed his younger brother: "You hurry up and contact the Red Cross and newspapers. Huayi should be the first entertainment company in China to donate. We can't let this title slip away."

"How much should we donate?" Wang Xiaolei hesitated, after all, they also needed to raise funds to follow up on the share issuance.

"Let's donate 1000 million first, you can call it the initial funding, and then add more later."

"Okay, I'll get on it right away! Tomorrow, all the front pages of the newspapers in Beijing will be filled with information about our charity donation!"
-
"Donate?"

Inside the high-level meeting room of Wenjie, the hot-tempered Liu Qiangdong was the first to stand up: "My dear President Zhuang! What time is it? Can we not talk about these unimportant things first?"

"Everyone knows you and President Lu have a very close relationship. What's his current situation?" Dongzi patted his chest: "I'm really worried about him!"

Jiang Beichun's expression flickered behind his glasses: "We need to know about General Manager Lu. The guys down in the work group are about to explode."

"With rumors flying everywhere, the best way to debunk them is to reveal the truth. Otherwise, even Weibo might not be able to control the situation, right?"

Zhong Lifang was the third person to join the company after Sun Wenwen, but she was clearly not too calm at this moment: "I just went to inspect the various departments. Chen Zhixi is still on the seventh floor dealing with people from the Bureau of Commerce and the Bank of China."

"President Zhuang, you and President Dong are the people who know the most about the situation right now. Let's share any information we have and work together to get through this difficult time."

Her slender fingers gripped the phone tighter, clearly gripping it more firmly due to her unease: "As for President Lu, I absolutely believe he will be blessed with good fortune and will definitely return safely."

On the sofa sat Gao Jun, Long Danni, Liu Heng, Xie Ning, Lu Yao, Yang Siwei, Wang Xing, and all the heads of subsidiaries and Zhijie, waiting for the news from the company's only two vice presidents.

Dong Shuangqiang and Zhuang Xu exchanged a glance. The latter stood up gracefully, his crew cut and square face exuding an air of authority.

This is due to his inherent temperament, but in the eyes of others, it must also contain concern for Lu Kuan, right?
After all, they are brothers who grew up together.

"I went with Lao Dong to meet with President Han and Dean Zhang Heping. I'd like to give you a brief update on the current situation."

"The work group on the seventh floor only decided to conduct the inspection this afternoon. They probably took advantage of the fact that General Manager Lu was away on business, and that it just so happened that..."

Zhuang Xu's Adam's apple bobbed, clearly indicating his reluctance to bring up a certain matter.

"Given Mr. Lu's past connections and influence, the working group is currently only conducting investigations on a case-by-case basis and is unlikely to make a big fuss at this juncture."

"Behind this is the combined efforts of Huayi, Ali, Deng Wendi, and all our competitors. This is just a probing attack, and we're not afraid of offending General Manager Lu, the chief director of the Olympics. We're just trying our luck. But—" "If, I mean if, General Manager Lu can't come back in a short time." Zhuang Xu looked around, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he swept over the dozen or so regional officials: "We must anticipate that the situation will continue to deteriorate."

"Please keep your subordinates calm and reassured during this time. Now is the time when a desperate army is bound to win. The employees have a high level of loyalty and recognition to the company, and I believe that morale is high!"

Liu Qiangdong was still the first to respond: "Great! With that, everyone knows what's going on. Let's stabilize the situation step by step, and once Boss Lu returns, all the problems will naturally be solved!"

Dong Shuangqiang chimed in, "Everyone, let me add to President Zhuang's report. Please don't spread this around after we leave here, it could have a bad influence."

"We contacted Dean Zhang Heping and will visit Leader Liu later."

The two seemingly random sentences reassured everyone present.

With Boss Lu absent, he and Zhuang Xu are the only two individuals in Wenjie who own shares. As vice presidents, their status is naturally different from that of ordinary subsidiary managers.

Who doesn't know what's going on right now?
The rabbit, cornered against the wall, was desperate and wanted to bite, but worried that its teeth weren't strong enough to bite through. It could only rely on the hungry wolf behind it to help.

The hungry wolves are vested interests who seek rent through power. They cannot sit idly by and watch their interests be harmed, so they take advantage of the turbulent times in the world to make a tentative move.

If you ask me to make a sharp move, I'll immediately pull my hand back. This is just a routine inspection, like a tax audit. At worst, I'll just give you a plaque recognizing us as a friendly partner!
But if there really is an opportunity, like the current situation, then this hand might reach out from your pocket all the way to your lungs and seize you tightly.

As I said before, the dead have no value.

If someone really does meet with misfortune, and Zhang Yimou takes over as the chief director, at most six months later, who will still remember you, Lu Kuan?

People can reminisce about the artist's sentiments through your classic films.

But you, an orphan who has no foothold in this world like a piece of duckweed, will now be scattered and vanished with the wind in this vast world.

Zhuang Xu listened to Dong Shuangqiang's banter and knew that it was to reassure the regional officials present, but also to issue a warning!

Who can guarantee that none of the people present might be turned by Huayi?
What if, seeing the building on the verge of collapse, they receive instructions and, in a despicable manner, create or hand over incriminating evidence to the working group from within?
The embankment of a thousand miles was destroyed by an ant's nest.

Having received instructions from Boss Lu, Zhuang Xu now, in principle, does not trust anyone present.

"Boom boom boom!"

Everyone was startled by the sudden knock on the door. Chen Zhixi helped Liu Xiaoli, whose face was pale, into the room, followed by Zhou Wenqiong, whose eyes were red and swollen.

"President Zhuang, everyone, Xixi and Xiaolu..."

Zhuang Xu sighed inwardly and stepped forward to help her up, saying, "Aunt Liu, please sit in my office for two minutes, I'll be right there."

Chen Zhixi, having received a signal from him, left with Liu Xiaoli, who seemed hesitant to speak.

The core leadership of Wenjie discussed some urgent matters to reassure everyone. Dong Shuangqiang patted Zhuang Xu on the shoulder and whispered, "You go ahead. I won't go to Leader Liu's place later; I'll stay home."

A strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and turmoil reveals the loyalty of a minister. Zhuang Xu shook Dong Shuangqiang's hand tightly and left. He pushed open the door to his office, where Su Chang was wiping away Liu Xiaoli's tears.

"Godmother, please don't get too excited. Qianqian and President Lu will definitely be safe and sound."

Zhou Wenqiong had almost worn her lips out from talking to her sister so much, but clearly, the effect was now only a fraction of what it should have had.

The three of them turned around abruptly upon hearing the door open, and Zhuang Xu strode in. He was dressed in a sharp black suit, his expression composed, but a hint of tension still lingered between his brows.

Liu Xiaoli immediately stood up, and Zhuang Xu quickly walked a few steps to invite her to sit down: "Su Chang, go outside and take a look."

"okay!"

Liu Xiaoli looked at Zhuang Xu with some suspicion, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes: "President Zhuang, is there any news?"

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was afraid of hearing the worst possible outcome. Zhou Wenqiong also nervously gripped the hem of her clothes, her eyes fixed on Zhuang Xu.

Zhuang Xu took a deep breath and looked at Liu Xiaoli with a firm gaze: "Lu Kuan and Yi Fei are both fine and very safe."

"Really?!" Liu Xiaoli's voice suddenly rose, as if a taut string had finally snapped.

Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks like a burst dam.

She instinctively covered her mouth again, her shoulders trembling violently, as if all her strength had been drained away. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed into her sister's arms.

Liu Xiaoli felt a stinging pain on her face from her tears, and she gripped Zhuang Xu's sleeve tightly as if it were her last lifeline: "What exactly happened? When will they be back?"

Zhuang Xu patiently explained, "Lu Kuan is often abroad, and to prevent eavesdropping, he usually has A Fei carry a satellite phone. I received the call an hour ago, but we didn't talk much."

"When we'll be back depends on how well transportation resumes."

Zhuang Xu's expression became more serious, and he said solemnly, "Aunt Liu, as long as you know they are alright, that's enough."

"Until they come back, try to stay home and don't go out, and don't tell anyone anything, I mean anyone!"

"This..." Liu Xiaoli's long eyelashes trembled suddenly, and the teacup in her hand almost slipped from her grasp, making a soft thud on the sandalwood tea table.

Zhuang Xu said gently, "Right now, only Su Chang, you guys, Dong Shuangqiang and I know."

He said in a deliberately relaxed tone, "Aunt Liu, you know that Lu Kuan is good at playing tricks. In short, he won't suffer any losses, and Yi Fei will be absolutely safe with him."

Some people, even just mentioning their names, can always give people a sense of peace and make a good impression.

As Liu Xiaoli recalled Lu Kuan's composure in handling various situations over the years, her furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

"Alright, I'll head back now. Please let me know as soon as you hear anything." The worried old mother's eyes shone with a gentle light as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I hope these two children don't suffer too much..."

No sooner had Liu Xiaoli and Zhou Wenqiong left than Zhuang Xu personally went to the underground parking garage, drove his wide Maybach 62S, and drove away from Wenjie.

He wasn't bringing a driver because he was going to meet someone who was crucial to the situation.

The distance from the Wenjie Building to the Olympic Building is less than 4 kilometers. The armed police officers in front of the building had received instructions from their superiors in advance. Although they did not need Olympic ID cards, they still asked Zhuang Xu to roll down the car window to check and compare his ID documents, and then took out a detector to check around the car.

They knew it was the car of the chief director, Lu Kuan, so they saluted and let it pass.

"Thank you, comrade!" Zhuang Xu drove the car to an inconspicuous corner in the backyard of the Olympic Building with a somber expression, and followed the secretary who had been waiting for a long time upstairs.

It was nearly 6:30 p.m., and many departments in the Olympic Building were still working overtime. Zhuang Xu straightened his clothes and his mood, and stepped into the office.

Leader Liu wasn't approving the documents; he was just looking up at him, observing him.

He had heard about the minor setbacks and tribulations in the world of martial arts, but a person of that caliber would never step down when the fog of war was still hanging over them.

Thus, through Zhang Heping's introduction, Zhuang Xu got the opportunity to communicate face-to-face in the relatively less sensitive Olympic building.

"Hello Zhuang Xu, you are a promising young talent, just like Lu Kuan."

"Good leadership!"

Leader Liu scrutinized this promising young talent in the internet industry with great interest. In just that one glance, he seemed to be three points more composed and three points less cunning than Lu Kuan.

He recalled his first private meeting with Lu Kuan. That kid would never say just those three words in his first sentence; he would definitely steer the conversation in the direction he needed.

"Tell me about it, I have a meeting to attend later." The nature, level, and purpose of the meeting that Leader Liu was attending were beyond question.

Given his rank and the urgency of the situation, it's only those within his circle who are concerned about their own safety; that's a realistic assessment.

"Sir, Lu Kuan asked me to say a few words to you."

Leader Liu seemed unaccustomed to his style, and his first question startled him: "Is he alright?"

"He's fine, but... the situation over there isn't good, and the situation in the capital isn't good either."

Leader Liu nodded, naturally understanding his meaning.

"Let's talk business first, then personal matters. I'll give you ten minutes, okay?"

Zhuang Xu wasted not a second and directly delivered the key points that Lu Kuan had explained to him in the limited time following the incident:

"He brought a drone with him to film the Olympic promotional video. The local signal is completely cut off, but the drone has a portable shortwave radio, which can be used for surveying and photography for a certain duration..."

A shortwave radio is a device that uses the shortwave frequency band for communication. It features long transmission distance, wide coverage, and strong anti-interference capabilities, and plays an important role in UAV communication relay.

In 2008, DJI drones faced a major hurdle that is now extremely difficult to overcome: the widespread commercial use of 3G had not yet become commonplace, which posed a significant challenge to the signal transmission of drones.

However, at the final torch lighting ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the creative team had already specifically arranged signal tower devices before the Bird's Nest construction was completed. At that time, together with the ground shortwave radio, it was a relatively clumsy method to make up for the technological gap and defects.

Zhuang Xu remained unhurried, seemingly unconcerned about the ten-minute time limit; this reflected his calm and reserved nature.

"Lu Kuan said that DJI's drones were developed under the care of leaders."

"Now that we have this technology, we have an unshirkable responsibility in this critical moment. All of DJI's drones and technical teams are ready and waiting for the country's dispatch."

The charm of an excellent ruler lies precisely in the precise balance between rationality and passion.

When faced with Zhuang Xu's report, a hint of approval flashed in Leader Liu's eyes, but he did not let his emotions cross the line of reason.

His slight nod was restrained yet powerful, like the precise amplitude of a calibrated instrument, conveying encouragement and recognition to the recipient while maintaining the prudent demeanor of a decision-maker.

"Good! This is what a responsible national enterprise should look like."

"In the tide of the market economy, the spirit of always putting national interests first deserves full recognition."

Zhuang Xu felt a little more relaxed after receiving two vague statements from his superior: "He will come back as soon as possible, but local transportation and communication are basically paralyzed right now, making it too difficult for outsiders to get in. He plans to take pictures of the surrounding terrain to facilitate the rescue efforts."

Leader Liu's fingers, which were flipping through the documents, suddenly stopped. The nib of his pen spread a small patch of ink on the paper. He slowly raised his head, and his gaze behind his glasses was as deep and unfathomable as a still pool, with a rare ripple of emotion.

This time, I was genuinely moved.

"Loyal and courageous, a pillar of the nation!" He sighed deeply: "Should I get involved in the matter of Wenjie?"

"Boss, not for now."

"Not for now?" Leader Liu was surprised for a moment, recalling the summary his secretary had given that afternoon; clearly, there was more to the story.

The border of Wenjie is being pressed in by a large army. Although the situation is not yet critical, it is now being attacked from multiple angles. Once the hyenas tear open a gap, even a lion will not be able to stop the beasts from devouring it.

Moreover, what if Lu Kuan never returns...?

not coming back?
Leader Liu's deep gaze lingered on Zhuang Xu's resolute face for a moment, a sharp, penetrating glint flashing in his eyes.

This is clearly another cunning scheme by someone, isn't it quite similar to Zhou Jun's previous one?

His fighting skills are definitely top-notch; he figured everything out in an instant.

This is to take advantage of the perfect opportunity to carry out a "reduced cooking stove" strategy, deliberately showing weakness to the enemy, luring Huayi and the forces behind Ali to advance recklessly, and then uprooting the intricate system behind Huayi!
The investigations by the Bank of China and the Anti-Monopoly Bureau are still in the exploratory stage, but the prediction that Lu Kuan might die this afternoon has emboldened the enemy.

Just look at Wang Xiaolei's arrogance and Wang Dajun's barely concealed glee, and you'll know.

If Wenjie Holdings is indeed innocent, will the powerful figures at Huayi, who are relying on their influence, decisively take action to end the current chaotic situation?

If you have no evidence of guilt, I will create evidence to prove it for you.

I can't create evidence, so I'll make you break down a thousand-mile dike with an ant hole, breaching your fortress from within. You'll have to create your own evidence!

This is not impossible; what kind of humanity can withstand the test?
But doing so would be quite different from a routine investigation.

You were reaching into Boss Lu's pocket, but before you could pull your hand away, you were handcuffed by the small silver bracelet.

If the other party truly loses patience and resorts to this desperate measure in order to end things as quickly as possible, then they are playing right into the hands of Lu Kuan, who is calculating against the unsuspecting.

The last obstacle to the future acquisition of Huayi has been removed!
The biggest hidden danger in his "Huayi Strategy" lies in the deeply entrenched vested interests hidden behind Huayi.

Leader Liu smiled and shook his head, his evaluation of the young director remaining unchanged.

The strategy is outwardly ostensible, but inwardly covert; it uses business warfare as the chessboard and the hearts of the people as the pieces.

A person who can make moves at this level would become a tycoon in business, and from a moral standpoint, they are truly a genius.

Ten minutes had passed when Leader Liu got up to leave, and Zhuang Xu respectfully gestured for him to go first at the door.

"Xiao Zhuang, please be careful on the road. The overall situation of the Olympics in Beiping still needs him to come back and take charge."

Seeing his serious tone, the latter replied in a deep voice, "Yes!"

"He'll come back once the road to the area is open. Right now, he's just doing what he can to help... save as many lives as possible."

When the topic was brought up, all three, including the secretary, fell silent.

The air was filled with a deep sorrow for the victims, regardless of rank, status, or age, as a nation.

As dusk settled, the May evening breeze, carrying the lingering chill of spring, swept through the corridor.

Zhuang Xu lagged half a step behind his leader, the sound of his leather shoes hitting the marble floor particularly clear in the dimly lit corridor.

Outside the window, the last rays of the setting sun stained the glass curtain wall of the Olympic Building blood red, and the streetlights on Chang'an Avenue lit up one after another in the distance, but they could not dispel the heavy gloom in the hearts of the two people.

Leader Liu was also particularly heavy-hearted and did not make a special farewell to Zhuang Xu.

As the latter walked out of the building, the evening breeze carried the fragrance of magnolia blossoms, mixed with the smell of disinfectant wafting from somewhere.

Zhuang Xu looked up and saw the national flag fluttering halfway down in the twilight atop the Olympic Building, while thick clouds were gathering in the southwestern night sky.

There, at this very moment, countless lives must be waiting for dawn in the darkness—

Of course, this also includes Lu Kuan and Liu Yifei, the young couple who survived the ordeal, who are embracing each other sleeplessly in their temporary tent, anxiously awaiting the dawn.

(End of this chapter)