Chapter 33
With back-to-back meetings and overtime throughout the week, Murong Yan hadn’t scheduled the housekeeper for dinner. She only came in the mornings to clean.
They arrived home to an empty fridge. Instead of going inside, they went to the mall next door.
“What do you want to eat?” Murong Yan asked, turning to him.
Murong Cheng glanced at the restaurant directory. “Anything. Are you still working on the meeting materials? Let’s grab something quick.”
Hot pot or Western food would take too long. He led Murong Yan to a Hong Kong-style cafe.
Although a casual eatery, the cafe was clean and bright. They ordered fried beef noodles, roast goose rice, blanched vegetables, and two iced milk teas.
The milk teas arrived first.
Unsweetened, the tea was strong but slightly bitter. Murong Cheng tore open a packet of sugar and poured it into his cup.
“Am I attending tomorrow’s meeting?” he asked, stirring his milk tea.
The Lingyu Group executives attending the board meeting would undoubtedly include Murong Jing. He still remembered the unpleasant encounter on the 28th floor. He wanted to learn from the meeting, but he didn’t want to cause any trouble for Murong Yan.
Murong Jing clearly disliked him, especially after the Chi Yu incident. He wondered how Chi Yu was doing. He hadn’t replied to his messages since that night. If he didn’t hear back by Friday evening, he would go to FISH BAR.
“Are you tired from all the meetings this week?” Murong Yan asked.
“Not really. I’m not afraid of hard work,” Murong Cheng shook his head. “Your brother will be there tomorrow. I don’t want him to give you a hard time.”
“He’s targeting me, not you,” Murong Yan said calmly, taking a sip of milk tea. “If you’re tired, take a couple of days off. If you want to learn, come to the meeting. I’ll reserve a seat for you.”
Murong Cheng smiled. “Okay, I’ll be there. I need to learn from CEO Murong and share your burdens.”
Murong Yan chuckled. “Silly.”
Murong Cheng opened his phone, intending to check for messages from Chi Yu, but a news notification caught his eye.
#Guangyu Light City Go Catches Fire
He quickly clicked on the link.
[A man in K City reported that his newly purchased Guangyu Light City Go, parked downstairs in his apartment complex, spontaneously caught fire at 1:20 am without any collision. The fire spread to nearby buildings, but firefighters arrived quickly and contained the blaze, preventing any casualties. The vehicle is Guangyu Group’s latest new energy model. The cause of the fire is under investigation.]
He checked another news app and found the incident trending.
He shared the news with Murong Yan.
The hashtag was trending, with numerous media outlets reposting the story. The comments section was filled with complaints from other Guangyu car owners, reporting various issues.
“What should we do? Does Brand Marketing handle PR crises?” Murong Cheng asked, worried.
Murong Yan glanced at his phone, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Yes, I’ll have Xu Yayun handle it.”
“Should we get takeout and go back to the company?” Murong Cheng asked, about to call the waiter.
“No,” Murong Yan shook his head. “I’ll go back after dinner.”
The incident itself wasn’t a major crisis. The fire department had responded quickly, preventing any casualties. Guangyu just needed to cooperate with the investigation, provide updates, and handle the insurance claims.
But despite his calm demeanor, Murong Yan seemed distracted.
Fortunately, their food arrived quickly, and they finished their meal in about ten minutes.
“I’ll take you home,” Murong Yan said, standing up.
“No need,” Murong Cheng waved his hand. “I know the way. And you registered my face for the gate access. I can go myself. You have work to do. Go back to the company.”
Murong Yan hesitated, then nodded. “Okay.”
Back at the apartment, after showering, Murong Cheng reviewed the meeting materials Duan Shao had sent, then checked the news again.
After two hours, Murong Yan and the Brand Marketing team had issued an official statement, saying they were actively investigating the incident and would take responsibility for any losses caused by the vehicle itself.
Guangyu’s PR response was swift, but the netizens weren’t satisfied. The top comments were still complaints about other issues with Guangyu cars. Someone had even compiled a list of these complaints, posting it everywhere. The reported issues ranged from malfunctioning remote controls and stuck windshield wipers to broken rearview mirrors, with some even claiming bad luck after buying a Guangyu car.
While a car fire wasn’t a minor incident, it shouldn’t have generated this much attention. The online outrage seemed orchestrated.
He wondered what Murong Yan was doing and when the situation would be resolved. The news of the earlier investigation by the authorities had also resurfaced, adding fuel to the fire.
The timing was terrible, right before the annual board meeting.
He sent Murong Yan two messages, asking about the situation at the company, but received no reply. He wanted to go to the company and help, but worried he would only be a burden. He changed back into his pajamas and waited.
Time ticked by slowly.
He scrolled through the news, waiting for Murong Yan to return. He fell asleep at some point and woke up the next morning.
10:02 am. The board meeting had already started over an hour ago!
The bed beside him was cold and empty. He rubbed his eyes, jumped out of bed, and hurriedly got ready.
The 28th floor was quiet. He tiptoed to the back door of the conference room.
It was past the scheduled break time. The meeting should end in about forty minutes. Should he interrupt or wait until the afternoon?
He realized he could hear the voices from inside.
An argument seemed to be taking place.
“With Guangyu facing repeated problems, it’s only natural for Lingyu Group to intervene and provide assistance.”
“The previous incident was a misunderstanding. Have you forgotten?”
“The incident last night is still under investigation. We can’t conclude that Guangyu is at fault yet.”
“Guangyu’s stock price plummeted today. That’s a fact. Does CEO Murong remember his promise two years ago? Double Guangyu’s stock price within three years, or merge it back into Lingyu Group. This is the final year. The stock price was close to doubling, but with these recent drops, achieving that goal seems unlikely.”
“The three years aren’t up yet. Don’t be so hasty. Last night’s incident was unexpected. Stock price fluctuations are normal. Speaking of which, the timing is rather suspicious. We’ll get to the bottom of this. If any of you from Lingyu Group know anything, you might as well tell us now. It won’t look good if outsiders uncover the truth.”
The situation inside seemed tense. Murong Cheng took a step back.
He waited for Murong Yan’s voice, but it was Murong Jing who spoke first.
“Don’t worry, everyone. With CEO Murong in charge, Guangyu will be fine. Last night’s incident was just media hype. Nothing serious.”
Murong Cheng was surprised by his seemingly supportive words. But then, as expected, Murong Jing’s tone turned sarcastic.
“Speaking of media, they all sing the same tune. CEO Murong is the future son-in-law of Oriental Group. Silencing the media should be a piece of cake for him, shouldn’t it?”
The room fell silent.
They could criticize Guangyu, its stock price, or the current situation, but no one dared to directly challenge Murong Yan. Even the Lingyu executives and Guangyu shareholders knew that ultimately, the Murong family held the power.
Murong Jing, holding the title of Chairman’s Assistant at Lingyu, wasn’t using his true identity as the second son of the Murong family. Everyone knew he was influential, but no one expected him to openly mock Murong Yan like this.
All eyes were on Murong Yan, waiting for his response.
After a moment of silence, he spoke calmly, ignoring the provocation.
“Regarding last night’s incident, both the investigation and the media response are underway. As Guangyu shareholders, you deserve a full account. That’s why we’re here today, to report on Guangyu’s achievements and future plans.”
His gaze swept across the room, his calm demeanor masking a subtle authority. The room remained silent.
“Let’s continue the meeting,” he said, gesturing for Duan Shao to resume the presentation.
The board meeting lasted two days, as did the online outrage over the car fire.
On Friday evening, a celebrity scandal overshadowed the Guangyu news, temporarily diverting attention.
Although the board meeting was over, Murong Yan still had a mountain of work to do.
[Cheng: Dinner together tonight?]
He messaged Murong Yan after the meeting room had emptied.
[Y: I have a business dinner. You go ahead.]
Murong Cheng pouted.
[Cheng: Okay. Don’t drink too much. Come home early.]
[Y: Okay.]
With Murong Yan not coming home for dinner, he didn’t feel like going home either.
Eating alone in that large apartment felt strange.
Worried about Chi Yu, who hadn’t responded to his messages all week, he decided to visit him.
He had dinner at the company cafeteria and then went to FISH BAR after the bar opened.
The bar was as lively as ever. He searched the crowd but couldn’t find Chi Yu.
The two bartenders were unfamiliar faces. He approached the bar.
“Excuse me, is Chi Yu here tonight?” he shouted over the music.
The bartender couldn’t hear him. “What?”
Murong Cheng: “Chi Yu! Is he here?!”
The bartender put down his glass. “He quit.”
Murong Cheng froze. “What?”
Bartender: “He doesn’t work here anymore!”
He left FISH BAR and took a taxi to Chi Yu’s studio.
He rang the doorbell three times, but there was no response. He called Chi Yu repeatedly, but no one answered.
Just as he was about to call the police, the door opened slightly.
The smell of alcohol hit him, making him cough.
Chi Yu stood there, his face pale, his hair disheveled. He spoke softly, his voice barely audible.
“What are you doing here…?”
