Starting Check-in Reward: Tomson Riviera

Li Tianmin was, in fact, part of Han Feng’s faction. Normally, Han Feng should have helped him, but how could he under these circumstances? Li Tianmin was the one in the wrong to begin with, and what’s more, Ye Ling was watching like a hawk. Helping Li Tianmin would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

"I believe there’s nothing wrong with this artwork. In fact, it’s perfect," Han Feng said gravely.

"So, Director Li, do you have anything else to say? Or are you suggesting that every director here, including President Han, is blind!?" Ye Ling asked, looking at Li Tianmin with a faint smile.

At that moment, the directors’ faces stiffened. They hadn’t understood why Ye Ling had questioned them earlier, but now it dawned on them: he was using them as ammunition!

But there was nothing they could do. After all, Ye Ling was the one with all the power now!

"Director Li, I believe you owe us an explanation. Arbitrarily suppressing an artist from one of our company’s studios... if word of this gets out, it will cause immense damage to our company’s reputation!"

"I agree. Miss Ning’s artwork is flawless. You abused your power for personal gain, violated company policy, and put your personal interests ahead of the company’s!"

"I move that we call a vote to expel Li Tianmin from the board of directors!"

The other directors all chimed in.

Even Han Feng said gravely, "Li Tianmin, if you can’t provide an explanation, then you’re on your own."

"Chairman Han, Chairman Han, you can’t abandon me!"

At this, Li Tianmin finally panicked.

He couldn’t keep up the act any longer!

He was about to be kicked off the board. How the hell could he keep pretending to be calm?!

"Li Tianmin, what nonsense are you spouting! Don’t you know the company forbids forming factions?! What do you mean, I can’t abandon you? Keep talking like that, and I’ll sue you for slander!" Han Feng’s eyes widened as he cursed.

Inwardly, he was cursing the man for being a brainless idiot.

"Zhu Yun, I suggest you investigate Li Tianmin for any acts of bribery. Be sure to contact the legal authorities," Ye Ling spoke up.

"Yes, I understand," Zhu Yun nodded.

Watching this unfold, the directors couldn’t help but sigh.

Li Tianmin had well and truly brought about his own downfall. Provoking Ning Ruoxi was one thing; if he’d just backed off in time, the worst that would have happened was losing his seat on the board. At least he would still have his shares.

But now? He’d been accused of bribery. Most likely, jail time was what awaited him...

Anyone who reached their level had some skeletons in their closet.

An investigation was guaranteed to find something.

In other words, Li Tianmin... he was finished!

"Ye Ling, you little bastard, I’ll fucking kill you!"

Li Tianmin roared and lunged at Ye Ling like a wild beast.

"Li Tianmin, what are you doing!?" Snapping back to their senses, the other directors shouted angrily.

"Get lost!"

A single kick from Ye Ling sent the man sprawling to the floor.

At this moment, the security guards at the door heard the commotion and rushed in.

"Take him away and hand him over to the police," Ye Ling said, glancing at the man on the floor.

"Yes!"

The guards nodded, then immediately hauled Li Tianmin away, giving him no time to react.

"Alright, now that this matter is settled, it’s about time I left. From now on, Zhu Yun will handle the chairman’s duties on my behalf. I trust you’ll all conduct yourselves accordingly."

Ye Ling swept an indifferent gaze over the room, then took Ning Ruoxi’s hand and walked out of the conference room.

"Yes, President Ye." Zhu Yun bowed respectfully. She watched Ye Ling leave before turning to the other directors. "President Ye’s message was clear. Starting today, I will be conducting a thorough investigation into incidents like Director Li’s. If anyone else dares to abuse their power within this company, then..."

Hearing Zhu Yun’s words, many in the room were filled with a sense of unease.

They had a feeling that the entire Shengding Group was about to undergo a tumultuous shake-up at the hands of its new chairman.

And the incident with Li Tianmin today was undoubtedly the prelude to that storm!

Then again, Li Tianmin’s position at Shengding Group hadn’t been insignificant. He’d joined the company early on and could even be considered one of the old guard.

And yet, Ye Ling had brought him to such a pathetic end... Of course, it was all his own doing. If there was anything to blame, it was his own bad luck for picking a fight with the wrong person.

...

「Meanwhile, Ye Ling returned to the Pagani.」

As soon as they were in the car, Ning Ruoxi fixed her eyes on Ye Ling, staring as if trying to see right through him.

"Ye Ling, come clean. What else have you been hiding from me!?"

It was safe to say that the day’s events had left her reeling from one shock after another.

Ye Ling actually owned sixty percent of Shengding Group’s shares!

How did he get them!?

Ning Ruoxi felt that Ye Ling was becoming more and more of an enigma, as if he were shrouded in shadows.

"Heh, I’m not really hiding that much from you."

Ye Ling rubbed his nose, smiling a little sheepishly.

He was telling the truth. He really had only acquired the shares today, so it wasn’t as if he’d been hiding them from her... But as for where they came from... that was much harder to explain.

’He couldn’t just come out and say he got them from a system for his daily check-in, could he?’

Hearing his non-answer, Ning Ruoxi wrinkled her nose and shook a small fist at him. "Hmph! If you ever make me worry like that again, I’ll punch you!"

’This jerk, making her worry for so long.’

’That security guard’s stun baton had almost hit him!’

"Alright, I get it, my lady. I won’t make you worry again," Ye Ling said with a smile.

Ning Ruoxi looked at the young man’s relaxed expression, but deep in her eyes, a flicker of deep emotion appeared.

What Ye Ling did today had truly moved her.

Ever since she was a child, her ’dream’ had never been taken seriously by anyone. Even her own father had wanted her to study finance...

But today, someone had stood up for her, and for her dream.

’She didn’t know how Ye Ling had gotten his hands on sixty percent of Shengding Group’s shares, but no matter how he’d done it, he was still just an eighteen-year-old boy...’

’It must have been so difficult for him.’

As she thought this, Ning Ruoxi subconsciously wrapped her arms around Ye Ling. Her heart ached for him.

"Ye Ling, thank you," she murmured, her head resting against his chest.

"Silly girl, there’s no need to thank me." Ye Ling smiled and gently patted her on the back. "Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll always be here."

"Okay."

Ning Ruoxi nodded slightly. Where Ye Ling couldn’t see, the corners of her eyes grew moist.

A girl’s heart is a sentimental thing. Love often blossoms when you least expect it...