"What then? We can't just sit here and wait for death."
He knew the impact the online public opinion would have if things continued like this, and so did Director Guan. If the competition's schedule were truly delayed because of this incident, then it would all be over!
Director Guan, the person in charge, was also furious. "Stop rushing me! Aren't I thinking of solutions?"
Meanwhile, Shen Qingqing was in excellent spirits, dining with her children in a restaurant next to the hotel lobby. Fu Jingshu was also by her side.
Just then, her phone rang.
Seeing the number, Shen Qingqing let out a soft chuckle.
Fu Jingshu asked, "Who is it?"
"Who else could it be? Of course, it's someone who's anxious." Shen Qingqing put down her phone, took a napkin to wipe her mouth, and then leaned down to kiss each of the children on the cheek.
Fu Jingshu narrowed his eyes slightly. "You're leaving?"
"Mm, I'm going to see how this play unfolds."
After saying this, Shen Qingqing felt something was off. She looked up and saw him staring intently at her, making her wonder if there was something dirty on her face.
She instinctively touched her face. "What's wrong?"
Fu Jingshu remained silent, but his gaze slowly slid from her eyes to her lips, his deep gaze burning like fire, as if hinting at something.
Shen Qingqing instantly understood, but her cheeks turned red. She gave him a fierce glare. "I'm leaving."
She left in a hurry, only leaving him with her retreating back. A faint smile, however, played on her lips.
The meeting place was set at a coffee shop next to the hotel. When she entered, the other party had already arrived. Gone was the arrogance and smugness from the office; they appeared quite humble.
"Miss Shen, you're here."
Shen Qingqing sat down opposite him and smiled faintly. "Hello, Director Guan."
Director Guan forced a smile. "Miss Shen, regarding the previous incident, it was my oversight. There were some misunderstandings. You are magnanimous; you won't hold it against me, will you?"
"Of course not."
"Then thank you, Miss Shen." Director Guan was surprised that she was so easy to talk to. He thought the previous post might have just been a warning to him, and his heart relaxed slightly. "Then, Miss Shen, have we cleared up the misunderstanding?"
Shen Qingqing smiled and remained silent.
Director Guan took it as her tacit agreement. "Miss Shen, you are truly benevolent."
Shen Qingqing's smile became a little strange. "Director Guan, are you here today just to apologize to me?"
"That's right." Although Director Guan was unwilling, he was willing to humble himself for the sake of the competition. "It was our fault before, making a decision without proper investigation..."
"So, are you now planning to reinstate my work's eligibility for the competition?"
"We have indeed considered this," Director Guan said cautiously. "However, as you know, relisting works that have already been taken down is not something that can be done with a mere flick of the lips."
Shen Qingqing remained noncommittal.
*Basically, they just want to buy time.*
Director Guan paused, choosing his words carefully. "Restoring eligibility for the competition is definite, it just requires some time. And now the competition has encountered trouble and might not be able to proceed normally."
She still didn't respond.
Director Guan lost his patience and spoke directly. "It's the post you put online that has severely impacted the competition. Now I hope you can delete this post and clarify things."
"What's in it for me?" she asked slowly.
Director Guan took a card from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This card contains one million. As long as you're willing to retract your statement and clear up the misunderstanding, this is yours."
Shen Qingqing propped her chin with her hand, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Director Guan waited patiently, but his heart was filled with unease. Although the bargaining chip he offered was substantial, why wasn't she agreeing immediately? What was she thinking?
"Do you think the money is too little?"
Shen Qingqing sighed softly. "Director Guan, money isn't that important to me."
"Then you want your work to continue in the competition. That's not a problem. As long as you withdraw your statement, I'll have someone immediately clarify the alleged infringement for you."
"Why isn't it you clarifying first?"
Director Guan frowned slightly. "If I clarify for you now, it would imply that the content of your post is true."
"But if I go first, and you don't clarify for me, won't I have wasted my effort?"
She was the one who posted, and she was the one who was supposed to clarify. What would netizens say then?
They would say she was fickle, that she used public opinion to frame the competition organizers, and that the infringement allegations were indeed true. This transaction seemed like a bad deal no matter how she looked at it.
Shen Qingqing sneered. *What a clever plan they've concocted!*
Director Guan finally sensed something was amiss. "Then what do you want?"
Shen Qingqing hummed. "What can I do? I'm just a weak woman. I just want some guarantee."
"I see you have no intention of retracting your statement at all." The smile on Director Guan's face completely vanished, replaced by a dark expression, and his tone became chilling. "After all this talk, not a single word indicating agreement. Are you playing me for a fool?"
Shen Qingqing feigned surprise. "You're only just realizing that?"
If the other party had shown sincerity, she would have met them with sincerity. But clearly, this person lacked it.
He tried to bribe her with money from the start, using the promise of clarification as a bargaining chip, yet he deliberately stalled. Did he think she was an idiot?
"After I withdraw my statement, if you don't help me clarify, I'll be helpless, and I'll have lost my leverage against you. You're quite clever!"
Director Guan slammed the table, drawing the attention of everyone around. He had to suppress his anger and sat down again, his voice lowered and tinged with a sinister tone.
"So, you refuse?"
"Unless I'm an idiot."
Shen Qingqing smiled brilliantly, but Director Guan had no mood to appreciate it. He only found this woman extremely detestable. "Fine, then we'll see!"
He left abruptly. Shen Qingqing, however, finished her coffee in a good mood before getting up to leave.
She knew this was far from over. Director Guan would not let it go.
The next day at noon, this matter ignited a new wave of public attention.
Director Guan, representing the competition organizers, released a video. The video was not long, but it clearly showed the individuals involved: Director Guan and Shen Qingqing.
Their conversation was also recorded.
"Miss Shen, regarding the previous incident, it was my oversight. There were some misunderstandings. You are magnanimous; you won't hold it against me, will you?"
"Of course not."
"This card contains one million. As long as you're willing to retract your statement and clear up the misunderstanding, this is yours."
"Do you think the money is too little?"
"Director Guan, money isn't that important to me."
"After all this talk, not a single word indicating agreement. Are you playing me for a fool?"
...
Such dialogue exposed Shen Qingqing's greed. The public opinion, which had initially leaned in her favor, instantly turned against her. The comments under her account were flooded.
- I never imagined she could be so shameless.
- She even used public opinion against us. Such a deep schemer. People like her should be sent to jail to be reformed.
- Isn't this already considered extortion?
- Send her to prison!