Jiang Yuxin's eyes were wide with fury, her gaze revealing an undeniable ferocity that stunned everyone present.
Suddenly, a powerful, commanding roar silenced the clamor in the conference room.
The Jiang family members wore expressions of shock.
Everyone was taken aback by the voice, unable to comprehend how the delicately built Jiang Yuxin possessed such explosive power.
Even more astonishing was that piercing gaze; for a moment, their mouths hung open as they all looked in her direction.
Without pause, in that moment of silence, Jiang Yuxin violently flung the pile of documents in front of her.
"No amount of talking will help. Look at this carefully, the company's accounts are all here."
"What you want to do, how you want to think, it's up to you!"
"What I, Jiang Yuxin, have done is for my own conscience."
"There are still many matters to attend to. I don't have time to listen to your nonsense anymore!"
With that, Jiang Yuxin pushed past them and strode out of the conference room.
The rhythmic sound of her high heels echoed behind her.
The Jiang family members, to their astonishment, did not try to stop her. In fact, they hadn't even recovered from the shock.
In their hearts, Jiang Yuxin had always been the victim, never daring to speak like this.
Even when she later took control of the company, it was only because she had secured the Lv family's project during a crisis, saving the company. Even so, it hadn't changed the Jiang family's ingrained habit of bullying her.
A few minutes later, Elder Jiang slowly rose. Without looking at the account books on the table, he instructed the accountant to put them away before leaving the conference room.
The remaining Jiang family members, seeing that the elder had left, said nothing more and departed one by one.
Thus, the farce surrounding the Jiang family's announcement of bankruptcy, initiated by Jiang Yuxin, came to an end.
After leaving the building, Jiang Yuxin made a series of clear and concise arrangements for the company's senior staff. She then left the Jiang Group skyscraper and drove back to her home.
Upon returning, she didn't sit down but stood by the window, gazing outside.
The sky, now completely enveloped in darkness, still showed no stars, only the faint glimmer of moonlight.
It was much like Jiang Yuxin's mood at that moment: within the boundless darkness, a faint luminescence could be perceived.
She looked at the flashing neon lights of the distant high-rise buildings, gradually sinking into thought.
This had become Jiang Yuxin's habit since Li Chonglou went missing.
Although the problems facing the Jiang Corporation in this period had left Jiang Yuxin breathless,
and today's revelation of the Jiang family's ugly faces had not only exhausted her physically and mentally but also driven her mental state to an all-time low,
she couldn't relax or even rest for a moment.
Now that things had reached this point, she had exhausted all means but still couldn't turn the tide.
When the matter was settled, any lingering unwillingness was futile.
This finally allowed Jiang Yuxin to breathe a long sigh of relief.
"Yuxin, Mom made you some bird's nest soup. Have some to nourish yourself."
Jiang Yuxin's mother, Liu Zhiru, holding a bowl of bird's nest soup, stood beside her, speaking gently.
The concern in her tone moved Jiang Yuxin somewhat.
Since taking control of the Jiang Corporation, Liu Zhiru had completely changed her attitude.
She now genuinely cared for and looked after Jiang Yuxin.
This wasn't just because Jiang Yuxin's capabilities had finally earned her mother's approval,
but more so because she now understood that her daughter, Jiang Yuxin, was her only reliance.
Witnessing the recent company events, the pressure Jiang Yuxin faced, and the Jiang family's abuse and scolding,
her mother had been heartbroken.
Fearing for her daughter's well-being, she had intended to go to the company that afternoon, but her daughter had insisted she not.
Now, seeing her daughter return safe and sound, she finally felt a measure of relief.
"Mmm, thank you, Mom."
Taking the bowl of soup from Liu Zhiru, Jiang Yuxin sat down and ate heartily.
The chill in her heart gradually warmed with each spoonful of the caring, loving bird's nest soup.
Time slowly passed, and as the sun rose in the east.
On Yong'an City's renowned arched covered bridge, the number of people exercising in the morning had noticeably increased.
The morning glow illuminated the land, as if casting a golden light.
Everything in sight was brilliant, like a beautiful painting, pleasing to the eye.
At this moment, Lin Ying was walking hurriedly across the covered bridge.
She had no mind to appreciate its beauty.
After several hours of driving, she hadn't rested but felt no fatigue.
She needed to hurry to the Saiwei residential area across from the covered bridge.
She had already contacted Uncle Cheng, a friend of her father's, while in the car.
She was to visit him immediately upon arriving in Yong'an, as per her father's arrangement.
Uncle Cheng had provided some specific information about Li Hanlong over the phone, giving her a partial understanding.
This Uncle Cheng was a native of Yong'an, owned a cultural artifact shop there, and was a well-known figure in the cultural artifact industry.
She hoped to quickly ascertain Li Hanlong's situation. Based on her father's analysis, although Li Zhonglou was being used as a bargaining chip by the other party, there was still a risk to his life.
Thinking of this, her pace quickened.
"Let go of me, let go of me, you..."
A startled cry came from the entrance of the covered bridge, filled with terror. The voice stopped halfway through.
Lin Ying looked towards the sound and saw a young man in a t-shirt and jeans just emerging from a breakfast shop.
He was met by two tall, expressionless men in camouflage uniforms.
The three immediately began to struggle.
One of them twisted the young man's arm behind his back and covered his mouth with his other hand, quickly pushing him towards a nearby minivan, whose rear door was not closed.
On the ground outside the breakfast shop, a few scattered food bags lay spilled, containing breakfast items.
A few patrons inside the shop stood boldly at the entrance, watching. Passing pedestrians also paused to observe the scene.
They all made sounds of exhalation, but no one spoke. The incident had happened too suddenly.
The young man's eyes widened as he desperately struggled.
Another man in camouflage raised his foot and kicked him in the stomach, immediately rendering him powerless to resist.
He could only be dragged along.
One man got into the driver's seat, while the other raised his hand and chopped down at the young man's neck, quickly rendering him unconscious before tossing him into the van.
It was evident that this was not a street fight but more like a kidnapping.
Then, just as they were about to close the door,
Lin Ying was already standing by the car door, pulling it open with one hand and demanding sternly,
"Wait a minute, what are you doing? In broad daylight, acting so lawlessly."
The moment the incident occurred, Lin Ying saw the swift, precise movements of the two men in camouflage. Their emotionless expressions led her to guess they were professionally trained.
Furthermore, publicly abducting a living person was highly suspicious.
It was also extremely arrogant and showed utter disregard for the law.
This immediately ignited a surge of righteous indignation in Lin Ying's heart.
Without a moment's hesitation, Lin Ying sprinted over, shouting at the stunned crowd by the roadside to call the police while decisively blocking the minivan that was about to drive away.
Seeing someone intercept them, the men in camouflage inside the van revealed fierce glares. One of them kicked towards Lin Ying's chest.
As Lin Ying dodged to the side, the minivan accelerated and sped away.