Mr. Chen was arrested while Mr. Huang He was having tea with a top executive from Y City TV.
"I had no idea about this matter; I was kept in the dark. I personally apologize to you!" the executive sighed. These were the softest words he had ever spoken. It was only after Huang He presented him with a mountain of evidence, including all the original raw footage from the filming crew's trip to Italy, videos and photos of Mr. Chen meeting with the minor official, their correspondence, and even audio recordings of their conversations, as well as their dialogue on the 315 Gala live, that he adopted such a submissive attitude.
"There's no need for that. I know you were completely deceived. This was the work of a few individuals blinded by greed, and your station is not involved. You are also innocent victims."
"Precisely, we are victims too! This was the act of a small group of scoundrels who betrayed their beliefs!" the executive nodded, then continued, "Mr. Huang, we will certainly not report on this matter further. However, there's one point I must convey to you. As you know, our situation is unique. If you wish to receive..."
"No, I don't need what you might be thinking!" Huang He smiled. "I understand your position. I won't make things difficult for you, and Jiangnan Group will continue to increase its advertising investment in the future. These are all necessary."
"You are very insightful!" The executive gave Huang He a thumbs-up, his goodwill soaring. He then waved his hand and said, "Mr. Huang, whatever you need, as long as it's feasible, we will provide it!"
"It's nothing, I just need a little friendship!"
"No, very deep friendship!"
Their hands clasped tightly.
***
"Brother-in-law, you're just letting them go?" Leng Zaiwen asked with a frown after they parted ways.
"What, were you expecting a major confrontation?" Huang He pinched Leng Zaiwen's nose. "Remember, when facing any crisis, you must find the most beneficial way to resolve it."
"For example, in this situation, if I had chosen to confront them head-on, I might have gained some self-righteous satisfaction. But in the end, besides making countless enemies and offending the largest media outlet, I would gain nothing."
"Conversely, by proactively presenting this evidence and showing a willingness to reconcile, I have gained immense friendship. At the very least, I won't have to worry about media backstabbing for the next decade. Which choice do you think is more worthwhile?"
"Oh," Leng Zaiwen replied. "I don't bother with your scheming. I find it much more comfortable to just act in peace."
"You know, you've actually benefited from this too. For instance, 'Conquer the Sword' is confirmed to be broadcast on CCTV next month. And your 'Chinese Paladin' is also confirmed for CCTV. These are the benefits of gaining friendship, do you understand?" Huang He tapped Leng Zaiwen's head again.
"But brother-in-law, you actually knew about these things long ago, didn't you? Why didn't you prevent this from happening before the gala? Why wait until after the program aired to take action? Isn't that just creating trouble for yourself?" Leng Zaiwen asked, puzzled.
"This situation is a bit complex. Firstly, my resources there were limited, and the official who made the deal with them was in charge of this particular area. It was difficult for me to intervene."
"Also, the mastermind behind this was quite well-hidden. If I hadn't actively lured the snakes out of their holes, it would have been difficult to identify them. I don't want someone lurking in the shadows constantly; it's better for them to reveal themselves sooner."
"Secondly, regarding your question, I believe that if we can earn the goodwill and friendship of Y City TV, then enduring a temporary reputational crisis is a price worth paying."
"As the great leader taught us, we must distinguish between primary and secondary contradictions. Once the primary contradiction is resolved, the secondary contradiction will be easily solved."
"Finally, if my estimation is correct, there will be more interesting developments in the coming days. This major crisis might not be a bad opportunity for us!" Huang He revealed a hint of an amused smile.
"I don't quite understand what you're saying. I just feel it's such a shame to waste all that meticulously collected evidence."
"If we don't present this evidence, we won't be able to reveal the truth. Many people will still question our shoes and products, and our company's reputation will suffer greatly!" Leng Zaiwen said.
"That's true, but it also depends on the timing of the situation's escalation, Zaiwen. Do you know about the 72-hour golden rule?" Huang He asked.
"Yes, it's said that in various disasters, the first 72 hours are the optimal time for rescue. If they can be saved within 72 hours, they still have a chance of survival!" Leng Zaiwen replied.
"Exactly. The 72-hour rule applies to this event as well. It's only been 24 hours since last night, so the impact of the news is still quite limited. Now, we just need to shift the focus of the contradiction, and everything will be fine!" Huang He smiled faintly.
On the evening of March 16th, the entire incident escalated at an unimaginable pace. Within a single night, the news of Jiangnan Group suing "Little Superman" dominated the headlines of all media outlets.
All television news reports covered Little Superman's defamation of Jiangnan Group.
After all, this was a sensational piece of news delivered right to their doorstep, and the higher-ups had also instructed them to report extensively on the matter. Naturally, the media outlets went all out.
What was surprising was that despite the charges of defamation and bribery, the specific criminal acts were not evident in these reports. Instead, they primarily focused on how Yingke Telecom and Comai Consulting coveted Jiangnan Group's blind box market and colluded with foreign companies and external forces to destroy a national enterprise like Jiangnan Group through public opinion warfare and stigmatization.
Subsequently, the news reports revealed a large amount of related evidence, including transfer records and fabricated lies. The most significant act was sending people to Italy to bribe local individuals, deceiving the filming crew and producing incorrect information.
For instance, the people who obstructed customs were from Yingke Telecom, and the ones who destroyed the data of the local shoemakers' association were also their people. Finally, Italian locals appeared and admitted that they were paid by Chinese individuals speaking with a Hong Kong accent to carry out these acts.
As for the four masters, it was explained as a misunderstanding due to their frightened state at the time, which led to the inaccurate filming.
On March 16th, Y City TV also broadcast a news report condemning this misleading investigative journalism as a criminal act, thereby officially taking a definitive stance.
These news reports were broadcast like a relentless barrage across all television news channels. As a result, the entire nation quickly learned about the reprehensible actions of a company colluding with external forces to slander a conscientious national brand. Overnight, people across the country were condemning Yingke Telecom and Little Superman.
It was reported that upon hearing this news, "Little Superman" in Hong Kong was stunned. He tried to salvage the situation, but mainland China offered him no opportunities.
His actions in this matter were rather unethical, as he had bribed a single official to commit such an act that embarrassed Y City TV.
In reality, Y City TV was known for its prudence and commitment to justice and truth. They didn't need to consider ratings or funding; their sole focus was on news reporting.
Therefore, everyone at Y City TV strongly disapproved of such behavior. Little Superman dared to corrupt only one individual, and when the incident exploded, the entire senior management was furious. Little Superman was even issued a warning, prohibiting him from entering the mainland for three years. Furthermore, all domestic brands and supermarkets that had previously agreed to cooperate with him overnight terminated their contracts.
Yingke's blind box venture, which had just begun, was completely aborted after only one day. Within a week, Yingke Telecom's stock price plummeted by over 70%, and Little Superman personally lost nearly 4 billion Hong Kong dollars.
It was said that upon returning home, he was severely reprimanded by Old Superman, who confiscated a large portion of his power and company assets. He did not make any public appearances for a considerable time afterward.
Most importantly, he had completely lost any chance of vying for succession within the Li family. If he could relive his life, he would swear never to provoke Jiangnan Group again.
Mr. Chen was sentenced to one and a half years of imprisonment, and over 20 other individuals involved received corresponding punishments. Although the official was not arrested, his personal conduct issues were soon discovered, leading to his immediate dismissal. He later developed Parkinson's and dementia, living a miserable existence.
However, at this point, it was considered a Pyrrhic victory for both Jiangnan Group and the opposing side. Although the mastermind's hands had been severed, Jiangnan Group's blind box sales were still affected. While their reputation had been fully restored, the decline in sales was an undeniable fact.
This left everyone at Jiangnan Group feeling somewhat dejected. It wasn't until March 25th, as the heat surrounding the incident gradually subsided, that a report from the opening ceremony of an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of anti-fascism in Italy once again stirred ripples domestically.
This was a grand event, with representatives from almost all European countries attending, including many royal families such as the British Royal Family, the Danish Royal Family, the Swedish Royal Family, and the Moroccan Royal Family.
However, no one expected that among all the royal representatives, or rather, among all the female representatives present, the most eye-catching would be the representative from a small European country, Liechtenstein – their Grand Duchess.
When the Grand Duchess appeared on stage in a vibrant red Tang suit with dragon and phoenix motifs, paired with cloud-phoenix high heels, her stunning beauty overshadowed everyone else. Almost everyone present was captivated by the beauty of this 16-year-old Grand Duchess and her incredibly luxurious yet graceful attire.
This Grand Duchess's name was Vivian.