Ai Yifeng nodded and said, "Yes, he told me everything. That plan was indeed my idea. Unlike pure internet companies, an entity financial group like Huangfu Group needs a network platform that can seamlessly connect offline and online, build its own payment system, and incorporate elements like wealth management and financing. Therefore, their technical requirements are actually quite high."
Zhang Yuyun's eyes lit up; it seemed she had found the right person this time.
"Do you think five million is not enough? How much do you want? We can discuss it."
Ai Yifeng said, "I don't want any money. As long as you help me with two things, I can help you build this network platform."
"No money?" Zhang Yuyun muttered. If he didn't want money, then the two things he wanted her to do would definitely not be easy.
Ai Yifeng nodded and said, "Yes."
"Then tell me what you want me to do?"
Ai Yifeng stated the two things he wanted her to accomplish. Zhang Yuyun listened intently, frowned, and did not agree immediately.
Issuing a letter of understanding for Xi Xianya was not difficult, but persuading Zhao Jianhua's associates to testify was something she was unsure about.
Furthermore, if new inside information emerged in this case and the matter escalated, it would cause significant damage to their group's reputation and image.
"What is your relationship with that girl named Xi Xianya?"
Ai Yifeng replied simply, "Friends. Ms. Zhang, whether she is innocent or acted in self-defense, you should know better than anyone."
Zhang Yuyun sized him up, thinking that this Ai Yifeng's relationship with Xi Xianya was definitely not simple; they were far from ordinary friends. She said with a smile, "I wasn't at the scene then, how could I know the situation? As Zhao Jianhua's wife, I have handed everything over to the police for investigation, and I hope they can bring justice to my husband soon."
Ai Yifeng's attitude was firm, "If you cannot do these two things, then there's no point in asking for my help. We don't need to waste each other's time."
Saying this, Ai Yifeng was about to leave her office.
Facing huge compensation and the survival of the group, Zhang Yuyun had no other choice. She stopped him and said, "Wait, we can discuss it further."
"There is nothing to discuss. Either do it, or don't ask me!"
"Manager Ai, the first thing you mentioned is completely fine. As for the second thing, the only person I am confident in persuading right now is my husband's assistant, Xia Ming, because he is an employee of our group," Zhang Yuyun said sincerely.
Ai Yifeng finally sat down again and asked, "Can you persuade Xia Ming?"
"Yes, with ninety percent certainty," Zhang Yuyun explained. "As for my husband's friends, they are not close to me. I'm not lying to you. I can try to persuade them, but I have no guarantee."
Ai Yifeng said with some surprise, "You are willing to let Xi Xianya, who harmed your husband, go so easily? Don't you want revenge for him?"
Zhang Yuyun smiled faintly, "He brought this upon himself. What matters most to me now is to protect the group and preserve my and my son's assets."
Ai Yifeng looked at Zhang Yuyun. She was indeed as clear-headed and shrewd as the rumors suggested, a capable woman, but unfortunately married to a foolish husband.
"Alright, as long as you can persuade Xia Ming to testify, I will immediately start working on this project with your group's technical personnel."
Without waiting for Zhang Yuyun to say anything else, he strode out of her office.
The thought of Xi Xianya being detained while pregnant, suffering so much physically and mentally, and seeing no hope of acquittal, tormented him greatly.
He could only use this method to make Zhang Yuyun persuade Xia Ming as quickly as possible. With a witness, there was hope.
...
Zhan Jiayi was in the midst of an internal investigation to find the mole who leaked the financial statements, having just dealt with the outflow of financial reports.
Such a person could not remain in the group; they had to be purged.
Old Zhou came to her office and said in a low voice, "Ms. Zhan, I've found some clues. The financial report that was suddenly made public online should have been leaked by people from the international financial subsidiary that Manager Xie recently established."
"The subsidiary responsible for international financial business was acquired from the Bai family's company, right? Is Bai Chengyi still the person in charge?" Zhan Jiayi had some understanding of it but hadn't paid too much attention. Financial business was a newly developed area for Xie's Group, and it wasn't generating significant profits yet, so it wasn't a core business of the group.
Old Zhou said, "Nominally, Bai Chengyi is still the company manager, but Manager Xie has sent two professionals with extensive experience in international finance to sideline him."
"Oh, so he must be very resentful."
"Perhaps, but he can only blame himself for his lack of ability. When our Xie's Group took over their Bai family's financial company, they were already heavily indebted and on the verge of bankruptcy. You can imagine how incompetent Bai Chengyi is if a financial company cannot even manage its own finances properly. Regardless, Manager Xie is not at ease with him being in charge of international finance anymore."
"Summon the main executives of this company individually for questioning. I will do it personally," Zhan Jiayi said. "Do not let them communicate with each other. Keep them in separate hotel rooms first, assign people to watch them, and prevent them from moving around until the investigation is complete."
"Okay, understood." Old Zhou thought the same way; only then could the truth be uncovered.
Just then, Zhan Jiayi's secretary rushed into the office without knocking, saying urgently, "Ms. Zhan, something bad has happened!"
"What bad has happened! This is outrageous! You have been in the group for so many years, you don't even know the basic rules..."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Zhan," the secretary interrupted her in a panic. "Our shipping company's debt statement has appeared online again, claiming that our group is severely insolvent and applying for bankruptcy proceedings. Our group's stock price has plummeted!"
Zhan Jiayi and Old Zhou were instantly flustered.
Zhan Jiayi quickly used the computer in front of her to go online, while Old Zhou took out his phone and started browsing.
The secretary stood by, only able to worry.
She had been working in administrative roles at Xie's Group for over a decade, working hard to reach the position of CEO's secretary. Although she hadn't been directly involved in other businesses of the group, she understood the severity of such news being made public.
Moreover, the debt statement of their shipping company online was real, not fabricated numbers. This would be disastrous if external companies started investigating.
Since the last financial crisis, the group's shipping sector had been in a slump, burdened and struggling.
At the time, Xie Zhendong wanted to cut off the shipping business entirely, but he was opposed by some shareholders of the group, including the old madam.