At nine in the morning, the Willow Group's board meeting commenced on schedule. To everyone's surprise, the meeting was unusually smooth, with several major shareholders not objecting and even voting unanimously.
During the meeting, Liu Jianmin's acting president position was revoked, and Liu Hongguo, who had made a comeback, was appointed president. Additionally, it was decided to dismiss Huang Tingting from her position as the company's financial director, and a proposal was made to appoint Xiao Yunlong as the group's special advisor.
There were no objections to these decisions from the board. Liu Hongguo did not suspect anything, believing that the elder shareholders on the board had all worked alongside him and naturally stood by his side.
Since it was Xiao Yunlong's first appearance, Liu Hongguo specially organized an internal banquet to enhance his influence within the group.
The banquet was grand and lively, with almost all the company's leadership and key personnel in attendance.
At the banquet, Xiao Yunlong undoubtedly became the center of attention. Everyone's eyes were on him, and whispers and discussions were rampant.
"Where did this Willow family son-in-law come from? How could he gain such importance from Old Master Liu, not only appointing him as a special advisor but also hosting such a banquet and party specifically for him!"
"This is too outrageous. Liu Jianmin is his own biological son, and they just removed him to promote a son-in-law. I really don't know what Old Master Liu is thinking!"
"I heard that the car accident that killed Liu Jianjun and his wife might be related to Second Uncle Liu..."
"Hurry up and shut up. Are you trying to get fired by saying such things in this setting? Don't you see Second Uncle Liu and the others are still here!"
Only then did everyone fall silent and raise their wine glasses to drink.
The Liu Jianmin family sat in a corner. Having lost their influence, they were no longer the focus. No one even came to toast them, leaving their side quiet and desolate, which made Huang Tingting and the others feel very uncomfortable.
Watching the shareholders one by one go to toast and chat with Xiao Yunlong, Huang Tingting's expression turned extremely grim. She gritted her teeth and said, "This damned live-in son-in-law has infuriated me. I can't stand this. Liu Jianmin, tell me honestly, how are we going to deal with that brat?"
Liu Feiyan also gritted her teeth and said, "I can't stand it either. A live-in son-in-law is actually riding on our heads and acting so arrogantly. It's truly detestable!"
Liu Jianmin crossed his legs, smoking a cigar, and sneered faintly, "Don't worry, he won't live much longer!"
Meanwhile, after a few polite exchanges with some shareholders, Xiao Yunlong quickly excused himself, claiming he needed to use the restroom.
He truly disliked these banquets that appeared lively on the surface but were actually filled with scheming.
However, as Xiao Yunlong was washing his hands at the sink, a young man in a brown suit suddenly appeared beside him.
"Mr. Xiao, as Miss Liu's fiancé, you should know that her parents did not die in a car accident, but were murdered!"
The young man in the brown suit was washing his hands, his fedora pulled low, obscuring his face.
Xiao Yunlong showed no panic at the sudden appearance of this person, merely stating calmly, "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Be careful of the company's general manager, Chen Ruimin!" After saying this, the young man in the brown suit turned and left.
Xiao Yunlong stared at the retreating figure for a moment, then shook his head and smiled before returning to the banquet hall.
Liu Ruyan also disliked such occasions. She felt somewhat constrained and sat alone in a corner, looking a bit bored.
Xiao Yunlong scanned the banquet hall but did not find the young man in the brown suit from earlier. He then walked towards Liu Ruyan.
"Why are you sitting here alone, looking a bit unhappy?" Xiao Yunlong sat down beside her.
Liu Ruyan sighed and said, "I'm not unhappy, I just suddenly thought of my parents. More than three months ago, my parents also attended a company banquet, and the car accident happened on their way home."
Xiao Yunlong gently patted her head and said softly, "Don't worry, I will definitely help you investigate the deaths of your parents and find the real murderer!"
Liu Ruyan shook her head and smiled, "Brother Xiao, I'm very happy and grateful that you're willing to help me. However, my parents' accident happened in the suburbs. It was desolate and there were no surveillance cameras. Plus, three months have passed, so investigating is like searching for a needle in a haystack!"
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "Investigation doesn't necessarily have to start from the accident site. We can also start by investigating the people and matters your parents interacted with before their deaths, for example, if they offended anyone during that time."
Actually, from Liu Ruyan's words, Xiao Yunlong noticed a suspicious point. From the company group to the Willow family manor, even though there were many routes, it was usually impossible to pass through desolate areas. Therefore, someone had clearly guided them there at the time.
Furthermore, the mysterious young man in the brown suit he had just encountered gave him a hunch that the company might not be as simple as it seemed, especially the general manager.
As for the young man in the brown suit, he should be a company employee. If he could find this person, there would likely be a breakthrough!
As they were talking, a man in a blue suit, appearing to be in his thirties, caught Xiao Yunlong's attention.
This man was holding a glass of red wine and chatting animatedly with a group of senior executives, appearing very suave and sophisticated.
He was very tall and handsome. Almost all the pretty young women in the company were clustered around him.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunlong couldn't help but ask, "Ruyan, who is that?"
Liu Ruyan followed his gaze and replied, "He's our company's general manager, Brother Chen Ruimin."
"He's the company's general manager?"
Xiao Yunlong narrowed his eyes, subconsciously recalling what the young man in the fedora had said, and asked, "What kind of person is he?"
"You mean Brother Chen?"
Liu Ruyan pursed her lips and said, "I've heard from people in the company that he's a very good person, and his reputation in the group is exceptionally good!"
"Tell me more specifically," Xiao Yunlong seemed intrigued.
Liu Ruyan continued, "Although Brother Chen is the group's general manager, he is said to be very thrifty. He's even reluctant to buy a car and takes the subway to and from work every day. He's also very handsome and attractive. Many female employees in the group have actively pursued him, but he has rejected them all. I even heard that some have offered to pay him, but he remained unfazed."
Xiao Yunlong's expression remained unchanged. "Continue."
Liu Ruyan added, "It's said that he never allows people to work overtime. Sometimes, if employees work overtime to rush a project, he would scold them severely if he saw them, so the employees all love and respect him."
"Anything else?"
"Yes, he only eats two meals a day and never wastes a single grain of food. Although he wears fancy clothes now, it's just for work. In his daily life, he's very simple. I heard he has a white shirt that he's been wearing for three years, and the sleeves have patches."
"Keep going!" Xiao Yunlong said in a deep voice.
"That's all."
Xiao Yunlong asked back, "So, based on these things, you conclude he's a good person?"
Liu Ruyan retorted, "Aren't these things good enough?"
"These are certainly good, but they are too good."
"Too good? Brother Xiao, what do you mean by that?"
Xiao Yunlong turned to look at her and said, "Let me ask you, what is your purpose in living in this world?"
"To repay kindness!" Liu Ruyan replied without hesitation. "But Brother Xiao, why are you asking this?"
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "I want to tell you that people in this world always have their own pursuits. For example, you, for repaying kindness, or for revenge. Of course, many pursue fame, fortune, power, some for beauty, for gourmet food, art, literature, and so on..."
Liu Ruyan's mind was not working well. She scratched her head and asked, "But I still don't quite understand."
Xiao Yunlong squinted at the figure in front of them, who was constantly mingling with the group of senior executives, and said, "This person doesn't seek money, nor fame, nor profit, nor luxurious living, nor beauty. He seems to want nothing, only to give."
Having said that, Xiao Yunlong withdrew his gaze and looked at Liu Ruyan, "So, what do you think he is ultimately pursuing by doing this?"
Liu Ruyan was stumped, "Then I really don't know."
Xiao Yunlong smiled and shook his head, "When a person appears to covet nothing, it often means that their ambitions are very great!"
"Great ambitions?"
Liu Ruyan's eyes widened, "Brother Xiao, are you saying that Chen Ruimin is doing this with ulterior motives? But what is he after?"
Xiao Yunlong chuckled, "I don't know yet. If you don't believe me, we'll just have to wait and see."
"I still don't quite believe it," Liu Ruyan shook her head and then smiled playfully, "To be honest, Brother Xiao, my grandfather even intended to set me up with him before."
Xiao Yunlong looked up at her and grinned teasingly, "So, does that mean I've interfered?"
Liu Ruyan rolled her eyes. She didn't know how to respond to that.