Many people wanted to retrieve their funds from Xie Corporation, as well as banks and investment institutions, who were creditors of Xie Corporation.
Unable to find anyone from the Xie family, everyone turned to the largest shareholder of Xie Corporation, Huangfu Group, to reclaim their funds.
This time, even Huangfu Sisong miscalculated. He had never imagined that the Xie family would encounter such a situation.
With extensive media coverage, everyone sympathized with the Xie family, and public opinion turned against Huangfu Group.
This left Huangfu Sisong in a state of panic for days. He dared not use the main entrance to enter and exit the building, trying his best to avoid those seeking him out.
Huangfu Sishu and Huangfu Sisong sat together in a very ordinary small car, feeling uncomfortable.
But this was the only way to avoid attracting attention. They didn't know when these people would stop causing trouble.
"Big brother, the assessment of Xie Corporation's sellable fixed assets and realizable funds is out. It's only this much," Huangfu Sishu said, handing a financial report to Huangfu Sisong.
Huangfu Sisong scanned the financial report, staring at the final total, and said angrily, "This is far from enough to repay the debts they owe."
"Then what should we do?" Huangfu Sishu asked cautiously.
Huangfu Sisong said, "What else can we do? Since Xie Corporation is bankrupt, we can cut all their employees to save some expenses. If it's still not enough, we'll have to dip into our own pockets and cover the shortfall first. Afterward, we must earn back these funds from Xie Corporation's industrial assets."
"Okay." Huangfu Sishu's taut nerves relaxed. His elder brother was finally willing to provide funds to resolve the current troubles.
Huangfu Sisong unhappily said to him, "This is all thanks to your wife's cousin! No wonder Xie Zhendong said she was mentally ill and kicked her out of the Xie family back then. She's truly a lunatic!"
Huangfu Sishu could only echo his agreement, nodding, afraid his elder brother would reprimand him for not handling things properly.
Huangfu Sisong added, "Notify the finance department to handle this matter cleanly. Make sure there are no more mistakes."
"Understood."
...
Tianyi returned home from work. After dinner, he called Susu into his study.
Susu came to the study with a smile, but seeing his somber expression, she couldn't help but ask, "Why the long face? Did something happen?"
"Close the door," Tianyi commanded.
Susu closed the study door and asked again, "When did I anger you, young master?"
"You're letting Guinan help Zhan Jiayi? Why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
Susu guiltily lowered her head to look at the floor, not understanding how Tianyi found out.
Guinan wouldn't tell him, and Zhan Jiayi certainly wouldn't.
"I heard Zhan Jiayi couldn't find a lawyer, so I asked Guinan to go take a look. It was just a casual thing, and I knew you didn't want any involvement with the Xie family, so I thought it was a small matter and forgot to tell you..."
"Gu Susu!" Tianyi picked up a book from the table and put it down heavily. "Also, on the morning the Xie family had their incident, you went to the Xie family?"
"Mm, I just went to take a look. I left after less than half an hour." Susu asked, "But how do you know all this?"
Tianyi felt speechless. It seemed what An Jing had investigated was true.
Today, he had asked An Jing to investigate Bai Chengyi's case. Near the end of the workday, An Jing had news.
Besides finding out what Bai Chengyi had done wrong, An Jing also discovered that Zhan Jiayi's lawyer was Guinan, who was the legal consultant for Susu's studio.
An Jing followed the lead and investigated further, discovering why Guinan was acting as Zhan Jiayi's lawyer and realizing that Susu had been in close contact with the Xie family recently.
After learning this, his mood instantly soured. Susu had done something she shouldn't have behind his back.
Tianyi retorted, "If I hadn't found out by chance, were you planning to never tell me until it was exposed online and caused a huge stir?"
"I haven't done anything wrong, so why would it cause a stir?" Susu said indignantly. "I know you're afraid of offending Huangfu Group, and you don't want Ao Xiang to be involved in this. I've never used your name either; it was just my personal action..."
"I knew you'd think that! You think!" Tianyi held his forehead. "In the eyes of the outside world, you are my wife. When you do these things, it's as if I instructed you! I'm envious of Huangfu Group swallowing Xie Corporation, and I want to profit from it! I'm causing trouble behind the scenes, undermining Huangfu Group!"
Susu looked at him, feeling he was deliberately trying to pick a fight. She asked, "What do you mean? I understand that you have to be cautious because you need to consider Ao Xiang Group. But what I want to do is my freedom!"
"What do I mean? I'm telling you how Huangfu Group will see me and speculate about my intentions when they find out what you've done!" Tianyi raised his voice, glaring at her.
She suddenly understood and lost her confidence, saying, "I didn't think that far. I just thought that if I didn't help Zhan Jiayi at this time, who else could help her? Her situation is already pitiful enough..."
Tianyi didn't want to argue with her anymore and said weakly, "There's no need to say more. You go out and let me be alone for a while."
"Tianyi, I'm sorry." Susu felt he was not quite right tonight and asked, "Besides being angry with me, did something else unpleasant happen?"
Tianyi didn't want to talk about the Bai family's matters with her right now and repeated, "Let me be quiet for a while."
"Okay." Susu hadn't expected that even though she was careful not to involve Ao Xiang, such consequences would still arise. Her mood instantly plummeted, and she quietly left the study.
She could only hope that things wouldn't turn out as serious as Tianyi had said.
When Tianyi was left alone in the study, he realized he had spoken a bit too harshly just now and shouldn't have raised his voice at Susu.
There was conclusive evidence that Bai Chengyi had stolen group secrets and had even used the guise of Xie Corporation to defraud people and raise funds.
The money he defrauded was then used for risky investments, all of which were lost. He was unable to repay the money to those he had deceived.
He now had a lawyer. Although this lawyer was not well-known, they were very experienced.
Zhan Jiayi was arrested because Bai Chengyi claimed that Zhan Jiayi had instructed him to commit the fraud and accurately provided one of Zhan Jiayi's bank account numbers.
Given the current situation, it was almost impossible for Bai Chengyi to be acquitted.
Tianyi did not want to be threatened by Bai Shouren in such a manner. Since Bai Shouren cared greatly about Bai Chengyi, he intended to find something from Bai Chengyi that could also be used to control Bai Shouren.
He calmed himself for a moment and dialed Guinan's phone number.
"Lawyer Gui, what have you been busy with lately?"
When Guinan heard Qin Tianyi's voice, she smiled and said, "Mr. Qin, what brings you to call me?"
"You're acting as Zhan Jiayi's lawyer?" Tianyi asked directly.
"What, what Zhan Jiayi? Who is this person? I don't know her." Guinan pretended to have a bad signal on the phone, trying to brush it off.