Tianyi looked up at him and said with a smile, "It's just a minor head injury, nothing compared to my past wounds. If I don't come back to the group, you'll turn it into chaos again, and there will be no rules."
"Tch, I'm just letting everyone work happily and live joyfully, so they can create better benefits for the group." An Jing's management philosophy had always differed from his. The two of them were a perfect complement, ensuring that employees were neither too lax nor too stressed.
"Alright, you have your reasons." Tianyi didn't have time to chat with him endlessly. "May I ask what President Xiao needs?"
An Jing placed a folder on his desk and said, "The press conference arrangements are all set. It includes the time, location, and key points for your speeches. You can also reassure Susu that the public relations department has invited journalists who are on good terms with us, so no one will ask overly inappropriate questions."
Tianyi didn't open the folder immediately to look. "Okay, I understand."
"Then you get busy. I still need to communicate with several traders on my end."
They each went about their business. While Xie Zhendong was busy doting on his grandson, they aimed to regain some ground.
...
The press conference was held after the Aoxiang Group's establishment of a children's charity fund. Aoxiang's public relations department had invited many charitable and caring individuals from Lancheng, which also attracted numerous reporters.
During the event to establish the children's charity fund, Tianyi and Susu appeared to be in sync and affectionate.
They looked very natural, with no hint of pretense, which greatly surprised the reporters present, who began snapping photos of them incessantly.
Susu had always disliked being the center of attention under the spotlight, but for Tianyi's Aoxiang Group, and also for the Shu Corporation left by Shu Zhongze, she could only respond with a smile.
She was very supportive of the children's charity fund established by Tianyi. She knew that Tianyi had always had this idea and had even taken Xiao Xingxing to the most impoverished mountainous areas to help children who had dropped out of school.
The official establishment of this fund today, and their generous donation of two schools in mountainous areas on the spot, was a very meaningful event.
This way, in the subsequent press conference, reporters' questions would not solely focus on their personal relationship.
However, as Susu sat on the stage facing the crowd of reporters, she couldn't help but feel nervous. Tianyi secretly squeezed her hand, giving her courage and urging her to relax.
Initially, the reporters' questions were all normal. Tianyi and she answered them with tacit understanding, and by supporting each other, they dispelled the rumors of their relationship breaking down.
As the press conference was nearing its end, a reporter, after obtaining the microphone, suddenly asked, "Mrs. Qin, as far as I know, you were once divorced from President Qin. During your divorce, you cohabited with that mysterious wealthy man abroad for at least a year. Why did you return to the country and remarry President Qin? Was it because you were threatened by President Qin and forced to separate from the one you loved?"
As soon as the reporter finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in a clamor!
Susu was momentarily speechless and froze.
Qin Tianyi remained relatively calm and said, "Reporter, I don't know where you heard these rumors. My wife and I have always had a very good relationship. How could there be such a thing as divorce and remarriage?"
The reporter, unwilling to back down, said, "President Qin, what I said is not a rumor. You should know the truth better than anyone." As he spoke, he produced a copy of the divorce agreement between Tianyi and Susu and distributed it to the surrounding reporters.
A venue staff member handed a copy to Tianyi and Susu. Susu's heart skipped a beat as she looked at Tianyi, wondering where this reporter had gotten it.
Tianyi looked down at the copy, suppressed the anger in his heart, crumpled the paper into a ball, and said coldly, "Everyone, look at the date on this. This happened several years ago and proves nothing. At that time, my wife and I signed this agreement so that she could study abroad with peace of mind and not worry about home. After she completed her studies abroad and returned, we immediately remarried..."
"President Qin, your explanation is too far-fetched," the reporter who insisted on their divorce questioned. "Your grand display of affection today is misleading everyone. You were divorced once, and another divorce is not impossible. The only ones who will be implicated then are the shareholders who believe you and the companies and groups that have cooperative relationships with you. We reporters will never be deceived by your performance!"
This reporter seemed to be speaking righteously, rallying the other reporters and the various charitable figures who had stayed to listen.
The press conference, which was about to conclude smoothly, was on the verge of failure.
The fierce accusations from the venue, however, calmed Susu down.
She stood up and, in the small venue, looked directly at the reporter who had deliberately come to cause trouble. She picked up the crumpled copy that Tianyi had in his hand and said, "Sir, no matter what despicable means you used to obtain this paper, it cannot prove that my husband and I are not on good terms. To be honest, I find it very strange. Why can some media outlets describe our deep love as faked or staged, while some couples who are merely going through the motions are described as deeply in love? It's because some media outlets only want to report the news they need and don't consider the feelings of the individuals involved."
"Mrs. Qin, what you say sounds good, but do you dare to say that you and President Qin are not holding this press conference for the benefit of your respective groups? Why can't you tolerate different opinions?" the provocative reporter retorted sharply.
Tianyi also stood up, his anger evident, and was about to speak.
Susu preempted him and said to the reporter, "Yes, you have the freedom to speak, but I just want to tell you that my husband and I have been through many hardships together, and we have experienced times of shared life and death, and sacrificing for each other. No one loves each other more than we do. Time will prove what I say today, not this meaningless piece of paper you obtained."
After speaking, Susu decisively tore the copy into pieces.
At this point, the reporters in the audience divided into two factions. Some favored Tianyi and Susu, feeling that the affection they projected was genuine.
But others sided with the provocative reporter, believing they were acting for their own benefit.
As another reporter was about to ask a question, a group public relations staff member came onto the stage and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the press conference with President Qin and his wife concludes today. If you have any further questions, you can arrange for an exclusive interview with President Qin and his wife."
The staff then had the venue's sound equipment shut down, fearing that the reporter who intentionally came to stir up trouble would completely ruin the press conference.
Tianyi held Susu's hand tightly and, surrounded by the public relations department and venue staff, left the venue and got into the car.
As the car started to move, and he realized there were no reporters following, Tianyi softly said to Susu, "The press conference is over. Relax."