After everyone's applause subsided, she addressed all the directors. "As the group faces an unprecedented crisis, my taking over my father's position will come with immense pressure and challenges. I hope for your guidance. I will act with a different style than my father to resolve this crisis, and I ask for your understanding."
With that, she stood and bowed to all the directors.
After everyone had left the meeting room, Yao Feili re-entered, ready to take Mengqi home.
Mengqi signaled him to wait and walked over to Huangfu Sishu, who was still sitting there, calling out, "Uncle Two."
Huangfu Sishu didn't look at her but said, knowing her thoughts, "Don't worry, I will voluntarily resign from all my positions within the group. I only hope the mansion remains as it is, and that our living quarters are far from Mengyao's, so we can live without bothering each other."
"Yes, in the mansion, only Mengyao lives in our building now, and we don't need too many servants. If you need more help, you can ask for some. As for the group, you don't need to resign. Just do what you did when my father was here," Mengqi said calmly.
Huangfu Sishu couldn't help but look up at her and ask, "Really? You're not planning to kick me out of the group?"
Mengqi shook her head. "Uncle Two, you've been with my father for so many years, and you brothers have always been united. Now that my father is in trouble, you taking over these matters is for the sake of our Huangfu family and to pave the way for your two sons' futures. I understand, but you have to admit that you yourself do not have the ability to manage the entire group. My father is entrusting me with this temporary role for the sake of the Huangfu family and the group."
"Alright, I understand. We'll discuss future matters later," Huangfu Sishu nodded.
Mengqi continued, "Yes, in the future, let ability decide who the true heir will be. My father once told me that although he was the eldest son, he had to pass tests from grandfather and many elders before becoming the true heir."
Huangfu Sishu temporarily put aside his resentment. He realized that the most important thing now was to help the group overcome this difficult period. If the Huangfu Group ceased to exist, his two sons would have no future to fight for the inheritance.
"Just tell me what your next step is, and I will cooperate fully."
"Thank you, Uncle Two. Will all the senior executives be present at tomorrow's group meeting?" Mengqi asked.
Huangfu Sisi replied decisively, "Yes."
"That's good. We'll discuss it at the meeting tomorrow." Mengqi then turned and left the conference room with Yao Feili.
After they got into the car, Yao Feili told the driver to start, and then said to her with concern, "You must be exhausted today. Go back, take a hot bath, and get some good rest."
Mengqi leaned back, trying to relax, and asked, "How was the stock market situation today?"
The internal matters of the group were resolved, but there were still many people eyeing them from the outside. When the internal situation was unstable, Yao Feili had suggested she make a grand move in the stock market.
To decisively deal with the opponents and enemies who had designs on them, she had invested almost all of the group's available funds. It was not yet time to breathe easy and rest.
Yao Feili said, "Several major players have been buying Huangfu Group's stocks in large quantities at low prices. Only one has sold all its holdings as the stock price began to rebound."
"Quite clever. Do you know who is behind this particular entity?" Mengqi asked with a hint of surprise.
"We've investigated, and it appears to be people from the Ao Xiang Group."
Mengqi pursed her lips and smiled. "No wonder. This Qin Tianyi is truly cunning. If he hadn't helped Song Jiaping before, my parents wouldn't have ended up with one dead and the other in prison. He's working so hard to help Song Jiaping because he's waiting for an opportunity to swallow the Huangfu Group whole."
"If you continue to clash with your Uncle Two, or if your Uncle Two takes over the group, Qin Tianyi might indeed be able to devour the Huangfu Group. However, with me here now, you don't need to worry too much."
Mengqi leaned towards him and said, "Thank you." In the past, she believed she was very capable and could achieve anything without anyone's help.
Now, she realized how important it was to have someone by her side who loved her, cared for her, was capable, and willing to help her.
"Saying 'thank you' to me makes us strangers," Yao Feili said, turning his head to kiss the strands of her hair.
Mengqi couldn't help but ask, "When my father asked you to sign that agreement, were you not angry? My father always favored men over women. In fact, letting me manage it was only temporary, and he was worried about the group being taken by an outsider."
"I understand. But what do you mean when you say you're temporarily taking over? Does your father have a better heir, or does he think he'll be out soon?" Yao Feili asked, a little confused.
Mengqi said helplessly, "On one hand, he hopes the lawyers can help him get acquitted. On the other hand... Actually, Shaohua has another child, and it should be a boy. Before my father was arrested, he told me that while going through my mother's belongings, he found Daisy's prenatal check-up reports and paternity test results. My mother had been keeping track of the child Daisy was carrying and had lied to my father and me about it."
Yao Feili thought for a moment and said, "Then your mother intended to control the child herself, and in the future, when this child inherited the Huangfu Group, it would be as if she were controlling the group."
Mengqi nodded. "Her entire life was filled with ambition, fearing she would be reduced to her former self, the penniless country girl."
"You are very much like your mother, knowing what you should pursue and what you should want," Yao Feili looked down at her.
Mengqi immediately retorted, "I'm like her in my refusal to admit defeat, but I won't resort to unscrupulous means, nor will I disregard human lives like she did."
"Of course not. Otherwise, would I dare to live with you?" Yao Feili joked.
Mengqi fell silent and rested her head on his shoulder.
She recalled her father's shocked and disbelieving expression when he learned many truths he didn't know after her mother's death.
Her father was the most deceived. He thought he had married a young lady from a prestigious family, but she was an imposter.
Her father thought her mother was capable and intelligent, the undisputed mistress of the Huangfu family, but he never imagined that his mother had secretly caused so many deaths.
Her father's hair turned white overnight, not only because he had to bear many legal responsibilities but also because he realized he didn't truly know the person he had spent his life with. That was the greatest blow.
Now, regardless of who was right or wrong, she had no right to say anything. After all, they were her parents. All she could do was protect and stabilize the Huangfu Group, preventing the Huangfu family from falling because of this.
She unknowingly fell asleep in the car.
The car arrived at the entrance of their villa. As Yao Feili was about to ask her to get out, he noticed she was asleep. He quietly told the driver in front, "You can get out first. My wife and I will sit in the car for a while longer."
He quietly let Mengqi lean against him, not waking her, just wanting her to sleep a little longer.