The meal lasted until past nine in the evening. By the time the elders were all tipsy, Wan Yunting and Pang Yuan left. They each hailed ride-sharing cars. After sending Pang Yuan off, Wan Yunting took out his phone and called Fang Yanxi directly.
Meanwhile, Fang Yanxi was still busy working in the CEO's office of Chaoting Group. Seeing her phone light up on the side, displaying the man's name, she paused before putting down her pen. She picked up the phone and answered. Wan Yunting's voice immediately came through, "Yanxi, are you home?"
Fang Yanxi leaned back against her office chair, her pretty face expressionless. She replied plainly, "I'm still working overtime at the company."
"Working overtime, huh?"
Wan Yunting chuckled, "What time do you get off? Should I come pick you up now?"
"No need. There's a mountain of things to deal with at the company. I'll be busy until very late," Fang Yanxi said expressionlessly.
However, Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow. He could tell from her tone that she was still angry.
"I'll hang up now."
Fang Yanxi spoke, giving Wan Yunting no chance to reply before hanging up the phone.
"Sigh…"
Wan Yunting sighed helplessly as he looked at his phone. He realized he needed to find time to have a serious talk with Fang Yanxi.
When the ride-sharing car arrived, Wan Yunting told the driver to take him back to his second brother's house.
Fang Yanxi put her phone aside, her gaze fixed on the wallpaper – a photo of her and the man taken years ago. The youthful him and his sunny smile plunged her into memories.
Just then, her secretary, Lin Xiaoqi, holding a file folder, hurried to the office door and knocked, startling Fang Yanxi out of her reverie. "Come in," Fang Yanxi called.
Lin Xiaoqi quickly pushed open the office door and entered, saying anxiously, "CEO Fang, something has happened…"
Fang Yanxi, who was picking up her pen, said calmly, "Don't panic. Speak properly."
"CEO Fang, it's about Wan Shi Da Group!"
Lin Xiaoqi looked flustered and said anxiously, "We just received news that Wang Tianrui, the chairman of Wan Shi Da Group, has absconded with the three billion yuan we invested in them!"
"Absconded?"
Fang Yanxi's expression froze, her eyes locking onto Lin Xiaoqi.
At that moment, the office door was pushed open. Xie Zhihao, dressed in a blue suit, entered with his secretary, Ding Jie. He smiled at Fang Yanxi, "CEO Fang, it seems you already know about the incident with Wan Shi Da Group!"
Fang Yanxi's delicate brows furrowed. Watching Xie Zhihao swagger in and take a seat directly in front of her, crossing his legs, he smiled and said, "Tell me, how does CEO Fang plan to handle this matter?"
Fang Yanxi held her pen between her jade fingers, her eyes fixed on Xie Zhihao. Seeing his arrogant and smirking expression, she said, "President Xie, I recall that you were the one following up on the Wan Shi Da Group business, weren't you?"
"That's right. Wan Shi Da Group was indeed introduced to you by me, and I was the one handling the initial investigations, but in the end, you were the ones in charge!" Xie Zhihao spread his hands, shrugged, and chuckled, "Furthermore, the decision to invest in Wan Shi Da Group was yours, CEO Fang. The contract bears your name. This matter falls under your responsibility, doesn't it?"
"CEO Fang…"
Lin Xiaoqi, standing nearby, immediately grew anxious upon hearing Xie Zhihao's words.
Fang Yanxi raised a hand to stop her. Her eyes had turned cold as she stared at the smug Xie Zhihao before her, and she seemed to understand what had happened with Wan Shi Da Group.
"Heh heh."
Xie Zhihao chuckled, then stood up. His gaze towards Fang Yanxi was filled with contempt. He placed his hands on Fang Yanxi's desk, a slight smile on his lips. "CEO Fang, thirty billion is no small sum. Of course, with Director Jiang's capabilities, he can recover this money. But you!"
Xie Zhihao pointed at Fang Yanxi, whose face had turned grim, and said with a wicked grin, "But with such a major mistake on your part, Director Jiang will definitely hold you accountable. At that time, your position as Executive President will be in jeopardy!"
Fang Yanxi's eyes were sharp as she looked directly at Xie Zhihao. She remained silent. Lin Xiaoqi, standing by, was filled with anxiety hearing this.
"It's getting late. CEO Fang should also go back and rest, and think about how to report this matter to Director Jiang," Xie Zhihao said, straightening up with a smug expression. He smiled and then left with his secretary, Ding Jie.
*Crack!*
After they had left the office, Fang Yanxi slammed the pen in her hand onto the desk, her face instantly turning grim.
"I'm sorry, CEO Fang. It's my fault…"
Lin Xiaoqi quickly admitted her mistake, saying, "I should have investigated Wan Shi Da Group's data more thoroughly. Otherwise, you wouldn't have agreed to invest in them…"
Chaoting Group had invested thirty billion yuan in Wan Shi Da Group. The contract was signed three days ago. However, because Fang Yanxi was in the disaster area during that time, she had asked Lin Xiaoqi to handle the review of Wan Shi Da Group's various data to determine its eligibility for investment.
But Fang Yanxi was not at the company then. And relying solely on Lin Xiaoqi, with Xie Zhihao working behind the scenes, the investigation data for Wan Shi Da Group was deemed mostly acceptable.
Fang Yanxi, having not slept much for days due to matters concerning the man in the disaster area, looked worn out and dispirited. Upon hearing Lin Xiaoqi report that Wan Shi Da Group's data was acceptable, she authorized Lin Xiaoqi via video call to sign the investment contract on her behalf.
At this moment, Fang Yanxi also basically understood that the trap set by Wan Shi Da Group was intentionally laid by Xie Zhihao for her to fall into.
As for why he did it, it was because Xie Zhihao had his sights set on her position as the Executive President of Chaoting Group's domestic headquarters!
"If only I had delayed a few more days until you returned, perhaps this wouldn't have happened…"
Lin Xiaoqi, on the verge of tears, said, "CEO Fang, this is all my fault. I'll take responsibility…"
"Can you bear it?"
Looking at the tearful Lin Xiaoqi, Fang Yanxi turned her head and glared at her, snorting, "Besides, this matter was a trap set by Xie Zhihao for me to jump into. It's not your fault."
Lin Xiaoqi's almond-shaped eyes widened with tears. It was no wonder Xie Zhihao had come in earlier with all that sarcastic ridicule; he was targeting CEO Fang.
"Alright, you can go back now. I'll explain this matter to Director Jiang," Fang Yanxi said, her expression softening slightly as she waved her hand at Lin Xiaoqi.
"Okay."
Lin Xiaoqi wiped away her tears, looking at Fang Yanxi, whose brows were tightly furrowed. She knew the seriousness of the matter. If it wasn't handled well, her position as Executive President would have to be relinquished.
Watching Lin Xiaoqi leave, Fang Yanxi sighed and checked her phone. It was ten o'clock in the evening, which was six o'clock in the morning in the US. Fang Yanxi's delicate brows knit together. She put down her phone and waited until half-past eleven before dialing Jiang Wenhao's number.
The call was answered after two rings, and Jiang Wenhao's voice came through, "CEO Fang, why are you calling me so early in the morning? Is there something important?"
Fang Yanxi sat up straight and said, "Director Jiang, have you heard of Wan Shi Da Group?"
"Wan Shi Da Group, is it a domestic internet company?" Jiang Wenhao asked, sitting up in bed.
"Yes."
Fang Yanxi nodded and then recounted the matter of Wan Shi Da Group truthfully.
Upon hearing that the chairman of Wan Shi Da Group had absconded with the company's thirty billion yuan investment, Jiang Wenhao's brows also furrowed, and he felt that something was amiss!
"I apologize, Director Jiang. It was my work error that caused the company to lose such a large sum of money," Fang Yanxi said sincerely. "But please rest assured, Director Jiang, I will find a way to make up for this money."
Jiang Wenhao smiled and said, "CEO Fang, I will have someone track down the money, so you don't need to take responsibility for this."
Fang Yanxi felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.
After all, this was thirty billion yuan. Even her Fang Corporation couldn't produce thirty billion in cash to cover this deficit.
"But Director Jiang, such a major incident has occurred in the company. I must take responsibility."
Fang Yanxi frowned and said, "I think…"
"You want to resign from your position as Executive President?"
Jiang Wenhao seemed to have guessed what she was going to say. Fang Yanxi's pretty face froze, and she nodded in agreement.
After all, she had just taken office as the Executive President of Chaoting Group's domestic headquarters, and such a major mistake had occurred. Although she knew the underlying reasons, Fang Yanxi still felt her abilities were insufficient for the position.
"Heh heh."
Jiang Wenhao chuckled and said, "CEO Fang, before the matter is thoroughly investigated, you don't need to say anything more to me. How about this, I'll have Lucy return to help you investigate this matter, and then we'll decide."
"Alright."
Fang Yanxi nodded.
"Then that's all for now."
"Yes, goodbye Director Jiang."
After they hung up, Jiang Wenhao stood up, his brows furrowed. He felt that this matter was not quite right, so he immediately contacted his secretary, Lucy, asking her to return to China as quickly as possible to help Fang Yanxi handle this situation.
Fang Yanxi put down her phone, the tightness in her brows easing slightly. Seeing that it was getting late, she also got up to pack her things and head home.