Jiang Lan’s words truly startled Jiang Mengxin, leaving her frozen in place, too shocked to speak.
Growing up, Jiang Lan had always shown great respect for Jiang Mengxin, never publicly embarrassing her. Yet here, Jiang Lan was openly scolding her.
This was unimaginable before.
Why?
Jiang Mengxin, filled with confusion and shock, asked, "Little sister, do you know what you are saying?"
Jiang Lan replied, "Of course, I know what I'm saying! Sister, everyone has a bottom line, and you, as the female CEO of the Jiang family, even more so! I know you're trying to protect the Jiang family's reputation by asking Lu Ming to sacrifice himself to please Guo Jianrong and the others. I can't say you're wrong for doing that."
"But! Sister, you must have a bottom line. You can't just do whatever they ask you to do, like a lapdog. They’re asking Lu Ming to lick their shoes, is that something a person would do?"
"And look at them, sister. If Lu Ming truly did as they asked, would they really let the Jiang family go? No, they would only make more demands, completely humiliate the Jiang family, and then walk away without a care!
"Why should we force ourselves to smile and pretend to appease these shameless individuals? They want to tarnish the Jiang family’s name, are we that easy to bully? Can't we fight back, can't we slap them in the face?!"
Her words were passionate and spirited.
She displayed the demeanor of a heroic woman.
Compared to Jiang Mengxin's weakness and incompetence, Jiang Lan possessed more courage and responsibility. She, more than anyone, seemed like the true female CEO of the Jiang family.
For a moment, Jiang Mengxin was stunned.
Looking at Jiang Lan, Jiang Mengxin felt a surge of both anger and bitterness.
Up until now, Jiang Mengxin had only viewed Jiang Lan as an ignorant little sister. But judging by her recent words, Jiang Lan possessed even more exceptional capabilities than herself.
This made Jiang Mengxin feel jealous.
Moreover, Jiang Lan’s public defiance and sharp reprimand had created a rift in their sisterly bond.
The Jiang sisters were now harboring mutual resentment.
At this moment.
Guo Jianrong let out two cold laughs, clapping his hands as he spoke, "Second Miss has great spirit, talking about slapping my face? Fine, you can. I’ll go back now, and I’ll see how your Jiang family slaps my face!"
Jiang Mengxin frowned and stopped Guo Jianrong, "Mr. Guo, please be calm."
Then.
Jiang Mengxin stared at Jiang Lan and said word by word, "You, apologize to Mr. Guo immediately!"
"What?" Jiang Lan couldn't believe it.
"Can't you understand human speech?" Jiang Mengxin snapped, "I want you to apologize to Mr. Guo!"
Jiang Lan felt a pang of bitterness and sorrow.
She didn't know when her sister had become so unreasonable, so morally bankrupt.
As they stood at an impasse.
It was Lu Ming who stepped between the Jiang sisters and spoke, "I think what Jiang Lan said is correct, and she doesn't need to apologize."
Jiang Mengxin said coldly, "What do you know? Because of Jiang Lan's words, the entire Jiang family's reputation could be ruined!"
Would it be?
Not necessarily.
Lu Ming took a deep breath, looked at Guo Jianrong on the sofa, and said, "He’s the one causing all these problems, so why not take care of him? A scum of society like him, who spreads rumors, should have been dealt with long ago."
The reporter was amused, "Take care of our boss? Do you believe me, if you dare to pull out a knife, we have the power to drag the entire Jiang family's reputation to the absolute bottom?"
Lu Ming smiled. He explained, "You misunderstand. We are all friendly citizens of a harmonious society, how could we do such violent things? Ladies and gentlemen, you use your pens to kill people, can't I? And my pen can write more powerfully than yours!"
An eye for an eye.
Lu Ming would retaliate against Guo Jianrong in the same way Guo Jianrong had targeted him.
However.
Guo Jianrong chuckled upon hearing this.
He sneered, "Kid, do you think anyone can kill with a pen? In Jinling, I am the master of the media, the spokesperson for the television station! Only I have the right to kill with a pen."
"Oh, really?" Lu Ming looked down at Guo Jianrong and said with a wicked smile, "Why don't you open your phone news and take a look?"
"Look at what?" Guo Jianrong was completely confused.
"Take a look at the exposure of your scandals now," Lu Ming said with a smile.
Guo Jianrong’s face was filled with doubt. He didn't understand Lu Ming's words. He skeptically opened his phone news and checked them one by one.
The results were shocking. Instead of being indifferent, he was so terrified that he almost wet himself.
He didn't know when it happened, but all negative news about Lu Ming and the Jiang Corporation had been taken down. Not a single one could be found.
In their place were entirely negative reports about Guo Jianrong, the reporter, the editor, and the makeup artist.
Extortion, brawls, framing, bribery, flattery…
One news report after another kept appearing.
"How could this be?" Guo Jianrong was completely dumbfounded. "Who has such great audacity to fabricate my scandals?"
He checked the news publishers.
To his astonishment, he found that the news was simultaneously released by major media outlets across the country!
In Jinling, Guo Jianrong might have had the final say; but nationwide, he was insignificant.
When television stations across the country simultaneously broadcasted negative news about Guo Jianrong and his associates, the impact was unimaginable. Almost every common citizen would know about their notoriety.
This was not the most terrifying part.
The most terrifying thing was that Jinling Television had issued a clarification announcement!
The announcement stated that all previous negative news concerning Lu Ming and the Jiang family was fabricated and false, created by Guo Jianrong and others.
Simultaneously, Jinling Television also exposed Guo Jianrong's years of scandals.
This feeling of being backstabbed by his own people made Guo Jianrong feel as if he had swallowed a fly.
"Why is this happening?"
He couldn't understand.
It was already outrageous that other television stations were jointly exposing him, but now even his own station was backstabbing him. This was too bizarre.
It didn't even seem like something that could happen in reality.
Guo Jianrong immediately took out his phone and called the station director, asking, "Director, why are you attacking me behind my back?"
On the other end of the phone.
The director sighed and said meaningfully, "If you walk by the river often, you're bound to get your shoes wet, Xiao Guo. This time, you've provoked a powerful figure you shouldn't have."
After speaking, the director hung up the phone.
It was clear that Guo Jianrong had offended an absolute magnate, which led to this all-encompassing, no-holds-barred attack.
But…
Who was this magnate?
Guo Jianrong racking his brain couldn't figure it out. "A powerful figure I shouldn't have provoked? I… I haven't offended anyone recently."
Except for Lu Ming and the Jiang family.
But Lu Ming was just a cemetery caretaker, and the Jiang family was a fading star. How could they have such great influence?
But besides them, Guo Jianrong truly didn't know who else he had offended.
"Who?"
"Who could it be?"
"I, Guo Jianrong, when and where did I offend which big shot?"
"I can't figure it out!"