The Origin Project, Chairman's Office.
Su Wanran was thoroughly berated by the matriarch, Shen Dianlan, tears welling up in her eyes. She had never felt so humiliated.
Right now, Su Wanran wished she could resign as family head immediately. Whoever wanted it could have it!
Su Wanran bit her lip and said, "I'm sorry, Grandma. I will be extra careful from now on and earn more money for the company and the Su family, making up for all the losses today."
Heh.
Shen Dianlan let out a cold laugh and said, "What's the use of you saying that to me? You've lost the hearts of the people, and the company has lost its vitality because of you. You should apologize to all the employees and promise them that you will be able to make money in the future! Your target for apology should be the employees, not me, understand?"
This was truly a malicious move.
There was an ancient saying: An emperor can admit a mistake and correct it, but he must absolutely not admit fault!
Because once an emperor admits fault, his authority is shattered. How could he then awe his ministers? Wouldn't anyone be able to step all over him later?
Therefore, an emperor could acknowledge a mistake and should correct it, but he absolutely could not admit fault, let alone admit fault in front of his ministers.
Similarly.
Although a chairman was not an emperor, he was the highest-level leader of a company.
He must possess authority!
If he made a mistake, he could acknowledge and correct it, but he absolutely could not admit fault! Once a chairman lost his authority, how could he manage his subordinates?
If a chairman's authority was gone, he might as well resign.
Now, Shen Dianlan was forcing Su Wanran to admit her mistakes in front of all the employees. This was like a primary school student who had made a mistake being made to stand in the punishment corner and apologize in front of the entire school faculty and students.
This action would make Su Wanran lose face completely and utterly destroy her authority.
If Su Wanran really did this, her position as chairman would essentially be half-lost, and her subordinates would no longer respect her.
Su Wanran naturally understood this logic.
But could she refuse now?
No.
Helplessly, Su Wanran, at Shen Dianlan's insistence, summoned all the employees and met them in the employee lounge.
The lounge was packed with company employees, and the senior management were all present.
Su Wanran stood on the stage, in front of the microphone, looking dejected and disheartened.
Shen Dianlan and Su Ru stood on either side. Although they didn't speak, the triumphant smiles on their mother and daughter's faces clearly showed their inner joy.
The employees began to speculate what was going to be said.
"Could it be that she's going to transfer the family headship?"
"Impossible, right? How could it be so fast? Su Wanran has only been in charge for three days, and she's already stepping down?"
"Actually, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Su Ru is so much better. Capable and kind. Isn't she better than Su Wanran, who lost a hundred million for nothing?"
Hearing the words of disparagement and contempt from below, Su Wanran felt even more heartbroken.
It seemed that no one was willing to help Su Wanran anymore.
Alas...
Shen Dianlan urged, "Wanran, just say what you have to say. Don't just stand there like a mute."
Su Wanran took a deep breath and was about to speak when a very familiar figure walked in through the main entrance.
"Wait a moment!"
Everyone turned their heads in unison. The person who entered was none other than the head of the Jiang family, Jiang Mengxin, whom Su Wanran had ordered to leave the city of Wudu!
"Mengxin!" Su Wanran's eyes welled up with tears of excitement the moment she saw Jiang Mengxin.
She was both happy and surprised.
Didn't Jiang Mengxin take a plane to leave early this morning and return to Jinling? How could she be at the company now?
And why wasn't Lu Ming with Jiang Mengxin?
Shen Dianlan and Su Ru were equally astonished. They glanced at each other, both deeply puzzled, unable to understand why Jiang Mengxin had returned.
In fact, it was all Lu Ming's strategy.
Pretend to leave, and then make a surprise return!
Only by making Su Ru believe that Jiang Mengxin and Lu Ming had left could she proceed with her plan confidently. This way, with the enemy in the open and them in the dark, Jiang Mengxin and Lu Ming would have a chance to bring down Su Ru.
Su Ru narrowed her eyes slightly. She deeply understood one thing: she had met her match.
Taking a few steps forward, Su Ru said, "Oh, isn't this the head of the Jiang family? I heard that Chairman Su had already issued you with a deportation order, and you left Wudu by plane early this morning. How can you be back now? What, did you fly here on a sword?"
Her intention in saying this was none other than to further sow discord between Jiang Mengxin and Su Wanran.
She was very skilled at manipulation.
At the same time, Su Ru was also making their conflict public, letting all the employees know about Su Wanran's ingratitude.
However...
Jiang Mengxin let out a laugh and said, "Deportation order? Hahahaha, Su Ru, where did you hear such gossip? The truth is that there was something going on in Jinling, and I had almost finished helping Wanran with the matters of the Su family. So I bid her farewell and was returning. How can this be considered Chairman Su issuing a deportation order? I really don't know which gossipy old woman is spreading rumors behind people's backs."
Su Ru was secretly angered by this.
Being insulted to her face like this, yet unable to retort, was a terrible feeling.
She took a breath.
Su Ru sneered, "Then since you had already bid farewell and were returning, why did you shamelessly stay?"
Her tone of voice also became more aggressive.
Jiang Mengxin replied coldly, "It's simply because before I boarded my flight, I received news that someone intended to make a move against my good sister Wanran after I left. To humiliate her and frame her, I had no choice but to cancel my original travel plans and rush back."
Ruthless!
Jiang Mengxin's reply not only explained why she stayed but also solidified her sisterly bond with Su Wanran.
Most importantly, she immediately shifted all the blame onto Su Ru.
Making a move against Su Wanran just as Jiang Mengxin left was a typical despicable act! Look at who was bullying Su Wanran now? Wasn't it Su Ru?
Instantly, the employees' attitude towards Su Ru underwent a significant shift.
"Tsk tsk tsk, so Su Ru is that kind of person, kicking someone when they're down. How despicable."
"Who says not? She couldn't wait to bully Chairman Su as soon as the head of the Jiang family left. Look at how wronged Chairman Su looks, with no one to help her. How pitiful."
"Hmph, what is she, Su Ru? Isn't she just relying on the matriarch to act powerful?"
"Chairman Su is so pitiful."
These employees were just indecisive opportunists, blowing whichever way the wind blew.
They had thought Su Ru was good before, and now they started sympathizing with Su Wanran.
Going with the flow.
Seeing how the employees' attitudes had drastically changed due to Jiang Mengxin's few words, Su Ru felt a sense of defeat for the first time since returning to Wudu.