The delivery man took off his yellow vest and changed into a black outfit, pulling on a mask and cap that concealed his appearance before pushing open the emergency exit door on the seventeenth floor.
With his head lowered, he carefully avoided the security cameras as he slipped into the conference hall, where the reporters had already gathered.
Blending into the crowd, he slowly looked up. His gaze settled on the stage, where Wang Zi Rui stood beneath the bright lights.
"Does this mean GL Holdings is admitting to illegally funding the project?"
"Are you saying GL Holdings has betrayed the public's trust?"
"Is GL Holdings guilty of mistreating its workers to embezzle project funds?"
The barrage of questions gradually died down as everyone waited for his answer.
Wang Zi Rui swept his gaze across the crowd. Once he was certain the reporters had finished speaking, he leaned toward the microphone.
"Some allegations are true. To the public who believed in our company and placed their trust in GL Holdings, I sincerely apologize. However, this was never a corporate decision to maximize profits or enrich ourselves. It was the result of negligence and the misconduct of those who chose to abuse their authority for personal gain."
His words echoed through the conference hall. For a brief moment, silence fell before the reporters exchanged puzzled glances.
Wang Zi Rui looked toward Si Qi, who stood beside the technical team, and gave a subtle nod.
The screen behind him lit up, replacing the company logo with financial reports and transaction records.
"In front of you is evidence proving that Director Fan, the executive in charge of this project, misappropriated project funds and conspired with Green Corporation to embezzle money through the use of substandard materials."
A murmur immediately spread through the hall as the reporters stared at the documents displayed on the screen.
Hidden among the reporters and staff, the delivery man lowered his head, though his eyes flickered with something unreadable.
"Are you saying Director Fan betrayed GL Holdings?" one reporter asked.
Wang Zi Rui simply met his gaze.
"Yesterday, the police confirmed the case, and Director Fan has been removed from his position pending further legal proceedings."
"But, Vice President Wang, who from Green Corporation was involved? What will happen to the partnership and the resort project?" another reporter asked.
"I believe Green Corporation will soon release an official statement regarding those involved," Wang Zi Rui replied after a brief pause.
"GL Holdings will not tolerate such actions. We have made the decision to terminate our partnership with Green Corporation. The safety of the public has always been, and will always remain, our highest priority.
"As for the resort project, every material that fails to meet our safety standards will be replaced immediately, and a new construction and inspection plan will be implemented. GL Holdings will take full responsibility for the damages and casualties caused by this incident.
"We understand that trust is earned through actions. We will let our actions speak for us and ensure that every project bearing the name GL Holdings meets the highest standards of safety and quality."
Wang Zi Rui finished speaking in a low, steady voice before bowing at a ninety-degree angle. Instantly, countless camera flashes illuminated the conference hall, capturing the moment as the room fell silent.
The delivery man frowned, his eyes flickering with hatred. His hand clenched into a fist before he forced himself to remain calm. Just as he turned to leave, a man quietly approached from behind and whispered,
"If you cause a commotion here, it will become just another incident buried beneath the media's lies, and you'll rot in prison. But if you come with me quietly, our boss won't harm you. Instead, he'll give you the chance to speak with him."
The man glanced at the delivery man from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.
"So... which will it be?"
Meanwhile, in the chairman's office, Wang Cheng Shou sat in his executive chair with a faint grin as he watched Wang Zi Rui on the flat-screen television mounted on the wall.
"Father, I followed your instructions and let him handle the issue on his own," Wang Jing Feng, standing beside him, said.
Wang Cheng Shou glanced at him. "Tell me, A'Feng. If you were in his position, what would you have done?"
Wang Jing Feng fell silent for a moment.
"According to the PR team, the issue could still have been contained. If I were in his position, I wouldn't have held this press conference or admitted fault. Instead, I would have buried the incident beneath larger events, such as charity campaigns. After all, people always remember what is the most eye-catching."
The smile on Wang Cheng Shou's face never faded.
"But it would have consumed far more resources," he said. "Admitting fault may stain our brand, but between protecting one's pride and showing sincerity, Zi Rui chose the more straightforward path."
He let out a soft chuckle.
"I'm not saying you're wrong. It simply reflects the difference between the two of you. You protect the company by preserving its image, while Zi Rui protects it by earning back the public's confidence. Neither approach is wrong—it merely reveals the kind of leaders you are."
Wang Jing Feng remained silent. His gaze shifted to the television screen, where Wang Zi Rui continued facing the reporters with unwavering composure.
Meanwhile, at M.City Airport, the plane bound for Country J had just taken off from the runway.
Inside the cabin, Xiuying held Song Meiqi's hand as they sat beside each other.
"Are you okay?" Xiuying asked, remembering how pale Meiqi had looked earlier when the fans crowded around them.
Song Meiqi looked at her and shook her head.
"I'm fine," she said. "It was just a little stuffy out there, but I'm okay."
Xiuying offered a faint smile. "If you're not feeling well, you can always tell me."
Song Meiqi returned the smile, warmth filling her heart. She was grateful to have Xiuying—not only as Everbloom's leader, but also as one of her closest friends.
Even so, the memory of those men lingered in her mind. Like a shadow that refused to leave, it followed her wherever she went, never allowing her to truly feel at ease.
Five hours later, the plane landed in Country J, where the rest of Everbloom was waiting.
Manager Li, Xiuying, and Song Meiqi never spoke of the kidnapping. To everyone else, they simply said that Meiqi had fallen ill and needed a day to recover. It was a lie they all silently agreed upon, hoping to spare the rest of the members from unnecessary worry as they carried on with their schedules.
The group resumed their photoshoot as scheduled.
Three days later...
After completing the shoot, the group returned to H.City. However, as soon as she arrived, Song Meiqi headed straight to Star Entertainment's recording studio, recording different versions of the song she and Michael had revised almost a week earlier.
She thought that if she kept herself busy enough, perhaps she could drown out the fear those men had left behind.
"Okay..." Michael said, gently rocking back and forth in his swivel chair. "Can you step out for a moment and have a listen?"
Song Meiqi walked over and sat beside him, her eyes settling on the computer screen as Michael pressed play.
The song began with a slow yet groovy melody. It felt like taking a late-night walk along the shoreline with a drink in hand, the cool sea breeze brushing against your skin beneath the vibrant moonlight.
"I like it better than the fifth version, but..." Michael turned to look at her. "Toward the end, it feels lonely. It's as if you're hiding something."