CFAIACTH Chapter 86 - Madam Jing’s Invitation

"What is Zhongshi Technology planning to do?"

"They've already trended twice on social media. Should we suppress the trends?"

"What's the point? They're going live online, and that will just earn them more free trends."

"Are they trying to take everyone down with them?"

The executive assistant department, known for quickly digesting gossip, buzzed with speculation.

Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie, hearing the rumors downstairs, immediately rushed to the top floor to offer support.

Jing Feibai cautioned, "The executive assistant department is surely swamped right now. We'd only get in the way if we went over there."

Yuan Leshan thought to himself, This rich kid Jing Feibai must be a fool—dumber than even me.

"You think we're going up there to help them? We're going to cheer on our boss and Sister Xia! If you don't want to come, that's fine."

Jing Feibai was taken aback by Yuan Leshan's abrupt assertiveness.

Over the past few days, she had developed a good relationship with Yuan Leshan. In contrast, Duan Yajie had been unfriendly toward her. Yet in this moment, Yuan Leshan stood up to defend her.

I never expected to be snapped at today just for offering advice.

Ding!

The elevator arrived.

Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie stepped inside.

Jing Feibai hurriedly followed.

"What are you doing here?" Duan Yajie asked indifferently, though she didn't kick him out.

Jing Feibai immediately flashed his brightest smile. "Well, we're friends now, aren't we? Especially with Qingxia—we're practically family. No need for formalities. Even if I'm not great at giving advice, I can at least offer a tissue if anything goes wrong."

A tissue?

Duan Yajie frowned, clearly displeased with his phrasing.

Yuan Leshan, however, paid no attention. When the elevator reached the top floor and the doors opened, he immediately rushed out.

Four security guards in suits stood outside the Executive Assistant's office. Normally, they would stop unauthorized personnel.

But during Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie's previous visit, Lin Chanjuan happened to pass by and specifically instructed that these two were exceptions. They were to be escorted to Jing Qingxia's location.

Having learned from previous experience, the four security guards exchanged glances and immediately selected two of their number to escort the three visitors. Leading them through the building, one ahead and one behind, they prevented the visitors from approaching the office area while still maintaining maximum courtesy. They only stepped back to a distance when they reached Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue's office.

Jing Qingxia opened the door, ushered the visitors inside, and even borrowed three chairs from outside so they could sit down. From a distance, she saw the two security guards still standing attentively by the wall, dutifully waiting, and nodded her gratitude. Startled by the acknowledgment, the guards nodded in response.

Returning to the office, Jing Qingxia placed the chairs for the visitors. Zhong Mingxue's computer screen already displayed Zhongshi Technology's official website. Though the live stream hadn't officially started, the video feed was already stuttering—a clear sign of the massive audience tuning in.

At exactly 9:00 AM, as announced on Zhongshi Technology's website, the live stream began.

Zhong Xiaoling appeared on screen. Dressed entirely in black and gray, she stood at the podium. Behind her, a half-revealed window showed dark, stormy skies filled with dense clouds, lightning, and torrential rain—perfectly setting the stage for the oppressive atmosphere to come.

Jing Qingxia frowned.

She wasn't well-versed in the intricacies of business, but she understood Zhong Xiaoling's purpose in dressing this way.

Color, through human use and convention, has always represented various meanings.

For example, red symbolizes passion and celebration.

Blue, on the other hand, represents melancholy.

Cool colors differ from warm colors, and black differs from white.

Today, Zhong Xiaoling, who usually made such a grand entrance, hadn't even applied lipstick. Her entire appearance lacked any bright hues, and her expression was solemn.

Ironically, just yesterday, when she visited her younger brother's grave, she hadn't forgotten to wear bright red lipstick, red high heels, a dark blue outfit, and expensive pearl jewelry, all paired with a provocative smile.

Now, deliberately crafted to evoke the image of a victim, she exaggerated every breath to express her supposed heartbreak.

This "heartbroken" Zhong Xiaoling stood before the camera and podium. Her first action was to place her hands over her chest, suppressing her emotions, and bow deeply.

"Hello everyone, I'm Zhong Xiaoling, the current chairman of Zhongshi Technology. Today, I must first apologize to everyone. On behalf of Zhongshi Technology, and my brother, the former chairman, Zhong Hongbo, I offer my sincere apologies."

It was clear that Zhong Xiaoling and Zhong Xiaohui's acting skills ran in the family.

Zhong Xiaohui, despite facing criminal charges, had used her exceptional acting skills to manipulate information asymmetry and sow doubt in the young estate lawyer's mind.

Zhong Xiaoling, on the other hand, brazenly exploited the live broadcast to advance her agenda.

"What does this mean? Is she trying to smear Uncle Zhong's reputation?" Even Yuan Leshan could discern Zhong Xiaoling's intentions.

Jing Qingxia gently supported Zhong Mingxue's shoulders.

Zhong Mingxue's expression remained unchanged, but her nails dug anxiously into her palms.

"I am now publicly accusing my brother, Zhong Hongbo, of academic fraud. He stole the research results of our team and claimed them as his own. When I discovered this, as his elder sister and a veteran of Zhongshi Technology, I urged him to come forward and admit his wrongdoing, but he refused. Then, tragically, an accident claimed his young life.

"My mistake was sealed. I believed that if my brother, after his death, was burdened with the stigma of academic fraud, he would lose even the chance to clear his name. So, I chose to cover it up.

"After taking over Zhongshi Technology, I tried to contact the original team, belatedly attempting to offer compensation and promising funding and facilities once we secured official project approval, so they could continue their research and share future results with them. I only wanted to preserve my younger brother's reputation. But I was wrong."

Zhong Xiaoling spoke vividly, seamlessly blending the true timeline with the fabricated accusations.

Duan Yajie pulled out her phone.

As expected, several related topics had already trended on the hot search list.

Biotechnology had always been a key focus for both the public and the government.

In recent years, to maintain research enthusiasm and combat academic corruption, the crackdown on academic fraud had intensified.

She couldn't resist showing her phone to Yuan Leshan.

Yuan Leshan fell silent, instantly wary of speaking. He didn't know what to say.

She didn't know Zhong Mingxue's father personally, nor whether he had truly engaged in academic fraud. But this was Zhong Mingxue's father, and she couldn't casually express an opinion.

Even Yuan Leshan hesitated at this moment; how much more so would the uninformed public, watching the live stream and eager for juicy gossip?

Jing Qingxia scoffed. "Zhong Xiaoling truly has no shame. Is her own brother's reputation less important than her own interests?"

Zhong Mingxue's condition wasn't too dire, but her voice sounded heavy. "It's not surprising, given the methods she uses. The Jiao Family has a media company and has used all sorts of marketing ploys and trolls before. When Zhongshi Technology was competing with other companies for a project, they used these tactics. My parents even had a heated argument with them over it."

Jing Qingxia recalled the initial incident on the school forum.

If they would go to such lengths on a high school forum, imagine what they'd do in a broader public discourse.

Zhong Xiaoling meticulously laid out the timeline of so-called academic fraud, seemingly solidifying the case against Zhong Hongbo for stealing his collaborator's patent.

Then, she abruptly changed tack.

"This time, the Jing Family exploited my young niece's youth and naivety, luring her into a sweet romantic trap with an engagement. Their goal was to monopolize the patent, kick Zhongshi Technology out, and exclude our researchers from the project. Their spite drove them to sue me. Fighting the Jing Family is like throwing an egg at a rock, but knowingly collaborating with global research teams despite the patent's fraudulent origins is irresponsible. How many scientists' careers will be ruined by following a false path?"

It's here.

The slander against the Jing Family has finally surfaced.

For Zhong Xiaoling, tarnishing Zhong Hongbo's reputation brought no benefit to Zhongshi Technology.

Only by sacrificing her own interests—like a desperate fisherman destroying his net to drag down the fish—could she pull the Jing Family into the mire and splash the real dirt on them. By pinning the labels of "greedy profiteers" and "knowingly committing crimes" on the Jing Group's forehead, she aimed to stir public opinion.

"How dare they spread such lies!" Yuan Leshan exclaimed, on the verge of tears. "Uncle Jing and Aunt Lin would never do such a thing!"

She didn't know Zhong Mingxue's parents well.

But she knew Jing Qingxia's parents intimately.

It wasn't just through daily interactions, but also through what her own parents had told her.

Though they were merchants,

the Jing Family's integrity ran deep. Jing Guangyao himself was a man of principle, never exploiting his family's wealth to gain unfair advantages.

"They have the nerve to accuse the Jing Family? Can't we sue her for slander instead?" Duan Yajie added indignantly.

But as inexperienced high school students, they couldn't grasp the intricate schemes at play. They simply felt deeply wronged on the Jing Family's behalf.

"She's truly foolish. At the end of the day, she underestimated the Jing Family. This approach will never bring them down. How can a small clan, without a suicidal resolve, possibly shake the foundations of such a behemoth?" Jing Feibai suddenly spoke.

"Really?!" Yuan Leshan felt a surge of hope at Jing Feibai's words.

Jing Qingxia glanced at Jing Feibai, her brow furrowing at his dismissive tone.

Jing Feibai immediately smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling. "Well, I'm a few years older than you all and joined the Jing Group earlier. Of course I'd have a clearer understanding. There's no need to worry so much."

Duan Yajie also sighed in relief at Jing Feibai's reassurance. It was the first time in a long while that she found him particularly likable.

At that moment, three figures in white coats appeared on the live broadcast screen.

The stark white contrasted sharply with Zhong Xiaoling's attire, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The middle figure, a balding man with a receding hairline, wore glasses and dark circles under his eyes. Flanking him were a handsome man and a beautiful woman, both dressed simply and showing signs of exhaustion.

This was all part of Zhong Xiaoling's meticulous planning.

By presenting the middle-aged man as a trustworthy leader and flanking him with two attractive researchers, she aimed to capture the attention of both serious viewers and those drawn to good looks.

Modern public relations strategies had been thoroughly exploited by her.

"Hello everyone, I'm Researcher Huang, one of the former team leaders. My official title is Professor, but I still prefer to be just an ordinary researcher."

Researcher Huang's voice carried a tone of grievance as he held a thick stack of experimental data, hoping to overwhelm the uninformed spectators with a deluge of technical information.

"It was during a critical phase of the research that we had a disagreement. At that point, our team split into two factions, each working independently. In the end, reality proved my approach was correct. Yet Zhong Hongbo insisted that the research's future lay only in partnering with a major corporation."

"Hongbo had always presented himself as honest and dependable, never mistreating any of us. This made me lower my guard. I agreed to give him the first-author position on the paper, and later, when the patent was approved, it became his sole property. I could have tolerated all of that. But now, this is intolerable! This research is my precious child—how can the Jing Family deny me any involvement?"

Researcher Huang spoke with such conviction that tears welled up in his eyes by the end.

"Half-truths are the hardest lies to detect," Zhong Mingxue thought, her fists clenching so tightly that they ached, held protectively in Jing Qingxia's grasp.

What infuriated her most was that, at Zhong Xiaoling's behest, Researcher Huang had directed his comments solely at Zhong Hongbo. Yet everyone on the team knew that her parents had always been a united front, their combined efforts driving all their achievements.

In this media storm, her mother hadn't even been mentioned by name.

"What are we going to do?" Yuan Leshan fretted, watching the trending topic explode with increasingly heated comments.

A few voices called for patience, suggesting, "Let the bullets fly for now. We might still get a reversal."

But the overwhelming majority hurled insults at "Zhong Hongbo" and "Jing Group."

Even Jing Group's official Weibo account was flooded with venomous messages.

Seizing the opportunity, Zhongshi Technology issued a lawyer's letter through their official account, immediately acting on their earlier threat.

The comment section erupted with netizens, all eager for a good spectacle.

Many flocked to Zhongshi Technology's official account, praising them for "admitting mistakes and correcting them," calling them "true heroes for daring to challenge monopolies."

Even Yuan Leshan, a seasoned observer of online drama, knew these weren't paid trolls planted by the Jiao Family.

Behind each account was a real person, swept up in the fervor of the moment, their blood boiling with passion as they sought to leave their mark on this "heroic feat."

Meanwhile, the Jing Group's comment section swelled with responses:

"Bloodthirsty capitalists—dare you face the challenge?"

"How could I have used your products all this time? You're nothing but scum! Do you even deserve our support as consumers?"

Some comments devolved into a torrent of profanity, spewing venom.

Amidst these reactions, it was clear that some were orchestrated trolls, while others were mindless haters venting real-world frustrations online. Still others were genuine followers, their emotions stirred by Zhong Xiaoling's live stream.

Seeing Zhong Mingxue's condition was relatively stable, Jing Qingxia took the initiative to say, "My father mentioned yesterday that he would go back to find Uncle Zhong and Aunt Wan's original research team and request some materials. Given the current public opinion climate, this matter will likely be handled initially by the public relations department. Once we have prepared the materials, we can address it properly."

"See? I was right, wasn't I, Sister Feibai?" Although she had already formed her own judgment, Jing Qingxia didn't forget to seek guidance from the more experienced Jing Feibai.

Seeing Jing Qingxia's puzzled smile, Jing Feibai said earnestly, "You're right. That's why I think Zhong Xiaoling's attempt at sabotage is incredibly foolish. It might work against small businesses, but for a conglomerate like the Jing Group, without concrete evidence, relying solely on ambiguous, fabricated 'evidence' will easily backfire. All she's doing is making things unpleasant."

She paused before adding in a joking tone, "The Jing family's legal team isn't just for show. Even if there were genuine flaws in this matter, they'd easily set things straight. Old Madam used to pull off stunts like this back when she was at the height of her power."

Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie visibly relaxed upon hearing this.

Jing Qingxia smiled at Jing Feibai, but her expression turned cold as she averted her gaze.

Zhong Mingxue noticed the change in Jing Qingxia's expression and was about to ask what was wrong when...

The phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

It was Jing Qingxia's phone, displaying "Mother" on the caller ID.

Zhong Mingxue muted the livestream's audio and then closed the window entirely, preferring not to see it at all.

Jing Qingxia answered the call.

Her mother's gentle voice came through the receiver: "Xiaxia, your grandmother has emerged from seclusion. She just informed us that we'll be having New Year's Eve dinner at the old mansion. She wants you and Xiaoxue to arrive a day early, so I'll send a car for you both later."

Judging by her tone, the Omega Mother hadn't been affected by Zhong Xiaoling's underhanded tactics. Perhaps, as Jing Feibai had suggested, such actions held no weight with the Jing family.

What was strange, however, was that Old Madam Jing had suddenly ended her seclusion and wanted Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue to arrive at the mansion early.

"Okay, I'll tell Xiaoxue," Jing Qingxia replied.

She hung up the phone.

Jing Qingxia glanced at Yuan Leshan and Duan Yajie, looking embarrassed. "My mom said Old Madam Jing wants to see me and Zhong Mingxue. I won't be able to join you for dinner tonight."

Duan Yajie thought Old Madam Jing had chosen a convenient time for this, effectively shielding them from public scrutiny. She smiled and patted Jing Qingxia's shoulder. "Sister Xia, don't think you're that indispensable. We'll manage to eat without you."

"If Old Madam Jing wants you, you should go. We're used to eating with Sister Feibai anyway. Oh, Sister Feibai doesn't need to come, right?" Yuan Leshan asked casually, looking at Jing Feibai.

Jing Feibai's lips twitched in self-mockery. "I'm just an outsider after all. Why would they invite me to join the festivities and ruin the holiday atmosphere?"

Seeing Jing Feibai's wounded expression, Yuan Leshan realized he'd misspoken. He quickly tried to remedy it with enthusiasm. "Why don't you come to my family's New Year's Eve dinner? We'd love to have you—"

Duan Yajie interrupted. "I'd like to come to your family's New Year's Eve dinner too."

"But you should just stay at your own family's house for the New Year. Why come to mine?"

"We'll have to go to your place eventually."

"Why would I want you in my house?!"

"I used to visit your place all the time."

"That was then, this is now!"

As they bickered, Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue led Jing Feibai away.

The security guard diligently followed behind the trio.

Moments later, the car Lin Chanjuan had arranged arrived.

Jing Qingxia and Zhong Mingxue got in.

In the torrential rain, they drove slowly to the Jing Family Mansion, arriving just in time for lunch.

Butler Xiao Lin emerged with an umbrella to greet them.

Jing Qingxia pulled Zhong Mingxue into her arms, sharing a large umbrella.

The Jing Family Mansion stood solemn and dignified amid the silver threads of the fine rain, its aura taking on a mysterious quality.

Butler Xiao Lin opened the door for them.

The warmth inside was stifling. Old Madam Jing, still clad in her Tai Chi uniform, was busy brewing tea. She glanced up briefly. "You're here. Come sit down and have lunch with us."

"Of course," the two juniors readily agreed.

But the meal was distinctly uncomfortable.

The atmosphere in the mansion was as oppressive as the weather outside.

Throughout the meal, Old Madam Jing remained silent, as was her custom. Yet the atmosphere felt subtly different.

She chewed slowly, waiting until the two young women had finished most of their food before swallowing her last bite and setting down her bowl and chopsticks. Looking up at them, she said, "Xiaoxue, rest for a while in the Jing Family Mansion. Xiaxia, go change into your raincoat. I'll take you to the Separate Courtyard alone."

Zhong Mingxue instinctively gripped Jing Qingxia's hand, her eyes wary as she watched Old Madam Jing. Whether due to her own guilt or Zhong Xiaoling's relentless pressure making her more sensitive, she now sensed danger to Jing Qingxia from the old woman.

Old Madam Jing burst into laughter at Zhong Mingxue's reaction. "Aiya, Xiaoxue, do you really think this old madam would harm her own granddaughter? Why so tense? Or is there some secret you're trying to hide from me?"

Zhong Mingxue was speechless.

Though Old Madam Jing laughed as she always did, her laughter sent a shiver down Zhong Mingxue's spine.

Jing Qingxia casually patted Zhong Mingxue's hand. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm your fiancée. Where else would I go? No matter where I go, I'll always end up back by your side."

"Ah, young people these days, so sentimental!" Old Madam Jing said. "I'm going to put on a warm coat. Wait for me at the door." With that, she left the dining table.

After Old Madam Jing departed, Zhong Mingxue continued to clutch Jing Qingxia's hand, as if afraid that if she let go, Jing Qingxia would vanish.

"Don't worry," Jing Qingxia reassured her. "Grandma's right. She wouldn't do anything to her own granddaughter."

"But..." But you're not her granddaughter.

"Relax, there's no 'but.' I am her granddaughter." Jing Qingxia patted Zhong Mingxue's head, stood up, and took the black raincoat brought by Butler Xiao Lin. She changed into it and waited by the door.

Whether Old Madam Jing wanted to talk to her or not, Jing Qingxia knew she needed to have a proper conversation with her grandmother.

Old Madam Jing emerged from her room wearing a thick down jacket and a matching black raincoat. Her expression, partially concealed beneath the raincoat's hood, carried a hint of solemnity.

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