Novel Full 504 Sky's anniversary arc (9)
The reporters hushed among themselves that it was the end of Sun Bai. Selling an author’s drafts to the rival company was unforgivable. But Ai didn’t hold any anger or resentment towards her, nor did she throw any accusation on her.
She simply asked, “Miss. Sun. Did you sell my story to Shi Publishing? I just want to hear from you.”
Sun Bai glanced at Jun who had the same expression as Ai which was what really shocked her. Not only was he Sky CEO but Ai’s boyfriend too. She had already prepared to face the worst from Jun’s side.
But at this moment, she looked into Ai’s gaze which only seemed to want her answer. “I a-admit I planned to do that under Lu Bohai’s pressure, but I didn’t! I disregarded his demands and decided for myself that I won’t be guilty of doing this. I-I really am telling the truth, Miss. Zhou…” her eyes ached. “I don’t know how Lu Bohai got those drafts. It’s definitely not from me! P-please believe me, Mrs. Zhou.”
At the end, her chest heaved with breathlessness because she knew this was the last chance to explain her innocence.
Ai nodded at her and said, “I believe you, Miss. Sun.”
Sun Bai froze. Her lips parted with disbelief even though she asked it herself for Ai to believe her.
Xing Bi helplessly sighed. She knew Ai would respond like this. All this time, she wanted to believe Sun Bai as well but if it was anything related to Ai, then she wouldn’t compromise at all. And knowing now that Lu Bohai was fired, Sun Bai was a definite culprit for her.
Ai said, “Others might call me stupid, but I know what I am doing. I have closely worked with you, Miss. Sun. The hard work that you have given to Sky all this time is not a facade. Those were your genuine feelings that cannot be a lie. If you say that you backed off from giving into Lu Bohai’s demands, then I believe you.”
Sun Bai could hardly believe what she heard. Out of all the people, she never imagined for Ai to be so understanding who was the same person she wanted to hurt.
Xing Bi asked, “If you are really innocent, then how did Lu Bohai get those drafts? You said that you had deleted them from your phone.”
“I did! I really deleted all the files from my device…Wait, I can show you!”
Sun Bai hastily unlocked her phone and showed all the folders to everyone but her world turned upside down soon after. The files which were supposed to be permanently deleted from her phone were back in those folders. She blankly stared at those files in a daze unsure of what had happened.
This is not…
Xing Bi widened her eyes and her aura became even more blazing furious.
She hadn’t deleted them after all!
The others figured out as well and snickered. “I think you forgot to delete the evidence, Miss. Sun.”
“N-No…This is not possible,” Sun Bai turned white with fear and trembled hard.
I remember I deleted them! H-How are they back in my phone…?
—
The shareholders and investors’ meeting at Shi Publishing’s conference room wasn’t heading in a direction that Shi Zhelan was wishing for. The atmosphere was stark and grim with the company involved in two major scandals one after the other.
One of the scandals included her daughter, Shi Huan, herself.
“Madam Shi. Please answer us. Do you know how much of Shi Publishing’s reputation has been tarnished in just a matter of a few hours?”
“And how will you do that, Mr. Shi? Miss. Huan is being accused of seducing Chen Yunru for her benefit. And did you forget Lu Bohai’s bribery case?”
He gritted his teeth. “We have already fired him!”
“And will it wash away the allegation against him?” One of them sharply questioned. “It’s so obvious that you will terminate him after this but what about his guilt in the first place?”
“Two people from Shi Publishing targeted Sky and its authors.”
“I cannot even imagine what action Liu Jun will take…”
“If Liu Jun decides to strike back, which I am sure he definitely will, do you think that Shi Publishing will be able to survive?”
Shi Shuren stood up and quickly said, “But it’s not just us! President Yunru is equally responsible for misusing his position and so is their Chief Editor, Sun Bai. Sky Publishing is in the fire just like us.”
One other shareholder laughed. “So what? You forget who Liu Jun is. You forget which family he belongs to.”
He stiffened.
The Liu family…
“That alone is enough. And the blame falls on us first. Miss. Shi Huan seduced President Chen. Lu Bohai trapped Sun Bai to do bribery and since Miss. Zhou Ai is involved now, do you think the Sky CEO will remain calm? Don’t forget that he is her boyfriend.”
Shi Shuren was visibly sweating now. Sky’s reputation was at stake too but no matter how anybody looked at it, it was Shi Publishing which would take the worst hit.
One investor looked at Shi Zhelan and sneered. “A pity, Madam Shi. You built a whole company for your daughter’s sake, but how did she return your favor? By throwing mud at all the efforts you put in?”
Shi Zhelan burst into fury. “Don’t say a word against my daughter!”
Her face was livid with anger and her body shook with all the events unfolding against Huan. She was desperately trying to call Huan, but she was just not reachable.
Shi Zhelan’s behavior only made the shareholders even more displeased. “I guess I can see why Miss. Shi Huan would walk the wrong path.”
“You…”
He indirectly blamed her for wrong parenting.
“At this rate, we cannot believe in Shi Publishing’s future anymore.”
“I don’t think you or Mr. Shi will be able to handle this crisis. If you did, it will only aggravate the matter because you will be blamed for showing bias towards your child as her parents.”
“You fired Lu Bohai but what about any action against Miss. Shi? None. People are already commenting unfavorably on that.”
Shi Zhelan clenched her jaw.
How can I take any action against Huan when I know she is innocent!?
“If somebody more capable steps in, we can think about not withdrawing our investments…”
One of the shareholders said, “There is somebody among us who is indeed capable. If we give her the authority, I am sure she would find a way out of this.”
Shi Zhelan frowned in confusion.
Who are they talking about-
The door opened at that moment and a woman walked in, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor.
She smiled at everyone present in the conference room and introduced herself. “Nice to meet you. I am an editor working in Dream High. My name is Zhan Yahui.”