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Novel Catalog
Chapter 50
The tension in the air was thick as Lin Qiang sat in the main meeting room of the Lin Group office, looking smug in his position at the head of the table. He could feel the weight of the situation—he had orchestrated this whole thing. The directors and upper management staff were already seated, waiting for the meeting to begin. Lin Yuzhen’s absence was the perfect opening to humiliate her in front of everyone.
“Lin Yuzhen thinks she’s really some big shot, huh?” Lin Qiang scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “How dare she keep everyone waiting like this?”
The HR director, a loyal figure in the company, followed up with a scowl. “I already informed her the meeting would start at 9am. Can you believe she’s actually late?”
The remark stung, even though it wasn’t technically accurate. Lin Yuzhen had been told 10am by the HR department. But it didn’t matter. This wasn’t about facts—it was about creating an opportunity for Lin Qiang to publicly demean her and remind everyone of who was in charge.
Lin Qiang’s expression was one of satisfaction. Everything was falling into place. Lin Yuzhen had always been a thorn in his side, but now he was about to cut her down, one piece at a time. The factory’s success was no longer just an annoyance to him—it was a threat to his control over the family business. He would use whatever means necessary to get rid of her, even if it meant publicly humiliating her.
“Is she coming, or do I need to send someone to drag her here?” Lin Qiang sneered, glancing around the room as if expecting the directors to chuckle along with him.
But just as the room began to murmur in anticipation of Lin Yuzhen’s continued absence, the door swung open, and in walked Lin Yuzhen—completely composed, despite the tense atmosphere.
Behind her, Jiang Ning followed quietly, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Lin Qiang’s smug expression faltered for just a second, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Ah, here she is,” he said, trying to mask his irritation with an air of casual indifference. “What took you so long, Lin Yuzhen? Did you think this was a social call?”
Lin Yuzhen walked confidently toward the table, her eyes scanning the room before settling on Lin Qiang. She could feel the sharp eyes of the directors on her, but she refused to show any signs of weakness. She knew exactly what Lin Qiang was trying to do, and she wasn’t going to let him succeed.
“I’m sorry for being late, but I wasn’t informed the meeting would start at 9am,” she replied coolly, her tone unwavering. “I was told it would be 10am.”
The HR director shifted uncomfortably but said nothing, not daring to contradict Lin Qiang’s authority.
Lin Qiang glared at her, but before he could respond, Jiang Ning spoke up from behind her.
“Does the time really matter, Lin Qiang?” Jiang Ning’s voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable weight that made everyone in the room pause. “You’ve got something to say to her, so say it. We all know what this is about.”
The room fell silent. All eyes turned toward Jiang Ning, his words cutting through the tension like a blade. Lin Qiang’s expression darkened, but he was too proud to back down. He had already laid the groundwork for this moment, and he wasn’t going to let anyone disrupt it.
“You think you can just waltz in here and—” Lin Qiang began, but Jiang Ning interrupted him.
“No need for theatrics,” Jiang Ning said smoothly. “We all know this meeting isn’t about discussing business. It’s about you trying to push Lin Yuzhen out of the family. If you have an issue with her, then deal with it like an adult.”
Lin Qiang’s fists clenched under the table. His plan was unraveling faster than he could handle. But he refused to let it show.
“Alright then, let’s get to the point,” Lin Qiang said, trying to salvage some semblance of control. “This meeting is about Lin Yuzhen’s position in the company. I’m proposing we remove her from the family business. It’s clear she’s become too much of a liability.”
There was an audible murmur in the room. Some of the directors exchanged glances, unsure of how to react. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control, and no one knew where it would lead.
Lin Yuzhen remained calm, her gaze never leaving Lin Qiang as she took her seat. She had anticipated this move. She wasn’t going to let him push her out without a fight.
“And what makes you think you have the right to make that decision?” Jiang Ning’s voice rang out, sharp and clear. “You’ve been scheming behind her back for a while, haven’t you? What makes you think your little plan is going to work?”
The directors, who had been silently watching the exchange, began to shift uncomfortably. They had seen Lin Qiang’s tactics before, but this time, the situation felt different. With Jiang Ning in the room, it was no longer a one-sided battle.
Lin Qiang opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. The weight of Jiang Ning’s words hung in the air, and he realized, for the first time, that his position was not as secure as he had thought.
“Let’s move this meeting along,” Jiang Ning said smoothly, turning his gaze to the other directors. “Why don’t we focus on the real business at hand? Lin Yuzhen has done an excellent job with the factory. Perhaps it’s time you all start acknowledging that.”
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the pressure building as Jiang Ning’s words settled in. Lin Qiang was now in the hot seat, his plans exposed and his authority challenged. Lin Yuzhen, calm and composed, had turned the tables, and Jiang Ning was the one pulling the strings. It was clear to everyone in the room: this meeting was no longer just about business. It was about power.
