Good news always travels slowly, while bad news flies like a rocket.
Ou Yunchen, who was in the US, also received the news that AtL was being summoned, but it wasn't him who actively checked, but rather...
Jin Datong: "Mr. Ou, something big has happened. Look."
Ou Yunchen took the phone handed over by Jin Datong and was immediately drawn to the prominent characters. This was indeed the outcome he had been waiting for.
Ou Yunchen: "My heavens, this is terrible."
Ou Yunchen, mimicking Jin Datong's reaction upon seeing the news, first appeared quite shocked, then lowered his head and slowly read the text, as if only by doing so could he comprehend what had transpired.
Jin Datong: "As soon as Lawyer Ma took office, something like this happened..."
Ou Yunchen: "Lawyer Ma is a highly capable lawyer. She will definitely ensure AtL remains unharmed."
Jin Datong: "You didn't know before?"
Ou Yunchen: "Know what? Oh, you mean being summoned? Of course not. It seems to be related to the sharp drop in the education center. It's likely that people from the education center believe the plunge was man-made and are looking for a scapegoat."
Jin Datong: "Honestly, when I first saw this news, do you know what I thought?"
Ou Yunchen: "What did you think?"
Jin Datong: "They must think AtL is easy to bully now that you're no longer there."
Ou Yunchen: "Hahahaha, no, nobody would easily antagonize AtL."
Indeed, they still didn't know that AtL had kicked Ou Yunchen out. Lawyer Ma was merely acting as a proxy. Mrs. Su also knew that completely removing Ou Yunchen would cause considerable turmoil.
Yet, neither of them expected that even heaven would be helping Ou Yunchen this much!
By the way, Ou Yunchen could swear on high that this time it truly wasn't his doing. How could he have known that Tong Li and Xie Youlin would join forces to target AtL?
However, there was one thing Ou Yunchen had anticipated: he had arranged for paparazzi to stake out for a long time. Any stir at the AtL entrance would be immediately posted online by Fan Zhijie!
So, it was truly a coincidence. Lawyer Ma taking the helm at this very moment had effectively shielded Ou Yunchen from a blow!!!
Jin Datong: "What happens to AtL now? I know that once a company is summoned, all accounts in the stock market are frozen."
"Datong was forced to halt trading in the same way back then. So, a financial investment company like AtL would surely have to halt all related transactions."
Ou Yunchen: "Yes... it's a tricky problem..."
Just then, Ou Yunchen's phone rang. Ou Yunchen glanced at the caller ID and gestured to Jin Datong that he needed to step away.
-- Ou Yunchen on the phone --
Ruby: "Mr. Ou, is this a convenient time to talk?"
Ou Yunchen: "Go ahead."
Ruby reported AtL's situation to Ou Yunchen, including how Lawyer Ma had privately approved a project previously abandoned by Ou Yunchen within the week, leading to a drastic reduction in AtL's operational funds.
Ou Yunchen: "What did the Securities Regulatory Commission say?"
Ruby: "Their stance is very clear. They are not convinced by the explanations from Lawyer Ma and Accountant Chen."
"Moreover, many of the affiliated parties were projects finalized during your tenure. Although Lawyer Ma remained silent, the Securities Regulatory Commission stated that all investment project accounts would be frozen, and stock trading would be prohibited until the matter was clarified."
Ou Yunchen: "Are you sure it was the education center that reported it?"
Ruby: "Absolutely sure. However, regarding the education center's claim, Lawyer Ma explained it very clearly. We indeed did not make any money on that particular stock."
Ou Yunchen: "Understood."
Ruby: "Additionally, Lawyer Ma has been trying to contact you. I told her you were abroad and unreachable."
Ou Yunchen: "Excellent. Just keep telling her that."
Ruby: "Okay. Oh, and since there's no money to fund ongoing projects, Lawyer Ma seems to be looking to secure a bank loan."
Ou Yunchen: "Ask Accountant Chen to prepare a report for her, suggesting she might consider selling Datong."
Ruby: "Understood."
-- Call ended --
Ou Yunchen hung up the phone and returned to face Jin Datong, feigning nonchalance.
Jin Datong: "Was that a call from AtL?"
Ou Yunchen: "No, it was another friend inquiring."
Jin Datong: "Indeed. Everyone is watching Lawyer Ma's predicament now."
Ou Yunchen raised his champagne glass, and Jin Datong reciprocated.
Regardless of the uproar back home, the two sat in a small bar on a street corner, as if they had escaped to a haven, savoring champagne, and admiring the scenery and beautiful women.
A Weibo notification caught Ou Yunchen's attention.
It seemed Mrs. Su was completely unfazed by AtL's situation, or perhaps she was pouring all her energy into ensuring Su Ruiyi charmed Mr. Emmanuel?
Look at how many photos Su Ruiyi posted. Where had she gone this time? An amusement park? Matching couple outfits? And a conspicuous joint photo!
Emmanuel had his arm draped around Su Ruiyi's neck, resting it on her shoulder, perfectly framing two identical temporary tattoos.
One was on her collarbone, the other on the back of her hand. It was quite intimate!
"Every time I see you, time feels like it stops. But when you leave, time accelerates, as if to make up for the pause."
Heh. She said she only liked Ou Yunchen, yet she could still have such a good time with other men.
Ou Yunchen actually felt a pang of jealousy. He was the one who wanted this, the one who had encouraged Emmanuel to be more forward. Yet, seeing them so joyfully together made him feel rather unsettled!
Jin Datong: "Where are we going tomorrow?"
Ou Yunchen put down his phone. It was at this precise moment that Su Ruiyi sent him a private message. Unfortunately, Ou Yunchen didn't see it.
"I wish the person by my side was you."
***
As Ou Yunchen had predicted, AtL, facing financial difficulties, began to prompt Lawyer Ma to divest unnecessary businesses.
This was, of course, partly thanks to Accountant Chen's suggestion. He dredged up old issues, bringing up the matter of Ou Yunchen's unilateral decision to acquire Datong, which immediately elicited aversion and concern from Lawyer Ma.
Lawyer Ma: "This Datong project, upon acquisition, doesn't seem as bad as initially thought. It's quite profitable."
Accountant Chen: "It's breaking even."
Lawyer Ma: "Isn't that profitable?"
Accountant Chen: "That's before accounting for the acquisition costs. Moreover, with AtL's backing, Datong's goodwill has gradually increased, but goodwill is merely an inflated profit."
Lawyer Ma nodded. Looking at the unremarkable Datong, she began to consider selling it to alleviate the capital shortage.
However, selling a company was not a decision she could make alone.
But with the crisis at hand, if the Securities Regulatory Commission continued to drag its feet, AtL would only incur more losses, and customers might even flee.
Accountant Chen: "Ms. Ma, this is the bank's interest. I suggest we secure financing as soon as possible, otherwise, it will be difficult to maintain operations."
Lawyer Ma: "This high?"
Accountant Chen: "The advantage of borrowing from the bank is immediate relief from capital strain, but it's only temporary, especially since all our accounts are frozen."
Lawyer Ma: "What about selling off businesses?"
Accountant Chen: "Ms. Ma, what do you mean?"
Lawyer Ma pointed to Datong's report, and everyone present immediately understood her intention.
Accountant Chen: "But this was a business acquired by Mr. Ou..."
Lawyer Ma: "I'm in charge now!"
Accountant Chen: "Selling Datong is indeed a good option, but..."
Lawyer Ma: "You prepare the budget first. I'll handle the rest."
Selling Datong seemed to be on Lawyer Ma's agenda. But the biggest challenge she faced was who would be willing to take on such a textile company.
Even more crucial was the need to discreetly transfer Datong out of AtL without drawing undue attention, as it would negatively impact AtL's reputation.
Therefore, at such a juncture, someone like Crystal, who remained among them from Ou Yunchen's era, would be needed.
Accountant Chen immediately informed Crystal of Lawyer Ma's intention to sell Datong. Leveraging her connection with the Su family, she was the first to relay this news to Xu Shuming.
-- Crystal on the phone --
Xu Shuming: "AtL wants to sell Datong? Is your information accurate?"
Crystal: "What? You don't trust me because Ou Yunchen saw your face?"
Xu Shuming: "Didn't Ou Yunchen buy Datong to compete with the Su family?"
Crystal: "I've been at AtL for so long, and I've told you all the news. If I've ever hidden anything, may I die a terrible death."
Xu Shuming: "I just can't figure it out. It's not that I don't trust you."
Crystal: "Perhaps Ou Yunchen had intentions of developing Datong when he acquired it. But remember, AtL has changed hands. Ou Yunchen is no longer there."
Xu Shuming: "That's exactly what I'm talking about. How did it become Lawyer Ma?"
Crystal: "Isn't Lawyer Ma on good terms with Mrs. Su? You need to think carefully. If Lawyer Ma can indeed sell Datong, and you can acquire it, then no matter who tries to harm the Su family, you won't have to worry!"
Xu Shuming: "But the Su family's hundred-billion-dollar projects aren't going well, where would they find spare cash to buy Datong!"
Crystal: "I've told you everything I can. You decide what to do."
Xu Shuming: "Wait, are you sure you're not seeking revenge on me?"
Crystal: "I considered it, but I don't think it's worth it anymore. With Ou Yunchen gone from AtL, and you no longer letting me return to the Su family, what can I do at my age?"
"It's better to just stay at AtL. Consider it my past misguided affection for you."
Xu Shuming: "Then what benefits do you want?"
Crystal: "Delete all those things from the hotel about me in the past."
Xu Shuming: "As expected, it's all for yourself."
Crystal's eyes welled up. She had truly loved in vain. She wished Xu Shuming a terrible end, and hoped Ou Yunchen would make this scumbag lose everything!
Crystal: "If you decide to buy Datong, approach Lawyer Ma directly. But you need to decide quickly, as Lawyer Ma might approach someone else first."
Xu Shuming: "Understood."
-- Call ended --