The victory at the banquet was a fleeting reprieve for Gu Xinglan. Though she had deftly thwarted Zhao Qiang and Lin Wan's schemes, she knew the real battle was only beginning.
The next morning, Su Yao burst into Gu Xinglan's office, her face filled with urgency.
"President Gu, bad news. Sun Yue has abruptly backed out of the partnership," she reported, barely catching her breath.
Gu Xinglan's eyes narrowed, her tone icy: "What's his reason?"
Su Yao handed her a document. "They claim there's a loophole in our supply contract. They're questioning whether we can deliver on time and even hinted at financial irregularities."
Scanning the document swiftly, Gu Xinglan let out a cold laugh. "This has Zhao Qiang's fingerprints all over it. Sun Yue has always been fickle. He must've been offered a hefty bribe."
"What should we do now?" Su Yao asked, concern evident in her voice.
Gu Xinglan rose and walked to the window, her gaze steely. "Contact Li Yang. Tell him to investigate Sun Yue's company and uncover their true motives. Meanwhile, audit all our supply records and verify if the contract has any genuine issues."
"Understood!" Su Yao nodded and quickly left to carry out the orders.
Scrutinizing the Contract
Inside the office, Gu Xinglan and their lawyer, Wang Hao, meticulously reviewed the contract.
"This clause here is indeed ambiguous," Wang Hao pointed out, tapping a section with his pen. "It could be exploited, but it's hardly a fatal flaw. The other party is clearly exaggerating."
Gu Xinglan nodded. "If they're exaggerating, then this is just an excuse to break the deal."
Wang Hao adjusted his glasses, his tone cautious. "We'll need to tread carefully. Mishandling this could make the public question our company's credibility."
"I understand." Gu Xinglan closed the contract with a decisive snap. "They think they can force me to yield? Let them try."
Covert Investigation
Meanwhile, Li Yang led a team to Sun Yue's company. On the surface, they came to discuss cooperation details, but their real mission was to uncover evidence of Sun Yue's true intentions and the identity of his backer.
"Director Li, this situation has put us in a difficult position," Sun Yue said with a feigned look of helplessness, offering vague pleasantries.
Li Yang responded with a polite smile. "Sun Yue, we've been partners for years. Our company values this relationship deeply. If there's an issue, we're committed to resolving it. Why not share the specifics?"
Caught off guard, Sun Yue hesitated. "Well... the contract details involve some internal company policies. I can't divulge too much."
"In that case," Li Yang's smile didn't falter, but his tone turned sharper, "we'll have President Gu address this personally."
Panic flickered across Sun Yue's face. He hadn't expected Gu Xinglan to react so swiftly. "No need for that... We can talk. We can talk!"
The Plot Thickens
Li Yang returned with damning evidence: footage of Sun Yue meeting Zhao Qiang in secret, along with recorded conversations indicating Zhao had offered low-cost supplies as bait to coerce Sun Yue into breaking his deal with Gu Xinglan.
After reviewing the evidence, Gu Xinglan's expression turned cold. "As expected, Zhao Qiang is losing patience."
Su Yao slammed her fist on the desk, fuming. "President Gu, should we expose this? Let's destroy their reputation!"
Gu Xinglan shook her head. "Not yet. If we reveal this prematurely, it might seem like we're panicking. Worse, it could alert the bigger players behind Zhao Qiang."
"Then what's our move?" Su Yao asked.
"We stabilize Sun Yue first and resolve the issue internally. Meanwhile, set a trap for Zhao Qiang. Let him think he's already won," Gu Xinglan replied, her eyes gleaming with determination.
Strategic Counterattack
The following day, Gu Xinglan arranged a private meeting with Sun Yue. Seated in an upscale restaurant's private room, she exuded an air of calm authority.
"Mr. Sun, I hear you have concerns about our contract?" she asked, her voice measured but firm.
Sun Yue forced a smile. "President Gu, I'm only looking out for the best interests of my company. Cooperation is meant to be mutually beneficial, after all."
Gu Xinglan's lips curled into a faint smile. "If it's mutual benefits you're after, then tell me—are your recent actions motivated by profit or pressure?"
The question struck like a blade, and Sun Yue's composure cracked. "President Gu, you misunderstand. There's no ulterior motive..."
"Let's not waste each other's time, Mr. Sun." Her tone grew icy. "You're smart enough to know who gains the most if our partnership fails."
Sweat began to bead on Sun Yue's forehead. He had assumed Gu Xinglan would plead for reconciliation. Instead, she was dismantling his defenses piece by piece.
"That said," she continued, her voice softening, "I'd prefer to avoid burning bridges. If you reconsider, I'm willing to sweeten the terms of our deal."
Sun Yue hesitated, his resolve visibly wavering.
Turning the Tables
Days later, Gu Xinglan's company held a press conference. They announced a renewed partnership with Sun Yue's firm and presented irrefutable evidence of Zhao Qiang's underhanded tactics to disrupt the market.
The revelations dominated headlines, tarnishing Zhao Qiang's reputation. Even Lin Wan's company suffered collateral damage as the media frenzy unfolded.
Gu Xinglan, meanwhile, emerged from the ordeal with her stature and poise intact. Her decisive actions not only safeguarded her company but also sent a clear message to her competitors: she was a force to be reckoned with.