0p0 Chapter 581 Press Conference Storm
Chapter 581 Press Conference Storm
At seven o'clock in the morning, the first rays of dawn climbed onto the corners of Lin's headquarters, gleaming and cold. The high-level press conference was scheduled to begin at nine o'clock. The "Cloud Meeting Room" had been transformed into a simple yet grand multi-functional hall. In the center of the stage, a huge screen displayed the words: "Lin's New Energy: Intelligent Manufacturing for the Future" New Product Launch.
Lin Chuyue stood in the backstage dressing room, her phone vibrating incessantly. She glanced at the screen: Shen Yanyan hadn't replied to her texts; Luo Zhen had submitted the documents for review by 7:30 this morning; Gu Yanchuan simply said "Ready" and hung up. They were all moving at top speed, just waiting for the final "piece of the puzzle"—Shen Yanyan's attendance.
As the backstage curtain was lifted, the assistant's urging voice suddenly rose, and the audience hall was already filled with shareholders, media, and partners. Lin Chuyue took a deep breath, looked up and walked up the steps, and hastily grasped the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, please take your places. The press conference will begin on time."
I. Opening and Cracks
At 9:00 AM sharp, the stage screen lit up, and Lin Chuyue took the stage with a smile: "Today, I am very proud to show you the latest achievements of Lin's New Energy sector." Her words were firm and resonant, yet they stirred up ripples among the attendees: some praised her, while others looked on with disapproval.
Suddenly, a clear, cool female voice rang out from the side stage: "Chairman, may President Sun enter?"
The host responded, "I apologize, Mr. Shen is unable to attend on time due to unforeseen circumstances. Please allow me to announce that the press conference will be slightly adjusted and will officially begin once Mr. Shen arrives."
An uproar erupted in the audience. The absence of Shen Yan, a key figure, meant what?
Lin Chuyue forced a smile: "It's alright. I will personally invite President Shen to give a speech after he arrives. Now, please let President Gu introduce the project background to everyone."
Gu Yanchuan took the stage and explained the technological innovations and market prospects of the new energy project with clear logic. However, the section on "funding budget and financing plan," which should have been presented by Shen Yanyan, was hastily glossed over by Gu Yanchuan. The audience whispered among themselves: This financing is not only about the project, but also about the distribution of shareholder interests.
The press conference continued amidst tense and questioning gazes. Some in the audience even began quietly checking their phones, searching for the progress of the "Vision Fund" fundraising and the list of trustees announced by Luo Zhen the previous night. Lin Chuyue's heart raced: Shen Yan, don't cause me any more trouble.
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II. A Thunderclap Behind the Scenes
The backstage staff were scrambling to keep up, and Lin Chuyue was pulled backstage by her assistant. The stage door was quietly opened a crack, and Shen Yan rushed in, panting and pale: "I'm sorry... there was a traffic accident on the way, so I just got here."
He staggered as he pulled out his phone: "This is what I received on the way here—Lin Zhengguo sent a secret letter to Cheng Yi, wanting to continue binding the CR Consortium under the guise of 'project cooperation'."
Lin Chuyue took the phone, tears welling in her eyes: "He never gave up on his alliance with Cheng Yi! Just as my father's secret connection with Cheng Yi was about to be exposed, he shifted it to a financing cooperation."
Shen Yan shook his head: "I just talked to the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and asked them to freeze the two fundraising platforms, Vision and Future, at the same time, but the CSRC said they need more written evidence."
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with exhaustion and despair.
Lin Chuyue looked up: "There's no time. The audience on stage is already expecting a 'big surprise.' We can only take a gamble—you have to announce the merger of the 'Vision Fund' and the 'Dream Fund' on the spot to prevent further capital outflow."
Shen Yan took a deep breath and nodded: "I know what to do."
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III. Project Progress and Confrontation
The press conference resumed. The large screen switched to the "Funding Arrangement" page, and the shareholders below held their breath. Shen Yan took the stage, his tone calm yet tinged with suppressed anger: "Dear shareholders, last night I discovered that the 'Vision Fund' has significant governance deficiencies, with its subordinate trustees colluding with the CR Consortium. A preliminary investigation application has been submitted to the China Securities Regulatory Commission. To protect your interests, I hereby propose that the funds of the 'Vision Fund' be temporarily transferred to our company's 'New Energy Project Special Account,' and that the merger and integration of the 'Long-Term Fund' and the 'Vision Fund' be initiated, pending regulatory approval before proceeding with further asset allocation."
As soon as the words were spoken, the entire room fell silent. Some whispered their approval, while others looked horrified: the merger and integration meant that the capital flow that was originally envisioned to be raised rapidly would be passively transferred to Lin's internal control account, and the shareholder dividend cycle might be significantly delayed. The originally expected "high returns" would turn into "uncertain audit risks".
The neutral shareholders sitting beside Cheng Yi looked displeased, and several long-time shareholders exchanged glances. At the same time, Lin Zhengguo and Cheng Yi's representative exchanged text messages, their brows furrowed.
Gu Yanchuan stepped onto the stage, his voice extremely low: "This decision may anger CR and Cheng Yi, and may also provoke opposition from some shareholders. But this is the last chance. Missing it will not only be a loss for the project itself, but also a loss for the Lin family's control over the future."
In the audience, a minority shareholder holding 3% of the shares threw out a harsh remark: "I don't understand the games you management play. I only know that I don't want to put my money into a platform that could be accused of 'money laundering' at any time!" After saying that, he slammed his hand on the table and left the room.
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IV. The Conflict Erupted Suddenly
The departure of minority shareholders acted as a fuse, prompting more people to stand up: "I want to leave too!" "I want to redeem my shares in cash!" A wave of chaos quickly spread.
Security personnel scrambled to maintain order, and several agitated shareholders were escorted offstage. The press conference descended into chaos, and the host hastily called for a halt: "Please calm down, everyone... We will immediately process your redemption requests."
Lin Chuyue's face was as cold as ice. Gu Yanchuan suddenly pulled out the microphone and shouted into the chaos, "Everyone, please listen to me—if you redeem now, your funds may not be able to be cleared in time, which will cause greater losses. Please wait patiently for the regulatory process."
Before the words had even finished, an aggressive shareholder in the audience shouted, "We want to withdraw our shares! Who will guarantee the safety of our funds?"
That shout distorted the faces of everyone on stage.
V. Betrayal and Choice
In the chaos, Luo Zhen rushed over from backstage and handed Lin Chuyue an encrypted email: "This is internal intelligence sent by Cheng Yi: they are preparing to launch a vote on the 'Vision Fund' late tomorrow night, submitting the merger proposal for review under a 'temporary authorization' to lock down any possibility of management interference, and thereby replace the company's original board of directors."
Lin Chuyue's pupils suddenly contracted: "Cheng Yi intends to secretly transform the 'Vision Fund' into a quasi-control tool! He's set a trap for us!"
Gu Yanchuan glared angrily: "They had already laid out their plan, just waiting for us to play our cards right, and then they would succeed completely."
Lin Chuyue took a deep breath, her voice trembling but firm: "We can't let tomorrow's vote end in the dark. I've decided to immediately activate the 'Shareholder Emergency Contact Network' and mobilize all small and medium-sized shareholders to come to the company headquarters at nine o'clock tomorrow morning to request to vote in person on the merger proposal. We need to let them know that this money is not a puppet bargaining chip they can manipulate at will."
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VI. The Opposition at Midnight
At 11 p.m., more than 100 small and medium-sized shareholders had silently gathered downstairs in the lobby of the headquarters, holding up a banner that read "Support open investment, resist covert audits".
Among them were young investors who came with trust, and older people with sweat beading on their foreheads. Each person's eyes were filled with expectation and anger.
Lin Chuyue walked to the door herself, followed by Gu Yanchuan, Shen Yanyan and Luo Zhen.
“Thank you all for gathering so late,” she said, her voice slightly hoarse. “Tomorrow at nine o’clock, please come to the polling room and use every vote to decide whether the ‘merger and integration proposal’ should be considered in the dark. Regardless of the outcome, we want this transaction to demonstrate the power of our shareholders.”
A shareholder in his sixties said in a trembling voice, "Young lady, you're working so hard, do we have any reason to back down?"
The others nodded in agreement, and applause erupted, echoing in the night breeze.
Meanwhile, Cheng Yi and Lin Zhengguo faced off in the VIP room on the upper level. Cheng Yi sneered: "Will it do them any good to block the door tomorrow morning? Don't forget, we've already signed a tacit agreement with some of the supervisors and independent directors. As long as the stock market value reaches the minimum, even if a minority of shareholders object, they won't be able to stop us from going through the procedures."
Lin Zhengguo's expression turned serious: "You want me to fall into his hands? You only saved me once, but this time I don't want to be a pawn."
Cheng Yi met his gaze, and an unopened bottle of champagne on the table trembled in the shadows.
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VII. The Final Battle Before Dawn
Before dawn, the lights in the "Cloud Meeting Room" on the top floor of Lin's headquarters were still on. Lin Chuyue, Gu Yanchuan, Shen Yanyan, Luo Zhen, and the core team held a meeting until 2 a.m., repeatedly rehearsing mobilization scripts, emergency plans, and follow-up public relations.
They were all exhausted, yet their expressions were resolute. Lin Chuyue gazed at the large clock on the wall, her voice surprisingly calm: "No matter what the outcome is tomorrow, I will not back down. The true masters of the Lin family are everyone who has turned their trust into a vote."
Gu Yanchuan reached out and took her hand, whispering, "To break through the darkness, all it takes is one burst of bright light."
Shen Yan put down his phone and tapped his fingertips on the table: "I have replied to my mother and told her to rest assured. After tomorrow, no one will be able to use our family as a bargaining chip."
Luo Zhen tidied up the data package, a faint smile appearing on his lips: "Even if there's only one vote left, we must win this round."
As the first rays of dawn peeked through the window, they clasped each other's hands tightly, as if making a final vow for this dawn.
In the depths of the night, Cheng Yi and Lin Zhengguo's conspiracy was finally brewing—a brand new undercurrent was rushing towards a direction they had never anticipated.
—End of this chapter
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