Beneath the Marriage Pact

Chapter 12: Uncle II's Counterattack, Stock Market Battle (1)

The air conditioning in the top-floor meeting room of Ling's Group was a bit full. Shen Zhixia held the "Starlight Project" equipment purchase report in her arms, with chalk dust from the laboratory still on her fingertips. She had come on her way to deliver the report, but as soon as she pushed open the door of the meeting room, she was struck by the low air pressure in the room - on the electronic screen at the end of the long table, the stock price curve of Ling was so red that it was blinding. Less than half an hour after the opening of the morning session, it had dropped by 2%.

"Xu An, it's not your second uncle who's talking about you. Ling Zhengxiong, sitting on the left, spoke first. He tapped the table with his fingers, and the gold ring shone dazzlingly in the light. "You insist on making the 'Starlight Project' a money-losing thing the focus. Is it okay now? The market is not buying it, and capital is pulling out!"

Ling Xu 'an didn't respond, his fingers swiping rapidly on the tablet, and the screen's reflection was on his face, making his expression indistinguishable. Chen Mo beside him was so anxious that he was sweating on his forehead. He leaned over and whispered, "Boss, it's the Qin family smashing the market. They put up a 30 million sell order in the call auction this morning."

"Qin?" Someone whispered, "Didn't the Qin family and the Ling family just finish the new energy cooperation?"

"Who knows?" Ling Zhengxiong snorted, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Perhaps they saw that the Ling family was about to give up and withdrew their investment to cut their losses in advance?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Ling Xu 'an finally raised his eyes, his gaze as cold as ice as it swept over Ling Zhengxiong: "Uncle, is this an advance message for the Qin family?"

The flesh on Ling Zhengxiong's face trembled, and he stuck his neck and said, "What kind of words are you saying! I'm doing this for the sake of the Ling family!"

"For the sake of the Ling family, I wouldn't have just 'gone abroad for an inspection' the night before, and this morning the Qin family would have precisely hit the market." Ling Xu 'an placed his tablet on the table and turned the screen to everyone - it was a project audit report with the title "Ling Zhengxiong's Southeast Asia Port project Loss Details", the red deficit was dizzying to look at.

Ling's face turned "whoosh" white: "You... You're checking me?"

"It's not an investigation, it's clearing accounts." Ling Xu 'an's voice was flat. "This project misappropriated three hundred million of Ling's working capital and filled the hole of your private company, right?"

The meeting room fell silent in an instant, even the sound of the air conditioning could be heard. Shen Zhixia stood at the door motionless, her fingertips unconsciously picking at the cover of the report - she had just glanced at Chen Mo's computer screen, and the flow of funds from Qin's sell-off was a bit strange, not like a normal withdrawal of capital, but rather like... It was a transfer of money.

"Even if my project loses some money, it's better than you having a lousy plan!" Ling Zhengxiong suddenly slapped the table, pointed at the electronic screen and shouted, "The stock price is still falling! If we don't think of any solutions, we'll have to hit the daily limit down today!"

The curve on the electronic screen indeed peered down again, and the red number jumped to -2.3%. A few directors began to get restless and looked at Ling Xu 'an: "Mr. Ling, how about activating the emergency funds first to support the market?"

"No need." Ling Xu 'an tapped the tablet with his fingertips. "Chen Mo, activate the hedging plan to close our short positions in Hong Kong stocks in advance and use the profits to fill the gap in A-shares."

Chen Mo nodded immediately: "Understood!"

"As for Qin..." Ling Xu 'an paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on the share price of the Qin Group in the corner of the screen. "If they want to sell, there must be capital to sell."

Shen Zhixia took a half-step forward with the report in his arms, hesitated for a moment and then spoke: "Qin's capital may not be very clean."

All the people in the room turned to look at her, and Ling Zhengxiong rolled his eyes first: "Shen Zhixia? This is Ling's board of directors. You outsider, what are you talking about?"

"She's not an outsider." Ling Xu 'an did not turn back but shielded her, "Speak."

With permission, Shen Zhixia heaved a sigh of relief. She simply went to the long table and pushed her phone onto the electronic screen - she had just used the data to dig into the Qin family's capital chain at the door, and the screen was filled with a dense flow diagram.

"On the surface, the Qin family is selling off the Ling family, but in reality, they are using a reverse takeover to launder money." She pointed at the red line on the map with her finger. "You see, the 30 million they were selling off just came in yesterday from an overseas shell company whose legal representative is the distant nephew of Qin's boss."

Ling Zhengxiong's Adam's apple rolled and he suddenly snapped, "What nonsense are you talking! With a tattered picture, you want to defame the Qin family?"

"Whether it's defamation or not, we'll find out." Shen Zhixia didn't look at him and went on, "and Qin has poked people from my mother's lab a few years ago and stole patent sketches of cryogenic materials. They've always wanted to dig into the new energy field. This time, collaborating with Uncle Er is probably not just for making money."

As soon as these words were spoken, Ling Zhengxiong's face turned completely pale and he propped himself up on the table to avoid sliding down.

Ling Xu 'an raised his eyes to look at her. There was no coldness just now in his eyes, but rather something Shen Zhixia had never seen before - like surprise, like... Approval. He tapped his fingertips lightly under the table as a signal to Chen Mo.

Chen Mo immediately understood, took out his phone and walked out: "I'll check the Qin family's financial link right away!"

"No need to check," he said. Ling Zhengxiong suddenly collapsed in his chair, his voice shaking like chaff. "Yes... It was I who found Mrs. Qin. They said they would help me push the stock price down and get you out of office, so I showed them the accounts of the Southeast Asia project... I didn't expect them to be money laundering!"

There was an uproar in the meeting room.

"Chen Mo, contact the legal department, freeze all of Ling Zhengxiong's personal accounts, and submit the audit report of the Southeast Asia project to the China Securities Regulatory Commission at the same time." Ling Xu 'an ignored him, swiped his fingers on the tablet a few more times, and looked up with no waves in his eyes. He paused and looked at Shen Zhixia, "You say shell company, do you have any channels to get evidence?"

"Yes." " Shen Zhixia nodded. "My mother's former student is now in the finance unit of Interpol. It will be quick to investigate this."

"All right." Ling Xu 'an asked no more questions and said directly, "If you need any cooperation, let Chen Mo handle it with you."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the stock price curve on the electronic screen suddenly turned, the red gradually faded to white, and even began to float up - it was the hedging scheme that was working. Chen Mo's voice came from the door: "Boss! The short position in the Hong Kong stock was closed, and more than 40 million was earned, all back to the A-share! Now the share price has returned to its opening price!"

Ling Zhengxiong slumped in his chair, rolled his eyes at the screen, and mumbled, "I didn't mean it..." as he was carried out by two security guards. It was Qin who tricked me..."

The people in the meeting room gradually dispersed, leaving only Ling Xu 'an and Shen Zhixia. The air conditioning wind was still blowing, and Shen Zhixia realized belatedly that her palms were all sweaty. Just as she was about to step back, her wrist was suddenly seized.

Ling Xu 'an's fingertips were a little cold, and he shook her wrist: "How dare you stand out just now? Not afraid that Ling Zhengxiong would bite you?"

"What are you afraid of?" Shen Zhixia struggled but couldn't break free, so she simply held it back with her hand. "You're here." She paused and couldn't help laughing, "Besides, I have evidence in my hand and he can't bite it."

Ling Xu 'an looked down at her, the ice in his eyes completely melted, even with a smile: "When did you investigate the Qin family?"

"It was investigated long ago." Shen Zhixia took his phone back and pulled out a folder. "The cryogenic materials for the 'Starlight Project' need suppliers. The Qin family came to bid a few days ago, and I dug up their stuff - who knew I really dug up something dirty."

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, like stars hidden. Ling Xu 'an suddenly lowered his head and kissed her on the forehead. The soft touch made Shen Zhixia pause for a moment.

"Well done." He said in a hoarse voice, "From now on, you will come to the Ling's board of directors."

"No way." Shen Zhixia rubbed her forehead and stepped back. "A room full of calculations is not as quiet as a laboratory." She placed the purchase report on his desk. "I'm leaving first. The old professor is still waiting for me to go back and test the stability of the materials."

Ling Xu 'an did not stop her. He watched her figure disappear at the door and tapped his finger on the tablet - on the screen was the registration information of the Qin shell company, and next to it popped up a message from Chen Mo: "Boss, the friend of the international criminal police that Miss Shen mentioned has replied and is willing to help investigate the fund link."

He typed two words on the screen with his finger: "Cooperate."

Shen Zhixia had just stepped out of Ling's building when his phone rang. It was Lin Yue calling. The background noise was loud, as if in a bar. "Zhixia! You're on the financial news! Just now, when Ling's stock price was falling, someone took a photo of you entering the meeting room with the caption 'Ling's fiancee made an emergency rescue' - hilarious! Did you really go to the rescue?

"Well," he said. Shen Zhixia stood by the roadside waiting for the bus, her hair swaying in the wind. "By the way, I'll catch a mole."

"An insider? Could it be that old fox Ling Zhengxiong? Lin Yue perked up at once. "I told you something was wrong with him! A few days ago, he sent someone to my dad to get the Lin family to withdraw from the Ling family!"

Shen Zhixia was stunned: "Did he look for your father?"

"Indeed!" Lin Yue snorted, "My dad just threw the man out -- saying that Ling Xu 'an is a hundred times better than his second uncle. Oh, by the way, do you want the Qin family's shady stuff? I just asked my cousin to expose some of them. They were investigated for tax evasion last year and kept it under wraps!"

"Yes!" Shen Zhixia said quickly, "It will come in handy."

Not long after hanging up the phone, Chen Mo's car pulled over to the side of the road. "Miss Shen, the boss asked me to take you back to the lab." He opened the passenger door, still holding a folder in his hand. "This is the information about the Qin shell company that the legal department has just sorted out. Please see if it will be useful."

Shen Zhixia took it and flipped through it. There were even the water and electricity bills of the shell company inside, and couldn't help laughing: "You are quite efficient."

"The boss said it was urgent." Chen Mo started the car and glanced in the rearview mirror in the direction of the Ling Family building. "Just now when Uncle Er was carried away, he was Shouting to see the boss for mercy - the boss directly asked the security guards to send him to the old house and lock him up."

"It's fine to lock him up." Shen Zhixia tapped the folder with her fingertips, "so that he won't have to do any more trouble."

Just as the car turned the corner, Shen Zhixia's phone rang again. It was a senior from Interpol. "Xia Xia, the evidence of the Qin family funds you asked for has been found." The senior's voice was lowered. "That overseas shell company not only launderes money for the Qin family, but is also involved in arms smuggling in Southeast Asia - I sent the transfer records to your email. Use them carefully and don't expose my identity."

Shen Zhixia's heart gave a jolt: "Arms smuggling?"

"HMM." The senior sighed, "Mr. Qin is quite bold. He probably wants to fill the hole in the new energy project with this. Oh, I also found out that Ling Zhengxiong signed an agreement with the Qin family to give them the right to use Ling's Southeast Asian ports -- if they really get it, it will be easier for them to smuggle in the future."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Zhixia immediately forwarded the evidence in his mailbox to Ling Xu 'an, along with a message: "Watch out for the port project, Qin wants to smuggle it."

Less than two minutes later, Ling Xu 'an's call came in. "I saw it." His voice sounded deep, "I've asked the port to stop all Qin's cargo ships." He paused, "Where are you? I asked Chen Mo to take you back to the villa. Don't go to the lab. It's not safe."

"It's okay." Shen Zhixia glanced out of the window at the street scene that flashed by. "Qin is too busy with her own affairs to bother me now. But you, the board has just ended, there must be a bunch of things to deal with. Don't worry about me."

"I'm not at ease." Ling Xu 'an's voice softened a little. "Be obedient and wait for me at the villa."

Shen Zhixia, unable to persuade him, had to ask Chen Mo to turn around and drive towards the villa. Just as they reached the gate, they saw Grandpa Ling's car parked in the yard. The old man was sitting under the grape trellis, drinking tea and holding a newspaper in his hand. The front page was full of news about the decline in Ling's stock price.

"Xia Girl is back?" Grandpa Ling waved at her and threw the newspaper onto the stone table. "I've heard about it! Your second uncle, that rascal, actually conspired with outsiders to cheat the Ling family!"

"Grandpa, don't be angry." Shen Zhixia went over and sat down, refilled a cup of tea for him, "It's done."

"Even if it's done, it won't do!" Grandpa Ling was so angry that his beard was sticking up. "His father was driven away by him back then! Now he's cheating Xu An again - I've had the lock of the old house changed. No one can let him out without me!"

Shen Zhixia couldn't help laughing: "You're cutting off the fuel at the bottom."

"That's it!" " Grandpa Ling took a sip of tea, then held Shen Zhixia's hand and sighed, "I'm sorry to have wronged you, Xia. You've just entered the door and encountered such a thing."

"No grievance." Shen Zhixia shook her head. "Xu An and I are family. His business is my business."

Just as he was speaking, Ling Xu 'an's car drove in. As soon as he got out of the car, Grandpa Ling came up to him, pointed at his nose and shouted, "You too! Why didn't you tell me something? If it weren't for Old Lin calling to tell me, I would have been in the dark!"

"I'm afraid you'll worry." Ling Xu 'an helped the old man back, and when his gaze swept over Shen Zhixia, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"What am I worried about?" Grandpa Ling snorted. "My grandson is so capable, and with the help of Xia girl, I'm sure to get it done!" He paused for a moment and then lowered his voice, "The Qin family, they have a very dark heart. They even tried to pok your grandma in the past - you have to be careful."

Ling Xu 'an nodded: "I know."

At dinner time, Ling Xu 'an's phone kept ringing, all from the company. He frowned tightly when answering the phone, and as soon as he hung up, he began to eat, eating very fast. Shen Zhixia picked up a piece of pork rib for him and said, "Eat slowly. No one will compete with you."

"Qin is starting to fight back." Ling Xu 'an swallowed the food in his mouth. "They spread the news that the Ling family embezzled funds for the 'Starlight Project', and now there is a chorus of criticism online."

"Let me see." Shen Zhixia took out her phone and browsed through it. Sure enough, the hashtag # Ling's Financial Scandal # had already made it to the top of the trending list, and below it were all the water army bought by the Qin family setting the tone. "Don't worry, I have a way." She suddenly smiled, clicked on the evidence of Qin's tax evasion sent by Lin Yue, and forwarded it directly to a few familiar financial reporters, with the caption: "Exclusive scoop, better than Ling's melon."

Less than half an hour later, the hot search list changed. # Qin's Tax Evasion # completely overshadowed Ling's black entry, and it was filled with netizens cursing Qin: "You haven't even wiped your own bottom clean, how dare you slander others?" "No wonder you're so rich that you're dumping money on the Ling family. It turns out you're stealing taxes!"

Ling Xu 'an watched Shen Zhixia's operation and couldn't help pinching her face: "This brain, it's a pity not to do public relations."

"That's not true." Shen Zhixia raised her chin triumphantly. "Back in school, I was the main member of the debate team."

Just as he was speaking, Chen Mo rushed in in a hurry: "Boss! Mr. Qin has run away! The news came from the airport that he had bought a ticket to Southeast Asia and was stopped just after going through security - it was the Interpol men who caught him!"

Ling Xu 'an and Shen Zhixia exchanged glances, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.

"It was my senior who did it." Shen Zhixia came to his senses and couldn't help laughing. "He's really efficient."

Ling Xu 'an picked up his phone and sent a message to Chen Mo: "Get the legal department ready to settle the debt with the Qin family." He put down his phone and held Shen Zhixia's hand. "Now it's completely fine."

"Um." " Shen Zhixia leaned on his shoulder, looking out of the window at the moonlight, and suddenly felt very secure in her heart.