Chapter 16: The Past Returns
1198 Words
The silence in the press hall after the reporter’s question felt suffocating.
Every camera was pointed at Zhang Mei.
Every reporter leaned forward, waiting for her answer.
“Miss Zhang,” the reporter repeated slowly, “why did your own family accuse you of corporate betrayal?”
The question hung in the air like a blade.
For a brief moment, memories surged through Zhang Mei’s mind.
The cold boardroom.
Her father’s furious voice.
The accusing eyes of the executives who once trusted her.
And the day she was forced to walk away from everything she had built.
But Zhang Mei didn’t let the memories break her composure.
She slowly lifted her chin.
“My family believed the evidence presented to them,” she said calmly.
The reporters scribbled quickly.
“But that evidence was fabricated,” she continued.
Murmurs spread across the room.
The reporter pressed again.
“So you claim you were framed?”
“Yes.”
Zhang Mei’s voice remained steady.
Before anyone could ask another question, Liang Wei leaned slightly toward the microphone.
“This press conference is about WeiTech’s operations,” he said coolly.
“We will not discuss personal family disputes.”
The reporters clearly wanted more, but none of them dared challenge him directly.
Still, the damage had already been done.
The moment the press conference ended, the questions spread across the internet like wildfire.
By evening, Zhang Mei’s name was trending again.
News channels replayed the reporter’s question repeatedly.
“Why did your own family accuse you?”
Old articles resurfaced.
Old accusations reappeared.
And people began debating the scandal all over again.
Inside WeiTech Tower, Huo Zhen rushed into Liang Wei’s office holding his tablet.
“This is bad,” he said.
Liang Wei didn’t look up from the documents on his desk.
“How bad?”
Huo Zhen placed the tablet in front of him.
News headlines filled the screen.
“Zhang Family Heiress’s Betrayal Revisited!”
“Did WeiTech CEO Marry a Corporate Spy?”
“Zhang Mei’s Past Returns to Haunt WeiTech.”
Liang Wei’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Where did this come from?”
Huo Zhen sighed.
“The Zhang family.”
Zhang Mei, who had just entered the office, stopped walking.
“What?”
Huo Zhen hesitated before continuing.
“Your father just gave an interview.”
Zhang Mei’s expression remained calm.
“Show me.”
Huo Zhen turned the tablet toward her.
A video clip played.
The setting was a familiar one.
The headquarters of Zhang Shipping, the company her family had controlled for decades.
Her father, Zhang Guoliang, sat behind a desk facing several reporters.
He looked older than she remembered.
But his expression was just as cold.
One reporter asked, “Chairman Zhang, what is your response to your daughter’s recent reappearance in the business world?”
Zhang Guoliang’s answer was immediate.
“She is no longer my daughter.”
The words felt like ice.
In the office, Huo Zhen winced slightly.
On the video, the reporters looked surprised.
“You mean the accusations from three years ago are still valid?” one asked.
Zhang Guoliang nodded.
“The evidence was clear at the time.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Zhang Mei betrayed the company’s confidential information.”
Zhang Mei’s fingers tightened around the edge of the tablet.
“She brought shame to the Zhang family.”
Another reporter asked cautiously, “But Miss Zhang claims she was framed.”
Zhang Guoliang’s expression hardened.
“That is a lie.”
His voice carried absolute certainty.
“My daughter is a disgrace to this family.”
The video ended.
Silence filled Liang Wei’s office.
Huo Zhen looked uncomfortable.
“Boss…”
Liang Wei slowly stood.
The calm expression on his face was gone.
In its place was something colder.
“Release a statement,” he said.
Huo Zhen blinked.
“What kind of statement?”
Liang Wei looked toward Zhang Mei.
Her expression remained calm, but her eyes revealed the pain she was trying to hide.
“They started this,” Liang Wei said quietly.
Zhang Mei crossed her arms.
“You don’t need to get involved.”
Liang Wei looked at her.
“You’re my wife.”
The simple statement surprised her.
“This isn’t your fight,” she said.
“It is now.”
Huo Zhen watched the exchange nervously.
“Boss… the Zhang family is powerful. Zhang Shipping still controls a large portion of the eastern shipping routes.”
Liang Wei’s lips curved slightly.
“I know.”
He walked toward the window overlooking the city.
“If they want to drag WeiTech into their family drama…”
He turned back toward them.
“Then we end the drama.”
Zhang Mei frowned slightly.
“What are you planning?”
Liang Wei returned to his desk and picked up a file.
He placed it on the table.
Huo Zhen opened it.
His eyes widened.
“Wait… this is…”
Liang Wei nodded.
“Zhang Shipping’s financial records.”
Zhang Mei’s eyes narrowed.
“How did you get those?”
Liang Wei shrugged slightly.
“I have my sources.”
Huo Zhen scanned the documents quickly.
“Boss… their debt levels are worse than expected.”
“Exactly.”
Liang Wei folded his arms.
“Zhang Shipping has been struggling for the last two years.”
Zhang Mei stared at the numbers.
She knew they were true.
Her father had hidden the company’s financial problems for a long time.
“Competitors have been slowly taking their contracts,” Liang Wei continued.
“And Wang Xiao has been quietly buying shares through shell companies.”
Zhang Mei looked up sharply.
“What?”
Huo Zhen nodded.
“It’s true.”
Liang Wei’s expression turned colder.
“If Wang Xiao takes control of Zhang Shipping…”
He paused.
“He controls the entire regional shipping network.”
Zhang Mei understood immediately.
“And that would give him leverage against WeiTech.”
“Yes.”
Silence filled the office again.
Finally, Zhang Mei spoke.
“So what do you plan to do?”
Liang Wei’s voice was calm.
“Simple.”
He looked at Huo Zhen.
“Prepare the announcement.”
Huo Zhen hesitated.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
Within an hour, WeiTech’s official account released a statement.
It spread across the business world instantly.
Reporters rushed to cover it.
The headline appeared everywhere.
“WeiTech Announces Interest in Acquiring Zhang Shipping.”
News channels exploded with discussion.
Business analysts were shocked.
Social media erupted with speculation.
Inside WeiTech Tower, Zhang Mei stared at the screen.
“You’re starting a corporate war with my family,” she said quietly.
Liang Wei looked at her calmly.
“They started it.”
The phone on Huo Zhen’s desk began ringing non-stop.
Journalists.
Investors.
Executives.
Everyone wanted confirmation.
Finally, Liang Wei stood and walked toward the window again.
The city lights reflected in the glass.
Then he spoke the words that would shake the entire business world.
“If the Zhang family thinks Zhang Mei is a disgrace…”
He turned back toward them.
“Then maybe it's time WeiTech acquires Zhang Shipping.”
- Writer
