Chapter 11: Under the Surface
1884 Words
The next morning, the atmosphere in MK Group’s executive meeting room was unusually tense, despite the bright lighting. The unexpected leak of “confidential documents” at the previous evening’s banquet had swiftly drawn the attention of the industry and media alike. Although Chu Linfeng managed to stabilize the situation on-site, the overwhelming public opinion continued to mount pressure on the company.
Seated at the head of the long conference table, Chu Linfeng exuded a commanding presence. A stack of documents lay neatly before him. His assistant, Wang, leaned in to report softly, “Mr. Chu, we’ve suppressed the media coverage regarding the plagiarism allegations, but discussions on social media are still spreading rapidly.”
Chu nodded slightly, his gaze cold and piercing. “Keep investigating the source of the design leak. Thoroughly vet every individual involved in the ‘Jinxiu’ project, no matter who might be implicated.”
Assistant Wang nodded and left the room. At that moment, a few board members, unable to contain themselves any longer, broke the tense silence.
“Mr. Chu, this plagiarism scandal is significantly damaging MK’s brand image. If we can’t resolve it quickly, the market may lose confidence in us,” a middle-aged director remarked gravely.
Another senior director chimed in, “I suggest we suspend the promotion of the ‘Jinxiu’ collection. Only after a thorough investigation can we decide whether to proceed.”
Chu’s sharp gaze swept across the two who had spoken, his tone icy. “The ‘Jinxiu’ collection is MK’s flagship innovation, representing the heart of our brand’s creativity. If we lose faith in it ourselves, how can we expect the public to trust us?”
The elder director frowned but chose not to argue further.
Just then, the door to the conference room swung open, and Su Momo walked in. Dressed in a simple yet professional outfit, she maintained a calm demeanor, though anxiety churned within her.
Chu glanced at her, his tone softening slightly. “Su Momo, present the design philosophy and core technology behind the ‘Jinxiu’ collection to the board.”
Su nodded, opening the folder in her hands as she moved to stand before the long table. “Ladies and gentlemen, regarding the ‘Jinxiu’ collection, I’d like to clarify a few points. First, the designs for this series are entirely based on MK Group’s proprietary digital brocade technology. While the leaked blueprints from yesterday’s banquet are early drafts, they do not represent the final product’s completeness or originality.”
Her voice, though not loud, was clear and firm. “Second, I am willing to submit the designs for independent review and verification of their originality. If the results reveal any issues, I will take full responsibility.”
The directors began murmuring among themselves, seemingly impressed by her confidence.
“Furthermore,” Momo continued, “the ‘Jinxiu’ collection’s uniqueness lies in its technological innovation. By using proprietary digital modeling techniques, we’ve deconstructed traditional brocade patterns and incorporated modern aesthetics. This innovation is unparalleled in the industry, and I am prepared to provide detailed technical documentation and experimental data.”
The room fell silent again as the directors started to reassess the young designer standing before them.
Chu Linfeng seized the moment to speak, his tone calm but imbued with undeniable authority. “Ladies and gentlemen, our objective is to solidify MK’s position in the international market. If we cannot even stand by our original projects, how can we talk about innovation?”
His gaze swept across the room, landing on the director who had suggested suspending the project. “What we need to demonstrate to the public isn’t just the strength of our designs but also MK’s resolve.”
The director, unable to meet Chu’s eyes, awkwardly shifted his focus elsewhere and said no more.
Meanwhile, in an office elsewhere in the MK building, Zhang Mingyue stood by the window with a glass of red wine in hand, a cryptic smile playing on her lips. Turning toward the man lounging on the sofa, Lu Siyuan, she asked, “How did the discussion in the boardroom go?”
Lu shook his head, his tone laced with disdain. “As always, Chu Linfeng is digging in his heels, fully backing the ‘Jinxiu’ collection. But his stubbornness will only make people more suspicious that he has something to hide.”
Zhang let out a soft laugh. “I’ve already set the next phase in motion. The media is just the first wave. I have even more ‘evidence’ in my hands that can completely ruin the ‘Jinxiu’ collection.”
“You mean...?” Lu’s brows knitted together in curiosity.
Zhang picked up a folder from the table and handed it to him. “This contains some technical data and incomplete drafts I obtained from the design department. If these somehow ‘end up’ in the hands of a competitor and are paired with the rumors already swirling, how do you think the public will react?”
Lu’s eyes lit up as he flipped through the folder, his smile growing wider. “Brilliant. Once this gets out, even someone like Chu Linfeng won’t be able to clear MK of these accusations.”
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- Writer
