Happy Diwali To You All.
*****
{Chapter: 343 Yan Ruyue's laugh, the company's}
Raising her head with a composed expression, Yan Ruyue spoke in a gentle yet resolute voice:
"Alright. I've already signed all the necessary documents. As of this moment, your shares have officially been transferred back to me. The agreements are now legally binding. I will immediately instruct the Finance Department to process the transactions, ensuring that the funds are promptly distributed to each of you."
As her calm voice drifted through the room, the shareholders quickly confirmed the contents of the signed documents they were handed.
Most of those who had chosen to sell off their shares exhaled long, relieved sighs. Their tense shoulders eased, as if a heavy burden had just been lifted from them.
With the ink dry on the paper, Yan Ruyue could no longer retract her decision. The agreement was final. The shareholders who decided to jump ship felt they had made the right choice—they had successfully cut ties with Yanyue Company before the storm could sink it, or so they thought.
Those who exited believed they had escaped the inevitable downfall of the company.
And among them, one figure was more pleased than the rest—Zhang Zongliang.
Holding a significantly larger number of shares than most of the others, Zhang Zongliang wore a wide, self-satisfied grin. He folded his arms and said in a tone both congratulatory and laced with sarcasm, "This is good. Very good. President Yan handles matters quickly and decisively—I admire that. However, since you're now holding such a large share of the company, you must also carry the full weight of its risks. Don't let yourself be burdened too much by it. If things become too difficult, you can always seek help from the Yan Group or… reach out to us again."
Though his words sounded polite on the surface, the meaning behind them was anything but kind. The smugness in his voice made it clear he believed Yan Ruyue had taken on a ticking time bomb, and he was more than happy to let it explode in her hands.
In the past, Zhang Zongliang had constantly butted heads with Yan Ruyue during company decisions. Despite holding a considerable number of shares, he had always been overshadowed by her authority and influence. That persistent feeling of being suppressed had left him bitter and resentful.
Now that he had extricated himself from the company, he couldn't hide his sense of vindication. His comments were full of thinly veiled mockery.
Some of the veteran shareholders, especially Chen Yue, were visibly uncomfortable with his smug remarks. They exchanged glances filled with disapproval.
Yan Ruyue, however, remained unaffected.
She didn't flinch. She didn't speak. She didn't even look in Zhang Zongliang's direction.
It was as though she hadn't heard him at all.
Her complete indifference clearly stung. Zhang Zongliang's smile wavered slightly, and he curled his lips in frustration. Without another word, he turned and began gathering his belongings, preparing to leave the meeting room alongside the others who had also withdrawn their shares.
But just as he took a step toward the door, Yan Ruyue rose from her seat.
Her movement was simple, yet graceful—unhurried but commanding.
The rustling in the room stopped at once. All eyes turned back toward her.
She had not raised her voice, and yet her presence alone was enough to reclaim everyone's attention.
Yan Ruyue looked across the room and declared firmly, "Now that the transfer of shares is complete and effective, I have something to announce."
The atmosphere shifted.
Her statement immediately stirred a new wave of curiosity.
Even those who had made up their minds to leave paused. Their footsteps halted as they glanced back toward her. Chen Yue and the other loyal shareholders leaned in slightly, eager to hear what their president had to say.
Even Zhang Zongliang hesitated near the door, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Why make an announcement now? What was the meaning behind this sudden declaration?
Some began to speculate nervously. Was it bad news? Could it be that the financial situation had worsened? Could Yan Ruyue be preparing to declare bankruptcy?
But that didn't quite add up. Though Yanyue Company had suffered recent setbacks, it hadn't yet reached the point of collapse. And someone like Yan Ruyue wouldn't just throw in the towel. She wasn't the type to reclaim shares only to dissolve the company afterward.
No—there had to be another reason.
Perhaps… she had found a solution?
Maybe she had secured a lifeline and was preparing to announce a turnaround plan. That possibility brought hope to those who remained—people like Chen Yue and several of the other old shareholders. They turned toward her, expressions tense but full of anticipation.
On the other side, those who had already withdrawn—like Zhang Zongliang—looked at her with skepticism and doubt. He believed Yan Ruyue was only bluffing, clinging to a false sense of pride.
And then, something rare happened.
As the attention of the entire room focused on her, Yan Ruyue smiled.
It was faint—barely noticeable—but it held a quiet confidence. Not the smile of someone defeated, but of someone who knew exactly what she was doing.
It wasn't a smirk of arrogance, nor a smile of desperation.
It was the calm, steady smile of someone holding cards no one else had seen yet.
The room, already silent, grew even more still.
They were about to hear something important—something that could reshape the future of Yanyue Company, and perhaps prove who had made the right choice.
Yan Ruyue, now standing tall and composed, was ready to speak. And when she did, everyone—friends and skeptics alike—would be forced to listen.
Yan Ruyue smiled—a composed, elegant smile filled with poise and subtle confidence—and announced, her voice clear and ringing with certainty, "I'm pleased to inform everyone here today that Yanyue Company's crisis has officially been resolved. Every major issue that has plagued us—whether it was the supply shortage caused by the facial mask sheet manufacturer or the unforeseen conflict with our celebrity endorser—has now been successfully addressed. Completely and thoroughly."
A subtle murmur ran through the room, but before anyone could react, Yan Ruyue continued, her tone now warm with gratitude, "And the person who made all of this possible is none other than the young master seated beside me—Lin Yuan."
She gestured briefly to Lin Yuan, who remained seated with an unassuming demeanor, offering only a polite nod.
Surprisingly, however, the identity of the person who helped wasn't what drew the most attention.
Because as soon as Yan Ruyue's opening sentence rang out—"Yanyue's problems have all been solved"—a wave of shock swept through the boardroom like a sudden gust of wind.
"What did she just say?!"
"The company's problems have all been solved? That can't be right!"
"That's impossible. We've been trying for weeks—months—and now she's saying everything's already handled?"
Disbelief took over the room like wildfire. Dozens of shareholders and even former investors stared at one another, their expressions a mix of surprise, confusion, and outright suspicion. The tension was palpable.
"It's not just a proposed solution?" someone whispered.
"She's saying everything's already resolved? Not in progress? Not under discussion? But done? How is that even remotely possible?"
The conference room, which had moments ago felt stifling with anxiety, now felt loud with murmurs of disbelief. The news was simply too abrupt, too perfect to be immediately accepted.
These were not outsiders—they were seasoned investors and long-time shareholders who had sat through meeting after meeting, watched crisis after crisis unfold, and had seen no real hope in sight. The logistics around the supplier problem had seemed deadlocked. Negotiations with the brand endorser had collapsed just days ago.
So how, suddenly, were all the fires extinguished?
The reactions varied. Some shook their heads in utter denial. Others glanced toward Lin Yuan, clearly wondering how this young man—one they knew little about—could have possibly pulled off what even their own departments had failed to do.
Among them, Zhang Zongliang, who had just officially withdrawn his shares from Yanyue, couldn't suppress the contempt in his voice. He raised his brows, crossed his arms, and spoke with barely disguised sarcasm, "President Yan, with all due respect, this isn't something you can just throw out as a casual statement. These were serious problems we're talking about—issues that required long-term strategies and negotiations. You're telling us now they're all resolved overnight?"
He scoffed, then turned his gaze sharply toward Lin Yuan. "And this young master is the one who solved them all? Pardon me, but isn't this a bit of a stretch? Forgive my bluntness, but are we absolutely certain he's not simply deceiving you?"
The room froze for a second. Though many were too polite to voice it, the doubt was clearly reflected on their faces. They all looked to Lin Yuan, wondering if this mysterious figure could possibly be real or if Yan Ruyue, driven by desperation, had fallen for an illusion of salvation.
Zhang Zongliang clearly thought the latter—and with his usual disregard for tact, he made no effort to hide it.
He wasn't just questioning the claim; he was outright ridiculing both Lin Yuan and Yan Ruyue. His words were dripping with disbelief, his tone brash, and his intent transparent: he wanted answers. He wanted to hear proof. And more than that, he wanted to be right.
But before he could continue, Lin Yuan met his stare. Calmly, with an almost chilly expression, he replied in a flat voice, "Are you still a shareholder? No? Then why are you still here? This doesn't concern you anymore. Get out."
His tone wasn't loud—but it carried weight. Finality. Dismissal.
A beat of silence followed. Then Chen Yue, who had remained loyal to Yan Ruyue during the recent turmoil, stood up abruptly and added sharply, "He's absolutely right. Zhang Zongliang, you've sold all your shares. You have no stake in this company anymore. You don't get to stand here and demand explanations from the new leadership. Leave."
Though the entire room was still digesting the announcement, Chen Yue's support made a clear stance. Even if she herself wasn't entirely sure of the details yet, she believed in Yan Ruyue's vision and trusted her judgment—and that trust extended to Lin Yuan by extension.
The facts were simple. Zhang Zongliang had walked away from the company the moment things looked bleak. Now that there was a glimpse of hope—or perhaps something far more than a glimpse—he had no right to criticize or question the new direction.
His presence was no longer welcome.
Embarrassed and visibly irritated, Zhang Zongliang looked around, hoping to find a few allies in the room. But most of the faces that had once shared his cynicism now seemed caught between curiosity and contemplation.
Maybe, just maybe, they were starting to believe it might be true.