When Butler Zhou quietly appeared at the entrance of the temporary command center of the "Dawn Plan" with an exquisite bone china soup bowl and a box of imported stomach medicine, Lin Wei was standing in front of a huge screen wall, holding her aching stomach with one hand and quickly circling several key support points on the electronic whiteboard with the other hand. Her voice was a little hoarse from talking for a long time, but still clear and powerful:
"Here! 38.5 yuan! Li Zhe, put the last batch of protective funds up to create a false illusion of a technical rebound! Induce some short positions to close!"
The entire command center was like a high-speed precision instrument, with the sound of keyboard tapping, command transmission, and telephone ringing intertwined, and the air was filled with a strong smell of coffee and tension. Everyone was concentrating, and no one noticed Butler Zhou holding a tray at the door.
Butler Zhou did not go in immediately, and a rare complexity appeared on his rigid face. He looked at the thin but straight back in front of the command desk, her pale profile and the cold sweat on her forehead, and felt mixed emotions. This "Mrs. Gu" withstood the huge waves at the most difficult time for the young master. The young master's order... finally came.
He cleared his throat, his voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the noise: "Mrs. Gu."
Lin Wei turned around and saw Butler Zhou and the tray in his hand, and was obviously stunned for a moment. The pain in her stomach made her frown subconsciously, but her eyes were still sharp: "Butler Zhou? Is there something?"
Butler Zhou bowed slightly and placed the tray on the empty space at the edge of the command desk, with unprecedented respect: "General Manager Gu ordered to send you some warm ginseng soup and stomach medicine. Please... use some while it's hot." He deliberately emphasized the words "General Manager Gu ordered" and "must", and his eyes fell on Lin Wei's pale face with a trace of unquestionable persistence.
The entire command center was silent for a moment! Everyone's eyes, including Li Zhe and Fang Wei, were focused on him! Mr. Gu? Mr. Gu finally has news? ! And... he even sent ginseng soup and stomach medicine to Director Lin? !
Lin Wei's heart jumped! An indescribable sourness and throbbing rushed to the tip of her nose instantly, making her eyes slightly hot. She knew! She knew what this ginseng soup and medicine meant! It wasn't the self-willed decision of housekeeper Zhou, it was Gu Heng! It was Gu Heng who saw her miserable appearance through the surveillance screen in the frozen world on the third floor, and finally couldn't continue to be a "coward"!
He saw it. He felt distressed. In this way, he clumsily and carefully handed out the first ray of light.
Lin Wei took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions. She didn't refuse, nor did she show too much excitement, but just nodded calmly: "Thank you, Butler Zhou, and thank you, Mr. Gu, for me." She picked up the box of stomach medicine, quickly took out a pill, and swallowed it with half a cup of cold coffee next to it. Then, she picked up the warm soup bowl, opened the lid, and the rich ginseng fragrance instantly spread. She drank it in small sips, and the warm liquid slid into her burning stomach, bringing a long-lost warmth and strength.
She didn't look at the possible direction of the surveillance camera, but she knew that he must be watching.
"Continue." Lin Wei put down the soup bowl, her voice was not loud, but with a renewed sense of power, "Li Zhe, has the protective funds been pressed? Feedback!"
"It's pressed! Director Lin! There is a response! Some short positions have begun to close!" Li Zhe's voice was excited.
"Okay! Keep the pressure! Fang Wei, has North America confirmed it?"
"Confirmed! 10% premium, 'Lonely Workshop' agrees to prioritize orders! The first batch of black walnut wood will be shipped within a week!"
"Beautiful!"
The atmosphere of the command center was instantly injected with new vitality because of this little episode and Lin Wei's recovery. Lin Wei's instructions became clearer and more decisive, as if the bowl of ginseng soup not only warmed her stomach, but also ignited the fire in her heart.
***
In front of the monitoring screen on the third floor.
Gu Heng stared at the figure on the screen where Lin Wei drank the ginseng soup, swallowed the stomach medicine, and then quickly joined the battle. Seeing that her frown seemed to relax a little, and seeing the sharp light rekindled in her eyes, his heart, which was repeatedly torn by guilt and despair, seemed to find a faint breath.
She drank it... She didn't refuse...
This cognition, like a tiny life-saving straw, cracked a crack in his frozen and suffocating world, and let in a faint breath of air. He greedily watched her commanding, watched her lead the team to stabilize the position little by little, watched her temporarily block the fierce offensive of Blackstone outside the defense line.
An emotion mixed with pride, heartache and deeper desire, like a vine, entangled his cold heart. He couldn't hide anymore. He couldn't let her face it all alone.
He supported the back of the chair and stood up with difficulty. His body was still weak, and the residual power of the headache was still faintly at work, but a stronger willpower supported him. He went to the bathroom, washed his face with cold water, and looked at the pale, haggard man in the mirror with bloodshot eyes but no longer empty.
He had to go out. He had to stand by her side. Even if... he was not ready to face the torn secret.
***
An hour later, on the top floor of Gu Group, the largest strategic meeting room.
The atmosphere of the emergency meeting of all executives was solemn. On the huge screen, after experiencing a sharp drop in the early trading session, the stock price of Gu Group temporarily stabilized around 38.5 yuan under the tenacious resistance of Lin Wei's team, but it still hovered at a low level, and the short-selling pressure was huge.
Lin Wei sat on the left side of the main seat, her face was still a little pale, but her eyes were clear and sharp, and she was reporting the current response measures and next plans to the executives and directors connected by video. Her analysis was clear and organized, the data was detailed, and the counterattack strategy was linked together, showing a convincing control.
"... In summary, Blackstone Capital's malicious short selling has clear goals and professional methods. But we have initially stabilized our position. The core supply chain in North America has been reopened, and the first wave of products of the "Morning Plan" will be launched as scheduled, which is the key weight to boost market confidence. On the legal level, we have obtained evidence of procedural violations in the "Oak Family" acquisition case, and the counterclaim materials are being prepared. On the capital level, we are actively seeking support from cornerstone allies and are ready to..." Lin Wei's voice was not finished.
The heavy door of the conference room was pushed open silently.
A tall and familiar figure appeared at the door. He was wearing a dark gray high-end suit and a meticulous tie, and he had restored his former cold aura. But his face was still pale, the red bloodshot under his eyes was clearly visible, and his pace was a little slower than usual, with a hint of imperceptible weakness. But his appearance itself brought a strong sense of presence like a stabilizing force!
It was Gu Heng!
The entire conference room was silent in an instant! All eyes were focused on him, full of shock, awe, and a hint of imperceptible... relief. Even the directors on the other end of the video held their breath.
Lin Wei's report came to an abrupt end. She raised her head and looked at the man at the door. Their eyes met.
His eyes were still deep, but Lin Wei could clearly see that something had broken under the frozen sea, revealing a complex, almost scorching temperature - there was concern, apology, unspeakable fatigue, and a heavy, silent gratitude and affirmation.
Gu Heng did not look at anyone else, his eyes were firmly locked on Lin Wei from beginning to end. He walked towards the main seat step by step, his steps were steady. When he passed by Lin Wei, his steps paused for half a second almost unnoticeably, his eyes stayed on her still slightly pale face for a moment, his Adam's apple seemed to roll, but in the end he said nothing.
He walked to the main seat and sat down, his movements were with his usual control, as if he had never left. He looked around the room, his voice was low and penetrating, with a hint of hoarseness, but it contained unquestionable power:
"Director Lin's report just now is the final decision of the group. All counterattacks she deployed will immediately become the group's highest priority strategy, and all departments will unconditionally cooperate in their implementation!"
He paused, and his eyes fell on Lin Wei again. The affirmation and entrustment in his eyes were as heavy as substance:
"Director Lin will be in full command of this campaign. Her will is the will of Gu!"
Loud and resounding! The final word!
The entire conference room could hear a pin drop, and then there was a suppressed but exciting low cry and applause! Lin Wei's authority, who was appointed in a critical moment, was thoroughly established by Gu Heng in the most powerful and public way!
Lin Wei looked at the man in the main seat. He was back. With fatigue and pain all over his body, he handed over the highest authority and trust to her in the most resolute manner. He was telling her with his actions: He was not a coward, he was back, fighting side by side with her!
A huge warmth and sense of power instantly surged through Lin Wei's body. She straightened her back and met Gu Heng's gaze, without flinching, only firmness and a silent commitment.
However, at this moment when the will to fight was rekindled and morale was boosted, the screen of Lin Wei's private encrypted mobile phone placed on the table lit up silently. A new anonymous message popped up:
**[Mrs. Gu, how effective is the painkiller GH-0721? Reminder: The metabolism time of Rizatriptan is 4-6 hours. Guess, did Gu Heng take the medicine before... or after seeing your stomachache? ——Blackstone]**
Lin Wei's heart was instantly clenched by a cold claw! A chill ran straight from the spine to the top of the head!
Rizatriptan! Metabolism time 4-6 hours!
Blackstone... Not only did they know that Gu Heng took the medicine, they even knew the specific drug name and metabolism time! What are they hinting at?
Did Gu Heng take the medicine before he saw her stomachache? Does that mean his headache has nothing to do with her? Or did he have a severe headache after he saw her stomachache... because he felt sorry for her? !
This time point... this detail that is so precise that it is creepy... is like a poisoned dagger, accurately stabbing Lin Wei's heart that has just been warmed!
She suddenly looked up at Gu Heng who was in the main seat. He was listening attentively to Li Zhe's supplementary report. His profile was cold and hard, but the lingering fatigue between his eyebrows and the pain deep in his eyes were clearly reflected in Lin Wei's eyes.
Black Stone's information, like the most insidious venomous snake, injected deadly suspicious venom into the fragile bridge of trust she had just established with Gu Heng.
What is the truth...?