Transmigrating Into the Beautiful CEO’s Doomed Substitute - Chapter 143

Shen Zhibing returned to Shen Corporation, officially taking over as CEO, truly becoming the head of the company. Shen Shijun had never expected that the person who seemed to have been neglected and abandoned could make such a comeback overnight.

After the meeting, Shen Qixing followed his father back to the office, dejected.

“How could Grandpa suddenly change his mind and let her come back?” Shen Qixing was completely puzzled. They hadn’t even mentioned her name recently; they thought Shen Zhibing was about to be removed from the family.

It was then that Shen Shijun realized: “We were careless. Think about it, how much time and effort the Old Master spent cultivating Xiao Bing over the years, step by step supporting her ascent, and guarding her behind the scenes for so many years. Now that she’s grown wings and can stand on her own, why would he easily replace her?”

Shen Qixing understood the logic but couldn’t help but feel resentful.

“Are we just going to let it go? We finally had this chance; it will be even harder to move against her later.”

Shen Shijun’s eyes darkened. Today, he saw the part of the board that had completely switched sides, plus those who were neutral and wavering; his chances of winning were indeed slim.

“It depends on whether she can pass the public’s scrutiny.”

Shen Corporation is a large enterprise. Besides pursuing profit, it also values its public image. If the character of the helmsman is not recognized, there is still a possibility of being replaced.

“But judging from Grandpa’s tone today, it seems like he intends to protect her.” Shen Qixing was worried. If the Old Master truly intervened, suppressing public opinion wasn’t impossible.

Shen Shijun was caught off guard by today’s sudden change and temporarily had no better solution: “Let’s wait and see.”

The day after the board meeting, Shen Zhibing officially held a press conference, managed entirely by Shen Corporation’s public relations department.

Karen was under great pressure, spending almost the entire night communicating with Shen Zhibing, confirming every detail repeatedly.

“Ms. Shen, are you really determined to disclose everything?”

Shen Zhibing glanced at Qi Zheng, who was sitting beside her, pondered for a moment, and confirmed with a firm nod.

“The public is interested in my real situation, so let’s use this opportunity to clarify the whole truth.”

After all, she was indeed ill once. Publicly revealing her wound required great courage. The potential public backlash after the disclosure was still unknown.

Seeing her resolute, Karen understood her intention: “Ms. Shen, I will handle it as quickly as possible.”

After hanging up the phone, Shen Zhibing relaxed, leaning on Qi Zheng’s shoulder.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”

After Qi Zheng signed the agreement that day, the Old Master, as promised, agreed to let Shen Zhibing return to the company. Now, only the public’s scrutiny remained, which Qi Zheng was quite experienced with.

“Don’t take the public’s appetite for gossip too seriously. Their immense attention is merely because they want to know the truth.”

As for malice, there would certainly be some, but society is not only filled with bad people; there are many good people too.

The pressure Shen Zhibing faced at the press conference was much greater than what Qi Zheng had to deal with back then, drawing attention from the entire business community. Even Hua Chifeng and Lian Ao personally attended.

She appeared calm, elegant, and composed, frankly admitting the emotional distress she had suffered over the years. She didn’t hide much about her medical history and treatment process. Finally, she emphasized that the previously exposed information was fragmented and incomplete, stolen using illicit means from her doctor.

Shen Zhibing, who was once seen as a hypocrite who deliberately concealed her illness and deceived shareholders and the public, suddenly transformed into a beautiful, strong, and tragic figure who actively faced her illness, bravely persevered in her work while sick, and whose privacy was illegally exposed.

Perhaps having Qi Zheng as a pioneer who chose honesty, Shen Zhibing did not hesitate much this time.

The Old Master didn’t say much about Shen Zhibing’s decision, but quietly took action behind the scenes. Soon after, the tone of mainstream media collectively shifted, all siding with Shen Zhibing. The public, having received all information from Shen Corporation’s official channels and no longer needing to piece together gossip, gradually dispersed. Those who had maliciously speculated were left speechless. Among those who continued to follow, some genuinely cared about Shen Corporation, and others had similar experiences to Shen Zhibing.

Combined with the current business scope of Qi Zheng’s company, it was now easy to explain the reason for their close interactions. The ambiguous nature of their relationship, ironically, became more logical due to the exposure of her illness.

Lin Muyun had been watching the live stream online. She still held one last card. Watching Qi Zheng and Shen Zhibing continuously emerge from defeat, her heart was filled with disbelief and resentment.

Why could they always win despite being dealt a bad hand, and why did she make mistakes every step of the way?

Fiercely hitting the send button, a new exposé appeared. This time the target was still Shen Zhibing, but it also implicated Lian Ao.

The rumor claimed that Shen Zhibing and Lian Ao had secretly been involved for many years, even maintaining a close relationship after Lian Ao’s marriage. Before one wave settled, another rose, greatly exciting the media. This was the juicy, scandalous, high-society romance that could attract the most traffic!

The mainstream media, having been cautioned by the Old Master Shen, remained rational, but self-media and smaller outlets didn’t care. Where there was buzz, there was traffic.

The atmosphere in Shen Zhibing’s office was heavy. Yun Fei and Karen were both present.

“Ms. Shen, the best way to resolve this is to strike while the iron is hot, respond positively again, and don’t drag it out.”

Shen Zhibing glanced at Karen. She certainly knew this was the best solution.

But she wasn’t sure how much data the other party held. This was different from admitting her illness.

Yun Fei knew her concern and refrained from speaking directly in front of Karen. After Karen left, she finally said, “How about communicating with Mr. Lian?”

Shen Zhibing said gravely, “What good would communicating with him do?”

At this point, she had no hope left for Lian Ao. To some extent, this storm was even related to him.

She didn’t trust Lian Ao, yet Lian Ao came to her proactively.

“Ms. Shen, I will officially issue a statement denying the recent rumors.”

Shen Zhibing looked at him coldly, expressing no reaction.

Lian Ao had to emphasize further: “I will deny everything, including the past.”

Shen Zhibing had a momentary feeling of realization. Their past was finally vanishing at this moment.

“What is the condition?”

It was true that Lian Ao still harbored feelings for her, but she was also very clear that Lian Ao would never proactively step up and take responsibility solely for a trace of old affection.

He smiled bitterly, averted his gaze, and dared not look directly at Shen Zhibing.

After a while, he said gloomily, “Jane Annie is very dissatisfied with my dragging the divorce and threatened to use the child in her belly to coerce me. If I don’t sever ties with Lin Muyun immediately, she will step out and make the decision for me.”

Shen Zhibing remained indifferent, as if listening to a completely unrelated scandalous love gossip.

“I just wanted to secure the succession rights to Shiqun, so I repeatedly conceded and accepted the arranged marriage. Now I only want another child, but I didn’t expect Jane Annie to insist on me formally marrying her.”

Shen Zhibing didn’t know whether to feel sorry for whom. Lian Ao had always lacked responsibility in relationships. What she craved then was only the gentleness he offered and that tiny bit of love, which was enough to make her, who lacked love, fall into ruin.

Now, with Qi Zheng’s overwhelming love, looking back, she realized how ridiculous and pitiful her past self was.

Seeing Lian Ao’s discouraged and helpless appearance, he was still the familiar him. So many years passed, she had long broken free from her illness and embraced love. Yet he was still treading water, even tortured and haggard by a marriage of convenience.

“I’m not interested in your emotional entanglements, nor will I be involved in how you resolve them. But if you can successfully handle this storm, I can help you secure Shiqun.”

She was now the real spokesperson for Shen Corporation, and having her assistance would naturally increase his chances of winning significantly.

Sure enough, Lian Ao quickly issued an official statement, saying that the rumors about his past relationship with Shen Zhibing were purely fabricated. They were only acquaintances in their youth, and they barely interacted after his marriage.

The person who fabricated all this was his wife, Lin Muyun, who was in the process of divorce.

Love turned into hatred, and jealousy made people lose their minds, leading to nonsense. Public opinion was in an uproar. Coupled with the Lin family’s public statement that Lin Muyun couldn’t bear the blow of the marital change, which was why she deliberately targeted Shen Zhibing.

Both Lian Ao and Lin Chutian formally apologized to Shen Zhibing. The highly anticipated scandalous love drama ended before it even started. After that came Lian Ao’s protracted divorce battle. It was rumored that Lin Muyun demanded an exorbitant amount and refused to budge on asset distribution, causing the signing to be repeatedly delayed.

The longer the divorce battle dragged on, the less Jane Annie’s pregnancy could wait. Finally, even after she gave birth to a son, she still didn’t receive Lian Ao’s marriage proposal.

“Are you planning to only keep the son and not the mother?”

Lian Ao was exhausted, but seeing his son, he still smiled contentedly.

“Rest assured and recover first. Don’t rush other matters.”

Jane Annie sneered, “Lian Ao, you and the Lin family worked together to send Lin Muyun to the hospital, calling her a lunatic so no one would believe her. Now, how do you plan to deal with me? Take the child and then kick me out?”

Lian Ao was the youthful dream of these high-society women; many had silently loved him. Compared to Wu Qin’s resentful but direct unrequited love, Jane Annie’s feelings had always been deeply hidden.

It wasn’t until she investigated Lian Ao and Shen Zhibing’s past that the heartbreak and existing jealousy towards Shen Zhibing made her lose her sanity.

She took the initiative but was repeatedly frustrated. Now, Lian Ao only had his son in his heart, not her.

Lian Ao watched the sleeping infant for a while longer, then walked to her bedside: “We will discuss our matters later. There have been too many family issues recently; I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

Old Master Lian saw Lian Ao’s son before he passed away, closing his eyes contentedly. The Lian family was now in a critical stage of property contention, but with a son and Shen Zhibing’s assistance, Lian Ao’s chances of winning had significantly increased.

At such a time, he wouldn’t create trouble for himself by marrying another troublemaker.

Jane Annie used her family’s media resources to obtain Shen Zhibing’s medical records, which led to her direct removal from the Jane family. Now, if her son was also taken away, she would truly have nothing left.

Lian Ao didn’t want the mother of his child to have too many blemishes, so he pleaded with Shen Zhibing, hoping she wouldn’t pursue legal action against Jane Annie.

Shen Zhibing looked coolly at this new father, seeing no sign of maturity or stability, but rather increasing childishness and absurdity.

“10%. If you want me not to pursue, the condition is 10% of Shiqun’s shares.”

Lian Ao was stunned. He only had 40% of the shares himself, and Shen Zhibing was asking for a quarter of that right away.

“This 10% includes Shen Corporation’s capital injection and compensation for me not pursuing Jane Annie. If you calculate carefully, you are not losing out.”

10% of the shares was not enough to affect Shiqun’s operation, but Shen Zhibing applying business calculations to him was unexpected for Lian Ao.

“I will consider it.”

“I won’t give you much time. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

It was all business, no different from how she treated anyone else in the business world. Until Lian Ao left, Shen Zhibing did not give him any chance to bargain.

She helped Lian Ao before because of their relationship. Now that their relationship was over, they had to be clear about money.

As for whom Lian Ao would marry in the future, and with whom he would have children, it had nothing to do with her, and she didn’t care.

She glanced at the time; there was still an hour until closing. Qi Zheng was returning from a business trip tonight, and they had agreed on a candlelight dinner. Qi Zheng had been unusually busy recently, which also meant the company was developing smoothly. Qi Zheng’s name was appearing more and more frequently in the capital markets, and Shen Zhibing was genuinely happy for her and proud of her.

Her lover was her deepest concern, her firmest support, and the warmest light in her once bleak life.