Chapter 113

"What is this?" Xiao Qian asked, full of curiosity. "The Ke Clan is even making backup plans."

Jiang Lai's gaze flickered; she seemed to know what it was.

The people in the large conference room sat back down, including the representatives of the major companies; they also wanted to know what other preparations President Ke had made.

Shen Xun frowned slightly.

Deep down, he had a vague, ominous premonition.

Ke Zhongyu had always been calculating; he didn't know what he was plotting now, but he guessed it might be a plan targeting his competitors.

He also wanted to see it.

However, the twenty documents had passed through the hands of the bid evaluation committee members opposite and were then given to the other company representatives; he was at the very end, and by the time it reached him, they were gone.

Everyone opened the materials as if nothing were wrong, but at the first glance, their faces turned black one by one, and their gazes shifted in unison toward Ji Lao.

Ji Lao was still slowly, unhurriedly, not having opened his yet.

Facing the collective gaze, he reached out and flipped it open; the very first page of data made his eyes widen.

Flipping further, he was so angry that he threw the document away.

"President Ke! What is the meaning of this!"

Ji Lao's sudden outburst left Lin Shutong and Shen Xun both feeling confused.

But Jiang Lai was already certain: it was the file Ke Zhongyu had originally given her as a resignation gift.

She looked at Lin Shutong.

Lin Shutong was still frowning, muttering under her breath: "What is going on?"

Ke Zhongyu soon gave the confused crowd the answer.

"President Shen of Star Universe Technology and Lin Shutong, an external expert for the Self-developed Chip Project, have had an unusual relationship as friends for four years. Over the past three years, President Shen has punctually sent Expert Lin a million in research fees every month; by the time Expert Lin returned to the country, it was already approaching one hundred million."

Both conference rooms were in an uproar.

Shen Xun and Lin Shutong stood up at the same time, looking at Ke Zhongyu in disbelief.

Ke Zhongyu continued: "If it were just simple research support, what about the million-dollar property and million-dollar jewelry Expert Lin received after returning to the country?"

"I ask everyone to strictly investigate the dealings between President Shen and Expert Lin."

Shen Xun already knew Ke Zhongyu's purpose in doing this and glared at him: "Ke Zhongyu! You are simply despicable!"

To actually use such dirty tactics to make him lose the bid!

Ke Zhongyu remained calm, his expression composed; facing Shen Xun's insults, he only felt as if a brief, cold wind had blown by—it was inconsequential.

Others looked at Ji Lao one after another, asking: "What is going on?"

Ji Lao's old face turned the color of a pig's liver; he knew everyone was suspecting that his granddaughter might have leaked secrets.

"Expert Lin would not act recklessly; she signed a confidentiality agreement."

"Then what about these tens of millions in research fees plus the houses, cars, and jewelry?" Someone in the leadership began to press the issue. It was one thing for Ji Lao to normally stuff a person into a project—that was a minor matter—but today it concerned national secrets!

Ji Lao said with a stern face: "Expert Lin and President Shen of Star Universe Technology are a couple; isn't this normal?"

In truth, he also felt it was abnormal, but what could he do? His granddaughter had kept it from him; was he supposed to just let it go?

Ke Zhongyu sneered: "A couple? Where do you put President Shen's wife?"

The room was shocked on the spot.

Shen Xun's face turned deathly pale.

Ji Lao's widened eyes could no longer be described as just disbelief and shock; his hands trembled as he stood up, his old face twitching slightly, his nostrils flaring as if he were about to pass out the next second.

"President Shen of Star Universe Technology has been married for four years." Professor Cheng, who had been silently watching the data, looked up, his eyes clouded and rimmed with red. He put down the documents. "Let the police come and investigate; Star Universe Technology can no longer participate in the bidding."

Everyone had no objections.

Star Universe Technology was completely disqualified.

The police arrived quickly, and Shen Xun and Lin Shutong were taken away from the two conference rooms respectively.

Ji Lao was no exception; he had to go to cooperate with the investigation.

Everyone sighed with emotion.

President Ke of the Ke Clan was indeed ruthless; as soon as he started, he bit Star Universe Technology, the strongest competitor, to death.

Fu Youlin was stunned; he had originally held the victory in his hands, so how did President Ke hammer them to death all of a sudden?

And hammered them so thoroughly.

Even Star Universe Technology was dragged down with them.

Secretly contacting people in project groups was common; who in society didn't have a few underhanded tricks? The Ke Clan wouldn't dare say that everything they did was aboveboard, but getting caught was a mistake.

Shen Xun was not only involved in bribing national secret personnel but also in marital infidelity.

And now he was being taken away by the police.

Official media had come today, after all.

Fu Youlin felt everything go black before his eyes and asked Qiao Chuan: "What do we do now?"

His father had told him to learn from Shen Xun, but before he had learned anything, he had to face a company crisis.

"Notify the Public Relations Department and the Legal Department to be prepared." Qiao Chuan had been by Shen Xun's side for many years; his ability to handle emergencies was beyond question.

Losing the bid was inevitable; now they had to go back to deal with the public opinion that the company and President Shen were about to face.

Fu Youlin could only nod and hurry back to the company, preparing to call his father on the way.

Qiao Chuan stopped him: "Young Master Fu, there is no need to disturb the Chairman with this matter for now."

"I know you want to protect Brother Shen Xun, but you must also understand that paper cannot wrap up fire. Even if it doesn't come from me, my father and the shareholders of the Fu Family will hear the news from elsewhere." Fu Youlin dialed the phone anyway.

Shen Xun, Lin Shutong, and Ji Lao were taken to three separate interrogation rooms.

The first question Lin Shutong faced was:

"What is your relationship with Shen Xun?"

Lin Shutong bit her lip and replied: "Friends."

"Friends who give cars, houses, and money? Be honest, what exactly is your relationship?"

"I said we are friends, so we are friends. I did not leak any secrets. I don't even know the core data of the Self-developed Chip Project. You can go ask Jiang Lai; Jiang Lai has been guarding against me from the beginning, not letting me near the core laboratory, let alone letting me know the data." Lin Shutong was very angry.

The police officer tapped the table: "Why are you shouting? Answer the question properly."

On the other side.

The first question Shen Xun faced was also: "What is your relationship with Lin Shutong?"

Shen Xun said without changing his expression: "Friends. She did not leak any classified data to me; with my ability, I don't need such data."

"You are so generous to a friend? Lin Shutong lives in a large flat in the city center, while the property under your name is only a three-bedroom apartment. President Shen, your life is quite frugal."

Shen Xun couldn't answer for a moment.

Suddenly, he caught a key piece of information: "You said the owner of that three-bedroom apartment is me?"

"Otherwise?"

Shen Xun frowned. Hadn't that apartment already been transferred to Jiang Lai?

He had signed the papers himself.

Even if the paperwork took a long time, it couldn't have been more than a month.

"Are you and Lin Shutong lovers?"

Facing this question, Shen Xun couldn't answer for a moment and lowered his eyes slightly.

Raising his eyes again, he said: "This question has nothing to do with whether secrets were leaked."

"Answer what you are asked, President Shen."

Shen Xun finally nodded.

The next question.

"Do you know who your wife, Jiang Lai, is?"