Wednesday, 2:00 p.m.The boardroom was cold, sharp — every chair filled with faces that expected answers. Zhou Yichen stood tall, Zhao Xinyi by his side, arms crossed but eyes alert.
The lead director spoke first. "Mr. Zhou, this leak has serious repercussions. Explain how this happened on your watch."
Yichen's voice was steady. "It wasn't a failure of oversight. It was sabotage — orchestrated by Liu Zemin to steal credit and leverage."
Murmurs filled the room.
Xinyi added, "I can confirm that the original work belongs to our team. I have drafts, emails, and timelines to prove it."
The CEO eyed them both carefully. "This is a delicate situation. Our company's reputation is on the line."
Yichen nodded. "That's why I recommend immediate suspension of Mr. Liu pending investigation, and a public clarification once the facts are verified."
One board member frowned. "And what about the damage already done?"
Xinyi met his gaze. "We fix it by standing firm together — no blame, just truth. And trust."
A tense silence. Then, the CEO finally said, "Very well. Proceed. But keep us updated."
Yichen and Xinyi exchanged a look. A fragile truce forming — maybe stronger than before.