445: Chapter 445 Was the visit just to apologize?

Youyou finally turned her gaze to the huge gift box.

"What is this?"

"It's a Lego castle. My mom originally planned to give it to me for my birthday," Lin Nuo said as if presenting a treasure.

Youyou's eyes lit up.

"Can we build it together right now?"

"Yes!"

The two children exchanged a look, and the previous barrier between them vanished like smoke.

Lin Nuo placed the gift box on the carpet and clumsily tore open the wrapping.

Youyou also squatted down, looking curiously at the parts inside.

Shen Yan watched quietly for a while.

He closed the room door, leaving only a crack.

In the living room, Su Wan stood up.

"Mr. Shen, I sincerely apologize for today's incident."

She apologized solemnly once again.

"The child was ignorant; it is my failure as a mother for not teaching her well."

Shen Yan walked over to the sofa and sat down, pouring himself a glass of water.

"It's fine as long as the matter between the children is resolved."

He picked up the water glass, his tone indifferent.

"Ms. Su, you coming here today probably isn't just to apologize, is it?"

One sentence instantly pulled the atmosphere back from warm domesticity to a cold business negotiation.

Su Wan paused for a moment, then gave a wry smile.

Dealing with this man, one truly couldn't afford to relax even slightly.

She also sat down on the nearby single sofa, her back perfectly straight.

"That's right. I also wanted to confirm the details of tomorrow's press conference with you, Mr. Shen."

"Mhm, go ahead."

Shen Yan took a sip of water, his gaze fixed on the black screen of the television, seemingly watching, yet seemingly thinking about something else.

Su Wan organized her thoughts.

"The venue, media, and schedule have all been arranged according to your suggestions."

"Tomorrow at ten in the morning, in the banquet hall on the third floor of the Qinghe Grand Hotel."

Shen Yan's fingers tapped lightly on the side of the glass, making a crisp sound.

"Send me the list of reporters."

"Okay.", Su Wan immediately nodded.

"For the venue security, are you using the hotel's staff or your own people?"

Shen Yan asked again.

"It's the hotel's. They are five-star, and their security team is very professional."

Shen Yan shook his head.

"Replace them."

His tone allowed for no argument.

"Use people you absolutely trust."

"Set up two checkpoints at the entrance. The first checks invitation letters, and the second requires ID for entry, which must correspond one-to-one with the reporter list."

Su Wan's heart tightened.

She had only been thinking about guarding against sabotage from Zhou Li and the others, but she hadn't considered that the details needed to be this thorough.

Shen Yan's voice continued, steady and clear.

"There might be people sent by Zhou Li and the others mixed into your list."

"I'll have Chen Guangke help you screen it overnight."

"Tomorrow, only those on the whitelist will be allowed in."

Su Wan felt a layer of cold sweat break out on her back.

She hadn't realized any of these potential risks.

"One more thing.", Shen Yan put down his water glass, "Prepare a few 'ringers' for yourself."

"Ringers?"

"Mix them into the reporters' seats. At the crucial moment, they will be responsible for asking questions and guiding the narrative in the direction you want."

"For example, when you mention that the Qinghe Group was founded by your father and represents his life's work, someone should stand up and ask, 'Ms. Su, will you fight to the very end to protect your father's enterprise?'"

"Questions like that can maximize the emotional resonance of the onlookers."

Shen Yan looked at her, his gaze like that of a teacher looking at an unteachable student.

"A press conference is a performance."

"You are not just the protagonist; you are also the director."

"Everything should be within the control of your script."

Su Wan only felt her brain spinning rapidly, trying hard to absorb every piece of information Shen Yan threw out.

She thought she had prepared thoroughly enough, but compared to Shen Yan's plan, hers was like children playing house.

Shen Yan seemed to see through her thoughts.

"Finally, prepare a Plan B."

"If an uncontrollable accident occurs on site, such as someone releasing damaging information against you, causing the scene to spiral out of control."

"Your PR team must publish the second set of backup press releases online within five minutes, using a new topic to cover the negative news from the event."

"Remember, in the internet era's public opinion war, speed is everything."

Su Wan was completely speechless.

Looking at the man before her, she felt he was unfathomably deep.

He was like a meticulous chess player, calculating every possibility and preparing a corresponding countermeasure for each one.

And she was merely a chess piece on his board.

No, perhaps not even a chess piece.

Just a temporary collaborator.

"I understand."

Su Wan took a deep breath, firmly engraving these key points in her mind.

"Thank you, Mr. Shen."

This thank you was far more sincere than any she had offered before.

Shen Yan gave a noncommittal sound.

"If you take down those people and reclaim the Qinghe Group, it will also benefit our cooperation."

"I am helping you, and in turn, I am helping myself."

His frankness actually made Su Wan feel a bit relieved.

The two of them discussed a few more execution details until the excited laughter of the children drifted from Youyou's room.

Su Wan glanced at the time; it was getting late.

She stood up to take her leave.

"It's getting late. I'll take Lin Nuo back; I won't disturb your rest, Mr. Shen."

Shen Yan nodded, stood up, and went to call the children.

Lin Nuo and Youyou were both lying on the carpet, and the Lego castle before them had already taken initial shape.

He was playing until he was sweaty, his little face flushed, clearly having completely forgotten the unpleasantness from before.

"Nuonuo, it's time for us to go home."

Su Wan walked over and said softly.

Lin Nuo was a little reluctant, but he obediently nodded.

"Youyou, can I come visit you again tomorrow?"

"Of course!", Youyou replied generously.

Su Wan took Lin Nuo and bid farewell to Shen Yan once more.

Shen Yan escorted them to the door.

The moment the door closed, the apartment returned to quiet.

Shen Yan leaned against the door, listening to the subtle sounds of his daughter playing with building blocks in her room, and his tightly wound nerves finally began to truly relax.

He returned to the living room, sat on the sofa, and closed his eyes to rest.

[Ding--]

In his mind, the system's voice sounded right on schedule.

[Daily intelligence has been refreshed.]

[Intelligence coordinates: Donghai City, Antique Market West Street, Number 372, 'Jubao Pavilion'.]

[Intelligence content: The shop owner recently acquired a Qianlong period Zitan inlaid with 'One Hundred Treasures' square box. Hidden in the false bottom layer of the box is a 'Da Qi Tong Bao' coin.]

[Estimated value: Fifteen million to twenty million.]

Da Qi Tong Bao.

The founding coin of the Southern Tang during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Its surviving quantity is extremely small, making it a great treasure among ancient coins.

The value of this piece of intelligence was significantly less than the carved ivory from before.

But one or two million was still wealth that many people might never attain in their lifetime.

Just a few days ago, Shen Yan might have unhesitatingly booked the earliest flight to Donghai City.

But now...

He opened his eyes and glanced toward his daughter's room.

The forty million from selling the carved ivory had arrived, temporarily easing the company's financial pressure.

The research and development for 'janus' could also continue.

The immediate crisis had been resolved.

He didn't want to turn himself into a spinning top chasing after one or two million.

Especially after Youyou had just experienced an allergic reaction today.

He wanted to spend more time accompanying her.

Shen Yan took out his phone and canceled the reminder for the flight to Donghai tomorrow.

He stood up, walked into the kitchen, and prepared to heat up a glass of milk for Youyou.

Money could be earned again, but his daughter's growth happened only once.