Lin Yuan's Revenge

Old Mo quickly swapped out Director Wang's chopsticks.

Director Wang, meanwhile, stared at Lin Yuan, "Little Lin, please continue."

"It's quite obvious that Good Group's true intention lies elsewhere."

No one present was foolish; even someone as guileless as Zhang Yan wouldn't believe that Good Group would make no profit and hand over all the saved costs to the delivery riderss.

Good Group's objective could only be one thing—to make money in the stock market.

At Director Wang's age, he could immediately discern the hidden meaning in Lin Yuan's words.

This was precisely the principle of 'suspicion from appearances'.

Director Wang took a sip of wine to calm himself, "Little Lin, thankfully you reminded me. I truly hadn't paid attention to these things. As expected of someone in technology, he sees problems so meticulously, directly starting from the numbers. So, tell me, what should I do now? Should I withdraw immediately?"

"Your withdrawal now would be a mediocre strategy. Ever since you publicly supported Good Group in the news, there's no turning back."

Director Wang understood instantly, "Once Good Group runs into trouble, the best outcome for me would be early retirement."

Professor Zhang and Dean Li hadn't expected Lin Yuan to suddenly say these things.

Everyone looked at Lin Yuan with expectant eyes, hoping he would continue.

"There is a way. You can hedge. You can simultaneously endorse the other platform, the one with the blue logo. This way, it shows you are impartial. You are simply promoting the healthy development of the food delivery industry."

Director Wang quickly reacted, "That's true. I hadn't thought much about it before; I just figured I'd finally gotten some recognition this time and could just wait for retirement. Fortunately, Little Lin, you reminded me. From now on, this old man doesn't plan to get involved in these matters anymore.

When people get old, their minds can't keep up; they can't play their games."

Lin Yuan believed that after Director Wang gained some prominence through the Good Group incident, the relevant departments truly responsible for new-economy internet affairs would certainly consult him.

After all, Director Wang primarily oversaw investigations, only incidentally managing cybersecurity. Only the portion of his work related to online public opinion intersected with Good Group.

But Lin Yuan's objective in doing this was to have Director Wang spread his uneasy thoughts about Good Group to his colleagues.

"Director Wang, you can also widely disseminate your views within the system to dilute the impression of your association with Good Group."

Director Wang nodded repeatedly, listening, "Little Lin, your future is boundless." As he spoke, he didn't forget to glance at Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan had a blank expression, while Lin Yuan was thoroughly embarrassed.

After the dinner, when everyone came out, Zhang Yan originally wanted to personally drive Director Wang and Old Mo back, but Director Wang insisted on taking a taxi himself.

Then, Professor Zhang and Dean Li coincidentally also wanted to take a taxi themselves.

So, Zhang Yan naturally ended up driving only Lin Yuan.

As they parted ways, Professor Zhang specifically said to Lin Yuan, "Your master supports you in getting your revenge."

—

The streetlights of Zijin City's night streets flickered across Lin Yuan's face, and the hum of tires on the road drifted in.

"Brother, what did your master mean by that just now?"

"He's encouraging me to get revenge on Good Group."

"Did you two talk about this during dinner?"

"Your master and I talked about this from beginning to end."

"No way? How come I didn't hear it?"

"It's enough that your master understood."

Zhang Yan snapped playfully, "A bunch of riddle-speakers, not fun at all."

Lin Yuan reclined his seat. He had drunk a little wine and was feeling dizzy, "I don't want to be like this either. But I can't just openly tell your master: 'Hey, old man, I'm going to take down Good Group. Let's cooperate.'"

"Haha~~" Zhang Yan laughed in response, "Senior Brother, tell me, how was it that you and my master were talking about dealing with Good Group?"

"Didn't you just say you were riddle-speakers?"

"Can't I take back what I just said?"

The city lights streaked across Lin Yuan's face through the car window, "Your master, in order to gain recognition, took advantage of his control over online public opinion supervision and forcibly crossed boundaries to guide a wave of work. But how would that old man know that Good Group's stock price was manipulated before?

Mainly, Good Group's operations in the stock market this time were very covert. You didn't see anyone in the public news saying they manipulated stock prices, did you?"

Zhang Yan nodded.

"So no one paid attention. Your master just assumed Good Group's development was peaceful and its situation excellent."

"Then my master misjudged?"

"Not exactly a misjudgment. Good Group's situation is indeed good. A 20% cost reduction on the delivery side is something that can be heavily boasted about anywhere. But your master doesn't know how to read analysis reports. So, I just gave him a heads-up.

The way big companies play isn't typical human thinking.

Normally, if a product's cost goes down, people first think about how they can earn more money.

But big companies, backed by capital, first think about creating momentum, and then going to the stock market to 'harvest leeks'.

Therefore, Good Group had to tout things like 'expanding new application areas for AI technology' and 'pioneers combining Dragon Country Feng Shui with AI'. These vague terms are ultimately to embellish themselves. Then, they stir up momentum in people's minds, making them believe Good Group has developed some incredible technology.

Then, of course, everyone will eagerly buy their stock.

It's one of the common practices in stock market speculation, always effective.

Moreover, Good Group this time leveraged the point of 'employment'.

It gave all the reduced costs from the delivery end to the delivery riderss, and then the food delivery algorithm itself optimized the delivery riderss' working environment. By optimizing the delivery process itself, the food delivery market can also be expanded. In short, it indeed has a positive effect on employment.

Then, for Good Group, it can again 'borrow a tiger's skin to make a big banner'.

As long as Good Group doesn't go too far."

Zhang Yan listened very carefully, "So, you mean this wave of Good Group's strategy is also for the stock market?"

"Of course. Its market value is already around 1.3 trillion. Even a mere 10% increase would bring in far more profit than the small percentage taken from merchants.

If you had to choose. Would you rather earn a few billion more each year, or get hundreds of billions in one go?

However, the equity of listed companies is very complex, and no one can be sure whose pockets the money ultimately goes into. But one thing is clear—all people or institutions holding Good Group stock always hope it will rise.

I still hold 1.5 million worth of its stock myself. To be honest, I also really hope it goes up."

Zhang Yan suddenly raised her voice, "Senior Brother, how can you switch from being so righteous to shamelessly greedy so quickly?"

"Sigh~~, if Good Group had just given me a decent severance package, I wouldn't bother with all this. I even wanted to buy their stock to help them be evil."

"Brother, can you have some principles? What you're saying doesn't sound like upholding justice at all; it's simply 'dog eat dog'."

"You're right, to hell with justice." Lin Yuan, under the influence of alcohol, was a bit uninhibited.

"Here." Zhang Yan handed over a bottle of mineral water, "Sober up, what nonsense are you talking?"

Lin Yuan twisted the cap and immediately realized something was off, "You've drunk from this?"

"Are you still picky with me?"

"Little sister, I'm your brother, this isn't appropriate."

Zhang Yan said coldly, "Then don't drink it, die of thirst."

Despite her words, Zhang Yan soon pulled the car over to the side of the road and got out to buy Lin Yuan milk tea.

"I drank too much; I want something sweet. You pick it out."

"I'm just going to get you sugar-free." Zhang Yan slammed the car door shut and even specifically pressed the lock.

Hearing the car lock, Lin Yuan could only shake his head and smile wryly.