The richest man's parents were kidnapped, and his adorable son captivated the entire family.

Gu Yinshen nodded, his expression calm, his voice steady yet resolute: "Of course, Director Chen. I will organize and deliver all documents immediately after the meeting to cooperate with the legal review. The innocent will clear themselves."

When he said the words "the innocent will clear themselves," his voice suddenly paused. His gaze swept over Gu Chengji and Gu Hongtao, who had not yet withdrawn their hands, as well as Gu Mingyu, who remained unmoved. A barely perceptible smile of mockery appeared on the corner of his lips.

The atmosphere in the meeting room became tense again.

The host stood up, expressionless, and flipped through the program notes in his hand, his voice mechanical and cold:

"We will now proceed to the vote on the agenda. Regarding the emergency motion proposed by Director Gu Chengji concerning the removal of Mr. Gu Yinshen from his position as Chairman and CEO, please have the directors present vote by raising their hands. Those in favor, please raise your hands."

In the silence, hands began to rise one after another.

Gu Mingyu slightly raised her finger, as if she were merely wiping away a non-existent speck of dust, her expression cold yet resolute.

Gu Hongtao slowly raised his arm, his movements steady and heavy, as if it were a decision he had no choice but to make. His face showed a deliberately feigned heartache, a trace of guilt, and a hint of reluctance to part with the company "for the sake of the group's overall interests." It seemed reasonable, but it was all premeditated.

Gu Chengji was the first to raise his hand, and the most eager. Almost before the projection had finished switching, he straightened his back and raised his hand high, his face revealing his undisguised eagerness and determination.

Chairman Zhang and Chairman Li followed closely behind, their movements swift and decisive, revealing a cold indifference born of calculating self-interest. Seeing Gu Hongtao's "sorrowful yet composed" face gave them confidence.

On the other side, Chairman Wang leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp as a knife, staring intently at Chairman Zhang's knuckles.

He didn't raise his hand, his tightly furrowed brows seemingly etched into his forehead. His arms were pressed against his sides, like a solitary pillar, unmoved.

Several senior veterans remained motionless, exchanging somber glances. The neutral members, however, looked conflicted, their eyes lingering between the stock price screenshot and Gu Yinshen. After a moment's hesitation, they finally made their move.

The host announces the results:

"In favor: 7 votes. Against: 6 votes. Abstain: 2 votes." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, and added, "The proposal was not passed."

At that moment, it felt as if a drop of heavy water had fallen into the air.

Gu Chengji's hands clenched tightly on the table, his knuckles turning white, and his face instantly turned ashen. He slumped back in his chair, gritted his teeth, and remained silent.

Gu Mingyu slightly withdrew her finger and let out a cold snort. The sound was not loud, but it was like a small ice knife that cut through the silence at just the right moment.

Wang Dongshu let out a long breath and gripped the pen in his hand tightly.

Just when everyone thought the battle was over, Gu Hongtao slowly stood up, straightened his cuffs, and walked slowly up in the gale, like an elderly and thoughtful clan leader.

His movements were unhurried, every gesture, every wrinkle revealing a maturity, a measured demeanor, and a deliberate compassion. He coughed softly, his voice deep, hoarse, and tinged with regret, and addressed the crowd:

"Gentlemen... although the proposal was not approved, your nephew Yin Shen has seen it, and your concerns are very real."

He pointed to the secondary screen, where the latest stock price data from the financial channel was still scrolling. The red line of Gu's market value was falling all the way down, like an artery that had been drained of blood, breaking down section by section.

"In just a few days, the market value evaporated by nearly 20 billion." His voice was slow but piercing, earnest yet sharp. "How much of the shareholders' hard-earned money has vanished? How many employees are filled with anxiety? How many partners are watching or even backing out? These... are not illusions, not just public opinion, but the reality right before our eyes! They are facts!"

He looked around, his voice rising higher and higher, his tone like a bell:

"With great power comes great responsibility. Mr. Gu, we don't deny your contributions. But you must also face the responsibilities!"

He slowly pulled out a prepared document, the paper trembling slightly between his fingers, yet he held it out upright, like a decree:

"I propose that a special investigation team be established, consisting of Director Chen, Director Li, and Cheng Ji, to independently review whether there were any improprieties in Mr. Gu's decision-making process, information disclosure, and corporate management in this incident, and that the investigation results be made public to all shareholders."

"This is for the sake of market confidence, and also for your sake, Yin Shen."

Chairman Zhang almost immediately echoed, "We must investigate this thoroughly! We must give the market an explanation!"

Chairman Li nodded: "We've invested so much money, of course we need to know what's going on."

The neutral parties, who had been silent, finally wavered upon hearing the statements about "independent investigation," "no job changes," and "company image," and slowly raised their hands with complicated expressions.

The host solemnly counted the votes:

"In favor: 10 votes. Against: 3 votes. Abstain: 2 votes. The proposal is passed."

At that moment, Gu Yinshen slowly put down the pen he had been gripping tightly, his fingers trembling slightly. He looked up at Gu Hongtao, whose worried face now appeared terrifyingly hypocritical.

Not far away, on Gu Chengji's face, which was not yet fully concealed, an uncontrollable, deep-seated smugness finally flashed.

The last shred of balance in Gu Yinshen's heart was silently ripped away.

He knew that this proposal, packaged with "family oversight," "independent committee," and "impartial investigation," was not a sword, but sharper than one. It would be like a soft knife, driven into his head, drawing blood daily. Not a one-time overturning, but a long-term erosion, a poisonous scheme to gradually erode his power and public trust.

He stood there, his body chilled to the bone as if he were in an ice cellar, yet he did not waver in the slightest. He simply watched quietly as they wore masks, memorizing the looks and expressions in their eyes.

Then, he withdrew his gaze, sat back heavily in his chair, his back still straight as a spear.

On the other side, after the board meeting ended, the corridor was silent, so oppressive that it felt as if the air itself had frozen.

Gu Yinshen walked out of the conference room without uttering a word, his steps steady yet cold. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, tall and imposing, like a silent, walking iceberg. Light streamed in from the window at the end of the corridor, casting a pale, cold glow on his shoulders and temples. His footsteps echoed in the silent corridor, each beat like a war drum striking a deathly still battlefield.

Gu Mingyu approached gracefully from the other side, her Xiangyun gauze cheongsam standing straight as iron on her body. The jade bracelet inlaid with emeralds on her wrist clinked softly, producing a crisp yet ominous sound. Her eyes were cold, her face expressionless as she passed by him without pausing. In that fleeting moment of brushing past him, she casually uttered a single sentence:

"You've disgraced the Gu family, and even turned their ancestors' coffins upside down. You'd better watch yourself."