C11 An Accident

Gao Yuan led Yang Miao onto the stage, eliciting a burst of cheers from the audience.

"Mr. Gao, is there an issue with the partnership?" a reporter quickly inquired.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. Since we've chosen to partner with Exbought, rest assured there will be no errors."

Under the glare of the flashing cameras, Gao Yuan and Yang Miao took their seats at the signing table.

There had been rumors that Gao Yuan wouldn't sign the contract with Yang Ming, so why was Yang Miao called to the stage again? She felt somewhat anxious, unsure of what was to come.

Yang Ming was also in the dark about the situation. He had only observed Zhang Luo whispering to Gao Yuan before Yang Miao was summoned to the stage.

The host then took to the stage, and the signing ceremony continued without a hitch. Some attendees from other construction companies looked on with envy, as an excellent project had been seemingly secured by an underdog.

"Firstly, let's extend our congratulations to the Heart of Zruhpus project, government-backed and now successfully launching with the robust support of the Comoxize Group."

The reporters in the audience were keenly observing the host and Yang Miao, eager to capture an exciting angle for their stories. In today's competitive news landscape, uniqueness was key to capturing the audience's attention.

Zhang Luo made his way onto the stage, now dressed in a crisp suit and sporting a pair of black sunglasses, making him indistinguishable from Gao Yuan's bodyguard.

Unbeknownst to Yang Ming and Yang Miao, Zhang Luo positioned himself behind Gao Yuan and Yang Yuan. Gao Yuan, however, appeared quite tense, with sweat trickling down his face in the spotlight.

"Now, please welcome the Ceremony Officer to present the Heart of Zruhpus contract. Together, we will witness the inaugural collaboration between Comoxize and Exbought!"

The audience broke into applause following the host's announcement. Such an elaborate ceremony wasn't necessary, but it added to the grandeur of the event. Zhang Luo gave a discreet nod to a staff member below the stage.

Accompanied by the cheerful strains of music, the Ceremony Officer gracefully ascended the stage in her long gown and high heels, holding the contract aloft with a beaming smile.

As she approached Gao Yuan, ready to place the contract on the table, a loud creak echoed through the room as the entire backdrop wall came crashing down. The reporters in the audience let out screams of terror, some even shutting their eyes, as chaos erupted throughout the venue.

Gao Yuan, hearing the noise, took off running. Yang Yuan, who was slow to react, was left stunned, her legs giving out beneath her. She had never witnessed such a catastrophic accident and found herself slumped helplessly in her chair.

The hostess, equally terrified, stumbled backward, her high heels snapping and sending her tumbling onto the stage.

The crowd below fell silent, their eyes fixed on the three remaining figures onstage: Zhang Luo, Yang Miao, and the hostess.

Zhang Luo had suggested this dangerous scheme because he knew he could protect himself. It was a way to stage an incident and give the reporters something to cover. He planned to later explain that the signing ceremony was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, avoiding any suspicion.

Zhang Luo's intention was also to give Yang Yuan a chance to save face. With more time, Yang Ming could make amends to her.

Gao Yuan's legs shook at the thought of Zhang Luo's plan. Had he not been ready to flee the stage at a moment's notice, he would have never been able to avoid the disaster.

The backdrop wall, towering over seven meters high and weighing several hundred kilograms, would have crushed the three of them into oblivion had it fallen on them.

Zhang Luo turned to face the oncoming wall, his hands instinctively rising to brace against it. The momentum forced him to retreat step by step.

"Damn, it's so heavy!" Zhang Luo cursed, instantly regretting his attempt to hold up the wall. No matter his strength, he was still only human.

His shoes gripped the floor, seeking traction, but the slick carpet offered no assistance, making it impossible to stand firm.

"Run!" he yelled at Yang Miao, who stood there, shell-shocked.

It was then that she snapped out of her daze. With Zhang Luo using all his might to hold up the wall, there was just enough of a gap for Yang Miao to make her escape.

Yang Miao kicked the stool aside and scrambled off the stage in a panic.

The hostess had twisted her ankle and was unable to move. The falling backdrop would surely strike her calves, and the force was enough to potentially break her legs.

Zhang Luo let out an angry roar, leaving everyone in the audience stunned. Incredibly, he managed to lift his arms and turn his body under the weight of the wall, positioning his back to take the brunt of the pressure.

Exhausted, Zhang Luo knew he couldn't hold on much longer. In a swift move, he leaped forward, using his momentum to scoop up the hostess and roll off the stage to safety.

After gently setting the hostess down, Zhang Luo turned just in time to see the entire backdrop collapse, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

"That was insanely thrilling!" Zhang Luo silently swore to himself as he observed the wreckage of the wall.

"Hello, my name is Lee Yan. Thank you for what you did today," the hostess said, rising to her feet and offering Zhang Luo her business card.

Zhang Luo was taken aback to see that she was the chairman of Hua Jia Tourism Company. How could such a renowned woman be working as a hostess at an event like this?

He took another look at Lee Yan, who didn't fit the image of a typical corporate executive. Her tall stature and stunning figure were accentuated by a long red dress that highlighted her long legs. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her fair skin contrasted beautifully with her petite red lips.

Lee Yan could see the confusion in Zhang Luo's eyes and explained, "I joined the Etiquette Society in college and now serve as the president of the Zruhpus Etiquette Society. Everyone else was busy today, so I stepped in."

"Damn, the Etiquette Society? That must mean it's full of gorgeous women with long legs," Zhang Luo thought, swallowing hard at the thought.

"This was far too dangerous. You should get your foot looked at; it seems quite serious," he said.

Zhang Luo turned to leave. He had an agreement with Gao Yuan: he would orchestrate the incident, but it was up to Gao Yuan to deal with Yang Ming.

"Zhang Luo, you jerk! Was this your idea of a plan?" Yang Ming shouted, glaring at the prone Yang Miao and cursing loudly.

Gao Yuan inwardly acknowledged that despite the peril, it was necessary. Only such a dramatic scene would convince the reporters and dispel any notions Yang Ming had of taking over Yang Yuan's company.

"Smack!"

Gao Yuan strode up to Yang Ming and delivered a sharp slap across his face.

"Do you have any better tricks up your sleeve?"

Gao Yuan's voice was barely above a whisper, audible only to Yang Ming, but the slap drew the gaze of many onlookers.

"Gao Yuan is here!"

Someone shouted from the crowd.

Reporters swarmed towards Gao Yuan, cameras and microphones at the ready.

"Mr. Gao, do you suspect that this accident was an attempt to sabotage both of your companies?"

"We are still investigating the incident. I urge everyone to remain patient. We will provide a full and satisfactory explanation in due course."

"Mr. Gao, will this event impact the collaboration between your companies?"

"Didn't everyone at the scene come out unscathed? As you all witnessed, Comoxize has provided me with the utmost protection."

Seizing the moment, Gao Yuan praised his own company, leveraging Zhang Luo's impressive skills. It's true what they say: there's no business without its cunning!

Upon hearing Gao Yuan's remarks, the reporters suddenly recalled the bodyguard with the extraordinary moves, who had disappeared from the scene.

"Mr. Gao, will today's signing ceremony still proceed?"

"As you all can see, the accident was due to unforeseen factors. The venue has been compromised, so we will reschedule our signing ceremony with Exbought. We hope the media will join us for the event!"

Gao Yuan had been waiting for the right question, and finally, it was asked—exactly as Zhang Luo had instructed.

A reporter glanced back and noticed Yang Miao being assisted out by Yang Ming, and hurried over with a microphone.

"Sir, what is Exbought's perspective on this incident?"

"Don't ask me; I'm not with Exbought!"

Yang Ming was livid. He had planned to finalize the deal with Exbought and sign the contract, achieving a perfect outcome. Instead, he ended up not accomplishing anything and received several slaps for his troubles.

And he couldn't even retaliate! One slap was from his grandfather, the others from Gao Yuan. He had never been subjected to such humiliation.

Fuming, Yang Ming ushered Yang Miao into the car and they sped away.