Chapter 24: From Heaven to Hell

Let us turn now to Su Qingcheng, who was thrown into a flurry of activity. Upon receiving the official notice from the government, she immediately dropped all her current work, rushed home in a whirlwind, and scheduled an appointment with a stylist. She wanted to appear on camera in her most flawless state, for she knew the government would surely arrange for journalists to take photographs—this was to be a new milestone in her career.

As for Su Sen and Li Lan, her parents, they could hardly contain their excitement when they learned that their daughter would be representing the Su Group in the official signing ceremony with the government that very afternoon. Now, they thought, let the second and third branches of the family try to contest their influence within the company.

Soon after washing up, Su Qingcheng came downstairs. With the aid of her considerable wealth, the stylist efficiently transformed her into the very image of a business elite. Determined to leave the best impression on Secretary Xiao, the highest official in Shanghai, she declined the company’s Maybach sedan and instead arranged for herself a white Alphard van—a more understated, yet still tasteful, choice.

When the time was near, she bade her parents farewell and, under their hopeful gazes, stepped into the car. But no one noticed that from a window on the villa’s second floor, the curtains in Su Qingsnow’s room had been drawn back a fraction, and Qingsnow herself watched the departing car with simmering resentment.

As Su Qingcheng made her way to City Hall, news of the impending contract between the Su Group and the government spread like wildfire through Shanghai’s business circles. The scent of profit drew in aggressive capital, and the company’s stock began to surge rapidly as soon as the market opened at 1:30 in the afternoon.

Arriving at the City Hall entrance, Su Qingcheng was immediately greeted by government staff who led her to the contract-signing venue inside.

“Secretary Xiao, good afternoon.” Following her guide, Su Qingcheng caught sight from afar of Xiao Weiguo, already perusing documents at the signing table, and she approached him with a courteous greeting.

“Good afternoon, President Su.” Xiao Weiguo, unflappable as always, responded with a warm smile, handed his files to his secretary, and shook her hand. Nearby, photographers who had been waiting for just this moment snapped away.

“President Su, please take a seat for now. The signing will begin shortly,” Xiao Weiguo said, withdrawing his hand.

“Of course, Secretary Xiao. I’ll let you get back to your work.” Having exchanged pleasantries, Su Qingcheng nodded and moved to the side, waiting quietly for the moment of the signing. Yet, that moment would never come.

Not long after, a staff member from the Shanghai Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, acting on Secretary Xiao’s instructions, hurried in with a report in hand. The secretary, quick to notice, went to meet them, and after a brief exchange, brought the group over.

“Secretary Xiao, here is our investigation report.” The leader straightened up subconsciously as he addressed him. Without a word, Xiao’s secretary accepted the report and handed it to his superior.

Standing some five or six meters away, Su Qingcheng could only watch as Xiao Weiguo was immediately surrounded by a sea of people. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy—this was true power.

What was Mo Ran, after all, but a housewife? Keeping a home in order meant nothing; was a man without ambition truly a man? Was he worthy of someone like her? But then she remembered Liu Chuanfeng had returned, and thought that only a man like him was her equal.

While her mind wandered, Xiao Weiguo finished reading the report, raised his head, and fixed his gaze on her. In the next instant, he began to walk over, followed by a crowd.

“S-Secretary Xiao...” Startled to see such a figure approach, Su Qingcheng stood up at once, suddenly nervous under the weight of his presence.

“President Su, today’s signing ceremony is canceled,” Xiao Weiguo announced.

His words fell like a thunderbolt on a clear day, exploding in Su Qingcheng’s mind and leaving her momentarily stunned.

“Wh-why?” she stammered, her voice trembling. To be halted on the very threshold of success—what could have happened?

“See for yourself. This is the report from the recent undercover investigation by the Bureau. I have serious doubts about your group’s qualifications and construction capabilities,” Xiao Weiguo said, passing her the file.

“Secretary Xiao, please believe in the Su Group. I’ll make immediate corrections,” Su Qingcheng replied, her face blanching as she scanned the pages. Not only were there falsified qualifications, but also evidence of shoddy materials on some construction sites; every incident was detailed, complete with photos, times, places, and names. If this report were to be made public, not only would she be dismissed as CEO, the very future of the Su Group would be in question.

“This matter ends here. In a few days, after we review the capabilities of other qualified groups, a new bidding process will be announced. But the Su Group will no longer be considered,” Xiao Weiguo stated calmly, as if discussing nothing more consequential than the weather.

With these few simple words, he effectively pronounced the death sentence on the Su Group.

Su Qingcheng’s face went ashen in an instant. She collapsed into her chair, and if not for her secretary’s quick reflexes, she would have fallen to the floor and injured herself.

The scene was captured in full detail by the attending journalists. Soon, stories of the Su Group’s inferior materials and fraudulent qualifications spread through the media. The company’s once soaring shares plummeted as if they had been cut in half.

Not long after, the Shanghai authorities issued an official statement: the Su Group’s qualifications for the project were revoked, and all previous construction by the group would be reviewed for safety.

As the announcement made its way to the public, the Su Group’s stock took another nosedive, dropping below its opening price before trading was suspended by the Securities Regulatory Commission.

Su Qingcheng, once worth billions, fell from the heights of business acclaim to the subject of ridicule in less than a day—a journey from heaven to hell in the blink of an eye.

“What? How could this happen?” Su Dashan soon received the news. With a cry of disbelief, his right hand lost all strength, and his phone slipped from his grasp, crashing to the floor and cracking open.