<h4>Chapter 678 - The Higher Someone Soars, The Deeper The Fall </h4>


    A chorus of "I support" sounded from around three-quarter of the meeting’s participants—some readily, some reluctantly. A small number like Long Meng who were Long Hui’s biggest supporters in the battle of session voiced out their opposition to the proposal because they didn’t want Iris taking centre stage in solving thepany’s current crisis as much as possible. The remaining people kept silent, still undecided.


    Long Tengfei nced at his fellow executives. Almost all of them supported the proposal just like the COO. He nodded and announced, "The majority has spoken. Xin, I expect you to perform your duty as thepany’s brand ambassador well."


    She smiled. "Yes, Father. I will."


    "Deputy COO Long Jian. Since this was your idea, you’ll be in charge of it. I want you to work closely together with the PR and Marketing Departments on how to best use your sister’s celebrity status to improve ourpany’s image. I want results within one month. Great results. We can’t afford to lose any more of our stocks’ value for longer than that. If your n doesn’t work, we’ll immediately move on to a contingency n."


    "Understood, President. Leave it to me. One month is more than enough," Long Jian replied with a smile before ncing at Long Hui who looked like he swallowed a whole frog.


    "Deputy CFO Long Hui," Long Tengfei said next.


    "Yes, President?" Long Hui managed to hide the anger in his voice.


    "It’s your carelessness whichnded ourpany in this predicament, so you need to bear responsibility for it. But for now, we’ll attempt Deputy COO Long Jian’s n of using your sister’s celebrity status first and see how it goes. Recovering ourpany’s stock prices takes priority over anything else, so I’ll dy your punishment. You’ll be in charge of devising our contingency n in case Deputy COO Long Jian’s n doesn’t work in a month. I expect a solid n from you. Don’t disappoint me anymore."


    Long Hui’s lips pressed hard together into a thin line at the reminder of his punishment. He didn’t know how his father would punish him, but he hoped it wouldn’t be too harsh. But at least, he wasn’t being fired so this was good news. This was a chance to redeem himself! Determination shone in his eyes.


    "Understood, President. I’ll start devising several contingency ns right away," he promised.


    Long Tengfei nodded.


    The meeting continued for an additional half an hour before Long Tengfei signalled its end and dismissed everyone. Long Hui and Long Meng left first before anyone could speak with either of them. Iris chatted with some people who were curious about her, including Long Jufang and especially the ck Stars who could barely maintain their professionalposure in front of her.


    After signing autographs and taking pictures with her two fans, she followed Long Jian who led her to his office so that they could begin devising their strategy to use her status as a celebrity brand ambassador to recover thepany’s image and stock prices. But before that, they talked about Long Hui.


    "I’m very disappointed that Long Hui wasn’t fired or forced to resign or even punished," Long Jian said.


    Iris sat on the couch opposite him and sipped the hot tea his assistant served them a few moments ago. "Father said that his punishment is only dyed. He’ll be punished in due time."


    "I know but still, I was expecting him to suffer more from today’s meeting. Instead, he got off scot-free. Father is being too lenient on him."


    "Of course Father will be lenient on him. What do you expect? That’s his first son and the one he had been grooming to be his sessor since his birth. It’s only now when Father has aged and married Aunt Jiahui that he has given all of us siblings a fair chance to prove ourselves as potential sessors. In the end, it’s only the three of us who arepeting because Big Sister Jinjing is perfectly happy working at my ownpany, Orchidia Beauty."


    Long Jian clicked his tongue. "Jinjing is a very sensible girl. How about you? Why are you even joining in the battle of session, anyway? I can sense that you’re not as hungry for Long Industries as I am or Long Hui. You should be like our sister Jinjing instead and be satisfied with your ownpany. It’s doing well, anyway. Extremely well. Why don’t you leave us alone?"


    Iris shrugged, choosing not to reply and sipped her tea instead. She had her own reasons that he didn’t need to know. Long Jian didn’t mind that she refused to answer. Each of them had their own secrets, their own personal ns. They were only allies for now, after all. There was no need to act like the best of friends all of a sudden and spill everything to each other. Once they achieved their goal of kicking out their biggestpetitor in the battle of session, Long Hui, then their alliance would naturally dissolve. By then, they would revert back to being opponents going head to head against each other.


    "I’m feeling a little tired. I’ve been so busytely. Do you have choctes or something? I need a quick boost of energy," she said all of a sudden.


    "Choctes? Are you still a kid or what?" Long Jian said in a mocking tone but still rummaged through a drawer and tossed her a few coin-shaped choctes.


    "Thanks!" She quickly opened one and popped it inside her mouth, chewing in bliss. "You know, don’t be so disappointed that Long Hui got away ’scot-free’ today as you put it. As they say, the higher someone soars, the deeper the fall. This is only the beginning. His image and reputation will only worsen. Remember that he has a pending defamationwsuit filed against him by my fiancé’s sworn brother."


    "Ah, right. The agricultural tycoon, Lin Yehan. He doesn’t look all that impressive."


    She narrowed her eyes at him while popping another chocte into her mouth. "Don’t underestimate any of my fiancé’s brothers."