When the clock struck twelve, the highly anticipated yet nerve-wracking product launch finally began. Everything proceeded smoothly according to plan: the host warmed up the audience, and when they announced, “Let’s welcome the product spokesperson to the stage,” a tall figure emerged before the crowd.

Those unaware of the internal situation didn’t think much of it, but those in the know were puzzled. Why had the spokesperson been changed for such an important launch? Amid the audience’s confusion, the person on stage began to speak slowly.

“Hello, everyone. I’m Lu Linshen, the product spokesperson for today’s launch.”

When the team leader mentioned being unable to find a suitable spokesperson, Meng Suihuan had immediately thought of him. After all, no one knew this project better than he did, and he could explain every detail effortlessly.

Standing on stage, he spoke with confidence and charisma, just as he had the first time they met—captivating and brilliant. To her surprise, his presentation wasn’t overly technical or boring as it used to be; instead, it was simple, engaging, and even humorous. Even a layperson like her was completely drawn in.

Halfway through the presentation, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd:
“Hey, take a look! Doesn’t their product look a bit like Shoucheng’s?”

Many people turned their attention toward the speaker but were quickly drawn back by Lu Linshen’s compelling explanation.

At the same time, her phone rang again. Unsurprisingly, it was Yang Xun.
“President Meng, did you receive the gift I so carefully prepared for you? Are you pleased with it?” His smug tone was unmistakable and unapologetic.

“Your methods, Young Master Yang, remain as despicable and underhanded as ever,” she replied, her voice calm yet sharp.

Instead of getting angry, Yang Xun seemed even more pleased. Her words only added to his satisfaction.
“President Meng, that’s a narrow perspective. In business, it’s not about how you win, but that you win. And clearly, I’ve won.”

“Won?” She chuckled lightly. “The game has only just begun. Aren’t you declaring victory a little too early?”

“Oh?” Yang Xun’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Then I’ll wait and see if President Meng can pull off a miracle and turn the tide.”

“Of course,” she replied coolly. “And I hope, by then, you’ll still be smiling as brightly as you are now.”

As soon as she hung up, the phone rang again. It was her business partner, President Chen, who was still recovering in the hospital after surgery.
“Xiao Huan, what’s going on? Shoucheng’s smartphone looks identical to ours, both in performance and core technology. Isn’t that… isn’t that too much of a coincidence?”

“President Chen? Weren’t the doctors advising you to rest and recover?”

“How can I rest with something this important happening? Enough with the small talk—just tell me what’s going on!”

“This is a long story…”

“Then make it short! Your sister-in-law is sitting here with a stopwatch!”

Meng Suihuan: “…”

“In short, aside from some differences in appearance, the two products are practically identical under the hood.”

“What?! Didn’t you say the core technology Shoucheng stole before was fake?”

“It was,” she replied. “The first time, they stole fake data. But the second time… they got the real deal.”

President Chen: “…”

Being a seasoned veteran in the business world, President Chen quickly sensed something amiss and probed cautiously.

“Xiao Huan, did you already know about this?”

“Yes.” At this point, there was no need to hide it anymore. “I knew, and I already have a plan to resolve it. Soon, they won’t be able to stir up any more trouble.”

She then shifted her tone, speaking sincerely. “I should have told you about this earlier, but I was worried it might make you overthink and affect your recovery. So, I had to keep it under wraps for a while. I hope you won’t blame me for taking matters into my own hands.”

President Chen chuckled awkwardly. “It’s fine, as long as it doesn’t affect the big picture.”

“Alright then. Your sister-in-law is rushing me off the phone. I can’t help with the launch, so I’ll leave the hard work to you.”

“It’s my duty,” she replied.

—

Lu Linshen’s presentation was undeniably captivating, managing to draw the audience’s attention back more than once. However, prolonged distractions still had an impact. By the time Meng Suihuan finished her two phone calls, the audience had started to grow restless.

Some began interrupting, questioning the product’s similarities to Shoucheng’s offerings.

“Apologies,” Lu Linshen said calmly. “I’m only responsible for discussing the product. If you have questions about the product itself, I’m happy to answer. For anything else, I have no comment.”

“How is this not related to the product? You’ve been up there talking about the brand for ages. Stop dodging and get someone to explain what’s going on here!”

Still composed, Lu Linshen glanced at the man in the red jacket who had been causing the commotion and replied earnestly, “Oh, let me clarify then. I’m only discussing the research and design aspects of the product.”

The red-jacketed man, who appeared aggressive and overbearing, was momentarily speechless.

—

Meanwhile, the audience’s agitation continued to grow. Seeing the situation escalate, the head of the PR department finally found Meng Suihuan. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he anxiously reported, “President Meng, tensions are running high. If we don’t address this soon, the launch might collapse, and the company’s reputation could take a hit…”

Before he could finish, she handed him a document. Her composed voice followed, “Perfect timing. Print this out immediately and distribute it to everyone on-site.”

The manager glanced at the document, which seemed to contain complex data. Tentatively, he asked, “President Meng, what is this?”

She arched an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile. “The solution you were looking for.”

—

Despite his confusion, the manager quickly followed her orders. Just as he turned to leave, she stopped him.

“Wait.”

He froze in place and turned back. “Is there anything else, President Meng?”

She glanced at the stack of documents, her smile widening slightly. “Make sure every single person at Shoucheng Group receives a copy, especially Young Master Yang. Hand it to him personally and tell him it’s a gift from me.”

—

Soon, the documents were distributed across the venue, including to Yang Xun and his team. Everyone was bewildered, unsure of what Meng Suihuan was planning. Yang Xun, equally puzzled, consulted those around him.

Only a bespectacled man dared to voice his guess. “Young Master Yang, I’ve read some law-related books before. If I’m not mistaken, this appears to be an intellectual property rights verification report.”

The mention of “intellectual property” caught everyone off guard—it was an unfamiliar term to most in the room. At the time, intellectual property laws were still in their infancy and not widely understood.

Yang Xun’s patience wore thin. “What’s intellectual property?” he asked, irritation evident in his tone.

“Simply put, Xuyu registered their smartphone chip technology with the relevant authorities. Legally, the technology belongs to them. Anyone else using it is committing a violation.”

“You’re saying—” Yang Xun’s voice dripped with rage as he clenched his jaw. “We broke the law?”

The bespectacled man hesitated before confirming weakly, “According to the law, yes.”

Sensing Yang Xun’s growing fury, he quickly added, “But our country’s laws in this area are still incomplete. It might not be that serious. There could still be a chance to turn things around—”

Before he could finish, Yang Xun tore the document to shreds in a fit of rage. His voice boomed across the room, “Meng Suihuan, you conniving witch, you’ve played me again—!”

Half an hour later.

Meng Suihuan stepped onto the stage right on time. Her gaze swept across the crowded venue, searching for a particular figure. It didn’t take long before she spotted him—not only Lu Linshen but also Yang Xun. Perfect. Everyone she needed to witness this was present, and the show was about to begin.

The previously noisy crowd fell into an unspoken silence as she appeared on stage. Smiling, she greeted everyone and then smoothly transitioned into the main topic.

“I believe everyone has received this document by now,” she said, holding up the report in her hand for all to see. “This is an official verification report certified by the National Intellectual Property Administration. The data and content inside might be complex and unfamiliar to some of you, but don’t worry—I’ll explain everything clearly.”

Since the concept of intellectual property was new and unfamiliar to the audience, Meng Suihuan began by introducing it. Avoiding overly technical jargon, she interspersed her explanation with relatable anecdotes to ensure the crowd could grasp the idea.

Once the background was laid out, the focus shifted to the core content of the report. Using timestamps, data, and other evidence, she systematically presented her case. Finally, she turned her gaze toward Yang Xun, who was standing not far away, and delivered a resounding conclusion:

“So, it was Shoucheng Group that stole our R&D results!”

The crowd erupted. While some believed her outright, others were skeptical due to their unfamiliarity with the concept of intellectual property.

Meng Suihuan had anticipated this reaction. She smiled calmly and continued, “I understand that words alone may not be enough to convince everyone, which is why I’ve invited representatives from the relevant authorities to testify here today.”

She paused briefly for effect and then added, “Additionally, Xuyu Group will formally sue Shoucheng Group for infringing on our intellectual property rights.”