Main Story Chapter 12-10: Savage Game (蛮荒游戏) | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Before reading this chapter, please read the previous chapter here.

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In the central meeting room on 47th floor of Warson Group Building.

The executives all sat in a circle. The atmosphere is quiet, serious, and tensed. What lies before them is a tentative emergency handling proposal from the PR department.

Lu Ting sits at the chairman seat, exuding some shadiness from his brows, gaze faintly stopping on every single person.

Expressions of anger, troubled, dissatisfaction, doubt... the vast variety of expressions on everyone's faces are brightened by the lamps.

Lu Ting: It has bene three hours since the crisis. The group's share has declined for more than 10.01%, this is not a normal margin. I believe a twist in discussion is on the top priority of consideration, and also the only option to be considered. Director Liu, what are the countermeasures now?

The woman addressed as Director Liu nodded. She is one of the chiefs in Warson, and also the COO of the group.

COO: The official website of Pristine has already displayed the related material identification certifications. The law department is also contacting the influencer of this video and the litigant to understand the situation. I believe what our consumer needs is the truth, so we should make clear investigations as soon as possible, and be actively cooperative with police investigations to let the rumor to collapse itself.

Lu Ting: But according to my understanding, the consumers are now feeling highly negative, the focus of the discussion has already shifted, so we have to make a response. By the time the truth has surfaced, the brand reputation has already plummeted. The most urgent matter now is to keep the consumers reassured.

Upon speaking, he looked towards the director of public relations. The man understood the gesture, and immediately stood up.

PR Director: The discussion about Sariel, the person in charge of the brand is an important element towards how it affects the brand image. To receive bribes, selling seconds at the price of top quality, there is no such thing upon internal investigations. As for the accusations of plagiarism, there are currently no evidence that states that Director Qi is plagiarizing. But there are also no evidences to prove otherwise, hence there is no way for us to make a convincing defense. As for bad temper, reprimands on colleagues, there is indeed such a matter according to internal investigations. What Warson needs the most right now is to reduce the popularity of negative discussions, and to calm the negative public opinion down. So I believe the press conference for Pristine should be delayed or cancelled. But if the reason to delay or cancel is because of productivity line of Prisitne-- It will cause further panic among consumers, affecting other brands of Warson, and further lowering the share prices of Warson. So I propose to cancel the press conference in the name where Sariel is unable to complete the designs on his own, and apologize.

His words received an agreement from a majority of directors.

Director A: Public clamours can confound right and wrong, it is impossible for us to use the company's reputation as a bet.

Director B: I agree, the stability of Warson should be placed on top priority.

Lu Ting nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Ting: I understood everyone's opinions now. Besides the above proposal, Sariel's duty as a director should also be removed, and announced to public in order to calm the consumers' emotions, and before this, halt the sub line's brand productions.

COO: The current actions the company is taking has always been clarifying the problems in quality, the main focus of the PR should not be sidetracked. Regarding the quality issues, the Chief is definitely clear that this is plain nonsense. So I believe that it is unreasonable to switch Director Qi.

Lu Ting: Oh? Then what do you think is reasonable, Director Liu? As a sub line brand, Pristine does not match the high end positioning of Warson. At the end of the day, this is a sub line that can cease to exist. It isn't good to bring trouble for the company for a brand like this.

COO: The brand Pristine under Director Qi has once brought Warson a humungous profit. This is clearly visible through our stocks price. Anniversary show, autumn-winter show and the successes in other series of grand shows have also given a shot of stability to the market. At this point of time, he is already carrying the branding of himself and the brand. Also, this is an important matter, a decision like this should consult the CEO in advance. We have to be clear on the source of the disruption in order for things to be helpful towards how we bring ourselves back from the discussion. What does everyone think?

She paused and looked around. The directors nodded itnently.

COO: I also believe we have to inquire Director Qi's opinion on this matter, I wonder if we managed to get in touch with him already?

She looked towards Mya, but Mya only placed her phone down, and shook her head in panic.

At this moment, right under the packed rain, the London clocktowers have rang in 4AM.

Traces of fresh blood has yet to be washed off by the rain, but have instead mixed with the polluted waters, and flowed far away from the city.

Evan walked out from the shadows of the clocktower, opening a snow white handkerchief, and carefully wiped every finger clean, folding it back properly, then finally took the black umbrella Zhou Yan handed to him.

There aren't much changes of expression on his face, it can even be said that he is looking overly calm.

Zhou Yan: The southern Strains already found out the news of the death of their master.

Evan: Help their family to settle down. If they are willing to be detached from the Strains, they can come to me.

Zhou Yan: Yes. Young master, there is a new situation in Warson.

With a glow of deep scarlet in his eyes, and after a short silence, the girl's panicked voice sounded by Evan's ear from thousands of miles away.

It's a panic that he has rarely seen ever since he knew her. She seemed to be worried for a certain person, and obviously it isn't himself.

Zhou Yan: There are movements from Director Lu Ting.

An email is shown on the phone screen, it is the meeting minute of the entire meeting.

Zhou Yan: He has been frequently active between the executive members. It is possible for him to bypass you and make a move to Pristine. Should we--

But even if they have returned to the car and drove off the city, Zhou Yan still hasn't received the answer he is expecting for.

Evan: The handkerchief is dirty, send it for laundry. Drive faster, we have to meet the duke of the English Strains, it's impolite to let an elderly to wait for us.

Zhou Yan agreed with a nod, no longer asking anything further.

The car drove into the night speedily, disappearing in the night skies.

At the same time, Sariel is walking in the corridor of the hospital. Every crisis that is brewing speedily seemed all unrelated to him.

CG Ward

He carried a bouquet of flowers, opened the pale blue ward door, but it's all empty inside.

His gaze fell on the vase at he corner of the walls. What lies within is no longer fresh flowers, but a bunch of bristlegrass. It seems to have been plucked for a few days, and it is already a little yellowish.

In his pocket, his phone has been vibrating non-stop.

Sariel: Hello?

Lao Zhong: Lao Qi, I'm discharged. You can't possibly have arrived the hospital haven't you? My bad, I didn't tell you. But I can already imagine the darkened expression of yours hahahaha.

The other end of the phone call paused, then let out a cheeky smile, and spoke before Sariel manages to answer anything.

Lao Zhong: Don't be in such a hurry to diss me. Old fox, I think we probably won't be able to meet from now on.

Sariel: What do you mean, aren't you taking medications right now?

Lao Zhong: That medicine is already useless on this set of old bones of mine. Before I die, I wanted to look around outside again.

Sariel's shadows on the tiles froze for a few seconds.

Lao Zhong: I've been staying in the ward every day back then, and I kept feeling like I've lived enough. And guess what, I only realized that it might not even be enough even if I live on for another few thousand years after I got discharged. Why aren't you talking? You can't be crying can you? I'd feel bad for that.

Sariel stood very upright, switching the phone to another hand, dropping his gaze as he stared at his own shadow.

Sariel: What a narcissist.

Lao Zhong: Fine fine fine, I'm a narcissist. Remember to bid farewell to Y/N for me, she has always been visiting me, I guess she is considered as my disciple now.

Sariel: Do it yourself.

Lao Zhong: Still that same old attitude. When someone is about to die, their words will be kind too. Listen to my advice, change your temper.

Sariel: What temper of mine?

Lao Zhong: Your stinky-ass temper! So stubborn like a donkey. Besides that girl, who else could possibly bear with you?

Sariel: I don't need anyone else.

Lao Zhong: Oh you, I was originally saying that you have to suffer a bit. But the moment I remembered that you have suffered enough but still having this attitude, I suppose there aren't much that can be changed. But I still want to tell you this, don't avoid others' care for you. You always shoulder everything to yourself, and when you are really troubled, you don't know how to ask for help.

Lao Zhong lets out a long sigh, and remained quiet for a while.

Lao Zhong: Back then, Lao Yang, Xiao Guo, Lao Hu, one by one... they are gone. Old friends have all withered. After knowing each other for so many years, when they are gone, they are just gone. It still feels like the days where we drink and sing are still laying before us. It's still humans that are good in writing, gather your rosebuds while you may. Old fox, don't leave regrets, and don't always live in the past, there's no way to return to the past forever. Although you've been saying that you've forgotten about it, but I think you've always been trapped in there. Humans have to look forward, at least look at the present, and it's even more important for foxes to do so!

A very faint curve appeared over Sariel's lips, and he let out a quiet smile.

Lao Zhong: Being quiet again? Forget it, I'll be annoyed when I talk to you. Duet a song with me, consider it as an ending to our ill fate. When the time comes, I'm going to tell YanWang*, to never let me meet a fox like you again in my next life.

*T/N: Ruler of Chinese hell.

The monologue singing voice of the old, hoarse is heard. Even if the phone is moved a little away, it is still clearly audible.

Sariel matched the beat, slender fingers knocking on the speaker. Thud, thud, it's like he's hitting an hollowed bamboo.

The white elms at the east gate, and the oaks on Wanqiu; The daughter of Zizhong, dances about under them. A good morning having been chosen, for the plain in the South; She leaves twisting her hemp, and dances to it through the marketplace. The morning being good for excursion, they all proceed together; I look on you as the flower of the thorny mallows, you give me a stalk of the pepper plant.*

*T/N: This is a poem titled 东门之枌, the white elms at the east gate. The current scholars generally believe this is a love poem where a young couple plays in the city, dancing, singing and exchanging gifts. This reflects the society norms in the Chen nation, and has a high cultural value. The daughter of ZiZhong, ZiZhong is a surname of the Chen nation. 

The voice gradually quiets down. The joy of the song is gone, the hand in beats have also drooped. The ward returned to its silence.

The messages blocked by the phone all surged up.

Sariel originally did not want to be bothered by it, but still opened it.

Doubts, questioning, PR solution... And the design draft that is filled with red circles of comparisons.

He knows what it is very clearly. The blurred numbers of charcoal paper on the design draft, it should have disappeared in this era.

Sariel: Apology, shutting the brand?

Sariel did not understand any of this. An internal email labeled with red exclamation marks attracted his attention.

The mail comes from the board of directors in Warson. No attachments, only a simple line.

"Director Qi, we hope for you to proactively shoulder the responsibility of the downfall of Pristine's reputation in order to not get other members of the team."

He startled for a moment, then responded before he even knew it.

There isn't a single message coming from the profile picture with a silly smile on the top of his chatting application*.

*T/N: He pinned her contact to the top.