Yue Ning Energy Incident 20 (Third Update)

"Ah?"

I frowned, realizing that the reason Lin Qingying had spoken so casually on the phone last night was simply because she didn't want me to worry.

Is the situation serious?

"It's very serious!"

Ruolin said, "I'll share some news articles with you on Douyin, you can take a look yourself."

"Good."

Soon, the news shared by Ruolin arrived, with shocking headlines such as: "Yue Ning Energy Explodes Again," "When Will the Unscrupulous Discharge of Pollutants End?" and "Does the Development of National Capital Really Have to Come at the Cost of People's Health?"

Among them, a popular online influencer named Zhan Chen posted a video of evidence collection regarding pollution from Yue Ning Energy at 8:30 pm yesterday, and by this morning it had already reached a terrifying 4 million+ likes!

This video is also the origin of the Yue Ning Energy incident.

I searched for related information and found that a large number of self-media outlets followed suit and criticized Yue Ning Energy's pollution incident, mostly after this video was released.

Currently, the entire internet is condemning Yue Ning Energy and demanding that the LN City local government provide an explanation to the public and handle this incident in an open and transparent manner.

As the center of the media storm, the price Lin Qingying has to pay is unimaginable.

I couldn't sit still any longer, so I picked up my phone and called Lin Qingying.

After a beep, it indicated that the other party's phone was switched off.

Her phone is off.

I frowned and said to Ruolin.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Ying'er is already on the plane to LN City."

Ruolin said, "Ding Han, call Yuening and see if you can find out anything. Ying'er must be under a lot of pressure right now."

"Okay, Ruolin, don't worry. We need to trust Xiaoying's abilities. She'll definitely be able to handle this."

"Um..."

After ending the call, he picked up his phone and called Shen Man.

"Ding Han."

She answered almost instantly, "You've heard about Yue Ning Energy too?"

"I just found out too. Xiaoying didn't tell me how serious the situation was after she received the call yesterday. I just checked online, and it's all over the news. It seems that the Yue Ning Energy incident has really blown up a lot this time."

"Yes."

Shen Man said, "An hour ago, Manager Lin and Xiao Ai took a private jet to the Yue Ning Energy factory in LN City the accident occurred. Don't be too anxious, there might still be a chance."

"I'd like to know the specifics, could you tell me about it, Shen Man?"

"You're one of us, of course you can."

Shen Man explained in detail, "This matter originated from lead poisoning incidents among residents of several residential areas near the Yue Ning Energy factory in LN City. This happened a few days ago, and initially no one suspected it was related to Yue Ning Energy, since our factory is not located in the city center but in the suburbs. However..."

She paused, then continued, "But yesterday, a Douyin streamer named Zhan Chen suddenly posted a video. This person is a big internet celebrity with 2.56 million followers. He travels all over the country, mainly focusing on pollution control and environmental protection. He has a lot of influence. He collected samples from a river a few miles away from the Yue Ning Energy plant for testing and ultimately concluded that the source of the pollution was Yue Ning Energy. Coupled with the previous lead poisoning incidents in residential areas, many people suspected that the water source was severely polluted, so they immediately pointed the finger at Yuening."

I frowned. "From what you're saying, it sounds like the whole thing was orchestrated by someone in the shadows, one thing leading to another, like a series of well-prepared moves aimed at Yue Ning."

"Yes, that's how I feel too."

The crux of the problem is...

I cut to the chase. "Shen Man, you're close to Xiao Ying and a core member of Yuening. You should know very well whether Yue Ning Energy is polluting water sources, right? I need an answer—is it true or not? Only when I know the answer can I know how to help Xiao Ying solve her current predicament."

"No!"

Shen Man answered decisively, saying, "Ding Han, you must trust Yuening on this point. Since the previous generation of Yuening Manager Lin, Yuening has adhered to the philosophy of being a conscientious enterprise. Yue Ning Energy's pollution discharge has strict standards, far below the national pollution discharge standards. Moreover, Yue Ning Energy's factory in LN City has been operating for so many years and has never had a lead poisoning incident. But recently it happened. Don't you think there's something fishy going on?"

How many people did Xiaoying take to Longnan?

"The headquarters has more than 20 people, including the management team, expert team, and public relations team. Chairman Xie and Manager Lin attach great importance to this Yue Ning Energy incident. Chairman Xie even requested in the group chat last night that someone be sent to Longnan, but Manager Lin did not agree, saying that the team in Longnan should collect evidence first. It wasn't until this morning that the people from headquarters flew over."

It seems that the reason Lin Qingying didn't go to Longnan overnight last night was probably because she didn't want me to worry and wanted to stay with me a little longer.

"What time will Xiaoying arrive in LN City?"

The plane landed at Longnan International Airport at around 11:00 AM.

"Knew."

After hanging up the phone, I sent Lin Qingying a message: "Call me after you land."

Afterwards, while sitting in front of the computer, I searched for information related to the Yue Ning Energy incident and chatted with Xu Tian, asking him to get involved in the matter as well.

Although Xu Tian, like Left Hand, is carefree and irresponsible all day, he is a genuine PhD from a 985 university, making him one of the most intelligent players in the entire Player Faction.

"This is a bit tricky..."

While reviewing the information, Xu Tian said, "With Zhan Chen stepping forward and a whole bunch of self-media outlets following suit, the current situation is terrible for Yue Ning Energy. In particular, the fact that more than a dozen residents in a community within five kilometers of the energy plant have been hospitalized with lead poisoning has stirred up public resentment. If it is not handled properly, the problem will be quite serious."

"Who can argue with that?"

I said calmly, "If it weren't so complicated, I wouldn't have asked you to investigate this for me."

"The whole thing seems to be fueled by someone behind the scenes."

Xu Tian said, "At least that's my intuition. To resolve the Yue Ning Energy issue, we first need to find the source. Ding Han, think about it, what are the possibilities for the identity of the person behind it?"

"The first possibility is that it is a direct competitor of Yue Ning Energy."

"There are quite a few; I'm already checking."

"The second possibility is that internal strife within Yuening led to this. Since the launch of Yue Ning Mall, Xiaoying has turned the tables within Yuening and is gradually gaining more influence on the board of directors. At this critical moment, her opponents might resort to extreme measures, cutting off their own arm to create trouble for Yuening, which would also be creating trouble for Xiaoying."

"Hiss--"

Xu Tian exclaimed dramatically, "That human nature is truly wicked!"

I didn't say anything, and continued to search for information with Xu Tian, trying to figure out the whole story.

Unfortunately, we can only obtain information from the internet, while the truly important information is in the hands of the parties involved, making it difficult to find the truth by chasing rumors online.

Around 11 o'clock, Lin Qingying called.

"Sorry..."

She immediately apologized. "I came to LN City without telling you, I'm so sorry!"

"Their attitude is fairly proper!"

She chuckled, "Aren't you angry?"

"I'm a little angry."

I said softly, "But if I ask myself honestly, you didn't tell me because you were afraid I'd worry, and because I was afraid you'd worry, I also kept some things from you. So this time we're even, neither of us is angry."

"Okay, no one's angry!"

She said, "I just got off the plane and am heading to the energy plant now. Our PR team has already started working on it online, hoping to reverse the negative public opinion."

"Xiaoying, I have a suggestion. Listen to it for now, but whether you take it or not is up to you."

"Okay, you go ahead."

"Regardless of whether environmental pollution and lead poisoning are related to Yue Ning Energy, we should not try to refute or confront public opinion. The reason people are angry and condemning us is because they crave the truth and fair treatment. This is a kind of justice that belongs to the people and should not be trampled on."

I paused, then continued, "My advice is that regardless of whether we're right or wrong, we must maintain a proper attitude, stand firm when criticized, and promise the public that we will fully cooperate with the government in investigating the truth. If Yue Ning Energy is truly at fault, we will take full responsibility. Don't try to shift the blame, and don't try to pin the blame on the public. Do you know what I mean by that?"

"Know!"

She said forcefully, "Ding Han, I've remembered what you said. Don't worry, I'll treat this energy incident as a learning experience. Xie Xie you for your advice; it's been very helpful!"

"How about... I go to Longnan too?"

"No need, you've been working so hard for so many days, you need to rest."

She said softly, "Listen to me, wait for me to come home in Huaining City. I can handle things right now, you have to trust your girlfriend."

Of course I believe my girlfriend is a business prodigy who can handle everything, but right now she may be facing a far more treacherous side of human nature!

She was very busy, so I quickly ended the call.

Remotely contacting Xiao Ai: "Protect Xiao Ying well. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible!"

She replied with just one line of text:

"To repay your kindness on the golden platform, I will wield the jade dragon and die for you."

Wow, that's quite well-written!

Around 2 PM.

"Drop!"

A message came from Xu Tian: "Ding Han, take a look at this news, don't get angry yet."

"Um!"

I opened a news flash he sent me. The video was of Lin Qingying, the protagonist of the Longnan incident, giving a public interview to a TV station, saying that if Yuening really made a mistake, she would take full responsibility and would never run away.

But while she was being interviewed, someone in the crowd threw mud and eggs at her. In the footage, Lin Qingying wiped the egg yolk off her face. Although she still had a faint smile on her face, she was clearly about to cry.

A conflict broke out in the crowd. Someone suddenly stepped forward, pretending to attack Lin Qingying, but Xiao Ai forcibly pinned him to the ground. Judging from the scene, the person seemed to have been injured in Xiao Ai's counterattack, with his arm severely deformed.

"This is an emergency. Because of the assistant's injury to someone, Manager Lin has been taken to the police station to assist with the investigation."

Xu Tian said in a deep voice, "I suggest you go there yourself. The situation here is too complicated; it will be difficult to resolve if you don't go."

"Knew!"

I slowly stood up, and a bell rang in my ear—

[You have triggered the daily quest "Energy Pollution, Yue Ning Group Longnan Incident!" (SS-rank)! Quest objective: Go to LN City, uncover the truth, and clear Lin Qingying and Yuening's name. Upon completion, you will receive exceptionally generous rewards!]