This afternoon, Ling Mingrui had no state activities. After receiving Ling Ruonan’s phone call, he arranged his affairs and returned home around three o’clock.
Not long after he returned home, Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling also arrived.
After a brief greeting, Ling Ruonan proceeded to tell Ling Mingrui about the events that had occurred over the past two days.
She spoke to Ling Mingrui with sorrow, saying that there were so many people wanting to deal with the Ling Family and them, while there were people within the Ling Family wanting to create internal strife, which hurt her deeply.
"Dad, I think to calm internal strife should precede external threats. Our Ling Family must stabilize internally first, or else other families will seize the opportunity, and the Ling Family will ultimately be in a disadvantageous position." After saying these words, Ling Ruonan also informed Ling Mingrui about the issues involving Jin Yan and Hu Jianbo.
While telling Ling Mingrui about these matters, she also mentioned the names of other individuals they had confessed to.
"Zhengping arranged people to go to Northern Group or bought people within it to serve him; this I can understand. But the fact that he had people collect blackmail against me, intending to take me down with one blow, this I cannot accept," Ling Ruonan stated directly to Ling Mingrui. "I want to ask Zhengping what he is trying to do. Does he intend to push his sister to such a cruel fate before he will stop?"
Ling Mingrui looked at Ling Ruonan expressionlessly, then looked at Luo Ziling standing aside, and finally said casually, "Let’s wait until Zhengping comes and talk about it!"
Just as Ling Mingrui finished speaking, Ling Zhengping’s car arrived at the villa.
Ling Zhengping, dressed in a suit, showed up with a sullen face and quickly walked into the courtyard.
He only greeted Ling Mingrui.
Xie Enhua, knowing that Ling Zhengping and Ling Ruonan would be coming over, thought they might plan to have dinner here and personally went out to buy groceries.
"Dad, I’ve brought the people. Should I let them in?" Ling Ruonan asked Ling Mingrui, her face ashen.
"Let them in, let’s clarify things face to face." Ling Mingrui didn’t look at Ling Zhengping, but after saying this, he moved to sit in a chair.
He didn’t invite Ling Zhengping or Ling Ruonan to sit, but instead asked Luo Ziling to accompany him in a game of chess.
In this situation, Ling Mingrui still had the mind to play chess, which puzzled Ling Zhengping, Ling Ruonan, and Luo Ziling.
Luo Ziling didn’t question anything and obediently went inside to fetch the chessboard and pieces.
When he returned with the chessboard and pieces, Wuyue and Lin Lan had already brought Hu Jianbo, Wu Weihua, and Wu Weiguo inside.
Seeing these three people, Ling Zhengping’s expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.
After bringing Hu Jianbo and others inside, Ling Ruonan signaled Wuyue and Lin Lan to leave.
Once the two women went out, Ling Ruonan instructed Hu Jianbo: "You hold the highest position in the company, why don’t you speak first."
Hu Jianbo naturally understood the situation, but had no other choice, so he reiterated what he had previously confessed.
After Hu Jianbo confessed, Wu Weihua, who was already worn out by Luo Ziling, naturally didn’t hide anything and confessed in even more detail.
Having heard from Wu Weihua, there was no point in Wu Weiguo staying silent.
While the three were confessing, Ling Mingrui and Luo Ziling were playing chess.
Even though Luo Ziling felt that playing chess in such circumstances wasn’t appropriate, he could only muster the courage to accompany Ling Mingrui.
After listening to their confessions, Ling Mingrui showed no emotional fluctuation, continuing his calm game of chess.
Luo Ziling, however, couldn’t remain calm, and his usual composed manner was absent.
"Your mindset isn’t stable enough!" Ling Mingrui sternly reminded him, continuing his game, and while playing, waved a hand at Ling Ruonan.
Ling Ruonan understood and signaled Lin Lan and Wuyue to take Hu Jianbo and the other two out.
Once they were taken outside, Ling Mingrui asked Ling Zhengping mildly, "You’ve planted so many people. What are you planning? To send your sister to prison and take back Northern Group?"
"Dad, those were arranged previously, not actions taken now." Ling Zhengping had already thought of a strategy and didn’t get agitated by today’s events, instead lowering his stance, "Previously, I wasn’t reconciled to Northern Group being controlled by Ruonan, thinking that it was the Ling Family’s property and thus wanting it back. To take it back, some people had to be arranged there, so some of my people were planted there."
Luo Ziling continued to accompany Ling Mingrui at chess without making any comment.
"Now Northern Group is already Ruonan’s, it’s the dowry given to her by the Ling Family, so you needn’t worry about it anymore. Retreat all the people you’ve planted there," Ling Mingrui stopped playing chess and looked up at Ling Zhengping, "You’re aware that other families are already scheming against our Ling Family because they don’t want to see us grow stronger. You’re going to inherit the position of Head of the Ling Family in the future. Both grandfather and I wish for the continued glory of the Ling Family, not decline."
Ling Zhengping bowed his head and said nothing.
Ling Mingrui continued, "Ruonan has been tolerant enough. Upon discovering these issues, she didn’t react excessively, only hoping I could resolve them. If she hadn’t been so accommodating, she could’ve caused a scene at your place, leaving you humiliated. Alternatively, using these individuals against you would’ve been troublesome. You must offer an explanation and compensate Ruonan."
Ling Mingrui’s stance made Luo Ziling want to give him a thumbs-up in admiration.
"Yes, Dad, I was wrong. I’ll handle the follow-up properly and give Ruonan an explanation," Ling Zhengping acknowledged his mistake to Ling Mingrui and then addressed Ling Ruonan, "Ruonan, I’m sorry for angering you. I’ll remove the people you resent from Northern Group. I’m sure you’ve almost fully mastered the list. For any losses incurred, give me an evaluation report, and I’ll compensate accordingly."
"Compensation is unnecessary!" Ling Ruonan shook her head, "I only wish that there won’t be further disputes between us siblings, and that we work together towards the stability and prosperity of the Ling Family."
"If you could act like Ruonan, why would there be conflicts?" Ling Mingrui raised his head again during the chess game to look at Ling Zhengping, "Wouldn’t it be better to direct your schemes towards dealing with outsiders? Ruonan and Ziling have never acted against the Ling Family. They’ve always been helping it. You should really reflect and stop disappointing us."
"Yes, Father, I’ll definitely remember your teachings and will never do similar things again," Ling Zhengping admitted his wrongdoings again with sincerity, "These events were my mistakes, and fortunately Ruonan is magnanimous enough not to hold grudges. In the future, I will never commit similar mistakes and won’t upset grandfather and father."
"As long as you understand!" Ling Mingrui finally signaled Ling Zhengping and Ling Ruonan to sit down and paused the chess game.
The siblings each pulled over a chair and sat, waiting silently for Ling Mingrui’s instructions.