"What's wrong, Xu-jie? Sorry I haven't seen the report yet." Guangxi was overly apologetic. He should have known first about it but then his Xu-jie still beat her to it.

"Zhu s.h.i.+pping Lines' market share is growing while all of us remain stagnant. Do you know what that means?" She was still frowning, discerning.

At the other end of the line there was silence.

"Uhm, uhm…" Xue Guangxi stuttered but nothing came out.

"Guangxi, it means that there's something or someone new in the market, and Zhu s.h.i.+pping Lines secured the contract with them first. And as I see it, this new player is trying to manipulate the market."

"We are stagnant now, but I bet we are going to lose some of our clients in the very near future."

"This is a dire situation. The gap from the second to the top rankings will be all the more glaring. Convene your directors ASAP!" Her heart was pounding with anxiety. Every second counts. She had never felt so helpless. If she had still been the COO officially, the emergency meeting would have been scheduled right that instant.

"O-okay Xu-jie. Uhm, ahh… Xu-jie… I have cla.s.s right now, can I go to the office after my cla.s.s? It's finals week soon, I really need to attend this…" Xue Guangxi explained. He was also in a tight spot.

Xue Jinxu ma.s.saged her temples. Currently she was in her shop, manning its daily operations as usual. "Okay I'll contact Miss Yan and arrange the meeting. All you have to do is to go there after your cla.s.s. Butler Lee will be waiting for you outside your building."

She paced back and forth while waiting. She was too anxious for their company this time, but she couldn't really do anything. Even if Guangxi convened the executives in a meeting, how could a boy of seventeen steer the discussion towards an optimized solution? She should still be there.

She hesitated for a while, but then, she decided to call her Grampa. If it was months ago, she wouldn't have considered that option. However, after her Grampa's visit, she felt that the communication and her relations.h.i.+p with her Grampa had tremendously improved.

"Xu'er… I'm surprised by your call. Is there something the matter? Have you changed your mind, princess?" Grampa Xue inquired, both surprised and worried by the call.

"Uhm, Grampa. There's a situation in the market. The landscape has changed, and we're on the losing end… Uhm…"

"Just say it, child. What do you want?"

"Grampa, I haven't changed my mind… Just to be clear… But… Can I somehow… attend in the executives meeting, even as… as a consultant or something? Grampa, this time there's a big threat to our business. We might lose clients in the long run!"

The other line was silent.

"Grampa, even young emperors and crowned princes have regents. Just think of it that way. Guangxi's capable but he's still too young to act in this dire situation…"

"But it's your call, Grampa. I'll respect your decision… I just tried my luck…" Xue Jinxu added, all hopes extinguished.

"Very well. I'll allow you to attend the meeting today. But just today, Jinxu. I hope this experience will entice you to go back to us and to officially a.s.sume the position you've left. You know what I mean."

Xue Jinxu was exhilarated. "Thanks, Grampa. Don't worry. It's just this instance. But, just to let you know, my position is still firm. I won't waver even after today."

She ended the call and proceeded to the Xue s.h.i.+pping office. Once she entered the building she was instantly greeted by the employees. Miss Yan was there at the ground floor to also welcome her, and to also brief her of the situation.

"I've scheduled the emergency meeting. The directors are already at the conference room, waiting for the Second Young Master."

"Understood. Thank you, Miss Yan. I will be attending the meeting as well. Let's just wait for Guangxi's arrival. He will be here soon."

Miss Yan proceeded towards the conference room first to see if the preparations were completed, while Xue Jinxu headed for the rest rooms. She entered one of the empty cubicles to relieve herself.

After a few seconds she heard some ladies enter the rest room while they were talking about something, unrestrained.

"Have you seen the lady that just came here? She was the former COO, and the only daughter of the Xue Family."

"Yeah, I saw her. She's really beautiful."

"But I heard she was stripped off her COO position, and was even banished from their home because she married some commoner her family doesn't like."

"Well, that's a stupid move, don't you think? Why choose a pauper when you're already a princess? She chose to kiss a frog than a crowned prince."

"From what I heard, she's already betrothed to another family's heir but she still chose another man with lower stature. Her family's decision to denounce her was just right."

Another lady joined the fun. "Here's the juiciest gossip. From what I heard, she and her husband were on the rocks right now. Perhaps that's why she's here today – to curry favor so that she could return to her past glory."

The ladies laughed. "It seemed that she's not that mighty after all." They continued to be amused while exiting the rest room.

Xue Jinxu heard all of it. She sighed while still inside the cubicle. Once they left, she exited the cubicle as well, then proceeded in was.h.i.+ng her hands as if nothing happened.

'Gossips are everywhere. At least their version is close to how it is. The quality of gossip is getting better.' She thought grimly while maintaining her stoic poker face.

Afterwards she proceeded to the conference room where the executives were waiting. She seated herself on a seat on the right of the COO's seat. Soon after Xue Guangxi entered the room as well. The meeting commenced.