Peng Gang had dared to confront Luo Bin publicly precisely because he had someone backing him.
Now, seeing Luo Bin act so aggressively, he suddenly panicked.
What he hadn't expected was Luo Bin openly sending two bodyguards to force a confession out of him.
The others were equally shocked. Some had initially suspected Qin Yi of having an affair with Luo Bin, but now it seemed Peng Gang's claims weren't necessarily the truth.
"Luo Bin, what do you think you're doing? Don't think you can cover up your disgusting actions by threatening me!" Peng Gang shouted in anger as he scrambled to his feet, backing away in an attempt to escape.
If Peng Gang had slandered him about something unrelated, Luo Bin might have let it slide. But since Qin Yi had been dragged into it, he had no choice but to deal with Peng Gang decisively.
The two bodyguards were highly skilled professionals hired by the company at great expense—there was no way Peng Gang could escape.
In no time, he was sandwiched between them. A punch landed on his left eye, and with a pained cry, he barely had time to cover it before the bodyguards hauled him in front of Luo Bin.
"Talk. Who put you up to this?" Luo Bin demanded coldly.
Peng Gang's left eye was bruised and bloodshot, making him look utterly wretched.
"Luo Bin, are you publicly torturing me for a confession? I'll sue you!" Peng Gang struggled furiously.
Luo Bin sneered. "Seems you won't talk until you're forced to. Fine, break one of his fingers. If he still refuses, break another. If all ten fingers are gone, move on to his toes. And if that's not enough, there are still his limbs. I refuse to believe he won't talk."
To rise to the position of general manager at the Jiangzhou branch of Yanchen Group, one had to have some ruthless tactics.
The threat alone was enough to make Peng Gang tremble in fear, nearly wetting himself.
"Luo Bin, you can't touch me! You'll regret this!" Peng Gang screamed.
"Do it!" Luo Bin ordered.
*Crack!*
"Ah—!"
Everyone had assumed Luo Bin was just bluffing, but no one expected him to actually order Peng Gang's finger broken in public.
A chill ran down the spines of everyone present. Qin Yi's face turned pale, her hands clutching Sun Tian's arm tightly.
Most of the employees were low-level staff who had never witnessed such brutality. Many were visibly shaken.
The impact was undeniably severe, but Luo Bin knew he had to do this to clear Qin Yi's name.
If he had dealt with Peng Gang privately afterward, he could have easily crushed him in a hundred ways. But by then, who would believe Qin Yi's innocence?
Yang Chen had instructed him to promote Qin Yi as much as possible—but not at the cost of her reputation.
Luo Bin was well aware of Yang Chen's methods. If he mishandled this, Yang Chen would never let him off the hook.
"Let me ask you one more time—who put you up to this?"
Luo Bin's tone was calm, as if discussing routine work, but everyone sensed the menace beneath it. The room was dead silent.
"Luo Bin, just kill me if you dare—Ahh!"
Peng Gang's defiance was cut short as another finger was snapped at Luo Bin's signal.
"Seems my methods aren't harsh enough if you're still this stubborn."
Luo Bin smiled faintly. "If your next answer doesn't satisfy me, we'll start with your limbs."
"Talk. Who's behind this?"
Peng Gang, now in excruciating pain from two broken fingers, finally cracked when the bodyguards grabbed his arm.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"It was Chen Hai! He gave me those photos and told me to publicly frame you. Once the news spread, the Jiangzhou branch's reputation would be ruined. If I succeeded, he'd promote me to the headquarters!"
"President Luo, I had no choice! Chen Hai threatened to kick me out of Yanchen Group if I refused. He's a vice president at headquarters—I couldn't disobey!"
Terrified, Peng Gang held nothing back. He even pulled out his phone. "President Luo, I have a recording of our call!"
He played the audio—a conversation that matched his account exactly. Chen Hai had indeed coerced him.
With this, the truth was finally laid bare. Employees who had privately doubted Luo Bin now understood everything.
Qin Yi's eyes reddened as she realized she had nearly become a pawn in a power struggle among Yanchen Group's top brass.
"Now that the truth is out, you're fired. Get out of Yanchen Group today," Luo Bin declared.
"President Luo, I have tens of thousands in monthly mortgage payments! My parents and children depend on me! Please spare me—I swear I've learned my lesson!"
Peng Gang panicked, dropping to his knees and begging.
As the sales department head, his salary—after deductions—was still tens of thousands per month.
He had just bought a villa last month, with mortgage payments in the same range.
With Chen Hai's mission failed and his hopes of a headquarters transfer dashed, losing his job would leave him destitute—unable to even pay his mortgage.
"Mistakes demand consequences. I'm not handing you over to the police—just firing you. That's mercy. Push me further, and I *will* call the cops."
The mention of police terrified Peng Gang. His public slander was a provable crime.
A criminal record would ruin any chance of landing a similar job.
Defeated, he had no choice but to leave.
Silence returned to the meeting room. Luo Bin scanned the crowd.
"Let this be a warning. If anyone else steps out of line, the company *will* sue. Meeting adjourned."
---
Back in his office, Luo Bin was startled to find Yang Chen waiting. He quickly reported the incident.
Yang Chen's eyes glinted coldly. "Seems some pests at headquarters need exterminating."
"Chairman, I suspect there's more to this. Chen Hai's just a VP—why would he target the Jiangzhou branch? It doesn't add up," Luo Bin ventured.
"You handled today well. Stay out of headquarters—I'll deal with it myself."
Yang Chen saw through Luo Bin's probing but let it slide. "Right now, I need loyal people around me. Prove yourself, and you'll be rewarded."
Overjoyed, Luo Bin replied eagerly, "Chairman, I won't let you down!"
He had worried his methods were too extreme, but Yang Chen's approval—and implicit acknowledgment of his loyalty—thrilled him.
"Mr. Luo, it's bad, Peng Gang is dead!"
Right at this moment, a figure suddenly rushed in and said with a face full of panic.
"What? He's dead? How did he die?"
Luo Bin stood up violently, his face astonished.