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    At this moment, Jacob was consumed by deep depression, sighing to himself, “I never imagined that after this incident, even Don Albert wouldn’t want to see me again. Had I known, I might as well have just taken that damn thing. With 200,000 in hand, I could have enjoyed a nice vacation in Dubai! Not only would I have had the money, but the association wouldn’t be aware of any wrongdoings, and Mr. Hong wouldn’t have any objections to me…”


    Filled with regret, Jacob sat alone in the back of a taxi, tears of grievance nearly spilling over.


    Noticing that the driver was ncing at him through the rearview mirror, he quickly turned his head away, pulled out his cell phone, and called President Pei.


    As soon as the call connected, President Pei asked, “Jacob, how’s it going? Has Zhang Ermao (Cade) handled it?”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    President Pei was eager for Jacob to convince Mr. Don Albert to press Zhang Ermao (Cade) and dispel the rumors.


    However, Jacob knew deep down that refuting the rumors was impossible. With a hint of embarrassment, he replied, “President Pei, there’s a situation with Zhang Ermao (Cade). This guy is now determined to confront me, and Mr. Don Albert seems at a loss on how to deal with him. He mentioned it is difficult, as Zhang Ermao (Cade) is his master. He’s stuck and it’s not convenient for him to step in.”


    President Pei clicked his tongue, responding, “Oh, this is quite tricky. If you can’t counter the rumors, there’s no way to silence these people at the meeting!”


    Jacob quickly reassured him, “President Pei, while Zhang Ermao (Cade) may not refute the rumors, I can assure you this matter won’t escte. His ims of fraud are simply nonsense. The police won’t get involved, and without their intervention, no one can frame this situation. I’ve also spoken to Zhou Liangyun, who confirmed it’s just a misunderstanding and he won’t pursue it further.”


    President Pei murmured, “This… this situation is neither good nor bad, and it’s not resolving!”


    Jacob insisted, “While it may not be resolved immediately, it won’t turn into a serious issue. After the next few days, the hype will likely die down.”


    President Pei replied, “Jacob, you think the heat will fade, but the association members might not let you off so easily. The reality is, you’re currently the second-inmand, blocking many paths. It’s like everyone is waiting in line for the restroom; those behind you will want to push you out, and they definitely won’t give up until they do. I fear they won’t stop making noise.”


    President Pei felt immense pressure himself.


    He had actually stopped nning for Jacob to take over his position. Concentrating all the pressure on himself was not a good idea. If Jacob faced a scandal and continued to seek the top position, those behind him would certainly create trouble and even gossip about him externally. He needed to protect Jacob.


    Yet, he was cautious not to offend Jacob too much, uncertain of Don Albert’s current stance towards him. If he angered Jacob, it could jeopardize his own future.


    Thus, President Pei’s greatest hope was that Jacob would voluntarily step back from the presidential race, ideally also relinquishing the executive vice president role.


    That way, the vice-presidents could each move up, helping to soothe their feelings, while still keeping Jacob in the association without ruffling any feathers.


    Jacob, still not grasping the underlying message from President Pei, responded, “President Pei, those people are just like grasshoppers after the harvest. They won’t be able to cause trouble for long. Once you get promoted, I’ll be the president. I certainly have a n to deal with them and keep them in line.”


    President Pei quickly interjected, “Jacob, you still don’t understand. It’s not just about whether you can take on the president’s responsibilities; it’s about your ce in the association! They want you out, and unless they seed, they will continue to stir up trouble. They might even escte it to the city level, and if the city gets involved and perceives this as damaging to the association’s reputation, they could demand your departure. Then I won’t be able to protect you!”


    Jacob suddenly felt panicked, his tone turning desperate: “President! I beg you to help me now! I’ve lost everything! There’s nothing you can say that will prevent my status in the association from being at risk!”


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