Hidden truth, intricate love

Within the company, Lin Xiaoxuan's actions began to become more covert and carefully planned. She realized that in order to gain greater support within the company, she needed to wield her influence more skillfully. She began to intentionally or unintentionally reveal the potential weaknesses of Su Wanqing's proposal to small groups within the company, while exaggerating the strengths of her own proposal.

During a lunch break, Lin Xiaoxuan chatted with several managers from key departments in a cafe. She casually mentioned Su Wanqing's proposal, her tone tinged with concern. "I heard Wanqing's proposal requires a significant upfront investment and a long payback period. I'm not sure if the company has the patience to wait."

A manager frowned and expressed concern. "Indeed, our department has been discussing this issue recently. If funds are tied up for a long time, it may affect the progress of other projects."

Lin Xiaoxuan nodded and continued, "I understand Wanqing's intentions, but as a member of the company, we must consider the interests of the entire company. Although my proposal requires investment, I am confident that we will see significant results in a relatively short period of time."

Her words hinted at something, prompting the managers present to reassess the merits of the two proposals. Lin Xiaoxuan knew her words would spread within the company, and that was exactly the effect she needed.

At the same time, Su Wanqing also sensed a shift in the company's internal atmosphere. She noticed some colleagues looking at her with suspicion, and some even whispering about her proposal behind her back. She realized someone was secretly discrediting her plan.

Su Wanqing decided to talk to Gu Beichen. In Gu Beichen's office, Su Wanqing frankly expressed her concerns: "Beichen, I've recently sensed an unusual atmosphere within the company. It seems that someone is questioning my proposals, and these doubts don't seem to be based on facts."

Gu Beichen listened attentively, his eyes revealing seriousness. "Wanqing, I've noticed this issue as well. I'll investigate thoroughly and ensure the company's decision-making process is fair and transparent."

Over the next few days, Gu Beichen began his investigation, acting cautiously and meticulously. He began by reviewing internal company emails, searching for possible leads. He noticed some unusual patterns: some of the messages sent by Lin Xiaoxuan seemed to subtly downplay Su Wanqing's proposal and elevate her own.

Gu Beichen also noticed that Lin Xiaoxuan had recently been meeting frequently with some key board members, and these meetings were not officially recorded on the company's calendar. He began to wonder if there was an unknown purpose behind these private meetings.

To further understand the situation, Gu Beichen decided to conduct one-on-one interviews with several employees. He selected those known for their integrity and objectivity within the company, hoping they would provide some honest information. During these interviews, he carefully explored Lin Xiaoxuan's behavior and motivations while also expressing his appreciation for the company's culture and teamwork.

Some employees revealed in conversations that they had overheard Lin Xiaoxuan discussing Su Wanqing's proposal with outsiders on the phone, her tone tinged with contempt and distrust. Others mentioned that Lin Xiaoxuan appeared to be trying to win over the heads of key departments, promising them additional rewards if the project was successful.

Gu Beichen's brow furrowed as he realized that Lin Xiaoxuan's behavior might be much more serious than he had initially imagined. He knew that if no action was taken, this internal discord might undermine the company's unity and even affect its long-term development.

Gu Beichen decided to call an urgent senior management meeting to discuss the issue. At the meeting, he presented his findings and expressed his concerns. "Our company's success is built on teamwork and mutual respect," he said. "I will not tolerate any behavior that undermines this culture."

Faced with Gu Beichen's accusations, Lin Xiaoxuan seemed a little flustered. She tried to defend herself, claiming that her actions were only for the benefit of the company, but Gu Beichen and others had lost confidence in her explanation.

Gu Beichen ultimately decided that Lin Xiaoxuan needed to temporarily leave her position so that the company could conduct a more in-depth investigation. He also announced that the company would take measures to ensure that all decision-making processes were open and transparent to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

This decision caused a stir within the company, but also garnered widespread support. Employees began to realize that the company's health was more important than their own personal ambitions. For Lin Xiaoxuan, it was a painful lesson; her actions not only damaged her professional reputation but also cost her the respect and trust of her colleagues.

Gu Beichen decided to have a private conversation with Lin Xiaoxuan. In the office, he bluntly raised his concerns: "Xiaoxuan, I know you are ambitious and want to succeed. However, I cannot tolerate any behavior that harms the interests of the company and the relationships with colleagues."

Lin Xiaoxuan's face changed as she realized her actions had been discovered. She tried to defend herself, "Beichen, I'm just trying my best to push my proposal forward. I have no ill intentions. I just want the company to see the value of my plan."

Gu Beichen shook his head, disappointment etched in his voice. "Xiaoxuan, your methods have already gone beyond the scope of normal competition. What we need is a fair environment, not winning support through behind-the-scenes manipulation."

Lin Xiaoxuan fell silent. She knew Gu Beichen was right. She began to struggle internally, realizing that her actions might damage her image in Gu Beichen's mind and even the company's long-term interests.

After this conversation, Lin Xiaoxuan began to reflect on her own behavior. She realized that true success shouldn't come at the expense of others or the company. She decided to change her strategy and promote her projects with greater integrity and transparency.

After Gu Beichen's candid conversation and internal reflection within the company, Lin Xiaoxuan outwardly accepted the criticism, but deep down, she hadn't truly changed. She believed her goals and vision were correct, but her methods needed to be more subtle and covert. She began to devise a more elaborate plan to ensure her proposals were implemented and to secure her position within the company.

Lin Xiaoxuan began secretly collecting information about Su Wanqing's past projects, even exaggerating them to create misleading reports. Using her connections within the industry, she quietly leaked this information to the company's major clients and influential industry analysts, attempting to undermine Su Wanqing's credibility.

At the same time, she also began to attract some key employees within the company, and built her own small group by promising future promotions and bonuses. Her goal was to have enough supporters in future project decisions to ensure that her proposals would be passed smoothly.