Double evil in the business district

The office door was not closed tightly, and the voices of the employees outside could be vaguely heard through the crack in the door, like countless mosquitoes buzzing in his ears, disturbing Xiao Yue and making him upset.

"Hey, look, that's Xiao Yue, the one sent by the Xiao Group. I heard he's incompetent and messed up the project."

"Is this true? Then how did she get in? It can't be..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! I heard..."

The voices behind her grew fainter, but Xiao Yue could still clearly hear the words "relying on connections" and "illegal means." She looked up suddenly and saw a barely perceptible sneer on Manager Liu's face. She immediately understood about half of what was going on.

She put down the documents, walked straight to the door, and pushed it open. The gossiping employees outside were obviously startled by her sudden action. They were all silent and looked at each other in confusion.

Xiao Yue suppressed his anger and asked in a cold voice, "Who told you to gossip about me behind my back?"

Several employees hesitated, no one daring to admit it. At that moment, a familiar figure flashed past from the end of the corridor. Xiao Yue recognized it as Zhou Gongguan from a rival company, and she immediately understood everything.

"Public Relations Officer Zhou, stop right there!" Xiao Yue angrily chased after him and grabbed his arm. "Why are you spreading those rumors?"

Zhou Gongguan pretended to be surprised and turned around: "Miss Xiao, what are you talking about? Why don't I understand?"

"Don't be so hypocritical! I heard those employees say it myself. You were the one who asked them to spread the rumors, right?"

"Ms. Xiao, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! When did I ever spread rumors about you?" PR Zhou said innocently. "But you, instead of working properly, came here and chased me. What do you want to do?"

PR Zhou raised his voice, drawing the attention of passing employees. Xiao Yue was speechless. She tried to explain, but the more she tried, the more guilty she seemed to others.

She watched Zhou Gongguan walk away, the accusations from the people around her piercing her heart like needles. At this moment, a deep voice came from behind her:

"Ms. Xiao, is this how you work?"

Xiao Yue suddenly turned around and saw Shen Ting standing not far away, his face gloomy and his eyes revealing a hint of undisguised suspicion.

"Boss Shen..." Xiao Yue opened her mouth, but she didn't know how to explain. She could feel the strange looks from those around her: curiosity, contempt, and even gloating.

"Conference room, now!" Shen Ting didn't give her a chance to explain. He said coldly and turned to enter the conference room.

Xiao Yue took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and quickly followed.

In the conference room, the heads of various departments had already arrived. When they saw Xiao Yue come in, they all exchanged meaningful glances. Xiao Yue walked to his seat and sat down, feeling very uncomfortable.

Shen Ting sat in the main seat, tapping the table rhythmically with his slender fingers, making a "da, da" sound.

"What do you think about this cooperation project with Xiao?" Shen Ting glanced at everyone, his tone calm, but with an invisible pressure.

Everyone looked at each other, no one dared to speak first. The cooperation project between Shen's and Xiao's had always been the company's key project this year, but since Xiao Yue arrived, the project had been progressing slowly. Now that something like this had happened, no one wanted to get into trouble at this time.

"Why aren't you talking?" Shen Ting's tone turned colder. "Ms. Xiao, you're the project contact. Please speak first."

Xiao Yue took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. She opened her folder and took out the preliminary analysis report she had worked on all night. "I've already done a preliminary market analysis and project feasibility assessment..."

Before she could finish her words, Shen Ting interrupted her: "Ms. Xiao, is this the preliminary analysis you mentioned?"

Shen Ting picked up the documents on the table and flipped through a few pages, his brow furrowing ever deeper. "The market data is outdated, the analysis is biased, and the project evaluation is riddled with flaws... Is this what you've achieved in just a week?"

Xiao Yue's face turned pale and blue. She knew that this report still had many shortcomings, but she had tried her best. Moreover, this report was only a preliminary analysis and many data needed further verification. She had originally planned to discuss it with everyone at today's meeting and then revise and improve it based on everyone's opinions.

"Mr. Shen, I..." Xiao Yue wanted to explain, but was stopped by Shen Ting's cold eyes.

"Ms. Xiao," Shen Ting said sternly, "I know you're from the Xiao Group, but I hope you understand that you now represent the Shen Group. Your ability and attitude determine the success or failure of this project, and it also affects the interests of both companies."

He paused, his eyes swept over Xiao Yue sharply, and he said word by word: "If you are not capable of doing this job, I advise you to quit as soon as possible and stop wasting everyone's time!"

Xiao Yue bit her lip so hard that it almost bled. She knew that Shen Ting was doubting her ability, suspecting that she got in through connections, and suspecting that she didn't put her heart into the job.

"I didn't!" Xiao Yue stood up suddenly and looked at Shen Ting stubbornly. "This report does have many shortcomings, but I have tried my best. Besides, this is just a preliminary analysis. I..."

"Preliminary analysis?" Manager Liu suddenly interrupted with a hint of sarcasm on his face. "Ms. Xiao, you don't think you can get away with just a preliminary analysis riddled with flaws, do you? Do you understand how important this collaboration is to both of our companies? Do you realize how much damage your work attitude will cause our company?"

He paused, then said sternly, "I demand that you produce a detailed market analysis and project feasibility assessment report within two days. The data must be accurate, the analysis must be thorough, and the assessment must be comprehensive! Can you do it?"

Xiao Yue felt a surge of humiliation and anger rising to his head. Manager Liu was deliberately making things difficult for him! A detailed market analysis and project feasibility assessment report would take a team at least two weeks to complete, but he asked him to complete it in two days. This was simply an impossible task!

"Manager Liu, aren't you forcing me to do what I want?" Xiao Yue suppressed his anger and tried to stay calm.

"I'm just discussing the matter at hand, not the individual," Manager Liu said with a wry smile. "If Miss Xiao feels you're incompetent and unfit for this job, I suggest you resign as soon as possible to avoid delaying the project. No one will be able to shoulder the responsibility then!"

Although the other department heads remained silent, the expressions on their faces clearly showed that they were laughing at the joke. Xiao Yue was isolated and helpless. She knew that there was no way to explain herself today. She could only find a way to reverse the situation as soon as possible.

"Okay, I promise you!" Xiao Yue took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at Manager Liu with a firm gaze. "In two days, I will give you a satisfactory answer!"

After saying that, she turned around, picked up her things, and walked out of the meeting room without looking back.

Back in her office, Xiao Yue finally couldn't help but burst into tears. She didn't understand why things had turned out like this. She had tried so hard to do her job well, but why was she always misunderstood?

No, she couldn't give up like this! Xiao Yue wiped away her tears and cheered herself up. She decided that she would get to the bottom of this matter no matter what. She wanted to prove her innocence and shut up those who laughed at her!

In the evening, Xiao Yue met with an old employee of Shen's Enterprise in the hotel's business restaurant, hoping to get some useful information from him.

During their conversation, the old employee revealed some internal struggles and factional relationships within the company. Xiao Yue then realized that he might have been inadvertently involved in a vortex of power struggle.

"Ms. Xiao, you'd better be careful. Some people are not so easy to deal with..." the old employee reminded meaningfully.

However, Assistant Sun, who had been observing them secretly, heard everything they said. He quickly walked up to Xiao Yue and said expressionlessly, "Ms. Xiao, Mr. Shen wants you to come back to the company immediately. He has something important to discuss with you."

Xiao Yue's heart suddenly sank, and an ominous premonition came over him...

Xiao Yue followed Assistant Sun back to the Shen Building. In the silent corridor, the sound of high heels tapping on the floor was particularly clear, each one seeming to strike at her heart. In the office, Shen Ting sat behind his large desk, his face terribly gloomy.

"Do you know why I called you back?" Shen Ting's voice was low and without a trace of warmth.

Xiao Yue took a deep breath and tried to remain calm: "Mr. Shen, regarding those rumors on the Internet, I..."

"I don't want to hear your explanation." Shen Ting interrupted her and threw a document in front of her. "I want to see a new plan in two days. If you disappoint me again, you know the consequences."

The document was the market analysis and project feasibility assessment report that had been vexing Director Liu. Xiao Yue felt a wave of helplessness wash over him. How could he possibly complete such a massive workload in just two days?

What's more, the Internet is now full of negative news about her, and it has become difficult for her to even go out and collect information.

"Boss Shen, two days is too short. I..."

"Enough!" Shen Ting stood up suddenly, walked in front of her, and looked down at her. "Xiao Yue, I gave you a chance. If you can't prove your worth, don't waste my time."

The indifference and disappointment in his tone were like a sharp blade, piercing Xiao Yue's heart. She bit her lip, holding back the tears in her eyes, and raised her head stubbornly: "I will do my best."

Walking out of Shen Ting's office, Xiao Yue felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She slumped down on a chair in the corridor, staring blankly at the people coming and going, feeling as if she had been abandoned by the whole world.

The rumors had a far greater impact than she had imagined. Partners began calling to question Xiao's integrity and competence. Internal colleagues were gossiping and whispering about her. Even those who had usually been friendly with her began to distance themselves from her.

Xiao Yue felt she was in a desperate situation. She didn't know how to eliminate the influence of the rumors. In such a short time, could she produce information that would satisfy Shen Ting?

Back in her office, Xiao Yue sat in front of her computer, the blank document on the screen seeming to mock her helplessness. Time passed by minute by minute, and the pressure was like a mountain, weighing her down, making her breathless.

Suddenly, the phone screen lit up with a text message from an unfamiliar number: "Ms. Xiao, I know who's behind this. If you want to know the truth, see you tonight at 8 o'clock in room 302 of the Lijing Hotel."

Xiao Yue's heart skipped a beat, a spark of hope igniting within her. Could there be a chance for a turnaround? She hesitated for a moment, then finally replied with a single word: "Okay." She stood up, grabbed her coat, a look of determination in her eyes.