Double evil in the business district

"Yueyue, you're back..." Father Xiao's voice was exhausted, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

Xiao Yue looked at her father's haggard face, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart. To train herself, she hid her identity as the eldest daughter of the Xiao family and started from the bottom of the company as a newbie.

She knew how much effort her father had put into the company, but now he was facing such a huge crisis, so she had to help him.

"Dad, what happened?" Xiao Yue held back her tears and tried to stay calm.

Xiao's father sighed and explained the whole story. It turned out that the company had a massive financial hole in its books, its funding chain was broken, and it was facing the risk of bankruptcy at any moment. This was the result of a carefully orchestrated conspiracy by a competitor, the company where Zhou Gonglin worked.

Xiao Yue felt a sudden blackout and nearly fainted after hearing this. She knew this crisis was more serious than any previous one. If a solution wasn't found in time, Xiao's enterprise would be completely destroyed.

To make matters worse, rumors began to spread within Shen's company about Xiao's impending bankruptcy. Some even claimed that Xiao had deliberately partnered with Shen in order to defraud Shen's funds. These rumors spread like wildfire, further straining the already precarious partnership.

Xiao Yue knew this was another one of Zhou's schemes. She had to find evidence quickly to prove Xiao's innocence and expose Zhou's scheme. She immediately began to search for evidence that could prove Xiao's financial situation, contacting former partners.

However, things proved far more difficult than she had imagined. After hearing the rumors, those who had worked closely with the Xiao family chose to avoid them, fearing they would be implicated. Some even mocked Xiao Yue, as if she were the culprit behind the disaster.

"Ms. Xiao, we are also a small business and can't afford to be in such a mess. You'd better seek help from someone else."

"We are all aware of the Xiao family's current situation. You should first think about how to solve your own problems."

"I felt something was wrong when we worked together before, and now it seems that there is indeed a problem."

Every cold word pierced Xiao Yue's heart like a sharp knife. She felt like an abandoned child, isolated and helpless, with nowhere to turn to.

Despite this, Xiao Yue didn't give up. She firmly believed that as long as she didn't give up, she would be able to find the truth and prove Xiao's innocence. She continued to travel, continued to search, and never let go of any hope.

As night fell, Xiao Yue dragged herself back to the office, exhausted. The office was empty, lit only by a single desk lamp. She slumped in her chair, exhausted both physically and mentally.

At this moment, the phone rang suddenly, breaking the silence in the office. Xiao Yue picked up the phone and saw an unfamiliar number on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, but finally answered the call.

"Ms. Xiao, I think we can talk." A deep male voice came from the other end of the phone, with a barely perceptible hint of teasing in his tone.

Xiao Yue's heart sank suddenly. She recognized the voice as Zhou Gongguan.

"What do you want to say?" Xiao Yue asked coldly, suppressing his inner anger.

"I think you must be curious about who is behind all this, right?" Zhou Gongguan's voice was full of pride. "I can tell you, but you have to pay a price..."

The voice on the other end of the line suddenly stopped, leaving only a busy tone. Xiao Yue held the phone, his face pale, his eyes filled with despair...

She stood up suddenly, grabbed her coat and rushed out of the office.

Xiao Yue rushed out of the office, letting the cold wind wash over her, trying to cool her seething thoughts. Zhou's call was like the straw that broke the camel's back, nearly sending her over the edge. She wandered aimlessly down the street, the neon lights of the city blurring in her vision.

At the same time, in the president's office of Shen Group, Shen Ting frowned as he listened to Assistant Sun's report.

"...Now that rumors about the Xiao Group are spreading like wildfire, many partners are starting to wait and see, or even withdraw their investments. We..."

"I know." Shen Ting interrupted Assistant Sun in a cold tone.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, one by one, as if beating out some heavy rhythm. Naturally, these rumors also reached his ears. Xiao's financial crisis and the risks of the cooperation forced him to reconsider this cooperation.

Assistant Sun carefully observed Shen Ting's expression and said carefully, "President, the current situation is very unfavorable to us. Do we need to re-evaluate our cooperation with Xiao? After all..."

"I know." Shen Ting repeated this sentence again, with a hint of imperceptible irritation in his tone.

He understood Assistant Sun's concerns, and he also knew that continuing to cooperate with Xiao was extremely risky. The business world was like a battlefield; any hesitation could lead to total defeat.

Just then, Manager Liu knocked on the door and walked in, a barely perceptible smugness on his face. "Mr. Shen, I think we need to reconsider our cooperation with Xiao Corporation."

Shen Ting raised his eyes and glanced sharply at Manager Liu, motioning him to continue.

"Xiao's financial situation is worrying now, and there is even a possibility of bankruptcy. If we continue to cooperate with them, we will most likely be dragged down. For the benefit of Shen's company, I suggest that we immediately terminate the cooperation with Xiao and find another partner." Manager Liu spoke sincerely, as if he was considering the interests of Shen's company entirely.

Shen Ting didn't respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes deep, as if weighing the pros and cons. The Xiao family's predicament and the rumors were making him uneasy.

He recalled his several encounters with Xiao Yue. The girl's clear eyes and resolute tone made it hard for him to believe she would be involved in any conspiracy. But the business world was cruel and did not tolerate the slightest softness.

"Mr. Shen, if you don't make a decision, you will suffer the consequences. It is wise to cut the loss in time." Seeing that Shen Ting was hesitant, Manager Liu added fuel to the fire.

Shen Ting took a deep breath and said slowly: "Wait and see."

He still had a trace of doubt in his heart. He didn't believe Xiao Yue would be that kind of person. He needed more time to understand the truth.

"President..." Manager Liu wanted to persuade him again, but Shen Ting raised his hand to stop him.

"Go out." Shen Ting's tone left no room for questioning.

Manager Liu had no choice but to leave the office in disappointment. Before leaving, he looked at Shen Ting meaningfully, with a hint of viciousness flashing in his eyes.

At this time, Xiao Yue finally found some evidence that could prove the stable operation of Xiao's enterprise. She clutched these documents tightly, as if grasping a life-saving straw. She hurried to Shen Group, hoping to explain everything to Shen Ting in person.

She believed that as long as Shen Ting understood the truth, he would definitely believe her and the Xiao family.

She ran all the way and finally arrived in front of the Shen Group building. She took a deep breath and walked quickly towards the elevator. However, just as she was about to step into the elevator, a figure blocked her way.

"Ms. Xiao, you can't go in." Manager Liu said in a cold tone with a hint of sarcasm.

"I have important documents to hand over to Mr. Shen, please move aside." Xiao Yue said anxiously, trying to bypass Manager Liu.

"Mr. Shen is very busy now and has no time to see you." Manager Liu reached out to stop Xiao Yue and said in a firm tone, "You'd better go back."

"You..." Xiao Yue glared at Manager Liu and held the documents in her hand even tighter.

Manager Liu sneered, "Ms. Xiao, a wise man knows how to handle the current situation. Now that Shen's has decided to terminate its cooperation with Xiao's, there's no point in you pestering her any further."

"Terminate the cooperation?" Xiao Yue's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible! Our cooperation has just begun, and..."

"Nothing," Manager Liu interrupted her, his tone full of disdain. "Xiao Corporation is struggling right now, and Shen Corporation can't possibly cooperate with a company that's about to go bankrupt. You should go back early and think about how to deal with Xiao Corporation's mess."

Xiao Yue's heart sank. Manager Liu's words were like a thunderclap, shattering her last hope. She bit her lip tightly, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to burst out. She couldn't cry, she couldn't give up. She had to find a way to make Shen Ting know the truth.

"Please move aside." Xiao Yue took a deep breath and said firmly, "I must see Mr. Shen."

"It's useless," Manager Liu sneered, "Even if you meet Mr. Shen, it won't change anything. Shen's decision won't change because of you."

Xiao Yue looked past Manager Liu and towards the elevator. She knew Shen Ting was upstairs, and as long as she could see him, she could explain everything.

"What if I must go up?" Xiao Yue's tone was cold, his eyes full of determination.

Manager Liu smiled contemptuously and said, "Then give it a try." The two security guards behind him immediately stepped forward and blocked Xiao Yue's way.

Xiao Yue clenched the documents in her hand, feeling powerless. She knew she couldn't break through Manager Liu's blockade on her own. She looked around, hoping for a glimmer of hope.

At this moment, she saw Assistant Sun coming out of another elevator. She ran over as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.

"Assistant Sun!" Xiao Yue shouted anxiously, "I have important documents to give to President Shen, about the Xiao Group..."

Assistant Sun saw Xiao Yue, and a hint of helplessness flashed across his face. He knew Xiao Yue's relationship with Mr. Shen, and he also knew about the recent rumors about the Xiao family. He didn't want to get involved in this dispute, but Xiao Yue's anxious expression made him unable to ignore it.

"Ms. Xiao, I know what you want to say," Assistant Sun said in a low voice, "but the situation is very complicated now. The president..."

"Assistant Sun, please, please help me hand these documents over to Mr. Shen," Xiao Yue interrupted Assistant Sun and handed over the documents in her hand. "These documents can prove Xiao's innocence and prove that those rumors are false."

Assistant Sun hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted the documents. He knew that if he didn't help Xiao Yue, she would likely continue to pester him. Furthermore, he also wanted to see what was in the documents and whether they could truly prove Xiao's innocence.

"Okay, Miss Xiao, I will give these documents to the president," Assistant Sun said calmly, without making any promises to Xiao Yue, "but I can't guarantee that the president will change his mind."

Xiao Yue nodded gratefully, "Thank you, Assistant Sun, thank you so much."

Assistant Sun turned and walked towards the CEO's office, leaving Xiao Yue standing alone at the elevator entrance. She looked at Assistant Sun's back, her heart filled with hope, but also with a hint of uneasiness.

She didn't know if this evidence could change Shen Ting's mind. She was worried that the cooperation would fail completely because of these malicious rumors. Time passed by minute by minute, and every second of waiting made her feel extremely tormented.

At this moment, Manager Liu slowly walked up to her and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Do you think this will change anything? You are so naive..."

Manager Liu's words pierced Xiao Yue's heart like a needle. She took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. She knew that now was not the time to argue. What she needed was Shen Ting's trust, to convince Shen's company of Xiao's innocence.

But as time passed, the air in the corridor seemed to freeze, making it hard for her to breathe. She paced back and forth, occasionally looking towards the president's office, hoping to see Assistant Sun.

At the end of the corridor, the bustling city outside the floor-to-ceiling windows formed a sharp contrast with her current anxiety.

She clutched her phone tightly, her fingertips turning pale. The time displayed on the screen seemed to have been slowed down countless times. She even considered calling Shen Ting, but ultimately gave up. She knew that without solid evidence, any explanation would be pale and powerless.

"Don't waste your energy," Manager Liu said, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, a hint of joking in his tone. "The president is so busy, how could he have time for a small-time character like you? I think you should go back soon to avoid embarrassing yourself here."

Xiao Yue ignored Manager Liu's sarcastic remarks, her entire attention focused on the tightly closed wooden door of the CEO's office. She could almost hear her own rapid heartbeat, hammering against her eardrums. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself, but the anxiety within her surged like a tide, threatening to overwhelm her.

Suddenly, the door to the CEO's office opened, and Assistant Sun walked out. Xiao Yue's heart skipped a beat, and she practically ran over, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Assistant Sun, what did CEO Shen say?"

Assistant Sun's face was a little serious. He glanced at Manager Liu, then at Xiao Yue, and hesitated to speak. He handed the document back to Xiao Yue and whispered, "Ms. Xiao, the president is very busy right now and doesn't have time to deal with this. You should go back first and wait for a while..."

"After a while?" Xiao Yue's voice trembled slightly. She looked at Assistant Sun in disbelief. "After a while, Xiao Corporation will be finished! Assistant Sun, please, help me one more time and let me see Mr. Shen. Just for a few minutes, just a few minutes!"

Assistant Sun sighed. He knew Xiao Yue was in a difficult situation, but he had no way of disobeying Shen Ting's orders. "Ms. Xiao, I really can't do anything..."

Xiao Yue's heart sank to the bottom. Assistant Sun's words were like a cold judgment, completely shattering her last hope. She took the document in a daze, feeling it weigh heavy in her hand, not just the weight of the document, but also the huge stone weighing down her heart. She looked up at the closed door of the CEO's office, a flicker of determination in her eyes.

"What if I don't leave?" Xiao Yue's voice was soft, but with an unquestionable firmness.