Double evil in the business district

"But," Shen Ting dragged out the last word, his gaze returning to Xiao Yue with a scrutinizing look, "I still have doubts about the capital investment involved in your plan."

Xiao Yue's heart sank suddenly, as if falling from a great height, but hanging by a thin rope, precarious.

She took a deep breath, tried to remain calm, and said firmly, "Mr. Shen, I understand your concerns. Regarding the capital investment, I have done very detailed calculations and analysis."

As she spoke, she handed Shen Ting the prepared financial budget and market expected revenue analysis report. She turned on the projector, projecting the key data onto the large screen. Pointing to the numbers on the screen, she explained one by one, "Our estimated market size and potential customer base are supported by reliable data. Although this investment may seem large, in the long run, the returns it brings will far exceed the investment."

Xiao Yue spoke slowly, but each word was powerful and full of confidence. She stared at Shen Ting intently, her gaze unwavering, as if conveying her convictions to him. She explained in detail the purpose of each investment and the expected rate of return, backing up her arguments with data and charts.

Shen Ting listened attentively to Xiao Yue's explanation, his eyes occasionally scanning the data on the screen, his brows furrowed slightly. His slender fingers tapped the tabletop rhythmically, as if he were lost in thought.

Assistant Sun stood aside, quietly observing the interaction between the two, with a subtle hint of approval in his eyes.

The conference room fell silent again, with only the hum of the projector and the tapping of Shen Ting's fingers on the table echoing in the air. As the seconds ticked by, Xiao Yue's heart grew increasingly nervous. She knew this wasn't just a presentation of a proposal; it was a test of her career.

Finally, Shen Ting stopped tapping on the table, raised his head, looked at Xiao Yue with deep eyes, and slowly said: "Ms. Xiao, your explanation is very detailed and convincing. But I still need some time to think about it."

He paused, picked up the report Xiao Yue handed over, flipped through a few pages, then closed it and placed it on the table. "I'll keep this report. I'll study it carefully. You go back first. I'll let you know when there's a result."

A glimmer of hope ignited in Xiao Yue's heart. Although Shen Ting hadn't explicitly agreed yet, this at least meant that her efforts had not been in vain and she still had a chance. She bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Thank you, Mr. Shen. I look forward to hearing from you."

She packed up her things and turned to leave the meeting room. At this moment, a sarcastic voice came from the side...

Manager Liu leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest, a hint of sarcasm on his face as he said, "Boss Shen, these data may look impressive, but it's hard to say how credible they are. Market research reports these days are so inflated that any shell company could have produced one."

He deliberately emphasized the words "shell company" and glanced at Xiao Yue with contempt.

Xiao Yue turned abruptly, staring directly at Manager Liu with a stern gaze. He said firmly, "Manager Liu, I understand your caution, but please don't question my professionalism and ethics. All the data in this report comes from reliable sources and has been repeatedly verified. I can fully guarantee its authenticity. If you have any questions, I'm even willing to submit to a third-party audit to prove my innocence."

Manager Liu obviously didn't expect Xiao Yue to refute so strongly. The smile on his face froze for a moment. He was about to open his mouth to fight back, but was interrupted by Shen Ting raising his hand.

Shen Ting's gaze swept back and forth between Xiao Yue and Manager Liu, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

He was silent for a moment, then turned to Assistant Sun and asked, "Assistant Sun, what do you think of Miss Xiao's plan?"

Assistant Sun stepped forward and replied respectfully, "Mr. Shen, I participated in the entire process of Ms. Xiao's communication with our team. From my personal observation, Ms. Xiao was very careful and meticulous in gathering information, and she employed some very unique research methods that other communication personnel did not use. For example, she personally visited multiple target customer groups to gain a deep understanding of their actual needs, and based this understanding, she adjusted the details of the plan. This report is not fabricated out of thin air; it is based on extensive field research."

Assistant Sun paused and continued, "As for the data inaccuracy issue mentioned by Manager Liu, I believe that any market research report will have certain errors. The key is whether these errors are within an acceptable range. Judging from the data and supporting materials provided by Ms. Xiao, I believe that the credibility of this report is relatively high."

As he spoke, he took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to Shen Ting. "This is a supplementary analysis report I made based on the information provided by Miss Xiao. It may be useful as a reference."

Shen Ting took the document and began to read it carefully. The conference room fell silent again, with only the rustling of papers in the air.

Xiao Yue's heart was in suspense as she nervously watched Shen Ting's every move. She knew that Shen Ting's final decision would directly affect whether her proposal would be adopted, and whether she could gain a firm foothold in the company.

Manager Liu watched coldly from the sidelines, a sneer on his face. He thought to himself: No matter how impressive your data is, without my support, you can't win this project.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the conference room became increasingly solemn.

Finally, Shen Ting closed the file, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. His deep gaze fell on Xiao Yue. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Ms. Xiao's proposal does have some novel ideas and demonstrates considerable professionalism. I've also read Assistant Sun's analysis report and generally agree with his views."

He paused, a hint of caution in his tone. "However, any plan needs to undergo rigorous evaluation before it can be officially implemented. I will have my team conduct a more in-depth analysis of your plan, including market risks, cost control, and expected returns. The final outcome will depend on the results of this evaluation."

Xiao Yue felt relieved after hearing these words. Although Shen Ting didn't make the decision right away, it at least meant that her plan had a chance of being adopted.

A ray of dawn penetrated the haze that shrouded her heart, and the flame of hope was rekindled in her heart.

She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her inner excitement, and replied calmly, "Thank you, Mr. Shen, for giving me this opportunity. I will definitely cooperate fully with your company's team's evaluation work."

After the meeting, Xiao Yue returned to her office, her heart pounding. She replayed every detail of the meeting, analyzing Shen Ting's every word and every look. She knew this was just the beginning; the road ahead was long and filled with challenges.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door. Xiao Yue, assuming it was Assistant Sun informing her of the follow-up assessment arrangements, quickly stood up and opened the door. However, it was Supervisor Liu standing at the door. With a half-smile on his face, he slowly walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Congratulations, Miss Xiao," Manager Liu said sarcastically, "It looks like your proposal has a good chance of passing Mr. Shen's review."

Xiao Yue's heart was filled with alarm. She instinctively sensed that Manager Liu was up to no good. She calmly replied, "Manager Liu, you're too kind. Nothing has been decided yet."

Manager Liu walked over to Xiao Yue's desk, resting his hands on it. He leaned over to her and said in a low voice, "Even if your proposal ultimately passes the evaluation, subsequent implementation may not go smoothly. As you know, a project, from inception to final implementation, requires countless steps. Problems in any one step could lead to the failure of the entire project."

He looked directly into Xiao Yue's eyes, a hint of menace in his gaze. "Ms. Xiao, although you are young and promising, you lack experience after all. Some things cannot be solved by enthusiasm and hard work alone. Sometimes, some 'connections' and 'resources' may be more important than your plan."

Xiao Yue frowned slightly. She certainly understood what Manager Liu meant. He was implying that if she didn't want to encounter any obstacles during the project's execution, she would have to compromise with him, perhaps even at a price.

Xiao Yue took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She knew that she must not show weakness at this moment.

She raised her head, looked directly into Manager Liu's eyes, and said firmly, "Manager Liu, I believe that as long as my proposal is excellent enough, it will definitely gain everyone's recognition and support. As for the 'connections' and 'resources' you mentioned, I believe I can also obtain them through my own efforts."

Manager Liu's expression changed slightly. He didn't expect Xiao Yue to reject him so harshly.

He sneered, straightened up, and said, "I hope so. However, I still have to remind you that the business world is like a battlefield, and not everyone is as innocent as you think."

He turned and walked to the door, paused, and said without looking back, "Take care of yourself." Then he opened the door and left the office.

Xiao Yue stood there, staring at the empty doorway, her fists clenched. Manager Liu's threats made her feel a little uneasy, but she wasn't intimidated. She firmly believed in her plan and her own abilities. But she also knew that the road ahead wouldn't be smooth sailing...

At this moment, the phone screen lit up and a new message popped up...

The phone screen displayed a message from Assistant Sun: "Ms. Xiao, Mr. Shen has arranged a detailed review of the plan for tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 PM. Please be prepared."

Xiao Yue took a deep breath and replied, "Okay, Assistant Sun, I will attend on time."

Putting her phone down, she forced herself to ignore Manager Liu's threats and focus entirely on preparing the plan. She meticulously reviewed every detail, striving for perfection. She even anticipated potential problems during the evaluation process and prepared strategies to address them.

Time ticked by, each one feeling incredibly long. Xiao Yue paced back and forth across the office, then sat at her computer, flipping through documents, feeling a wave of anxiety. She kept reminding herself to stay calm and believe in her abilities, but the tension kept rising like a tide.

She made a cup of coffee, hoping to relax, but the bitterness only made her more awake and anxious. She walked to the window, looking out at the busy streets, trying to clear her mind, but Manager Liu's cold eyes and threatening tone kept appearing in her mind.

As night fell, Xiao Yue was the only one left in the office. She turned off her computer, rubbed her sore eyes, and stood up to leave. As she reached the door, she couldn't help but look back at the empty office, her heart filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

The next day, Xiao Yue arrived at Shen's Group an hour early. She wanted to use this time to familiarize herself with the plan and feel more confident during the evaluation process.

Sitting in the Shen Group's conference room, Xiao Yue felt her heartbeat quickening. She looked around and saw Shen Ting, Assistant Sun, and several company executives already seated. Everyone had a serious expression, and the atmosphere was particularly solemn.

The evaluation began, with several executives taking turns peppering Xiao Yue with questions, some of which were pointed and even tricky. Xiao Yue calmly answered each question, articulating her approach and supporting her arguments with data and case studies.

Shen Ting remained silent, listening attentively to Xiao Yue's answer. His deep gaze was unfathomable. Xiao Yue tried several times to catch some information from his eyes, but all failed.

The assessment lasted nearly three hours, and Xiao Yue felt like she had run a marathon, exhausted both physically and mentally.

Finally, Shen Ting said, "Ms. Xiao, thank you for your wonderful presentation. We will seriously consider your proposal and inform you of the final result as soon as possible."

Xiao Yue nodded politely and left the meeting room. Instead of returning to the company immediately, she sat down in a cafe downstairs from the Shen Group. She ordered a cup of coffee, gripping the cup tightly with both hands, nervously awaiting the final result.

Time passed, the coffee gradually cooled, and Xiao Yue's heart grew heavier. Just when she was about to give up hope, her phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Assistant Sun. She took a deep breath and answered the call...

"Ms. Xiao," Assistant Sun's voice came from the other end of the phone, "regarding your plan..."