Double evil in the business district

Shen Ting's appearance did not bring the expected comfort. His anxious questioning sounded more like a question to Xiao Yue.

"How could it become like this?" He frowned and tapped the table with his fingers, making a dull sound, as if knocking on Xiao Yue's heart.

Xiao Yue shook her head weakly, her eyes red, but she stubbornly refused to cry.

"I don't know. I don't know how they did it." She clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles turning white, and her voice trembled slightly. "The contract is obviously real, but now..."

She didn't finish her words, but Shen Ting understood what she meant. The business world is like a battlefield, full of truth and falsehood, reality and illusion. Sometimes, a piece of fabricated evidence can completely overturn right and wrong. He looked at Xiao Yue, feeling a mixture of emotions. He believed Xiao Yue, but with the evidence before him, he was powerless.

"I'll find a way." Shen Ting finally said only these four words, his tone heavy. He knew that the impact of this incident went far beyond Xiao Yue personally, and also involved the cooperation between the two companies, and could even trigger a greater business crisis.

After Shen Ting left, Xiao Yue didn't give up. She forced herself to calm down and re-examine all the clues. She flipped through the files on her computer, repeatedly recalling her interactions with the relevant personnel, trying to find any overlooked details.

However, every clue seemed to have been carefully arranged and always broke at the critical moment, making her feel extremely frustrated.

The office was silent, with only the sound of keyboard tapping and Xiao Yue's occasional sighs intertwined together, like a dirge of despair.

Meanwhile, undercurrents were stirring within Shen's company. Secretary He, a tall, delicately made-up woman, was standing in Shen Ting's office, exaggerating Xiao Yue's "evil deeds."

"Mr. Shen, you see, Xiao Yue's incident has caused such a big stir this time, and it has also had a huge impact on our company's reputation. Now everyone in the industry is saying that our Shen Group has been deceived by a small company like Xiao..."

Shen Ting's face grew increasingly gloomy as he listened to Secretary He's words. He was already upset, and Secretary He's provocation only made him even more upset.

"Enough!" He slammed the table, interrupting Secretary He. "Don't jump to conclusions before the matter is fully investigated!"

Secretary He was startled by Shen Ting's anger, but quickly regained her composure. She smiled slightly, her tone carrying a subtle hint of sarcasm, "Mr. Shen, I'm just speaking the truth. As you know, the shareholders are now questioning your decision..."

Shen Ting ignored Secretary He. He walked to the window and looked out at the bustling city, his heart filled with confusion. He believed Xiao Yue, but...

Xiao Enterprise, high-level conference room.

Director Song stood at the conference table, holding the forged contract in his hand, and said in a serious tone: "Since Xiao Yue is suspected of forging the contract and damaging the interests of the company, I propose to suspend cooperation with Shen's, and..." His eyes fell on Xiao Yue, "Xiao Yue is temporarily suspended and under investigation."

Xiao Yue stood up abruptly, his face pale but his eyes determined. "Director Song, this contract is fake! I..."

"That's enough!" Director Song interrupted her harshly. "The facts are before us. What else do you have to say?"

Xiao Yue wanted to argue, but she found herself powerless to refute. She looked around, only to see suspicion and indifference, as if she was already a criminal. Just then, the door to the conference room was pushed open...

"Director Song, regarding this contract..." a steady voice sounded.

The door to the conference room opened, and a man in a suit and tie walked in. He stood tall, his face stern, and he exuded the authority of a superior. It was Shen Ting. His appearance instantly quieted the previously noisy conference room, and everyone's attention was focused on him.

"Director Song, regarding this contract," Shen Ting's voice was low and powerful, "I need a reasonable explanation."

Director Song obviously didn't expect Shen Ting to suddenly appear. He was stunned for a moment, then said: "Mr. Shen, this contract was forged by Xiao Yue, and the evidence is conclusive..."

"Is the evidence conclusive?" Shen Ting sneered, walked to the conference table, and placed a document on the table. "This is the result of my investigation. This so-called 'evidence' is full of loopholes. It's obvious that someone deliberately framed me."

Director Song's face changed. He picked up the document and flipped through it, his expression becoming increasingly grim. The investigative report Shen Ting brought detailed flaws in the forged contract and listed evidence that Xiao Yue had been framed.

When Xiao Yue saw Shen Ting appear, a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. She knew that Shen Ting believed in her.

"Director Song," Shen Ting's voice rang out again, "I believe in Xiao Yue's character and the Xiao Group's reputation. I hope this matter can be investigated as soon as possible and Xiao Yue's innocence restored."

Director Song's face turned pale. He hadn't expected Shen Ting to defend Xiao Yue so much. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he didn't know what to say.

"If there is nothing else, I'll take my leave." After saying this, Shen Ting turned around and left the meeting room.

Shen Ting's appearance temporarily relieved Xiao Yue of her predicament, but it also made Director Song even more angry. He glared at Xiao Yue fiercely and then adjourned the meeting.

Lin Xiao, hiding outside the conference room, watched all of this unfold. Seeing Xiao Yue in trouble, she secretly rejoiced. She also fabricated some evidence of Xiao Yue's collusion with other companies, ready to release it at the right moment to completely plunge Xiao Yue into the abyss.

Xiao Yue returned to her office and took a deep breath. She knew that the battle had just begun. She picked up her phone and called Shen Ting...

"Mr. Shen, it's Xiao Yue's call..." Secretary He stood in front of Shen Ting's desk with the phone in his hand, his tone hinting with hesitation.

Shen Ting raised his head, frowning slightly, "Please answer it."

Secretary He hesitated for a moment, but still answered the phone and handed it to Shen Ting.

"Shen Ting..." Xiao Yue's voice was a little tired, "I want to talk to you..."

Before Shen Ting could say anything, Secretary He suddenly interrupted, "Mr. Shen, Xiao Yue calling at this time might have bad intentions..."

Shen Ting glanced at Secretary He impatiently and said, "You go out first."

Secretary He left the office reluctantly. Shen Ting then said to the phone, "Xiao Yue, what's going on?"

"I want to discuss with you what we should do next..."

"What should we do?" Secretary He stood outside the door, listening to the voices coming from the office, a sneer on his face, "Xiao Yue, do you think you can still turn things around?"

She took out her phone from her bag, typed a text message and sent it out: "The plan is going smoothly, next step..."

Xiao Yue called Shen Ting, the anxious waiting tone making her even more upset. When the call finally connected, Secretary He's formal greeting came through: "Hello, this is Mr. Shen's office."

"Hello, Secretary He, I'm Xiao Yue. I want to talk to Mr. Shen." Xiao Yue tried her best to sound calm, but her fingers tightly gripping the phone revealed her nervousness.

Secretary He's tone carried a subtle hint of sarcasm: "Ms. Xiao, Mr. Shen is in a meeting right now and can't answer the phone. What do you want to say? I can convey it to you."

Xiao Yue took a deep breath. She knew Secretary He had always harbored hostility towards her, and it was even more impossible for her to speak to Shen Ting as she wished. "This matter is very important. I must speak to President Shen in person."

"Oh? Something important?" Secretary He's tone was even more contemptuous. "Ms. Xiao, you can hardly protect yourself right now. Is there anything important you need to discuss with Mr. Shen? Are you here to provoke me?"

Xiao Yue suppressed his anger and said, "Secretary He, please tell President Shen that this matter concerns the cooperation between our two companies. I hope he can give me a chance to explain."

Before Secretary He hung up the phone, he said lightly: "I will tell President Shen, but whether President Shen will see you is not up to me to decide." A busy tone came from the phone, and Xiao Yue's heart sank to the bottom.

On the other side, Secretary He walked to the door of Shen Ting's office with her phone and knocked gently. After getting permission, she pushed the door open with a look of worry on her face.

"Mr. Shen, Xiao Yue called just now. Her tone was very unfriendly, as if she was here to call me and ask for an explanation." Secretary He exaggerated Xiao Yue's attitude, saying that she was a rude and unreasonable person who came to provoke him.

Shen Ting had already developed suspicions about Xiao Yue and the Xiao Corporation because of Director Song's incident, and after hearing Secretary He's report, he felt even more displeased. He rubbed his brows, his tone a little weary, "What did she say?"

"She said it was about the cooperation between the two companies and she needed a chance to explain. But the tone of her voice sounded more like she was questioning Mr. Shen, and she had no intention of cooperating at all." Secretary He observed Shen Ting's expression and continued to fan the flames. "In my opinion, Xiao Corporation is struggling now and may not be able to fulfill the contract. Should we consider terminating the cooperation early to avoid greater losses?"

Shen Ting was silent for a moment. He recalled Xiao Yue's determined look in the conference room, and the gloating hint in Secretary He's words. He was momentarily undecided. He picked up the documents on the Xiao Corporation's cooperation from the table and flipped through them, his eyes filled with hesitation.

He had previously admired Xiao Yue's abilities and character, and believed in the Xiao family's reputation. But now, the series of events had begun to waver. Had he really misjudged Xiao Yue? Was Xiao Yue really involved in the contract forgery?

He looked up at Secretary He and said, "Notify the Legal Department to reassess the risks of cooperating with Xiao Corporation and see what the cost will be for terminating the contract early."

Secretary He showed a barely perceptible smile at the corner of her mouth, "Okay, Mr. Shen, I'll do it right away." She turned and left the office, closing the door gently, and the smile on her face gradually widened.

Xiao Yue called Shen Ting again and again, but no one answered. Anxiously, she paced back and forth in her office, feeling like she was stuck in a quagmire, the more she struggled, the deeper she sank. She didn't know why Shen Ting wouldn't answer her calls, nor did she know how to break the deadlock. Despair and helplessness gradually engulfed her, and she felt more isolated and helpless than ever before.

In the evening, Xiao Yue walked alone to a seaside resort hotel. The sea breeze caressed her cheeks, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in her heart. She walked aimlessly, looking at the rough sea in the distance, her mind racing. What should she do? What should she do next?

Suddenly, the phone rang...

"Xiao Yue..."

The salty, damp sea breeze lashed Xiao Yue's face mercilessly, yet it failed to soothe the anxiety swirling within her. The setting sun stained the sky a rich orange-red, casting a shadow on her pale face, adding to her loneliness. The glittering lights of the resort hotel gradually brightened, creating a stark contrast to her current situation and highlighting her isolation.

She replayed her conversation with Secretary He over and over, searching for a possible solution, but only felt a deeper despair. Shen Ting's silence, Secretary He's gloating, Director Song's suspicions, like an invisible web, bound her tightly, making it difficult to breathe. She knew she was like prey trapped in a spider's web, and a single misstep would send her plummeting into the abyss.

Xiao Yue walked aimlessly along the beach, kicking up the pebbles. She needed a plan, a plan that would get her out of this predicament. She couldn't just sit there and wait for death; she had to take the initiative. But how could she do that? Shen Ting was avoiding her, and the company was fraught with danger. She had only herself to rely on.

Suddenly, the ringing of a cell phone broke the tranquility of the beach. Xiao Yue's heart trembled, and he quickly picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Xiao Yue..." A low and familiar voice came from the other end of the phone, with a hint of imperceptible anxiety.

It's Shen Ting! Xiao Yue's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and a complex emotion surged in her heart. She felt both happy and a little resentful. "Mr. Shen, you finally answered my call."

"Where are you now?" Shen Ting did not explain the previous loss of contact, and there was a hint of command in his tone.

Xiao Yue hesitated for a moment, but still reported her location. She didn't know why Shen Ting suddenly wanted to see her, but at this moment, she didn't want to let go of any hope.

"Wait for me there." Shen Ting hung up the phone without giving Xiao Yue any chance to ask any further questions.

Xiao Yue held her phone, gazing at the turbulent sea, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. Shen Ting's tone left her unpredictable, and she had no idea what awaited her. An explanation, or perhaps a deeper misunderstanding?

The wait felt incredibly long, every minute a tormenting century. The sea breeze grew stronger, ruffling Xiao Yue's hair and wiping away her last shred of composure. She began to regret revealing her location to Shen Ting. Perhaps he was just coming to call her to task, or perhaps this was just another trap.

Just when she was about to give up, a black car pulled up in front of her. The window slowly rolled down, revealing a sharp-edged face. It was Shen Ting.

He gestured for Xiao Yue to get in the car without saying a word. Xiao Yue hesitated for a moment, but finally got in. The car was filled with a faint smell of tobacco, mixed with Shen Ting's unique and refreshing scent.

"Where are you going?" Xiao Yue broke the silence in the car.

Shen Ting didn't answer, but started the car and drove in the opposite direction of the resort hotel. Xiao Yue's heart was hanging in the air again. She didn't know where Shen Ting was going to take her, nor did she know what was waiting for her.

The car weaved through the city's traffic, finally stopping in front of a towering building. Xiao Yue recognized it as the headquarters of Xiao Enterprises. A sense of foreboding washed over her, and she subconsciously clutched her bag.

"Let's go." Shen Ting got out of the car first, his tone still cold.

Xiao Yue took a deep breath and followed Shen Ting into the building. When she arrived at her office door, she found... it was ajar, as if someone had been in. Her heart tightened, and she pushed the door open. The scene before her stunned her for a moment...

"This……"