Double evil in the business district

Thick smoke continued to billow, and a pungent odor filled the air, as if an invisible hand were strangling everyone's throat. Several trucks loaded with supplies finally arrived, kicking up clouds of dust, but they failed to bring the expected hope. Xiao Yue's heart sank. These supplies were just a drop in the bucket for the disaster at hand.

She steeled herself and began organizing the distribution of supplies, prioritizing the needs of the rescue workers. However, the shortage of supplies sparked panic and discontent among some employees, with complaints rising one after another and the atmosphere on the scene becoming even more tense. Xiao Yue tried to calm everyone down and explain the shortage, but her pale face and trembling voice could not conceal her inner anxiety.

Meanwhile, Shen Ting ventured deeper into the danger zone, searching for trapped employees. Amidst the rubble, he heard several faint cries for help, and following them, he located several trapped employees. Trapped by collapsed building materials, they were seriously injured and in urgent need of rescue. Shen Ting's heart sank, but he was helpless. The rescue route leading to the trapped workers was blocked by massive rocks, and existing equipment was unable to remove them. With time ticking and the trapped employees' lives hanging in the balance, Shen Ting was sweating profusely.

He picked up the intercom and anxiously called Engineer Li: "Engineer Li, the rescue route is blocked. We need larger equipment! As soon as possible!"

Engineer Li's voice came over the intercom, with a hint of helplessness: "Mr. Shen, I've contacted the nearby rescue team, but it will take them at least an hour to arrive. Now we can only do our best to clear the surrounding obstacles and open a rescue channel as soon as possible."

One hour! Shen Ting clenched his fists. He knew that for the trapped employees, one hour was too long. He had to find a way to reach the trapped people before the rescue team arrived. He carefully observed the surrounding environment again, looking for any possible breakthrough.

At the hospital, Xiao's father's condition remained grim. Dr. Zhao took off his mask and wearily said to Xiao Yue, "Ms. Xiao, your father's condition is critical. We need to perform surgery as soon as possible, but..." He paused, his eyes filled with worry. "The operation is very risky, and we need the family's signature."

Xiao Yue took a deep breath, fought back her tears, and trembled as she signed her name. Nurse Wu patted her shoulder gently and comforted her, "Don't worry, Miss Xiao. We will do our best."

Just then, Xiao Yue's phone rang. It was Director Chen. Xiao Yue hesitated, but finally answered. "Mr. Xiao, I heard your father is seriously ill and in the hospital. How unfortunate." Director Chen's voice was filled with a hint of false concern. "However, this is a critical moment for the company. You should prioritize the overall situation."

Xiao Yue gripped the phone tightly, her nails digging into her flesh. "Director Chen, what do you want to say?"

"I just want to remind you that the shareholders' meeting is about to be held. You'd better come back as soon as possible to take charge of the situation." Director Chen's voice suddenly turned cold. "Otherwise, you will bear the consequences at your own risk."

Xiao Yue hung up the phone, her face pale as paper. She knew Director Chen was forcing her to abandon the rescue effort and return to deal with the internal struggles within the company. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to remain calm. She had to make a decision quickly: should she continue to stay at the rescue site, or return to deal with Director Chen's conspiracy?

At this moment, she saw Shen Ting, covered in dust, stumbling towards her, his face extremely solemn... He opened his mouth, as if about to say something, but suddenly stopped, his eyes filled with pain and helplessness. He slowly stretched out his hand and handed Xiao Yue a blood-stained...

Shen Ting slowly extended his hand and handed Xiao Yue a blood-stained work badge. Xiao Yue took it with trembling hands. The familiar face of Engineer Li on the badge was now covered in dust, his once bright smile no longer visible. Tears instantly blurred Xiao Yue's vision. Engineer Li, the always energetic and meticulous young man, was gone.

"Landslide... another landslide..." Shen Ting's voice was hoarse and low, filled with grief and exhaustion that were difficult to conceal. He leaned weakly against the wall, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

Xiao Yue clutched her work badge tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm, yet she felt no pain. A flood of grief washed over her like a tide, drowning her. She knew she had to be strong. She still had responsibilities, so many employees waiting for help, her critically ill father, and the precarious Xiao Group...

Inside the hospital, Dr. Zhao paced anxiously. Several more seriously injured patients had just been brought in, one of whom was critically injured and needed surgery urgently. However, all the hospital's ambulances were dispatched to the scene, leaving them struggling to find a vehicle to transport the patient. "Damn it!" Dr. Zhao pounded the wall, feeling overwhelmed.

Nurse Wu came over and whispered, "Doctor Zhao, I've contacted the nearby hospital. They can send an ambulance, but it will take some time."

To make matters worse, Director Chen's plan to seize power was in full swing. He rallied more shareholders to his side and began spreading rumors of Xiao Enterprise's impending collapse. Rumors quickly spread, severely damaging Xiao Enterprise's reputation and sending its stock price plummeting. Xiao Yue's phone was flooded with messages and calls about the company's crisis. She felt like she was trapped in a vast vortex, unable to breathe or escape.

"Mr. Xiao, you must return to the company as soon as possible to take charge!" Mr. Wang, one of the shareholders, called anxiously. "Everyone in the company is in a panic right now. If you don't show up, I'm afraid..."

Xiao Yue took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "Boss Wang, I know this is urgent, but the situation at the rescue site is even more critical. I have to stay here and direct the rescue efforts."

"But Mr. Xiao, the company's situation..." Mr. Wang wanted to persuade him again, but was interrupted by Xiao Yue.

"Mr. Wang, please trust me. I will take care of everything." Xiao Yue said, then hung up the phone. She looked up at the rescue site in the distance, where smoke was still billowing, her eyes firm and resolute.

At this moment, Shen Ting walked over. His face was still pale, but there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Xiao Yue," he said in a deep voice, "I've found a new rescue route..."

Before he could finish his words, the panicked voice of Engineer Li's assistant suddenly came over the intercom: "Boss Shen! This is bad! The system... the system has failed again!"

Shen Ting held the intercom, his knuckles white. "What's the problem? Explain it clearly!"

On the other end of the intercom, Engineer Li's assistant explained in a trembling voice, "It's... the sensor in the control system... the data is abnormal... causing... causing the rescue equipment to not function properly..."

"Sensor data anomalies?" Shen Ting repeated, his brow furrowed. He immediately contacted Engineer Li, who, after repeated testing, had finally pinpointed a partial cause of the technical failure. It was indeed the sensor data anomalies. However, to fully resolve the issue, a comprehensive system investigation and debugging would be required, which would take at least several more hours.

"A few hours..." Shen Ting murmured in a low voice. He knew that these few hours could be a matter of life and death for the trapped employees. He glanced at Xiao Yue. She was pale, her lips were tightly pursed, and her eyes were full of anxiety and worry.

"Shen Ting," Xiao Yue's voice was hoarse, "We can't wait any longer."

Shen Ting understood what she meant. They had to find other rescue plans as soon as possible and could not put all their hopes on repairing the system.

"I'll contact the fire department and see if they have any other solutions." Shen Ting said, turning and walking towards the command center.

Meanwhile, in the hospital's emergency room, Nurse Wu was frantically busy. New wounded were constantly being brought in, and the room was filled with the groans of the injured and the cries of the medical staff. Nurse Wu and the other medical staff were so busy that their clothes were soaked with sweat.

"Nurse Wu, the patient in bed 3 has a low blood pressure!" a young doctor shouted.

"Quick! Prepare for a blood transfusion!" Nurse Wu commanded, skillfully operating the medical equipment. However, at this moment, the ECG monitor suddenly issued a shrill alarm, and the curve on the screen fluctuated violently.

"What's going on?" Nurse Wu's face changed and she quickly checked the equipment.

"It seems...it seems that the equipment is malfunctioning!" said the nurse next to her anxiously.

Nurse Wu's heart sank as she realized the medical equipment had also begun to malfunction. This undoubtedly made the already tense rescue work even more difficult.

At this moment, Xiao Yue's phone rang again. It was the company's financial director. "Boss Xiao, this is bad! The company's funding chain...the funding chain has broken!"

Xiao Yue felt a sudden blackout, and he almost collapsed. The broken capital chain meant that Xiao's company was truly at a critical juncture of life and death.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "I understand. I'll find a solution as soon as possible."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Yue leaned against the wall, exhausted. She looked up at the smoke-filled rescue site in the distance, her eyes filled with despair. Just then, Shen Ting approached, his face paler than before, his eyes etched with a barely concealed trace of fatigue.

"Xiao Yue..." He had just opened his mouth when the voice of Engineer Li's assistant came through the intercom again, with a hint of tears in her voice: "Boss Shen... the sensor... the sensor is completely damaged..."

Shen Ting's hands dropped weakly, and the walkie-talkie fell to the ground with a dull sound.

Xiao Yue looked at Shen Ting, a trace of fear flashing in her eyes. She knew what this meant...

"We..." Xiao Yue said with difficulty, "What should we do..."

Shen Ting didn't answer, but held her hand tightly. His palm was cold, but it gave her a faint warmth. He looked at her, his eyes full of determination and resoluteness.

"Xiao Yue," he said in a deep voice, "No matter what, we must face it together..."

The news of the sensor's complete failure reverberated like a thunderclap through Xiao Yue and Shen Ting's worlds. This meant the trapped employees' chances of survival were even slimmer, and the Xiao Group would face even greater public scrutiny and a crisis of trust.

Shen Ting gripped Xiao Yue's hand tightly, his knuckles turning white, but he remained silent. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Now was not the time to despair; he had to find a new solution as soon as possible. He quickly contacted other engineering companies in the city, hoping to borrow spare rescue equipment. However, the responses he received repeatedly disappointed him. The equipment was too specialized and specialized, and it was difficult to find a suitable match at the moment.

Xiao Yue's face grew paler, but she managed to remain calm. She knew that besides the rescue effort, she also had to contend with the wolves and tigers within the company. The opposition, led by Director Chen, was watching her closely, waiting for her to make a mistake so they could seize power.

"Shen Ting," Xiao Yue's voice was hoarse and weak. "What should we do now? The rescue work has stalled, and the company's reputation is in jeopardy..."

Shen Ting looked at her, his eyes filled with heartache and determination. "Xiao Yue, we can't give up. There's still hope. I'll continue to find ways to rescue the company. You also need to stabilize the company and don't let Director Chen and his men take advantage of the situation."

Xiao Yue nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to pull herself together. She called the head of the company's public relations department and briefly instructed them to immediately activate the crisis public relations plan, do their best to control public opinion, and stabilize public sentiment.

After hanging up, Xiao Yue's phone rang again. This time, it was Director Chen. His tone was filled with a hint of hypocritical concern: "Mr. Xiao, I heard the rescue efforts are having difficulties? How unfortunate! The company's stock price has plummeted, and people are panicking. As the company's leader, you need to come up with a solution!"

Xiao Yue suppressed the anger in his heart and said in a cold voice: "Director Chen, thank you for your concern. I will do my best to handle everything."

"Try your best? Mr. Xiao, now's not the time to try your best!" Director Chen's tone became sharp. "You have to come up with a concrete plan! Otherwise, we board members have to consider the future of the company!"

Xiao Yue knew that Director Chen was forcing the emperor to abdicate. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Director Chen, please rest assured. I will not let Xiao Group fall. As for the specific plan, I will report it to everyone at the board meeting."

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Yue rubbed her temples wearily. She felt like she was trapped in a giant net, unable to move. The rescue work was difficult, and the company was facing internal and external troubles. She felt like she was about to collapse.

Shen Ting walked over to her and gently put his arm around her shoulders. "Xiao Yue, don't worry, I'll always be with you."

Xiao Yue leaned in his arms, feeling the warmth and strength coming from him, and her heart settled a little. She raised her head and looked at Shen Ting, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "Shen Ting, I must protect the Xiao Group, not only for myself, but also for..."

Before she finished speaking, Shen Ting's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID and his expression changed slightly.

"It's... International Rescue Organization..."