Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 016

Chapter 16 ☆, Three Women, One Drama.

Xin Xin was unsure of the company’s stance.

The meeting lasted for forty-five minutes. Zhao Xi sat upright, his gaze fixed, his face aloof and indifferent.

Xin Xin calmly surveyed the inspection team: Vice President Chen Gang, General Manager of the Risk Department Zhao Xi, the Vice President of the Legal and Compliance Department, the Vice President of the Internal Control and Compliance Department along with their department managers, and the Finance Department Manager—six people in total.

Wow, what a scene!

As soon as the meeting ended, Xin Xin went to Fu Meng’s office. She hadn’t previously cared about the relationship between Fu Meng and Zhao Xi, but now she felt compelled to.

“Ms. Fu, I’ve been involved in several of Chengjing’s projects, and within my professional scope, we’ve been completely compliant. I’m fully aware of all the financial reimbursements involved, as well as the detailed usage of Mr. Zhao’s personal reserve funds during the Chengjing project promotion.” Xin Xin hesitated, then added, “If you discover any issues here, please contact me first. If they’re not major and can be explained clearly, we can resolve them internally. There’s no need to escalate the situation and report it to headquarters.”

Zheng Zaochuan had asked Xin Xin yesterday if she would help Zhao Xi.

Her actions today had already given the answer: she would, and she would spare no effort.

Fu Meng, however, didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she leisurely brewed a cup of tea for Xin Xin. “Ms. Xin, please sit down and try my Pu’er tea. I don’t think this is a serious matter. If Zhao Xi was truly involved, there’s no reason for him to be with the inspection team, right?”

This sentiment coincided with Xin Xin’s, but Fu Meng’s attitude was ambiguous.

Xin Xin was worried about Zhao Xi, muttering to herself, “She’s deliberately playing tricks on me. I wonder if she’s waiting to get back at Zhao Xi or me?”

However, Xin Xin didn’t let her anxiety show. She straightened her skirt and sat down slowly, waiting for Fu Meng’s Pu’er tea to steep.

“It smells like good tea. Everyone at headquarters drinks coffee but Ms. Fu, so young, has the patience to slowly brew tea. What a good habit.”

The bitter aroma of Pu’er tea permeated the air.

Fu Meng smiled, “I can’t get used to those foreign drinks. I’ve been working for over ten years, and I still don’t understand some people’s petty-bourgeois attitudes.”

Xin Xin had no idea where she came from. But as a management trainee recruit, Xin Xin had been assigned to a branch office since she arrived, and her return was a distant prospect. Fu Meng, on the other hand, had been stationed at headquarters from the moment she arrived. Although not in a core business department, she was a popular figure with the leadership, so her background must be good.

Compared to Fu Meng, this was Xin Xin’s weakness. She got straight to the point. If the other person didn’t answer, she couldn’t get around it, so she could only sit there.

“I don’t mind. Coffee and tea are both fine.”

Fu Meng glanced at Xin Xin, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Boss Xin is flexible and has a promising future.”

This statement was part sarcasm, part joke.

Xin Xin, with a good temper, accepted it all. “Good luck with your words.”

After several rounds and two cups of tea, the conversation still hadn’t gotten to the point.

Xin Xin was determined to reach an agreement with Fu Meng on this matter. Xixi from the Risk Department was Xin Xin’s sworn enemy, and, convinced of her illicit relationship with Zhao Xi, she was bound to use this as an excuse. Sister Fan from the Internal Control and Compliance Department was a meticulous elder, someone who would even go so far as to inspect drafts even if the seal wasn’t properly stamped. The legal and finance directors were both Zhao Xi’s old subordinates, so there was nothing to worry about.

Fu Meng’s investment bank was originally under Zhao Xi’s direct management. While the Chengjing project was flawless, there was no guarantee someone wouldn’t exploit it.

When Zhao Xi had just left, Xin Xin had resolved to utterly annihilate him.

But now that things had truly begun to unfold, Xin Xin realized how much she had hoped Zhao Xi would rise to prominence.

“Ms. Fu, are you there?”

There was a sudden knock on the door. Before Fu Meng could reply, the person outside had already opened it and entered.

Xixi, the visitor, had a fawning smile on her face. As she pushed open the door, she saw Xin Xin sitting on the sofa. The smile, lingering on her face, seemed almost comically stiff, as if she were trying to stop it.

“I’ll be there in a while.”

“No, it’s been busy here today. Everyone’s looking for me. It’s probably the same thing. Why don’t we talk together?”

In the past, Xixi had maintained a superficially friendly relationship with Xin Xin. But ever since Zhang Qiao’s transfer, Xixi had been completely indifferent to her. If the sharp edge of her eyes could kill, Xin Xin would have been ripped to pieces long ago.

“I’ll liaise with President Fu about the inspection. What do you want to report, Xixi?”

As soon as Xin Xin said this, Xixi’s face turned green. Xin Xin experienced the joy of being one level higher in rank. No matter how much Xixi jumped around, she wasn’t appointed department head, nor was she entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing work.

She deliberately reminded her that she and Fu Meng were discussing things, while Xixi could only report.

But Xixi, for one, was terribly concerned about this slight difference in rank.

“Of course, I’m fully cooperating with the inspection team. Mr. Zhao was our top supervisor. Although this incident was implicated by the Chengjing incident, I think we should extend the inspection and review all items to reassure everyone.”

Xin Xin sneered, “Xixi, the extension of the inspection should either be decided by the inspection team or by Mr. Chen. If we suggest it, that would be like meddling in other people’s business.”

Xin Xin was reserved and gentle and rarely got so blunt.

Xixi was furious and immediately launched into a tirade, blurting out, “I’m doing this for the company. Who knows what hidden agendas some people might have?”

As soon as she said that, she felt bad.

She had come to Fu Meng to surrender, thinking that Fu Meng and Zhao Xi’s relationship would likely end forever. But she hadn’t expected that a single word would offend someone who actually had a “past relationship.”

Fu Meng was always a bit more cunning than others, and now she felt even more that Xixi was deliberately targeting her. Without even offering any respect, she coldly dismissed her. “I won’t say no to anything the company asks me to examine or investigate. But the company has assigned me and President Xin as liaisons, so it’s not your place to make decisions. If you have nothing else to do, please go back.”

Xixi had always been known to deceive her superiors and subordinates. Her expression changed rapidly, and she was capable of saying anything despicable. Even so, when faced with a tough opponent like Fu Meng, she failed to salvage the situation and left with a sullen face.

Xin Xin was deeply relieved and grateful to Xixi for provoking her.

Fu Meng calmed down and said, “Let’s follow the rules. I know what you want to ask me. Public is public, and private is private. We each perform our duties impartially.”

After saying this, Fu Meng glanced at Xin Xin with a complicated expression and asked suspiciously, “Are you and Zhao Xi performing a crosstalk show here with me? He’s afraid I’ll embarrass you, so he’s trying to put me in a bad light. You’re afraid I’ll embarrass him, so you’re trying to intimidate me.”

Xin Xin was startled, realizing that Zhao Xi might have greeted her when Fu Meng came down. At that time, she had suspected Zhao Xi of harboring ulterior motives. Now, hearing this inside story, she felt a complex mix of emotions that were hard to describe.

“No, it’s all for myself and the company.”

Fu Meng scoffed. “So aboveboard. Xin Xin, don’t worry. What happened between Zhao Xi and me has nothing to do with you, but I don’t need to be involved in your affairs. You can continue your drama of being in love but unable to express it, but I can tell you that Zhao Xi and I broke up amicably. We have no feelings for each other anymore, but it can still be a purely profit-based relationship. I won’t use my power for personal gain to cause trouble for him.”

Although Fu Meng seemed to have some misunderstanding about Xin Xin and Zhao Xi’s relationship, Xin Xin felt that the outcome was a good one and was in a good mood.

After working overtime that night, Xin Xin invited Zhang Qiao to join her for a late-night snack.

Zhang Qiao didn’t refuse. “Can I bring someone?”

Xin Xin was a little surprised, but Zhang Qiao was always so tactful, so she didn’t ask. When they arrived at the table, they realized it was Mary who had taken the table.

Mary’s dejection after breaking up with Han Canghai seemed like an illusion to Xin Xin.

No matter how you looked at it, she looked so happy and relaxed that she didn’t seem like someone whose engagement had been broken off. “Hurry up, your favorite chicken feet.”

Xin Xin grumbled as she ate. “I said I wanted a late-night snack, but who knew you’d have such a feast?”

Mary winked. “Why are you worried? You’re not the one paying,” she said, making a heart shape with her hands at Zhang Qiao. “I love you.”

She was always like that. To Mary, such words were as casual as saying hello.

Zhang Qiao, however, smiled gently, looking at Mary, who was a few years older than him, as if she were a mischievous child.

“Yeah, I love you.”

Xin Xin was completely confused about his relationship status with Mary. The combination of a talkative female sea queen and a serious, innocent boy was a source of misery for Xin Xin. Whether colleagues could even be close friends was questionable. Having an irrational, ambiguous relationship with a colleague was even more of a potential disaster.

To avoid another strife, Xin Xin ate a quick bite and found an excuse to leave. Halfway through the journey, the phone rang. Xin Xin glanced over and saw the name “Zhao Xi” prominently displayed on the screen.

“Hello, how are you?”

Zhao Xi remained silent for a moment before sighing softly, “Xin Xin, thank you.”

Zhao Xi had nurtured Xin Xin before; she had been harshly scolded, had serious conversations, offered gentle comfort, and shared memories of fighting side by side.

But never had they felt so distant.

It hadn’t been years since they’d last met, but it felt as if a thousand mountains separated them, unable to see each other’s faces.

The words “thank you” felt like a hand pinching Xin Xin’s heart. It didn’t hurt, but it made her forget her heartbeat for the next moment.

“Zhao Xi, you’ve been so kind to me. You don’t even need to say thank you.”

Xin Xin had been the youngest graduate student in the company. She had experienced a turbulent childhood in the small city where she grew up, and she considered herself a child of destiny.

But after nearly ten years of working there, she’d come to understand that this company, this city, was full of talented individuals.

But a mentor like Zhao Xi was rare. When Zhao Xi left, she’d been protected for too long, and as a result, she’d grown arrogant and overstepped the boundaries between superior and subordinate. She attributed his kindness to her solely to her hard work, and when he didn’t specifically promote her, she harbored resentment.

Now, with the passage of time, she’d figured it out and sensibly retreated to her proper position.

On the other end, Zhao Xi didn’t respond. Unsure what was going on, he suddenly said, “I want to see you, just once.”