Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 034

Chapter 34 ☆, Life’s Imaginary Enemy.

The pain of love comes from the uncertainty of the future, but it’s precisely its muteness and obscurity that makes love so captivating.

Zheng Zaochuan’s kiss shattered the carefully maintained balance between them.

Both of them lost their breath. Zheng Zaochuan pushed away, and Xin Xin instinctively followed him. Zheng Zaochuan licked her lingeringly, then pulled away. “Did you see? I’m seducing you, but I can’t let you have me. You treated me the same way back then.”

Xin Xin couldn’t remember exactly, but she knew Zheng Zaochuan was talking about that encounter on the cruise ship.

It was awful. Zheng Zaochuan said she held a grudge, and he was the same way.

From then until now, they were like a pair of children playing a game of cat and mouse, never tired of it, never willing to admit defeat.

Xin Xin played the role of a lecher. “How about seducing me again?”

Zheng Zaochuan saw her eagerness, took a deep breath, and turned his back. “No, I have my dignity too.”

Xin Xin wanted to chase him and ask, “What’s our relationship?”

But she held back. She had her dignity too.

When Mary heard this, her face was etched with one word: speechless.

She and Zhang Qiao had been in love lately, bringing each other breakfast every day and engaging in the innocent love of fifteen-year-olds.

The Rose incident entered the negotiation phase, and Xin Xin’s heart was at ease for the time being. However, no one could have anticipated that, just as the matter was about to be resolved, someone would exaggerate and post it online.

The earliest news was a local media outlet reprinting a so-called insider’s revelation, which described Hengyang Securities as a workplace hell. Xin Xin was prominently featured.

This revelation portrayed Xin Xin as a formidable woman who used her beauty to please men, resorted to ruthless tactics, and oppressed her subordinates.

Most importantly, the revelation also included Xin Xin’s photo and personal information.

The news spread rapidly. On the day the head office’s Internal Control and Compliance Department arrived, the media, somehow getting the news, surrounded the company’s entrance in several layers.

The incident escalated so quickly that it was clearly premeditated.

Chen Lisha had previously ignored the incident. Although the conflict between Yang Rui and Xin Xin was right under her nose, she considered it an internal matter.

This malicious revelation was clearly directed at Xin Xin. This wasn’t just an internal issue; it also tarnished the company’s image.

Chen Lisha was furious and decided to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Zheng Zaochuan had been hounded and had nowhere to go recently, and Xin Xin finally understood what it felt like.

Chen Lisha called her and told her not to go to work.

The company was handling the public outcry, and because the situation had escalated, Chen Lisha had no choice but to take the plunge and report it to the police.

Zheng Zaochuan was a worldly-wise man, having experienced this kind of malicious slander before, and was familiar with handling it.

“Let’s move to my place.”

Xin Xin was about to say it was okay, but when she looked downstairs, she saw, as Zheng Zaochuan had predicted, that her address had been leaked.

Xin Xin, no longer concerned with her life of dependence or her tinged pride, reluctantly packed her things and, with Zheng Zaochuan’s help, moved to his house. Zheng Zaochuan’s house was very large, yet also very spacious.

This was Xin Xin’s first time at his house.

Zheng Zaochuan waved his hand generously. “You can live in any room you want. I have no problem sharing with you.”

Xin Xin, though feeling heavy-hearted, still managed to joke with him, “I have to choose carefully. If I get fired this time, I might have to rely on you for a while.”

Zheng Zaochuan smiled, “We’ve been through this together. If I get fired, we can start a business together and make a comeback.”

Xin Xin hadn’t heard Zheng Zaochuan mention the Hanhai issue in a while, and she’d thought it was resolved. Now, hearing that it wasn’t resolved, it seemed even more serious.

Xin Xin couldn’t help but feel concerned. “Not resolved yet? What are you going to do?”

Zheng Zaochuan shrugged, “We’re all talking to Mr. Chen. He holds 18% of the shares, and Su Chengjie currently holds 30%. If he sells to Su Chengjie, I’ll lose.”

“How about increasing capital to dilute it?”

Zheng Zaochuan said innocently, “I’ve thought of that idea for a long time, but I don’t have the money.”

Xin Xin continued to suggest, “What about bringing in third-party investment?”

Zheng Zaochuan sighed, “With Su Chengjie here, who would dare come? If he keeps raising the price, not only will I have to let go, but so will the third party. It’s no longer worth it. If he adds a little more, I’ll even sell him my shares.”

Xin Xin lamented, “This is the company you built. How can you let it go so easily?”

Zheng Zaochuan said indifferently, “Hanhai was originally mine, but it became a group company and is no longer mine. Look at my house. It’s just a bed. From the day I became an adult, I was prepared to be broke and have only a bed and start over. At worst, I’ll have to start all over again.”

Xin Xin was a methodical person. She hadn’t even considered quitting her job and starting over.

But Zheng Zaochuan was someone who could hand over the company he built.

They were so different, a difference that left Xin Xin hopelessly attracted yet deeply terrified.

If they began a relationship, Zheng Zaochuan could leave at a moment’s notice, but she might never recover.

Zheng Zaochuan seemed to sense her low mood, but he misunderstood the reason. “Don’t worry, I think this matter will be resolved. The police report will be investigated quickly. This isn’t just slander against you; it’s also defamation against your company. The company won’t let the person who spread the rumor go unpunished.”

Xin Xin gave a wry smile, trying to calm her inappropriate emotions. She understood what Zheng Zaochuan was saying. If the previous situation had been an internal matter, a small-scale debacle could easily have cost her life.

But this time, it was a blessing in disguise. The company had to conduct a thorough investigation because the negative public opinion affected not only her but the entire company as well.

Xin Xin considered many possibilities on who had spread the rumor. Perhaps it was Yang Rui, or even Rose, or someone who had always hated her.

A few days later, the answer was revealed.

The police tracked down the specific individual using the IP address that initially posted the news. They also found the contact number of the person who contacted the media and spread the news.

Unexpectedly, but understandably, it was Xixi who did this.

Large companies were very efficient in handling public opinion, and within a week, the truth was revealed.

The head office held a press conference, characterizing the incident as a dispute arising from internal conflict. Both Chen Lisha and Rose gave media interviews to clarify the situation, and Xin Xin escaped unscathed.

Chen Wenzhong, who oversaw internal controls and compliance at the head office, was a very rigorous man. The Haining branch, a relatively high-performing branch, had experienced frequent incidents this year, and he personally had a strong opinion of Chen Lisha. He believed that her incompetence had led to divisions within the company.

Thus, the handling of this matter was very harsh. Yang Rui was issued a serious warning. Xin Xin was the person directly responsible, but she did resist and handle the situation promptly, so she was given a warning.

As for Xixi, she was persuaded to resign.

“Why are you trying to persuade me to quit?”

At the meeting with middle and senior management, Xin Xin looked at her. Xixi’s face, always smiling ingratiatingly, now revealed the coldness and exhaustion of a struggle.

Xin Xin suddenly saw Xixi, the innocent, always smiling face of the company when they first came together. She couldn’t understand why Xixi hated her so much.

Xixi sneered at everyone present. “From the time I joined the company until now, I don’t believe I’ve done anything wrong to the company. I worked under Ashley and was even woken up at one in the morning to fix her plumbing. I never had weekends off, and even when I wasn’t working, I had to handle Ashley’s personal affairs.”

As she spoke, her eyes fixed on Xin Xin’s face. “Xin Xin and I joined the company together. I work harder than she does, and my abilities are no less than hers. But what is she doing? She could be working with Zhao Xi, meeting the most valuable clients. Now she has Hanhai behind her, which is enough to protect her career. If it had been… If I have the opportunity to do this project, I won’t be any worse. But I am tutoring Ashley’s children with their homework. Is it wrong for me to sue her for malfeasance in her duties? “

No one spoke at the scene. Lisa Chen frowned and said, “Xixi, these things are our internal problems. But this time you went to the media to spread rumors and cause trouble. It is slander against Xin Xin. She can sue you.”

Sissi sneered, “Slander? When she submitted a report letter to falsely accuse me, why didn’t you ignore her?”

Xin Xin was shocked. “I haven’t submitted any reporting letters.”

Xixi was stunned for a moment and looked at Xin Xin’s expression. Xin Xin’s shock was obvious.

Chen Lisha’s expression was calm, and her emotions could not be seen. “Who submitted the report letter is already an open case, and there is no need to investigate.”

Suddenly, Xixi showed a smile of realization. “I understand; you have wanted me to leave for a long time, and the company has not wanted to keep me for a long time.”

Xin Xin was full of doubts. Like everyone else, she had no doubt that the previous report letter was written by Xixi.

But looking at Xixi, she didn’t seem to be lying at all.

In the end, the farce ended with Chen Wenzhong’s proposed solution: “Zhao Jing, do you know how much the company’s stock price has plummeted because of your malicious media reporting? You can wait for the company’s legal department to handle the matter. Another option is to resign and start anew elsewhere. You violated the law and regulations first, and the company has done its utmost. Don’t use irrelevant things to confuse the public.”

Xixi gritted her teeth, but she couldn’t put her career on the line for her personal feelings, so she finally accepted the option of resigning.

When she left, like her old boss, Ashley, no one came to see her off. After years of work, she finally left with nothing more than a cardboard box.

The box wasn’t sturdy, and Xixi’s belongings fell to the floor at the elevator door.

Xin Xin happened to see her and went over to help her pick up her belongings. “You don’t need to be so charitable.”

Xin Xin smiled. “I’m not being kind. I just came here to see you laugh.”

Xixi glared at Xin Xin, her eyes red. “You’re just lucky. We’ll see.”

Xin Xin said as she picked up her belongings, “Luck is part of strength.”

Xixi, seeing her composure and lack of shame, hesitated and asked, “Tell me the truth. Did you write that letter of accusation to frame me?”

Xin Xin raised her eyes and said frankly and forcefully, “It wasn’t me. I would never, ever, ever do such a thing.”