Financial Workplace Survival Guide – CH 060

Chapter 60 ☆, I Like You Because You Are A Good Person.

Xin Xin’s confidence that Zheng Zaochuan was a good person stemmed from the events following the Hanhai project.

At that time, a major uproar was caused by the embezzlement of public funds by the general manager of a sister branch. The head office implemented an internal management innovation, namely the internal auditor system, which appointed an internal auditor to conduct audits of each branch.

Auditing was perfectly acceptable and not a big deal; it was usually done once a year. But the position of internal auditor was a bit more delicate. The head office sent an internal auditor to work with the branch manager for three months straight to produce a detailed internal audit report, much liked an imperial envoy.

The system applied equally to everyone, with each branch having its own designated “expert.” However, the criteria for evaluation differed for different individuals.

At that time, Zhao Xi was like the rising sun in the Haining branch, with unstoppable momentum. But as the saying goes, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind.

Not long after receiving the imperial envoy, Xin Xin discovered his deep-seated malice.

Looking back now, perhaps the struggle between Lin Chong’an and Zhao Xi had already quietly begun at this stage.

As Zhao Xi’s top subordinate, Xin Xin was unsurprisingly implicated.

While investigating their marketing expenses, the “imperial envoy” discovered that 80% of Xin Xin’s marketing expenses were used for marketing Hanhai. Each frontline marketing staff member had a certain amount of marketing funds. In those years, there had been no strict financial systems like there were now, and expenses for gifts and meals to clients could be reimbursed as normal marketing expenses.

To prevent the misuse of marketing funds, some internal control procedures had been implemented, such as the assessment of marketing expense concentration. This was mainly to prevent the misuse of reserve funds; generally, more than 80% of the reserve funds should not be used for the same client. Reserve funds were also used to regulate senior management. After all, senior management had more reserve funds and greater freedom, making it possible for them to embezzle public funds.

But Xin Xin was just an ordinary manager at that time, and her marketing expenses were barely enough for a meal out with clients.

The imperial envoy clearly intended to use Xin Xin as a scapegoat and was determined to punish her.

At that time, Xin Xin’s working hours were not long, so a disciplinary action was a big deal for her. Moreover, she felt really wronged in this matter, as her biggest client at the time was Hanhai.

Zhao Xi argued forcefully, trying to fight for Xin Xin’s legitimate rights.

However, seeing that Zhao Xi was wholeheartedly protecting Xin Xin, the “imperial envoy” felt he had gained leverage over Zhao Xi and thus spared no effort in exploiting the situation. He criticized Xin Xin in meetings large and small every day, and from time to time, he escalated the matter to the level of embezzlement.

Feeling disheartened, Xin Xin even considered quitting her job.

Coincidentally, on the day the criticism meeting ended, Zheng Zaochuan called her to dinner. Although the two initially met because of work, after spending some time together, a friendship that was not entirely business-related also developed.

Xin Xin told Zheng Zaochuan, “I will never eat with you again.”

“Why?”

Xin Xin said dejectedly, “My company says I spent marketing expenses on your company, and they’re going to punish me.”

Zheng Zaochuan laughed. “Okay, Xin Xin, you’re using public funds to treat me to dinner?”

Xin Xin was furious and recounted all the expenses they had incurred since they met, as if counting their treasures. “Go ahead and calculate. It’s just that I organized a few events for your company, which are normal marketing expenses. I paid for all the meals we had in private, and I also paid for the flower basket I sent you for your birthday last time.”

“Wow, really? I thought it was a gift from your company.”

Upon hearing this, Xin Xin’s face fell again. “What do you mean? My marketing budget isn’t even enough to buy a cup of coffee for your company’s managers. All the gifts I gave you personally are things I have to pay for myself.”

Perhaps from that time on, their relationship became more than just that of a client and an underwriter.

Although Xin Xin maintained a relationship with Zheng Zaochuan as an important client for a very long time afterward, his significance to her was actually quite different, even as a client.

Because he was Xin Xin’s first truly important client.

Xin Xin would mark his birthday on the calendar, send him a blessing text message first on holidays, and put aside other things to have a meal with him when he came to see her.

Zheng Zaochuan asked Xin Xin many times, “Why are you so good to me?”

Xin Xin answered truthfully, “You are an important client of mine.”

Upon learning of this, Zheng Zaochuan found it both amusing and unsettling but didn’t take it to heart. “I’ll treat you to dinner. Don’t worry, I’ll help you resolve this. Trust me, consider it a way of repaying you for the flower basket you paid for yourself.”

Xin Xin was helpless about the situation and could only give up and eat a small hot pot with Zheng Zaochuan. Even long afterward, Xin Xin remembered that they spent 137 yuan that day, and Zheng Zaochuan paid the bill.

Later, Zheng Zaochuan never mentioned the matter again, and Xin Xin waited anxiously for the “imperial envoy” to leave her a punishment before leaving.

Unexpectedly, the matter was glossed over and forgotten.

Xin Xin was unaware of the situation, the “imperial envoy” was serious, and Zhao Xi remained tight-lipped.

Later, Mary, who was still in the finance department, told Xin Xin that Zheng Zaochuan had settled the matter. Perhaps it was through coercion, or perhaps through bribery, but in any case, Xin Xin’s innocence was cleared.

Mary looked at Xin Xin with pity and said, “Poor thing, I think you’re about to fall into Zheng Zaochuan’s trap. That’s the kind of man who treats women like this, making them fall in love with him without realizing it and then cruelly rejecting them.”

Xin Xin was well aware of Zheng Zaochuan’s terrible romantic history at that time, and she felt from the bottom of her heart that she would not fall in love with someone whose personality was completely unstable.

But the favors we should remember should still be remembered.

Xin Xin called Zheng Zaochuan and asked, “CEO Zheng, did you explain the marketing expenses for me?”

Zheng Zaochuan remained noncommittal. “You’re the first person to remember my birthday so clearly, and you even bought me flowers with company funds. How could I let you be wronged because of me?”

Xin Xin smiled and didn’t ask any further questions. She knew that Zheng Zaochuan must have put in some effort, but he certainly wouldn’t boast about it in front of her.

Because of this incident, Xin Xin and Zheng Zaochuan’s relationship took a big step closer.

Shortly after, Zheng Zaochuan was drinking with a client, and when he was quite tipsy, he ran into Xin Xin at the doorstep. Perhaps because he recognized her, he smiled at her.

“Star, it’s you.”

Before Xin Xin could reply, Zheng Zaochuan had already passed out drunk.

Left with no other choice, Xin Xin used all her strength to help him up, encouraging him, “Mr. Zheng, hang in there; don’t get drunk. Tell me first, where do you live?”

Zheng Zaochuan’s body and mind were out of sync, and he muttered, “I have no home; I haven’t had a home for a long time.”

Xin Xin coaxed him, “Yes, you have them. I know them all. Near the Pearl Tower, right?”

Zheng Zaochuan suddenly looked up, staring at Xin Xin with his dark, wet eyes, and said very seriously, “No, no. That’s not home. Please take me to your home. Please take me in.”

Xin Xin had to admit that when a man with a handsome face looked at you with an innocent and vulnerable expression, begging you to take him in, it was a truly moving experience.

This scene was enough to awaken some of her maternal instincts. She painstakingly carried Zheng Zaochuan home and even very politely let him sleep in the bed while she slept on the sofa.

After sobering up, Zheng Zaochuan was deeply moved and solemnly said to Xin Xin, “From now on, we are sworn brothers. I will help you with anything you need.”

Zheng Zaochuan kept his word, and later, Hanhai’s business grew bigger and bigger. Many securities firms came to them for cooperation, but as long as Zheng Zaochuan was involved, he would say one thing: his business followed her. Wherever Xin Xin went, he would go.

From then on, they formed a very solid cooperative relationship. Beyond the cooperative relationship, he truly treated Xin Xin’s home as his own and would come over uninvited whenever he was in a bad mood.

But as of now, they both found it difficult to define each other. It was neither a candid friendship nor a passionate love; it was like a story written into a dead end, a tangled web of emotions.

The author was unaware of the outcome or direction while writing.

Xin Xin felt embarrassed because she bumped into Xi Bei and Zheng Zaochuan. She thought about it for a long time but couldn’t help wanting to ask “him. However, she didn’t have a good reason to ask him directly.

After thinking for a long time, Xin Xin could only awkwardly ask, “Is your girlfriend misunderstanding something? Aren’t you going to explain?”

Zheng Zaochuan looked at her intently for a long time before sighing and saying, “She’s not my little girlfriend.”

Xin Xin blurted out a question, “She’s not your girlfriend, yet you gave her the house?”

Zheng Zaochuan seemed to have calmed down. He looked at Xin Xin with a smile and asked, “How did you know I gave her the house?”

Xin Xin paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes and said, “I saw the news.”

“Are you jealous?”

Normally, Xin Xin would have denied it without hesitation and would have asked him in return, “Am I the kind of person who gets jealous?”

But at this moment, she suddenly grew tired of being hypocritical and frankly admitted, “Yes, I was very upset. I didn’t understand why you could let other people move into your house after inviting me to it. It made me feel like you were telling everyone that.”

Zheng Zaochuan looked at Xin Xin quietly, his face showing an indescribable joy and happiness, like the satisfaction of receiving a beloved toy.

“Xin Xin, are you often jealous of me?”

Xin Xin admitted, “Yes, I think I like you. I’ve already confessed to you, and you rejected me. Maybe I could have continued our ambiguous relationship before, but now I’m tired. Perhaps we should consciously maintain our boundaries and each take a step back.”

Zheng Zaochuan seemed to be deep in thought, and after a while he said, “Have you ever thought about whether you like me or just feel grateful to me?”

“Ah?”

Zheng Zaochuan analyzed seriously, “Have you ever thought about this? In the past, you always treated me as a client. I was the one who kept getting close to you, trying to cater to your preferences, trying my best to remove obstacles for you, and providing you with accommodation when you were in trouble. Did you like me, or were you grateful to me?”

Xin Xin was stunned. She never expected that Zheng Zaochuan would suddenly start an analysis meeting at such an emotional moment.

“Can’t I like you because I’m grateful to you? Or should I feel like liking you just because you’re a good person?”