"No," Lin Mei interrupted Xiao Yue helplessly, having guessed what Xiao Yue was thinking. "I've been suspended for investigation. I might as well take this time to be with you and take care of Dad after his surgery."
"Suspended for investigation? What's this about?" Lin Zhengde asked, his expression serious.
This was something she had to tell them anyway. It was just that Ming Zhou's arrival had disrupted her plans slightly. Lin Mei stated seriously, "Someone reported me to the relevant authorities, saying my business operations were suspected of violating regulations. They're investigating now, and I can't work for a while."
Xiao Yue: "Who reported you? What did they say? Will your job be affected?"
Xiao Yue asked all the questions Lin Zhengde wanted to ask, and Lin Zhengde waited anxiously for Lin Mei's reply.
Lin Mei didn't mention Chen Qi's report. She responded truthfully to the latter two questions, "There's nothing wrong with my business operations. This was a report driven by malicious competition. A clear conscience fears no accusation; they won't find any problems, and they can't do anything to me."
With Lin Mei's assurance, Lin Zhengde and Xiao Yue finally relaxed. Lin Mei had put in a lot of effort to get into the bank back then, and she had worked diligently over the years. It would be too unfair if she lost her job due to malicious reporting by others.
—
As soon as Xing Zheng arrived at Nanjiang Bank, he overheard several employees discussing Lin Mei's investigation. They all had a schadenfreude attitude and even resorted to slut-shaming Lin Mei.
"When Zhao Zong's wife came before, I guessed this day would come sooner or later. Director Sun liked her so much... Tsk, she probably wasn't just involved with Director Sun, was she?"
"Haha, Old Sun is old enough to be her father! Her taste is really heavy!"
"What does it matter if he's her father? As long as he can give her money, even a grandfather is fine."
The group discussed this as if no one else was around. After they finished, they noticed Xing Zheng standing nearby, having overheard their conversation. Xing Zheng was a major client of the bank. After Shuang Mu returned, its momentum had been rapid. Looking around, who in Nanjiang didn't know Xing Zheng's name?
He had a powerful aura and commanded respect without anger. Seeing him, they quickly bowed and greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Xing."
"Why has Mr. Xing come today?" Chen Qi happened to arrive. He was in high spirits today. Seeing Xing Zheng, he stepped forward to greet him, simultaneously signaling those employees to leave.
Seeing Chen Qi's cheerful demeanor, Xing Zheng casually asked, "Manager Chen seems to be in a good mood today?"
Chen Qi: "Mr. Xing is thoughtful. Indeed, I'm quite well. Mr. Xing is here to see Director Sun, right? He's in his office!"
Xing Zheng ignored him and walked past Chen Qi towards the director's office. Chen Qi felt Xing Zheng's attitude was rather cold today and was somewhat displeased. It's not like he had that much money to be so arrogant.
However, Chen Qi was in a good mood and didn't dwell on it. He had just signed a major cooperation deal, which was the icing on the cake.
Xing Zheng had not informed Director Sun before his arrival, so Director Sun was very surprised to see him. He quickly stood up to welcome him, "Mr. Xing, why didn't you announce your arrival? Please, sit, sit!"
Although Director Sun was much older than Xing Zheng, he always maintained a humble posture in front of him. Every bank in Nanjiang wanted to poach a major client like Xing Zheng. Holding onto him meant holding onto performance.
Xing Zheng sat down, and Director Sun asked him, "May I ask what brings Mr. Xing here today?"
"Has Shuang Mu's business liaison with the bank changed?" Xing Zheng asked casually. "Where is Manager Lin?"
Upon mentioning Lin Mei, Director Sun's expression became troubled. He didn't know how to explain the embarrassing incident that had occurred at the bank in the past few days to Xing Zheng.
Xing Zheng raised an eyebrow. "Director Sun, please speak your mind."
"Alas, it's my fault for misjudging people. Some things have happened at the bank these past few days. Lin Mei is suspected of violating regulations and has been taken away for investigation. I can't protect her, and she's likely to be dismissed."
"Oh?" Is it that he can't protect her, or he won't? Xing Zheng knew perfectly well. Director Sun had been so eager to use Lin Mei, and now that she was in trouble, he was just as quick to kick her while she was down.
Xing Zheng smiled and said, "Wasn't Manager Lin promoted by Director Sun himself? How can you not protect her?"
Director Sun: "You might not know, but Lin Mei is involved in more than just this one issue!"
"When she was dating Chen Qi, she was not proper and found a rich man outside. A video of it was exposed on the company's internal network. The person who reported it saw the video and then suspected her of engaging in transactions for money and sex, so they reported her to the authorities."
Director Sun recounted the events to Xing Zheng, seemingly stating facts, but in reality, he was already convicting Lin Mei with his words. As astute as Xing Zheng was, he could not fail to understand this.
"Not only that, but she also photoshopped Chen Qi's pictures and spread them, deliberately smearing Chen Qi's image..." Xing Zheng curled his lips and let out a sneer, "Since you can suspect the photos were photoshopped, why not suspect the video was fabricated?"
Director Sun carefully considered Xing Zheng's question and belatedly realized that he seemed to be on Lin Mei's side.
Director Sun felt a chill down his spine. He considered himself adept at reading people, but when facing Xing Zheng, he couldn't fathom his true intentions. "Mr. Xing, what you mean is...?"
Xing Zheng: "Lin Mei is my person."
Director Sun's pupils dilated, and he froze in place, staring blankly at Xing Zheng. He even suspected his hearing had malfunctioned.
What did Xing Zheng say? Lin Mei was his person?
If that were true, Lin Mei would certainly not be dealt with by the authorities. He had abandoned Lin Mei and helped Chen Qi. How would Xing Zheng deal with him...?
The more Director Sun thought about it, the more frightened he became.
"Lin, Lin Mei... you and her..." Director Sun stammered, but after a long while, he couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Xing Zheng paid no mind to his reaction, merely warning him, "If anything happens to her, Shuang Mu's cooperation with Nanjiang Bank will end here."
Director Sun: "..."
He finally understood! Perhaps Xing Zheng's initial approach to cooperate with Nanjiang Bank was solely for Lin Mei!
He hadn't realized the illicit relationship between Xing Zheng and Lin Mei!
"Mr. Xing, please rest assured, I'll call the authorities right away and strongly vouch for Lin Mei. I believe in Lin Mei's business capabilities; she's definitely fine!" Director Sun explained, fumbling for his phone to call the authorities. He didn't know that Lin Mei had already been brought out by Xing Zheng and assumed she was still detained and under investigation.
"No need. I will handle her matters," Xing Zheng stopped Director Sun. "Your time would be better spent dealing with Chen Qi's issues."
Director Sun was confused again. Dealing with Chen Qi's issues? Hadn't Chen Qi already broken up with Lin Mei? What else was there to deal with?
Did Xing Zheng not only snatch his girlfriend from Chen Qi but also want to get Chen Qi removed from the bank for Lin Mei?
"Knock, knock, knock!"
A series of urgent knocks interrupted Director Sun's thoughts. He said, "Come in."
Xing Zheng looked down at the hour hand on his watch, then turned towards the office door.
Standing outside the door was Chen Qi, followed by two individuals from the prosecution agency.