There, Huo Rou walked into the conference room, her gaze deep as she looked at Xiao Liu.
"It can only be you," her tone devoid of its usual languor, carrying a hint of darkness.
Xiao Liu, who had been agonizing in anticipation, instantly crumbled under Huo Rou's gaze.
"I was wrong, Director Huo," Xiao Liu said, cold sweat streaming down his face. "I shouldn't have been blinded by greed and driven by profit."
"Please, spare me this once..."
Huo Rou slammed her palm onto the table, a murderous aura erupting. "Spare you? What about the grave mistakes made due to your selfishness? How will you account for them!"
"I only changed a small detail. It shouldn't have had any impact. The Qin Group has already signed the contract. A minor oversight, easily corrected..."
"A thousand-mile dike can collapse from an ant's nest," Huo Rou said, seeing that he still didn't take it seriously. Despite his apparent panic, he still harbored a sliver of hope.
"If we hadn't stopped it in time today, the consequences would have been unimaginable. You couldn't bear them," Huo Rou's eyes began to reveal a growing darkness. "You haven't considered any of this, have you?"
"But nothing happened," Xiao Liu mumbled, his head lowered.
If something had truly happened, Huo Rou would be leading the entire technical department to devise solutions and plug loopholes, not spending so much time here hunting for an inside traitor.
She wouldn't be able to fool him.
A storm brewed in Huo Rou's eyes. Stubborn, self-righteous! Just like him, exactly like him!
*Smack—*
She slapped Xiao Liu across the face.
Although she was much younger than Xiao Liu and not as tall, her terrifying presence made Xiao Liu cover his face, momentarily speechless.
Those outside the conference room heard the commotion and were stunned. What—
Did Xiao Liu hit someone?
They rushed to the door and pushed it open, intending to help Huo Rou. Regardless, Huo Rou was a woman; how could an inside traitor become so aggressive?!
Upon entering, the scene was completely different from what they had imagined.
Huo Rou's face was sinister, her eyes as terrifying as if she were looking at her father's murderer.
While the traitor was detestable, the damage had been stopped in time, and the issue discovered. She shouldn't be this enraged.
"If I hadn't been nearby, given the situation today, at most half of the Qin Group's data would have been salvageable."
"At that time..." Huo Rou gritted her teeth, consumed by hatred. "Everyone would have paid for your actions."
Xiao Liu looked unconvinced, feeling that Huo Rou was making a mountain out of a molehill.
"Call the police," Qin Ningyi's voice echoed.
Huo Rou turned back in surprise. Qin Ningyi, leading An An, appeared. He looked at Xiao Liu's swollen cheek and then at Huo Rou's reddened palm. He stepped forward and took her hand.
"Talking to some people is useless. They have to bear the consequences of their actions."
Qin Ningyi, initially concerned about Huo Rou, had heard from those coming out that the technical department had blocked signals and was undertaking a major operation. This prompted him to come with An An.
Fortunately, he met Luo Chen, who was rushing back, and Luo Chen cleared the way for him.
"The losses you've caused our Qin Group, I will have a lawyer settle with you," Qin Ningyi said, holding Huo Rou gently as he felt her distress. He spoke to Xiao Liu word by word, "I will definitely make you remember this lesson."
Soon, police sirens wailed, and the weak-kneed Xiao Liu was taken away.
Huo Rou turned off the signal jammer, and everything returned to normal.
Duan Rui, in his office, saw the police arrive and his heart sank. Watching Xiao Liu being taken away by the police, he suddenly remembered that even if Xiao Liu confessed truthfully, he was only bribed by Zhenmei Company, and it had nothing to do with Duan Rui himself.
Relieved, he let out a sigh.
He had initially expected that Zhenmei Company, upon receiving the news, would show no mercy to the Qin Group, and their system would face paralysis. For such a large group, system paralysis for even half an hour would have been enough to put Huo Rou in a difficult situation.
Huo Rou would have faced high compensation, just like the previous director, and at that point, even Xiao Yuda wouldn't be able to protect her. The director's position would be his for the taking!
But the Qin Group was indeed the Qin Group; unlike the previous company, it hadn't completely collapsed. Their security center must be incredibly competent to have held out until Luo Chen arrived to resolve the problem.
They really got off easy.
"Deputy Director Duan, Director Huo is truly not simple!" his confidant entered from outside, his expression one of deep concern.
Duan Rui was dismissive. If someone could trap them all and interrogate them one by one, how could they be simple?
"Hmm?"
"Qin Ningyi came to support her! He was the one who called the police too!"
Duan Rui shot to his feet.
Qin Ningyi was here? The Qin Ningyi who had kicked him out of the Qin Group and forbidden him from ever returning!
With a sinister look on his face, he spoke with feigned righteousness, "Can an outsider like him enter the technical department as he pleases?"
He then headed out, wanting Qin Ningyi to experience the taste of being kicked out.
Arriving at Huo Rou's office door, just as he was about to speak, he saw a miniature version of Qin Ningyi sitting at the desk.
"Deputy Director Duan, is there something you need?" Huo Rou's voice came from the sofa.
Duan Rui looked over to see Qin Ningyi sitting beside Huo Rou, playfully twirling her fingers as if no one else were present.
No wonder Qin Ningyi had kicked him out. So, he and Huo Rou had been colluding all along, and even had such a big child!
No wonder!
No wonder Huo Rou hadn't faced any repercussions this time, and no wonder the problem was resolved so quickly. It must be that Qin Ningyi had found an expert to help her.
"Director Huo, the technical department involves too much confidential information. It's best for outsiders to have less access," Duan Rui advised Huo Rou in a seemingly professional manner.
Huo Rou smiled wryly, "Deputy Director Duan is joking. My office doesn't even have a single document, so what confidential technology could it involve?"
Duan Rui was left speechless. Huo Rou's office indeed had no secrets, because all matters only reached his level. Only this shameless woman, who relied on men to climb the ladder, could act so nonchalantly about having no real power.
"Then why not come to our company? I'll give you all our secrets," Qin Ningyi seized the opportunity to poach talent.
Huo Rou rolled her eyes at him and said nothing.
Duan Rui left with a dark expression.
He harbored extreme hatred in his heart.
Why was he working so hard, yet the company didn't see it!
It was bad enough to let a woman who knew nothing be in charge. Just when he thought he had found an opportunity to get rid of her, she easily resolved the situation by relying on the powerful Qin Ningyi.
He was filled with resentment! All the humiliation, all the unwillingness, surged within him in an instant.
"Deputy Director Duan, are you alright?" His confidant waited outside, seeing his resentful look and expressing concern.
Deputy Director, always Deputy Director!
Duan Rui had had enough of this life. Since the company didn't recognize his abilities, he would no longer be foolishly loyal to the company.
Returning to his office, he scrolled through his phone and found a number. He dialed it.
"I accept your terms. After the deed is done, I want your Director position."
The person on the other end laughed heartily and agreed without hesitation.
Duan Rui looked at the documents and software on his computer, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he opened the source files.