Chapter 9
Monday, as always, was a busy day.
Fang Mo, who had taken a bath to relax after playing so hard the day before, went to bed early. But when she woke up, she still felt a bit sore and achy in her back. However, as a working person, she had to get up even if she was tired.
There was an important shareholder meeting in the morning today, and there was no room for mistakes.
In the afternoon, a major client was coming, and even though many things had been prepared in advance, she still had to double-check everything when the time came. Not a single mistake could be made.
Fang Mo always kept her playtime and work separate.
"I-I'm sorry, Mr. Yuan. I was being foolish this time. I deserve all the blame, please, I beg you..."
At this moment, the large conference room was extremely quiet, with only the sound of this trembling and remorseful voice echoing throughout.
Nearly ten shareholders frowned as they looked at the scene before them, but no one dared to say anything more at a time like this, fearing that the fire might suddenly turn towards them.
And at this moment, Fang Mo was standing slightly behind Yuan Huaijing, who occupied the seat of honor. She wore a polite smile, appearing unfazed and unconcerned, but internally, her sarcastic comments were about to overflow.
Now you're afraid of regrets? What were you doing earlier?
Making a mistake at work is not a big deal; everyone makes mistakes in their lives.
But some mistakes, clearly, cannot be simply summarized with the word "mistake."
Leaking company secrets for personal gain, almost causing the company to lose a project worth over a hundred million, even if the project was eventually secured, it didn't mean that person's mistake could be forgiven.
You see, because of that flippant "foolishness" from the project manager, the entire project team had to work overtime for half a month. After successfully winning the project, each person took two days off to rest properly.
Even Fang Mo herself stayed up for two consecutive nights!
Even Fang Mo had stayed up for two consecutive nights!
So even though this Manager Li had a prominent shareholder backing him, rumored to be a close relative with a strong relationship, it was impossible for him to be let off so easily. Otherwise, there would be no point in running this company, they might as well just hand it over to someone else.
Just like this shareholder meeting, it was also a way to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. Otherwise, for an "ordinary" manager, such a grand arrangement wouldn't be necessary.
However, not too much time would be spent on this matter. Three minutes to explain the incident, one minute to announce the decision, and thirty seconds left for everyone to observe the former manager's reaction and regret. That would serve as a sufficient warning.
After all, as the current CEO of Yuan Corporation, Yuan Huaijing's time was extremely valuable.
Sure enough, before this Manager Li could finish speaking, with a light tap of Yuan Huaijing's index finger on the table, Fang Mo made a direct gesture, and the two security guards stationed outside the door swiftly entered the conference room. One on the left, one on the right, they escorted the former manager out.
What awaited him was not just being fired, but also legal consequences. Not a single penny of the losses that needed to be compensated could be spared.
If Manager Li didn't cooperate or tried to make any drastic actions, those two sturdy security guards were not to be underestimated.
"Mr. Yuan, give me another chance! I beg you, give me another chance!"
The heart-wrenching plea abruptly came to a halt. The well-trained security guards knew that this young CEO despised noise the most, so they certainly wouldn't allow this person to continue shouting.
Soon, these individuals swiftly and smoothly disappeared from the conference room, restoring the quiet atmosphere.
That shareholder who was rumored to have connections with Manager Li didn't dare utter a word of plea. In these past few years, they had already become well aware of Yuan Huaijing's methods.
If you behave yourself and listen obediently, there will naturally be a share for you when the money is distributed.
But if you try to act out and make a fuss, Yuan Huaijing would quickly remind you that being a shareholder means nothing. There are quite a few who are currently serving time in prison.
They weren't like Mr. Lu, who had confidence in his shares. They could find an excuse and refuse to attend. The amount of Yuan shares they held was insignificant and couldn't cause any waves. Besides, they were getting older and didn't want to bother anymore. As long as Yuan Huaijing could lead Yuan Corporation to prosper, those relatives and friends who relied on connections could be easily dismissed.
After all, they themselves were the most important, and those people wouldn't give them any money.
"Secretary Fang."
"Yes, Mr. Yuan."
The manager's situation didn't bring any emotional fluctuations to Yuan Huaijing. His icy gaze swept over the shareholders below, his face as expressionless as ever.
Everyone was accustomed to it.
Yuan Huaiyan was an iceberg, so wasn't it normal for his younger brother to be an iceberg too?
A chill swept through, and a few shareholders even wanted to rub their arms regardless of their image. Was the air conditioning temperature too low or had Yuan Huaijing's cold aura reached this level?
Their old bones couldn't withstand the cold!
Only Fang Mo, with a standard smile, stepped forward from behind Yuan Huaijing, signaling the assistants standing on both sides to distribute the documents in their hands. Throughout the process, only the sound of flipping papers could be heard, and the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant.
"Please carefully read this document. In the last quarter of this year, Yuan Corporation will..."
Unlike Yuan Huaijing's chilling voice, Fang Mo's voice carried a hint of feminine delight and tenderness.
Her enunciation was clear, and her smile was warm, effectively easing the atmosphere. It felt like the temperature had risen a bit?
If she could hear what the shareholders were thinking now, Fang Mo would definitely quip, "You're overthinking!"
Well, she had quietly raised the temperature of the air conditioning, okay!
Just a few minutes ago, when Yuan Huaijing calmly called out to Fang Mo with an icy expression, she happened to hear one sentence.
[Damn it, who set the air conditioning so low? It's blowing directly at my back! Freezing to death!]
Fang Mo: "..."
Judging by your expression, it's hard to tell if you're feeling cold, especially when Yuan Huaijing's face looks even colder!
But Fang Mo wasn't so wicked as to give Yuan Huaijing a cold. She recalled that Xiaowu had mentioned that the air conditioning in the meeting room had been fixed before, probably without adjusting the air direction, coupled with the powerful cooling, which led to Yuan Huaijing's complaints.
So, while distributing the documents, Fang Mo silently adjusted the air direction and temperature a little, successfully reducing Yuan Huaijing's finger-tapping speed on the table by fifty percent.
[Secretary Fang! Well done!]
[Truly my confidante!]
Ugh...
Fang Mo took two steps back. Boss, don't you find that description a bit disgusting?
Fortunately, this little episode quickly passed, and the meeting continued. By the time it officially ended, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.
Famished, Fang Mo and Yuan Huaijing quickly had lunch and prepared to meet the client at two o'clock in the afternoon.
The other party had just sent a message, saying they would arrive in about half an hour.
Fang Mo went to the restroom to touch up her makeup, tidied her clothes and hair, made sure everything was in order, and then went downstairs with the two assistants to greet the client.
"Secretary Fang, long time no see!"
"Mr. Qian." Fang Mo greeted with her signature smile. "I visited your company last month, but unfortunately, you were away on a business trip."
"Hahaha, that was truly unfortunate..."
Adult pleasantries can be so dull. At first, Fang Mo wasn't accustomed to it. She followed behind the secretary of that time, watching them engage in lively conversations while she could only wear an awkward yet polite smile. But people... they're always evolving.
After just a few years, Fang Mo herself had become one of those dull adults on the surface.
"Huaijing, hahaha, you're still so energetic after all this time. Whenever I see young people like you, this old bone of mine feels even more reluctant to move."
"Not at all."
Fortunately, most people in the industry now know Yuan Huaijing's temperament. Even if he speaks less, it doesn't bother anyone. Sometimes Fang Mo or Zhao Yan would add something from the side, just to avoid any awkwardness.
This Mr. Qian came personally to meet Yuan Huaijing this time not only to discuss two projects they plan to collaborate on next year but also to act as an intermediary, to put it in simpler terms — playing matchmaker.
Perhaps it's a hobby that comes with age. After discussing business matters, Mr. Qian smiled kindly and took out his phone, saying, "Huaijing, I've seen you and your brother grow up. You're already twenty-seven this year, right? It's time to start considering things. Your brother got married around your age too. Take a look at this girl. She's Wang Yaoming's daughter, the heiress of the Wang family. She just returned from studying abroad..."
Blah blah blah. Yuan Huaijing didn't utter a word, but Mr. Qian had already finished talking about this blind date candidate's information. And from Fang Mo's perspective, this girl's credentials were truly top-notch.
Coming from a wealthy family, being accomplished and beautiful herself, and they say she has a great personality too. If she were a man, Fang Mo herself would be smitten.
Unfortunately, it seems that Yuan Huaijing, as the other party, didn't feel any attraction at all. He directly created an awkward atmosphere.
[So annoying! Marriage is a tomb, okay? I'm single and happy!]
[If you have so much free time, why don't you manage your son who came out of the closet?!]
[Why are you staring at me? If I get married, can you at least give me a matchmaker's red envelope?]
Fang Mo: ... Did she just hear something outrageous?
Mr. Qian's son, wasn't he already married? She had met him a few times before, and he seemed quite polite and loving towards his wife.
But it turns out... he's a scumbag!
Fang Mo silently swallowed her curse words. At this moment, even looking at Mr. Qian made her find him repugnant.
She couldn't believe that this father had no knowledge of his son's situation. If even Yuan Huaijing knew about it, it meant that this matter might not be a secret in their circle at all!
But marriages in prestigious families always involve many things. Apart from cursing inwardly, Fang Mo couldn't do much.
However, Yuan Huaijing's complaints were far from over.
[Moreover, wasn't Wang Yaoming's daughter already married and had a child abroad long ago? The child must be three years old now! Old man, what exactly are you trying to imply?]
Fang Mo: ... Shocked, utterly shocked!
She glanced at the photo in Mr. Qian's hand once again. The girl in the photo had a radiant smile. Perhaps because of Yuan Huaijing's words, Fang Mo somehow saw a glimmer of maternal brilliance in her.
Shame on her, shame on her. After silently repeating those words in her heart, she quickly calmed herself.
The next second...
[Don't think I don't know that you liked Wang Yaoming's wife back then, but you pursued her for so long and got nowhere, hehe.]
Fang Mo, Fang Mo was already numb.
Comrade Yuan Huaijing, how do you know so much gossip? It's one thing to know about the office affairs, but you know everything about the outside world too? This is already delving into the previous generation!
Having consumed too much gossip in one breath, Fang Mo felt overwhelmed.
"No need, not interested."
Following her unsynchronized internal complaints, Yuan Huaijing's cold voice came, showing no respect for his elders.
Mr. Qian: "..."
Even if he knew that Yuan Huaijing had this kind of personality, in general, when someone enthusiastically introduces something, they should at least give some face and agree to meet once, right?
"Mr. Qian," Fang Mo quickly intervened as she noticed a slight change in his expression, attempting to defuse the situation. "I apologize sincerely. You know how challenging it has been for our General Manager Yuan these past two years. We have numerous new projects coming up, and he simply doesn't have the time. It wouldn't be fair to keep Miss Wang waiting, don't you agree?"
While she enjoyed observing the drama unfold, Fang Mo couldn't afford to stubbornly watch Mr. Qian leave in frustration. That would be a professional mistake on her part.
However, seeing Yuan Huaijing retort so boldly, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction deep down.
Noticing someone extending him a lifeline, Mr. Qian's expression softened. With Fang Mo's explanation, he also considered the current situation at the Yuan family.
Even though Yuan Huaijing seemed to have consolidated his power and successfully secured his position, the truth was that the entire Yuan family relied solely on him. If anything were to happen to him, none of his relatives would be capable of taking charge.
Mr. Qian remembered that Yuan Huaijing used to have a lively personality as a child, but it changed after he returned from studying abroad. It was likely due to the immense pressure he faced.
"Ah," Mr. Qian sighed and patted Yuan Huaijing's shoulder. "Huaijing, you've had it tough. I understand."
"However, you still need to consider your future."
After offering some advice and seeing Yuan Huaijing "seriously" listening, Mr. Qian left satisfied, reveling in his "elderly authority."
Later, when Fang Mo returned after seeing Mr. Qian off, she noticed Yuan Huaijing deep in thought, his face filled with gravity. It reminded her of the words of advice from Mr. Qian earlier. Although she found them a bit juvenile, Fang Mo always knew that Yuan Huaijing carried an enormous amount of pressure.
Perhaps indulging in gossip was his way of relieving stress? The adult world could be so cruel.
Unaware that the distance between them had shrunk to less than a meter, Fang Mo suddenly heard a familiar voice in her ear.
[What should we have for dinner? I'm really at a loss!]
Fang Mo: ... I swear! The next time I daydream about irrelevant things, I'll be the biggest fool in the world!
Chapter 10
After making her vow, Fang Mo glanced at the time. It was already past 5:40, and there were no important matters to attend to. Her mood instantly brightened, and she happily thought about going home and taking a nice, relaxing bath. It had been an exhausting day.
"Fang Mo! Something terrible happened!"
Bang!
The office door swung open, and Xiaowu rushed in, his face filled with urgency. "Manager Li is on the rooftop of the warehouse! He says he wants to jump!"
Fang Mo's pleasant daydream abruptly came to an end. She was so surprised that she even momentarily hesitated in her reaction.
Manager Li? Oh, it's Li Tao, the guy who was dragged out of the meeting this morning.
Jumping off the rooftop? What was he trying to achieve by risking his life?
Ten minutes later, Yuan Huaijing, along with Zhao Yan, Fang Mo, and others, stood on the rooftop of the warehouse. Li Tao was leaning half against the edge of the railing, his face contorted with a sinister expression. It seemed that one more step and a slight release of his grip would send him plummeting down.
It was around 6:00 in the evening, and the fading sunlight cast an eerie glow on the rooftop, making everyone's faces appear darker.
The police, ambulance, as well as Li Tao's family and the shareholder, had all been contacted by Fang Mo before she arrived. They would arrive soon, hopefully. The immediate priority was to calm this person down.
"Li Tao! If you have any issues, you can discuss them with General Manager Yuan. Remember, life is precious."
To avoid further agitating Li Tao, Zhao Yan refrained from approaching him and instead furrowed his brow, trying to buy some time. At the same time, he pondered how to handle the aftermath of this incident from a public relations perspective.
If Li Tao turned out fine, it wouldn't be too difficult. But if something really happened...
The reputation of the Yuan family would undoubtedly be affected. Moreover, considering Li Tao's strong demand for Yuan Huaijing's presence earlier, it was evident that his target was Huaijing. The situation might not end well.
Don't blame him for being heartless. Compared to Li Tao, who has no remorse and keeps making mistakes, Zhao Yan definitely cares more about and worries for Yuan Huaijing and the Yuan family.
Zhao Yan casually glanced at Yuan Huaijing beside him. His face appeared calm and unreadable.
But as long-time friends, Zhao Yan could sense the suppressed anger within Yuan Huaijing.
"Yuan Huaijing!"
As expected, the moment Li Tao saw Yuan Huaijing appear, he completely ignored the people around him and disregarded what Zhao Yan had said, his expression growing even more resentful.
Without a doubt, if he had a knife in his hand right now, Li Tao would definitely stab Yuan Huaijing first.
"So you want to force me to death, huh! Today, I'll die just to show you! I'll make everyone know what kind of scum you are! You fratricidal murderer! You deserve a miserable death!"
Upon hearing these words, everyone present was shocked.
Li Tao wanted to tarnish Yuan Huaijing's reputation even at the cost of his own life!
If something really happened to him today, Fang Mo was certain that his final words would spread throughout the entire company. Even without any evidence, rumors can be formidable...
Fang Mo and the HR manager had already discussed this on their way here. After the security took Li Tao away in the morning, the HR manager was responsible for communicating with him.
Li Tao would definitely be fired for this, and apart from that, he leaked company secrets, resulting in losses to the company's manpower and resources. He would have to compensate for these damages, and it would leave a mark on his record.
This industry is not that big, and it won't be easy for Li Tao to find another job in the future.
But he brought this upon himself. Since he dared to do such things in the first place, he has to face the consequences.
Yuan Shi is not a charity organization. The law states the amount of compensation and the duration of the closure, and they will not have any objections.
But Li Tao couldn't accept it!
In his opinion, he only took a hundred thousand yuan from someone and casually said a few words. Who knew there would be such serious consequences?
Whether to compensate or not, isn't it just a matter of Yuan Huaijing's word?
Since Yuan Huaijing wants to force him to death, he won't let Yuan Huaijing off easily either!
After Li Tao and the HR manager parted ways in the afternoon, the HR manager thought he had gone home. Unexpectedly, this person somehow got hold of the key to the rooftop and is now threatening to jump off.
A sense of bitterness overwhelmed the HR manager. Regardless of the outcome, they would definitely be derelict in their duty.
They could only hope that Li Tao would come out of this "safely," otherwise, if it involved loss of life, it would be impossible to explain things clearly, no matter how reasonable.
If a competitor took advantage of the situation...
The HR manager looked at Li Tao with much anticipation. Please, don't jump!
"Li Tao! Calm down first! We can discuss any demands you have. Think about your parents, wife, and children!"
They couldn't expect Yuan Huaijing to persuade him. Zhao Yan raised his voice, trying his best to invoke Li Tao's consciousness by mentioning his "family." When people become impulsive, they can do anything.
At this moment, Fang Mo also received a message. The air cushion below was being prepared, the police were about to arrive, and she gestured to Zhao Yan to continue speaking.
Meanwhile, Yuan Huaijing remained cold-faced, unaffected even when Li Tao insulted him directly. He neither refuted nor lost his composure.
Of course, Fang Mo, who was close by, knew that he wasn't as calm as he appeared.
However, because Yuan Huaijing had too many thoughts and Zhao Yan's voice was loud at this moment, Fang Mo couldn't hear clearly. Most of it was drowned out by background noise, except for one sentence.
[That old bastard, it's probably his instigation.]
--Is there more to this incident?
Even though it wasn't the right time to get distracted, Fang Mo couldn't help but sympathize with Yuan Huaijing for a moment.
His luck seemed to be really bad. The people around him had their own agendas. He worked hard to lead Yuan Shi forward, but his reputation was mixed, and there were deliberate obstacles.
"Husband!"
"Son!"
Finally, Li Tao's family arrived.
Watching his family's worried and anxious cries, Li Tao's expression changed slightly. But he knew that if he continued like this, not only would he fail to achieve his goal, but he would also anger Yuan Huaijing.
Since they had reached this point, they were already at odds. Li Tao took a half step forward amidst the heart-wrenching pleas of others, and with a provocative smile, he looked at Yuan Huaijing.
"I don't want Yuan Shi to be cursed by everyone! Yuan Huaijing, you must agree to three conditions!"
A threat! A blatant threat!
"And you have to swear on your family. If you go back on your word, they will all suffer!"
"And it needs to be recorded!"
As if worried that it wasn't secure enough, Li Tao added another sentence.
That person was right. If he stayed silent, and it ended up in court, the Yuan family's influence would definitely make him pay millions. It was better to take a risk, escalate the situation, and make Yuan Huaijing hesitate to make any rash moves.
Anyway, he still had some money. If he couldn't stay in the capital, he could go to other provincial capitals, or even go abroad. It was better than becoming a defaulter or being forced to sell his house and lose money.
Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but furrow their brows. So, this is the power of a scoundrel?
Clearly, it was the other party who made the mistake, yet they were forced to forgive just because a life was at stake? This was truly frustrating.
Fang Mo glanced at Yuan Huaijing and noticed that he happened to look at her as well, with his lips moving slightly.
Air... cushion...
She quickly picked up her phone and glanced at it. Just a minute ago, the assistant sent a message to Fang Mo saying that the air cushion downstairs was ready.
Fang Mo subtly nodded towards Yuan Huaijing, intending to calm herself and "listen" to what he was paying attention to. But to her surprise, Yuan Huaijing walked directly towards Li Tao.
"Mr. Yuan!"
Everyone was shocked and about to intervene, but they were a step too slow. They were afraid that any movement would agitate Li Tao. For a moment, they didn't dare to act recklessly.
However, combining their previous conversation, Fang Mo suddenly had a bold guess.
No way, Mr. CEO, please be cautious!
Fang Mo took a step back, using the bodies of Zhao Yan and the others as cover, and quickly sent a message to Xiao Wu and the others downstairs, asking them to double-check their preparations. Perhaps the air cushion would really be needed.
"D-Don't come any closer! I-I really will jump!"
As Yuan Huaijing approached, the situation took a turn.
Originally, Li Tao was being aggressive and had the upper hand. But now, it seemed like this guy was stuttering in his speech, as if Yuan Huaijing was some unforgivable villain.
Did Li Tao really want to die?
Fang Mo didn't think so.
But they couldn't take the risk, because it was easy for others to exploit the situation.
The police behind them probably also realized that this approach wouldn't work. They were about to speak up when Fang Mo took the initiative: "Officers, please rest assured. This warehouse has a low floor height and no obstructions in the middle. The air cushion has already been prepared. In the worst-case scenario, safety can be guaranteed."
Indeed, Fang Mo not only had no intention of stopping Yuan Huaijing but also launched an assist.
Speaking of which, deep down, she also had a streak of madness, right? Instead of being threatened and coerced, it was better to take a gamble.
Of course, the premise was to ensure her own safety.
This building was an exclusive warehouse in the park, with a large area but not many floors. There were only five floors in total. Although each floor was higher than those of ordinary buildings, Li Tao must have had his own ulterior motives for choosing this building.
At this point, the distance between Yuan Huaijing and Li Tao was less than one meter.
Half of Li Tao's body was suspended in mid-air, and the onlookers below held their breath, afraid to speak.
"You, you... Don't come any closer!"
Yuan Huaijing turned a deaf ear and continued to advance. He even smirked slightly at Li Tao, as if saying, "Jump if you dare! Show me what you've got!"
Li Tao was instantly infuriated and shouted, "Yuan Huaijing! You're the one forcing me into this!"
Did he want to die? Of course not. But sometimes, when people reach a certain point, they easily lose control. Seeing that Yuan Huaijing remained unmoved, Li Tao finally lost the last shred of rationality.
After a loud shout, Li Tao released his grip on the railing and fell backward.
Ah—
Most people exclaimed in shock, and some timid ones even instinctively closed their eyes.
But not Fang Mo!
Upon hearing Li Tao's shout, she quickly ran towards the front.
As expected, Yuan Huaijing descended even faster than Li Tao.
His right hand firmly grasped Li Tao's left foot, with half of his body hanging outside, looking extremely dangerous.
"Yuan CEO!"
Instinctively, Fang Mo wrapped her arms around Yuan Huaijing's waist, trying to act as a counterweight. Surprisingly, she succeeded in preventing further sliding.
At this moment, Li Tao, hanging upside down, was also frightened by this scene. If he had no time to think and just fell straight down, he might not have been as scared. But in the current situation, unsure whether he would fall or not, experiencing this estimated 20-meter height was enough to terrify him.
"Help! Help me! Sob, sob, I don't want to die! Help! Help me!"
Everyone quickly realized the situation and rushed forward to help.
With everyone's efforts, Li Tao was soon pulled back up. However, at this point, he was clearly in a daze, allowing others to lead him away. The impartial law awaited Li Tao.
Moreover, Fang Mo believed that after this incident, Li Tao would no longer dare to use death as a threat.
"You two! I'm truly amazed! Do you really think you're superheroes?"
Inside Yuan Huaijing's office, Zhao Yan crossed his arms, looking disdainfully at the "gloriously injured" Fang Mo and Yuan Huaijing. Even though there was an air cushion below, and the height wasn't particularly high, no one could guarantee that no accidents would occur if someone jumped down.
Just like now, they didn't fall down, but some scrapes were inevitable.
Especially Fang Mo, who wore a pair of high heels today because she had a client meeting. Due to running too hastily, she ended up spraining her foot.
She didn't feel it at the time, but after Yuan Huaijing and the others were pulled back up, Fang Mo noticed her swollen foot.
So, she quickly went to see a doctor for examination and bandaging.
Fortunately, there was no bone injury, just a minor sprain that would heal with a few days of rest.
Compared to that, Yuan Huaijing's near-dislocated hand was nothing worth mentioning.
Facing Zhao Yan's anger, neither Fang Mo nor Yuan Huaijing provoked him further. It appeared as though they were listening to his rant, but in reality, their minds had wandered off to different places.
Yuan Huaijing first pondered on how to properly repay this "great gift," and then he thought about Fang Mo's performance at that time. Despite the limited communication between them in that situation, Fang Mo not only quickly understood his intentions but also displayed courage and handled everything thoroughly.
The feeling of such understanding and connection! It's just too good~
Moreover, they say that when someone saves your life, you should devote yourself to them. Fang Mo doesn't have a boyfriend, could this be a hint from the heavens?
Completely unaware of Yuan Huaijing's intention to repay Fang Mo's kindness with enmity, there was a doubt in her mind at this moment.
—Damn it, why does Yuan Huaijing have abs when we both spend most of our time sitting in the office?!