Hidden moth

Chapter 114 It’s always hard to talk when you are speechless

Before departure, everyone packed their bags. Suddenly, the department had an urgent task. The original team was short-staffed, so at least one team leader-level business backbone had to stay behind...

When President E announced the news publicly, several P4-level business managers in the department lowered their heads. Gao Xue'e stopped talking and just stared at Huang Xiaopang.

Huang Xiaopang reluctantly took the initiative to say: "If it really doesn't work, I'll just stay. Work is more important!"

After Ms. E left, everyone could only hear Huang Xiaopang cursing and mumbling something.

Gao Xue'e's arrangement was really calculated. The travel agency could help refund the air ticket, but it was too late to change other itinerary arrangements.

There were a total of 29 people going abroad for team building, 11 female employees and 18 male employees including Huang Si. Except for the supervisor Gao Xue'e who stayed in a single room with a large bed, the travel agency arranged standard double rooms for everyone else.

The hotel is of high quality, all according to five-star standards.

The accommodation list had been decided long ago, and He Kao and Xiao Pang would stay in the same hotel for each of the three leg of the trip. Xiao Pang couldn't go, so during the time he was abroad, He Kao would stay in a room all to himself, sleeping in whichever bed he wanted.

After getting off the plane on the first day, Gao Xue'e was taken to the hotel by the tour group's bus. She stood there with her hands behind her back, watching the tour guide distribute room cards to everyone, and then everyone went upstairs.

He Kao swiped his card to enter the room, but suddenly turned around and stopped. His colleague Zhang Duqian, pushing a suitcase, was about to follow him in after he opened the door, but was blocked at the door.

He Kao: "Lao Zhang, what are you doing? This is not your room. I just saw it downstairs. Your room is on the seventh floor, and it seems to be the same room as Xiao Li's."

From the moment he received the room card in the lobby, He Kao noticed that Lao Zhang was staring at him, and then followed him with his luggage. Not to mention a hidden moth, even an ordinary person could sense that something was wrong.

Could it be that besides Yang Lingxi, someone has planted other spies in the company, but how could it be Lao Zhang?
Zhang Duqian is the oldest employee in the project team. He came earlier than Gao Xue'e and is 4 years old this year. He is a P-level business manager and is at the same team leader level as Huang Si within the department.

He usually seems very honest and kind, often smiling and appearing very humble.

Lao Zhang used to be the deputy director of another department. Later, the department was abolished and he was downgraded to this department for internal optimization. After that, he has never been promoted again. He is one of those old-fashioned people who can get around very well.

(Note: There is a story about Lao Zhang purchasing a printer in the previous article. For details, please see Chapter 061 of this book.)
No matter what organization, large departments with a large number of staff often have such old hands. They are old, have long experience, have complex personal connections, and know a lot of internal gossip.

They are the best at slacking off. Even if it is a new business that has just been launched, they can sense which tasks are thankless and which tasks are easy and can easily increase sales.

This wasn't a big deal, as it was at least an advantage in experience, but new supervisors often couldn't manage such people. Gao Xue'e preferred to use new employees like He Kao, whom she had personally recruited, for a reason.

Lao Zhang was definitely not planted by "those people". Could it be that he was bribed recently? He Kao had been a little nervous these days, so it was inevitable that he would make such an association.

Seeing He Kao stopped and didn't let him in, Lao Zhang smiled and took out a room card and handed it to him, saying, "He Kao, I have something to do here, so I need to change rooms with you. You can go to the seventh floor and live with Xiao Li."

So that's what's going on. He Kao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "No!"

He didn't ask Lao Zhang what he wanted. In matters like this, if you want to refuse something, it's best to just refuse directly. If you ask the other party for the reason, it would seem like you are making excuses for the other party. The more you talk, the more reasonable the other party seems.

Old Zhang was stunned and quickly said in a stern tone: "I have things to deal with, including urgent business at the unit. It's okay for you to go alone..." As he spoke, he turned sideways and dragged the box to squeeze in.

"You figure it out yourself. I also have things to deal with." He Kao stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Lao Zhang's shoulder. A soft force sent Lao Zhang out, and the box with wheels also slid out the door.

The efforts he made in this period of time were not in vain. As a second-level assassin, his physical fitness and natural force-generating skills far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Old Zhang didn't react at all and involuntarily retreated to the door. Then he heard a click and the door was closed.

Old Zhang stood in the corridor and couldn't help feeling angry, not only because He Kao didn't agree, but also because of He Kao's attitude of refusal. Wasn't it too arrogant?

He didn't even let him in, he just pushed him out without saying a word! Is there anything that can't be discussed between colleagues, let alone with a senior who is so virtuous and respected?
In fact, he had set his eyes on He Kao in the lobby and wanted to change rooms with him, but Gao Xue'e was watching with her hands behind her back, so he didn't say anything and followed He Kao upstairs.

Based on his understanding of He Kao, he thought that the young man would be embarrassed to refuse his request, and even if he was reluctant, he would take his luggage and live in the same room with Xiao Li.

Zhang Duqian has been to Sawa more than once. Due to both historical and current reasons, the service industry here is particularly developed, especially that kind of service. He has already figured out the way after his first two visits.

This time, I'm doing a team building with the whole department, so I have to be careful about everything. If I were to share a room with Xiao Li, it wouldn't be very convenient...

The simplest way was to change rooms with He Kao, but unexpectedly this guy didn't give him face. Lao Zhang was very angry but couldn't do anything about it. He suddenly realized with disappointment that He Kao had changed!
He Kao is no longer the enthusiastic young man who was always careful to read people's faces, did not want to offend anyone, and was willing to help with everything when he first joined the company.

Of course He Kao has changed. If it were in the past, he would definitely be embarrassed to refuse the other party's request. Now it's not that he has become thick-skinned, but his mentality has changed, and his way of thinking about dealing with problems has also evolved.

He saw through Lao Zhang's little thoughts, but he didn't feel sorry or embarrassed, he just found it a little funny.

Old Zhang had no idea what he was thinking or what he was worried about.

To put it bluntly, now that He Kao has come to Sawa Country, can't the people who want to deal with him behind the scenes follow him? After leaving Dong Country, he can do a lot of lawless things here.

If someone really chose this opportunity to do something to He Kao, if he exchanged rooms with Lao Zhang, and the other party sneaked in based on the hotel registration information, Lao Zhang would probably not even know how he died!

This was just a small episode and He Kao didn't take it seriously, but Lao Zhang was not done yet.

The next day's breakfast was a buffet in the hotel. Zhang Duqian saw Gao Xue'e sitting there, so he walked over with his plate and said, "Ms. E, someone said that it's easier to see a person clearly when traveling, and I think that makes sense.

Gao Xue'e: "What do you want to say?"

Zhang Duqian: "Have you noticed that He Kao has changed recently?"

Gao Xue'e: "I'm not sure if He Kao has changed. But some people, the older they get, the thicker their skin becomes!"

These words were clearly full of sarcasm, making it difficult for Lao Zhang to continue. He even suspected that He Kao had already complained to General E.

Even such a thing requires complaining to the leader. That kid has really changed, becoming more and more ignorant. How can he do such a thing in such a big company? He will not be liked by others!

Old Zhang guessed right and wrong, because He Kao did not complain to Gao Xue'e, he just told it as a joke.

Gao Xue'e felt both amused and angry.

Forget about changing rooms, even serious company business wasn't something Zhang could control. He Kao's supervisors at work, in descending order, were Huang Si, the team leader; Gao Xue'e, the supervisor; Qian Guran, the deputy director in charge; and Fang Qizhi, the president.

Although He Kao has "evolved", he has not become a veteran, nor does he intend to become one, so now he cannot fully guess what Qian Gu, the real veteran far away in Qiyuan, will do?
Lao Qian told He Kao to travel abroad first and discuss anything after he returned home. In fact, he was lying to him.

Qian Guran's real plan was to take advantage of He Kao's absence to resolve certain issues, or at least eliminate certain hidden dangers, so that no matter what happened, it would not be He Kao's fault.

After Lao Qian got a higher position and achieved higher cultivation, he became a little inflated, or more confident, and seemed to have more sense of responsibility.

On the second day after He Kao went abroad, Qian Guran called Yang Lingxi to his office. He decided to alert the enemy.

When Yang Lingxi entered, Old Qian was sitting in the back of the spacious office, working on something on his laptop. He looked up and said, "Xiao Yang, come and sit! The door is open, no need to close it..."

Maybe he didn't hear clearly, or maybe his hand accidentally touched the door handle, but when Yang Lingxi walked over, the door still turned and closed gently.

Qian's heart sank at the sight, but he didn't get up to open the door again, still smiling and amiable. Yang Lingxi sat down and asked nervously, "Mr. Qian, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Qian Guran's tone was full of concern: "You have been in the company for almost a month. How do you feel?"

Yang Lingxi: "That's great, very good! Many of my classmates envy me for being able to work in such a great company..."

Qian Guran: "How are you getting along with your colleagues?"

Yang Lingxi: "Everyone is very good. They care about me and take good care of me. They have taught me a lot..."

Qian Guran still had a smile on his face. "But I recently heard someone in the company say something. It's about a young man in a certain department, also newly hired this year, who has some issues with his work style. Have you heard about it?"

Yang Lingxi had heard that He Kao was Vice President Qian's man in the company, so she quickly explained, "Are you talking about He Kao? I heard about it, but I didn't believe it at all. I even had a fight with two colleagues about it a few days ago.

Mr. Qian, is this what you're looking for me for? I know it was wrong to quarrel and I'm willing to apologize, but I was just a little angry at the time..."

Qian Guran shook his head and said, "No matter what the matter is, we must debate what needs to be debated. Without struggle, there will be no unity. However, our goal is to seek unity through struggle.

I heard about this incident and conducted a special investigation. The simplest and most primitive method I used was to ask a few people who told them the story and what evidence they had.
For example, Zhang San heard it from Li Si, Li Si heard it from Wang Wu, and Wang Wu heard it from Zhao Liu, but there has to be a limit, right? In the end, they all heard it from you, and it is said that you saw it with your own eyes!

Could you please explain what's going on?"

In fact, Yang Lingxi had been mentally prepared, but she still looked flustered and said, "Boss Qian, you misunderstood, it's not like that!
I did see He Kao that day in a street cafe and said hello to him. There was a girl sitting across from him, and she was crying, which I found a little strange.

The next day at lunch, I heard a colleague mention He Kao, and I casually mentioned this incident. They then began analyzing various possibilities, speculating about the relationship between He Kao and the girl, and what had happened between them.

Afterward, all sorts of rumors started circulating within the company, but I didn't say anything else except what I saw at the time. Then, the rumors got increasingly outrageous, and I felt really guilty, so I had a fight with a colleague..."

Qian Guran was still smiling: "What you said is slightly different from what I know.

When the rumor first started spreading, someone asked you if it was true. Not only did you admit that you saw it that night, you also made a lot of guesses and associations, all of which were slanderous to He Kao.

You are very smart. When you spoke, you stated that it was not your guess, but the comments of other colleagues.

But your actions are only adding fuel to the fire. You are an eyewitness and know that the incident itself is so simple and all the rumors are groundless. Why do you still do that?"

Yang Lingxi felt not panicked but surprised at this moment. She knew that He Kao had a good relationship with Mr. Qian, but she didn't expect it to be so good. Are they in the same boat, or did He Kao save Mr. Qian's life?
Having said that, she wisely stopped arguing and simply lowered her head, her eyes red as she said, "Boss Qian, I was wrong! I will find He Kao to apologize in person, and I will also find my colleagues to explain everything clearly.

The reason I did that was actually a little selfish, because I really like He Kao..."

She seemed to be choking up when she said this, but in fact she stopped talking in time. In this case, the other party would definitely ask why she did such a thing when she obviously liked He Kao?

Then she could speak her prepared words, guide the conversation, and offer a reasonable explanation, before finally accepting Mr. Qian's earnest criticism and education...

Unexpectedly, Qian Guran didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he smiled and nodded, saying, "It's good that you can admit your mistakes. You are still young, so you should correct them as soon as you know them! I don't care about your personal relationship with He Kao, but it's really unfair for such an outstanding talent like you to stay in our company.

This job isn't right for you, but luckily you're still on probation. If you leave on your own initiative, it won't negatively impact your resume. If you're fired after your probation period, your resume won't look good.

After the probation period, you won't stay because you definitely won't be able to pass my test! So I'm giving you a piece of advice: leave quickly."

Yang Lingxi was very surprised. She looked up at Qian Guran. The man in front of her could actually say such harsh words with a smile and in such a kind tone.

She stopped pretending and stared into Qian Guran's eyes expressionlessly, saying, "Mr. Qian, are you making such a rash decision just because of these personal matters that have nothing to do with the company's business?"

Qian Guran: "This is not only a personal matter, but also a decision that should not be made hastily."

Yang Lingxi: "I want to give you a piece of advice."

Qian Guran: "Please speak."

Yang Lingxi: "There was no one else around just now, so I can pretend I didn't hear what was said. I'll also give you a suggestion, just pretend you never said it."

Qian Guran: "What else?"

Yang Lingxi: "I heard that you are a doctor from Chunhua University. You finally got into a prestigious university and then worked in a state-owned design institute for ten years. You recently switched to this branch and became the vice president.

Do you feel like you’re finally reaching the pinnacle of your life?
I am just a girl who just graduated, and you are a senior leader of the company. However, you find all kinds of excuses that have nothing to do with business work to bully me in the workplace, harass me, threaten me, and try to force me to submit.

Have you ever thought that no matter how much you threaten me, I am just a recent graduate. All I lose is a probationary job. At worst, I can find another one.

But everything you have is hard-earned. If one day it’s all gone, what a pity it would be!"

Qian Guran laughed again: "You said so much nonsense that reversed right and wrong, but I only understood one meaning. You are threatening me, right?"

Yang Lingxi: "I'm not threatening you. I'm just giving you a piece of advice. I suggest you get along well with me in the future. Otherwise, I'm not that easy to bully."

Qian Guran: "I understand. What you mean is that if you can spread rumors about He Kao throughout the branch today, you can spread rumors about me throughout the entire group tomorrow. The so-called victim in the rumors is you, right?"

Yang Lingxi: "I didn't say that. It's all your own speculation. But when that time comes, it will no longer be an internal matter of the group. Our group still has a very high level of social attention.

Mr. Qian, Mr. Qian Guran, are you prepared to have all the efforts of the first half of your life go to waste and to live in hardship, despair and regret for the second half of your life?
For someone like you, this is worse than death!"

Qian Guran tilted his head and said, "Oh, we originally had no grudges against each other. It was because you made a mistake that I took the appropriate action and tried my best to save your face..."

For such a trivial matter, you intend to destroy me as a person, and you are confident that you will succeed?"

Yang Lingxi actually laughed: "Don't say that, I'm just discussing something with Mr. Qian. Everything can be avoided or not happened, don't you agree?"

Qian Guran turned the laptop over, and the screen was divided into four squares. The pictures were shot from four different angles, showing the conversation between the two people. Obviously, the sound was also recorded.

A trace of anger flashed in Yang Lingxi's eyes, but she was able to remain calm and said lightly: "So you are plotting against me, but so what?

I have already admitted my mistake in what you said; what I said was just describing a fact and reminding you as a leader to be cautious in doing things. As for threats, I didn't say anything, you said it yourself.

You can't threaten me."

Qian Guran turned off the surveillance footage, closed his computer, and said with a half-smile, "Okay, that's all for the record. I've seen enough of it." What I was about to say next was actually heard by no one else.

Seven petals bloom in one flower, and thousands of streams flow from the four seas. What is the next sentence?

**
PS: This is two chapters in one, sorry for the slow update.

(End of this chapter)