At thirty, I started my comeback from the intelligence system.

Today, Li Qianqian changed into a light gray suit skirt, still looking sophisticated and capable, but upon closer inspection, one could see an undisguised weariness and anxiety in her eyes.

Her gaze quickly settled on Chen Geng, and a standard, gentle, leader-like smile immediately appeared on her face.

"Chen Geng, are you busy?" Her voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for several colleagues nearby to hear.

Chen Geng looked up at the opportune moment, a perfectly timed smile on his face, tinged with weariness and a forced cheerfulness: "Director Li, no rush. What can I do for you?"

"There are a few details about the prepayment process for the Xinghui Media project that I need to double-check with you to ensure everything goes smoothly. Would it be convenient for you to come to my office now?"

Li Qianqian's tone was businesslike, but her eyes conveyed a sense that "there is something important to discuss."

"Okay, coming right away."

Chen Geng picked up his notebook and pen, and then seemingly casually slipped the voice recorder into his suit pocket. He then got up and followed Li Qianqian out of the office.

He could feel several pairs of eyes following him, some curious, some inquisitive, and perhaps even some sympathetic—thinking that he had been called in for a "talk" by the finance director because his divorce had affected his work.

Li Qianqian's office is at the other end of the corridor. It's a small, independent room, but it's decorated very elegantly.

She gestured for Chen Geng to sit down and then personally closed the door.

With a soft "click," the door lock clicked shut.

In the enclosed space, only the two of them remained.

A faint scent of perfume lingered in the air, mixed with a very faint...smoke smell?

The pressure was indeed immense.

"Chen Geng, don't be nervous, it's just a simple chat."

Li Qianqian sat back in her large office chair, leaning slightly forward, her hands clasped on the table. Her smile was more genuine than before, but it also carried a more scrutinizing tone.

"First of all, on behalf of the department, I would like to express my concern for what has happened to your family recently. If you encounter any difficulties, please be sure to tell the company, and we will definitely help if we can."

it has started!

The standard "caring" opening helps to close the distance and lower guard.

"Thank you for your concern, Director Li." Chen Geng lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of his notebook, his voice slightly hoarse. "It's...it's all fine, I'm working on it."

"I heard that your lover..." Li Qianqian paused at just the right moment, observing Chen Geng's expression.

Chen Geng timely revealed a hint of pain and embarrassment, turned his head away, and remained silent. This silence was more convincing than any explanation.

"Alas, every family has its own troubles."

Li Qianqian sighed, her tone full of sympathy, "Especially you men, you have to shoulder the pressure of work and face changes in your families, it's not easy. I heard that the mortgage on your previous house was quite a burden? Now, in this situation... are you managing to make the monthly payments?"

See you in the picture!

Chen Geng sneered inwardly, but his face betrayed his embarrassment and anxiety. He raised his head, his eyes filled with the bewilderment and struggle typical of someone who had reached a dead end.

"The monthly mortgage payment... I can barely manage. It's just... other things are a bit tight."

He spoke vaguely, leaving the other person with endless room for imagination.

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Li Qianqian's eyes—the excitement of seeing prey stepping into the edge of a trap.

But she concealed it well, her tone becoming even gentler, even carrying a hint of heartfelt sincerity:

"Chen Geng, we've worked together for quite some time now, and I've always thought of you as a hardworking and promising young man. Now that you're facing difficulties, don't try to shoulder them all by yourself. Well, I happen to have an opportunity that might help alleviate your current pressure."

She leaned forward, lowering her voice as if sharing a huge secret:

"I have a very good friend who is an executive at a private equity firm. They've recently been trading a short-term stock, and their inside information is very certain that it has at least a 30% upside potential. You don't need a lot of initial capital, just two or three hundred thousand yuan will do. It's a quick in-and-out strategy, and you can see profits within a week."

"How about it? Interested? I can help you make a connection. If you earn money, you'll have some peace of mind."

Chen Geng's heart skipped a beat.

Here it comes! The classic "insider information" lure! Using high returns as bait to attract people who desperately need money.

Once he shows interest and says he has no money, Li Qianqian can "kindly" offer to "help" him "temporarily borrow" some money from the company, such as the advance payment from Xinghui Media... and then share the profits, or directly borrow money and get a kickback.

Once he took this "ill-gotten" money, it was as if he had handed over his secrets to Li Qianqian, leaving him at her mercy and becoming her scapegoat or front man for embezzling public funds!

What a vicious plan! And it's practically tailor-made for his current "persona"!

Chen Geng's face immediately revealed an expression of extreme excitement mixed with hesitation, his eyes struggling: "Thirty...thirty percent? A week? Director Li, is this...is this reliable? I really can't afford to lose money right now..."

He perfectly portrayed a frightened bird, tempted by high profits but also timid and cautious due to recent setbacks.

"Don't worry, would I ever cheat you?"

Li Qianqian's smile grew even more amiable, her tone full of seduction.

"My friend is in the inner circle, his information is absolutely accurate. If it weren't for your current difficulties, I wouldn't normally tell anyone about this kind of opportunity. Think about it, you put in 300,000, and you'll have almost 400,000 out in a week. After deducting some fees, you'll easily make a net profit of 80,000 to 90,000. That'll cover your mortgage payments for the next few months, right?"

She observed Chen Geng's expression and, seeing that he seemed to be struggling, added fuel to the fire, her tone becoming even more intimate and seductive:

"Besides, Chen Geng, to be honest, I've been following his lead lately and invested a little. If you're really worried about your principal, I can think of a way to help you... temporarily solve your startup capital problem. Once you make money, you can return the principal, and we can discuss splitting the profits. How about that?"

The fox's true colors have been fully revealed!

"Help me solve the start-up capital problem"—that refers to the public funds she had her eye on!

Chen Geng's heart was cold, but his face showed a complex expression that mixed greed, fear, and a final desperate gamble.

He licked his dry lips, his voice low and trembling, "Director Li, you...you really can help me get...the principal? Is this...is this legal? Aren't there any risks?"

Seeing that Chen Geng had finally "taken the bait," a hint of smugness and relaxation flashed in Li Qianqian's eyes.

Sure enough, men driven to the brink by debt and marital problems are the easiest to manipulate.

"Don't worry about compliance. I've been in finance for so many years, I'll naturally handle it perfectly."

She spoke casually, as if it were a trivial matter, "So, tell me, do you want to pull off this job and completely turn your life around?"

Chen Geng remained silent for a few seconds, as if he were having a final internal struggle.

Then, he abruptly raised his head, a fierce determination flashing in his eyes, and nodded emphatically: "Director Li, I'll do it! Thank you for giving me this opportunity! Tell me, what do you need me to do?"

"Great!" Li Qianqian slammed her hand on the table, her smile widening. "That's a young person with guts! Here's the deal: you go home today and put your mind at ease. I'll handle the specific operational details and funding. I'll give you a definite answer by tomorrow at the latest. Remember, this is a secret between you and me, and you mustn't mention it to anyone else, understand?"

"Understood! Don't worry, Director Li, I know the rules!" Chen Geng quickly assured him, his face showing gratitude and anticipation at the right moment.

"Okay, you can go back to work now. Wait for my message." Li Qianqian waved her hand with satisfaction.

Chen Geng stood up, respectfully took his leave, and turned to walk out of the office.

The moment the door closed, all the apprehension, greed, and gratitude on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an icy coldness.

He touched the voice recorder in the inner pocket, which was still recording; the slight vibration from his fingertips proved that it was still working.

Back in the planning department, before I even sat down, I sensed something was off about the atmosphere in the office.

Several colleagues huddled together, whispering about something while staring at their phone screens, their expressions shocked.