One person said: The essence of Wuhou Qimen lies not in Qimen, but in Wuhou.

He understood perfectly—Zhao Fangxu was telling him that Director Zhuge was no longer concerned, and that he had already shielded him from the consequences.

The whole meaning is in that sentence, "No commendation given, but thank you for your hard work," and there's no need to say another word.

He nodded forcefully as he released his grip, without saying a word, but the nod carried significant weight.

It's all in my heart.

Zhao Fangxu withdrew his hand, glanced into the cell, his gaze passing over Xu Si's shoulder and landing on Zhang Chulan, who was still standing by the wall in a daze. He then looked away and smiled at Xu Si, saying, "What were you two talking about in there? I vaguely heard something like 'I'll never touch anything again in this life' in the corridor—quite an interesting topic. Tell me about it?"

Xu Si's response was textbook-perfect crisis management.

In a fraction of a second, he switched his perception from "the leader is chatting with me" to "the leader is testing my political awareness," then put his feet together, straightened his back like a javelin, raised his right hand with the five fingers together to his temple, and gave a standard, impeccable military salute.

When he spoke, his voice was loud and clear, each word sounding as if it had been taken directly from a party membership application, with a distinct rhythm and full of confidence: "Chairman Zhao, Director Zhuge! Just now, my employee Zhang Chulan and I were inside discussing the spirit of learning."

I am instilling correct values ​​in him—after all, he is a college student who has not experienced much of the world, lacks social experience, and does not have a clear understanding of many important issues.

I was telling him that I, Xu Si, would never cross these lines in my life: first, the red line of the law; second, the bottom line of morality; third, the high-voltage line of discipline; and fourth, the precious things that belong to the people!

After hearing this, Zhuge Ming smiled a genuine smile.

It wasn't the polite smile you give at work, but a genuine laugh from the heart, a laugh born of being amused by the person's awareness and wit.

He raised his hand and clapped a few times slowly and deliberately.

Zhao Fangxu also clapped along, his smile deepening even further.

Even the two soldiers standing on either side of the door raised their hands at the same time and clapped three times in unison, as if they had rehearsed beforehand.

Xu Si's words are indeed correct and worthy of our learning and respect.

Zhuge Ming lowered his hand, his gaze falling on Xu Si, his expression gentle and sincere.

When he spoke, his tone lacked its usual businesslike distance, instead carrying a hint of recognition and appreciation that only comes after being touched: "Comrade Xu Si, you've truly impressed me today. It seems my understanding of you was insufficient before. It appears that all the leaders in our company, like Comrade Xu Si, are loyal to the Party and love the people; they are all good cadres of the country. I, Zhuge Ming, must learn from you."

Zhao Fangxu immediately agreed, his tone carrying the satisfaction and pride that an old leader would feel when he saw his subordinates make him look good in front of the leader.

As he spoke, he deliberately gave Xu Si a look of approval, a look that could be interpreted as—"Well done, you didn't let me down: Xu Si, you certainly didn't disappoint me. So many years of grassroots training have cultivated your unwavering spirit and strong Party spirit, which deserves encouragement and recognition!"

Xu Si stood at attention, his feet together, the heels of his leather shoes making a crisp sound.

His expression was upright and serious, without the slightest hint of pride or arrogance from being praised by the two leaders. Instead, he became even more humble and cautious.

His voice was still loud and clear when he spoke, but every word carried the deeper meaning of "all the credit belongs to the leaders": "The two leaders are the true servants of the people, the backbone of the Party and the country! Under their leadership, I, Xu Si, will follow closely and never fall behind!"

Then he abruptly changed the subject, quickening his pace and seamlessly switching from a show of loyalty to a work report mode, his tone now carrying a sense of urgency that "official business cannot be delayed": "Oh, by the way, the two leaders must be here for work. I'll report the latest developments immediately. Based on the military's assessment, all suspects involved in this case have been dealt with. The details are as follows—"

He turned slightly to the side, pointed to the direction where Zhang Chulan had been kneeling, and then pointed to the other side of the wall—probably the direction of the other interrogation rooms—and continued in the standard oral report format: "Zhang Chulan, an employee from the North China region, has just completed all the written record and signing procedures. His statement is complete and his attitude is good."

Jia Zhengyu from Jiajia Village in Northwest China is currently receiving treatment at the company's designated hospital. He has regained consciousness and his vital signs are stable. I have notified the village secretary and clan head of Jiajia Village in Northwest China, and they have sent people to his village, who are expected to arrive tomorrow.

Feng Zhenghao's daughter, Feng Shayan, refused to speak during questioning, only repeatedly insisting that she had not broken the law and was adhering to her principles. However, according to the detailed report from our employee Zhang Chulan, Feng Shayan actively lured Zhang Chulan into joining the Tianxia Hui Group, which led to the subsequent chain reaction.

Feng Baobao, a temporary worker in North China, is Zhang Chulan's mentor and bodyguard. Out of concern for her disciple, she impulsively stormed the Tianxia Hui in a moment of desperation. However—this is absolutely not an excuse for her violation of discipline. As her direct supervisor, I hereby offer my deepest apologies to both of you.

After saying this, Xu Si made a standard back turn, as if a tightly wound spring had suddenly been released, and ran into the interrogation room to the iron table.

He picked up the stack of handwritten reports that Zhang Chulan had neatly arranged, signed, and fingerprinted, and jogged back to Zhuge Ming, handing them over with both hands.

The paper was neatly arranged in his hand, with all four corners aligned and not a single wrinkle.

Zhuge Ming took the report, turned the first page with his slender fingers, and began to read it.

He flipped through two pages, raising an eyebrow slightly—not because there was anything wrong with the content, but because the handwriting was indeed excellent, neat in regular script, fluent in style, with a clear timeline, and key points marked with wavy lines to indicate inner thoughts.

It's quite remarkable that a 19-year-old science and engineering student could explain things so clearly.

He closed the report and handed it to Zhao Fangxu beside him: "Chairman Zhao, please take a look."

Zhao Fangxu took the report with both hands, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, and lowered his head to read it carefully.

He read more slowly than Zhuge Ming, carefully reading each page before turning to the next—he needed to make sure that no detail in the report would be a bombshell that could blow up the company.

Seeing that both leaders were looking down at their reports, Xu Si took the opportunity to step forward half a step, bowed slightly, and said in a concerned and considerate tone: "Leaders, this is not the place to discuss work."

Below is an underground interrogation room. The environment is too enclosed, with poor air circulation and dim lighting. Staying in such an environment for a long time can easily make people feel uncomfortable.

"Perhaps you two leaders would like to move up to the office or meeting room; the conditions there are better, and I can make you a cup of tea."