Time flew by, and half a month had passed.
During this half month, Gao Fei led a very fulfilling life, going to work during the day and practicing at home in the evenings. Every so often, he would join Su Xiaorou for a meal and a chat. As their encounters grew more frequent, the two became more acquainted. At work, they were superior and subordinate, but after hours, they became friends. Gao Fei's hand injury had also almost fully healed.
Somehow, a rumor started circulating in the company alleging that Su Xiaorou had taken a fancy to Gao Fei and even intended to recruit him as a "live-in son-in-law"! The rumor was detailed and seemed believable—many people bought into it.
Whether among the company's senior executives or ordinary employees, everyone envied Gao Fei to some extent, even feeling jealous, as if Gao Fei's ancestral grave had started billowing with auspicious smoke—that was why he had won Su Xiaorou's favor. Sometimes, jealousy can make people irrational, even driving them to do crazy things.
...
That morning, the security guard, Niu Gang, suddenly sought out Gao Fei: "Minister Gao, you have to help me. If you don't, I'm done for."
"What happened? What's going on?" Gao Fei asked, puzzled.
"I accidentally offended Minister Liu from the Finance Department. She wants to fire me. I have elders above me and young ones below, all depending on me for their livelihood. If I lose this job, then... then my whole family will go hungry." As he spoke, Niu Gang reached up to wipe his eyes, as if tears had started to flow.
"How on earth did you manage to offend Minister Liu?" Gao Fei inquired further.
"It's all because of my careless mouth... While chatting with someone, I inadvertently said a few bad things about Minister Liu; to my shock, she overheard me... After that, she got angry, scolded me profusely, and then declared she would fire me..." Niu Gang said pitifully, "I had no other choice, so I could only come to you for help."
Gao Fei patted Niu Gang on the shoulder, barely concealing his amusement, "You really have a way with things."
"Minister Gao, please go and speak to Minister Liu on my behalf. I'll accept any punishment just as long as she doesn't fire me," Niu Gang pleaded.
"This... I'm not familiar with Minister Liu," Gao Fei frowned, "she might not give me face."
"She definitely will!" Niu Gang said urgently, "With your relationship with Miss Su Xiaorou, Minister Liu will certainly consider it."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Gao Fei glared at Niu Gang, "What kind of relationship can I have with Miss Su? At most, we are superior and subordinate; she's my leader, and I'm her subordinate. Beyond that, there are no other relations." Gao Fei had also heard some of the rumors and, truth be told, they made him angry; wasn't this tarnishing his and Su Xiaorou's reputation? People nowadays really lack quality, always spreading rumors behind others' backs.
"Right, right, I misspoke; don't be mad," seeing Gao Fei's irritation, Niu Gang quickly apologized, "Minister Gao, please, could you talk to Minister Liu for me? I beg you, you're the only one who can help me now."
"...Alright, I'll give it a try, but I can't guarantee success," Gao Fei agreed to speak to Minister Liu on behalf of Niu Gang because of past favors, but he couldn't be sure of the outcome.
"Thank you, Minister Gao, thank you so much!" Niu Gang was very grateful, "With you stepping in, it will definitely work."
"Fine, you go back and wait for news. I'll go see Minister Liu now," Gao Fei stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out.
...
Walking with a steady pace, Gao Fei came to the doorstep of the Finance Department Minister's office and extended his hand to knock. But upon a gentle touch, the door opened. Startled, Gao Fei hesitated, then stepped inside, "How come there's nobody here?" The room was silent and empty.
Just as Gao Fei was about to leave, footsteps sounded from outside, and Minister Liu of the Finance Department came in. Upon seeing an extra person in her office, Minister Liu appeared visibly taken aback, "Minister Gao? What brought you here?"
"Oh, I wanted to discuss something with you," Gao Fei said politely.
"What is it?" Minister Liu inquired.
"I heard that Niu Gang offended you? He tends to blabber sometimes but he's not a bad guy at heart. I'm hoping Minister Liu can give him a chance to reform and not fire him. His job is very important to him," Gao Fei carefully constructed his request.
"Since Minister Gao has spoken on his behalf, I'll let this matter go," Minister Liu nodded generously and said, "Go tell Niu Gang to watch his mouth in the future, to avoid irresponsible chatter behind people's backs."
"Ah! Of course, I'll make sure to tell him," Gao Fei was surprised by the weight his words carried, "I won't keep Minister Liu from her work any longer." Having said that, Gao Fei stepped away to leave.
He had just returned to his office when he received a call from Su Xiaorou, "Come to my office now." Before Gao Fei could respond, Su Xiaorou hung up the phone.
Why was Su Xiaorou summoning him? Her tone sounded somewhat displeased?
With a mind full of doubts, Gao Fei reached the thirtieth floor and then knocked on the door of the President's office. When he walked in, he was instantly stunned. Wasn't that the head of the finance department, Liu, also present? And why did Liu look at him with such hostility? What did this mean? Could it be that Liu had come to tattle on Su Xiaorou? Surely it hadn't come to this? Was I simply helping a lowly security guard make a plea, and even if you were reluctant inside, you didn't have to go and complain to Su Xiaorou, did you?
"Director Gao!" Director Liu suddenly stood up with eyes blazing with fury, staring at Gao Fei: "Please return the money you took from me!"
"Money?" Gao Fei was stunned: "What money?"
"Stop playing dumb!" Director Liu snorted coldly: "You stole fifty thousand in cash from my drawer, along with a check for one million. Hand it over quickly..."
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Gao Fei's face darkened: "When have I ever stolen money! Make yourself clear!"
"I'm asking you! Did you or did you not enter my office just now!" Director Liu demanded.
Gao Fei nodded: "I did go in..."
"Was there nobody in the office at that time?"
"At first there indeed was nobody... but you showed up shortly thereafter..."
"After you left, I discovered that the fifty thousand in cash and the check for one million that were placed in my drawer had vanished. During the time I was out and then back, you were the only person to enter and leave my office. If it wasn't you, then who could it be?!" Director Liu angrily continued: "Director Gao, you've really got some nerve, to openly steal company money like this!"
"Stop falsely accusing me here!" Gao Fei, livid, his complexion turning green: "I've never touched your drawer, and I certainly haven't stolen any money or check!"
Director Liu turned to look at Su Xiaorou, whose face was overcast: "President Su, you see, Director Gao simply won't admit it!"
Su Xiaorou slowly lifted her head, gazing at Gao Fei with bright eyes: "What were you doing in the finance room?"
"I went there to speak on behalf of Liu, as a security guard accidentally offended Director Liu. Fearful of being fired, he came to me for help. Out of consideration for him, I went to plead with Director Liu..." Gao Fei hadn't finished speaking when Director Liu interrupted him.
"Utter nonsense." Director Liu said angrily: "No security guard has ever offended me, and you never came to plead on anyone's behalf. Earlier in the office, you babbled relentlessly, I was wondering what a Head of the Security Department was doing in the finance office. Later on, I realized you were there to steal money!"
"Director Liu, you're quite something to be able to tell such blatant lies." Gao Fei laughed in extreme anger: "President Su, I have a witness! It's that security guard named Niu Gang. Just call him up and ask, and the matter will be clear."
Su Xiaorou picked up the phone and dialed a number, then spoke in a frosty voice: "Have security guard Niu Gang come to my office." Not long after she hung up, Niu Gang entered, looking timid and nervous.
"Niu Gang, tell President Su, did you or did you not offend Director Liu, then come to me asking for help!" shouted Gao Fei loudly.
"Huh?" Niu Gang blinked, a puzzled look on his face: "Director Gao, what are you talking about? I don't understand at all. I've never offended Director Liu and I've never asked you for help either?"
"What did you say?" Gao Fei's eyes widened: "Niu Gang! Have you lost your mind? Have you forgotten about something that just happened recently? Think again!"
Niu Gang said with a pained smile: "Even if I break my head, my answer is the same... Director Gao, what's gotten into you? Why would you say I've offended Director Liu? She's a finance department head, a company executive; she could fire me with a single word, I wouldn't dare to offend her."
"You..." Gao Fei was so angry that he was at a loss for words.
"President Su, you see? All this has been concocted by Director Gao!" Director Liu sneered: "While I was in the restroom, he sneaked into my office and stole the fifty thousand in cash and the one million check from the drawer. When I returned and caught him red-handed, he tried to confuse me with his rambling, taking the chance to escape when I was still puzzled... This Director Gao is really abominable! President Su, you must punish him severely!"
"I understand now!" Gao Fei suddenly exclaimed: "This is all a trap! A trap set for me!" Saying this, Gao Fei pointed at Niu Gang: "You purposefully sought me out, luring me to the finance department, then colluded with Director Liu to set me up... Fine, you've done well! Niu Gang, in what way have I wronged you that you would frame me like this!!!" Towards the end, Gao Fei's voice rose sharply, his eyes reddening with rage. Never before in his life had he been framed like this.
Niu Gang pretended to be scared: "Director Gao... what are you talking about? I really don't understand. When have I ever framed you? You're my direct superior, I wouldn't dare frame you."
"Fine, very fine, exceedingly fine." Gao Fei laughed bitterly, pointing at the pale-faced Niu Gang: "You just wait, this isn't over! Dare to frame me, I'll see how you end up!"
...
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