Ying Huaishan couldn't understand it, but he was determined to make Accountant Li pay.
Just as he was thinking, Yan Ming reported another piece of news. "Vice President Ying, there's something else. The hotel has sent word that they want to reinstate Tao Xinrou and have the Supervisory Department step in. They've already compiled all the investigation materials and are preparing to submit them to the Supervisory Department—including the identities and backgrounds of the people who were causing the disturbance. I intercepted the documents."
Ying Huaishan immediately sat up straight, took the documents Yan Ming handed him, and frowned as he flipped through them.
"Well, well. My nephew is truly formidable—thinking of going through the Supervisory Department from the procedural end."
He tossed the documents onto the desk, leaned back in his chair, his face dark.
Yan Ming stood nearby, asking cautiously, "Vice President Ying, should I put in a word?"
"Put in a word?" Ying Huaishan sneered. "What word can you put in? They've already prepared a complete investigation report and are ready to submit it. If you go now, do you want them to investigate me too?"
Yan Ming didn't dare say another word.
Ying Huaishan closed his eyes, pondering his next move. He had indeed underestimated his nephew. He had thought Ying Jingsheng would go to the old man to plead for mercy or engage in private bargaining. Instead, he went straight through the Supervisory Department and put everything on the table.
"When is he planning to submit the materials?" Ying Huaishan asked.
"This afternoon," Yan Ming replied. "The hotel also sent word that if headquarters insists on upholding the original decision, they will request the Supervisory Department to retrieve the entire complaint handling process records and the communication records of relevant personnel."
Ying Huaishan's brow furrowed. Reviewing surveillance, checking logs, examining every step of the complaint process—then packaging all the materials and submitting them directly to the Supervisory Department, questioning "unfair treatment by headquarters." Every move was ruthless, effectively cornering him.
Once the Supervisory Department investigated and obtained the communication records, his connection with Old Man Shen would be completely exposed. The final result would be only one: the old lady's allergic reaction was due to her own negligence, Tao Xinrou was not at fault, and the suspension by headquarters was improper.
By then, not only would he be unable to suppress Tao Xinrou, but headquarters would also bear the reputation of "abusing power and suppressing employees."
Weighing the pros and cons, he had no choice but to temporarily back down. "Have the hotel reinstate Tao Xinrou."
The secretary was stunned. "Vice President Ying, are we just letting this go?"
"Letting it go? Of course not. I'm giving face to the Supervisory Department, not to Ying Jingsheng. If they really pursue this, and I stubbornly suppress it, they'll come after me."
Yan Ming nodded and left to arrange things.
The office fell silent again. But Ying Huaishan couldn't relax. He sat at his desk, his mind churning. That kid Ying Jingsheng, without making a sound, without revealing his hand, had quietly done so much and forced him to retreat.
But this wasn't over.
He opened a drawer and pulled out a file. Inside was an old dossier, the paper yellowed and the edges worn. On the cover was a name—Tao Haizhen.
Ying Huaishan looked at that name and let out a cold smile. As long as this file remained with him, no one could find solid evidence.
*
The next day, Tao Xinrou was mopping the floor when her phone suddenly rang. It was Wei Hao. She quickly answered. "Supervisor Wei."
"Xiao Tao, come back to work next Monday."
Tao Xinrou froze, unable to believe it. "Wh-what?"
"I said, you can come back to work. The investigation results are out. That old lady's incident had nothing to do with you—it was a procedural oversight in the event. Headquarters has rescinded their decision on you."
Tao Xinrou was a bit excited, clutching the phone with both hands to confirm. "Really?"
"Would I lie to you? But there's one thing."
"Go ahead."
"You need to go visit that old lady. After all, the incident happened during a hotel event. As a courtesy, we should pay our respects. Not to apologize, but to make an official visit on behalf of the hotel, bring some慰问品, and wrap things up gracefully."
Tao Xinrou nodded. "Okay."
"Oh, and President Ying will go with you." Wei Hao paused, then continued. "First, since it's a hotel event, he should be there as general manager. Second, we don't want you going alone—they might try to make trouble again. It's safer if you go together."
"Okay," Tao Xinrou agreed.
After hanging up, Tao Xinrou stood still, staring blankly at her phone. Ying Jingsheng must have worked very hard to get her reinstated.
Seeing Tao Xinrou standing in a daze, Tao's mother asked, puzzled, "Xiaorou, what's wrong? Is it about the company?"
"Mom, my supervisor told me to go back to work next Monday."
"Really? That's great! When you go back, make sure to thank your superiors properly. And be more careful at work—don't make any more mistakes."
"Mom, don't worry. I'll be careful."
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Author's note: Random red envelopes for comments in this chapter!