The people around her kept teasing them, leaving Tao Xinrou unsettled and unable to focus on her archive work at headquarters.
By the second week, the process was halfway through. Fortunately, most of the archive research was already done.
Tao Xinrou had basically figured out her father's work environment back then. She confirmed that Ying Huaishan had been her father's direct superior before his transfer and later got promoted, sending her father and a few others to work at the Southwest Branch. But for some reason, her father didn't end up in the same department as the others who had gone with him; instead, he worked directly with Ying Huaishan.
She felt there was something else going on beneath the surface.
One day, just as Tao Xinrou was about to head to the archive, she ran into Zhang Hongbin wandering around before she even got out the door. Her heart skipped a beat. He waved at her, and she had no choice but to go over.
"Xiao Tao, how's the project going?" Zhang Hongbin asked like a caring old leader.
Tao Xinrou put on her standard professional smile: "Thank you for your concern, Manager Zhang. It's going pretty well. I'm just trying to organize more materials in this short time."
"Good to hear it's going well. Young people with drive is a good thing. The higher-ups value your project. If the results are good, it'll be a great opportunity for personal development. But when I was your age, I was buried in work too. I ended up neglecting my parents' health. Later, I realized that no matter how important work is, you have to take care of your family. How's your mother's health?"
He spoke as if casually reminiscing, but alarm bells went off in Tao Xinrou's head.
"She's been controlling it with medication. Thank you for remembering."
"Good, good to keep it under control. But you can't be too careful with this kind of illness. The hospital your mother goes to has a cooperation agreement with our group. I also know the cardiology team there. We had a meal together a few days ago. If you need anything, feel free to contact me. Maybe I can help book an expert appointment for a comprehensive evaluation and get some authoritative advice."
Tao Xinrou listened, feeling the invisible pressure in every word.
If she refused, she'd be ungrateful. If she accepted, she'd be handing her and her mother's information over to the person behind Zhang Hongbin.
Tao Xinrou put on a grateful yet troubled expression: "That's too much trouble, Manager Zhang. I can't accept."
But Zhang Hongbin wouldn't let it go: "No trouble at all. I know what you're worried about. This isn't a personal favor. You're new to the company, so you might not know yet. Our company has a 'Chenxi Plan' specifically to support outstanding employees like you who have family difficulties. The recruitment for this year is about to start. I'm informing you of this group benefit in advance. If you need it, I can help you apply. Don't feel pressured. Think it over, discuss it with your family. It's a rare opportunity that'll also provide security for your family. What do you think?"
Zhang Hongbin left the ball in Tao Xinrou's court and walked away.
Tao Xinrou felt suffocated by his words. This concern came naturally and warmly, but it was more stifling than any official notice. She couldn't find a polite way to refuse without offending him.
Sure enough, in the afternoon while she was still working, an email notification popped up. It was a mass email about the group's employee care policy, exactly what Zhang Hongbin had mentioned that morning.
Within half a minute of receiving the notice, she got a message from Zheng Shuhui: "Xinrou, do you want to sign Auntie up? The group will definitely give us the best discounts."
Although they were working in different cities, she and Zheng Shuhui still kept in touch, occasionally complaining about leaders and the work atmosphere, and sharing bits of their personal lives.
Zheng Shuhui was simple-minded; she naturally didn't know that this was all targeted at Tao Xinrou.
Her premonition had been correct. She was indeed being monitored, and it was likely that she would be forced to "hand over" her mother.
She tugged at her hair, feeling like an unlucky soul being pushed toward both heaven and hell at the same time.
Thinking back to that time at the hospital when Ying Huaishan kept staring at her mother, almost as if he recognized her.
She wondered if her mother might also know something, but the waters were deep and that's why her mother didn't want her to get involved.
Now she knew Ying Huaishan was the mastermind behind it all, but without solid evidence, she couldn't make a move.
It was too difficult to accomplish this on her own. But it wasn't hopeless. She immediately thought of one person—Ying Jingsheng.