The hotel successfully selected two candidates for the "Dawn Project" through the Sunshine Campaign. Zhang Hongbin, with a grim expression, presented them with certificates.
After the meeting, he hurried into his office.
He was still seething inside—Tao Xinrou had cleverly dodged him and even got the better of him. He had to put her in her place immediately!
So he simply called Tao Xinrou into his office.
"Xiao Tao, have you thought it over? I'm honestly sorry I couldn't help you with the 'Dawn Project' this time, but you can't miss this opportunity. Your mother's health is more important." Zhang Hongbin stirred his coffee, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about household matters.
Tao Xinrou thought for a moment and decided to refuse: "Manager Zhang, thank you for your kindness, but I've thought it through. I still want to rely on my own abilities to do my job well. When the chance comes, I'll take my mother to another hospital. As for the other matters you mentioned earlier, I'm afraid I'm not capable enough to handle them."
Zhang Hongbin's hand stirring the coffee paused. His smile remained, but his expression stiffened. "Oh? So you've found another way?"
Meeting his gaze without humility or arrogance, Tao Xinrou replied, "I've already arranged a time with my aunt. Next week, we'll go to another hospital for a follow-up. It's a bit troublesome, but it can be arranged."
"Aunt?" Zhang Hongbin set down his coffee cup and leaned back in his chair. "Xiao Tao, as far as I know, you don't have any aunt. Are you sure it's really your aunt? You're not being fooled, are you?"
Tao Xinrou sidestepped the topic: "Thank you for your concern, Manager Zhang. She's someone I trust."
Zhang Hongbin looked at her, his gaze heavy.
After a few seconds of silence, he suddenly laughed.
"Fine, since you have your own plans, I won't force you. But, Xiao Tao, let me give you a word of advice: some roads, if you take the wrong one, you can still turn back. But some people, if you choose the wrong side, you can never go back."
Zhang Hongbin's lips curled into a sinister smile, causing Tao Xinrou's heart to sink.
"Manager Zhang, I never chose a side, and I never took the wrong road. I believe every step I take has meaning."
Zhang Hongbin narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly, folding his hands on the desk. His tone turned more serious: "Tao Xinrou, I told you last time—you need to assess the situation. The path I pointed out for you has a clear end. Do you think that by climbing a high branch and finding a new backer, you can jump off the chessboard? You're too naive. In Yunlu, some rules of the game don't change just because the player changes. Your father never understood that."
At the mention of her father, Tao Xinrou's nails dug deep into her palms. Her voice was heavy: "What do you mean?"
Zhang Hongbin let out a cold laugh before saying, "By rejecting me, you've chosen to stand against me. People who stand against me never come to a good end. Think about your mother. Can she endure a second accident?"
The blatant threat made Tao Xinrou's face turn pale instantly.
"Manager Zhang, this is a threat!" Tao Xinrou stood up abruptly, feeling as if all the blood had drained from her body. She couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"A threat?" Zhang Hongbin laughed as if he'd heard a joke. "Xiao Tao, you're still too young. You haven't realized that it's not about me making threats—it's about making things look reasonable. Just like any misfortune that might happen to you or your mother in the future will have a plausible, evidence-backed explanation. By then, do you still think he'll protect you?"
A chill crawled up her spine.
"I know you went to President Ying for help. He really does take good care of you."
"Manager Zhang, you're monitoring me!" Tao Xinrou gasped.
Zhang Hongbin laughed again. "Do I need to? Isn't all of this obvious? I probably know better than you who you know and what connections you have."
He looked at her, his eyes piercing. "Think it over carefully. I can give you one more day to consider. Give me your answer before you leave work today. But remember: the choice you make comes with consequences."
The more Zhang Hongbin threatened her, the more resolute Tao Xinrou became. She stared at him, speaking deliberately: "Manager Zhang, I don't need a day. I can tell you right now. My answer is: Im-pos-si-ble."
With that, Tao Xinrou stormed out of Zhang Hongbin's office.
"Very well. Got some nerve!" Zhang Hongbin watched the door slam shut, then viciously picked up the phone. His tone became steady: "President Ying, she refused."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a cold snort. "Looks like they've already teamed up. Ungrateful. Then proceed with the backup plan. Make her make a mistake. Naturally. Remember, do it quickly. Don't give anyone a chance to interfere."
"Understood."
A ruthless glint flashed in Zhang Hongbin's eyes.
The so-called backup plan had long been fully prepared.
All they had to do was fabricate evidence that Tao Xinrou had leaked the hotel's VIP customer private information to an external marketing company and accepted bribes, and everything would be perfect.
Zhang Hongbin called his secretary through the internal line and instructed in a low voice: "Take that VIP customer requirements document we prepared, lower its encryption level by one grade. At an opportune moment, carelessly leave it on the public file server where Tao Xinrou can access it. Make the access logs look like she downloaded it herself in violation of regulations."
"Also, arrange for Old Chen to 'coincidentally' meet Tao Xinrou tomorrow afternoon at the café behind the company building. Old Chen knows what to say and do. Just capture some blurry surveillance footage and transaction hints."
The secretary understood and immediately went to carry out the orders.
Zhang Hongbin lit a cigarette, squinting at the window.
This poor girl still had no idea what was coming. She thought that by clinging to Ying Jingsheng, she could get a chance to clear her father's name. Unfortunately, she was wrong. He had plenty of ways and means to make it so she couldn't explain herself even with a mouthful of tongues. By then, she wouldn't even be able to save herself, let alone investigate old cases. She would be at his mercy.
*
Walking out of Zhang Hongbin's office, Tao Xinrou couldn't deny she was panicked. But she could never hand over her weakness to the enemy.
In the elevator, she didn't press any floor numbers. She stared at the button for the 39th floor for a long time.
She hadn't told Ying Jingsheng about this yet. If he knew, what would he do? Would he protect her? Or would he let Zhang Hongbin do whatever he wanted?
Tao Xinrou thought it over. Apart from being colleagues and boss-subordinate, they were nothing to each other. Even landlord and tenant was just a flimsy connection.
She closed her eyes and pressed the 20th floor. The fire escape was the best place right now.
Few people went there. It was quiet. The perfect place to think things through.
But just as she descended two floors, at the turn of the stairs below, a tall, straight figure stood there, slowly lifting his head to look at her.
"President Ying? What are you doing here?" Tao Xinrou stopped abruptly.
Ying Jingsheng leaned against the railing. The thin afternoon light slanted in through the stairwell window, casting shifting shadows on his sharply defined profile.
He slightly raised his eyes, not directly answering her question: "You look awful. What's wrong?"