"N-Nothing. I just came out for some air."
"How is your aunt's condition?" he asked.
"The doctor prescribed some medicine. She just needs to rest. Thank you for your concern, President Ying."
Tao Xinrou clutched the hem of her clothes. She clearly had something to say but couldn't bring herself to speak.
"Um... I have things to do. I'll go now."
She fled, leaving Ying Jingsheng with the file hidden behind his back.
It was part of Tao Haizhen's work records from the branch that he had just obtained from Wang Anran. He hadn't expected to run into her coming down the fire escape looking panicked.
Ying Jingsheng put away the file, his brow furrowed.
He knew Tao Xinrou's character too well. She seemed weak, but she never showed fear easily and always charged ahead. But her behavior just now made him suspicious.
Perhaps Zhang Hongbin had already threatened her mother's safety.
He took out his phone and sent a message to Wang Anran: "Keep a close eye on Zhang Hongbin and his secretary's movements, especially any file operations and personnel arrangements recently. Report anything unusual immediately."
*
A few days later, early in the morning, Tao Xinrou had just arrived at her desk and hadn't even turned on her computer when Wei Hao walked up to her with a grave expression. "Tao Xinrou, come to my office."
Tao Xinrou's heart leaped. Instinctively, she thought of Zhang Hongbin. Unease surged within her, but she forced herself to stay calm, stood up, and followed Wei Hao into the supervisor's office.
Without saying much, Wei Hao pushed a file directly in front of her. "Take a look. What's the deal here? The OA shows you downloaded a VIP customer requirements document and leaked it to the other company."
Tao Xinrou picked up the file and quickly scanned its contents: download logs, screenshots of the document leak, and operation traces marked with her name. Every item seemed solid.
"Supervisor Wei, it wasn't me. I never downloaded this document, nor did I leak any customer information. I didn't even know this VIP document existed. This must be a misunderstanding."
Tao Xinrou defended herself, but she knew deep down that this was Zhang Hongbin's first warning.
"A misunderstanding? Then what about this?"
Wei Hao handed her his phone. On it was a surveillance video showing Tao Xinrou entering a café, whispering with a man at the checkout counter.
"You might not know this, but the café's surveillance includes audio recording."
Wei Hao turned up the volume. The man's voice was clear: "Got the stuff. I'll wait for their feedback. We'll discuss details at the usual place later."
At the same time, Tao Xinrou's voice said, "It's fine. I can wait."
Tao Xinrou was shocked. This was purely a coincidence!
Two days ago, in the afternoon, just as Tao Xinrou was about to leave work, a colleague from the administrative department suddenly came in with a laptop, asking her to confirm a customer requirement and sign it on the OA system.
Tao Xinrou didn't think much of it and did as asked on the colleague's computer. But before she could log out, the colleague rushed off with the laptop.
Then Wei Jiaxin hurried in, saying there was an important banquet at the hotel that evening and the client had special requirements for drinks that needed handling by the café. He had already briefed the café staff but couldn't leave, so Supervisor Wei asked Tao Xinrou to go pick up the drinks.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived at the café, she ran into a strange man who pressed up against her while on the phone.
She was about to scold him when the man smiled and said "sorry" before leaving.
She was furious at the time, but only remembered that the man wore a cap and mask and had a northern accent.
And that line, "It's fine. I can wait," was entirely directed at the waitress.
Now hearing the audio from the surveillance, Tao Xinrou was certain she had been set up.
Everything had been prearranged.
"Supervisor Wei, all of this was deliberately orchestrated by someone. I had nothing to do with it. I can explain everything."
"Explain? Is there any need?"
At that moment, the office door opened. Zhang Hongbin walked in with his secretary, a hypocritical smile on his face.
"Sorry, Supervisor Wei. I was just about to look into this matter. I overheard a bit at the door and couldn't help coming in. This is no small issue. If it's not handled properly, it could affect the group's reputation."
As soon as Zhang Hongbin arrived, Wei Hao quickly stood up to greet him.
"Manager Zhang, what brings you here? I'm just investigating this."
"I just heard about it and wanted to come and 'put out the fire' as soon as possible. If President Ying finds out, it won't be good news. After all, he's only been in office for a short while, and a leak like this—how would headquarters see him?" He turned to face Tao Xinrou, his tone laced with feigned regret. "Xiao Tao, just saying it's a misunderstanding doesn't make it so. The evidence is solid. Do you have any evidence to refute it?"
Tao Xinrou clenched her fists. This had happened so suddenly she had no defense. Where was she supposed to find evidence now?
Zhang Hongbin was clearly out to get her.
Seeing Tao Xinrou silent, Zhang Hongbin stepped closer. "Considering you've been efficient and honest in your work, if you tell me why you leaked the company's internal data, maybe I can put in a good word with President Ying and let you off lightly. Otherwise, don't blame me for reporting this to headquarters!"
"Manager Zhang, I'll say it again. I didn't do this."
Tao Xinrou was shaking with anger. She knew perfectly well that Zhang Hongbin was behind it—he had framed her because she refused him.
"Whether you did it or not isn't up to you. The evidence is conclusive: your unauthorized download records, login account, surveillance footage—all prove it was you. I think we should just deal with this directly and then report the results to President Ying."
Wei Hao sighed and nodded. "Manager Zhang is right. This is too serious. Xiao Tao, don't work today. Go home for now. Wait until we report the results to President Ying."
At that moment, a sly smirk curled at the corner of Zhang Hongbin's mouth.
Tao Xinrou clenched her fists, gritting her teeth as she glared at Zhang Hongbin.
It seemed they could do anything right under Ying Jingsheng's nose, and she could be forced to take the blame for anything.
"Who wants to see me?" A clear, familiar voice sounded from behind.
Everyone turned around. It was Ying Jingsheng, accompanied by Wang Anran.