Xia Mingyue's smile grew richer on her face as she said to Li Shengrong, "I don't want anyone else to prove it, I just want Director Li to personally admit it. That way, I can still be magnanimous!"

Li Shengrong, upon hearing Xia Mingyue's words, suddenly felt she was playing games with him. However, Li Shengrong thought about his own age, how he was old enough to be Xia Mingyue's father, and yet, this little girl dared to play tricks on him. He immediately sneered and said, "Mr. Xia, I think we should do things according to the rules. Let's lay everything on the table, otherwise, how would you convince me? Besides, I just want Wang Dongliang to prove it, as an employee of Blue Star Technology, he naturally has the qualifications to do so."

Just then, Fang Jing spoke up again.

"Director Li, Mr. Xia has already given you face. If you speak out about the things you've done, we can deal with them accordingly. You should trust in Mr. Xia's magnanimity, and of course, we also believe that Wang Dongliang is someone who will tell the truth. It's just that we're afraid that, once the truth is spoken, you may not be able to handle it!"

"Shut your mouth. I'm talking to Mr. Xia, why are you butting in? Don't forget, although I'm from the logistics department, I am still the director!" Li Shengrong had already grown impatient with Fang Jing's comments. Fang Jing held a delicate position within Blue Star Technology, everyone tiptoed around her, not daring to offend her, yet in reality, she didn't have any specific authority.

Fang Jing wasn't the least bit upset by Li Shengrong's words. Instead, she chuckled and said unhurriedly, "The loudest voice doesn't mean you're right, Director Li. Why don't you sit down and cool off before we talk?"

"Li, if there's anything, just say it. If you really haven't done anything wrong, I think Mr. Xia won't make things difficult for you," said Liu Yang with a smile to Li Shengrong.

Even though that was what was said, anyone could see that both Liu Yang and Zhang Jiang were very much enjoying Li Shengrong's predicament. Li Shengrong was part of the old guard at Blue Star Technology, and he was the only one left of that faction. Although Li Shengrong had tried to maintain an amiable relationship with the new faction, if someone wanted to find fault with him, wouldn't it be easy to do so?

Li Shengrong wasn't foolish and knew that Liu Yang and Zhang Jiang were doing this on purpose. He immediately turned his head to Wang Dongliang and said, "Wang Dongliang, tell the truth, did I embezzle company funds or not?"

Wang Dongliang looked at Li Shengrong and then at Xia Mingyue without saying anything further.

Seeing that Wang Dongliang didn't immediately speak out, Li Shengrong was very surprised and said, "Dongliang, why aren't you saying anything? Tell the truth."

And Liu Yang, the one who had just spoken, also said with a smile, "Yeah, say whatever you need to say."

Wang Dongliang nodded and said, "Since Mr. Xia and all the other senior executives have asked me to tell the truth, then I will."

"Somebody's going to be unlucky!" Once this voice sounded, it immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.

It was only then that Liu Yang and Zhang Jiang realized that a lean young man had come in.

"Who is this guy?" asked Zhang Jiang, looking confusedly at Ye Xiao, "Is he also here from the logistics department to testify?"

Ye Xiao chuckled and said, "Good day, sir, I'm the new security guard. Mr. Xia personally hired me."

Hearing Ye Xiao's words, both Liu Yang and Zhang Jiang felt somewhat awkward. What did it mean to be 'personally hired'? Was there something wrong with that phrase?

However, when Xia Mingyue heard Ye Xiao's words, she immediately glared at him. This guy was sarcastically mocking her, insinuating that she had tempted him and taken those photos. At this thought, Xia Mingyue's complexion flushed slightly. She didn't even know what had gotten into her. Did she really want Ye Xiao to work for her company that badly? Or was it out of pity for Ye Xiao? Or perhaps, was she trying to indirectly repay Ye Xiao?

Xia Mingyue told herself that it was because her heart was too kind and couldn't bear to see others in poverty.

"Yes, he is now a security guard for the logistics department at Blue Star Technology, he might be here to get some clothes from logistics later, so, just ignore him," Xia Mingyue shifted her gaze away from Ye Xiao.

Ye Xiao just smirked and leaned against the wall as if he were watching a spectacle unfold.

How could such a thing happen in the solemnity of a boardroom? By all accounts, this was absolutely unacceptable, but just a moment ago, Xia Mingyue had again said to ignore Ye Xiao.

Yet, Ye Xiao's earlier remark had made Li Shengrong's heart skip a beat.

Who was going to be unlucky after all?

But before Li Shengrong could finish pondering, Wang Dongliang began to speak slowly.

"The company's policy for hiring security guards normally requires contacting security companies. Due to our company's excellent employee benefits, salaries during the probation period are the same as the regular wages. As the responsibility for security guards is significant, Mr. Xia has set the salary at five thousand yuan per month. Therefore, for a three-month period, it amounts to fifteen thousand yuan per security guard. Of course, this is the standard for regular security companies, and Mr. Xia did it to employ the best talents for the company and ensure the safety of every employee. However, Director Li found a loophole. He recruited security guards from Qiuming Labor Market, offering a trial period salary of two thousand yuan. For four guards, over three months, the total would only come to twenty-four thousand yuan. But he withdrew the full amount of sixty thousand yuan from the company in accordance to the normal company policy. Thus, there's a difference of thirty-six thousand yuan. Since the wages for the probationary workers in the logistics department are signed off by the director, although the money hasn't been paid out yet, the sum has already appeared on Director Li's account," Wang Dongliang detailed everything methodically.

When Wang Dongliang uttered these words, Li Shengrong was immediately stunned. He had not anticipated this at all; just moments ago, down in the lobby, he had repeatedly assured himself of his utmost loyalty. But now, it was clear that was not the case. Recalling how Xia Mingyue was aware of his every move, it was evident someone had betrayed him. Previously, Li Shengrong had been perplexed about who it could be, but now he understood, it must have been Wang Dongliang, whom he had believed to be exceedingly loyal.

Li Shengrong stared at Wang Dongliang in disbelief, while Liuu Yang and Zhang Jiang couldn't believe what they were seeing in Li Shengrong!

At this moment, Wang Dongliang, with a faint smile, said to Li Shengrong, "Director Li, originally I didn't want to say anything, but you insisted. I believe you truly feel remorse, don't you?"

"Wang Dongliang, you've ruined me!" exclaimed Li Shengrong, his face filled with anger.

"Ah?" Wang Dongliang feigned surprise, looking at Li Shengrong and said, "Director Li, what are you talking about? Wasn't it you who insisted I come up here, to help verify your story? Otherwise, Director Li, I'll just leave first."

Li Shengrong realized he had been played.

Not only did Li Shengrong realize it, everyone understood that he had been played—a thorough and complete coup. This scheme was not new to Xia Mingyue; she had employed it more than once before. Both Liuu Yang and Zhang Jiang had participated in such strategies and had thus ascended to their current positions, and it was apparent that Wang Dongliang was also bought off by Xia Mingyue.

Wang Dongliang left.

As he departed, he glanced at Ye Xiao, who smilingly watched him leave, chuckled quietly, and remained silent.

"Director Li, is there anything else you'd like to say? Should I go and check with the finance department?" Xia Mingyue asked.

At that moment, Li Shengrong's shoulders slumped in defeat, unable to do anything about the situation that had completely fallen apart.

Seeing Li Shengrong's expression, Xia Mingyue and Fang Jing exchanged a look and a subtle smile, indicating that the matter was effectively settled.

"Mr. Xia, how can the company keep someone like him?" Zhang Jiang posited righteously. Though he appeared virtuous on the outside, inside he knew that the logistics department was due for a new leader. Wang Dongliang was clearly the best candidate and surely the one Xia Mingyue favored. Just like before, Li Shengrong was to be dismissed by Xia Mingyue, and Zhang Jiang knew that speaking up now would likely curry favor with Mr. Xia.

However, things didn't proceed as Zhang Jiang had anticipated.

Fang Jing smiled and glanced at Zhang Jiang, saying, "Mr. Zhang, I don't see it that way. Despite Director Li's less-than-satisfactory actions this time, he is still one of Blue Star's veterans. I think it would be quite inappropriate to simply force him out over this incident."

"But as such a large company, how can Blue Star..." Zhang Jiang continued to protest.

But before Zhang Jiang could finish, Xia Mingyue turned to Li Shengrong and said, "Director Li, I assume you have no objections to today's events. You are one of our veterans, and I do not wish for you to lose your job over this. On the contrary, I wouldn't want this to become widely known, as it would harm your reputation. My proposal is demotion with retention. Do you accept my decision? If you have any objections, we can still discuss it."

Li Shengrong had braced himself for an immediate dismissal by Xia Mingyue, but to his surprise, Xia Mingyue chose neither to fire nor to punish him severely, instead opting for demotion but keeping him on.

Before Li Shengrong could respond, Xia Mingyue continued, "Considering that you have a family to support, your salary will continue to be at the directorial level, though your position will be that of a deputy director."

His salary would remain the same!

For working people, the most important aspect is their salary. To receive the salary of a boss while performing the duties of a lower-rank employee—this would undoubtedly be the dream of many.

"Mr. Xia, I..." Initially, Li Shengrong harbored great hatred for Xia Mingyue, believing she had set a trap into which he unwillingly fell. However, now that Xia Mingyue had not subjected him to harsh punishment, he was both shocked and pleased, at a loss for what to say.

"That's sorted then. You may leave. From now on, Wang Dongliang will take over as the director of logistics, and you will be his deputy. Well, Director Li, you certainly wouldn't object, would you?" Xia Mingyue said with a radiant smile.

Li Shengrong, hearing what Ye Xiao didn't say, could only offer a wry smile. How could he possibly disagree? He nodded repeatedly in agreement and then walked out of the conference room.

Ye Xiao's gaze remained fixed on Xia Mingyue. This woman was truly extraordinary; her ability to mix kindness with severity was taken to the extreme.

To strike someone with a slap, then present them with a sweet date, and to still leave them feeling indebted and grateful to her.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.