Chapter 101: This Person Cannot Be Allowed to Stay

“I’ll discuss the follow-up with the deputy general manager. But this person, no matter the reason for such actions, cannot stay.”

After Lin Xi finished speaking, Chen, on the other end of the call, was silent for several seconds before exhaling helplessly and agreeing, “Alright. Do as you see fit, Lin. I’ll cooperate.”

“Go home and rest now. I’ll return to the company tomorrow. See you then.”

“Alright, see you.”

After hanging up, Lin Xi bent down to change her shoes. After washing up, she took her bag and headed straight for Huasheng’s headquarters.

On the way, she called the manager of Huasheng’s development department twice, but no one answered. She wasn’t sure if he was busy or deliberately ignoring her calls.

She exited the call interface and opened the screenshots sent by the deputy general manager, scrutinizing them carefully.

Three images: one was a conversation between the deputy general manager and Huasheng’s development manager; the other two were last night’s group chat records. The screenshots only included seemingly unfriendly comments, omitting everything else.

Anyone would feel uneasy seeing such selective quotations.

At this point, Lin Xi understood. The other party’s intentions were clear.

There was no possibility that these were accidentally shared.

There was nothing more to say.

This person must go.

—

“Hello, may I ask whom you’re looking for?”

At Huasheng’s reception, Lin Xi was stopped.

She took off her mask and revealed her identity. “Lin Xi from Feiyun’s development department.”

“Oh, it’s you! Are you heading to the development department again today? But Manager Wang from the department left early this morning.”

The receptionist asked politely.

“Manager Wang isn’t here?”

“That’s right.” The receptionist looked sincere, not at all like she was lying.

After confirming several times, Lin Xi asked, “When will he be back? Did he mention where he was going?”

“No, he didn’t.” The receptionist gestured, “You could try calling Manager Wang.”

“I already did. He’s probably busy and didn’t hear it. How about this—could you ask other staff if they know Manager Wang’s schedule? I need to see him urgently.”

“Of course. Please wait a moment.”

Two minutes later, the receptionist hung up the phone.

“How did it go?” Lin Xi asked.

“I checked for you. Manager Wang isn’t sure when he’ll be back. He went to a store in the distant suburbs, and the earliest he might return is in the evening.”

“If it’s urgent, I can pass your message on when he gets back.”

—

The receptionist offered a few suggestions: “Or you could wait here for Manager Wang. He might return this afternoon.”

Lin Xi pressed her lips together and checked the time on her wristwatch.

It was now 10:45 a.m.

Wait here until evening?

“Thank you,” Lin Xi decided to wait for a while.

She went to sit on a sofa off to the side. In just a few minutes, the receptionist brought her a cup of coffee and a plate of desserts.

Lin Xi wasn’t in the mood for food. She scrolled through yesterday’s group chat messages on her phone. In her view, neither her nor Chen’s comments had been problematic.

Aside from the two of them, several engineers friendly with Chen had chimed in briefly.

Those people could be excluded.

Their group was small—there were more assistants and others than engineers.

Lin Xi’s finger slid slowly over the list of group members, pausing thoughtfully at each name.

Some people were obviously not the type.

Lin Xi could sense that from daily interactions.

Few could tolerate her temperament; she knew many privately rated her as average.

They were all seasoned professionals; duplicity was normal.

Few were as straightforward as Chen.

Soon, Lin Xi’s finger paused at an avatar.

Her gaze dropped to the group nickname.

Lin’s assistant—Xu Li.

Lin Xi’s intuition was always sharp; her gaze lingered on this name for a long while before she tapped in.

—

At one o’clock, Lin Xi rubbed her brow.

When the receptionist returned, she was surprised to see Lin Xi still there. “Aren’t you going to have lunch?”

“Why not eat at our cafeteria?”

“No need,” Lin Xi smiled lightly, gesturing to the desserts on the table. “They’re delicious, thank you.”

Her smile was contagious; the receptionist blushed and handed her two egg tarts, “Fresh from the oven—try them!”

The receptionist liked Lin Xi very much.

This was Lin Xi’s third visit to Huasheng’s headquarters, including yesterday, so the receptionist remembered her well.

Initially, the group had talked about Lin Xi, thinking another beauty had joined the company and speculating on her department.

Later, they learned she was an engineer and team leader from Feiyun’s development division, and the lead for the joint project.

Young, beautiful, highly capable, and a PhD graduate from overseas—these alone inspired envy.

—

Soon after, rumors spread that Lin Xi’s family was extraordinary, holding sway in Beijing’s elite circles.

Yet she showed no trace of aristocratic airs.

No arrogance or haughtiness—quite the opposite.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” The receptionist, hearing Lin Xi’s repeated gratitude, felt a bit embarrassed.

“By the way, did you try calling Manager Wang again? If it doesn’t work out, maybe you should head back. Sitting here all day can’t be comfortable.”

“I did, still no answer.”

“Ah?” The receptionist was puzzled but tried to smooth things over for Manager Wang, “Maybe he’s still busy.”

“Mm.”

Lin Xi replied.

If he hadn’t heard the call at first, now he was likely ignoring it on purpose.

At this hour, who wouldn’t check their phone?

After another hour, Lin Xi’s patience wore thin. She exchanged contact details with the receptionist. “I’ll head back. If Manager Wang returns, please let me know.”

“Of course!”

Leaving Huasheng, Lin Xi let out a long breath.

She had just settled in at her hotel when Cheng Si called to ask about the situation.

After hearing her out, Cheng Si told her to return to Beijing.

“It’s nothing. Come back. Leave it to Fourth Brother.”

“Don’t worry, I know Huasheng well. Haven’t I told you? President Shen of Huasheng is my niece’s husband. Family.”

“…” Lin Xi tried to recall but couldn’t. “Alright, explain things to President Shen first. I’ll call Manager Wang again later.”

Cheng Si neither agreed nor disagreed, only urging her to return quickly.

“I’ve booked your high-speed rail ticket. The car is on its way.”

“So urgent?” Lin Xi had planned to leave in the evening.

She paused, considering, “Do you... need something from me?”

She vaguely sensed Cheng Si wasn’t calling just about this matter.

“Is it because of Third Brother?”

(To be continued)