Chapter 18 Cold Sweat
"How did you find out?" Li Shu asked.
Lan Meng gave a cold smile and replied, "I used to manage these accounts for Yin Rong. I am aware of everything. You took her manager, and she has been wanting you gone for a while now. I warned you out of kindness that day, but look at what has transpired. If I had known, I wouldn't have said anything to you."
What?
Li Shu stood frozen in shock.
Cold sweat began to trickle down his body uncontrollably.
If Lan Meng's words were true, then what now?
Yin Rong still had control over the finances. She must have meticulously prepared all the necessary documents during this time.
Why didn't he feel any sense of alarm when Lan Meng had warned him earlier?
"Lan Meng, thank you for informing me of all this. I was wrong to you before, and I will allow you to return to Huamei," Li Shu said.
Lan Meng turned around and said, "Focus on your own matters first. Handle this crisis first, then we can talk."
Li Shu had no interest in meeting Yu Lan at the moment. He needed to return to the company immediately to investigate the financial situation.
Just as he was about to call Yu Lan, her phone rang first.
Upon answering, he heard Yu Lan's anxious voice.
"Li Shu, something is wrong. The project team's vehicles have arrived at the school gate, they are planning to demolish the school."
What?
Wasn't the Phase 2 project on hold for re-planning? Why was it starting again?
A string of unfortunate events unfolding one after the other - like a leaky roof in the midst of a stormy night. There was a possibility of being framed, and now there was trouble brewing at the school.
"Yu Lan, don't worry. I will go find Director Shen immediately!"
Li Shu hurried towards the company, disregarding everything else.
Regarding his own situation, Yin Rong had been planning for so long, there was no need to rush at the moment. Protecting the school was the top priority.
Upon arriving at the company, Li Shu headed straight to Shen Qihao's office.
To his surprise, Shen Qihao's office door was tightly shut.
"Secretary He, where is Director Shen?"
"He did not come to the company today. Is there something urgent, Manager Li?"
Shen Qihao wasn't present?
Only Shen Qihao could address the matter of this project, seeking help from anyone else would be futile.
Li Shu tried calling Shen Qihao, but his phone was switched off.
"He must be avoiding me deliberately!" Li Shu thought to himself.
"It's alright, Secretary He. When Director Shen returns, ask him to contact me."
With that, Li Shu rushed to Yu Lan's school. They couldn't allow the school to be demolished in this manner.
As soon as Li Shu left, Secretary He opened Shen Qihao's door.
Shen Qihao was seated inside.
"Director Shen, I am confused. Since Li Shu's identity has been verified, why are you still concerned about him? Just dismiss him already," Secretary He remarked.
Shen Qihao chuckled and said, "You don't understand, Xiao He. Regardless, he has a connection with Yu Qing, who is now the group's president. I wouldn't dare to provoke someone of that stature."
If we handle this calmly, once the school is demolished and everything is resolved, Li Shu won't be able to cause any trouble.
...
Vice Manager's office at Huamei Company in Huacheng.
Shen Tianlin paced anxiously in the office.
"Oh, please stop pacing. I'm getting dizzy," Wang Hongyu said.
When Wang Hongyu remained silent, everything was fine. But as soon as she spoke, Shen Tianlin's temper flared up.
Chairman Li Yingjie is set to inspect the Northwest branch, and he may visit Huamei. All finances must be in order, but the seven hundred thousand loophole is something Shen Tianlin cannot cover. If Shen Qihao discovers this, Shen Tianlin will be in serious trouble.
"Why are you causing a scene! If it weren't for you, would I be in this predicament now?"
There was a pile of documents on the table, which Shen Tianlin grabbed and threw at Wang Hongyu.
"When we purchased the car, I suggested getting a standard one, but you insisted on comparing with Li Shu! If it weren't for that car, would I have to misuse company funds? Seven hundred thousand! A staggering seven hundred thousand! How am I going to cover that now?"
"You hit me? Shen Tianlin! Are you even human? What about our vows when we got married?" Wang Hongyu exclaimed.
"Married? Wang Hongyu, do you have the audacity to bring up marriage with me? If I weren't the son of the Shen family, would you be with me? Did you love me for who I am? No! You loved me for my money!" Shen Tianlin shouted.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door.
Shen Tianlin and Wang Hongyu ceased their argument, hastily picked up the scattered documents from the floor, and then opened the door.
Yin Rong looked at Shen Tianlin with a smile.
Yin Rong had overheard everything clearly during their argument in the office.
"Master Shen, you have quite the nerve, embezzling so much of the company's funds." Yin Rong confronted Shen Tianlin, feeling confident.
Shen Tianlin's expression changed drastically.
"Yin Rong, if you dare to expose this, I will ensure you never find peace!"
Yin Rong chuckled.
"Master Shen, I'm not trying to cause trouble for you, I'm trying to assist you."
"How can you help?" Shen Tianlin inquired.
Yin Rong glanced outside, saw that no one was nearby, closed the door, then smiled mysteriously and said, "Master Shen, have you ever suspected Li Shu? He comes from a humble background, where did he acquire so much money? He drives a Mercedes, and even splurged a hundred thousand at your wedding, where did he get all that money?"
"What are you implying?" Shen Tianlin understood the insinuation and asked deliberately.
Yin Rong produced a stack of documents.
"There is a missing one million in the sales department's accounts. I suspect that this money has all been embezzled by Li Shu."
"If he can embezzle one million, he can embezzle one million seven hundred thousand. Master Shen, do you comprehend what I'm saying?"
Shen Tianlin now had no reason not to understand.
As soon as Yin Rong perused these account statements, Shen Tianlin grasped the situation.
The issue of Li Shu embezzling one million from the sales department was already well-documented. Even the timing and excuses for issuing the invoices were all accounted for.
The evidence was too compelling, indicating foul play.
This money was likely intentionally falsified by Yin Rong. However, with Yin Rong having leverage over Shen Tianlin, they were now in cahoots.
Since Yin Rong could fabricate a million-dollar account, of course, he could fabricate a one million seven hundred thousand account.
If he shifts all the blame to Li Shu, not only can he absolve himself, but he can also settle the score for Li Shu making him kneel.
Shen Tianlin looked up.
"Yin Rong, did Li Shu embezzle two million from the sales department? Is that accurate?"
Yin Rong immediately grasped Shen Tianlin's intention.
He not only wanted to pin his seven hundred thousand shortfall on Li Shu but also wanted to add another three hundred thousand to it.
"Yes! Master Shen, Li Shu embezzled two million," Yin Rong promptly responded.
"Before work tomorrow, I want to see all the evidence. By then, I will present this evidence to the general manager."
"No problem!"