The truth in the shadows

I. The Beginning of the Interrogation Room The atmosphere in the interrogation room of the group's security department was oppressive and suffocating. The incandescent light shone blindingly, directly onto Ayu. She squinted slightly, trying to resist the discomfort caused by the bright light, but what made her heart clench even more was the aggressive questioning from the internal control supervisor opposite her.

The internal control supervisor sat in a metal chair, a thick stack of documents on the table in front of him. His arms were crossed, and his eyes, sharp as an eagle's, were fixed on Ayu. "Mr. Bai, are you sure you were fixing water pipes at the villa at three in the morning? Are there any witnesses?" The supervisor's voice was cold and serious, echoing in the closed interrogation room.

Ayu's Adam's apple bobbed, and she instinctively wanted to answer, but her throat felt terribly dry. Her knuckles clenched until they turned white, her nails digging deep into her palms, the sharp pain temporarily snapping her out of her chaotic thoughts. She knew that every answer she gave at this moment would determine the course of her fate. But just then, she inadvertently glanced out the one-way glass, where the television wall was broadcasting a live stream of the charity gala.

In the scene, Zhong Hua, wearing a dark green shawl draped over his shoulders by Gu Yanting, stands under the crystal chandelier adjusting his bow tie. Under the light, the two appear perfectly matched; Gu Yanting wears a faint smile, a gentle expression A Yu has never seen before. A Yu's gaze freezes instantly, as if the whole world has stopped. The supervisor's subsequent words grow increasingly distant, as if they are heard through a thick veil of water.

II. The Whirlpool of Memories

Ayu's thoughts were involuntarily drawn back to the past. She and Gu Yanting had shared many beautiful moments. Back then, they would meet in the company's break room, and Gu Yanting would always secretly put an extra sugar cube in Ayu's coffee cup, then watch with a smile as she frowned and drank it down, before handing her a glass of water. On weekend afternoons, they would stroll together along the park paths, sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting golden dappled patterns on them. Ayu would lean on Gu Yanting's shoulder, listening to him talk about his plans for the future—a warm little home, a lovely pet dog, and each other's companionship.

However, everything changed with the arrival of Zhong Hua. Zhong Hua was the daughter of the CEO of one of the group's partners. From the moment she stepped into the company, she shone like a dazzling star, attracting everyone's attention, including Gu Yanting's. Ayu still remembered the first time she saw Gu Yanting and Zhong Hua together. It was after a high-level company meeting; Gu Yanting and Zhong Hua walked out of the conference room chatting and laughing. Zhong Hua affectionately linked arms with Gu Yanting, and Gu Yanting didn't resist at all. Ayu's heart felt like it had been pierced by a sharp arrow; at that moment, she felt the distance between them growing ever wider.

III. Conflicts of Interest

"Mr. Bai, you haven't answered my question yet!" The internal control supervisor raised his voice, abruptly pulling Ayu back from her reverie. Ayu took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She knew this interrogation was related to a series of recent financial problems at the company, and she had been inexplicably dragged into it.

After the company's financial loopholes were discovered, the internal control department quickly launched an investigation. For some reason, all the blame pointed to Ayu. Someone reported that she was at the villa of the company's major shareholder at 3 a.m., and at that time, the villa's financial system happened to show abnormal data changes. Ayu explained that she went to fix the water pipes, but this reason sounded too far-fetched. After all, why would a security department employee go to a villa to fix water pipes in the middle of the night, and there were no witnesses to corroborate her story?

Ayu knew in her heart that someone was definitely behind this. Perhaps it was because of her past relationship with Gu Yanting, or perhaps it was because she had unintentionally offended certain powerful figures within the company. She recalled that not long ago, in a company project competition, her team successfully defeated the team supported by Zhong Hua, winning the lead in the project. After that victory, she felt that Zhong Hua's gaze towards her was full of hostility. Could it be that Zhong Hua was using this financial issue to target her, trying to get rid of her from the company completely?

IV. Struggle and Choice

Ayu was struggling internally. She knew that if she couldn't find solid evidence to prove her innocence, she would face legal punishment and the destruction of her career. But finding evidence was easier said than done; she didn't even know where to begin. Moreover, seeing Gu Yanting and Zhong Hua so intimately at the charity gala felt like her heart was being pierced by countless needles. She began to doubt whether her past relationship with Gu Yanting was just an illusion, utterly vulnerable in the face of profit and power.

In this agonizing struggle, Ayu thought of her family. Her parents were honest, hardworking laborers who had worked diligently all their lives and were always proud of Ayu's job at a large corporation. If she went to jail for this, how heartbroken her parents would be, and how would they spend their old age? Ayu's eyes welled up with tears. She clenched her fists and told herself that she had to persevere no matter what and not let her family down.

Meanwhile, Ayu was also pondering Gu Yanting's attitude. Did he know about her interrogation? Did he believe in her innocence? If he truly believed her, why didn't he come to her rescue? Had he truly sided entirely with Zhong Hua, willing to abandon their past relationship for personal gain? A wave of despair washed over Ayu, but it was quickly replaced by a stubborn resolve. She decided that even if the whole world disbelieved her, she would fight for a chance to survive.

V. The Appearance of a Turning Point

Just as Ayu was sinking into despair, the interrogation room door suddenly opened. A young policeman walked in, exchanged a few words with the head of internal control, whose face instantly turned grim. Then, the policeman approached Ayu and said, "Ms. Bai, you can leave now. We've found new evidence proving you're not involved in this financial matter."

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