Chapter 460: Set a Trap
Lin Anan stood where he was, his fingertips clenching the strap of his briefcase almost imperceptibly.
The setting sun slanted through the corridor window, casting a long and narrow shadow behind Ning Jian, and the perfect "helpless" smile on his face seemed particularly dazzling among the interweaving of light and shadow.
"What are you talking about, Translator Ning?" Lin Anan's voice was calm, but her eyes were fixed on the face of the middle-aged officer next to Ning Jian. "Who is this leader?"
Before the officer next to Ning Jian spoke, he rushed to answer with a familiar and warm tone: "Oh, I forgot to introduce you to Translator Lin. This is Deputy Minister Wang who has just come to our military region's intelligence analysis department. He is in charge of foreign intelligence liaison."
"Deputy Minister Wang, this is Lin An'an, the translator I mentioned to you. She is the 'language genius' of our analysis department."
He deliberately emphasized the words "language genius", with a subtle sarcasm hidden in the ending tone.
Deputy Minister Wang nodded slightly, his eyes moved around Lin Anan's face, with a look of scrutiny: "Translator Lin is young and promising. Translator Ning just mentioned to me that you took the initiative to take over the Khmer language materials in Southeast Asia, saying that you wanted to give it a challenge.
It’s good for young people to be aggressive, but they must also be careful about what they do. Intelligence work cannot tolerate any sloppiness.”
These words may sound like a reminder, but in fact they confirm Ning Jian's statement that he "loves to show off".
Lin Anan sneered in her heart and finally understood the purpose of Ning Jian's play.
From the cold shoulder at the beginning to the "unconscious" exclusion at noon, all of this was forcing her to be impulsive and disgusted.
As long as she feels disgusted, she will naturally be too lazy to talk to him. Without talking, there can be not much communication, and this "loss" will come.
Now she "accidentally" meets him with the new leader, and seemingly unintentionally accuses her of "acting on her own initiative", which not only makes her feel more present in front of the new leader, but also allows her to be suppressed by using her power.
"Deputy Minister Wang misunderstood." Lin Anan met Deputy Minister Wang's gaze, neither humble nor arrogant, "Translator Ning sent the Khmer document to my office this afternoon. He said that Team Leader Zhang arranged for me to handle it.
But my employment file clearly states the languages I must master, and Khmer is not on the list. I immediately handed the information back to Team Leader Zhang and explained the situation."
She paused, turned her gaze towards Ning Jian, and her tone suddenly turned cold: "As for what Ning the translator said about 'taking the initiative to take it on', I would like to ask, when Team Leader Zhang assigned the work, did he clearly tell you that I am fluent in Khmer? Or was it..."
She deliberately dragged out the last word, "Do you mistakenly think that as long as any language in the world is labeled 'confidential', I, Lin Anan, must be able to learn it without a teacher?"
The smile on Ning Jian's face froze for a moment. He didn't expect Lin Anan to refute so directly in front of the new leader.
He was about to open his mouth to explain, but Lin Anan didn't give him a chance.
"Besides!" She turned to Deputy Minister Wang and her tone became polite again. "The Intelligence Analysis Department has a clear work process. The transfer of information between groups must be signed and confirmed by the group leader. If it involves information in a language other than the local language, a handover statement must be attached.
Ning translated the materials for this handover without the signature of Team Leader Zhang, nor did he explain the difficulty of the language. If the work progress is delayed because of this, who should bear the responsibility?"
The series of rhetorical questions were clear and logical, exposing the loopholes in Ning Jian's words one by one.
Deputy Minister Wang's face darkened. He had just arrived at the office and needed to understand the situation in the department. Ning Jian's move seemed to be a flattery, but in fact it exposed his own confusion in the work process.
Ning Jian's forehead was covered with sweat, and he said calmly, "What are you talking about, Lin the Translator? I just saw that you are capable and thought you might have a way... Besides, the information is urgent, and I am afraid of delaying things..."
"Are you afraid of delaying things?" Lin Anan interrupted him, her eyes sharp as a knife, "If you are really afraid, you should immediately confirm whether the person who takes over has the corresponding ability, instead of throwing the hot potato to others and playing the role of 'considering the overall situation'.
Translator Ning has worked hard in Southeast Asia, but this is not a reason to confuse the work process or shirk responsibility. Besides, we just met today and are not very familiar with each other! "
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear and echoed in the empty corridor.
Several colleagues passing by slowed down their pace. Although they did not dare to watch openly, they pricked up their ears to listen to the movement here.
They all felt that after Ning Jian came back... he seemed to be targeting Lin Anan.
I just didn’t expect to face off against the new leader.
Deputy Minister Wang coughed lightly and waved his hand to signal Ning Jian to stop talking. The look he gave Lin Anan was a little more complicated, no longer the initial contempt.
"Translator Lin is right. The work process must be strictly followed. Translator Ning, please write me a detailed report on the transfer of this information, including the communication records with Team Leader Zhang."
Ning Jian's face turned pale, but he could only respond, "Yes, Vice Minister Wang."
"I still have to go to the Propaganda Department to report on the matters of the Provincial Department of Culture. I'll take my leave first." Lin Anan nodded to Deputy Minister Wang, turned around and left without looking at Ning Jian who had an unhappy expression on his face.
The sound of military boots stepping on the ground was crisp and powerful, revealing an unquestionable confidence.
Walking out of the office building, the evening breeze blew away some of the depression in my heart.
Lin Anan looked up at the sunset in the sky, took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
The confrontation just now seemed calm, but in fact every word was walking on the edge of a knife.
She couldn't afford to lose out in front of the new leader, and she couldn't let someone like Ning Jian step on her to climb up.
Just as she was thinking, a military vehicle slowly stopped in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing Chu Mingzhou's angular profile: "Get in the car."
Lin Anan opened the car door and got in. Just as she fastened her seat belt, Chu Mingzhou put his arm around her shoulders and held her in his arms.
The man had a light scent of soap mixed with the smell of sunlight, which instantly relaxed her tense nerves.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a muffled voice, with a barely perceptible hint of grievance in her voice.
Chu Mingzhou lowered his head and kissed the top of her head, saying in a low voice: "Aren't you going to the Propaganda Department? I'll take you there."
He paused, then gently rubbed the back of her head with his fingertips, massaging it lightly.
Lin Anan raised her head and briefly recounted what happened in the corridor. At the end, she curled her lips and said, "He did it on purpose. He wanted to embarrass me in front of the new leader. I don't even know how I offended him."
Chu Mingzhou's eyes darkened, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
Lin Anan's current situation is very different from before. In terms of status and reputation, he is not bad. He did not expect that someone would dare to target him so blatantly.
The Intelligence Analysis Department was where she had put in a lot of effort, and she wouldn't tolerate anyone plotting against her like that.
"Don't be angry." Chu Mingzhou rubbed her hair again, his tone gentle but firm, "This kind of person has his own shortcomings, don't be afraid."
Lin Anan leaned in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, and her heart gradually calmed down.
The car started again and drove towards the Propaganda Department. "Let's go to the Propaganda Department first and get what needs to be done."
"Um."
Lin Anan looked at the street scenes passing by outside the window, silently thinking about what the Provincial Department of Culture had instructed her to do.
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