60. Rumors
The peace was broken without warning.
On Monday morning, Jiang Nan and his team were conducting a final internal review of the Summer Pulse promotional plan. The plan was polished to near perfection, with solid support and outstanding creative highlights, earning even the typically critical Deputy Director Wen's approval.
Mr. Yao didn't have any special opinions. Only Wang Paopi kept making vague and sarcastic remarks, but his sarcastic remarks didn't cause any big waves.
However, just as the meeting was drawing to a close and the draft was about to be finalized, the door suddenly opened. In came Mr. Yao's assistant. She walked anxiously over to Mr. Yao, clutching a laptop. The others looked at each other in confusion, a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.
While browsing the interface, CEO Yao said to Jiang Nan, "There's an anonymous tip about Summer Pulse online. We need to deal with it as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Jiang Nan was stunned for a moment, then quickly searched the web on his computer. It was an anonymous whistleblower post that had just popped up. The headline was highly inflammatory, directly accusing Summer Pulse's new product ingredients of suspected false advertising, and even included several blurry screenshots of laboratory data. In just a few minutes, the post had already amassed a huge number of comments.
Wenwen immediately exploded: "Holy crap! What's going on?! Where did the black water come from?!"
Jiang Nan frowned slightly and said as he browsed the post, "It's fake. The data doesn't match any of the raw material records." Jiang Nan paused, then turned to Mr. Yao, "Mr. Yao, I suggest we contact the legal and public relations departments first to prepare a response to the announcement. But before that, I need to speak to Mr. Song."
"Hurry up." Mr. Yao said with a serious face.
Jiang Nan agreed, but just as she picked up her phone, Song Wei called in, her voice as deep as the ocean: "Did you see it?"
"Mr. Song, we just saw this too. Our initial assessment is that the data is fabricated. We are preparing an official response—"
"You need to respond quickly and forcefully," Song Wei interrupted her, her tone urgent. "They're well prepared, and this won't be their only move. They might have more to come, so keep a close eye on them. Also, send us your final draft so we can review it. If they come back again, we'll leverage their power to launch Summer Pulse."
"Okay, Mr. Song, we'll send it to you once we've finalized the draft." Jiang Nan hung up the phone and briefly relayed Song Wei's comments to Mr. Yao. Mr. Yao nodded, deciding that the final draft would be the final version presented at the meeting. She then arranged a response and adjourned the meeting.
Jiang Nan hurried back to her workstation with her computer. As soon as she sat down, Wang Baopi walked over to her. His shiny forehead was particularly conspicuous under the office light.
He knocked on Jiang Nan's partition, neither loud nor soft. "Xiao Jiang, is it Summer Pulse again? Why does this project always have problems? Young people should be more cautious. Don't step on any pitfalls just to show off."
Jiang Nan ignored him and continued to communicate with the public relations department about the wording of the announcement.
Seeing she ignored him, Wang Paopi snorted and chuckled, his voice rising a little: "If you ask me, some female comrades are just too capable and easily get into trouble. Look, it's only been a few days, and there are anonymous phone calls and blackmail posts online. Tsk tsk."
Hearing his words, Jiang Nan's hands slowly stopped typing on the keyboard.
She looked up at Wang Papi with suspicion and caution.
——She had never told anyone except Chen Yunsheng about the anonymous phone call, so how did Wang Papi know about it?
Wang Papi noticed Jiang Nan's look and asked in a bluffing tone, "What do you think?"
At this moment, Li Lan suddenly cried out, "Jiang Nan! Another post! This one's even more outrageous!"
The new explosive post directly brought up Song Huai's old deeds. It was vague but full of hints. Then, another hot post popped up, directly fabricating disgusting rumors about Jiang Nan's private life. The accompanying pictures were actually several blurry photos that were maliciously taken of her getting on and off the car, as well as several unfamiliar online pictures that were not of her at all.
The office suddenly became quiet, and many eyes were focused on her, either explicitly or implicitly.
Wang Baopi seemed to have caught some terrible evidence and said sarcastically, "See, what did I say? This person should behave properly. Otherwise, he will get into trouble sooner or later."
Jiang Nan's heart was pounding. At this moment, Song Wei called again, her voice filled with anger: "Jiang Nan! Who dug up my brother's story? And what about you?"
"Mr. Song, I'm dealing with it. Those are all rumors—"
"Deal with it? How?! Give me a solution right now!"
Wang Paopi was still fanning the flames: "Some female comrades rely on some shady means to get projects. Now they've gone too far, haven't they? They've even damaged the company's reputation—"
Jiang Nan couldn't bear to listen any longer and stood up. Her movements were so abrupt that the chair made a harsh sound as it rubbed against the floor. She quickly said to Song Wei on the other end of the line, "Mr. Song, please wait a minute."
Then she pressed the mute button and turned to look at Wang Baopi.
At that moment, you could hear a pin drop in the office.
She stared at Wang Papi and asked loudly, "Director Wang, please explain clearly. Who is using methods that are not up to standard?"
Wang Paopi didn't expect her to come back directly. He was stunned for a moment, then sneered and said, "Whoever is in a hurry is the one to criticize."
"I won Summer Pulse thanks to a solid plan and overtime. The only exception I made was a personal purchase, then a gift given in the company's name. Besides taking credit, swearing, and ordering the intern to pour you coffee, what else can you do?" Jiang Nan took a step forward, staring at Wang Baopi's face. "As for my personal affairs, who are you to say anything? That's my husband's car! What's wrong with my husband picking me up from get off work? Do you want me to slap our marriage certificate in your face to see the date?"
"Also, I received an anonymous threatening phone call," Jiang Nan's tone slowed down. "I haven't told anyone except my husband. But Director Wang mentioned it. Can you explain?"
Wang Papi was intimidated by her aura, but he still said, "I guessed it. I went through something like this when I was young. You women are just unreasonable and take your kindness for granted."
He turned the tables.
Jiang Nan's anger was completely uncontrollable. "I didn't want to say it, and I didn't think it was necessary, but since you're like this, I won't be polite. When Peter spread rumors, I restrained myself because of our relationship as colleagues. Director Wang, I think you know what's going on behind your back."
Wang Baopi's face turned pale and blue, and his colleagues around him were stunned.
"She is indeed married," Wenwen said, "I know that."
Jiang Nan smiled at Wenwen. Then she took a breath, too lazy to look at Wang Paopi's face. She picked up her phone again and unmuted it. "Sorry, Mr. Song, there was a bit of noise just now. Regarding Mr. Song's old post, I suggest we communicate with Teacher Fu as soon as possible. Perhaps we can jointly issue a brief statement, declaring it false information and avoiding too much entanglement in details. As for the part directed at me, I will also deal with it as soon as possible and ensure that your company is not implicated."
Her tone regained its composure, becoming steady and peaceful, almost like a completely different person from the one who was full of rage just now.
Song Wei was silent for a few seconds, as if choked by her rapid switching. After a moment, she said unhappily, "Okay, let's do as you say. I'll contact Fu Yifang about the joint statement. You better hurry up and send the final draft as soon as possible."
“Okay, we’ll send you the final draft as soon as possible.”
As soon as the call was hung up, Jiang Nan's phone rang again, and the three words "Chen Yunsheng" appeared on the screen.
Jiang Nan glanced around, then walked to the tea room with his phone before answering it: "Hello."
"Where?" Chen Yunsheng's tone was gentler than usual.
"The company's tea room." Jiang Nan answered him weakly.
"Have you seen the post?" Chen Yunsheng hesitated before speaking. "Don't worry, we've found the source. It's Shengcheng who's behind this, and the Liang family hired a group of trolls to exaggerate. Wei Yan has already contacted the other party's boss, and they'll handle it quickly."
Jiang Nan leaned against the cool wall, feeling her tense nerves finally relax. She rubbed her eyes, her nose a little sore. "Thank you."
Then, she paused for a moment and said in a tone of worry and apology, "Well—I just lost my temper and blurted out our marriage...in front of the whole office."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a second or two.
Based on his silence, Jiang Nan's heart instantly tightened and he showed a nervous expression.
Then she heard Chen Yunsheng seem to laugh lightly.
"Just tell me," his voice came through the phone, with a calmness and gentleness that reassured her, "This isn't something that needs to be hidden. Even if you don't tell me now, everyone who needs to know will know by the day of Grandpa's birthday party."
His tone was natural and calm, like a ray of warm spring sunshine, dispelling the uneasiness and regret in her heart.
"Oh," Jiang Nan lowered his head and scratched the wall intermittently, "I just feel like... I seem to have caused you some trouble."
"Trouble?" Chen Yunsheng's tone was a little teasing. "Which do you think is more troublesome for me, dealing with these rumors or eating your new dishes?"
Jiang Nan was speechless, feeling her cheeks getting hot: "I...I haven't made dark cuisine for a long time."
"Then on the day the cheongsam samples are finished, we won't go out to eat or ask Auntie to make them ourselves?"
She smiled and said, "Sure, how about hot pot?"
"Can I make a suggestion and exclude the snail noodle hotpot for now?"
"Okay, we can choose a lighter soup base." Jiang Nan's tone became lighter.
"Okay, that's settled then," he said, his voice softening. "Just focus on your work now, and leave the rest to me. I'll pick you up in the evening?"
"Well, okay," Jiang Nan quickly added, "Director Wang mentioned the anonymous phone call today, but I only told you. I think he might know something."
Chen Yunsheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. Leave it to me. You can just go to work as usual."
"Okay...goodbye then?" Jiang Nan said in a low voice.
"Well, bye."
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