Chapter 116 Chen Yongkang Extricates Himself
After Gu Baobao finished speaking about the safety of her family, she didn't look at the thick draft contract again, nor did she look at the solemn or thoughtful expressions on the faces of the leaders.
She simply placed her hands back on her knees, her eyelashes lowered, and the morning light streamed through the window, casting a small, trembling shadow on her long, thick eyelashes.
Her exquisitely beautiful face showed no intense emotions, only a weary calm and a sense of composure after making a desperate gamble.
She said everything she needed to say.
They laid bare their deepest fears and most vulnerable vulnerabilities, without reservation.
What remains is a choice, a weighing of options, and an assessment of the organization's value to her against this additional requirement.
She didn't want to look at the contract because she knew that at this moment, the terms written in black and white were far less important than a clear attitude from the highest level.
She didn't want to see Lu Zhanming either, not wanting to put him in a difficult position.
This is her own battle, and she must fight for it herself.
After a brief silence, she raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Feng Si, Huo Zheng, and Zhang Yunxiang once more. Her voice remained calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness:
"I have said everything I wanted to say. Please help me convey my meaning."
After speaking, she stood up, bowed slightly to the leaders, and then, without hesitation, turned and walked straight to the office door.
"Baby Comrade..."
Commander Feng instinctively wanted to call out to her.
Gu Baobao didn't stop walking; her hand was already on the doorknob.
Lu Zhanming straightened up almost the instant she stood up, and looking at her resolute back, his heart felt like it was being squeezed.
He didn't try to dissuade her, nor did he look at his superiors' expressions. The moment Gu Baobao opened the door and walked out, he gave Commander Feng and the others a crisp military salute, then quickly turned around and followed her.
The office door clicked shut softly.
The three people left in the room looked at each other, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense for a moment.
Commander Feng sighed heavily, leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temples, and his voice was full of helplessness and pity:
"This time... I'm afraid it has really chilled this young comrade's heart. Indeed, yesterday's scene, let alone a young girl, would have frightened anyone and left a knot in their heart."
Zhang Yunxiang also frowned:
"Her concerns are not unfounded. We can't just let them charge into battle and give their all without protecting their safety and vulnerabilities. We can't win this war."
Huo Zheng pushed up his glasses, revealing a sharp and calm gaze behind the lenses.
He didn't reply, but instead stood up and walked to the red secure telephone next to his desk.
"We must report this to our superiors immediately."
His voice was steady.
"The time for the international trade fair is very tight. If Comrade Gu Baobao is unable to fully commit due to concerns, or even... wavers again, all our previous efforts will be in vain, and the losses will be incalculable."
Commander Feng nodded, signaling him to make the contact immediately.
Huo Zheng picked up the phone and dialed a number known to only a very few people.
After the call connected, he recounted Gu Baobao's ordeal yesterday, as well as the core demands she had raised during the negotiation:
The report provided a clear, objective, and concise account of the absolute safety of his family members.
The person on the other end of the phone clearly took it very seriously, instructing Huo to stay online and await further instructions and coordination.
Huo Zheng hung up the phone, but his hand remained on the receiver. In the office, he, Commander Feng, and Zhang Yunxiang fell into an anxious and silent wait.
The ticking of the second hand on the wall clock was exceptionally clear in the silence.
Time passed second by second.
Every minute felt like it was being stretched out.
Huo Zheng's gaze fell on the window, but his mind kept replaying Gu Baobao's calm yet firm face, and the deep fear for the safety of her loved ones that she tried so hard to hide in the depths of her clear eyes.
This is not just a technical collaboration; it concerns whether a top talent can unleash their full potential without any worries, and it also concerns the most basic morality and commitment.
Meanwhile, Chen Yongkang's life wasn't easy either in that gray little building in the provincial capital.
After the news of the incident on the island came back yesterday, although he tried to distance himself and cover it up immediately, it obviously still attracted the attention of some parties.
This morning, he was invited to another, less frequently used chat room within the system.
When questioned, Chen Yongkang remained unusually calm, even appearing somewhat innocent and remorseful for being implicated.
"Su Xiaoyu? Oh, she's my girlfriend, we dated for a while."
He sighed, his tone helpless.
"She's young and immature. She had a minor conflict with Comrade Gu Baobao in the cultural troupe before, and she couldn't get over it. She mentioned it to me a few times."
As a grown man, sometimes when I listen to her complain too much, I might... I might also let my emotions get in the way.
But I absolutely did not instruct her to do anything! A whistleblower letter? A joint petition? I truly know nothing about that!
He cleverly shifted the blame to Su Xiaoyu's jealousy and personal grudges, portraying himself as a foolish man blinded by love, who spoke recklessly but without any malicious intent.
"As for the dinner the night before last, it was just a get-together with some old friends. We drank a few too many drinks, and at the dinner table, it's inevitable that some things got a bit out of hand. Liu Jianguo and Zhao Dezhu may have misunderstood me, or... perhaps they heard some rumors?"
He frowned, looking as if he was trying hard to remember.
“I really didn’t expect them to be so impulsive as to write a complaint letter. I do bear some responsibility for this; I shouldn’t have talked about homosexuality in that kind of setting. I’m willing to accept criticism.”
His words were impeccable, admitting some mistakes, that he had spoken inappropriately while intoxicated, and that he had not been strict enough with his partner.
However, they firmly denied any instigation or conspiracy, attributing the incident to a misunderstanding and inappropriate remarks stemming from a personal grudge.
The person who questioned him clearly didn't completely believe him, but couldn't find any more concrete evidence at the moment.
Chen Yongkang's background and daily work performance have always been good, with no obvious flaws.
Ultimately, he was given a stern warning, ordered to go back and write a thorough self-criticism, and temporarily suspended from his duties to reflect on his actions and cooperate with the subsequent investigation.
Stepping out of the interview room, Chen Yongkang's face instantly darkened when no one was around.
Suspension?
Reflect?
This is a dangerous sign for him.
The authorities have clearly begun to suspect something and have intensified their investigation because of Gu Baobao's case.
He hurried back to his office, locked the door, walked to the window, and unconsciously tapped the windowsill with his fingers.
Gu Baobao...you really are a menace!
Instead of collapsing, it attracted even more attention and investigation!
No, he must be more careful, and at the same time... he also needs to speed up some preparations.
That stupid woman, Su Xiaoyu, can't be kept around any longer.
And that line in Country F... we must ensure it's absolutely foolproof.
A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
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