Si Hua sneered, "Stealing someone else's man? May I ask Deputy Director Wang, whose man have I stolen?"
Deputy Director Wang's face turned red with the effort to speak, but Si Hua cut him off, "Could it be that I've stolen yours? Are you upset?"
The room fell silent at Si Hua's words.
Everyone's gaze shifted towards Deputy Director Wang, their eyes seeming to say: Oh, so that's the kind of person you are?
Deputy Director Wang immediately became flustered, stood up, and pointing at Si Hua's nose, he accused, "President Si, don't slander me!"
Yang Jing stepped in front of Si Hua, her expression indifferent, "So Deputy Director Wang knows the term 'slander' after all?"
Zhang Xiaoxiao and Yang Jing were both Si Hua's confidantes.
Their responsibilities differed; Zhang Xiaoxiao was Si Hua's personal secretary, while Yang Jing held a 3% share in Starshine Group and had a certain authority in the boardroom.
Yang Jing, looking at the uncomfortable Deputy Director Wang, sneered with an aura somewhat akin to Si Hua's, "Today's discussion is about how the news of car spontaneous combustion has affected the company's reputation and profits, making Starshine Group the top news in City A. The public has significant doubts about our safety standards. Instead of thinking about how to recover the company's losses, the directors are here pointing fingers at President Si's private life. Isn't it absurd to focus on the trivial and ignore the critical issues?"
Si Hua watched everyone with an extremely calm demeanor, her face expressionless, the epitome of a noble and aloof woman, inadvertently instilling a sense of fear.
Deputy Director Wang wanted to retort, but Si Hua spoke first, "It's just Starshine after all. If it collapses, I can simply manage another enterprise. But… can all of you rest as easily as you do now with Starshine?"
Her words silenced all those who wanted to question Si Hua.
The office fell into a deathly hush.
Everyone broke out in a cold sweat.
Starshine Group was currently the largest enterprise in City A, and its daily net profits and employee benefits were undoubtedly the most humane when compared to the rest of the city.
Even probationary employees received a salary, with guaranteed double pay for overtime, though most worked a fixed schedule from eight to five, with holidays off and two days of rest per week on a rotating basis. Upon becoming a regular employee, one would receive comprehensive insurance and housing fund contributions, and the company annually distributed oil, rice, and red envelopes.
Moreover, beyond the fixed base salary, the more projects you secured, the greater the commission you'd earn. The higher-ups were never stingy in this regard.
Thus, many people were willing to work their hardest at Starshine, for it was a place where effort and reward were proportionally hopeful.
For most office workers, this was already a great deal.
Especially for the lower-level staff at Starshine, who hoped nothing would go wrong with the company.
This included the directors in the office who owned shares in Starshine.
Everyone knew that their shares were not substantial, and they couldn't earn as much with the same shares in other companies.
If Starshine really collapsed, their good days would be over.
But what about Si Hua?
She was parachuted in, and Starshine, a private enterprise, had a reputation higher than that of state-owned enterprises. Why?
Starshine never lacked good leaders, whether it was the former chairman who had resigned or the current President Si.
If Starshine fell, Si Hua's life would go on as usual, but what about them?
The office fell into a strange silence for three long minutes.
Everyone was in agony.
When gods fight, everyone wants to be an onlooker, waiting until the end to decide how to play their cards.
But they forgot, being in the midst of it all, they would share in both the glory and the losses. How could anyone remain unscathed?
When the fire reached their own feet, threatening their interests, everyone started to panic.
Someone cautiously and nervously asked, "President Si, what should we do next?"
Finally, all eyes were on Si Hua.
Si Hua finally looked up, her demeanor still calm, "Suppress the trending searches, hire lawyers, hold a press conference to clarify the facts, cooperate actively with the police, avoid sensationalism, manage yourselves, and work as usual. What? Is everyone thrown into disarray by such a minor incident? Don't you know how to handle public relations?"
Her words made the senior executives bow their heads in shame.
Si Hua asked, "What now? Are you all still here to pry into my private affairs instead of getting busy?"
Everyone hurriedly stood up, "President Si, I'll get right on it…"
"President Si, I'm on it too…"
"I'll go as well…"
One by one, they left the office.
Just as Deputy Director Wang was about to slip away with the crowd, Si Hua gave Yang Jing a look.
Yang Jing, in her high heels, quickly blocked Deputy Director Wang's path, "Director Wang, President Si would like to have a word with you alone."
Hearing this, the others scattered even faster.
Wang Wei's face changed, but he quickly regained his composure and sat back down, "President Si…"
Si Hua didn't beat around the bush, smiling lightly, "Uncle Wang, you've been with the company for nearly twenty years under my second uncle, haven't you?"
Si Hua's second uncle was the former Chairman of Starshine Group.
Wang Wei's heart raced, his intuition telling him that Si Hua must know something.
Otherwise, with Si Hua's indifferent nature, why would she single him out for a conversation?
Wang Wei was inwardly terrified but maintained a calm facade, "Yes, if we're counting, little Hua, you should be calling me 'uncle' too."
Si Hua simply smiled faintly, and Yang Jing walked over to pour Wang Wei a fresh cup of hot tea.
Wang Wei grew even more uneasy. What was this all about?
As he puzzled over it, Si Hua spoke, "Uncle Wang, do you really think you can walk away unscathed when dealing with a tiger?"
What?
Wang Wei looked up, "What… what are you talking about?"
Sweat soaked through the back of his shirt.
Si Hua remained serene, showing no sign of the life-and-death situation she had just faced.
She spoke calmly, "I remember, Uncle Wang, besides your wife, you have a son and a daughter, right?"
Wang Wei panicked, "Si Hua, what are you implying?!"
Wang Wei had imagined a hundred ways Si Hua could threaten him, but he never expected…
Si Hua said, "Do you really dare to serve someone who would resort to illegal means to achieve their ends?"
Wang Wei was now certain that Si Hua knew about his dealings with Bai Shangmo, his face turning pale with fear.
In truth, Si Hua only knew that Wang Wei and Bai Shangmo were close, but she hadn't yet uncovered the specifics of their dealings.
Bai Shangmo had hidden it well.
Today…
She was merely bluffing Wang Wei.
And the effect was satisfactory.
Bai Shangmo, no doubt, had taken advantage of her inattention to commit many misdeeds, including whether or not he was involved in the car combustion and the highway pursuit of her, which was still under investigation.
Proofreader&Editor:Lotas