President's Office.
President Gu sat behind his desk, flipping through documents without even lifting his head. "What happened today?"
Meng Shu Tang stood before the desk, her posture upright. "I was explaining things properly when Bai Ci Xian suddenly came over. I saw with my own eyes that she used her fingertips to tap and undo the clasp of the ancient beads.
She also deliberately lowered the tray with one hand, causing the beaded bracelet to slide off."
The man stood up abruptly, grabbed the document in his hand, and slammed it onto the desk with a bang.
"Meng Shu Tang, is this the explanation you are giving me?
As soon as I heard Director Wang and the others were coming, I was frantic, and you were the first person I thought of.
Instead of handling it well, you made me lose face on such an important occasion. After the fact, you don't even reflect on yourself, but instead push the responsibility onto Ci Xian."
Meng Shu Tang replied, "I did not. I am telling the truth.
She was fine standing by your side, so why did she come over to my side? She did it on purpose."
"What do you mean on purpose? You were clearly just jealous and making false accusations, thinking that I was with her last night and that the lipstick on my collar was from her.
That is why you were distracted when she went over today, which ruined the exhibition explanation."
Meng Shu Tang said, "I know you don't believe me, and anything I say is futile.
Doesn't the exhibition have surveillance? If you pull the footage, you will know whether I am lying."
The man had no intention of checking at all. "You don't need to come for any future exhibition explanations. Get out!"
Meng Shu Tang wanted to say something but stopped, clenched her fists slightly, turned, and left.
When she returned to the studio, Ruan An had already heard about the incident.
Good news doesn't leave the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.
"Tangtang Jie, you don't need to blame yourself. You must have been too tired, which is why you made a mistake on such an important occasion."
In fact, Meng Shu Tang was also blaming herself.
This was the first time she had made a mistake since she started working.
This feeling was truly agonizing.
Especially in an industry like ancient bead restoration, one must strive for perfection and cannot tolerate even the slightest error.
This had become a professional habit carved into her bones.
She had always kept the words of her mother and Master in mind and never dared to be negligent.
Today's mistake was like a vine, tightly twining around her limbs and bones, with self-reproach gnawing at her internal organs.
She said weakly, "What are they saying?"
"I just heard a few employees passing by say that President Gu... is really good to you and exceptionally tolerant. If it were anyone else who made a mistake on such an important occasion, they would have been forced to pack their bags and... get out.
Also, they said that regarding the collapse of the display rack at the Cultural Tourism Town last time, based on President Gu's past work style, he would not have continued to reuse you after that."
As she spoke, Ruan An leaned over. "Sister, don't be sad. He is your husband; it is only right for him to spoil you."
Meng Shu Tang was caught between laughter and tears.
She had been set up and framed, and President Gu wouldn't even listen to her explanation.
But he didn't make her leave immediately either. Is his revenge not over yet, right?
Meng Shu Tang composed her emotions, drank some water, opened her computer, and wrote a review report. "An An, remember to lock the door when you leave."
Ruan An asked, "Where are you going?"
Meng Shu Tang replied, "To find President Gu."
She could not lose her job as an exhibition guide for the collection. Her mother was still lying in the special care ward, and she had to work hard to earn money.
Gu Shi Building.
Assistant Qin saw Meng Shu Tang approaching. "Teacher Meng, is something the matter?"
Meng Shu Tang said, "I am here to see President Gu."
"President Gu is..." He glanced toward the office, looking troubled. "
Miss Bai is inside."
Meng Shu Tang's expression was calm as she sat down in the nearby tea break area. "I will wait for him here."
Assistant Qin asked, "Would you like to drink something? Coffee or fruit juice?"
Meng Shu Tang shook her head. "No need, Assistant Qin. You go ahead and get busy!"
President's Office.
Bai Ci Xian was grinding coffee. "Brother Yun Ci, I heard you stopped Meng Shu Tang's work as the collection exhibition guide. Actually, today, it can't be entirely blamed on her. I was by her side at the time and didn't help either. It's also my fault..."
President Gu was reviewing documents without lifting his head.
Bai Ci Xian was busy with her work. "Brother Yun Ci, there was a mishap at the collection exhibition, and the display rack at the Cultural Tourism Town also had errors before. Miss Meng... doesn't seem as steady and reliable as the outside world says!"
The man's hand paused slightly, but he did not respond.
Bai Ci Xian brought the brewed coffee to him. The man did not look at her. "Leave it there and go out!"
The smile on Bai Ci Xian's face stiffened, but she quickly smiled again. "I also remembered I have some work to do, so I'll head out first."
When Assistant Qin saw her come out, he went in and told President Gu, "President Gu, the Young Madam is here."
The man did not lift his head. After a moment, he said, "Let her wait."
Meng Shu Tang saw Bai Ci Xian come out and got up to go to the door.
What she got instead was Assistant Qin. "Teacher Meng, President Gu is busy. Please wait a while before going in."
Meng Shu Tang nodded.
However, half an hour passed, and she saw the Director of Human Resources and the Director of the Planning Department go in one after another.
She sighed slightly, sat back on the sofa, and continued to wait.
This wait lasted another two hours.
Assistant Qin couldn't bear it anymore. "Young Madam, President Gu is busy. Don't wait anymore..."
Meng Shu Tang shook her head. "No, I will wait until President Gu is finished."
After Assistant Qin left, Bai Ci Xian came over carrying her bag. "Miss Meng, you still haven't gone in? It seems this time you really caused a huge disaster and angered our overbearing CEO.
Brother Yun Ci is meticulous and has high requirements for work. You have been by his side for three years, how could you not know this?"
Meng Shu Tang sat quietly and did not look at her at all.
"We were just talking about the follow-up for the exhibition in the office. Brother Yun Ci said he only trusts me and asked me to keep a closer eye on the collection matters from now on.
Are you here to apologize now?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the exhibition review report on the table. "Don't be anxious. Brother Yun Ci is still in a fit of anger. When his anger subsides, I will speak to him for you."
After finishing, she feigned a pat on Meng Shu Tang's shoulder.
Meng Shu Tang looked up, her eyes cold. "Take your hand off."
Bai Ci Xian's smile stiffened, she pouted, and swayed away.
Meng Shu Tang looked down at her watch. It was 5:00 PM, and she had already waited for two and a half hours.
Feeling tired from sitting, she stood up and went to the window, watching the twilight shroud the earth and the birds returning to their nests.
As soon as she looked up, she saw President Gu on the mezzanine platform.
The 28th floor was a duplex office area.
The lower level was the secretarial area and tea break area, and the high platform was the President's office area.
Usually, secretaries and assistants would go up via the central staircase to report work.
Meng Shu Tang saw the man standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, looking in her direction.
She also suddenly realized that from her position, President Gu could see her when he looked down.
He had known she was outside the whole time, yet he still made her wait bitterly.
She obediently sat back down.
Thinking that since President Gu saw her looking at him,
he would call her in soon.
He did not. Assistant Qin led three business partners in one after another. Only after the last guest left did he come over and say to her, "President Gu is calling for you."
Meng Shu Tang pushed the door open and entered, closing the door behind her.
Despite waiting for several hours, there was not a trace of disarray on her face; there was only composure and uprightness.
She came to the desk and stood facing the man. "President Gu, I am here to apologize for the oversight in today's exhibition work.
This is the review report I made. Please take a look."
"You know how to apologize now? Where is the toughness from when you were arguing earlier? After waiting outside for several hours, you've learned to bow your head?"
The man did not look at her, only flipping through the documents in his hand forcefully, as if he were in a foul mood.
Meng Shu Tang said, "I was indeed impulsive earlier. I am truly sorry."
The man stood up, picked up his teacup, and stood facing the floor-to-ceiling window, one hand in his pocket. "Leave the review report here and get out!"
The man did not hear any footsteps, his brows furrowed slightly, but he did not turn back.
He only took a light sip from his teacup, his peripheral vision sweeping over the slender figure reflected in the floor-to-ceiling window. "Is there anything else?"
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