Chapter Eleven: Crisis of Trust

Bei Mo’s tall figure appeared in the doorway, exuding an icy aura.

Duan Fei’s heart plummeted, and the spark of hope she had just felt was instantly extinguished. He had not come with the apology and concern she had longed for; instead, his gaze was cold, sharp with scrutiny and suspicion.

"Duan Fei, you had better give me an explanation!" Bei Mo’s voice was as piercing as frost, devoid of any warmth.

Duan Fei took a deep breath, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I didn't leak any information. I’ve been framed!"

Bei Mo let out a cold laugh. "And the evidence? Words are cheap. How do you expect me to believe you?"

Duan Fei felt as if a needle had pierced her heart, a dense, spreading pain taking hold. She looked at him, but the face she had once loved so deeply now seemed like that of a stranger, leaving her breathless. She wanted to explain, to tell him everything, but the words choked in her throat.

"I..."

"Enough!" Bei Mo cut her off impatiently. "I don't want to hear your excuses. Facts speak louder than words. Until the group's investigation is concluded, you had better keep your mouth shut!"

With that, Bei Mo turned and left, slamming the door behind him without a shred of mercy.

Duan Fei slumped to the floor, silent tears sliding down her face. She looked at the photo of Bei Mo on her phone; sweet memories washed over her like a tide, creating a stark contrast with the freezing reality and deepening her heartache.

Chen Feng, an internal investigator for the Bei Group, returned to Duan Fei’s office. He asked several questions with a stern, overtly suspicious tone. Duan Fei tried to remain calm and answered each one, but she could feel the pressure mounting. It seemed Chen Feng had already decided she was the one who had leaked the data.

Her situation at the company grew increasingly difficult. Colleagues began to point at her and whisper behind her back. The friendliness and respect she once enjoyed had vanished, replaced by cold indifference and alienation. She felt as though she were being crushed, the very air around her thickening until she could barely breathe.

Sun Xiao passed by her office, a sneer curling her lips. Casting a look of contempt at Duan Fei, she remarked, "Some people just bring their own ruin upon themselves!"

Duan Fei bit her lip, holding back tears as she refused to cry out. She felt an overwhelming sense of injustice and despair, as if the whole world had abandoned her.

"Duan Fei, you..." Chen Feng’s voice sounded again, laced with hesitation. He stopped, sighed, and finally said, "The group’s preliminary findings are very unfavorable to you. I hope you will cooperate with our work." Duan Fei’s heart sank to the abyss.

Sun Xiao clicked her way over on towering heels, swaying her hips with a smug expression. "Oh, Duan Fei, I never expected you to have a day like this! Tsk, tsk, that slap to the face must have really stung!" She covered her mouth and giggled, a sharp, screeching sound like fingernails dragged across a chalkboard.

Duan Fei shot her a cold look and remained silent.

Sun Xiao added fuel to the fire: "What? Cat got your tongue? You were so eloquent before; why so quiet now? Feeling guilty?"

The surrounding colleagues began to whisper and gesture as if Duan Fei were a plague carrier they had to avoid at all costs. Duan Fei felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown out onto the street, exposed to everyone's judgment. This humiliation and helplessness brought her to the brink of collapse.

She took a deep breath, forcing her trembling body to steady itself, telling herself to be calm and strong.

"Don't be so smug. It isn't over yet," Duan Fei said, her voice raspy but imbued with a firm resolve that could not be ignored. She opened her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She refused to accept this; she would find the truth herself!

As time ticked by, Duan Fei’s expression grew increasingly grave. Suddenly, she looked up—she had found it! She had uncovered evidence that Sun Xiao had framed her.

Duan Fei submitted the evidence to Chen Feng. After he examined it closely, his expression turned somber. He reviewed all the evidence once more, discovering that the previous investigation indeed had flaws. He looked at Duan Fei with a hint of apology in his eyes.

The chatter among her colleagues gradually faded, replaced by surprise and confusion. Some began to change their attitude toward her, their gazes softening with a trace of respect. Duan Fei felt a flicker of relief, but it was overshadowed by exhaustion. She picked up her bag, ready to leave this suffocating place.

"Wait," Chen Feng called out to her. "The matter is not entirely resolved; we need to investigate further."

Duan Fei paused without turning back. "I know," she said quietly. She pushed open the office door and walked out without looking back.

As the sun set, the sky was painted in shades of orange and red. Duan Fei dragged her weary body toward the company entrance. Suddenly, a black sedan pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down slowly to reveal a familiar face...

"Get in."

Duan Fei stepped out of the Bei Group building and took a deep breath. The night air, crisp and cool, helped relax her frayed nerves.

She did not go home, but instead headed to her usual bar, "Tipsy."

As soon as Wu Di, the owner, saw her, he greeted her warmly: "Hey, Sister Fei! Why so late today? Was work too tough?" Wu Di was a hearty man from the north with a buzz cut and a sunny smile that revealed a row of white teeth.

"Oh, don't ask. Today was just pure bad luck," Duan Fei sighed, sitting at the counter.

Wu Di skillfully mixed a "Blue Enchantress" and slid it over. "Here, Sister Fei, have a drink to wash away the fatigue!"

"Thanks." Duan Fei took the glass and downed it in one go. The sting of the alcohol helped her forget her troubles for a moment and made her feel a little better.

"Tell me, what's got you so stressed?" Wu Di asked with concern.

Duan Fei recounted what had happened that day. After listening, Wu Di said indignantly, "That’s too much! That Sun Xiao is a total snake! Don't worry, Sister Fei, I’ll definitely help you get even!"

Duan Fei smiled. "Forget it, I can handle it myself." Though she said this, his concern warmed her heart. A subtle, ambiguous atmosphere lingered between them.

Meanwhile, Bei Mo had finished his overseas investment project and returned home ahead of schedule. He did not go to explain things to Duan Fei first; instead, he went straight to the company, determined to investigate the truth of the leak himself. This move surprised everyone, as Bei Mo rarely involved himself in the company's day-to-day internal affairs.

Upon arriving, he immediately pulled all the surveillance footage and relevant documents. He scrutinized every file, leaving no detail unchecked. Suddenly, he discovered some photos of Duan Fei and Wu Di together, in which the two appeared quite intimate. These photos had been maliciously manufactured by Sun Xiao, but she had successfully misled Bei Mo.

Bei Mo’s face turned dark. Gripping the photos, he stood up, grabbed his car keys, and headed straight for the parking lot. He was going to find Duan Fei and demand an explanation!

"Wu Di, I..." Duan Fei began, but the bar door was suddenly pushed open.

A tall figure appeared, radiating an icy chill. Duan Fei looked up to see Bei Mo’s familiar yet estranged face. Holding the photos, Bei Mo stared at her with cold eyes and said, word by word: "Duan Fei, you had better explain to me what this is!"