Many faces bore suggestive expressions.
A new female designer, and the attitude of President Lin changed drastically. What means or methods could she have used?
Many people subconsciously associated it with certain possibilities.
Su Yingxue's face turned pale as she defended herself, "These are my designs."
"Are you saying I stole your designs?"
Cao Yun sneered, her face full of mockery. "If that's the case, and I used your designs to satisfy President Lin, wouldn't the contract for Xinyue naturally belong to me?"
This statement made many people nod.
To those who didn't know the inside story, it did sound logical.
The Xinyue contract ultimately went to Su Yingxue. If Cao Yun had plagiarized the designs, given Cao Yun's familiarity with Lin Dongwen, it seemed unlikely that Su Yingxue would be the one to sign such a major contract.
Moreover, Cao Yun had some reputation in the industry, while Su Yingxue was a complete newcomer.
As the saying goes, "The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
Ultimately, it was Su Yingxue, a newcomer, securing the large Xinyue order that fueled the jealousy of many colleagues in the company.
Therefore, when Zhu Lingming and Cao Yun stepped forward to accuse Su Yingxue, most people, except for a select few like Li Mei, sided with Cao Yun without much thought.
"Su Yingxue, I thought you were quite talented, I never expected you to do something like this!"
Luo Di feigned regret, saying, "In our line of work, plagiarism is an unforgivable offense, let alone outright theft! This matter, if not dealt with severely, will not appease the public."
"Exactly, such actions must not be tolerated!"
"Newcomers nowadays, they really have no bottom line anymore!"
"In my opinion, fire her immediately!"
"It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover. She looks pure and aloof, yet she's capable of such deeds, tsk tsk..."
The office space was filled with malicious voices.
"No, Yingxue is definitely not that kind of person!"
Li Mei defended Su Yingxue, but her voice was drowned out.
Su Yingxue's body trembled uncontrollably.
She held no grudge against Cao Yun and hadn't pursued the matter further before, yet she never expected this woman to be so venomous as to ruin her future.
Though naive, she knew that if this matter were confirmed, she would never be able to establish herself in the industry again.
Designers were different from other professions; the circle was not very fluid. If her reputation was ruined, no company would dare to hire her.
Furthermore, with a reporter like Zhu Lingming present, the news would quickly spread throughout the industry.
Anxious and angry, she suppressed her tears, gritted her teeth, and put on a stubborn expression.
"Enough!"
Just as Su Yingxue was being comprehensively accused, a sharp shout rang out.
Everyone turned to look. The speaker was a middle-aged woman wearing black-rimmed glasses with a stern expression.
This was Sister Sun, who had criticized Su Yingxue on her first day, her full name being Sun Lin, a well-known designer in the industry.
She was a veteran at Huancai with high prestige and a person who never tolerated mediocrity.
"Are none of you supposed to be working? The situation will be handled by the director, what's all the commotion about?"
Sun Lin said sternly, "The office is chaotic, is this a marketplace?"
All the employees lowered their heads and returned to their seats.
Cao Yun and Luo Di exchanged glances, both frowning.
"This matter will naturally be handled by the director and senior management."
Glancing coldly at Su Yingxue, Sun Lin added, "Before there's a conclusion, are so many people ganging up on a newcomer, bullying her?"
Su Yingxue was somewhat surprised and looked at Sun Lin with gratitude.
At that moment, a group of people entered the office, led by Director Yu Sihai.
However, besides Yu Sihai, there were several other people whom all employees recognized as high-ranking officials from other departments, either directors or deputy directors.
"Reporter Zhu, Team Leader Cao, the directors are back. This matter should be handled by them. Let's not disrupt work!"
Sun Lin said, "Regardless, the Xinyue contract must be completed properly."
Cao Yun dared not offend Sun Lin and replied, "Alright, Sister Sun. I believe Director Yu will handle this impartially."
After speaking, she coldly looked at Su Yingxue and said, "Then let's go to the director's office. Su Yingxue, don't think you can get away with it. No one can save you today!"
"Cao Yun, how can you be like this?"
Su Yingxue exclaimed in shock and anger.
"What do you mean, how can I be like this?"
Cao Yun sneered and retorted sharply, "You stole my work, and you still have the audacity to question me? Is there something wrong with exposing a rotten apple like you?"
Various disdainful and accusatory voices rose again in the office.
Su Yingxue couldn't help but want to cry, but she took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked towards the director's office.
Not long after, the matter caused a stir in the director's office.
The senior executives from other departments, who had been secretly summoned by Luo Di, all looked at Su Yingxue with cold eyes.
"Director Yu, such behavior cannot be tolerated in our industry!"
"Old Yu, stealing colleagues' designs would be a scandal for the company, especially with a reporter from Fashion Pioneer present! Regardless of the size of the contract, she must be fired!"
"Are newcomers nowadays so bold?"
"..."
One by one, the senior executives pressured Yu Sihai.
Yu Sihai felt a headache coming on.
It was a coincidence that these senior executives from other departments had all made an appointment to have tea with him today to foster relationships, and they ran into such a situation.
If Su Yingxue were an ordinary newcomer, he would naturally have fired her without hesitation.
But someone the president himself had personally mentioned, could she be an ordinary newcomer?
Moreover, what about the Xinyue contract?
"Su Yingxue, do you have anything to say?"
Yu Sihai asked Su Yingxue.
"I did not steal Cao Yun's designs. Those designs were made by me during school and after graduation, and I have always kept them on a USB drive."
Under the pressure from numerous company executives, Su Yingxue felt even more helpless.
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she insisted.
"You mean I stole your designs?" Cao Yun sneered. "Su Yingxue, have you no shame? Your designs are on your USB drive, how am I supposed to see them?"
Su Yingxue suddenly remembered that on her first day at work, she had forgotten to remove her USB drive when she went out for lunch.
"Hmph, you a newcomer, really think you're a genius designer, is it worth it for me to steal from you?"
"Everyone from the company is here, ask them, do they think you stole from me, or I stole from you?"
"The cooperation with Xinyue was clearly ruined by you, yet in a blink of an eye, President Lin himself showed up, his attitude changed drastically, and he specifically requested to sign with you. Tell me, why was there such a big change? President Lin even knelt down to you, why?"
This incident had also spread within Huancai, seeming surreal and unbelievable, sparking countless speculations.
All the company executives also looked at Su Yingxue, eager to hear her explanation.
Su Yingxue remained silent.
She didn't know how Chen Fan managed to make Lin Dongwen go from disdain to respect, even to the point of kneeling, so she couldn't explain.
"What, out of words now?"
Cao Yun sneered, then turned to Yu Sihai and said, "Director Yu, someone like Su Yingxue cannot stay, she must be fired."
"As for the Xinyue contract, the contract has been signed. I'm sure President Lin won't say much after a clear explanation, and he certainly won't cancel the cooperation."
Yu Sihai was still contemplating.
Cao Yun winked at Luo Di.
Luo Di left for a moment and returned, holding a densely signed document, which he placed before Yu Sihai.
"Director Yu, I and many colleagues from the planning department request that you dismiss Su Yingxue."
"Director Yu, if you don't give a fair judgment, Fashion Pioneer magazine will put this on the front page!" Zhu Lingming also pressured him.
"Old Yu, what are you hesitating for? It's just firing a newcomer. Since she wasn't wrongly accused, what's there to discuss?" the production manager urged. "Deal with it quickly, and we can all have some tea and chat."
Unexpectedly finding herself in such a predicament, Su Yingxue couldn't help but shed tears.
"I'll make a call to the president to report."
Yu Sihai said with a wry smile, pulling out his phone to make a call.