Mr. Zhao, the general agent for Aimas, was extremely agitated.
He had just emerged from the headquarters of the conglomerate, his mind heavy with worry.
Despite being a luxury goods general agent, after being acquired by the Tianyi Conglomerate, he was reduced to a mere subordinate within the group.
Not long ago, that damned Vice President Liu had met with trouble; it was said that the Chairman of the Conglomerate himself had him apprehended!
And he, Zhao, had engaged in many illicit dealings with Vice President Liu behind the scenes. If Liu's downfall exposed his own misdeeds, what then?
Furthermore, the conglomerate was undergoing a complete overhaul of its middle and high-ranking management. The newly appointed Minister Zhang, who held complete control over personnel matters, was reportedly promoted by the mastermind himself. Previously, he was merely a manager of a 4S store!
What did this signify?
It meant that they intended to drive out the old guard and bring in new blood.
In a state of panic, Mr. Zhao had rushed to headquarters early that morning, desperately trying to meet the mastermind, the Chairman of Tianyi Conglomerate!
However, there were already over a hundred people ahead of him in line.
All waiting to see the boss, there was simply no chance for him.
In the end, he only managed to find out that the boss's surname was Qin, and everyone referred to him as Mr. Qin!
Just as he was in this state of utter distress, he suddenly received a call from a mid-level manager in the group, informing him that a globally limited edition luxury handbag had been counterfeited!
Mr. Zhao was infuriated. It was a cascade of bad luck; not a single piece of good news.
Unhappily, he led his subordinates to the restaurant. Zhuang Yuhui, spotting them from afar, leaped up and rushed over, bowing and scraping.
Zhuang Yuhui was ecstatic, perhaps too ecstatic. He had never imagined that a single boastful phone call from him would actually draw Mr. Zhao here.
"You're Xiao Zhuang, aren't you?" Mr. Zhao recalled seeing him at a meeting. "Not bad, young and promising, and quite sensible."
Zhuang Yuhui offered cigarettes and flattered him incessantly.
The classmates opposite could hardly bear to watch.
And Lin Jingjing found it even more repulsive.
"Back in medical school, Zhuang Yuhui was so aloof and proud. How did he become like this?"
"Jingjing, you don't understand. He joined the Tianyi Conglomerate and is determined to climb the ladder, so he has to be so servile. It's rather pathetic, really."
What Lin Jingjing was worried about was Mingyue.
After all, she was her best friend.
"Mingyue, why don't you call Qin Yexuan? If it's fake, the agent has already come looking. Admitting a mistake and moving on might be for the best."
If she refused to admit it, the agent might involve the police. Once Su Mingyue ended up in police custody, she would be truly finished, leaving a criminal record.
However, Su Mingyue still shook her head. "I believe in my brother-in-law. Even if he can't afford this bag, it might have been a gift from a friend. In any case, he wouldn't lie to me!"
Over there, Zhuang Yuhui led Mr. Zhao and his entourage to appear. With a swagger, he pointed at Su Mingyue. "It's her! Carrying a fake bag! Could you have your company appraise it?"
Mr. Zhao didn't even bother to look. He waved his hand dismissively. "It's definitely fake. Only ten were produced globally, and we only gave out one. It was requested personally by the Chairman of our Tianyi Conglomerate!"
Wow!
This time, everyone had no choice but to believe. They looked at Mingyue. "Hurry up and admit your mistake!"
Su Mingyue, however, calmed down at this point. "My brother-in-law also works at Tianyi. I still believe he wouldn't lie to me. Perhaps your Chairman gave it to my brother-in-law!"
Mr. Zhao and Zhuang Yuhui froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
"Your brother-in-law, and asking our Chairman to personally send a gift? Are you trying to kill me with laughter!"
Su Mingyue's face turned crimson. "What's so funny? My brother-in-law has amazing capabilities. He gained trust as soon as he joined the company. Is there a problem with that?"
Mr. Zhao's stomach hurt from laughing. "Let me tell you, young lady, very few people in the entire Tianyi can even meet our Chairman, let alone send gifts to your brother-in-law! You must be dreaming."
Lin Jingjing had been biting her lip. Suddenly, she tugged Zhuang Yuhui. "Didn't you just say you had dinner with the boss of Tianyi Conglomerate? Then please ask him if that bag was a gift from your boss to Qin Yexuan."
What?
Mr. Zhao was shocked. "Xiao Zhuang, you've had dinner with our boss?"
Zhuang Yuhui felt incredibly awkward, but he puffed out his chest, forcing himself to continue the charade. "No, not that familiar. We just met and exchanged a few words."
"You're something else!" Mr. Zhao was overjoyed. He put his arm around Zhuang Yuhui's shoulder. "Brother, after we're done here, let's have a meal and get properly acquainted."
Zhuang Yuhui felt like he was about to float away with pride.
He laughed it off, acting like brothers with Mr. Zhao.
Mr. Zhao then turned around, his face stern again. "Miss, please hand over your fake bag. I'm calling the police right now!"
Su Mingyue's eyes trembled. Slowly, she picked up the handbag.
She felt a deep ache in her heart, an unbearable sorrow.
This was a gift from her brother-in-law. To lose it after carrying it for just a few days was devastating.
Seeing her reaction, Mr. Zhao grew impatient. "Hand it over!"
With a swift motion, one of his subordinates snatched the bag away.
"Wait, wait, my things are still inside!" Su Mingyue cried out in distress.
Mr. Zhao, his mind preoccupied with other matters, paid no attention. "Let's go, let's deal with this quickly!"
Su Mingyue reached out to grab it but was blocked by Mr. Zhao's subordinates. She could only watch helplessly as they took her bag away.
Apart from her phone, all her personal belongings were inside!
Su Mingyue, desperate, chased after them. "Wait, wait! I don't want the bag anymore. Just give me back my things. I'll go to the police with you!"