Chapter 300 299: The Truth Comes to Light

Beads of sweat broke out on his back. Director Cheng looked ghastly.

"I've worked myself to the bone for this company! You can't accuse me like this!" Director Cheng shrieked.

"Lu Yi and I were classmates. What's wrong with meeting up privately? Some of you just can't stand to see others do well!"

Mu Lin smiled again. "It doesn't matter. Since you feel that way, I have another file here."

He walked over to the young secretary at the laptop, smiling as he told her to open the third folder.

"The stuff in this folder is pretty explosive."

"You'd better not blink. You might just have your minds blown."

Mu Lin told the young secretary to play it. The secretary was rather unhappy. 'Mu Lin is always so mean to me, and now he's telling me to play his files? Where's the justice in that?'

Li Xue glanced at her, and the young secretary could only start reluctantly.

This was a relationship chart, with Director Cheng located right at its center.

Radiating out from him were numerous names, many of whom were associated with the Lu Family or were rivals of the Li Group.

Anhua was a small place, and Director Cheng had come from out of town. If he happened to know one or two enemies of the company, it could be written off as a coincidence.

But this wasn't the case. This was a dense web of extremely close relationships.

This showed that Director Cheng hadn't just coincidentally come to Anhua from out of town looking for a job. There was an element of design to it.

It was impossible to know how many people had colluded to achieve such a result.

Everyone's gazes toward Director Cheng changed, becoming extremely grave. Whether Mu Lin was useless or not was a separate issue; what they couldn't tolerate was the presence of a man like this.

Director Cheng said, "President Li, I've been conscientious and diligent for the company. From start to finish, I have never done anything to let the company down!"

Li Xue's eyes dimmed. 'That's true. You need proof for everything.' The evidence only showed that Director Cheng *might* not have done anything. 'Perhaps he really does have such a complicated social circle, yet managed to remain unstained. If we accuse him wrongly, this will all become terribly awkward.'

"My God… there's so much more to it! These are all our competitors! Director Cheng, how could you do something like this!"

What horrified them most was the revelation that Director Cheng had secretly sold core secrets to a competitor, allowing them to get a head start on a business venture.

Although that venture wasn't large and couldn't shake the Li Group's strategic position, it was still deeply infuriating.

Li Xue's face was ashen as she stared intently at Director Cheng. "Director Cheng, now I see. You're Lu Yi's man, and you've been selling company secrets."

"I once had such high hopes for you. But now, I am truly disappointed."

Her words sent a wave of shock through the room.

What on earth was happening? Just a moment ago, Director Cheng had been the president's favorite, and now it had come to this.

For a moment, no one knew who to believe.

The only one who seemed trustworthy was Mu Lin, the very person everyone had thought was useless.

"No! No! I've never done such a thing! This must be fabricated! I'm so busy at the company my feet barely touch the ground. Where would I find the time to go leaking information to the Lu Family?!"

"I swear on my integrity and my professional ethics, I have never betrayed the company! My heart and soul are dedicated to the Group's success!"

Mu Lin told the young secretary to open the last folder.

The young secretary's gossip-loving soul was now burning brightly. Her eyes lit up as she opened the folder and clicked on the video inside.

The crowd gasped. "My God!"

Director Cheng was shown furtively exiting the company's back door. He walked up to a car and handed a USB-like object inside.

This was too outrageous.

Many in the room couldn't believe their eyes, but facts speak louder than words. This was real.

Li Xue's lips turned pale as she watched. If this hadn't been discovered, the company could have truly been ruined by the Lu Family.

The crisis they had just struggled to overcome would have been for nothing.

Director Cheng looked ghastly. He cried out pitifully to Li Xue, "President Li, I had no choice! I have parents to support and children to feed! I only did it to give them a better life…"

Mu Lin said coldly, "That's bullshit."

Director Cheng was speechless for a moment. "Why are you cursing at me?"

"You're the one I'm cursing! What family do you have left? Both your parents are dead, and your wife divorced you and took the kids after you cheated. Your household register is a single page. And you have the nerve to invent a family? You're really something."

As if struck by a heavy hammer, Director Cheng collapsed to the ground, limp. Everything Mu Lin had said was true.

Li Xue said, "Someone, drag him out and hand him over to the authorities. A traitor like this can only be taught a lesson by the Court."

Director Cheng was dragged out, wailing pitifully.

Once the dust had settled, Li Xue slumped into her seat, her expression grave.

She had also investigated but had found nothing.

For some reason, Mu Lin had such powerful connections.

She lowered her head, feeling very dejected.

Xue Yang said, "President Li, we really have Vice Team Leader Mu to thank this time. Without him, this situation would have been a disaster!"

Li Xue slowly nodded in agreement.

Xue Yang continued, "Vice Team Leader Mu has already secured a huge project, and now he's rooted out so many pests from the company! His contributions are immense! He must be handsomely rewarded!"

Li Xue's expression soured. 'Who are you, a mere department manager, to decide whether he gets rewarded or not?'

But seeing all the middle managers nodding in agreement, Li Xue knew she had no choice but to make a statement and give Mu Lin some kind of reward.

Mu Lin maintained a placid expression, which made Li Xue grind her teeth in frustration. 'This brat, couldn't he at least make a gesture? Say a few nice words?'

'He says nothing, does nothing. What is he trying to pull?'

Though deeply annoyed, Li Xue knew she had to make her stance clear and reward Mu Lin.

"Everyone, listen. Mu Lin of the Special Projects Team has worked diligently and responsibly since joining the company. He has secured numerous high-quality projects, shown great foresight and attention to detail, and has weeded out a bad apple from our ranks."

"I am awarding him the honorary title of 'Outstanding Employee' and a bonus of one hundred thousand yuan as a material reward."

"Furthermore, his abilities have proven more than sufficient for the role of team leader. He is hereby promoted to Team Leader of the Special Projects Team. Chen Xi is not yet capable enough for the role and will be demoted to Vice Team Leader."

Hearing this, Xue Yang's eyes sparkled. He felt this was a perfect fit for Mu Lin.

'Every time I go, I discuss things directly with Mu Lin anyway,' he thought. 'Chen Xi is basically an optional presence. The old way really wasn't working.'

But then again, Chen Xi's grandfather was a director. Could he really be completely ignored?

Li Xue glanced at Xue Yang. 'Whose side is this guy on? He's supposed to be my trusted subordinate, but now he's practically Mu Lin's dog.'

In the days Mu Lin was away in Songyang on business, Director Cheng had repeatedly proposed disbanding the special team, and it was Xue Yang who stood up time and again to argue against it.

If you had to say who had the worst relationship with Director Cheng, and who argued with him most fiercely, it would be Xue Yang.

Xue Yang beamed. "Team Leader Mu, congratulations!"

Mu Lin smiled. "Not at all, not at all. It's all thanks to Manager Xue. My part was nothing."

Xue Yang chuckled foolishly, which made Li Xue extremely uncomfortable. 'This turncoat idiot. He doesn't remember any of the good I've done for him, he just makes googly eyes at Mu Lin.'

'If I don't knock him down a peg, his head will be in the clouds!'

Li Xue said, "Manager Xue, you'd better work hard too. Otherwise, it might not be long before Mu Lin takes your manager position. Wouldn't you be upset?"

Without a moment's thought, Xue Yang replied, "That's fine. You can give it to Team Leader Mu right now for all I care. I don't have any ambitions anyway."

Li Xue could feel sweat beading on her forehead, purely from anger.

'What's gotten into this kid? Why is he talking such nonsense?'

Her attempt to chasten him had completely backfired.

She grabbed a folder and said coldly, "Meeting adjourned!"

Mu Lin suddenly raised his hand. "President Li, wait. The company's Finance Director position is now vacant again. I have a friend who studied finance. Why not let her come and try out? I'm not saying you have to hire her, just putting it out there."