130: Daqiang feigned illness to swindle project funds; the three men's antics led to their downfall at the hands of the entire team.

Monday at 11 AM, below Zhongcheng Group's plaza, the wind carried a chill that made people shrink their necks.

Su Daqiang, wrapped in a thick down jacket, clutching a medicine box covered in tape, suddenly lay on the ground, holding his chest and shouting "Ouch, ouch" in pain, attracting the attention of passing employees.

Su Mingyu had just come out of the project meeting room—clutching the details of the first batch of funding for the new energy project (totaling 5 million, just approved), preparing to report to finance, when she was blocked by this scene.

"Mingyu! My chest hurts so much!" Seeing her, Su Daqiang struggled to get up, but was pressed down by Su Mingcheng: "Dad, don't move! Mingyu, Dad's old illness has flared up. The doctor said he needs imported medicine, 30,000 per course. You should use the new energy project funds to cover it! You're the project manager now, isn't this just a matter of saying one word?"

Just as Su Mingcheng finished speaking, Su Mingyu's mobile phone rang. It was a video call from Su Mingzhe. He was wearing a thick hoodie, with an American pharmacy in the background: "Mingyu, Dad's health is important. What's wrong with using some of the new energy project funds? I have to pay for health insurance recently and really can't spare the money. You pay for Dad first, and I'll deduct it from my salary later to pay you back."

The three men—one lying down, one persuading, and one pressuring remotely—drew an increasingly large crowd of employees. Someone took out a mobile phone to take pictures, and some whispered, "Why doesn't Director Su care about her own father?"

Mingyu was anxious and angry. Just as she was about to explain that the new energy project funds were for specific use, Zhu Li and Wu Fei arrived with Xiao Mi.

Zhu Li had received a WeChat message from Su Daqiang in the morning saying, "I'm not feeling well, I need to find Mingyu." Fearing something was fishy, she had pulled Wu Fei, who had just finished taking Xiao Mi to her interest class, to come over, and they happened to run into this scene.

"Su Mingcheng, stop holding Dad down! If his chest really hurts, he should be sent to the hospital, not making a scene here!" Zhu Li stepped forward to pull Su Mingcheng away but was pushed aside by him: "What does an outsider like you know? This is a matter for the Su Family. It's only right for Mingyu to use the new energy project funds to treat Dad!"

Wu Fei also chimed in, shielding Xiao Mi behind her: "Su Mingzhe, you have over 50,000 USD in your American account, and you even bought a 13,000 treadmill last week. How can you say you can't afford health insurance? You just want Mingyu to foot the bill!"

Xiao Mi hid in Wu Fei's arms, tugging at her clothes and whispering: "Mom, yesterday Grandpa told Uncle (Su Mingcheng), 'Tomorrow let's go to Mingyu's company and fake an illness, let her use the new energy project funds to buy 'imported medicine', but actually it's to buy me new toys.' Grandpa also called a doctor uncle and said, 'Let's cooperate and act out a scene.'"

Su Daqiang's face went pale instantly. He hurriedly hid the medicine box behind his back, but didn't notice a note fall out of the box, on which was written, "For faking illness, don't actually eat."

"Whether he is sick or not, just ask this doctor." Xie Hui's voice came from outside the crowd. He was carrying a black briefcase, followed by a man in a white coat—it was Dr. Wang from the cardiology department of the city hospital, holding a medical report for Su Daqiang, on which was written, "All indicators normal, no heart disease."

Xie Hui pushed through the crowd and walked up, first nodding to Dr. Wang: "Please, Dr. Wang, tell everyone about Mr. Su's health condition."

Dr. Wang opened the medical report and pointed to the "Heart Function" column: "Mr. Su Daqiang, you just had a physical examination at our hospital three days ago. Your heart function is completely normal; there is absolutely no need to take imported medicine. Moreover, you came to me yesterday and asked me to cooperate with you in 'faking heart disease', saying 'My daughter is the project manager and can get money,' and even promised to give me a 500-yuan bribe. Is this true?"

Su Daqiang panicked instantly and reached out to grab the report: "You're talking nonsense! I never had a physical examination!"

"Never had one?" Xie Hui took his mobile phone out of his briefcase and played a recording—it was recorded three days ago using Time Stop. It was the conversation between Su Daqiang and Dr. Wang at the hospital: "Just say I have coronary heart disease and need to take 30,000 worth of imported medicine; Mingzhe will help me persuade Mingyu remotely, Mingcheng will help me make a scene at the scene. We work together, and we will definitely get the money! After getting the money, I will give you 500, and I will keep the rest for travel. Mingcheng wants 10,000 as a 'project consultant fee', and Mingzhe wants 5,000 to pay off his credit card!" In the recording, one could also hear Su Daqiang saying, "Mingyu's new energy project funds have just arrived, it would be a waste not to take them."

Once the recording was played, the surrounding discussion exploded: "So they were faking illness to scam the new energy project funds! This old man is too black-hearted!" "Director Su is too miserable, even her own father is eyeing her work funds!"

Seeing this, Su Mingcheng reached out to grab Xie Hui's mobile phone. Xie Hui dodged to the side, and at the same time, his right hand grabbed his wrist, using a disarming technique from the Nine Yin Manual—it seemed effortless, but it made Su Mingcheng scream in pain, and he stumbled and hit a flower bed. A "Project Consultant Application Form" fell out of his pocket, with the words "Expected Monthly Salary: 20,000" looking particularly glaring.

"Su Mingcheng, I warned you last time. If you dare to have crooked thoughts again, I will cripple one of your hands. Did you treat it as wind in your ears?" Xie Hui's tone was as cold as ice. He took a screenshot of Su Mingcheng's chat history from his briefcase, "You still want to sneak into the new energy project as a 'consultant' and cheat a 20,000 monthly salary, even without knowing the project content. Do you have any shame?"

Su Mingcheng's face lost all color instantly, and he hung his head, not daring to speak. Su Mingzhe hurriedly turned off the camera on the video call, his voice stuttering: "I... I suddenly remembered I had to pick up the child, hanging up first!"

Xie Hui took out Su Mingzhe's bank statement and threw it in front of the mobile phone screen: "You just received a 25,000 USD bonus in your American account last week, and the balance is now 58,000. How can you say you can't afford health insurance? You just want Mingyu to fill the hole for you while you keep the money to enjoy yourself!"

The words "Bonus Income 25000USD" were clearly visible on the statement, and Su Mingzhe's video call went black. Dr. Wang couldn't watch anymore and said to the people around him: "Everyone, don't be misled. Mr. Su's health is very good. The so-called 'imported medicine' is just ordinary vitamins. I have already contacted the Market Supervision Bureau to report the false advertising of the medicine seller."

Su Daqiang had no face to stay any longer. He got up, grabbed the medicine box, and ran into the alley. Su Mingcheng also hurriedly followed, almost falling down the steps while running. Company Name's security guards rushed over and blocked the two outside the door: "You are not allowed to come to the company to make trouble in the future!"

Watching the two's embarrassed backs, Su Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed her tight temples: "Thank you, Mr. Xie. If it weren't for you recording evidence in advance, I really wouldn't be able to explain it clearly today, and I might have even lost my job."

"Why are you being polite with me?" Xie Hui took a bottle of hot longan tea from his inner universe and handed it to her—knowing she had been staying up late to watch the project, he had specially put it in a thermos, "Drink something hot to warm your body first. General Manager Meng just said that in the future, security guards should focus on blocking the Su Family so they won't be allowed to enter the building."

Zhu Li and Wu Fei also walked over. Zhu Li held Su Mingcheng's "Consultant Application Form": "Mingyu, I saw this in Su Mingcheng's rental house this morning, and I knew he had bad intentions, so I sent you a message immediately. Fortunately, you didn't agree."

Wu Fei shook the tablet in her hand: "I also checked Su Mingzhe's account statement. He is not short of money at all; he just wants to pretend to be poor to scam money. I have already sent the statement to you. If he tries to use moral kidnapping again, just send it to him to see."

Xie Hui took three small porcelain bottles from his inner universe and handed them to the three of them separately: "These are nine flower jade dew pill. You were frightened today, taking one can calm your nerves. I have booked a private restaurant for the evening and invited you and Xiao Mi to dinner to celebrate the smooth approval of the new energy project funds."

When Xiao Mi heard "dinner," she immediately poked her head out from behind Wu Fei, her eyes shining: "Uncle, can I eat strawberry cake? The one I ate last time was so delicious!"

Xie Hui smiled and touched her head: "Of course, Xiao Mi can eat as much as she wants."

In the afternoon, Su Mingyu returned to the company to report the situation to General Manager Meng. General Manager Meng looked at the recording and evidence provided by Xie Hui and nodded with satisfaction: "Mingyu, fortunately, Mr. Xie helped you, otherwise if these new energy project funds were misappropriated, it would be a big trouble. Don't worry, I have already told finance that the new energy project funds must go through dual approval, and no one can misappropriate them privately."

Mingyu felt a warmth in her heart. She took out her mobile phone and sent a message to Xie Hui: "General Manager Meng praised you for being reliable. I will pay for dinner tonight, just to thank you."

Xie Hui replied quickly: "No need for you to pay. To celebrate the smooth progress of the new energy project, I will treat. Xiao Mi is still looking forward to the strawberry cake."

In the evening, the warm yellow light of the private restaurant spilled on the dining table. Xiao Mi sat next to Xie Hui, eating strawberry cake with it all over her face. Xie Hui helped her wipe the corner of her mouth and patiently listened to her talk about interesting things in her interest class. Su Mingyu picked up a piece of steamed sea bass for Xie Hui: "This fish is fresh and has few bones. Eat more, you must be tired from running around today."

Zhu Li served Xie Hui a bowl of mushroom soup: "This soup has been stewed for three hours, it replenishes Qi and blood. You solved such a big thing for us today, you need to nourish yourself well."

Wu Fei looked at the scene in front of her and said with a smile: "Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to be her 'Weekend Uncle,' saying that Uncle cares about her more than Dad, and will accompany her to eat cake and listen to her tell stories."

Xie Hui raised his glass and said with a smile: "Come, let's toast! Wishing Mingyu's new energy project smooth progress, wishing us never to be bothered by the Su Family's troublesome affairs again, and wishing our lives will get better and better!"

"Cheers!" The four glasses clinked together, and Xiao Mi also raised her juice glass, following along in a milky voice: "Cheers! Want to eat lots of strawberry cake!"

When the party broke up, Xie Hui sent them home separately. When sending Su Mingyu downstairs, she took a handmade woven car pendant out of her bag—it was woven with dark green cotton thread, with a small "Zhong" character on it, and decorated with a small silver bead, which happened to match the "Xie" character keychain she had given before: "I wove this on the weekend. The 'Zhong' character on it is to commemorate us keeping the new energy project funds of Company Name together. Thank you for always helping me protect the things I care about."

Xie Hui took the pendant, his fingertips could feel the subtle texture left when weaving, and he felt warm in his heart: "I will keep it well. In the future, whether it is the new energy project or anything you care about, I will help you protect it."

Su Mingyu's face turned red instantly. She turned and walked quickly into the apartment building, then turned back after a few steps and waved to Xie Hui. The light of the street lamp fell on her face, like a layer of soft sugar, especially gentle.

On the way home by car, Xie Hui strung the new pendant and the previous keychain together and hung them on the rearview mirror. He touched the inner universe on his chest—it contained today's recording, Su Mingzhe's bank statement, Su Mingcheng's consultant application form, and this pendant with the "Zhong" character. These were not cold objects, but proof that the three female protagonists kept their jobs and principles, and also the meaning of his protection.

The night grew deeper, and the car drove steadily under the street lights. The corners of Xie Hui's mouth always carried a smile—the refreshing journey of the "all is well" world continued. He knew that the three men of the Su Family would only become more and more powerless in their trouble-making, while the three female protagonists would live out their own confidence more and more firmly under his protection. And he would always be their strongest backing, accompanying them through every road that needed support, until they completely got rid of the shadow of the Su Family and ushered in true freedom.