Chapter 788: The Question of Forgiveness

After Zhang Yunkui left in a huff, he came back in the afternoon. He had to come back. Every shareholder was pushing him. Besides, this was the only way to revive Phoenix Villa.

“I want to make an appointment with President Xiao!” Zhang Yunkui went to look for Xiao Lingyu’s secretary again. “Three days later then.”

The secretary said politely, “I’m sorry, Director Zhang. President Xiao’s schedule for the next few days is already full. We can’t make an appointment in three days.”

“…” Zhang Yunkui was stunned at first, then he said angrily, “Are you kidding me? When I came in the morning, you said there was an appointment ready three days later. But now you’re telling me it’s full? Are you toying with me?”

The Secretary said very politely, “Director Zhang, when you came in the morning, you could have made an appointment three days later, but after you left, some big bosses, presidents, and managers came to make an appointment. So, I’m sorry, if you want to want to make an appointment, I can only arrange it for you in five days.”

Zhang Yunkui was so angry that his face turned black.

He never thought that after he left in a huff that morning, the result would be like this.

Now, he was certain that the general manager of Taoyuan Village, Xiao Lingyu, was just trying to avoid meeting him.

However, he had left on his own this morning. So, he could only admit that he was in the wrong.

At this moment, Zhang Yunkui deeply realized that if he kept up this attitude, he might not even be able to meet Xiao Lingyu five days later.

He took a deep breath, and his attitude softened into a fawning one. He said, “Secretary Qiu, I really have an urgent matter to meet President Xiao right now. Can you accommodate me?”

Secretary Qiu shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, Director Zhang. I’m just a small secretary. I need to follow the rules and regulations.”

Zhang Yunkui immediately called out in dissatisfaction, “Secretary Qiu…”

“I’m sorry, Director Zhang. I still have some matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving first.” After Secretary Qiu said that, she directly left, leaving Director Zhang standing there with a livid face.

The assistant who had followed Director Zhang over carefully asked, “Director Zhang, CEO Xiao doesn’t want to see us. What should we do now?”

Zhang Yunkui angrily shouted at him, “What else can we do? We can only think of a way to meet him.”

The assistant was full of worry as he said, “This CEO Xiao is so elusive. How are we going to meet him?”

Zhang Yunkui looked at the assistant as if he was looking at a fool and said with dissatisfaction, “How could I hire such a stupid assistant like you? Since this CEO Xiao is working here, he has to get off work. Let’s just wait in this hall until he comes out.”

As long as the issue at Phoenix Villa wasn’t settled, they would lose a lot of money every day. If they really made an appointment with her five days later, the loss for these five days would probably reach tens of millions.

Therefore, they simply couldn’t afford to waste time. Then they could only think of a way to meet with the general manager of Taoyuan Village.

Zhang Yunkui and his assistant sat on the sofa in the hall and waited.

Secretary Qiu reported to Xiao Lingyu, “President Xiao, Director Zhang from Phoenix Resort is waiting in the hall right now. He seems to be waiting for you to get off work so that he can accost you.”

Xiao Lingyu waved her hand and said, “Okay, I got it. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Okay!” Secretary Qiu nodded.

The assistant looked at the time and asked curiously, “Director Zhang, it’s already 12:30. Why is President Xiao still working?” They usually got off work at 11:30.

Zhang Yunkui raised his wrist and looked at the time. He frowned slightly and was a little puzzled.

Then, he said to the assistant, “Go and ask the front desk if President Xiao has gotten off work.”

“Okay!” The assistant stood up and walked to the front desk. He chatted with the secretary before returning. Then, he said to Zhang Yunkui, “Director Zhang, the front desk lady said that director Xiao has already gotten off work. Director Xiao left at 12 o’clock.”

“What?” Zhang Yunkui’s face darkened, and his expression was slightly angry. “How can we not notice? Did he use another door just to avoid us?”

The assistant said, “Director Zhang, the receptionist said that Director Xiao left through this hall.”

Zhang Yunkui, “…” So, were they blind?

The assistant looked at Zhang Yunkui, who had an ugly expression, and asked carefully, “CEO Zhang, should we leave now or come back in the afternoon?”

Zhang Yunkui glanced at him and said angrily, “Of course, we should leave first to eat something. Are you going to starve to death here?” Regardless, they had to eat.

The assistant’s eyes lit up, and an excited expression could be seen on his face. He asked, “Are we still going to the canteen to eat?”

The moment he thought of the delicious food in the canteen, he almost drooled. They had been there for about a day already, so they finally understood why the place was so popular.

Taoyuan Village had good scenery, entertainment, and delicious food.

Phoenix Villa was warm in the summer, but there was nothing to see in the winter. As for entertainment, other than those old-fashioned entertainment programs, there were no new ones. Eventually, the guests got tired. The biggest problem was probably the food.

The Phoenix Farm Villa also had a canteen, but no one really ate there unless they were desperate. Not only was the price high but it was also very unpalatable.

But in Taoyuan village, the delicious food was already famous online. Many tourists from all over the country came for the delicious food. After eating for the first time, they wanted to come over every day to eat.

He had heard that many tourists wanted to stay here to work after eating the food.

The assistant was thinking that if Taoyuan Village were willing to recruit him, he would immediately resign from his current position and come here to work.

The assistant and Zhang Yunkui came to the canteen. Looking at the crowded canteen, the assistant carefully looked at his superior next to him.

He understood his superior’s feelings very well. The more popular Taoyuan Village was, the more agitated he’d be. After all, the disaster of Phoenix Villa was thanks to Taoyuan Village. As Taoyuan Village got better, Phoenix Villa got worse.

Smelling the fragrance of the food, the assistant ignored his superior’s expression and quickly rushed to join the line.

Zhang Yunkui’s face turned even darker.

…

Zhang Yunkui waited in the company for three days and finally got to see Xiao Lingyu.

In fact, they had seen Xiao Lingyu several times. Zhang Yunkui was too conceited. He had never thought that President Xiao would be a woman.

After two days of not seeing Director Xiao, the assistant went to the front desk and found out that President Xiao was actually a very beautiful woman. He then reported to Zhang Yunkui.

On the fourth morning, Zhang Yunkui finally stopped Xiao Lingyu.

“CEO Xiao, you’ve really made us wait!” Zhang Yunkui was smiling, but there was anger in his expression. He was angry that he had been played.

Xiao Lingyu raised her eyebrows and asked with some confusion, “May I ask who you are?”

Zhang Yunkui gritted his teeth and said, “I am the general manager of Phoenix Farm Villa, Zhang Yunkui. President Xiao must be very busy every day.”

“Oh, so it’s Director Zhang. It’s a pleasure to meet you!” Xiao Lingyu said with a smile.

Zhang Yunkui looked at Xiao Lingyu’s indifferent expression and could not help but feel angry.

He did not think that CEO Xiao did not know who he was and did not know that they were waiting for her in the company hall. However, she just turned a blind eye and looked at him as a joke.

‘This woman is proud. Just wait and see.’

After resolving the crisis at the Phoenix Resort, he would come and settle the score with her.

Zhang Yunkui said with a fake smile, “CEO Xiao, you are indeed a busy woman. I want to meet you, CEO Xiao, but I can’t get an appointment.”

Xiao Lingyu directly replied, “Yes, it’s the New Year holiday, so the company has a lot of things to do.”

Zhang Yunkui, “…” it was like an arrow piercing his heart.

The business was booming in Taoyuan Village, but Phoenix Villa had so little business that it had to temporarily close down its doors.

Xiao Lingyu seemed to have thought of something and immediately asked, “Director Zhang, may I know why you’ve stopped me?”

Zhang Yunkui looked at the gradually gathering crowd and took a deep breath. A sincere expression immediately appeared on his face as he said, “Some time ago, there was a rumor on the internet that Phoenix Village had set up a trap for Taoyuan Village. I came here for this matter.”

“Oh.” Xiao Lingyu’s expression was indifferent. Then, her expression turned cold as she said, “Regarding this matter, the police officers have already found out the truth. Sister Hua and Wang Wu were instructed by someone to set up Taoyuan Village.

“Fortunately, Wang Wu accidentally exposed himself. Otherwise, a big problem might really happen to Taoyuan village. It would directly damage the reputation of the village. After the police officers’ interrogation, Sister Hua, Wang Wu, and the others said they were instructed by the person-in-charge of Phoenix Farm Villa.” Speaking up to this point, Xiao Lingyu deliberately paused for a moment. Her sharp eyes directly shot at Zhang Yunkui and asked sharply, “Could it be that they were instructed by you to frame Taoyuan Village?”

“No, no, no,” Zhang Yunkui immediately denied, “They were instructed by the operations manager. I am here for this matter. I have already fired that operations manager.

“But as his superior, I have to take responsibility for this matter. Therefore, I came here today with sincerity to apologize to President Xiao and the Taoyuan Village. I hope president Xiao can forgive me.”

The operations manager had indeed been fired. He was the scapegoat.

“Apologize? Forgive?” Xiao Lingyu chuckled. The corners of her mouth curled into a sneer. “If everything can be resolved with an apology and forgiveness, then why do we need the police?

“I don’t care who ordered them to do it specifically. The fact is they were sent by Phoenix Farm Villa. You were unlucky that the truth was exposed.

“Director Zhang, think about it. If this frame job was successful, what kind of trouble would my farm face? If our reputation plummets, how big of a blow would it be to our business? Director Zhang, don’t you know?”

Zhang Yunkui didn’t say a word.

“Since you’ve done something wrong, you have to pay the price!” Xiao Lingyu replied sharply.

Zhang Yunkui frowned, and a hint of anger appeared in his eyes. He questioned, “So, you don’t plan to forgive us?”

“Hehe…” Xiao Lingyu chuckled, “Director Zhang, you’re not joking, are you? You just stopped me on my way to work and said a few pretty words, and you want me to forgive you for framing us? Can murderers go to their victim’s family and say sorry, and they’d be spared the life sentence?”

“That’s different!” Zhang Yunkui said angrily, “Besides, the frame job didn’t even succeed!”

“That’s because you were unlucky. Wang Wu fell on the spot and exposed what he had hidden in his pocket, “Xiao Lingyu retorted sharply, “But to me, a mistake is a mistake. The person who makes a mistake has to pay a certain price. Instead of saying sorry and apologizing, you can make up for the harm that he intended to cause.”

Zhang Yunkui was very angry. He did not think that the general manager of Taoyuan village was so ruthless. Normally, as the general manager of such a large enterprise, they would have some measure in their hearts. Moreover, they were in public. For the sake of face, he expected Xiao Lingyu to be forced to accept his apology. However, she didn’t do that. She didn’t say that she didn’t forgive them, but she didn’t say she forgave them either.

Zhang Yunkui immediately asked angrily, “Then what do you want me to do in order to forgive us?”

Since he was here, he had to put on a show.

“I’m curious,” Xiao Lingyu said faintly, “Director Zhang, why do you have to choose this time and place to ask me to forgive you? Also, you guys were clearly the ones who did something wrong, but you’re questioning me as if I’m committing a heinous crime. What’s your goal?”

Zhang Yunkui was stunned at first, but then he reacted. He shook his head and said, “No… No…”

“Do you have no goal?” Xiao Lingyu helped him finish his sentence, “I believe that Director Zhang has already planned it out. You guys stopped me here to apologize, but someone from your company is hiding in the crowd to video everything, right? You would upload it right to the internet.

“Whether I forgive you or not, it doesn’t matter. If I forgive you, your reputation will be salvaged, and you’ll gain pity by acting as the victim. If I don’t, it’ll make me look like a shrew. You’ll say that I’m petty and narrow-minded, right?

“Either way, the reputation of your farm will be saved. At the same time, the reputation of Taoyuan Village might be lost because of my improper handling as the person in charge.

“Then your Phoenix farm villa can be revived. Isn’t that right, director Zhang?”

Director Zhang, “…”

Everyone, “…”

What sharp and direct words!

How ruthless!