Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Defense and Discomfort

Early the next morning, as soon as Su Wan stepped into the company building, she sensed something was off. In the elevator, two colleagues from unfamiliar departments looked at her with curious eyes, murmuring softly to each other. When she walked into the 32nd-floor office area, the previously lively atmosphere suddenly quieted. Colleagues bowed their heads, pretending to be busy, but their peripheral vision kept drifting in her direction.She walked to her desk, set down her bag, and was about to sit when she noticed a folded note lying on the table. Unfolding it, she read the scribbled words: "Climbing the ladder through connections—such a disgrace to designers." Su Wan's heart felt as if it had been sharply twisted. She clenched the note tightly, her fingertips whitening with the effort, until she crumpled it into a ball. Only then did she suppress the grievance in her heart and throw the ball into the trash can.She turned on her computer, hoping to immerse herself in work quickly. But just as she opened the Stellar Center's drawings, she heard murmurs coming from the printer area: "Do you think Su Wan really has a thing with Mr. Lu? Yesterday I had dinner with Engineer Li from the technical department. He said there's still room for optimization in the Stellar proposal, but Mr. Lu approved it outright, skipping the second review entirely.""I'd say it's definitely true. Haven't you noticed? In every meeting, Mr. Lu always asks for Su Wan's opinion first. Even if other colleagues suggest something different, he always leans toward Su Wan in the end. What else is that but favoritism?"Su Wan took a deep breath and stood up, holding a USB drive—she needed to print the latest pipeline distribution map for the afternoon coordination with the construction team. As she passed the marketing department's workstations, Sister Zhang from marketing looked up. Spotting her, she deliberately raised her voice: "Some people just have all the luck. They get projects everyone else is fighting for without lifting a finger. Unlike us, who run around for clients and draft proposals all day, only to end up kowtowing to others."Those words felt like a needle, pricking her eyes and making them burn. She tightened her grip on the USB drive, about to turn and leave, when she collided head-on with Lu Chengyu. Dressed in a dark gray suit and holding a folder, he had clearly just stepped out of the elevator. Seeing Su Wan's reddened eyes and tense expression, combined with the colleagues' evasive glances and hushed murmurs around them, Lu Chengyu's brows furrowed into a deep frown."What's going on?" He walked over to her, his voice low and filled with obvious concern.Su Wan shook her head, trying to pretend nothing was wrong. "It's nothing, Mr. Lu. I'm just going to print some drawings."But as she tried to leave, Lu Chengyu grabbed her wrist. His palm was warm and firm, carrying an unrefusable resolve. "Attention, everyone. Please gather in the center of the office area now." Lu Chengyu picked up the megaphone in the corner of the office. His voice echoed through the entire floor via the loudspeaker. Colleagues who had been whispering stopped what they were doing, looking at him in confusion.Standing beside Lu Chengyu, Su Wan felt as if all eyes were on her like spotlights—curious, suspicious, and even gleeful. Her cheeks burned, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but he gently pressed his hand on her shoulder—a light touch, yet comforting."Regarding the recent rumors circulating in the company that Su Wan obtained the Stellar project through connections, I'm here to make an official clarification," Lu Chengyu's voice was steady and powerful, breaking the silence in the office. "The entire review process for the Stellar project is documented. From the first to the sixth version, every revision of Su Wan's proposal addressed the issues raised earlier. It was ultimately approved as the final plan with unanimous votes—recognized by all review experts and department heads. As for Su Wan's promotion to regular status: the design cases she submitted upon joining and the three small projects she completed during her probation period all met excellent standards. Her promotion application went through the normal process of HR review and my signature approval. There was no 'special approval' whatsoever."He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, finally settling on Lin Weiwei, his tone turning more serious. "The company advocates fair competition and values strength. From now on, anyone spreading false information that disrupts the team atmosphere will be dealt with in accordance with the company's disciplinary regulations. Those with serious violations will be dismissed immediately."With that, he let go of Su Wan's hand and turned to the colleagues around him. "Meeting dismissed. Return to your work stations."Colleagues scattered, and the office area resumed its busy pace, but Su Wan felt as if the air had frozen. She stood there, watching Lu Chengyu's retreating figure, her heart a jumble of emotions—she knew Lu Chengyu meant well, trying to clear her name. But such a public defense had only put her in an even more awkward position.Xiao Li from the adjacent desk walked over with a cup of hot coffee, placing it gently on her table and whispering: "Su Wan, I know Mr. Lu was trying to help you, but did you see everyone's eyes just now... Actually, you don't need to care too much. The truth speaks for itself."Su Wan took the coffee, feeling the warmth of the cup against her fingertips, but her heart felt like it was stuffed with a wet cotton ball—damp and heavy. "I know. Thank you, Xiao Li." She forced a smile, took a sip of coffee, and the bitter taste slid down her throat, spreading to the bottom of her heart.She returned to her desk and sat down, only to see Chen, Lu Chengyu's assistant, approaching with a document. "Su Wan, this is the construction schedule for the Stellar project next week. Mr. Lu asked you to review it. Let him know if you have any questions."Su Wan took the document and whispered her thanks. Before leaving, Chen hesitated for a moment, then leaned closer and said: "Su Wan, Mr. Lu actually cares about you a lot... Last time Lin Weiwei went to the director to say there were flaws in your proposal, Mr. Lu held onto the document and personally verified all the data to prove you were innocent."Su Wan's heart trembled slightly. She looked up at Lu Chengyu's office—the door was ajar, and she could see him sitting at his desk, head bowed over documents. She thought of how he had defended her just now, the warmth of his palm, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart. But when she remembered her colleagues' strange glances and the rumors that might intensify, she sighed softly, spread out the schedule, and forced herself to focus on work—she had no idea that this storm sparked by rumors had only just begun to ferment.