Free Web NovelChapter 2522: Chapter 1588: Judgment (2)
Seeing her still beating around the bush, Fang Weiguo cut straight to the point: "I don’t believe it."
Fang Qing sighed softly and could only say, "Handling a case requires time. To convince everyone, one must win both hearts and minds; otherwise, what’s the difference from Green Land."
"Besides."
Fang Qing suddenly paused and then asked, "Have mom and dad ever met a death row convict?"
"What are you talking about? How could your father and I have met a death row convict."
"Hmm."
Seeing that her parents hadn’t met one, Fang Qing explained to them: "What makes a death row convict most frightened, most tremble, most pained is not the moment they are executed. From the bullet firing to piercing the skull, it takes less than a second, and the nerves don’t even have time to react. The true judgment for a death row convict is the long agony of waiting before execution."
Fang Weiguo and his wife were lost in thought.
Lightly brushing it off, Fang Qing played with a pear and turned to leave.
Twin Towers of Green Land.
Lu Xu came to the morning meeting with a noticeable bandage on his mouth, undeniably drawing the attention of all executives.
Of course.
No one would be nosy enough to ask.
After the morning meeting ended, Fan Wanli specifically called Lu Xu to his office.
"What’s happened to your face?"
"It’s nothing, just a small injury."
Indeed, it was just a small injury.
But was the obvious bandage intended in case others couldn’t see it?
Although both had bandages, the situation of this Greenfield executive was completely different from Boss Jiang.
Boss Jiang truly covered up to divert attention, while he acted in a way that revealed more than it concealed.
Certainly.
In the brutal workplace, one should never be too honest.
Sacrifices and contributions made for the company should be visible!
"What’s going on?"
When Chairman Fan asked again, Lu Xu started to speak appropriately, "Got punched by a homeowner."
Fan Wanli was silent, also probably never imagining that a company executive could be hit by a homeowner.
"Chairman, this homeowner does not accept the court’s verdict, and after losing the case, he protests with banners on the streets daily, seriously damaging our group’s reputation. I met him on my way to the construction site, specifically invited him to sit down to discuss and mediate, but he refused to listen to reason, stubbornly insisting on an unreasonable request to return his money, and after being rejected, he got angry and thus..."
Lu Xu based his account on facts, being truthful with no concealment or alteration, and highlighting his earnestness, responsibility, and broad perspective.
Sacrificing his personal image, but preserving the group’s honor, firmly positioning the company on the moral high ground.
How selfless and dedicated?
"And then?"
Fan Wanli showed no sign of emotion.
"Then I chose to call the police. I believe the police will give such a thug the punishment he deserves."
Lu Xu felt his actions were flawless and perfect. Even if he didn’t receive public praise from the chairman, he would surely be remembered by him, but who knew the outcome would be different from what he anticipated.
"What kind of punishment should be given? The guy punched you once, and you want him to rot in jail?"
Lu Xu uncontrollably froze, looking surprised at Chairman Fan, probably entering a mental shutdown.
His plan, clearly flawless, what mistakes could it have?
"Make a call now."
Fan Wanli said, "Release the man. Then go personally to his door, apologize and make amends."
Lu Xu was completely dumbfounded.
Letting go of everything.
The one who was hit apologizing to the hitter?
Does that make sense?
At this moment, he almost wanted to shout, "Is there any law left? Is there any justice left?!"
"Did you hear me?"
Lu Xu returned to sense, hit by the gap between imagination and reality, taking a deep breath, couldn’t help but ask.
"Chairman, why?"
"No reason."
Fan Wanli, who appeared amiable and kindly in front of media cameras, showed a suffocating dominance and assertiveness.
"Now, make the call."
Lu Xu clenched his hand, his gaze shaking, emotions of unwillingness, struggle, and even a hint of grievance.
But just like how others faced him, before Chairman Fan, he also had no room to say no.
"Chief Ji, this is Lu Xu."
Standing by the desk, he slowly took out his phone, choosing to obey the command.
"Just a minor clash, no need to blow it out of proportion, release that bricklayer."
"Lu Director..."
His tone was odd, and it seemed there was something the person on the other end was unable to express, hesitating.
"Is there a problem?"
"It’s just..."
"Chief Ji, speak candidly."
"Lu Director, that bricklayer was no longer with me from yesterday."
The other side spoke in a low voice.
Lu Xu squinted his eyes, unconsciously tightening his grip on the phone, "What’s that supposed to mean?"
"I’m sorry, Lu Director, I can’t say."
Lu Xu’s brow visibly tightened, his mind raced.
No longer with me as of yesterday.
Can’t say.
Clearly evident.
Couldn’t be released voluntarily.
The bricklayer certainly couldn’t have left on his own.
Then.
Where did he go?
"Chief Ji..."
"Lu Director, I truly can’t say, please don’t ask anymore."
The counterpart gave him no room to speak, and the tone grew resolute and firm.
"Lu Director, I have work to do, I’ll hang up for now."
The call quickly ended.
Lu Xu forgot to put down the phone, his mind went blank.
"What’s going on?"
"The chief said the person is no longer with them."
Upon hearing this, Fan Wanli’s face darkened slightly, but he didn’t say much blameful words.
"You should go now."
Lu Xu opened his mouth as if wanting to ask something, but seeing the chairman’s expression, all words could only be locked in his throat. He put down the phone, turned around, about to leave.
Yet before he could reach the door, it was pushed open from the outside first.
The secretary rushed in flustered and hurried, "Chairman... they..."
Sitting as the highest figure in Green Land, his expression unpredictable, not knowing what was on his mind, Fan Wanli instinctively turned to look.
Coming in with the secretary were several unfamiliar men, crew-cut, wearing administrative jackets, plain looking and uniformly stern.
No.
More precisely speaking.
They didn’t come in with the secretary, but barged in.
Fan Wanli’s position clearly marked his eminent status, yet this outstanding entrepreneur, philanthropist, and major taxpayer from Sha City was gloriously ignored by these rude men of unknown origin.
"You’re Lu Xu, right?"
The leading person fixed his gaze on the "head-on collision" with Lu Xu.
Lu Xu’s forehead, not fully relaxed yet, tightened once more, looking at this group of low-key yet high-profile strangers, feeling his heart suddenly shrink inexplicably.
"What are you doing? Who let you in?"
He rebuked them harshly.
The other side ignored him, and after confirming Lu Xu’s identity, took out a black credential.
"Come with us."
Police officers would typically give a reason, such as a certain suspicion, but they didn’t.
Simple, direct, undeniable.
Seeing a fleeting credential, Lu Xu’s pupils contracted fiercely, as if the floor beneath him was pulled out, his whole being falling endlessly.
The surging panic caused him to start breathing rapidly, eventually suffocating, beads of sweat unconsciously emerged on his forehead.
He opened his mouth, but couldn’t speak.
"Take him away."
Two people approached, flanking him.
Lu Xu hurriedly turned his head, looking towards Chairman Fan, as a drowning man searching for a lifeline.
"Chairman Fan—"
For all his hard work and achievements, the company logically should lend a hand, but Chairman Fan Wanli simply ignored his plea for help, keeping silent, watching coldly.
The dazed Lu Xu was grabbed by the arms, taken out of the office, his expression aloof, footsteps staggering and hollow like a zombie.
From start to finish, the group of uninvited guests had no interaction with Fan Wanli, nor any conflict, as if their sole target was Lu Xu.
The office returned to quietness.
The secretary was at a loss, "Chairman..."
"Get out."
The amiable mask unintentionally slipped off, Fan Wanli’s voice remained steady, yet his face was covered with a chill like a morgue, gloomy and frightening.
