Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 244: Slinging Mud

Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Slinging Mud

Following this, a colleague shouted, "Stop talking nonsense."

The young man, with a loud voice and a stiff neck, said, "Who’s talking nonsense? Pan Cheng, why don’t you ask your Manager Chen if he knows Pan Cheng. Hmph—"

Chen Ningxi frowned. Why was it about Pan Cheng again?

She pushed the door open and entered with a stern face, saying, "Knowing someone won’t help. You stole electricity today, and the penalty will be dealt with according to the rules and the law."

The young man wore a certain sports brand’s T-shirt, gray-blue jeans, and his hair was dyed a burnt yellow.

Seeing Chen Ningxi, he looked her up and down dismissively, "Who are you? It’s not your place to speak here."

Chen Ningxi closed the door, sat at the desk opposite the young man with a dignified expression, and said, "I’ve been talking to you for a while now, do you really not know me?"

The young man blinked and, after a delay, realized, "You’re Manager Chen?"

Chen Ningxi said, "That’s me. Repeat what you just said, and also, who is your friend?"

Two others came with the young man. They were about the same age and dressed similarly, except one had gray-blue hair and the other silver. Together, they looked like a palette.

"Feng Yuan," the one with gray-blue hair called the young man, tugging at his clothes, "Why be aggressive? Be nice. We’re here to ask for help."

Feng Yuan felt put out, glanced back at the gray-blue-haired Fu Yanchen, and whispered, "We know people, why should we be afraid?"

Fu Yanchen ignored him, leaned back against the wall, "Do as you wish."

The silver-haired young man said, "Why are you getting mad at Fu Yanchen? He’s just doing it for your good."

Fu Yanchen said to the silver-haired guy, "No more, Dawei. Pan Xiaohui will be here soon."

Lu Dawei looked anxiously through the window downstairs, hoping Pan Xiaohui would arrive quickly.

The three of them opened a barbershop in town, and when the inspection found electricity theft, they not only had to rectify the issue but also pay a fine. They hadn’t even earned money from the shop yet and already had to pay a fine. During a meal, they mentioned it to Pan Xiaohui, who, over drinks, said that his uncle was close with the manager of Danjiang Power, Chen Manager, and assured the three not to worry, saying he’d handle it.

With the fine notices arriving repeatedly, Feng Yuan couldn’t sit still, so he brought two friends to the Danjiang Institute to find Manager Chen.

On their way, they had agreed that if Manager Chen didn’t comply, they would spread the word about her and Pan Cheng at the office. To protect her reputation and position, she wouldn’t punish them.

At this time, there were two staff members in the enforcement office: Director Xiao Lijie and the clerk Qiu Xiaoou.

Seeing the situation was off, Xiao Lijie observed that Chen Ningxi’s expression hadn’t changed, but matters concerning the leader’s reputation were better known by fewer people, so she sent Qiu Xiaoou away.

"Xiaoou, go to Secretary Lei and get last month’s party-building notes for me."

"Okay."

Qiu Xiaoou got up and left.

Once the office door closed, Chen Ningxi remained calm, saying, "Our comrades recorded the on-site video on the day of the electricity theft, and police officers were present. Do you acknowledge the fact of electricity theft?"

Feng Yuan hesitated but still stood lazily, nodding, "...I acknowledge it."

"Were there any illegal actions during the inspection process?" Chen Ningxi asked again.

Feng Yuan shook his head, "No."

"After inspection, did anyone unlawfully demand bribes from you and promise to settle things for you?"

Feng Yuan: "No."

Chen Ningxi said, "Since our colleagues clarified the facts with clear evidence during the electricity theft inspection, neither violating rules nor breaking laws, what issues do you have with the penalty?"

Feng Yuan was agitated, "Our barbershop just opened and we’re fined?"

Chen Ningxi said, "You should be grateful your shop just opened. If it had been longer, the electricity theft would have been more, and the fines would be doubled."

Seeing that the woman before him wasn’t easy to deal with, Lu Dawei noticed his family’s poor condition. If the three of them split the fine, his family would surely scold him again, as their conditions couldn’t bear such expenses.

"Manager Chen, can I have a word with you?" Lu Dawei was the youngest of the three, just eighteen, but had seen a lot, and was relatively calm.

Xiao Lijie glanced at Chen Ningxi’s face, who said, "It’s okay. Just say what you need to."

Lu Dawei, visibly troubled, walked up to Chen Ningxi, "Manager Chen, my family is really not well off. We can’t afford this fine. The shop is opened with friends, and I can’t betray them. Can’t we skip this fine?"

Chen Ningxi also heard the sincerity and embarrassment in his tone, but the fine wasn’t determined by her, nor paid to her personal account.

She asked, "Kid, what’s your name? You don’t look old, are you twenty?"

"Just call me Dawei. No, I’m eighteen this year." Lu Dawei scratched the back of his neck shyly.

Chen Ningxi said, "Dawei, the fine amount is based on the electricity theft, and the fine isn’t paid to me. I don’t have the authority to reduce it for you. But if you’re truly in difficulty, Director Xiao and I can help you apply for a few days’ extension."

Lu Dawei frowned, mumbling, "Even with an extension, we still have to pay the fine."

He retreated again.

Seeing his friend’s pleas were useless, Feng Yuan’s eyes flashed sharply, saying, "If you don’t waive the fine, you’re leaving us with no way to live. If our days are bad, don’t think yours will be any better. Don’t make me announce your thing with Pan Xiaohui’s uncle at your office."

Chen Ningxi was indeed unafraid of being slandered. She looked at the signed punishment slip with a serious face,

"Your name is Feng Yuan, right?"

Feng Yuan paused, "...Yes, what’s up?"

Chen Ningxi said, "Are you here to solve the problem?"

Feng Yuan: "Of course."

Chen Ningxi said, "If you intend to solve it, stop fabricating things that don’t exist. I have no relationship with Pan Xiaohui’s uncle. If you insist on this attitude, bring Pan Xiaohui here for a confrontation."

Feng Yuan, confidently, replied, "Pan Xiaohui is on his way. When he arrives, let’s see what you say. Mentioning Pan Cheng didn’t work, so we need Pan Cheng’s nephew instead?"

Xiao Lijie stopped him, "Watch your words. You’re here to accept punishment. Don’t talk nonsense. Regardless, the fine is the same for everyone."

Chen Ningxi was calmer than Feng Yuan, placing her phone on the table, "Alright, I’ll wait for him to come today."

Fu Yanchen sensed the atmosphere was off. He was present that day, and Pan Xiaohui spoke confidently about his uncle and the woman. But Manager Chen’s attitude didn’t seem to match. Who should he believe?

He walked to Lu Dawei, nudged his foot, "Where’s Pan Xiaohui?"

Lu Dawei took his phone from his pocket and checked, "He’s at the door, coming in soon."