She couldn't bear to disturb the family reunion and turned to leave, giving them space.
But as soon as she stepped out, she noticed something was wrong. The last time she visited, the company had many employees, and every workstation was piled high with documents.
Everyone had been busy.
Today was different. One-third of the staff were gone, and the remaining employees looked listless, lacking the enthusiasm for work and the energy they had when busy.
What was going on?
She pondered, estimating enough time had passed for the family reunion, and then turned back. Director Fang was sitting on the sofa talking with Lin Wanxin and Xing Yao.
The little girl sat with her hands on her knees, looking very well-behaved.
But the moment Shen Qingqing entered, the little girl's nose twitched. She wriggled free from Director Fang and Lin Wanxin and rushed towards Shen Qingqing.
Shen Qingqing instinctively caught her, and the little girl nuzzled against her neck affectionately.
Her biological parents were good, and they were gentle with her. She could feel their love, but she still missed her mommy.
The scent of her mommy on Shen Qingqing finally made her feel at ease, as if she had returned home.
Shen Qingqing was relieved. It wasn't in vain that she cared for the little girl; she still thought of her. She sat down on the sofa, holding the little girl.
"Director Fang, why do there seem to be so many fewer employees outside?"
Director Fang was wearing a bitter smile. His daughter didn't favor him, which made him feel very sad. Hearing this, his face stiffened for a moment, then he said calmly, "The company has a project that requires a lot of attention lately, so many people have been assigned to other positions."
"That still shouldn't account for so many people leaving."
When Shen Qingqing visited last time, the workstations outside the president's office were all filled with people.
Director Fang smiled, "It's nothing, just position adjustments. Don't worry about it. I'm grateful you brought them back today. Let me treat you to a meal."
Shen Qingqing stared at him expressionlessly.
Director Fang's gaze flickered as he looked at Xing Yao. "Xing Yao, what do you want to eat? Daddy will buy it for you, okay?"
Xing Yao's vacant eyes "looked" at him. "Thank you, Daddy."
Director Fang smiled with relief, but his heart ached. His precious child couldn't see. If she could, she would surely be the cutest and most beautiful girl in the world.
Even now, she was, but her eyes were his only lingering regret.
As parents, who wouldn't want the best for their child?
He drifted through a multitude of thoughts and then looked up to find Shen Qingqing still looking at him. "Miss Shen, you really don't need to worry about company matters. I have it under control."
Shen Qingqing was currently just a designer, and getting too involved would indeed be overstepping. "Okay, but there's no need for a meal. I have other things to do and need to go back. Xing Yao..."
The little girl's small hand immediately clutched her clothes, refusing to let go.
"How about you come back with me for now?" she finished the sentence and felt the little girl's grip loosen slightly.
Director Fang hesitated. He wanted his daughter to stay and cultivate their relationship. Lin Wanxin, however, had a different idea.
"Go back. The child needs time to adapt. Staying with you right now is best."
Once she spoke, Director Fang had nothing more to say. He looked at Xing Yao reluctantly. "Yao Yao, when you get back, remember to miss Daddy."
Xing Yao was happy to stay with her mommy and nodded obediently. "I will."
Her childish voice melted Director Fang's heart. He watched them leave with reluctance. Only after they were in the car and out of sight did he slowly return to the company.
However, upon seeing the largely empty workstations, his expression turned agitated.
...
Shen Qingqing took Xing Yao back to the hotel and told Fu Jingshu about the reunion. The other two children listened intently.
Shen Jinxi was particularly stunned. "Sister, your background is so legendary."
Xing Yao, who had been sad about being separated from her parents, widened her eyes upon hearing this. "Really? Is my background legendary?"
"Of course!" Shen Jinxi said confidently. "Look, so many children lose their parents and family and never find them again in their lives. But you met Mommy, met me and Chenchen, and now you've found your biological parents. How lucky are you?"
Xing Yao thought about it and realized it was true. Her somber and disappointed expression vanished, replaced by happiness.
Chenchen listened to them talking, but soon found it boring and picked up his tablet to play. As soon as he opened it, he saw a post.
He looked up at his mother and showed her the tablet.
"Mommy, look."
Shen Qingqing thought it was something fun, but as she looked down, she saw a shocking title: "Mu Guang Company's baby products have quality issues, resulting in multiple infant injuries!"
She quickly took the tablet and examined it carefully.
She discovered that the post was made by a blogger with millions of followers. Her child had used Mu Guang Company's products and was currently hospitalized.
The blogger's words were sincere and eloquent, comparing Mu Guang Company's products, and providing dates of purchase, before and after the child's use, as well as hospitalization records and doctor's diagnoses.
What's more, this was a hundred-person post.
Although initiated by the blogger, the content was astounding. A total of one hundred families had posted their children's hospitalization records.
These children were all injured or sick due to these products.
And it wasn't over. In the comments below, countless people were also crying out.
The comment section was filled with curses.
"What kind of dog-shit company, to create such things and harm our babies. May you die a horrible death!"
"Just you wait, I will sue. I will keep suing you until you are bankrupt. My child will not be injured in vain."
"Yes, everyone, let's unite and find the person in charge of this company. I want him in prison, I want him to pay the price!"
...
Shen Qingqing took a deep breath, and a low voice reached her ears.
"It seems it has exploded."
She turned abruptly and saw Fu Jingshu. She was stunned for a moment. "You were right. His company's products really do have problems."
If it were a deliberate attack, the hospitalization certificates, diagnostic reports, and comparisons of product use before and after were all evidence.
Even if Director Fang were standing there, he would have no grounds to refute it.
Fu Jingshu didn't speak. He simply put his arm around her shoulder, offering silent comfort.
Shen Qingqing couldn't bear to read the comments and felt regret. Why hadn't she been more careful? She placed the tablet on her lap. "No wonder so many people left the company."
If the products had issues and something had happened, the company employees would have been the first to know.
To avoid being implicated, resigning was the best course of action.
Fu Jingshu nodded. "Director Fang isn't a bad person, but he's a bit greedy for profit. He only thinks about making money and neglects other things."
Shen Qingqing said indignantly, "That doesn't mean he can disregard the children's safety!"