"I know it's impossible not to affect your mood, but listen to me, there's no need, really. Those scumbags, they don't deserve for you to get angry and upset over them."
Lu Jiaying knew that she had helped her with her previous leave request, and she felt grateful towards her, so her words were sincere.
At a time like this, someone saying such comforting words should make her happy.
However, as she listened, Lu Jiaying only caught one key phrase.
"What if the photos are real?"
Zhang Xiaoyu was stunned.
She had never considered the possibility that the photos were real.
Everyone suspected Lu Jiaying's relationship with Jiang Jingyu; she did not.
Because in her eyes, Lu Jiaying was a mature, far-sighted, and successful woman with vision.
Jiang Jingyu was just an ignorant brat. How could the two of them possibly be together?
"Then, even if they are real, it has nothing to do with your character or your work capabilities. The company doesn't have a rule that colleagues can't date. To put it bluntly, this is your private matter. No one has the right to comment."
"I've arranged with them this afternoon not to spread it, and everyone will act as if this never happened..."
"Sister Zhang."
Lu Jiaying usually called her colleagues like this, and she called Zhang Xiaoyu this way for the first time, her voice extremely gentle.
"Thank you, I really appreciate your comfort, but it's impossible for it not to be spread."
"If she can send it to every employee's email, she can send it elsewhere too. This is no longer just about my personal honor or disgrace, but about the group..."
"Don't worry about me, I need your help now, can you?"
Sister Zhang didn't know what she could do to help her at this moment.
As if being able to truly do something for her would make her feel better, she quickly agreed.
"Please work overtime tonight, and prepare all the documents I need for my resignation when you come tomorrow. The work progress that needs to be handed over, financial matters, administrative matters..."
"Jiang Jingyu knows everything else, you can get what you need from him. You also write my resignation letter to Director Hu for me."
Hearing that she was being asked to do these things, Zhang Xiaoyu was startled.
"Director Lu, why are you so foolish? After working so hard for so many years, you're resigning because of something like this?"
Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes from worry, Lu Jiaying smiled faintly, bent down, and wiped her eyes.
"Don't cry, it's not because of this."
"You've been in the company for so many years, and you've known me for more than a day. You know what I'm like when I work."
"For four full years, I haven't taken a single day off, nor have I gone on a single trip. I get tired too."
"Consider it as finally having something that made me decide to rest for a while. The world is so big. I want to see it too."
"But I really don't have the mood to deal with all this mess. I'm counting on you, okay? Send me a message when you're done. I'll send someone to pick it up."
Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't help but burst into tears.
Lu Jiaying was young and driven, with a stable temperament and humane management. She could be described as a rare and ideal leader.
Such a good person was leaving, and who knew what kind of monsters and demons would replace her?
"Director Lu, I really can't bear to see you go!"
"Silly girl. What's there to cry about? You're diligent and capable. As long as you work hard, no matter who the leader is, they won't treat you unfairly. I'm just taking a temporary break, not dying. What's there to cry about? Have all the outsiders left?"
Zhang Xiaoyu thought about it and realized that what she said made sense.
Leaving the company at this time, lying low until everything calms down, and then returning might be the best course of action for her.
"I don't know. I'll go out and check for you."
She wiped away her tears, hurriedly stood up, and ran out.
She ran to the entrance of the marketing department and peeked towards the elevator. A tall figure was just walking out of the elevator – it was Hu Jiasheng.
After accepting Jiang Jingyu's request, Hu Jiasheng had his assistant quietly observe twice. Lu Jiaying had not left the company.
As expected, being such a smart person, how could she be late or leave early under everyone's critical gaze at such a time?
Hu Jiasheng guessed that she would leave after everyone else had dispersed, so he waited until now to come down and look for her.
Their eyes met, and Zhang Xiaoyu nodded at him, "Director Hu."
"Yes. Is Director Lu in?"
"Yes, in her office."
Hu Jiasheng wanted to go in and find her directly but stopped himself.
After all, this matter was different from others; the leaked photos were of her and Jiang Jingyu in an indecent state.
If he went to find her, it would be equivalent to admitting that he had seen these photos of them.
If she and Jiang Jingyu were in a relationship now, he would also be Lu Jiaying's future uncle-in-law.
For an uncle to communicate with his nephew's wife over something like this...
He stopped awkwardly and looked back at Zhang Xiaoyu, "Everyone else has left, why haven't you?"
Zhang Xiaoyu was already upset about Lu Jiaying's resignation. Now, seeing Hu Jiasheng, she felt as if she had found an upright official to plead her case.
Her nose twitched, and she couldn't help but cry again.
"Director Hu, Director Lu is in such a terrible situation, I can't bear to leave her alone."
"You must have seen how hard she works and how capable she is. Even if this incident wasn't someone trying to harm her, but if it's true, it's still her private matter. You leaders wouldn't treat her unfairly because of her private affairs, would you?"
At this critical juncture, someone speaking up for Lu Jiaying naturally gained Hu Jiasheng's favor.
He said gently, "Just say what you want to say directly."
Zhang Xiaoyu then boldly began to plead for her.
"Director Lu just told me that she wants to resign and go traveling for a while, but I can't bear to see her go."
"Director Hu, she is truly a very, very good leader, and she is also a victim in this matter. To ruin her future because of private matters, I, for one, cannot accept it."
"Director Hu. What are your thoughts? How does the company plan to handle this? Can you tell me?"
"Her emotional state is already very unstable, you guys..."
Hu Jiasheng patted Zhang Xiaoyu on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, the company will not let a bad person go unpunished, nor will it wrong a good person. Once the matter is thoroughly investigated, a reasonable explanation will be provided to everyone, so don't worry."
"As long as your leaders have done nothing wrong, they will absolutely not be punished."
"So, Director Hu, what you mean is?"
"You should go back first. As I said, once the matter is thoroughly investigated, a clear explanation will surely be provided to everyone. I won't do anything until it's clarified."
Zhang Xiaoyu finally felt relieved and ran off to pick up her child from school.
Hu Jiasheng stood in the marketing department for a few minutes and then called Zhan Beijue.
Although the photos were removed less than half an hour after they were posted, they still caused an uproar within the group.
Such a major event, especially involving Jiang Jingyu, Zhan Beijue might not know, but Ah Zhong definitely would.