The office was dead silent.
By now, everyone understood why their boss, who usually never paid much attention to work reports, had listened so intently today. The root of the issue was here all along.
He had discovered that someone had embezzled company funds and had been playing a game of "Among Us" with them this whole time.
No one dared to make a sound. They all knew that Lu Chengwen was the kind of person who would measure blood by the gram if he could. He was always the one taking advantage of others—no one dared to take advantage of him. Anyone who tried would be pulling ribs from his very body.
Clearly, someone was about to face the consequences today.
Lu Chengwen spoke, "A project of this scale is bound to have people looking to take a cut—I get that. But even when taking a cut, there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Don't you agree, Minister Qin?"
Qin Shouyi was already trembling. "Y-yes, absolutely. President Lu is absolutely right."
He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat, his breathing growing heavier.
Lu Chengwen continued, "Over a billion in upfront payments, and you managed to skim off more than two hundred million. Quite the talent. I took a look—the smallest invoice was just over twenty thousand. Hah, playing the 'divide and conquer' game with me, huh? Even my own brother isn't spared from being sent to jail. You all better think carefully—who among you is more capable than my own flesh and blood?"
The Deputy Minister of Commerce tore off his tie, fuming. "President Lu! You can investigate me! I'm not afraid of an audit! I've been in finance for years—it's not like I've never seen money before. But I dare say I've been loyal to Dasheng Group through and through! I was personally groomed by the old chairman, and I've never forgotten that debt of gratitude! Even after he stepped down, I stayed at Dasheng to repay him! Today, you're this furious, and it's clear you're pointing the finger at me. I request an internal investigation! I'll request it myself! I need to clear my name! I can't—I can't face the old chairman with this kind of stain on my reputation!"
Qin Shouyi turned around angrily. "Shut your mouth!"
Lu Chengwen smirked. "Old Qin, the Deputy Minister has quite the temper, huh? Still the same after all these years."
Qin Shouyi hurriedly replied, "Ah, Old Liu has always been like this. Even when the old chairman was around, he'd… I'll talk to him later."
Lu Chengwen said, "Anyway, listen up. I want that money returned and re-entered into the accounts. You have three days. If the flow of those funds isn't traced and returned by then, I won't be so polite anymore."
The deputy minister snapped, "We don't need three days! I'm not going home tonight! I'll gather the team and work through the night—start with me first! Bring in government auditors and financial representatives from the other three companies to supervise!"
Qin Shouyi looked like he was about to pass out.
"Th-that… might not be appropriate," he said nervously. "If there's an issue, we should handle it internally first. Unless absolutely necessary, we shouldn't involve the authorities. It could… negatively impact the project. We should prioritize the bigger picture, President Lu."
"Mhm." Lu Chengwen nodded. "I see Minister Qin is as prudent as ever. Your thinking aligns with mine. Fine—three days. I want an answer by then. Let me make one thing clear."
Lu Chengwen jabbed a finger against the desk. "It's not that I can't deal with you. I'm giving you all a way out. Whoever took the money, quietly return it! Otherwise, don't blame me for what comes next."
Qin Shouyi quickly tried to placate him. "Ah, President Lu, President Lu—we'll definitely get to the bottom of this. I promise you, whoever the bastard is that stole from the company, I'll drag them out and make them pay."
Qin Shouyi smiled obsequiously, guiding Lu Chengwen toward the door. "Don't let this ruin your health. The entire Dasheng Group, inside and out, relies on your leadership! Leave this to me—I'll give you a proper resolution."
Lu Chengwen narrowed his eyes with a faint smile. "Then it's up to you, Old Qin?"
"Y-yes, yes! President Lu is giving me face, and I won't let you down. I swear it!"
Lu Chengwen glanced at the deputy minister, who was still standing there fuming, and his expression darkened. "What a piece of work! A rock in a latrine—hard-headed and foul! Damn it!"
With that, he turned and strode out.
Back in his own office, all the secretaries were on edge. Everyone knew Lu Chengwen had flown into a rage today and uncovered internal embezzlement.
This was no small matter. Lu Chengwen had always been an expert at auditing.
He might not have been the best at business operations, but when it came to checking the books, he was unmatched. It was as if he didn't care about anything else—just making sure no one stole from him.
The moment the secretaries saw Lu Chengwen return, they all bowed deeply. "Good afternoon, President Lu."
Jiang Shihan and Zhao Gang followed Lu Chengwen into his office. The moment the door closed behind them, Lu Chengwen pulled Jiang Shihan into his arms. "Come here, give me a kiss."
Jiang Shihan was both amused and exasperated. "President Lu, you scared me to death!"
"I didn't yell at you. Why are you scared?"
"Still scared." Jiang Shihan seemed genuinely shaken.
Years of ingrained habits were hard to break. Years of walking on eggshells, years of caution, years of treading carefully—none of that vanished overnight.
Even now, as someone who shared the boss's bed, Jiang Shihan knew the truth: he was the big boss. A single word from him could determine the fate of many. That kind of fear was primal, almost instinctual.
When Lu Chengwen was happy, everyone relaxed a little, feeling like there was still hope in life.
When Lu Chengwen was angry, everyone felt like their lives hung by a thread—like they might be the next to face his wrath.
Jiang Shihan trembled slightly. "President Lu, when you lose your temper… it's terrifying."
Lu Chengwen laughed. "Damn right! These bastards thought they could steal from me? Think it's that easy? Whatever they took, they're going to vomit it back up."
Sitting in Lu Chengwen's lap, Jiang Shihan cooed and fawned over him, doing everything to please him while whispering sweetly:
"The deputy minister seemed clean. Why did you scold him so harshly? He even suggested bringing in external oversight—doesn't that prove he's innocent?"
"Tsk! In matters like this, you can't judge by appearances. The more proactive someone seems, the more likely they are to be hiding something."
"That Qin Shouyi looked really guilty, though."
Lu Chengwen pinched Jiang Shihan's cheek. "You noticed that too, huh?"
"Mhm."
Zhao Gang, who had been tending to the office plants, clapped his hands and turned around. "I think the problem lies with Qin Shouyi. Pretty sure everyone else figured that out too, right?"
Lu Chengwen snorted. "They didn't just figure it out—they already knew."
"Knew?!"
Both Jiang Shihan and Zhao Gang were shocked.
Lu Chengwen stroked Jiang Shihan's thigh. "Think about it. Over two hundred million—can one or two people swallow that much? They'd choke! This is a whole chain. Everyone from top to bottom got a piece."
Zhao Gang's eyes lit up. "President Lu, you knew all along? Then why not call them out one by one and crush them? They're betraying the company!"
Lu Chengwen chuckled. "If an entire chain of people are stealing from me, can I just cut the whole chain? If I fire everyone, who's going to do the work?"
"Oh…"
Jiang Shihan said, "But you should still make an example of the biggest fish to scare the rest!"
Lu Chengwen shook his head seriously. "Won't work. With billions in funds at stake, people will always find a way to skim. You've seen those movies, right? Thieves, robber gangs—they'll risk their lives for a few million, a couple hundred million in jewels. High-tech heists, car chases… If they're willing to go that far, you think they're scared of an audit?"
"So there's no way to stop it?"
Lu Chengwen sighed. "No. Throughout history, no one's ever managed to keep a team completely clean. It's human nature. When you're doing big things, you can't fight human nature. 'Fish can't survive in perfectly clear water.' If it were just ten bucks, I could guarantee every cent was spent properly. But we're talking billions here. It's impossible to ensure every penny goes where it should. People need their side income."
Jiang Shihan blushed as Lu Chengwen's hand slipped into her bra.
"President Lu, you're so bad."
Zhao Gang grinned. "President Lu, you're truly perceptive—and magnanimous."
"Grandpa Chen taught me to focus on the big picture. As long as the overall direction is right, don't sweat the small stuff."
"But why scold the deputy minister? His integrity and competence are well-recognized in the company. He doesn't seem like the traitorous type," Jiang Shihan asked curiously.
"Because he isn't one," Lu Chengwen said. "I need his help. He's going to keep an eye on things for me."
"Huh?!"
Neither of them understood.
"If you need someone's help, why yell at them like that?"
Lu Chengwen explained, "He should've been the head minister. But he's too clean. If he were in charge of finance, no one else would make any money, and they'd all turn against him, isolate him. So he can only be the deputy."
"So you yelled at him to…"
"Light a fire under him. Right now, he's definitely scrambling to track down that money—hahaha!" Lu Chengwen laughed heartily. "People like him, who don't steal, care the most about their reputations. They can't stand being doubted. So without me lifting a finger, he'll go crazy trying to expose the culprits—just to clear his own name."
Jiang Shihan fell into thought. "So the truly honest and reliable ones… can't be in leadership?"
Lu Chengwen lifted her chin. "Not 'can't.' Just not right now."
He sighed. "The project's just started. I can't crack down too hard internally. If the team destabilizes, every process will go haywire. The entire management structure would need to readjust. The bigger picture matters. For now, Qin Shouyi stays. I'm not ready to cut off my own arm yet—but it's inevitable."
Jiang Shihan gazed at him with starry-eyed admiration. "President Lu, I feel like I don't even know you anymore. You never used to teach us these things before."
Lu Chengwen nodded. "I wish Lu Chengwu were this eager to learn. If something happens to me, at least he could hold the family together."
Zhao Gang and Jiang Shihan exchanged puzzled looks. What did he mean, "if something happens to me"? What could possibly happen?
Just then, Su Fei's voice came through the intercom: "President Lu, there are two gentlemen here to see you."
Jiang Shihan pressed the call button. "President Lu doesn't have any appointments today."
"They introduced themselves as 'Strategist' and 'Golden Guardian.' They said you'd see them once you heard their names."
Zhao Gang and Jiang Shihan both looked at Lu Chengwen, who didn't seem surprised at all.
"Let them in."