Chapter 11: Trapped in a Puzzle

Chapter 11: Trapped in a Puzzle

Actually, Shen Xian had always been puzzled by something.

Logically, someone of Gu Chen's age shouldn't be sitting in his current position, even if it was only as an interim chairman. His authority surpassed that of his two uncles.

Why was it him and not one of his two uncles?

Especially his second uncle, whose insights and vision were on par with Gu Chen's. He even possessed greater control and charisma, which was evident in the board meetings; a mere glance could instantly quieten his uncontrollable third uncle...

When Shen Xian shared her confusion with Chen Nuo, Chen Nuo's expression changed immediately.

After spending some time together, Chen Nuo had developed a close friendship with Shen Xian. If not for Shen Xian's desire to keep their relationship at a professional level, Chen Nuo might have considered Shen Xian one of her closest friends.

"You shouldn't ask about this anymore. Three years ago, there was a major upheaval at Shenfei Group. Nowadays, everyone is quite sensitive to this topic, and few dare to discuss it openly."

"Why? What happened three years ago?"

Upon hearing this timeline, Shen Xian couldn't help but become vigilant.

"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but it was some kind of power struggle within the upper echelons. I don't know why, in the end, Elder Gu allowed Gu Chen to become the Vice President and Acting Director. I heard that many people were against it at the time; otherwise, President Gu would have directly taken over as the new Chairman. And due to this, almost the entire Shenfei Group underwent a major personnel change. I only joined after President Gu assumed office."

Chen Nuo took a sip of her milk tea, looking deeply concerned.

"Did those who opposed leave? Didn't President Gu's two uncles object?"

"How could they not? President Gu's second uncle was relatively okay, but his third uncle was the most vocal opponent. It was quite a commotion, but Elder Gu managed to quell it. Otherwise, Uncle Gu Three wouldn't just be handling trivial internal company affairs now."

"Did President Gu dismiss many people after taking office?" Shen Xian continued.

"Yes, you could say that. New leaders always make their presence felt with three major moves. It was a blazing fire that swept through almost half of the Shenfei Building, leaving everyone from the ground floor to the executives on edge. Some veteran employees said they were all on tenterhooks, afraid that they would receive a redundancy notice."

Chen Nuo shook her head in amazement. "I'm glad I came later; I couldn't handle such constant anxiety."

"Chen Nuo!"

Shen Xian reached across the table to hold Chen Nuo's hand. "Can you... help me find the list of people who were laid off back then?"

"What do you need that for?"

Chen Nuo was pleasantly surprised by Shen Xian's sudden intimacy and gazed at her with a warm smile.

"President Gu recently asked me to compile a personnel flow report. I was worried about including previous employees, so..."

Before Shen Xian could finish, Chen Nuo assumed an understanding expression. "No problem, leave it to me. As President Gu's secretary, I can handle this. I know how much you value your job, so don't worry. With your adaptability, I'm sure you'll do great. You've only been here for a short while. Soon enough, it'll be me asking for your help."

Looking at Chen Nuo, Shen Xian felt a twinge of guilt for deceiving someone who had been sincere towards her.

"Well then..."

"Relax, no one else will find out. I have a good relationship with the sister in the HR department." Chen Nuo winked, a hint of pride in her eyes.

With Chen Nuo's assistance, Shen Xian quickly obtained a list of Shenfei Group's layoffs from three years ago, along with a comprehensive record of recent departures.

To Shen Xian's surprise, the middle manager whose wife and child had been kidnapped was not on the layoff list.

He had voluntarily resigned a month before the downsizing, with the reason for his resignation unspecified.

Less than a week after his resignation, the kidnapping incident occurred.

Shen Xian felt trapped in a peculiar cycle, where there seemed to be a connection yet none at the same time. This deadlock left her in a quandary, unable to advance or retreat.

Suddenly, she had an intense desire to see Zhou Mu. The unresolved confusion and the oppressive sense of helplessness made her feel hopeless.

They arranged to meet at the boxing gym, a place they used to frequent. Apart from some new equipment, the venue remained largely unchanged.

The past lingered vividly in her mind, while reality before her eyes bore little resemblance to it.

"Shen Xian, over here!"

Zhou Mu arrived before Shen Xian. He was already dressed in his workout attire, a tight-fitting outfit that accentuated his well-defined muscles.

As Shen Xian looked over, he was grinning at her.

"You're early!"

With a faint smile, Shen Xian strolled over and casually tossed her sports bag onto a chair. She then retrieved her gear from inside.

"Old habits die hard," she said.

Zhou Mu donned his boxing gloves, performing a mock punch as he jumped back and forth. "Hurry up, I'm waiting for you."

Shen Xian swiftly emerged, having changed her clothes. Her long black hair was braided into two plaits, her eyes brimming with determination. Her unadorned face held an unusual allure.

In reality, she had a great figure. Years of strength training, coupled with the frequent handling of heavy objects in the past three years, had honed her physique into one with distinct, flowing lines. Her abdominal muscles were visible beneath her cropped fitness attire, and her legs were enviably straight and slender, resulting in an excellent body proportion.

If not for her usual preference for comfortable and casual clothing, her figure would be considered curvaceous and well-proportioned.

"Captain Zhou, here I come," Shen Xian declared, her tone imbued with the bravado and ambition preceding a challenge. On the ring, she bounced on her toes, readying herself for combat from all directions.

"You haven't trained for a while, right? I'll go easy on you," Zhou Mu rose, rubbing his palms together as he approached her.

Shen Xian remained silent, merely offering a crooked smile. She flexed her ankles to warm up, then struck a blow with her gloved fists at chest level, exuding a formidable aura.

The tenderness in Zhou Mu's eyes faded, replaced by a fierce gaze as he assumed a fighting stance, watching Shen Xian intently.

Shen Xian moved nimbly, while Zhou Mu's punches carried the force of the wind. The two exchanged blows and dodges with a seamless synchronization that seemed rehearsed.

"Stop fooling around! I'm really going for it now!"

With a stern expression, Shen Xian suddenly addressed Zhou Mu, who appeared to be engaging in a serious sparring session.

Zhou Mu's punches seemed fierce, but he was actually holding back with each strike. He thought he had concealed his intentions well, but how could he deceive someone as familiar with him as Shen Xian?

"Come on!"

Adapting to the situation, Zhou Mu retreated with two feints before promptly encountering Shen Xian's relentless barrage. Her dual fists struck from both sides, demonstrating a surprising aggression.

In motion, Shen Xian bore no resemblance to her usual delicate and frail appearance. Within her feminine frame lurked an immense power waiting to burst forth.

You could never predict where her next attack would come from – whether it be her right fist, left fist, or even a swift kick.

Zhou Mu managed to parry her blows, but it was far from effortless.

After an intense bout, both were panting heavily, leaning against the ring fence.

Zhou Mu weakly waved his hand, "I truly... underestimated you. After so long without sparring, I didn't expect your offensive prowess to remain just as formidable as three years ago."

With her arms resting on the railing, Shen Xian panted even harder, large beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks, chin, and neck.

Her moistened skin shimmered delicately, while her disheveled black hair created an irregular pattern across her face and neck.

Her bright, sparkling eyes, after such intense exercise, gleamed with irresistible allure.

This version of Shen Xian exuded a sunny sexiness from within.

Hearing Zhou Mu's words, she laughed heartily, "Who told you I haven't been practicing for a long time?"

Zhou Mu retracted his gaze, smiling wryly as he shook his head. He had been deceived by her!

The two descended from the platform, found chairs, and sat down to rest.

Out of habit, Zhou Mu twisted open the bottle cap and passed it to Shen Xian, who took it effortlessly and drank deeply.

"Ah, what a relief!" she exclaimed. "I haven't sweated this comfortably in ages."

Observing Shen Xian gulping down the water, Zhou Mu gently reminded her, "Take it slow."

Yet, neglecting her own thirst, she first fetched a towel to wipe the sweat off Shen Xian, performing the gesture with an effortless and practiced ease.

This man, whose demeanor exuded an unwavering resilience akin to steel, displayed an unusually tender and thoughtful side while attending to such tasks.

With her head lifted, Shen Xian drank heartily, but an unexpected figure caught her eye.