C8 To Rectify His Name

Upon hearing Xin Sicong's words, the saleswoman's anxiety was palpable.

She had been an employee at the store for years and was well-acquainted with Xin Sicong, the manager of Magnificent Digital Shop.

Though the young man purchasing equipment didn't seem untrustworthy, the thought of selling to him against Xin Sicong's warning—if his money were indeed illicit—meant she could face serious consequences.

Noticing the saleswoman's concerned expression, Chiang Hao didn't want to cause her any distress, so he swiftly approached Xin Sicong.

Xin Sicong, mistaking Chiang Hao's rapid approach for aggression, panicked and stumbled backward. But he was no match for Chiang Hao's speed and was quickly apprehended.

A flood of information about Xin Sicong filled Chiang Hao's mind.

"Xin Sicong, you've been skimming money from the store, accepting kickbacks from suppliers, and now you're trying to pin something on me? Don't you think that's going too far?" Chiang Hao said, pushing him away with a cold laugh.

Expecting a physical confrontation, Xin Sicong was surprised when Chiang Hao released him after a brief grasp. Thinking Chiang Hao had backed down, he blustered, "Your money is dirty, so stop trying to set me up. I am a manager, known for my integrity and transparency..."

"Really? So the twenty thousand yuan from the supplier for the batch of SLR cameras you received yesterday, tucked away in the wallet in the second drawer of your desk—does that speak to your integrity?" Chiang Hao cut him off, clearly uninterested in his self-praise.

"That's absurd, I've never taken kickbacks," Xin Sicong retorted, his face cycling through shades of green and purple with shock.

The twenty thousand yuan had been handed to him privately in his office, a detail unknown to anyone else.

And even if the supplier had leaked the information, only he knew about the money stashed in the second drawer's wallet.

He never kept money at the office, but yesterday, in a rush to dine with the supplier, he hadn't taken the cash home.

At that moment, Chiang Hao revealed something he found quite astonishing.

"Remember about a decade ago, you were in a serious relationship, on the brink of marriage, but your girlfriend vanished without a word? Do you know why?" Chiang Hao asked, a slight smile on his lips.

"Why?" Xin Sicong's face drained of color at the question, his mind whisked back to those days over ten years ago.

Back then, he was a regular salesperson. Through work, he met a woman from the neighboring province, Chen Bingbing. They fell for each other instantly, and their romance blossomed rapidly.

Coming from a poor background, with little to his name when he first started working, Xin Sicong didn't have much. Yet Chen Bingbing never looked down on him for his poverty. She was devoted to him, and they quickly reached the point of discussing marriage.

But upon returning from a business trip, he discovered that Chen Bingbing had left their shared apartment, taking all her personal belongings with her.

At first, Xin Sicong thought she might have returned to her family home, so he went to her parents to inquire. But they claimed they hadn't seen her.

Two days passed without a trace of Chen Bingbing. Xin Sicong reported her missing to the police and scoured everywhere for any sign of her. But she had disappeared without a trace, never to be found again.

The incident had always haunted him.

Years had passed; he'd since married and had children, thinking he had moved on, that the past was just a distant memory. Yet, Chiang Hao's mention of it made him realize he hadn't fully let go.

He desperately wanted to know why Chen Bingbing had left so abruptly.

"Just ask your brother," Chiang Hao said with a smile.

Chiang Hao only knew that Xin Sicong's girlfriend's departure was somehow linked to Xin Sicong's brother, thanks to the information from the system. The exact details, however, were unknown to him.

"Is that true? How did you come by this information?" Xin Sicong pressed.

"I figured it out, of course. If you're skeptical, bring your brother to me. I'll do a reading for him, and we'll uncover the precise reason," Chiang Hao said confidently, his smile unwavering.

"Alright, I'll go get my brother. Master, could you do a reading for me?" At this point, Xin Sicong was almost completely convinced by what Chiang Hao had said.

He was truly eager to understand why Chen Bing Bing had left him.

Even if they couldn't rekindle their past relationship, he still yearned to know where Chen Bing Bing was and how she was faring.

"Hold on. Before I do the reading, you need to do three things. First, apologize to me, then clarify to everyone what just transpired. Lastly, return the 20,000 kickback to your store manager."

Chiang Hao observed Xin Sicong's earnest expression and then the astonished looks on Wang Gebi and Zhang Xiaomei's faces, which brought him great satisfaction.

"Ding! Exposed Xin Sicong's wrongdoing and vindicated yourself. +200 Exclamation Points."

Another Exclamation Point—this Ultimate Barcode System is simply incredible!

"Okay, okay... I apologize. I falsely accused you earlier. Here's what really happened..."

Once Xin Sicong recounted the entire incident, the onlookers finally understood the truth.

The astute saleswoman, after hearing Xin Sicong's account, realized that Chiang Hao had been wrongfully accused.

"So, it was a case of small-minded people misjudging a man of integrity. Sir, my apologies for the wait. I'll arrange for the delivery immediately."

Chiang Hao nodded, paid the bill, provided his delivery address, and hurried back to school.

He was pressed for time, with schoolwork awaiting his review.

The crowd that had gathered around began to buzz with conversation.

"This Manager Xin really doesn't recognize a good thing when he sees it."

"Exactly, he's slandered an innocent man. He not only drove away a customer but also prevented other stores from serving them. It's utterly repulsive."

"Regardless of who's right or wrong, they were ready to have security rough up this young man. If he hadn't known martial arts, who knows what might have happened today."

"To think Hua Mei Digital employs a manager like that. I won't be shopping at Hua Mei Digital ever again."

A throng of spectators had amassed at the store's entrance. The manager of Hua Mei Digital arrived promptly upon hearing the commotion. Overhearing the crowd's comments, he became enraged and confronted Xin Sicong, who was attempting to slip away.

"Xin Sicong, how on earth did you land the role of manager? You can't even handle a task this simple. Maybe you should just call it quits and go back to farming at home."

Xin Sicong was somewhat aware of the kickback situation, but having it exposed to the public was a major blow to his pride.

"What? Is it really that bad?" Xin Sicong was in a state of alarm.

The thought of losing his job over a seemingly minor crisis hadn't crossed his mind. Desperate, he pleaded, "Boss, I'm begging you, give me another chance. I've dedicated so many years to Hua Mei. Even if I haven't earned accolades, I've certainly put in the effort."