Chapter Ten: Baseless Accusations

“Miss Duan, we have found that the person leaking the company’s secrets is you…” The cold, mechanical voice from the phone receiver struck like thunder, sending chills down Duan Fei’s spine.

“What? Are you joking?” Duan Fei sprang to her feet, disbelief flooding her voice.

Leaking secrets? She didn’t even know what the company files looked like!

“We have gathered enough evidence. Please cooperate with the investigation,” the other side said, leaving no room for doubt.

A wave of cold dread surged from her feet to her head. Instinctively, she glanced around. The once bustling office was now unnervingly silent; her colleagues stared at her with strange, wary eyes, as if she were some kind of monster.

Whispers buzzed like mosquitoes, each word pricking Duan Fei’s heart like a needle.

“Duan Fei, please come with me,” a stern voice cut through her thoughts.

It was Chen Feng, the internal investigator from North Group. Expressionless, his gaze sharp as a blade, as if he could see through every disguise.

Duan Fei took a deep breath, struggling to remain calm, and followed Chen Feng into the interrogation room.

“Miss Duan, we have evidence showing that you leaked core secrets of the ‘Stellar Project’ to our competitors,” Chen Feng said bluntly, his voice icy and devoid of any warmth.

“I didn’t!” Duan Fei blurted out. “I don’t even know what the ‘Stellar Project’ is, let alone leak its secrets!”

“Any denial is futile in the face of evidence.” Chen Feng tossed a file onto the table before her. “See for yourself.”

With trembling hands, Duan Fei picked up the documents and scanned them quickly. Her face drained of color.

The contents were all damning—emails, entry logs, even forged chat records—all pointing directly to her as the mole.

“This… this can’t be… it’s all fabricated!” Her voice quivered. She felt trapped in a meticulously laid snare, no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t escape.

“Miss Duan, please cooperate and don’t waste time,” Chen Feng said coldly. “Now, explain why files related to the ‘Stellar Project’ were found on your computer.”

Duan Fei opened her mouth but found no words.

She wanted to explain, but every excuse felt hollow and powerless.

Like a butterfly caught in a spider’s web, the more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

“I…” Just as she was about to speak, the office door suddenly swung open. A familiar figure appeared in the doorway.

“Chen Feng, I have something to say.” It was Sun Xiao, wearing a smug smile, her lips curling with sinister delight. “About Duan Fei leaking secrets—I know a bit…”

Duan Fei collapsed weakly into her chair. The office fell eerily silent.

The air conditioning hummed coldly, deepening the chill she felt.

She stared repeatedly at the “evidence,” searching desperately for flaws, but all in vain.

Every email, every record, felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart.

“This is definitely a setup!” Duan Fei gritted her teeth. But by whom?

Who would do this to her?

She tried to recall recent events for any clues.

A few days ago, Sun Xiao had subtly probed about the “Stellar Project.” At the time, Duan Fei thought it was mere curiosity and paid it no mind.

Now, that behavior seemed suspicious.

“Could it be her?” The thought flickered, then was quickly dismissed.

Though she and Sun Xiao didn’t get along, surely she wouldn’t go this far.

“Fei Fei, are you okay?” A clear voice broke through her thoughts.

Duan Fei looked up to see her friend Lin Yue standing at the door, concern etched on her face.

“Yue Yue, why are you here?” Duan Fei forced a faint smile.

“I heard what happened at the company. Don’t worry, I’ll help you!” Lin Yue came over and squeezed her hand tightly.

Lin Yue’s presence brought a flicker of warmth to Duan Fei’s chilled heart.

She recounted the whole ordeal to Lin Yue, who listened with a furrowed brow.

“This isn’t simple—someone’s definitely behind this!” Lin Yue declared.

“I think so too, but I have no proof…” Duan Fei said helplessly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll help you find the evidence!” Lin Yue said firmly. “I believe you. You’re innocent.”

Her words kindled a spark of hope within Duan Fei.

She wasn’t alone—friends stood by her side, giving her the courage to face the storm.

“Fei Fei, don’t rush. Think carefully: Have you offended anyone recently? Or noticed anything unusual?” Lin Yue analyzed calmly. “We’ll uncover the mastermind together.”

Duan Fei nodded and strained her memory.

Suddenly, she recalled an incident.

A few days ago, she had seen a strange man lurking near the company entrance, acting furtively—as if stalking her.

“Could it be…” Duan Fei sprang to her feet. “Yue Yue, I think I know who’s framing me!”

“Who?” Lin Yue asked eagerly.

“I…” Duan Fei was about to speak when hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor, followed by a sharp voice at the office door.

“Duan Fei, what else do you have to say? The evidence is clear—you’re the mole!”

Sun Xiao’s voice blasted through the office, drowning out the whispers. Standing at the threshold, she wore a righteous expression, as if she held an earth-shattering secret. “Colleagues, I always suspected her. She slacks off at work, but behind the scenes, she’s doing this. You never really know a person!”

“Could she really be the mole?”

“I told you, she’s always so arrogant—no good at all.”

“No wonder the company’s performance has been tanking lately—it’s her doing!”

The office erupted in uproar, voices crashing like waves. Duan Fei felt nailed to a pillar of shame, the target of scorn and accusations, unable to defend herself.

Sun Xiao saw Duan Fei’s pale face and grew even more triumphant. She swaggered over and sneered exaggeratedly, “Oh, Miss Duan, what do you have to say for yourself? The evidence is right here—why not just confess?”

Slowly, Duan Fei lifted her head, eyes blazing as she met Sun Xiao’s gaze. “Sun Xiao, proud of yourself, are you? So eager to play the clown—afraid no one knows you’re guilty?”

Sun Xiao faltered, stung by the words, but quickly regained her arrogance. “Hmph, you’re desperate now. I suggest you confess early—you might get a lighter sentence!”

“Heh, the truth isn’t so clear!” Duan Fei scoffed, rising to her feet.

She ignored Sun Xiao’s taunts, outwardly composed but inwardly watching her every move.

She noticed Sun Xiao’s eyes kept darting toward the door, as if expecting someone.

That detail set off alarms in Duan Fei’s mind—Sun Xiao had handlers behind the scenes.

Back at her desk, Duan Fei refused to sink as Sun Xiao hoped. Instead, she methodically began gathering dirt on her accuser.

Using her technical skills, she traced Sun Xiao’s recent communications and browsing history—soon uncovering suspicious clues.

Sun Xiao had been frequently contacting a mysterious account and browsing materials on corporate espionage.

It seemed Sun Xiao was the real culprit!

A faint smile curved Duan Fei’s lips. She felt confident now, a quiet resolve growing within. She would make those who framed her pay.

Just as she plotted her counterattack, her phone rang—it was Bei Mo.

Duan Fei’s heart lifted, thinking Bei Mo might show concern. But the voice that answered was cold and detached.

“I heard what happened at the company. Do you have anything to say?” Bei Mo asked.

Her heart sank. She hadn’t expected Bei Mo to condemn her outright without hearing her side.

“I didn’t leak anything. I’m innocent!” Duan Fei said, struggling to hold back her anguish.

“I only trust the evidence,” Bei Mo said coldly, then hung up.

Duan Fei stood frozen, a deep chill crawling through her.

She wanted to explain, but her words felt empty. Her heart plummeted to the depths.

“Bei Mo, you truly disappoint me,” she murmured, eyes moist.

She put down the phone and dialed Lin Yue’s number. Just as the call connected, the office door swung open once more.