Part Two: East Tu Da Tang Chapter 252: Tingting Wants to Eat

adn't noticed anything at all. This was a fatal blow to her emotional blogger's professionalism."It's exactly as you see it." Shu Tinglan also gave up explaining."So, you're saying that sleeping buddy...Once Zhao's properties are sold, Zhao's company will be left with nothing, essentially bankrupt. The once powerful conglomerate that dominated the southwest region would collapse in an instant.

The project was transferred, the property was sold, and the group laid off employees on a large scale. Although employees had been prepared for this, they inevitably became emotional upon losing their jobs, and the company has been in turmoil for several days.

While Zhao Tingxing stayed locked in his presidential office, he hadn't stepped out for days. He ignored the rumors swirling outside and turned down all requests from executives seeking an audience. He delegated all matters to the human resources and finance departments.

Over so many years, the only things left are Zhao's Group headquarters building and the villa where the old lady lives. All other wealth has vanished like smoke.

After the large-scale layoffs, only the core members of each department remained, a mere few dozen people. That's when Zhao Tingxing appeared and held a meeting with them.

There is no longer the former passion and ambition, nor the former arrogant disregard. Having fallen from a high place to the ground, one feels somewhat listless and lacking in energy.

"Everyone, I'm deeply touched that you're willing to stay. But now the Zhao clan has fallen, and everything needs to be rebuilt from scratch. If you choose to stay, we will fight together. If you wish to leave, I welcome your decision."

No pie-in-the-sky promises, no holding back.

He spoke in a very practical and ordinary way, then said nothing more. He leaned back against the chair at the rear of the conference table, almost sinking into it.

After a moment of silence, several stood up and bowed to him.

"Mr. Zhao, I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry."

These veterans, most of whom had followed him for many years, were originally too embarrassed to bring it up proactively. However, once someone in the conference room stood up, a second person followed suit, and then a third.

Gradually, over ten core members stood up.

There's no way around it, Zhao's situation now is such that following him could jeopardize their salaries. And they've already lined up new jobs and have families to support, so it's a very practical decision.

Zhao Tingxing merely nodded, as he had just said, bidding them farewell.

The conference room, having been emptied by most attendees, was now much colder and emptier. Only a handful of people remained seated, perhaps ten or so, including the finance vice president.

These dozen or so people have followed Zhao Ting for so many years, they know his temper like the back of their hand. He could be set off any minute and unleash a torrent of abuse on them.

But they have always been generous to them, as long as they are obedient, he will never give them soup if there is meat for them to eat. This is the reason why they choose to stay; another is that they admire his ability and believe that he will one day be able to make a comeback.

"Mr. Zhao, we won't leave. We'll rise from where we fell."

"Yes, Mr. Zhao, we believe in you."

Unlike the people who had just left the meeting room, those who remained were filled with enthusiasm and confidence as they followed Zhao Tingxing.

Originally deeply slumped in his office chair, Zhao Tingxing involuntarily straightened up. The gloom in his eyes gradually gave way to a glimmer of light. As long as there was someone still following him, he had no reason to give up.

The Human Resources Director pushed a cake in from outside at some point and placed it right in the center of the conference table.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Zhao!"

Zhao Tingxing was taken aback. His household registration book and ID card listed his true birthdate, he had merely borrowed someone else's name and birthdate.

The old woman once said, you are twins, this birthday is your true birthday.

But he felt that the day the old woman saved him was his true birthday, and that's what he had always celebrated.

At this moment, the people below sincerely wish him a happy birthday, and he gladly accepts it.

When he made a wish, he thought everyone was singing "Happy Birthday", but the HR director led the way and sang "Start Over".

Yesterday's all honors have become distant memories.

After years of hard work, I find myself back in the storm tonight.

I cannot drift with the tide, for my beloved family.

No matter how tough or difficult things get, stay strong, just for those hopeful eyes.

If the heart is in a dream, true love still exists between heaven and earth.

To consider success and failure as a grand life journey, but merely starting over again.

....

Zhao Tingxing suddenly opened his eyes. The entire conference room was singing the song together, and the sound spread from the conference room into the hall outside, echoing there.

If the heart is in a dream, there is true love between heaven and earth.

To regard success and failure as a matter of grandeur in life, is merely to start anew.

It's just starting over from scratch.

Zhao Tingxing was the kind of person who could hold back tears even when his grandmother passed away. At this moment, his nose felt sour, and the dark clouds in his chest seemed to be pushed away layer by layer, finally revealing the sun.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Zhao."

After the song, everyone enthusiastically celebrated his birthday again, singing "Happy Birthday" and having him make a wish and blow out the candles.

He had some reservations, but he followed through anyway. He never knew his employees had such a lively and adorable side.

This was his first time putting aside his boss persona, shedding the arrogance in his personality, or perhaps his humanity being touched, and blending in with these employees. He found it wasn't so hard to accept after all.

After celebrating his birthday at the company and having a dinner together, he had quite a bit to drink and was somewhat intoxicated. On the way home driven by someone else, a cool breeze blew in from outside the car window. His mind cleared, but his body felt drained.

When his phone rang, he swiped it several times before answering.

A crisp and childish voice came from that direction: "Zhao Tingxing, happy birthday."

He was taken aback, silent for a moment, wondering how Han Zhaoyi knew his birthday.

"Because I went to the police station before, I saw your birthday on your ID. Zhao Tingxing, I have a photographic memory, it's quite impressive, right" Han Zhaoyi explained, brimming with pride.

"That's impressive." he replied.

This phone call was obviously not made by that woman to Han Zhao'yi, because she knew he didn't want to celebrate his birthday.

Even though he hated this date, today, because of those employees, because of Han Zhaoyi, he felt that maybe this birthday wasn't so bad after all.

"Zhao Tingxing, my mom said you're very busy and that's why you didn't come to see me. When will you be free I'll go find you to play."

Before Zhao Tingxing could answer, an elderly woman's voice came from the phone, "Who are you secretly calling Go back to your room and sleep."

Han Zhaoyi whispered, "Zhao Tingxing, I'll hang up first. Happy birthday again."

The sound from the phone abruptly cut off after 30 seconds.

He was stunned for a moment, just about to take back his phone, when another text message came through. It was from Han Li, just two simple words: Received.

Every word counts.

As he said that night, he would return the money to her as soon as possible. So in the afternoon, he asked the financial vice president to return Han Li's money plus interest, not a penny less, back the way it came.

There were no polite exchanges between them, just a simple repayment and then each went their separate ways, owing nothing to the other.rateful and not burn bridges. She originally thought that Qining was unsafe and she needed to leave Xu Tao's sphere of influence as soon as possible, but after thinking about the chief's 180-degree at...