Chapter 78: Unyielding

With an unflappable demeanor, Lin Xiao stepped forward, startling the onlookers.

“Who are you?” Secretary Wang asked, looking up at Lin Xiao.

“I believe you were just asking for me. I am Lin Xiao, Logistics Department Director,” Lin Xiao replied.

He had initially planned to stay out of this issue, but considering his role as the department head, even if only in name, he couldn’t turn a blind eye.

“Greetings, Director Lin.” The two security guards finally caught up with the situation and acknowledged Lin Xiao.

“You’re Lin Xiao?” Secretary Wang squinted, appearing to recognize the name.

However, he quickly adopted an arrogant tone, “Well, your arrival is timely. Look at your subordinates; their behavior is appalling. How have you trained them? Get him out of the company at once.”

His words carried a presumptuous tone as if Lin Xiao was subordinate to him. This made the two security guards anxious. The young security guard was particularly despairing, given that Lin Xiao was new to his role, and they weren’t familiar with him.

In their minds, there was no way Lin Xiao would risk offending the vice president’s secretary just to stand up for a few low-ranking security guards.

Secretary Wang smirked at the young security guard, clearly confident that Lin Xiao would fall in line.

But to everyone’s surprise, Lin Xiao didn’t even glance in Wang’s direction. Instead, he turned to the guards.

“What exactly happened? Tell me everything.”

He had caught bits and pieces earlier, but not enough to understand the full situation.

The two security guards were momentarily stunned, but Lin Xiao’s unexpected support sparked a flicker of hope. Without hesitation, they began recounting the entire incident.

Brilliant Aya Limited had its own designated parking area, monitored around the clock by assigned personnel. Today, it was this particular team’s shift. According to company policy, every vehicle entering the lot had to be registered at the duty station.

But Secretary Wang, relying on his status, tried to drive in without stopping. When a young security guard insisted he follow procedure, Wang was forced to halt.

Feeling humiliated, Secretary Wang flew into a rage and sought to have the guard dismissed for daring to obstruct him.

“Why are you just standing there? Director Lin, are you planning to protect him?” Secretary Wang snapped, his face flushed with impatience and his tone laced with veiled threat. “I was handling an urgent matter—something President Lu is well aware of. I suggest you think carefully about your next move.”

Brilliant Aya Limited, as a major corporation, operated under a strict framework of rules and protocols. While Secretary Wang—Lu Pengbo’s secretary—held a lofty title, he didn’t have the authority to fire employees outside his department without approval from the relevant department head.

Still, his influence was significant, and most people bent over backwards to stay in his good graces. Few would dare challenge him over something as trivial as a security guard following protocol.

But this time, he was dealing with Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao had no interest in the company’s tangled web of unspoken hierarchies and internal politics. From what he could see, the fault clearly lay with Secretary Wang. There was no way he’d dismiss a subordinate who was simply doing his job—no matter who demanded it.

“Think carefully?”

Once Lin Xiao fully understood the situation, he narrowed his eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that he acted correctly, following the company’s rules and regulations. Not only should he not be fired, but he should also be commended,” Lin Xiao said calmly.

Secretary Wang stared at him in disbelief. He hadn’t expected that Lin Xiao would openly defy him.

Within the company, being Lu Pengbo’s secretary meant enjoying constant flattery and deference. This wasn’t limited to peripheral figures like Lin Xiao, the logistics department director—even the influential director of the sales department typically treated Secretary Wang with the utmost respect.

“Very well, just perfect. Don’t assume the president’s backing gives you free rein. You’re nothing more than a little bodyguard,” Secretary Wang retorted in a scoffing laugh, his fury palpable.

It was clear he knew about Lin Xiao’s other role and mistakenly believed that Lin Xiao’s insolence was due to the support of Wan Caixuan.

“Are you done? If so, you can leave now.”

“Wait for it, just you wait!”

Secretary Wang’s face contorted in rage. He seemed on the verge of throwing a punch but quickly remembered that Lin Xiao was a professional bodyguard, and that he didn’t stand a chance against him, it would be sheer humiliation.

He stormed off, casting a venomous glare at Lin Xiao and boiling with rage.

“Director Lin… no, Big Brother Lin, thank you, thank you so much,” the young security guard said with a face full of gratitude after Secretary Wang had left.

The young guard was filled with both gratitude and guilt towards Lin Xiao.

His gratitude stemmed from the fact that Lin Xiao, unhesitatingly, stood up for a mere security guard like him, not giving face to a significant figure within the corporation.

The guilt, however, was because even though he’d shown superficial respect for Lin Xiao in the past, internally he’d harbored doubts about him.

But after witnessing Lin Xiao’s harsh ‘make an example’ approach the previous day, he didn’t dare show his true feelings.

His attitude towards Lin Xiao was driven more by fear than respect. But after this incident, the young guard genuinely respected Lin Xiao, which even reflected in the way he addressed him.

The middle-aged guard, in comparison, was impacted more deeply by this event.

Although it was the young guard who was on the verge of being fired, the middle-aged guard, who had spent six years in the company, had a deep understanding of the lowly status of security guards in the corporate environment.

Being ordered around was a minor issue, and being framed was not uncommon. They were overlooked and dismissed.

They would be reprimanded even when they did what was right. It was the harsh reality they faced.

However, Lin Xiao’s defense of the young security guard had made him feel deeply respected and valued.

As for Lin Xiao, he didn’t overthink the situation. He had simply happened upon the incident and sided with the party he thought was in the right. He paid little attention to the supposed authority of Secretary Wang.

With the issue resolved, Lin Xiao prepared to leave.

“Director Lin, wait a moment,” called the middle-aged security guard just as Lin Xiao was about to exit.

“What’s the matter?” Lin Xiao turned and asked.

The middle-aged guard hesitated, before finally saying, “Director Lin, watch out for Yang Tao. He’s an apprentice at Chen’s Martial Arts Hall.”

“Chen’s Martial Arts Hall?”

On hearing the name, Lin Xiao remembered the elderly man he had previously met while practicing in the park.

That was his first encounter with a practitioner of ancient martial arts in Jinghai City. The man had given him a business card and had invited him to visit when he was free.

The middle-aged guard assumed Lin Xiao wasn’t aware of the reputation of Chen’s Martial Arts Hall.

“Yes, Chen’s Martial Arts Hall. It’s the most enigmatic and influential martial arts school in Jinghai City. Rumour has it that the elder master, Chen Jinsong, is a renowned martial arts master across Jiangnan Province. It holds significant sway in Jinghai City, including Yang Tao.”

“Thank you,” Lin Xiao responded, sounding indifferent yet courteous.

“No need for thanks, Director Lin. You’ve made me feel valued for the first time in a long while,” the middle-aged guard replied hurriedly, waving his hand.

After leaving the parking lot, Lin Xiao reflected on the guard’s words. He wasn’t concerned about potential retaliation from Yang Tao.

However, the thought of meeting Chen Jinsong again intrigued him, stirring a desire to pay the school a visit at the earliest opportunity.