Crossover: Pen name: Dazai Osamu, Omega Kasumigaoka

He ate his meal while pondering. He understood that these people working overtime, like him, were all striving to make a living.

Although Kitahara Makoto's mind was mainly focused on his anticipation of reuniting with Sakurajima Mai, the gossip around him inevitably reached his ears.

"I heard the sales target for this month has been raised again. The pressure is immense!"

A male voice said with a hint of helplessness.

"Yes, but as long as we work hard, it should be fine."

Another female voice responded, her tone firm.

"There's a new project coming up that I've heard has great potential, but unfortunately I haven't finished what I'm working on yet, so I'm too busy to deal with it all."

Another voice joined the discussion, tinged with regret.

Kitahara Makoto listened to these idle gossips while eating his meal.

He felt his colleagues' enthusiasm and dedication to their work, and he also understood the pressure and challenges they faced.

These casual remarks, though seemingly trivial, are full of the authenticity and texture of life.

He continued to listen to the gossip around him, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

He knew that these seemingly insignificant conversations were actually a manifestation of mutual support and encouragement among colleagues.

In this big family, everyone is working hard towards a common goal.

"Did you know? Yesterday in the conference room, Manager Zhang and Director Li almost got into a fight over that new project."

A voice lowered slightly, but was still clearly audible.

"Really? They seem to get along quite well."

Another voice responded curiously.

"Hmph, that's the workplace. Who knows what kind of entanglements are going on behind the scenes? I heard that Director Li thinks Manager Zhang's plan is too conservative, while Manager Zhang thinks Director Li is too risky."

Another voice joined the discussion, its tone tinged with gossipy excitement.

Kitahara Shin couldn't help but chuckle. Although these gossips had nothing to do with him, they made him feel that the atmosphere in the cafeteria was more relaxed and lively.

He continued listening, occasionally adding his own guesses and comments.

"I heard that Xiao Wang, the new guy in the marketing department, is getting very close to Xiao Liu in the R&D department."

A female voice spoke mysteriously.

"Oh my, really? They look like a perfect match."

Another female voice echoed.

"But I heard that Xiao Liu already has a girlfriend. I wonder what Xiao Wang will think when he finds out."

Another voice chimed in.

Kitahara Shin shook his head, thinking to himself that gossip really is everywhere.

However, he can understand everyone's concern and curiosity about the relationships between colleagues.

After all, interpersonal relationships are a very important part of the workplace.

Chapter 178 Taking kickbacks! Arranging for relatives!

He continued listening, nodding occasionally and smiling sometimes.

Although gossip is trivial, it allowed him to better understand his colleagues' lives and mindsets.

He felt as if he had become part of this big family, sharing the little things in life with everyone.

Kitahara Makoto, as the company's president, sat in a corner of the cafeteria, eating while observing his surroundings.

He was enjoying this rare moment of leisure, but the topic that came to his ears next made him frown.

"Have you heard? It seems like Manager Li from the finance department is having some problems lately."

The voice was soft, but exceptionally clear in the quiet corner.

"What's the problem? Could it be..."

Another voice sounded inquiring and surprised.

"He takes kickbacks! I heard that he has been making deals with suppliers behind closed doors when purchasing materials."

The original voice continued speaking, a hint of dissatisfaction in its tone.

"How is that possible? Manager Li usually seems quite upright."

Another voice expressed doubt.

"Hmph, you can know a person's face but not their heart. Besides, I also heard that he arranged for several relatives to work in the company, giving them easy and high-paying positions."

His voice revealed his concern about the company's current situation.

When Kitahara Makoto heard these negative topics about the company's finances, his heart sank.

As the company's president, he has always been committed to maintaining the company's reputation and a fair and just working environment.

If these rumors are true, they would not only harm the company's interests but also damage the positive atmosphere he has been working hard to create.

He quietly finished his meal, stood up, and prepared to leave the cafeteria.

As Kitahara Shin walked out of the corner of the cafeteria and prepared to leave, the group of people who had been talking in hushed tones suddenly noticed his presence.

Their gazes turned to Kitahara Makoto simultaneously, their faces instantly showing surprise and panic.

"Oh my god, isn't that President Kitahara? Why is he eating in the cafeteria?"

One of them exclaimed softly, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Yes, I didn't expect to run into him here."

The other person nervously swallowed, worried that Kitahara Makoto had overheard what he had just said.

"Did he hear what we just said?"

The third person asked in a trembling voice, clearly very worried.

"Probably not... our voices are so soft."

·····Requesting flowers··········

Some tried to offer comfort, but their tone also betrayed uncertainty.

Kitahara Shin didn't directly meet their gazes, but simply nodded slightly, indicating that they didn't need to be nervous. But his heart was in turmoil.

He had certainly heard the negative talk about the company's finances and was aware of the impact these rumors had on the company and its employees.

But he chose to remain calm and did not lash out on the spot.

.........

He knew that as the company's president, he needed to handle these issues calmly, rather than being swayed by emotions.

He decided to use this incident as an opportunity to conduct an in-depth investigation into the company's internal financial problems and take measures to strengthen the company's management and supervision.

Kitahara Makoto left the cafeteria with firm steps.

He knew that he bore a heavy responsibility and had to maintain a clear mind and firm determination at all times to safeguard the company's development.

The employees who had just been talking about him realized their slip of the tongue and lowered their heads, no longer daring to discuss the company's internal affairs.

He understood that, as the person in charge of the company, he had to conduct a thorough investigation into these matters and take necessary measures to safeguard the company's interests and image.

Chapter 179 Internal Investigation and Voting

On his way to the exit, Kitahara Makoto kept replaying the words he had just heard in his mind.

He decided to immediately organize an internal investigation team to conduct a thorough investigation of the finance department and Manager Li.

He believes that only by thoroughly investigating the truth can all employees be given an explanation, and only then can the company's future development be ensured to remain unaffected.

Kitahara Shin walked out of the cafeteria, and the night breeze carried away a trace of his vexation.

He knew that as the company's president, he bore important responsibilities and had to maintain a clear mind and firm determination at all times to safeguard the company's development.

Kitahara Makoto's mood became exceptionally heavy. The negative topics about the company's finances struck his heart like heavy hammer blows, making it impossible for him to ignore them.

He knew that, as the company's president, he had to take immediate action to find out the truth and protect the company's interests.

He took out his phone and quickly dialed his assistant Li Hua's number.

Li Hua's familiar voice quickly came from the other end of the phone:

"President, hello, is there anything I can help you with?"

Kitahara Shin took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm and firm:

"Li Hua, I need you to keep an eye on the recent financial situation."

"I've heard some rumors about the finance department, involving issues such as taking kickbacks and arranging favors for relatives."

"I hope you can investigate the veracity of these rumors and give me a detailed report."

Upon hearing this, Li Hua's voice also became serious:

"President, I understand. I will immediately begin investigating this matter and report the results to you as soon as possible."

Kitahara Makoto nodded and continued:

"Okay, thank you for your hard work. During the investigation, please be sure to remain cautious and confidential, and do not disclose any information to irrelevant personnel."

"At the same time, we must ensure that the investigation process does not affect the company's normal operations."

"Yes, Mr. President. I will do exactly as you ask."

Li Hua replied.

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Shin stood at the end of the corridor, gazing at the night view outside the window and lost in thought for a moment.

He knew that the company's internal problems were not just financial; he also needed a more comprehensive understanding of the employees' thoughts and feelings.

So he dialed his assistant Li Hua's number again.

"Li Hua, there's one more thing I need your help with."

Kitahara Makoto's voice revealed a hint of determination.

"President, please speak."

Li Hua's voice was full of respect.

"I want to conduct an anonymous vote within the company, letting employees choose the most popular and the most disliked person..."

Kitahara Shin explained,

"This can help us understand employees' views on interpersonal relationships within the company more directly, and perhaps we can discover some problems that we usually overlook."

Li Hua paused briefly on the other end of the phone before replying:

“I understand, President. I will immediately begin preparations for the vote and ensure the fairness and anonymity of the voting process.”

"Very good, I believe in your ability."

Kitahara Shin praised,

"In addition, please note that the results of this vote are for our internal reference only and should not be disclosed to outsiders."

"We hope to identify potential problems within the company and resolve them promptly through this method."

"Yes, Mr. President. I will do as you request."

Li Hua replied.

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Makoto felt a sense of relief.

He knew that this anonymous vote would not only help him gain a deeper understanding of the company's internal situation, but also provide employees with a channel to express their opinions.

He believes that through this vote, the company will become more united and the relationships among employees will be more harmonious.

Chapter 180 After finishing my work, I went home to find Mai.

After hanging up the phone, Kitahara Makoto strode confidently through the bustling employee passageway toward the company parking lot.

The parking lot was brightly lit at night, with vehicles neatly arranged like soldiers awaiting inspection.

Following the clearly marked signs, Kitahara Makoto quickly found his designated parking space.

It was a black luxury sedan, parked quietly in the parking space, its body gleaming with an understated yet luxurious sheen.