I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Chapter 292 Xia Le anonymously helps Chen Xiao

Xia Le had worked for Chen Xiao's company for many years and, although he later joined a competitor, he had a deep understanding of the company's internal operations, the style of the top management, and the underlying conspiracies. He knew that the top management would resort to extreme measures to cover up the truth, even monitoring and suppressing internal employees.

When Xia Le left Chen Xiao's company, he still retained some insider information channels, or learned about the company's internal dynamics through his own connections. He knew the company's top management's attitude towards certain sensitive projects and how they handled employees who might expose secrets.

"I know them too well. These senior executives will use any means to protect their status and interests. Chen Xiao has discovered their secret, and they will never let him go." Xia Le thought to himself.

Xia Le's anonymous help for Chen Xiao is based on complex motives and fears. His anonymity isn't simply to protect himself, but more likely to protect Chen Xiao and compromise with the overall situation.

Xia Le was well aware of the immense influence of the company's senior management. They not only controlled the company's resources and power, but also potentially colluded with external forces. If Xia Le revealed his identity and helped Chen Xiao, he would be in danger. Senior management might use their power to retaliate against Xia Le professionally, such as firing him, tarnishing his professional reputation, or even ostracizing him from the industry. They might threaten Xia Le and his family, potentially leading to violence or worse.

Xia Le anonymously helped Chen Xiao precisely to avoid these potential dangers. He hoped to provide support to Chen Xiao without exposing himself.

"I've seen with my own eyes how they deal with those who discover the secret. Chen Xiao is now being targeted by them just like I was back then. I can't let him make the same mistake." Xia Le thought to himself.

Xia Le and Chen Xiao grew up together and have been friends for many years. Although they later drifted apart due to work, their former friendship and trust remained. Xia Le knew Chen Xiao's character well—honest, courageous, and somewhat impulsive—and knew that if he discovered any illicit activity within the company, he would expose the truth at all costs, regardless of the consequences. However, Chen Xiao might not realize the danger he faced.

Chen Xiao and Xia Le were college classmates and worked in the same industry after graduation. Xia Le knew Chen Xiao's style and his sense of justice. Chen Xiao's mention of "Be careful, someone is watching you" in the email suggests he may have been aware he was being followed but didn't realize the severity of the danger.

"Chen Xiao is too naive. He doesn't know how ruthless these senior executives are. The secret he discovered is enough for them to cover it up at all costs. He must be careful." Xia Le thought to himself.

Xia Le anonymously helped Chen Xiao, both out of concern and protection for his friend and in the hope that Chen Xiao would act more cautiously. By anonymously passing on information and evidence, he avoided exposing himself while providing necessary support to Chen Xiao.

Xia Le may have discovered serious misconduct within his company and may even have been forced into involvement by higher-ups. He anonymously helped Chen Xiao, perhaps hoping to indirectly expose the conspiracy through Chen Xiao's actions while avoiding being implicated himself.

Xia Le mentioned in the email, "Don't trust anyone," which shows that he is well aware of the complex relationships and potential dangers within the company. He may have realized that if he revealed his identity, he would not only be unable to help Chen Xiao, but also might become the next target of "dealing."

Xia Le's choice of anonymity wasn't just out of fear, but also a strategic one. He likely hoped that by remaining anonymous, he could allow Chen Xiao to act more freely without being noticed by company executives. At the same time, anonymity would also allow him to continue gathering evidence within the company, providing Chen Xiao with more valuable information.

Xia Le's anonymity was a dilemma. He wanted to help Chen Xiao, but he also didn't want to put himself in further danger. Anonymity became his only option. Behind this lay a desire to protect his friend, a concern for his own safety, and a reluctance to compromise with company executives. His anonymity wasn't motivated by selfishness, but rather by a clear understanding of the situation and a deep friendship with Chen Xiao.

Xia Le told Zhang Wanqing and the others that the shadowy figure that appeared outside Chen Xiao's office the night before he disappeared was actually him. He had been unable to contact Chen Xiao that afternoon, and fearing something had happened to him, he came to the company that night. However, when he tried to enter Chen Xiao's office, he found it locked and wouldn't open. This was why Xia Le had been lingering outside Chen Xiao's office for a long time without entering.

Now, it's finally clear that the mysterious "X" is Xia Le, but the reason for Chen Xiao's disappearance remains unknown. Was he temporarily in hiding because he was worried about his own safety, or was he "taken care of" by someone within the company, kidnapped by a competitor, or forced to leave on his own? No one knows...

Zhang Wanqing, Fu Siyuan, and Li Wei are now investigating Chen Xiao's whereabouts and the reasons behind his disappearance. They review surveillance footage from the company surrounding Chen Xiao's disappearance the night he disappeared, to determine his final location and follow the clues to find him.

In the surveillance video, the police focused on the video of the time when Chen Xiao disappeared on the night of the incident. They saw him answer a phone call, walk out of the company gate, cross a street, and get into a car.

In the surveillance footage, Chen Xiao's figure gradually disappears into the back seat of the car, and the obstruction on the license plate, like a deliberate period, conceals his whereabouts in the darkness. The obscured license plate is clearly intended to evade capture by surveillance equipment. The vehicle's occupant has a motive; Chen Xiao may have been kidnapped or illegally detained.

Police quickly sprang into action, with technical experts attempting to track the vehicle's trajectory through various means. They retrieved surveillance footage along the route, attempting to locate the suspicious vehicle amidst the dense traffic. However, the cunning suspect appeared well-prepared, and the vehicle completely disappeared after a few intersections.

"There must be something wrong with this car. The license plate is blocked, which means they don't want to leave any clues." Li Wei frowned, his eyes fixed on the screen.

"We have to start with the call that Chen Xiao received." Fu Siyuan said, "If we can find the source of the call, we may be able to find a clue."

After some effort, the police finally tracked down the source of the call. It came from an abandoned factory area, overgrown with weeds, and the abandoned factory buildings hummed in the night wind. A police car roared toward the factory, its lights flashing in the darkness, like a ray of light in the darkness.