E-Ladies: Navigating the Wired World-Chapter 50 - Episode 50 Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism 12
Chapter 50: Episode 50 Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism 12
Chapter 50: Episode 50 Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism 12
The post digging into Luo Haojun’s past was like a bomb thrown into calm waters, causing many website owners who had suffered from his actions to explode onto the scene.
Each person launched “inhuman” personal attacks against Luo Haojun in their replies.
The online war of words did not cease, and in the real world, the glass doors of the magazine office were spray-painted by some “righteous warrior” with the words “Trashy Copycat Magazine.”
The bright red paint, like fresh blood, was a shocking sight to behold.
Ya Rui arrived early at the company, and the scene before her made her shudder, cautiously looking around before pushing open the door, fearing she might become the next target.
Still unsettled, she had just sat down in her office when the phone on the desk rang, startling her so much that she jumped out of her chair.
“Hello? Xiaorui? Is Xiaojun there? Tell him to come up to the 20th floor.” The call was from the group’s big boss, Li Lingli.
The fact that she personally called for a meeting most likely meant she was aware of the issue with the October issue of the magazine.
It would be a blessing if it were not a disaster, but if it is a disaster, there’s no avoiding it.
In fact, Ya Rui had already braced herself to be scolded. Not a single advertisement was published in the October issue, and Luo Haojun’s issue had spread like wildfire; it was impossible for the big boss, Li Lingli, to be unaware.
She looked around the office but did not see Luo Haojun present, “What a coward, he wouldn’t dare to come to the office because of the post online, would he?”
“Hello? Luo Haojun? Where are you?” Ya Rui dialed his mobile phone.
“Ah? I… I’m not feeling well, I’m taking a rest at home today…” Luo Haojun’s words were evasive, and the noisy sound of transportation could be heard through the handset; he was obviously lying.
“Passengers, we’ve arrived at Princess Tomb…” The announcement from the subway was very uncooperative and blared through the receiver.
“That… never mind, I’ve taken a leave and won’t come to the office today.” Luo Haojun hurriedly hung up the call.
You’re taking leave? And I should go up and face the music myself? That’s not how it works in the workplace!
Ya Rui drafted a text message: Li Lingli wants to see us both today. If you still want to have a career in this industry, you better be in Li Lingli’s office within an hour, or else…
Since she couldn’t get Luo Haojun to come to the office on her own, she’d pull rank and use the big boss to call him in.
While waiting for Luo Haojun, Ya Rui did everything she could to wipe the red paint off the glass doors. Not just her, but the sisters from the editorial department also came out to help. In the end, it was the cleaning lady with her specialized cleaner who managed to remove the troublesome red…
“Oi, who spilled nail polish remover? The whole corridor smells like acetone…” Luo Haojun appeared 45 minutes later.
“Who spilled it? Isn’t it yours?” Ya Rui gave him a glare, “Come with me to the 20th floor! The big boss is getting anxious!”
Upon hearing this, Luo Haojun fell silent. Anyone with a shred of self-awareness would know why the big boss wanted to see him.
“Finally here? Take a seat, won’t you?” The two entered Li Lingli’s office, where the woman, in her fifties and still charming, greeted them with a smile that sent chills down one’s spine.
“Right…”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong! Just give me another three months! I promise I won’t do anything so ridiculous again!” Before Ya Rui could explain why there were no ads this month, Luo Haojun already preemptively apologized with gusto.
“…” Li Lingli listened to Luo Haojun’s apology, unmoved, her hands propped under her chin, her gaze sharp behind her glasses, looking so intense it sent shivers down one’s spine.
“I…I just wanted to achieve results quickly… I just wanted to prove myself…” Luo Haojun’s voice grew increasingly less confident as he spoke.
“…” Li Lingli still didn’t make any response, maintaining an attitude of silently observing, staring straight at him.
The perceptive Ya Rui had already glanced over at the thick stack of materials on Li Lingli’s desk, most likely Luo Haojun’s dark history.
Thanks to that anonymous do-gooder who sent such important stuff to the big boss.
Ya Rui silently thanked them in her heart.
“President Li… I was really just too eager to show my capabilities. I swear, I won’t dare to do it again next time!” Luo Haojun continued to earnestly defend himself, apparently not yet noticing the materials on Li Lingli’s desk.
“Xiaorui, you first tell us, why were there no ads placed this month?” Li Lingli ignored Luo Haojun, throwing the question directly at Ya Rui.
“I’ve looked over the content for the September issue, and it feels a bit off from our current brand. I was waiting for Editor-in-Chief Luo to complete the magazine’s transformation, then to confirm with the manufacturers which product line to feature. The specific plan, I emailed it to you before coming up, please review it…” Ya Rui also came prepared.
“Very good, to avoid misleading our audience, this arrangement is fine,” Li Lingli opened the PPT Ya Rui had sent, glanced through it casually, and then showed an approving smile.
It was vastly different from the bone-chilling smile she had when they walked in.
After the moment of approval, Li Lingli suddenly withdrew her smile, like a clear sky suddenly clouding over, “Xiaoluo, it’s not that I don’t want to give you a chance, it’s that you no longer have one… Come on, take a good look!”
If she could, Li Lingli would have loved nothing more than to smash the thick stack on her desk, the materials that brought shame to her corporation, right into Luo Haojun’s face.
But holding a position of authority and wanting to maintain her elegant image restrained her to just tapping heavily on the desk with her hand, signaling Luo Haojun to pick up the materials and read them carefully.
“This…this is a misunderstanding, let me explain…” Luo Haojun, panicked, started flipping through the bound materials.
Although he didn’t absorb a single word, he was clearly aware of what was written in the stack. It detailed nothing other than the allegations from whistleblowers about how he plagiarized internet content and forced others to shut down their sites using underhanded tactics.
“Misunderstanding? You still want to explain?” Li Lingli put on that terrifying smile again, “You can’t even adhere to a journalist’s professional ethics, what more do you want to explain?”
“President Li, I was wrong… Please, give me one more chance? I’m begging you…” Luo Haojun actually fell to his knees before Li Lingli, tearfully imploring her to give him another chance.
“I asked you to join us to solve problems, not to create them,” Li Lingli pushed up her glasses, “Of course, I’m also to blame for not reviewing thoroughly enough. I only saw the impressive numbers on your resume without looking into the issues behind those figures.”
“Can’t data represent everything? I do have the capability to bring a dying magazine back to life!” Luo Haojun wiped away his crocodile tears and stood up, looking down on Li Lingli with a raised head.
As if Fashion Xinrui would crumble if they let him go this time.
“Child… Data can indeed illustrate some issues, but it isn’t everything. You committed a cardinal sin of plagiarism in media, and that is a fact facts or figures can’t salvage!” Li Lingli stood up, responding with an air of moral certitude.
