《拉薩情書》

第三十一章、蘇莉敏射出冷箭
01
蘇莉敏終於出手，第一枝冷箭射向湯懷民。莉敏透過妹妹夢影，取得上海分公司
湯懷民夫妻和高階主管的電子信箱。莉敏編制一份檔案，裡面放上一組經過處裡的春宮照片。
安妮和幾個一級主管的公務信箱，同時接到一組「極度煽情的春宮照片」和一篇香豔的情色故事，標題是：「認識湯懷民這隻惡狼的真實面目。」郵件上沒有署名寄件者。
安妮看到那組照片，從照片上的湯懷民雙眼微睜、臉色潮紅、面無表情等各種跡象研判，當時懷民應該是在醉酒的情況下，被人以手機近距離偷拍下來。聰慧的安妮直覺聯想到蘇莉敏，因為只有她曾帶著懷民出差，而且從照片背景研判，拍攝的時間地點應該是在大飯店投宿的晚上，安妮仔細回想，蘇莉敏的確曾經帶著懷民到西雅圖出差，去見那位動畫大師。
安妮反覆推敲著，喃喃自語說：「會是誰公開散佈這組照片？是蘇莉敏自導自演嗎？還是另有其人呢？若是第三者，他或她的目的是什麼？勒索遮羞費？還是要把屁股都還沒坐熱的湯懷民，從總經理座位給拉下來？如果寄件人就是蘇莉敏
，這一切就相當合理了，因為湯懷民擋了蘇的升官路，蘇莉敏趁懷民羽翼未豐之前，施予重擊以洩心頭怨恨…」
很快地安妮得出結論和應對策略：「無論寄件者是蘇莉敏還是另有其人，對方的目的無非是想以這種桃色緋聞，來挑起一場風波，損害湯懷民的名譽和形象。既然照片裡的女主角並未露臉，我何不將計就計，自行對號入座，立馬反將對方一軍！」
安妮心思既定，立即寫了一封英文公開信，回寄給一級主管們。
「各位夥伴：
我是安妮，你們的好朋友。剛才各位可能都收到一封沒有署名的郵件，裡面挾帶一組香豔照片。我必須跟各位坦承，這組照片是去年我和湯總經理，新婚後的蜜月旅行期間，一時興起的自拍照片。最近我的筆記電腦，剛被駭客入侵，以致這組照片意外地流出來。這組照片只是新婚夫妻間，尋常的風花雪月，其實不足為奇，打擾到各位工作，在此安妮代表湯總經理向各位致上歉意。請各位不必做過多聯想，也不要以訛傳訛，被有心人誤導視聽。
我決定把這件事交給本地警察機關，從IP追查寄件者。又及：我懷孕前，身材其實還可以，現在產後刻正努力減肥中。 你們的好夥伴 總經理特助倉央‧安妮 」

一級主管們很快收到這封信，除了艾蜜莉，其餘的男性主管即使心裡仍半信半疑，但他們謹守份際，不想淌這灘風流渾水，招惹無妄之災，寧可選擇性地接受安妮的公開信。
艾蜜莉細膩的心思，當然一眼看出其中破綻，因為照片裡的女主角膚色較為白晰，而且手指腳趾上塗著彩色指甲油，這兩項都和外型陽光、衣著風格端莊保守，從不擦指甲油的安妮兜不攏。當然，艾蜜莉不會也不想去戳破安妮善意的謊言，她心裡明白，安妮立即的消毒動作，目的就是維護湯總的名譽和形象。
安妮隨即進到懷民的公務和私人信箱，刪除掉對方寄來的那封信，並且封鎖掉對方的IP，這件意外的插曲，在第一時間就被安妮及時處理掉，湯懷民根本不曉得發生過這件事。可從這一刻起，安妮就對人在加州的蘇莉敏築起高度警戒的柏林圍牆，再加上唐夢影這位老公的前女友，安妮直覺自己正「腹背受敵」，必須見招拆招，謹慎應對。

02
加州狄士尼總公司裡，「大中華A三案」進入緊鑼密鼓的執行階段，編劇部正在對安妮的腳本進行微調和細部修訂，以利後續撰寫動畫劇本；動畫部以湯懷民的角色人物造型為藍本，進行細部修改和校定，並參考湯懷民提供的勘景資料副本，勾勒出故事裡幾個主要場景。
這時，霍爾執行長收到那封沒署名的郵件，霍爾想了一會兒，拿起手機親自打電話給安妮，叮嚀她：「看好自己老公，不要被有心人趁機渲染炒作，釀成桃色風暴，有損公司形象。」
安妮在電話裡誠懇地做了說明，並將先前給公司一級主管的公開信，轉寄給霍爾，霍爾看完轉寄信件稍覺得釋懷，雖然他隱約感覺這其中或許另有隱情，而且也隨即聯想到幕後的影武者，可能就是「蘇莉敏」，因為霍爾想得到的，只蘇莉敏有這個「動機」，發出這份要讓湯懷民滿頭包的「桃色黑函」。
霍爾在自己的小手冊裡記下：「蘇，一朵長著毒刺的黑玫瑰。」

03
蘇莉敏透過和唐夢影的線上通訊，即時掌握上海分公司的動靜，她發現「第一擊」竟然像是「子彈打水底魚」，微波不興，蘇莉敏並不氣餒。
「妹妹，我沒有氣餒，妳也不必灰心。任憑他蛋殼再怎麼縝密，我們總能夠找到縫隙，然後見縫插針！」
「姐，妳可以只對付安妮，不要牽連到懷民身上嗎？」
「要揪出水裡的那條母鯊魚，很難不殃及池魚吧？妹妹。」
唐夢影撂下重話：「如果妳讓安妮離開懷民的前提，是同時毀掉懷民，我寧可成全他們！」
「妳放心吧！妹妹，分吋如何拿捏，我心裡有數。」莉敏安撫著夢影，又指示說：「妳在公司要低調行事，別讓安妮起疑心，那女人比女魔頭還精明。找到機會，就破壞他們夫妻彼此的信任和感情，懂了嗎？」
唐夢影不放心又再次叮嚀說：「我懂，可妳要答應我，不要毀了懷民的事業和前程，我不想他從此心灰意懶，放棄自己未來的人生…」
莉敏不耐煩說：「好啦好啦！真不曉得前輩子，妳到底虧欠了這男人多少感情債！」

04
一週後，蘇莉敏再度寄出不具名的中文郵件給安妮，信裡充滿挑釁和恐嚇意味。
「湯總經理夫人安妮閣下：
想必妳先前已收到那組香豔火辣的偷情照片，真佩服妳沉得住氣！
在愛情的戰場上，女人最可怕的對手，就是另外一個「勢在必得」的女人。如果妳不想妳心愛的老公，被我搞上新聞媒體，受到公司高層和社會各界質疑，我勸妳離開妳老公，把位置空出來給我，我比妳有能力，可以讓妳老公將來在事業上鴻圖大展、攀上顛峰。
妳自己好好想清楚吧？如果妳心疼湯懷民，就把他讓給我，否則後果如何，妳應該很清楚。我給妳十天時間想清楚，過了時間妳若沒有善意回應，緊接而來的就會是毀滅性的第二擊！我手裡握有許多妳意想不到的籌碼喔！
不用費心猜測我的身份，妳在明處我在暗。」
讀過這封信，安妮斷定此人就是蘇莉敏，但安妮想釐清自己和蘇莉敏之間，到底有什麼新愁舊怨：「懷民去狄士尼上班時，我們都結婚了，這個蘇莉敏即使因為工作上近水樓台，喜歡上我老公，當時應該也清楚他已使君有婦…，蘇莉敏為什麼要一路糾纏懷民？是單純因懷民擋了她的升官之路，還是兩人之間別有不可告人的隱情？這封信裡說，她手裡握有許多我意想不到的籌碼喔！是不是暗示我，懷民曾經對她有過承諾，甚至……。」想到這裡，安妮背脊發冷，覺得這女人真的很棘手，安妮突然又想到：「嘿！這個蘇莉敏似乎能及時掌握公司的動靜，難道公司裡竟埋伏著她的眼線？誰會是她佈下的暗樁呢？是不服氣湯懷民的某位一級主管嗎？還是…唐夢影，可這兩個女人，目前唯一的線索是她們都來自台灣。這些，我得抽絲剝繭，儘快查出線索來！當務之急，就是先問清楚懷民，看他和那女人是否還有一夜情之外的瓜葛……」。

05
小倆口開車帶著嬰兒回到離公司不遠的住宅區，長巷裡承租的雙層別墅。
湯懷民進浴室沖澡，安妮安頓好嬰兒，把自己的筆電拿到臥室，點開視窗，點出那封不具名的恐嚇信，和前一封信的那組親熱照，就轉身回到書房，繼續寫自己的博士論文。
懷民披著大圍巾進到臥室，正要換上睡衣時，意外看見筆電視窗裡，一幅女人袒胸露乳騎在他身上的親熱照，他趨前細看，暗罵：「夭壽喔！這下我剉屎了！」(台語)懷民心虛地點開閱讀，心跳瞬間加速血壓飆升，臉色慘變，腦子裡雷電交加：「蘇莉敏，妳的手段真狠毒…」
過了好一會兒，懷民逐漸平靜，整理出一些頭緒：「事到如今，就據實向安妮認錯，懇求她原諒吧！」
懷民穿上睡衣，找了一條白色領帶，以紅色墨水寫上：「我錯了！老婆請原諒我。」，綁在額頭上，鼓起勇氣來到書房，在床緣坐下。
安妮看到懷民這種認錯方式，好氣又好笑，忍不住擰了一下他的前胸胸脯，故意斜睨著問：「你幹嘛？小男生，學京劇小生唱戲啊？」
懷民心虛說：「安妮姐姐，對不起，那次在西雅圖…。」
安妮板起臉孔逼問：「你跟蘇莉敏，到底有沒有怎麼樣？」
懷民表情沮喪地說：「那時我喝茫了，真的記不得。後來，蘇莉敏曾經在離開拉薩前，跟我坦承，說西雅圖那天晚上，她……。」
安妮語氣嚴厲地追問：「那晚上她把你怎樣？你老實說啊！」
懷民突然羞澀地低下頭說：「她說隔天醒來她發現自己沒落紅，又說她記得當晚我喝得爛醉如泥，那話兒根本不聽使喚。可我不知道，為什麼事後她又反悔，也不知道她當時竟然，竟然偷拍了這組照片…」
安妮問出問題癥結點後，語調緩和下來說：「我知道她為什麼要這樣做！可你必須先回答我，從那次以後，你跟蘇莉敏還有沒有任何瓜葛？」
懷民連忙搖手說：「沒有，那次以後就沒有了！那天她說過生日，要我陪她喝酒。」
安妮以懷疑的表情和語氣問；「小男生，請問我可以相信你現在說的話嗎？」
懷民舉起右手掌，雙膝跪地做發誓狀，態度誠懇、語氣堅定說：「請小姐姐一定要相信我！」
安妮盯著懷民的雙眼，像一對探照燈似地瞪著他好一會兒，才說：「好！我相信你不會欺騙我，平身，坐回床上聽我問話。」
「謝謝小姐姐開恩！」懷民起身回坐床緣。
「西雅圖那一趟出差，我相信你是被蘇莉敏給設計了！」安妮肯定地說：「她為了留下你的把柄，將來好要脅你替她賣命，費盡心機佈了這個局，請君入甕，然後以手機偷拍下那組春宮照。可笑的是，她不想自己被波及，偷拍時不敢露出她的臉來。」
懷民不安心，仍懇求著：「安妮，請妳相信我跟她之間，真的是清白的！」
「你跟她之間是否清白，除非她良心發現，願意來我面前替你澄清，否則這部份會一直羅生門下去。」安妮接著說：「我在乎的不是你跟蘇莉敏，一時意亂情迷下發生的一夜情，而是後來你是否還跟她有什麼瓜葛？特別是你們倆一起去西藏出差那段期間。」
懷民說得很肯定：「真的沒有，沒有瓜葛了！」
安妮心情恢復平靜說：「好！我姑且相信你。這個蘇莉敏心機深沉，手段使起來陰險毒辣，她在恐嚇信裡宣稱，她手中握有許多我意想不到的籌碼，簡直太輕視我了，把我當成涉世未深，一哭二鬧的小女生！現在，我就大膽假定她手中，其實已經沒有別的籌碼了。」
懷民憂心忡忡說：「老婆，我剛才看寄信附件，那組照片蘇莉敏已經散發出去，一級主管們都收到了，不是嗎？」
「你現在才知道，這個心狠手辣的女人，背地裡怎麼暗捅你啊？」安妮又說：「幸好我第一時間立馬幫你消毒，明快處理掉，要不然這事早就鬧得滿城風雨，傳回去總公司了！」
安妮說完，點開她寫給一級主管，那封消毒的公開信，懷民看完那封信，深鎖的眉頭才鬆開，長吁了一口氣說：「還好！老婆妳及時出手相救。」
「你先別高興得太早！」安妮語帶警告說：「雖然我自動跳下去對號入座，一級主管們其實已經起疑心，往後你自己要謹言慎行，尤其是在面對初戀情人唐夢影時，自己要把持得住。」
「嗯！」懷民被蘇莉敏自導自演的「仙人跳」，已經教訓得驚心動魄，想起唐夢影面試當天，自己在會場失態，可能已引起兩位主管的疑心，可這件意外的插曲，這時他還不敢讓安妮知道…。
Chapter 31: Su Limin Fires the First Arrow
01
Su Limin finally made her move, firing the first cold arrow at Tang Huaimin. Limin obtained the email addresses of Tang Huaimin, his wife, and the senior executives of the Shanghai branch through her younger sister, Tang Mengying. Limin prepared a dossier containing a set of edited erotic photos.
Anne and several senior executives simultaneously received a set of “extremely provocative erotic photos” along with a titillating story titled: “The True Face of the Wolf Tang Huaimin.” The email had no sender signature.
Seeing the photos, Anne analyzed the signs—the slightly opened eyes, flushed face, and blank expression—and deduced that Tang Huaimin must have been drunk and secretly photographed at close range with a phone. Intelligent as she was, Anne instinctively suspected Su Limin, since only she had gone on business trips with Huaimin. Judging by the background in the photos, the shooting likely took place one night at a hotel. Anne carefully recalled that Su Limin had indeed accompanied Huaimin on a business trip to Seattle to meet an animation master.
Anne pondered repeatedly, murmuring to herself: “Who would leak these photos? Was it Su Limin orchestrating this herself, or someone else? If a third party, what’s their motive—extortion, or to pull Tang Huaimin down from his general manager position before he even settled in? If the sender is indeed Su Limin, it makes perfect sense. Huaimin blocked her promotion path, so she strikes while he’s still vulnerable to vent her resentment…”
Quickly, Anne devised a conclusion and response strategy: “Whether it’s Su Limin or someone else, their purpose is to stir a scandal, damaging Tang Huaimin’s reputation. Since the female in the photos isn’t identifiable, why not play along and turn the tables?”
Anne immediately drafted an English open letter and sent it to the senior executives:
"Dear colleagues,
I am Anne, your good friend. You may have just received an anonymous email with a set of provocative photos. I must confess that these photos were taken during my honeymoon with General Manager Tang last year, spontaneously as selfies. Recently, my laptop was hacked, which inadvertently led to their leakage. These are merely ordinary newlywed moments and should not surprise anyone. I apologize for any disruption this may have caused to your work. Please do not over-interpret or spread misinformation.
I have reported this matter to the local police, who will trace the sender via IP. Also, before pregnancy, my figure was fine, and I am now postpartum, working on losing weight.
Your loyal partner, Assistant to the General Manager, Cangyang Anne"
The senior executives quickly received the letter. Except for Emily, the male executives, though still half-doubtful, respected professional boundaries and chose to accept Anne’s explanation.
Emily, with her keen perception, immediately noticed a flaw: the woman in the photos had fair skin and painted nails, which did not match Anne’s naturally conservative style. Of course, Emily didn’t want to expose Anne’s well-intentioned lie, understanding that Anne’s swift action was to protect Huaimin’s reputation.
Anne then accessed both Tang Huaimin’s business and personal inboxes, deleted the malicious email, and blocked the sender’s IP. This incident was handled immediately without Huaimin ever knowing. From that moment, Anne was on high alert against Su Limin in California. Coupled with Tang Mengying, her husband’s ex-girlfriend, Anne instinctively felt she was “attacked from both sides” and needed to respond cautiously.
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02
At Disney headquarters in California, the “Greater China Project A3” entered its intense execution phase. The screenwriting department was making minor adjustments to Anne’s script for the upcoming animation screenplay. The animation department was refining character designs based on Tang Huaimin’s model and referencing his location scouting materials to sketch the main scenes.
Meanwhile, CEO Hall received the anonymous email. After a moment’s thought, he called Anne directly, warning: “Watch your husband carefully. Don’t let anyone use this opportunity to stir a scandal and damage the company’s reputation.”
Anne explained everything sincerely and forwarded the earlier open letter to Hall. After reading it, Hall felt somewhat relieved, though he suspected there might be more behind the scenes. He also immediately suspected that Su Limin could be the mastermind, as only she had the motive to send such a “troublemaking erotic letter.”
Hall wrote in his personal notebook: “Su, a black rose with poisonous thorns.”
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03
Through online communication with Tang Mengying, Su Limin monitored the Shanghai branch in real-time. She noticed that her “first strike” had little effect, like a bullet splashing into water. Still, she wasn’t discouraged.
“Little sister, I’m not discouraged, and you shouldn’t be either. No matter how fortified his defenses are, we will find a crack and strike!”
“Elder sister, can you just deal with Anne and not involve Huaimin?”
“To catch the big shark, some fish will inevitably get hurt. That’s the nature of it,” Limin replied.
Tang Mengying countered sharply: “If letting Anne go means destroying Huaimin, I’d rather let them be!”
“Don’t worry, little sister. I know how to handle the balance,” Limin reassured her, then instructed: “Act low-key in the company, don’t let Anne suspect anything. Once you have the chance, destroy the trust between them. Got it?”
“I understand. But promise me, don’t ruin Huaimin’s career. I don’t want him to give up on his future.”
“Alright, alright! I really don’t know how much emotional debt you owe this man from a past life!” Limin said impatiently.
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04
A week later, Su Limin sent another anonymous email in Chinese to Anne, filled with provocation and threats:
"To Mrs. Anne, General Manager Tang’s Wife:
I assume you’ve already received the provocative photos. I admire your composure!
In the battlefield of love, a woman’s most dangerous opponent is another determined woman. If you don’t want your beloved husband to become a media scandal and be questioned by executives and society, I advise you to step aside and make way for me. I am more capable and can help your husband achieve great success in his career.
Think carefully. If you care for Tang Huaimin, hand him over. Otherwise, you know the consequences. You have ten days to respond. If you don’t, the destructive second strike will follow! I hold many cards you couldn’t imagine.
No need to guess my identity. You are in the light, I am in the shadows."
After reading this, Anne was certain the sender was Su Limin. She tried to clarify the source of any old grievances between herself and Su Limin: “Even if Su Limin liked my husband due to proximity at work, she must have known he was married. Why does she persist? Is it just about blocked promotions, or is there something else? She claims to hold many unexpected cards—does that imply Huaimin once made promises to her?”
Anne shivered at the thought, realizing how dangerous Su Limin was. She also wondered: “Could she have informants inside the company? Who could be her mole? One of the senior executives, or… Tang Mengying? Both women come from Taiwan. I need to investigate carefully. The first step is to ask Huaimin if he has any lingering entanglements with her beyond that one night…”
________________________________________
05
The young couple drove back with their baby to their rented two-story villa near the company.
Tang Huaimin showered while Anne settled the baby and opened her laptop in the bedroom, reviewing the anonymous threat email and the previous intimate photos. She then returned to her study to continue her PhD thesis.
Huaimin, wrapping a large scarf around his shoulders, entered the bedroom to change into pajamas. Unexpectedly, he saw the intimate photo of a woman riding on top of him on the laptop screen. He frowned, muttering: “Damn! I’m screwed!” (Taiwanese slang)
Huaimin nervously opened the file, his heart racing, blood pressure spiking, and face pale. Thunderous thoughts ran through his mind: “Su Limin, your methods are ruthless…”
After some time, he calmed down and made a plan: “I should confess honestly to Anne and ask for her forgiveness.”
He put on pajamas, wrote “I was wrong! Please forgive me, my wife” in red ink on a white tie, tied it to his forehead, and sat by the study desk.
Anne, seeing this apology, pinched his chest and teased: “What are you doing? Learning to perform Peking Opera?”
Huaimin shyly said: “Anne, I’m sorry about that night in Seattle…”
Anne, sternly: “Did anything happen between you and Su Limin?”
Huaimin looked dejected: “I was drunk and don’t remember. She confessed before leaving Lhasa, saying that night in Seattle…”
Anne pressed: “What exactly did she do to you that night? Be honest!”
Huaimin lowered his head bashfully: “She said the next morning she wasn’t on her period, and that I was drunk beyond control. But I don’t know why she changed her mind afterward… and why she secretly took those photos.”
Anne then softened: “I understand why she did it. But you must tell me: after that, did you have any further entanglements with Su Limin?”
Huaimin quickly shook his head: “No, that was it. She asked me to celebrate her birthday and drink that night, but nothing beyond that.”
Anne, skeptical, asked: “Can I trust you now?”
Huaimin knelt, raised his right hand, and swore earnestly: “Please believe me, Anne!”
Anne studied his eyes carefully, then said: “Alright, I believe you. Sit back and listen.”
She explained: “That night in Seattle, I believe Su Limin set you up. She took those photos to keep leverage over you. The funny thing is, she didn’t show her face in the photos to avoid risk.”
Huaimin nervously insisted: “Anne, please believe me, it was completely innocent!”
Anne replied: “Your innocence depends on her conscience. What I care about is whether you had any ongoing entanglements, especially during your Tibet trip.”
Huaimin affirmed: “None. Absolutely none.”
Anne calmed down: “Good. I’ll believe you for now. Su Limin is cunning and malicious. She claims to have many cards in her letter, but I boldly assume she has none left.”
Huaimin worried: “But those photos already circulated to senior executives, right?”
Anne said: “You just realized how ruthless she was? Luckily, I acted immediately to sanitize the situation. Otherwise, it would have spread company-wide.”
After reading Anne’s public letter, Huaimin relaxed and sighed: “Thank goodness you intervened in time, my wife.”
“Don’t get too happy yet,” Anne warned. “The senior executives may still suspect. You must be careful, especially with your first love, Tang Mengying.”
“Mm,” Huaimin nodded, already shaken by Su Limin’s ‘set-up’. He recalled his slip during Tang Mengying’s interview, which might have raised suspicion, but he didn’t dare tell Anne about it yet.