Fomin's plan was sound. There happened to be a training program coming up, though it was not aimed at newcomers like Zhang Heng, but at veteran employees who had worked at the nuclear power plant for some time. It was essentially an advanced course, and those selected would have an easier time getting promoted after the training ended.
Fomin had not spoken to the chief engineer of Zhang Heng's department, yet when he received the submitted list, he discovered that Ivan's name was prominently included.
Fomin was greatly surprised. After calling someone over to ask about it, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had not mentioned the matter himself, but Zhang Heng had gone straight to the department head and then invoked Fomin's name. Many people already knew that Fomin had spoken up for Zhang Heng during the interview, and that he had later spoken with Zhang Heng in private.
Fomin had originally wanted to show his approachable side and win people over, but he had not expected Zhang Heng to use it against him. Zhang Heng had not even made any firm claims, merely dropped a hint, and the department head had added his name to the list. After all, as the chief engineer of the nuclear power plant's operations department, Fomin was not someone any department wanted to offend.
Even those who usually disliked him would not want to oppose him over such a trivial matter. It was only a training slot, after all, and no one even came to claim credit for it afterward. That was why Fomin did not learn Zhang Heng was on the list until he received it.
However, the list still required his final approval. Fomin's fountain pen paused over Ivan's name for a moment before moving to the