The slap landed swiftly and sharply.
Xie Jin Yi turned her head, dazed for a long moment.
It wasn't until Yu Wen Li, called away by the teacher, heard the commotion and rushed back that she straightened her face and said:
"Who do you think you are? Touching you, is that any different from touching your parents?"
She smirked, pulling at the corner of her lips.
The red, five-fingered imprint made her look both unruly and deranged.
"Ring ring ring—"
Mu Zong's brow furrowed as he stared at the persistently ringing landline.
Wen Zhong En's expression was grim. "You should answer the phone. We can discuss things after I'm done."
"Wait!"
Mu Zong quickly stopped him and, in the same motion, pulled the phone cord.
Wen Zhong En reluctantly remained seated, his right hand, resting on the armrest, clenched tightly.
It seemed as though he was desperately suppressing an emotion on the verge of explosion.
Finally finding some quiet, Mu Zong returned to his executive chair and continued:
"You're not unaware of the company's situation. Our new game is still in development. If the Fu Corporation withdraws their investment..."
"Enough!" Wen Zhong En interrupted impatiently. "I understand what you mean. I'll pack my things and leave now."
The man rose decisively, his tone hardening with no room for negotiation.
"Brother Wen! Brother Wen!"
The executive chair was slammed forcefully against the bookshelf. Mu Zong didn't spare it a glance.
He hurried to intercept Wen Zhong En, explaining rapidly.
"We've known each other for years, and you're my right-hand man. How could I possibly abandon you? But..."
Mu Zong pursed his lips, his expression troubled. "The Fu family is not someone we can afford to offend, and neither can you. How about we do as I suggested and let this matter blow over, turning a big issue into a small one, and a small issue into no issue at all?"
Wen Zhong En looked at him with icy eyes. He remained silent.
Mu Zong cleared his throat, a little embarrassed. "I know this might cause some hardship..."
"I will not let my daughter be wronged," Wen Zhong En interrupted him directly.
Mu Zong tried to persuade him further, but Wen Zhong En added, "No matter the cost."
Mu Zong: "..."
"Fine then," Mu Zong lowered his hand, stepping aside with a look of regret. "We'll... meet again if fate allows."
Wen Zhong En nodded. As he was about to leave, the door opened from the outside.
Mu Chen, in his school uniform, entered with a cold expression, blocking Wen Zhong En's path.
"When I arrived, I saw the technical department in chaos. Perhaps Uncle Wen could go take a look? I just need to speak with him for a moment."
Wen Zhong En opened his mouth to speak, but Mu Chen preempted him. "We can discuss leaving later."
...
The moment the door closed, Mu Zong's expression shifted instantly.
"What exactly do you want?! You haven't set foot in the company in years, and now you're going against me?"
"You're truly my good son!" Mu Zong grew increasingly angry, placing his hands on his hips and demanding:
"Who sent you? Yu Wen Li? Or that girl? Whose son are you, anyway?"
Mu Chen fiddled with his phone, not even bothering to look at his father.
Mu Zong, enraged, grabbed his sleeve. With a distorted face, he cursed, "Do you even know the predicament I'm in right now?! Mu Chen! I've raised you well, not for you to stand against me!"
Mu Chen finally lifted his eyes to look at him, his dark irises filled with an unyielding mockery.
"Your predicament?"
Flipping his phone, Mu Chen pointed to the latest transaction and asked word for word:
"Is your predicament that you're willing to abandon someone for money? Uncle Wen has worked for Mu Corporation for over a decade, risking his life for you. Are you betraying him for this small amount? Are you at peace with your conscience?"
Mu father's expression darkened, and he averted his gaze. Stubbornly, he retorted, "You know nothing about the business world! This money is insignificant, of course, but the Fu Corporation's support is something Wen Zhong En cannot provide. His abandonment is only natural."
"Yes, natural," Mu Chen said with undisguised sarcasm. "In your eyes, once a person has no more value, they're like a torn rag, discarded as soon as you're done with them!"
Mu father said, "This is how it is in business, the big fish eat the small fish, and the small fish eat the shrimp. Wen Zhong En is that shrimp. This is a fact, and your anger won't change it. Because no one can change the rules. Even someone as influential as Chi Ye hasn't made a move this time, have they?!"
After shouting, Mu father felt it was inappropriate. He loosened his tie and advised in a gentler tone, "Xiao Chen, you're still young. When you take over Mu Corporation, you'll understand my difficulties. You'll eventually yield to profit, because nothing is more reliable than profit."
Mu Chen shook his head. "I don't intend to change anything, nor do I have the ability to change anything. But I want to tell you that I came here voluntarily. No one asked me to. I don't understand the ways of the business world, I only know that Uncle Wen has contributed greatly to Mu Corporation. I also know that he is Wen Ting Xue's father, and the father of my friend. I can't stand by and watch him be bullied."
Mu father scoffed. "You're still a child. Later..."
"There is no later," Mu Chen interrupted directly. "I will not take over Mu Corporation. And I certainly don't want to become someone like you... someone I despise."
"How dare you speak to me like that?!" Mu father's eyes widened, his gaze so fierce he looked ready to tear him apart. He waited for his son to apologize. However, Mu Chen was also stubborn. No matter how fiercely his father glared, he remained silent.
Mu father, fuming, grabbed the landline phone nearby and hurled it at him. "Have all these years of education been fed to the dogs?!"
Mu Chen looked at him calmly, as if he hadn't been struck.
That afternoon, at Jiang Cheng Law Firm.
Before the top boss could summon her, Yu Xiu Xiu had already proactively submitted her resignation. As she packed her belongings, a group of people gathered by the door, all urging her to reconsider.
"Lawyer Yu, it was just a squabble between children. Why take it so seriously?"
"Exactly. You've worked here for over a decade, and you're just going to quit? It's not worth it."
"Lawyer Yu, please reconsider, or talk to the top boss again, see if he can..."
"What are you thinking? The pressure is coming from people in the capital. How would the top boss dare to offend them?"
Amidst the chatter, Song Rui Ning entered with a stack of documents.
"Are you really leaving?"
Yu Xiu Xiu held a photograph from her onboarding. She looked around the office she had occupied for so long.
Finally, she smiled wryly. "What else can I do? Am I supposed to sacrifice Yi Yi? I can't do that. She's already suffered enough in this matter. As her mother, I must protect her. No one will bully my daughter, nor will they trample on her after they've bullied her!"
By the end of her statement, a fierce glint flashed in Yu Xiu Xiu's eyes.
Song Rui Ning frowned. "Yi Yi wasn't in the wrong in this matter, and neither were you and Uncle. Why should you be the ones to back down? This isn't fair. I'm going to talk to the boss and get an explanation."
"Forget it," Yu Xiu Xiu stopped him. "In business, where is fairness? When you're not as powerful, you can only accept the loss. You work hard here and don't cause trouble because of me."
Saying this, she put the photograph into a box and closed it.
"No, I have to try," Song Rui Ning placed his hand on hers. "Wait for me. If the outcome doesn't change, I'll leave with you."
Yu Xiu Xiu frowned in disapproval. "Xiao Ning, you really don't need to do this."
Song Rui Ning shook his head. "It's not just because of you. I just feel that if they abandon you because of this, then this law firm is no longer worth staying in."
"Sigh..."
Before Yu Xiu Xiu could reach out to stop him, Song Rui Ning pushed through the crowd and headed straight for the top boss's office.
Ten minutes later, Song Rui Ning emerged from the office with a somber expression. The waiting crowd was about to ask about the result when they saw him efficiently remove his employee card and throw it into the trash.
"Let's go."
Song Rui Ning picked up the box by Yu Xiu Xiu's side and led the way.
That evening, at the Wen residence.
Because of Xie Jin Yi, Wen Ting Xue and Yu Wen Li had taken leave from school early. However, Wen Zhong En and Yu Xiu Xiu were still not back.
"What Xie Jin Yi said, was it true?"
Wen Ting Xue leaned against the windowsill, anxiously looking down. "If they were fired, they should have been back by now. Why is there still no sign of them?"
As she spoke, two cars appeared downstairs successively.
Wen Ting Xue ran downstairs, just in time to see them entering the house.
"Dad, Mom, you..."
"Sorry, darling. Our company was too busy today, so we came back a bit late." Yu Xiu Xiu asked as she changed her shoes, "Is there something urgent that brought you down?"
"Company too busy?" Wen Ting Xue murmured, her expression hesitant.
Wen Zhong En said without changing his expression, "Yes, it was quite busy."
They didn't mention being fired at all. Wen Ting Xue didn't press the issue and went upstairs after a brief exchange.
Wen Zhong En and Yu Xiu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't want their daughter to know they had been fired, so they had been sitting in a coffee shop until now.
Although Wen Zhong En hadn't definitively been fired, he felt it was only a matter of time. After all, Mu Chen couldn't influence Mu Zong's decision.
On the second floor, in the bedroom.
The young girl was dejectedly curled up on the bed, holding the large rabbit given by Qiao Xi Xi. Her chin rested on the rabbit's head, her expression listless as she sighed.
"What should I do? I really didn't expect my situation with Xie Jin Yi to affect Mom and Dad. Maybe..."