"It seems Mu Linjing is quite close to you, reporting to me behind your back."
Zhan Mohan's voice echoed, carrying a hint of chilling sarcasm.
Wei Yumeng's heart pounded. So, Feng Shiqing had indeed reported to Zhan Mohan. Her mind raced, unsure of what exactly he knew. Did he know about her pregnancy? Or perhaps Feng Shiqing had arrived late and only heard about her intention to go to Chu Zian's company. No matter what, Feng Shiqing wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by; she would tell Zhan Mohan everything, leaving no detail out. Any chance to make Zhan Mohan misunderstand or resent her, Feng Shiqing would seize without hesitation.
"She's telling the truth, why wouldn't I listen?"
The man's gaze was direct, filled with immense anger.
"But it has nothing to do with you. My resignation is my own business, and where I go after resigning seems irrelevant to CEO Zhan."
Wei Yumeng was resolute in her decision to resign today. Staying at Zhan's Group made her live in constant fear. She no longer wanted to live like this; she wanted to change her situation and regain her freedom.
Seeing her indifferent expression, Zhan Mohan's anger flared even more fiercely.
"Have you forgotten what I told you? We are not divorced. I am still your husband!"
"So what? CEO Zhan, don't forget, I'm the one who betrayed you. Don't you mind?"
Wei Yumeng's attitude was defiant. She met Zhan Mohan's gaze, her eyes devoid of any fear, instead shining brightly. For the sake of the child in her womb, she was willing to risk anything. It could be said that all her courage now stemmed from this new life, her own flesh and blood. Although she genuinely liked Zhan Mohan, compared to her child, her feelings became less important.
Zhan Mohan didn't want to dwell on such matters. If he didn't think about it, it was bearable. But with Wei Yumeng bringing it up, all the unpleasant memories flooded his mind.
The next second, his large hands gripped Wei Yumeng's wrist, his fury evident. His imposing face contorted with anger.
"Wei Yumeng, are you forcing me to take drastic measures with you?"
Seeing the sharp glint in his eyes, Wei Yumeng's heart raced wildly. She swallowed hard, asking warily,
"Zhan Mohan, what exactly do you want! Let me go, can you? It's impossible between us now. I betrayed you, can you still swallow your pride and pretend nothing happened, staying with me?"
Her words made it sound as if he were the one clinging to her, and that she had never harbored any feelings for him from the beginning.
Zhan Mohan let out a cold, thin laugh, his eyes fixed on her with fierce intensity.
"Let me tell you, don't be so self-important. Do you think I can't forget you? It's because I can't stomach this humiliation. Go ask around, when have I ever been cuckolded by anyone? And don't think I don't know you're dead set on divorcing me. It's not that easy! Wanting to resign and go to Chu Zian's? Not a chance!"
With that, he gritted his teeth and shoved Wei Yumeng away. She stumbled and fell onto the sofa, instinctively shielding her belly. Ever since she became pregnant, every encounter with Zhan Mohan was a gamble, never knowing when he might discover her secret.
Hearing his impassioned words, she decided to go all out. Propping herself up, she stood and said to him, her head held high.
"Fine, at worst, I'll forfeit this month's salary. I quit, okay!"
She took off her identification badge and placed it on the coffee table, turning to leave.
Zhan Mohan didn't stop her. As she reached for the office door, he spoke in a low voice.
"The contract explicitly states that if you resign voluntarily, you will have to pay the company a thirty percent penalty fee. Do you know how much thirty percent is?"
Wei Yumeng's hand on the doorknob froze. She turned back in shock, her pupils constricting sharply.
"What are you talking about! When did I ever sign such a contract?"
"If you don't believe me, I can have Fang Xun bring out the contract for you to see."
He then pressed a button on his phone.
"Fang Xun, come in for a moment."
"Yes, CEO Zhan."
Within two minutes, Fang Xun entered, a document in his hand. Zhan Mohan, hands in his pockets, gestured towards Fang Xun with his chin.
Fang Xun handed the document to Wei Yumeng. "This is your employment contract. All the specific details are in here. You can take a look."
Wei Yumeng's expression flickered. She took the contract and flipped through it.
Zhan Mohan rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It's on page five, article forty-five."
Wei Yumeng glanced at him with a hint of doubt. He knew the contract details so thoroughly. Seeing her dazed look, Zhan Mohan chuckled dryly.
"Don't look at me like that. I remember every single detail of this contract."
Wei Yumeng shifted her gaze back and indeed found the clause Zhan Mohan mentioned. It clearly stated that unless terminated by the superior, any voluntary resignation within three years would incur a thirty percent penalty fee, which amounted to six hundred thousand yuan. Six hundred thousand yuan! For her, it was an astronomical sum. Where would she find so much money?
A surge of anger filled her. She slammed the document onto the table, glaring at him.
"This is completely unreasonable! It's so unfair to the employees in the company."
The man calmly picked up his coffee and took a sip, his anger subsiding, though his gaze remained chilling. He slowly waved a hand, his eyes lifting slightly.
"It's only unfair to you. Everyone knows that Zhan's Group offers the best benefits in the industry. People are willing to stay with the company long-term. Who would voluntarily resign?"
Wei Yumeng admitted that Zhan's Group indeed offered good compensation. Many people outside would kill to get in. In their eyes, only a fool would voluntarily leave Zhan's Group. She hesitated. Six hundred thousand yuan was an amount she couldn't afford. Even if she had it, she wouldn't give it to Zhan Mohan. Six hundred thousand yuan could cover Gu Shuyi's medical expenses for several months. She wasn't that wealthy.
Zhan Mohan walked up to Wei Yumeng, his eyes gleaming. He leaned close to her ear, his voice low.
"Or, we can make a deal. Tell me the truth, and I'll allow you to resign."
He was referring to whether or not she was pregnant. Wei Yumeng was not foolish. How could she tell Zhan Mohan the truth? Once she did, she would have even less chance of leaving.
She said coldly, "No need."
With that, she turned and walked out of the office.
Fang Xun watched Wei Yumeng leave. After the door closed, he turned to Zhan Mohan and said,
"CEO Zhan, I've investigated. Mu Linjing shows no signs of pregnancy recently, and she's still drinking coffee daily. As for her ex-boyfriend, I've already looked into it. He claims he never had a relationship with Mu Linjing. They were together before, but it was only limited to holding hands. They never crossed that line."
This was enough to indicate something was amiss.
Zhan Mohan's sharp gaze was still fixed in the direction Wei Yumeng had left. "Then you should investigate that hospital thoroughly. The doctor who examined them last time, see if there's anything unusual about them."
Wei Yumeng's recent behavior was enough to suggest she was hiding something. He knew when her period was due, but after being apart for so long, he couldn't be sure if she had already had it.
"Understood." Fang Xun nodded, then asked, "However, CEO Zhan, if Madam is truly pregnant, do you intend to keep the child or not?"
"If it's mine, I'll keep it. If it's not mine, then naturally I won't," this was his bottom line.
Fang Xun said awkwardly, "But how can we know for sure if it's yours? Unless she gives birth, there's probably no way, right? And there's another problem: even if it's early enough for a paternity test, if it turns out not to be yours, having Madam undergo an abortion will cause significant harm to her body. She might become infertile in the future."
If CEO Zhan still decided to stay with Madam, this would mean they might never have offspring, which would surely infuriate the elder. Zhan Mohan was aware of Wei Yumeng's physical condition. After her first miscarriage, the doctor had warned her that she might be infertile. Even if she miraculously became pregnant again, another miscarriage would mean permanent infertility.
Fang Xun stood by, awaiting the CEO's decision.