There was a hint of schadenfreude in Zhang Hua’s tone.
Because of Xie Jinghu’s lawsuit, Zhang Zhijin’s scandal could no longer be concealed.
Previously, everyone only knew that Zhang Zhijin had an illegitimate daughter outside, but the specifics were unknown. Xie Yuping and his wife were not gossipy people and had not publicised it widely for Zhang Zhijin.
Other insiders kept silent for various reasons.
When Lu Meishu committed suicide, it became even less appropriate to probe into Zhang Zhijin’s scandal. So even after Lu Meishu’s death, Zhang Zhijin’s image as a good man had not completely collapsed. Everyone thought he had simply failed to control himself momentarily.
Even someone as well-connected as Zhu Xiao, asking friends in the capital to inquire about the woman Zhang Zhijin kept outside, could not find out anything.
Zhu Xiao was puzzled. What kind of vixen was she to make Zhang Zhijin hide her so well?
Entrusted by Wen Ying, Zhu Xiao had been focusing on Zhang Liqun’s divorce recently and had no time to dig deeper into Zhang Zhijin’s gossip.
Until Xie Jinghu formally filed the lawsuit!
Just after celebrating Zhang Liqun’s successful divorce and her new status as a single wealthy woman, Zhu Xiao returned home. Her joy had not yet faded when she received a call from a friend.
At the dinner that evening, Zhu Xiao had drunk a couple more glasses because she was happy. She was slightly tipsy, but upon hearing the news from her friend, the alcohol’s effect vanished completely.
“What did you say? Who is the woman Zhang Zhijin kept outside?”
“You heard right. It’s that woman surnamed Zhuo… the one Xie Jinghu kept outside…”
Her friend fully understood Zhu Xiao’s feelings and said in a shrill voice over the phone, “Not just you are shocked. We are all shocked! Is that woman surnamed Zhuo some bewitching demon? Both Xie Jinghu and Zhang Zhijin fell into her hands! Xie Jinghu was manipulated into divorce by her, and Zhang Zhijin’s wife was even driven to death by her. Now, whenever I think of this woman’s name, I feel terrified. Last night, I had nightmares all night, dreaming she came to reminisce with my old Liu!”
Zhu Xiao was indeed very shocked.
Hearing her friend say this, Zhu Xiao’s mix of amusement and shock temporarily overshadowed the surprise. “Is it that serious?”
“I am scared. I fear becoming the second Zou Weijun or even the second Lu Meishu…”
The circle in the capital was only so big. When young, a group of them often partied together. Her friend’s husband might not have had deep ties with the woman surnamed Zhuo, but reminiscing as old acquaintances was possible since they were all once friends.
Over the phone, her friend gritted her teeth, saying she had nightmares all night. The first thing she did upon waking was interrogate her husband. “Old Liu says he is not familiar with the one surnamed Zhuo. Even when young, he was not close, only meeting a few times at friends’ gatherings. Thinking about it, yes, she was so outstanding when young. She probably looked down on old Liu… Right, Zhu Xiao?”
Poor old Liu had already knelt on the washboard for half the day, forced by his wife to confess any “past” with Sara Zhuo.
Old Liu swore he was not close to Sara Zhuo and even demeaned himself, saying he was short and poor when young. How could he catch the eye of the Zhuo family princess?
Even after old Liu blackened himself like this, Zhu Xiao’s friend was not fully reassured. She sought confirmation from Zhu Xiao, showing how paranoid she had become over the woman surnamed Zhuo.
“Old Liu is your husband. If I say he is ugly, would you be happy?”
“…”
Her friend was speechless. Zhu Xiao changed the subject. “Whether your old Liu is handsome or not, let us analyse rationally now. The woman surnamed Zhuo has one son and one daughter, right? You said Xie Jinghu sued Zhang Zhijin, demanding years of child support for the illegitimate daughter, without mentioning the illegitimate son at all. This means the illegitimate son must be Xie Jinghu’s. The woman surnamed Zhuo bore children for Xie Jinghu and Zhang Zhijin separately. She is not a sow birthing a litter. How would she have time to bear a child for your old Liu too!”
Her friend immediately cheered up.
As long as no child was produced, even if old Liu had once fancied the woman surnamed Zhuo, it was no threat.
After years together, no couple could guarantee their thoughts never wandered. Her friend often found male stars on TV handsome and naturally allowed her husband to find other women attractive in his mind… limited to that. If he dared cross the line, one of old Liu’s three legs would have to break!
“You really know how to comfort people. I feel much better.”
Her friend marvelled. “You can put your previous worries to rest. If it were another woman, Zhang Zhijin might withstand family pressure and marry her. But unexpectedly, it is the one surnamed Zhuo. Would Zhang Zhijin dare marry her?”
If he married the one surnamed Zhuo, Zhang Zhijin would have to change his name to “Green Zhijin”.
Similarly, Zhang Zhijin dared not marry her, nor did Xie Jinghu, unless he wanted to become “Green Jinghu”.
They were all prominent figures, family friends for years, seeing each other often. Who could endure being laughed at behind their backs every day?
Xie Jinghu and Zhang Zhijin both ate shit, but sometimes eating shit had order. Xie Jinghu had already lain on that pile from the one surnamed Zhuo. How could Zhang Zhijin join him on the same pile?
And they were such good friends.
With Xie Jinghu’s lawsuit, Zhang Zhijin’s good-guy image completely crumbled.
Everyone knew Zhang Zhijin had repeatedly advised Xie Jinghu in public to return to his family.
Good grief, after all that advising, he himself hooked up with Xie Jinghu’s mistress. What kind of friend was that!
No wonder being bad is easier than being good.
Accustomed to villainy, doing one good deed moves people greatly.
Always good, one bad deed makes people wonder if the goodness was fake all along.
Zhu Xiao’s worries did not ease.
She had already found Xie Qian’s accident and Zou Weijun’s divorce too sudden. Then Lu Meishu’s suicide. Seemingly unrelated, yet Zhu Xiao felt uneasy.
Now confirmed, these events were not unrelated. They were deeply connected!
After gossiping with her friend, Zhu Xiao called her husband. “Did you know about Xie Jinghu suing Zhang Zhijin?”
“I just found out today.”
On the phone, President Peng was as concise as ever.
Zhu Xiao sneered. “Then why didn’t you tell me? Peng Ningkang, you aren’t feeling guilty too, are you!”
The Peng family son-in-law rarely grasped his wife’s anger point. “She is not my type. I have no connection with her. Today, upon hearing about Xie Jinghu suing Zhang Zhijin, I wanted to tell you. But you said you were celebrating with friends, so I thought tomorrow. It is not a big deal anyway.”
How is it not a big deal?
Zhu Xiao considered it a top-tier scandal. Thinking of Xie Qian’s long absence from the country, she murmured, “There must be more we do not know. I cannot leave Modu now. I must wait until Xie Qian returns, see with my own eyes that mother and son are fine before I relax…”
On the phone, President Peng listened quietly.
If she does not leave, so be it.
When Pang Zhigang sent people to investigate Zhu Xiao, President Peng blocked it without mentioning it to her.
His wife Zhu Xiao had a chivalrous heart. President Peng actually liked it a lot.
Men, fine words are nothing compared to actions. President Peng worked at least 12 hours a day, half the motivation to let his family live freely!
“You stay in Modu then. Do whatever you want. If money runs short, tell me.”
President Peng said dry sweet nothings. Zhu Xiao hummed proudly. “As if I need you to say it. I will not save money for you. If I do not spend, some vixen will.”
The chivalrous Zhu Xiao and the paranoid one could not be separated. President Peng was used to it.
Zhang Zhijin and Sara Zhuo’s relationship could no longer be hidden.
Others knew, so naturally Zhao Dong did too.
Zhao Dong was utterly speechless.
He had thought recently that Sara Zhuo wanted to cross the river and dismantle the bridge. Unexpectedly, she was not aiming to rise but had capsized while pedalling two boats!
Even with Zhao Dong’s family background, he struggled to understand Sara Zhuo’s mindset.
Was this woman sick?
Eating soft rice required professional ethics. Sara Zhuo lived with Xie Jinghu, supported by his money, yet still bore a child for Xie Jinghu’s friend. Stealing outside, not producing a child was the basic bottom line!
Amid the shock, Zhao Qian thought of what concerned her most. “Zhuo Yue is actually not Xie family’s child. This sudden Zhang family situation, will the Zhang family let Zhuo Yue return to the ancestors?”
Zhao Dong did not know much about the Zhang family.
He thought Dai Chenglan must know.
Dai Chenglan was from the same circle after all.
Sara Zhuo’s chaos harmed not only Zhao Dong’s interests but would affect the He family too.
Zhao Dong wondered if he could ally with Dai Chenglan, choose a good timing to kick Sara Zhuo out.
At this point, Zhao Dong could not imagine what means Sara Zhuo had left to rise. The woman was stupid and mad. Zhao Dong felt he could not control her.
“I do not know if the Zhang family will recognise Zhuo Yue. Even if they do, the whole family will not like her. Her existence has greatly embarrassed the Zhang family.”
Zhao Dong’s words delighted Zhao Qian.
The Xie family did not want Zhuo Yue. The Zhang family did not either. Zhuo Yue was truly pitiful.
- The more Zhao Qian thought, the happier she became. She snickered. “I should go comfort Zhuo Yue. She is so pitiful. President Xie spent so much raising her. I wonder if her biological father is willing to help her repay the debt.”
