No wonder they say “taking favours makes one timid, and eating others’ food softens the mouth”.
Even though Xie Jinghu had such a foul mouth, Zhao Dong could only force himself to swallow it. He played along with Xie Jinghu’s tune, belittling Zhao Qian. “You have seen me make a fool of myself, President Xie. Qianqian is the only girl in the family, spoiled since childhood.”
Whether the Zhao family spoiled their daughter or not, Xie Jinghu could not care less.
Inspired by the Zhao siblings, Xie Jinghu seriously considered the matter of replacing his “daughter-in-law”.
He mentally went through everyone he knew.
Zhao Qian was out of the question.
As for the others… it seemed none could completely outshine her?
There were plenty of girls with better family backgrounds than Wen Ying.
There were also those prettier than Wen Ying.
But girls with better personal qualifications than Wen Ying at this age? Where would one find them?
Wen Ying had fully embodied the phrase “fame comes early”. Other girls were not lacking in excellence, but to achieve the same level of personal success as Wen Ying, they would not do it so young!
Xie Jinghu could not think of a suitable candidate. With regret, he temporarily set aside the idea. Until he found someone to replace Wen Ying, he still had to rely on her for this matter.
In the first half of the dinner, Xie Jinghu was absent-minded, eavesdropping through the wall.
In the second half, Xie Jinghu inquired about Wen Ying from Zhao Dong. “You seem to know her quite well. Tell me about her in detail.”
Zhao Dong truly felt a mouthful of old blood stuck in his throat, neither going up nor down. It was extremely uncomfortable.
Zhao Dong did indeed know Wen Ying quite well.
But his knowledge of her was meant to target her!
What was this now? Helping Wen Ying build favour with Xie Jinghu?
A glint flashed in Zhao Dong’s eyes.
Of course that would not do!
Zhao Dong had decided to switch camps because the situation forced him. Sara Zhuo currently seemed to have no chance of winning… Switching camps was imminent. If after switching, there was still Wen Ying constantly whispering in Xie Qian’s ear, it would be greatly disadvantageous for Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong viewed Xie Qian and Wen Ying separately.
Xie Qian was Xie Qian, Wen Ying was Wen Ying.
Wen Ying could not stay by Xie Qian’s side.
Thus, when Xie Jinghu asked about Wen Ying’s situation, Zhao Dong introduced her diligently on one hand, while mixing in plenty of his own bias on the other. In Zhao Dong’s description, Wen Ying was a girl from an ordinary family background yet with deep scheming.
“You saw it earlier too. Qianqian is the same age as her. Qianqian cannot even control her own emotions. Whatever she likes or dislikes, she wears it plainly on her face. Wen Ying is different. As early as three years ago, I had dealings with her. She has very strong opinions of her own. Once she sets her mind on something, she will not waver. This is a very good quality.”
Zhao Dong tried to describe Wen Ying in as calm a tone as possible.
Yet Xie Jinghu’s brows furrowed.
Once she sets her mind on something, she will not waver?
This was a very good quality, but also a very frightening one.
For a girl, a gentle and soft personality was very endearing.
An outstanding girl could bring glory to the Xie family.
But an outstanding girl who was also deeply scheming, who at an age when peers were still naive and confused had already begun pursuing fame and profit early, clearly knowing what she wanted and persistently striving towards her goals—that was somewhat terrifying.
Xie Jinghu’s brows furrowed tighter. In his mind, two figures alternated.
One was the considerate Sara Zhuo, who for over twenty years had secretly cuckolded him.
The other was Zou Weijun, who before the divorce had entered “Jinhu” attempting to seize power from him.
…Actually, Xie Qian’s future wife did not need to be too outstanding at all.
Accompanying “outstanding” was usually another word: ambition!
Xie Jinghu did not fully believe Zhao Dong’s one-sided account. He still wanted to learn more about Wen Ying through other channels.
…
In the private room separated by just one wall, Zou Weijun and Xiao Yu were deep in enthusiastic conversation.
Wen Ying mainly spoke with Zheng Zhihe.
All four were engaged, and the atmosphere in the room was excellent.
No one could imagine that Xie Jinghu was right next door, using his narrow and dark mindset to evaluate whether Wen Ying was suitable to be the future daughter-in-law of the Xie family.
Zou Weijun had finished outlining the general framework of the company to Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu’s face glowed. “Sister Zou, no, President Zou! I cannot wait to start working at ‘Junyue’.”
The company Zou Weijun registered was called ‘Junyue Culture’.
‘Junyue Culture’ had a registered capital of 10 million Hua coins.
In the time since returning to the country, Zou Weijun had not only completed the registration procedures but also secured the office space.
Hearing Xiao Yu call her “President Zou”, Zou Weijun could not help laughing and crying. “This is not the company.”
Xiao Yu said seriously, “I know this is not the company. I need to adapt to the change in identity myself first. In the past, you and I were superiors and subordinates. Now, I will be receiving a salary from you. How could it be the same!”
Given the relationship between Zou Weijun and Xiao Yu, the title “President Zou” did indeed create a sense of distance.
However, such distance was essential.
In a newly established company, the employees were all there to work for Zou Weijun. If they lacked reverence for her, Zou Weijun’s entrepreneurial outcome would likely end up like Wang Shuang’s first attempt at e-commerce!
Xiao Yu was close to Zou Weijun. If Xiao Yu set a good example, the other employees would not dare misbehave.
Wen Ying watched with a smile in her eyes.
Xiao Yu had grown so quickly.
Thinking back, when Xiao Yu first arrived in Rongcheng, she was just a naive dreamer full of ambition!
Zheng Zhihe’s phone suddenly rang. He turned away to answer it.
Wen Ying could hear a female voice on the other end, but could not make out the specifics.
Zheng Zhihe spoke only a few words before hanging up. He explained proactively, “It was Lan Jing. I am helping her sue Bao Lixin, right? This case is quite troublesome. She is not as smart as Xiao Yu. When dealing with Bao Lixin, she never thought to record anything… Let’s not talk about this now. We should continue eating.”
Hearing that the caller was Lan Jing, Xiao Yu’s brows furrowed briefly before relaxing.
Wen Ying noticed Xiao Yu’s emotional shift and said nonchalantly, “In lawsuits, the client and the representing lawyer need to communicate frequently. Lawyer Zheng, you do not need to mind us. Your work is more important!”
Zheng Zhihe shook his head. “She was not talking about the case. She has been wanting to apologise to you in person and has mentioned it to me several times. I felt it was inappropriate.”
Lan Jing had already apologised.
This was what Wen Ying demanded when filing the lawsuit, and the court supported her claim.
Thus, on the third working day after Lan Jing lost the case, she published an apology statement in the newspaper.
What Lan Jing had yet to fulfil was compensating Wen Ying for economic losses!
2.8 million was no small sum. Lan Jing’s novel writing had not earned her anywhere near that much.
To pay this compensation, Lan Jing would first need to get money from Bao Lixin.
However, Zheng Zhihe was no pushover. Back then, he was not Lan Jing’s lawyer, so naturally he considered Wen Ying’s interests, allowing Lan Jing to pay the 2.8 million compensation in instalments over one year after the judgment took effect.
The royalties Lan Jing earned from plagiarism had already paid Wen Ying 1 million. The remaining 1.8 million had to come from Bao Lixin—this instalment plan was also agreed to by Wen Ying herself.
Now Lan Jing wanted to apologise to Wen Ying in person?
Wen Ying firmly refused. “Indeed inappropriate. I simply do not want to see her.”
From the heart, Wen Ying did not believe plagiarism was something forgivable. At least she herself did not want to forgive.
Meeting Lan Jing would put Wen Ying in a situation of moral kidnapping.
If they met face to face, forgive or not?
If not forgive, others would say Wen Ying was not broad-minded enough.
If forgive, Lan Jing might use this to make a comeback: Look, even the plagiarised Wen Ying has let it go. Should outsiders stop criticising too?
If Lan Jing had thick enough skin, she could continue publishing new books under this pen name.
Infamy was still fame.
Readers in the world were all sorts. Some might even like someone like Lan Jing!
Zheng Zhihe nodded. “I also thought you would not meet her. I have already refused on your behalf several times.”
The topic ended there. Wen Ying said no more.
When Xiao Yu went to the restroom, Wen Ying followed.
With Zheng Zhihe absent, Wen Ying spoke without restraint. “Sister Xiao Yu, what is going on between Lawyer Zheng and Lan Jing? Why do I feel something is off?”
Xiao Yu washed her hands while thinking how to answer Wen Ying.
After pondering, she decided to tell Wen Ying the truth.
“Zhihe probably has no intentions. As for what Lan Jing is thinking, I do not know. It is normal for a client and representing lawyer to stay in contact. But the client often calling the lawyer late at night to pour out her vulnerabilities makes me a bit uncomfortable.”
When Xiao Yu and Zheng Zhihe had just started dating, Zheng Zhihe’s first girlfriend had come looking for her.
At that time, Xiao Yu had no particular thoughts.
First, she and Zheng Zhihe had just begun, their feelings not yet deep. Breaking up would not hurt too much, so Xiao Yu was naturally magnanimous.
Second, Zheng Zhihe’s ex-girlfriend Ma Wei, though clingy, had a straightforward personality. She would directly confront Xiao Yu at the company, not scheme behind her back to disgust her.
Xiao Yu had told Zheng Zhihe back then that in this world, there are no wars between women, only men’s wavering.
Zheng Zhihe had handled the emotional loose ends with his ex-girlfriend Ma Wei very decisively.
So Xiao Yu did not mind Ma Wei’s existence. But now she felt a bit uneasy about Lan Jing.
