“What a scumbag.”
Wen Ying sighed aloud.
This kind of man, who walks away after being caught cheating, loves neither his wife nor his mistress, only himself, selfish to the core.
“…What scumbag? Station Chief Duan isn’t just scum, he’s an absolute brainless fool!”
Wang Shuang added sharply.
Xie Qian said nothing, the academic genius unwilling to waste words on Station Chief Duan.
Yu Tianlin had brought several people, causing quite a stir, so Wen Ying’s trio didn’t bother hiding their presence, freely commenting.
Their voices drew the attention of Cao Bo and his group.
Cao Bo, still reeling from possibly hiring the wrong scriptwriter, felt a headache seeing Wen Ying’s trio.
Neither Professor Fang nor Pan Li expected Station Chief Duan’s behaviour, both women frozen in shock.
Xu Mei, barely out of university, had never witnessed such a scene and could only try to mediate, unsure of what else to do.
Professor Fang heard Wen Ying’s voice and looked up, wishing she could faint on the spot.
—In her earlier anger, she’d forgotten Wen Ying’s trio was nearby!
Being seen by Wen Ying and Xie Qian was a second blow, on top of discovering her husband’s affair.
The advice she’d given Wen Ying and Xie Qian, urging them to “forgive where forgiveness is due” with righteous conviction, flooded back.
Professor Fang finally understood the look in their eyes.
It was pity and sympathy.
Teetering, Professor Fang wanted to flee like Station Chief Duan, but Pan Li gripped her hand tightly.
Professor Fang was stunned again.
How dare this woman?
With so many people watching, didn’t she have any shame?
Pan Li, though delicate in appearance, had surprising strength, and Professor Fang couldn’t break free.
Clinging to Professor Fang’s arm, Pan Li sobbed, having taken a beating and seemingly demanding an explanation.
Could Professor Fang say why she hit Pan Li?
No!
To say it would mean admitting her husband’s affair aloud.
Though true, saying it publicly was too humiliating.
Professor Fang now regretted her earlier impulsiveness.
In the field of music, she was Pan Li’s teacher, but in this situation, she was out of her depth, being schooled by Pan Li in “how to handle things”!
One desperate to leave, the other clinging on, Professor Fang’s face flushed red with embarrassment.
Cao Bo, experienced, gave a dry laugh to defuse the situation for Professor Fang, “What’s going on? Did Pan Li mess up at work and upset Sister Fang?”
Everyone present knew the real story.
Cao Bo’s words were a lifeline for Professor Fang, framing the affair scandal as a work dispute.
Such a clumsy cover-up was almost comical. In modern times, with mere employment, not some ancient servitude contract, how could a boss slap a subordinate for a mistake?
But it was the best approach for now.
Snapping out of their gossip-watching trance, the onlookers split into two camps. Though not openly clashing, Cao Bo’s group had stirred up this embarrassing mess first, and he naturally wanted to cover it up… at least to keep Wen Ying’s trio from laughing.
Manager Guan came to his senses, “Xiao Pan, apologise to Sister Fang first. Communicate to resolve conflicts. But Sister Fang, you need to stay calm in the future, hitting people is never right.”
For some reason, despite the awkward hilarity, Cao Bo and Manager Guan felt a hint of relief: Yuan Fenghui wasn’t present, so the situation was salvageable.
—If Yuan Fenghui were there, she’d have humiliated everyone into hiding!
Pan Li glanced at Cao Bo, then Manager Guan, ignoring the call to apologise but releasing Professor Fang’s arm.
Before Professor Fang could escape, Pan Li wailed, “We’re truly in love.”
With that, she covered her face, crying, and ran off.
Great!
What a mess.
Wasn’t this cry-and-run just begging for the gossip to spread further?
Old Duan was in deep trouble now!
Let him run, it’s his family matter. Manager Guan had done enough, it wasn’t his affair being exposed, so why go all out?
Though he thought this, Manager Guan still had to show support for Professor Fang, scolding Xu Mei, “How do you usually train her? Pan Li’s attitude is awful, the company needs to get you a new assistant.”
Xu Mei agreed wholeheartedly.
“I’ve wanted to say this for ages. Pan Li’s sloppy at work, can’t take criticism, and is utterly unfit to be an assistant.”
Professor Fang was trembling, the series of blows leaving her humiliated and near collapse. Her perception of her surroundings dulled, and her already inflexible nature stiffened further. Her lips quivered, opening and closing, but she couldn’t muster the polite words to play along with Cao Bo and Manager Guan’s offered escape.
Cao Bo and Manager Guan were relieved Yuan Fenghui wasn’t there, thinking they could brush this off with Wen Ying’s trio, unaware that Professor Fang cared most about Wen Ying and Xie Qian.
Professor Fang wished to vanish.
Unable to, she hoped Wen Ying and Xie Qian would tactfully leave.
Whether Wen Ying and Xie Qian could pick up on her silent plea or would comply was uncertain, but with the chaos-loving Wang Shuang present, they had to stay and watch the drama.
Neither dared leave Wang Shuang, the fool, alone, fearing Cao Bo’s group might pin the blame on him.
Not just Wen Ying, Xie Qian felt the same.
Though Xie Qian often mocked Wang Shuang’s stupidity, he could tease him, but others bullying him was unacceptable.
Cao Bo and Manager Guan had their plans, but didn’t expect their own camp to have Yu Tianlin, who refused to play along.
Yu Tianlin suddenly scoffed, “Come on, everyone knows what’s going on. What’s the point of covering it up? You all seem busy, so sort out your personal matters first.”
Yu Tianlin was pointing at Professor Fang!
Stirring up scandals between artists and other stars was usually a manager’s idea.
Professor Fang didn’t even know her own husband was cheating, yet dared suggest Xu Mei and him fake a romance?
With such incompetence, miles behind Yuan Fenghui, Yu Tianlin would be mad to agree!
Even if he’d initially agreed, seeing Professor Fang’s crisis management, Yu Tianlin would back out.
Yu Tianlin offered Cao Bo and Manager Guan sincere advice, “Instead of changing assistants, changing the manager might be better.”
Someone so unsuited for the entertainment industry, managing Xu Mei?
Yu Tianlin knew there were deals involved, but with Professor Fang as Xu Mei’s manager, Xu Mei’s success would be a miracle.
With that, Yu Tianlin left with his assistant.
What a great show, the assistant reluctant to leave, wanting to watch more.
Wen Ying patted Wang Shuang’s shoulder, “Let’s go, the show’s over.”
Director Fan, embarrassed, finally found a chance to speak, “The celebration’s not done, why’d you all run out? Follow me back.”
Everyone dispersed with their excuses, leaving Professor Fang frozen, as if in an icy pit.
Was it bad enough to publicly discover her husband’s affair?
There was worse.
Being seen by the last people she wanted to witness it.
As if the heavens thought Professor Fang hadn’t suffered enough, Yu Tianlin delivered a third blow.
—He completely dismissed her professional competence!
