At first, the news only circulated within certain departments in a small circle, saying that Jiang Si and Chi Heng had an unusual relationship.
But as the rumor spread, it started to take on a different flavor.
It was clearly just a normal work - related meeting, but in the mouths of some people, it inexplicably became a private meeting between a man and a woman.
It was a good thing that there was no partition in Jiang Si's office. Otherwise, the so - called 'brief visit' might even have been rumored as 'an overnight stay'!
Seeing that the door to Jiang Si's office was tightly shut, someone couldn't help but click their tongue twice.
"Hey, do you know? Last Thursday afternoon, Engineer Jiang and Assistant Chi stayed in the office for over an hour again!"
As soon as these words were spoken, they quickly caught the attention of several colleagues.
"Really? Just the two of them?"
"Absolutely. The door was shut so tightly. Who knows what they were doing inside!"
During the conversation, someone suddenly remembered the previous visit event.
"I said it was so strange. Miss Chris was polite to everyone, but as soon as she faced Engineer Jiang, she was as aggressive as if she'd taken a shot of gunpowder."
That was their first meeting. If there was nothing fishy going on in between, who would believe it?
"What's so strange about that?"
The person who had spoken earlier said with an air of knowing everything.
"She must have done something shady and touched something she shouldn't have!"
"Otherwise, would Miss Chris have accused her in front of so many people?"
All of a sudden, there were rumors of two women vying for one man.
The talk of jealousy and rivalry for love was endless.
It was a typical case of blaming the victim!
"Hey, you know what? I also heard something," the person said, seeing that everyone was interested. "Actually, the higher - ups initially recommended her to study at Tsinghua University, but she declined."
"Why on earth?" someone asked in confusion.
"What else could it be? Naturally, there was someone she cared more about here."
Otherwise, who would waste such a great opportunity?
As for why she didn't choose to be with the well - respected Huo Family and instead got involved in these so - called romantic affairs outside, it was not hard to understand.
Comrade Huo was a good person and young and promising.
But a long - distance relationship was just too difficult. Only those who had experienced it knew how tough it was.
Of course, they only dared to say these things behind her back.
After all, Jiang Si was currently a rising star in the unit and highly valued by the leaders.
Her husband's family was also a prominent family in the Capital City.
They would be crazy to say these things in front of her.
So in the end, the person sighed and said, "In my opinion, it's only right that she was targeted by Miss Chris. As the old saying goes, it takes two to tango..."
Before the words were finished,
"Smack!"
The person received a solid slap on the face.
Her face was knocked to one side.
"Qi Xiaoyue!"
Reacting, she immediately glared over. "Are you crazy? You actually slapped me!"
"Didn't you say it takes two to tango?"
Qi Xiaoyue shook her stinging hand. "Next time I hear you gossiping about Engineer Jiang behind her back, I'll slap you every time I catch you!"
Let's see if it still 'takes two to tango'!
The woman who was slapped was also an old - timer in the unit. Being slapped by a new - comer in front of so many people, she just couldn't swallow this humiliation.
By the time everyone reacted, it was already too late. She and Qi Xiaoyue were already locked in a fierce fight!
"Knock, knock, knock -"
Jiang Si was discussing the details of labor employment with Assistant An at this moment. A sudden knock on the door interrupted their train of thought.
"What's the matter?" Jiang Si asked in surprise when she saw an unfamiliar face.
The person gasped and said urgently, "Engineer Jiang, go and have a look quickly. Assistant Qi is fighting with someone!"
"Fighting?" Jiang Si was extremely shocked when she heard this.
Little Qi had been with her for a few months. Although this girl had a somewhat fiery temper, she knew her limits.
She also had a good relationship with her colleagues in the unit.
Everyone privately said that she was the life of the office.
"Do you know why they're fighting?" Due to the shock, Jiang Si asked specifically on her way downstairs.
"Well..."
The man hesitated when he heard this question.
These days, issues related to relationships between men and women were a big taboo. One could easily be ruined.
No wonder Assistant Qi was so angry that she directly started a fight after hearing the rumors.
Seeing his embarrassment, Jiang Si didn't ask any more questions.
Soon, the two of them reached the first floor.
From afar, Jiang Si saw Little Qi straddling a middle - aged woman.
At this moment, she was like a cat with its fur all fluffed up.
Even though four or five people were trying to pull her off, they couldn't.
"I'll make you stop spouting nonsense. Apologize right now! If you don't apologize, I'll knock out all your teeth!"
"I'm not spouting nonsense!" the woman retorted defiantly and spat a big mouthful. "So many people in the unit are saying it. It's not just me. If you have the guts, go and beat them all up one by one!"
Hearing this, the faces of the people who were trying to break up the fight instantly turned a bit ugly.
"Come on, Sister Xu, say less," one of them said.
"Little Qi, calm down. We're still at the unit. What would it look like if we alerted the leaders?"
Bah! It was easy for them to say. It wasn't them who were being insulted and beaten.
"Let them be alerted!"
Sister Xu was really angry at this moment. She stuck out her neck and started shouting, "If she has the guts to do it, is she still afraid of people talking?
"Besides, can this matter be hidden? The people in the neighboring units have been watching us like we're monkeys in a zoo every day!"
"Stop talking!" Little Qi was shaking with anger.
If it weren't for the people holding her back tightly, she really would have slapped this woman to death. "Stop slandering people. Engineer Jiang is not such a person!"
"Just because you say she's not doesn't mean she isn't. She has loose morals and is always staying with other men day and night..."
"Staying day and night?"
Before she could finish her words, she was coldly interrupted by Jiang Si.
Although she had already more or less guessed that this was a setup by someone.
Most likely, these people were just pawns used by someone to attack her.
But when she saw Little Qi with a bruised face standing in front of her, Jiang Si still clenched her fists in anger.
She stepped over the people who were still tugging at each other and walked straight up to Little Qi.
"It's okay now," Jiang Si patted her on the back and smoothed the sweaty and messy hair on her forehead, comforting her in a gentle tone. "Don't be afraid. I'll handle this matter."
"Engineer Jiang..."
Little Qi didn't cry during the fight, nor did she cry when she was desperately defending.
But when she met Jiang Si's concerned gaze, her eyes still uncontrollably turned red.
"Engineer Jiang, this... this is all a misunderstanding," the people who were taking sides and trying to make peace said, trying to smooth things over.
"Get out of the way!" Jiang Si ignored them and fixed her eyes directly on the woman who had been spouting nonsense just now.
This woman seemed to be from the administrative office. They didn't interact much on a normal basis.
Fortunately, there was a name tag and employee number pinned to her chest.
"Xu Yamei, right?" Jiang Si gave her a cold look. "So, were you hiding under my bed?"
Before Xu Yamei could say a word, Jiang Si continued in a sarcastic tone, "It must be quite a challenge for you, at your age, to have such a hobby."
Upon hearing this, Xu Yamei's face went through several changes.
Apparently, she hadn't recovered from the shock of Jiang Si's words.
But this didn't stop Jiang Si from pressing on.
In this era when there were strict taboos between men and women,
even husbands and wives had to pay attention to their words and deeds in public.
Xu Yamei's accusation was no less than stabbing someone with a knife.
So, Jiang Si didn't hold back.
Staring directly into Xu Yamei's eyes, she said, "When exactly and with which eye did you see me living together with another man?
Please tell us the time and the place so that everyone can hear."
"I..." Under Jiang Si's intense gaze, Xu Yamei was instantly at a loss for words. "I heard it from others."
"From others?" Jiang Si raised an eyebrow and said with a sneer, "Who exactly? Tell us the name."
Of course, Xu Yamei wouldn't reveal the name. Otherwise, how could she continue to get along in the unit in the future?
"I can't remember. Anyway, everyone is saying so."
"Really?" Jiang Si let out a cold laugh. "Since you can't say who it is, I'll have to assume it was you who spread the rumor.
Before Xu Yamei could reply, she continued, "Spreading rumors and slandering the family member of a serviceman and deliberately damaging others' reputations. I wonder how many years of imprisonment it will be? Five years? Ten years? Or eighteen years?"
