Assistant Fang carefully relayed the words he had overheard.
After speaking, he cautiously glanced at President Feng.
President Feng stood with his back to the door, framed by the floor-to-ceiling window.
From his angle, Assistant Fang could only see the man’s profile—brows tightly knit, eyes cold and unreadable, an intimidating sight no one dared meet head-on.
Assistant Fang stood trembling for a long moment before President Feng finally waved him off, allowing him to retreat quietly.
Silence settled over the office once more.
The usually composed man felt an inexplicable irritation rise in his chest.
A master of navigating the cutthroat business world, he was adept at uncovering the underlying logic of any situation.
Even from fragmented rumors, he pieced together the rough outline of events.
The absurd gossip circulating now stemmed from one simple fact: in the three months since their marriage, he had treated Sang Lu as if she were invisible.
So much so that she lacked even the confidence to publicly acknowledge her status as the eldest daughter-in-law of the Feng family.
What was she afraid of?
Feng Yan lowered his gaze.
His eyes darkened abruptly.
A sudden thought displeased him.
He picked up his phone.
Sent a message to Sang Lu.
[Feng: I’ll pick you up from the TV station tonight. We’re having dinner at the family estate.]
The most efficient way to dispel rumors?
Let them collapse under their own weight.
......
TV Station.
The entire afternoon.
Sang Lu was swamped, racing nonstop from one task to another.
Fresh out of a two-hour video conference, she was immediately pulled away by Yu Xiaoke.
The talent coordination team needed her—several names on the proposed guest list had scheduling conflicts.
By the time she finally returned to her desk, exhausted, the blinds at the edge of the office parted slightly.
Director Wang’s searching gaze landed on her.
“Come to my office.”
Sang Lu gulped down a mouthful of the now-cold coffee she’d bought at lunch and followed.
Director Wang sat behind his desk, fingers absently tracing the rim of his thermos.
He hesitated before speaking.
“Xiao Sang… there’s been some talk around the station lately…”
Sang Lu: “?”
Director Wang: “About you and… that person from the Feng family.”
“!” Sang Lu.
Meanwhile.
Outside Director Wang’s office.
A tanned young man with a buzz cut craned his neck, peering intently into the room as if confirming something.
Satisfied, he hurried back to the mailroom on the first floor.
Dialed a number.
“Hello, Auntie. That person you asked me to keep an eye on? She just got called into the boss’s office.”
......
Zhuang’s Mother had been waiting for this call.
Her face lit up with glee as she pressed for details.
“Are you sure? You saw it clearly?”
“Yeah, crystal clear. The boss looked furious.”
“Good, good. Thank you, Little Jun. I’ll treat you and your mom to dinner soon.”
Hanging up, Zhuang’s Mother immediately dialed her daughter.
Eager to share the good news.
“Xiao Xiao, we’ve got news from the TV station.”
“News!?” Zhuang Xiao, mid-facial, bolted upright, startling the aesthetician.
The complaint letter had been sent days ago with no response.
Finally!
Zhuang’s Mother: “Absolutely true. Little Jun saw Sang Lu summoned to the boss’s office. Today’s the day—she’s getting disciplined for misconduct.”
Zhuang Xiao nearly laughed aloud.
“Perfect, Mom. I’m actually near the station for my facial. I’ll swing by and see if I can catch Sang Lu slinking out in disgrace.”
After the call.
Zhuang’s Mother felt lighter, as if a weight had lifted.
Ever since hearing that the Sang family’s daughter rode in a luxury car worth over 80 million, envy had festered in her chest like a sickness.
A lifetime of competing with the Sangs.
Now, in middle age—
How could Lin Yueyin’s daughter outshine her Xiao Xiao?
Zhuang’s Mother paused.
Wait.
An opportunity like this.
She couldn’t let her rival miss it.
Time to rub Lin Yueyin’s nose in it.
A glance at the wall clock.
This hour, the Sang couple would likely be on their evening stroll downstairs.
Zhuang’s Mother smirked.
Heh.
Little did they know their daughter was about to lose her job in scandal.
The Sangs’ marital harmony had long grated on Zhuang’s Mother, trapped in her own loveless marriage.
When your life is bitter, others’ happiness stings like salt in a wound.
It was time for the Sang family to taste chaos.
With that thought.
She strode out, smug.
Ready to deliver the “good news” personally.
......
TV Station.
Team D knew Sang Lu had been called into Director Wang’s office.
No one knew why.
Speculation floated idly among them.
“Maybe the project bonuses are coming early? Handing them out one by one?”
“Are you dense? Since when does Director Wang handle petty cash?”
“Right… then what? She’s been in there forever.”
Little Duan, the youngest intern, grew increasingly uneasy listening to the chatter.
Finally spoke up.
“Um… there’s something I’m not sure I should mention…”
“What is it?” someone asked.
Little Duan hesitated. “Well… there’s been some ugly rumors about Sister Sang Lu lately.”
“Rumors? What rumors?”
Team D was tight-knit, a family within the station.
Others knew better than to provoke their unity.
Telling Group D one thing was like telling the entire group.
Yet somehow, an invisible wall had formed, one that no rumors could penetrate.
"It's like this... That day, I overheard people from Group B chatting on the rooftop," Little Duan stammered. "They said—"
A colleague urged impatiently, "Come on, Little Duan, spit it out! You’re killing me here."
Little Duan continued, "They claimed that during the investment conference, they saw Sang Lu getting into a car with one of the investors, spreading rumors that she..."
Once Little Duan finished recounting the incident,
Yu Xiaoke rolled up her sleeves and slammed her hand on the table:
"Absolute nonsense! Baseless rumors! Don’t tell me Director Wang actually believes that garbage?"
A senior colleague frowned and shook his head, analyzing the situation:
"The network has strict rules against misconduct. What if... they’re looking to make an example of someone? Could Sang Lu be wrongfully forced out?"
The group erupted into overlapping chatter.
They talked about confronting Director Wang to demand an explanation for Sang Lu.
They wanted to ask him directly what was really going on.
But just as they took a few steps toward the office entrance,
a figure appeared before them.
Sang Lu stood by the door, holding an empty cardboard box, her face clouded with worry.
The noisy crowd instantly fell silent.
???
What was happening?
That expression on Sang Lu’s face, that empty box...
Could it be...?
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Yu Xiaoke anxiously asked,
"Lu Lu, did you get bad news?"
Sang Lu lifted her gaze.
Her eyes slowly swept over everyone.
Then she let out a deep sigh.
"Yeah."
