Nothing could have diverted the attention of the agitated crowd more effectively than Wu Zhiming's shouted announcement.
"Zhou Wenwei is here!"
With that single sentence, Wu Zhiming commanded the focus of everyone present. It was a testament to his quick thinking and high intelligence. All eyes turned to Zhou Wenwei.
Zhou Wenwei was stunned, not expecting Wu Zhiming to throw him into the spotlight so abruptly. More accurately, he was being used as a target.
Grabbing Zhou Wenwei, Wu Zhiming pushed him forward into the crowd.
"Zhou Wenwei, how could you betray my daughter!"
"Zhou Wenwei, you've wronged my niece!"
"Zhou Wenwei, you've disappointed my goddess!"
He Shuhui's parents, other relatives, and perhaps some ardent admirers, roared with fury as they surged toward Zhou Wenwei. Wu Zhiming smoothly stepped aside, allowing the angry mob to engulf Zhou Wenwei. At first, Zhou Wenwei managed to utter a few words, but soon his voice was lost amidst the tumult.
Wu Zhiming approached the office door and called out, "I'm here."
The door immediately opened, and Yao Jing peeked out. Seeing only Wu Zhiming, she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Come in."
Wu Zhiming stepped into the office, which belonged to Song Siqing. She was sitting at her desk, nonchalantly playing with her phone, seemingly unfazed by the chaos outside.
"Zhou Wenwei is infatuated with Siqing, and He Shuhui's family found out. They came to confront her," Yao Jing summarized, though she tactfully omitted the flirtatious undertones between Song Siqing and Zhou Wenwei.
"Come with me," Wu Zhiming said, reaching for Yao Jing's hand.
"I can't leave! What will happen to Siqing if I go?" Yao Jing protested.
"Listen to him, Yao Jing. This has nothing to do with you. Don't get yourself involved in this mess," Song Siqing said, her attention still on her phone.
"The person at the center of this isn't worried, but you, the bystander, are in a panic. I thought something serious had happened. Don't worry, no one's going to die. Without solid proof, they won't do anything drastic in public," Wu Zhiming reassured her.
"Judging by their expressions, they don't look like they're going to hold back," Yao Jing responded.
"Yao Jing, just leave. I've been in these situations before. As long as I'm in this line of work, I'm prepared for such encounters. I've already called the police; they'll be here soon," Song Siqing said calmly.
"Do you think the police can resolve this? They're slandering you. What about your reputation?" Yao Jing asked angrily.
"Who cares? My reputation has never been good, even since high school," Song Siqing shrugged, looking indifferent.
Seeing this, Yao Jing became even more frustrated. Grabbing Song Siqing's hand, she insisted, "Siqing, I don't care what you think. I'm not leaving alone. Either you come with me, or we both wait here for the police."
Just then, loud arguments erupted outside the door.
"Move aside! Let me in to see that vixen Song Siqing!"
"Song Siqing, how could you do this to me after all we've been through as classmates?"
"Flirting with a married man! Do you have any sense of decency?"
These accusations came from He Shuhui. Her voice was full of rage and sorrow, tinged with the sound of tears.
"Sigh," Yao Jing sighed, "Siqing, why don't you let Shuhui in and explain things to her?"
"What's there to explain? Nothing happened between me and Zhou Wenwei. He's just fantasizing. But for women, knowing their man is fantasizing about someone else is enough to make them believe that woman must have led him on. I'm actually doing a good deed. Better to confront these issues early rather than later. Zhou Wenwei is a player," Song Siqing said with a chuckle.
"A man can't be led astray unless he's already willing. If you hadn't said those suggestive things, he wouldn't be in this mess. Stay here; I'll go talk to Shuhui," Yao Jing said, heading towards the door.
"Are you crazy? They'll beat you up!" Song Siqing shouted after her.
"My husband is here. They won't dare touch me," Yao Jing replied, opening the office door.
As soon as she did, she saw a tearful He Shuhui and a battered Zhou Wenwei. He was crouched on the floor, his clothes torn and looking pitiful.
"Yao Jing!!" He Shuhui cried out and rushed towards her.
"Stop right there," Yao Jing commanded in a firm tone.
Years of holding a high position had given her an authoritative presence that made He Shuhui and her angry companions halt in their tracks.
"Are you planning to divorce him or stay together?" Yao Jing asked pointedly, leaving He Shuhui momentarily speechless.
"If you're going to divorce, call a cab and head to the civil affairs bureau. Don't cause a scene here. If you want to stay together, then talk things out," Yao Jing stated.
"Divorce? After he cheated? How could we possibly stay together!" shouted a young man in his twenties, likely one of He Shuhui's suitors or admirers.
"Shut up! Who asked for your opinion?" Yao Jing snapped.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Shuhui is such a kind and virtuous woman; any man would treasure her..." The sycophant was still singing praises of He Shuhui, but before he could finish, a slap sent him sprawling to the floor.
He staggered back, holding his face, terrified to even look at the man who hit him. He was speechless.
"Keep your fawning to yourself and stop shouting at my wife," Wu Zhiming said calmly.
The surrounding crowd was stunned. They had the numbers, about a dozen people, yet Wu Zhiming had no hesitation in resorting to violence. His aggression effectively intimidated the group. It's not about how many people are on your side in a fight, but whether there's a tough guy among them. Clearly, Wu Zhiming was the tough guy, and He Shuhui's side had none.
"Yao Jing, are you really going to help that little slut?" He Shuhui's eyes were red with anger.
"Yes, I am," Yao Jing replied succinctly, skipping any lengthy explanations.
"Fine! Let me make this clear: I will not divorce. I won't give Song Siqing any chance. But this isn't over. Bring Song Siqing out here, let her apologize to me face to face, and admit she's a slut. Only then can we consider this matter settled!" He Shuhui demanded through gritted teeth.
"I've seen the chat logs. Though some of what Siqing said was a bit much, it was still within bounds. She didn't seduce Zhou Wenwei or show any real interest in him. Everything was in his imagination. If anyone is at fault, it's more Zhou Wenwei than Siqing," Yao Jing asserted.
"I did nothing wrong! Song Siqing clearly likes me!" Zhou Wenwei exclaimed passionately.
"Song Siqing likes you? What makes you think you have anything she could be interested in? Is it your money? There are plenty of people with more money who are interested in Siqing! Or is it your looks? Look at my husband. He's better looking and richer than you. Why isn't Song Siqing interested in him? Why isn't she seducing him?" Yao Jing countered.
Wu Zhiming's heart skipped a beat. Oh, little Jingjing, actually, Song Siqing did try to seduce your husband. If it weren't for his strong resolve, you'd be the one crying and making a scene today!
He suddenly felt a sense of pride. In an age where faithful men were rare, he prided himself on being one. He was indeed a prime example of a good man!
Zhou Wenwei fell silent. When it came to looks, Wu Zhiming was indeed a bit more handsome than him. When it came to wealth, Wu Zhiming was miles ahead.
With someone like Wu Zhiming around, why would Song Siqing be interested in him?
"No, I want a face-to-face confrontation!" Zhou Wenwei demanded, his emotions betraying the fact that he might have indeed developed feelings for Song Siqing.
"A confrontation? How do you plan to confront her?" Song Siqing's voice emerged from behind the door. Everyone turned to see her stepping out, her expression calm.
"You slut!" He Shuhui screamed and charged forward.
Her companions also shouted and rushed ahead.
Wu Zhiming picked up a chair and smashed it against the wall. The chair shattered, leaving only a single leg in his hand.
Positioning himself at the door, he pulled Yao Jing behind him, shielding her.
Wu Zhiming then faced the group of about a dozen people, his expression calm and silent. Despite his silence, everyone stopped in their tracks.
The quiet authority radiating from Wu Zhiming instilled fear in their hearts. They weren't fighters; they didn't have the stomach for confrontation. Faced with someone as intimidating as Wu Zhiming, they immediately backed down.
"Speak your mind, Song Siqing. With me here, no one will harm you," Wu Zhiming said.
Song Siqing looked at Wu Zhiming in surprise. This man had always been her ultimate goal, and he knew it. Yet, in this moment, it was this man standing in front of her, protecting her. His slender figure seemed formidable. Holding the chair leg, he didn't resort to shouting like a thug. His simple words provided a reassuring sense of calm.
"Go ahead, Siqing. Zhiming and I are here," Yao Jing encouraged.
"Okay," Song Siqing nodded, then looked at Zhou Wenwei. "Zhou Wenwei, I have no feelings for you whatsoever. Everything you imagined was just that—your own fantasy. I talk to everyone the way I talked to you. If you and your wife misunderstood, there's nothing I can do about it."
"Apologize," Wu Zhiming said, turning to her with a frown. He was being fair. Despite Song Siqing not having any concrete evidence against her for seduction, her words could easily be misconstrued. And she did seem to harbor intentions of disrupting Zhou Wenwei's marriage.
In Wu Zhiming's eyes, Song Siqing wasn't a good woman.
"No way," Song Siqing replied defiantly, her chin held high.
"You really have no feelings for me?" Zhou Wenwei asked in disbelief.
"None," Song Siqing shook her head.
"Fine, it seems it was all just my delusion. Shuhui, I've wronged you. To have a wife like you and still think of another woman... I no longer deserve you. Let's divorce. I'll leave with nothing. Everything will be yours," Zhou Wenwei sighed, shaking his head as he walked away, looking deeply wounded.