Jiang Ziyao, meanwhile, was fanning the flames, "Hurry up and sign, will you? You sure weren't hesitating when you were messing around with that mistress!"
The pen in Xu Pei's hand was almost crushed.
That detestable Jiang Ziyao, she better pray she never falls into his hands in this lifetime!
Thankfully, Xiao Guo suddenly knocked on the door and temporarily saved him, "Lawyer Xu, General Manager Jiang from Li Fan has been trying to reach you on your mobile phone several times without success, so he had to try the landline."
Xu Pei, as if granted an amnesty, dropped the line, "Panpan, I'll go take the call."
And he fled the conference room as if escaping.
Jiang Ziyao couldn't help but curse, "This scumbag is definitely doing it on purpose, dragging his feet even now, still hoping Xia Chu will give him a chance. Where does he get the face from? Truly, there's nothing worse than someone shameless!"
Xia Chu, however, was very calm, "His delay is useless. When he comes back, I'll tell him that I'm only giving him three days. If he doesn't sign within three days, I'll sell my shares to someone else. Then, with someone else holding 40% of the shares, he won't be the only one whose word counts at the law firm."
Jiang Ziyao felt vindicated, "That's right, don't let him get his way with any form of manipulation. Let's see what he can do now!"
Xia Chu was about to say more when someone else pushed the door open, "Lawyer Xia, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have disrupted your relationship with Lawyer Xu, but I had no choice."
It was 'Little Zhao'—the trainee lawyer, Zhao Xinru, who had sent the photos to Xia Chu yesterday.
Xia Chu's complexion turned ugly in an instant.
Jiang Ziyao, with her fiery temper, could not bear it and immediately started scolding, "If sorry was useful, what would we need the police for? Knowing it's wrong to destroy others' relationships but still doing it, that's really despicable!"
And Xu Pei had the nerve to claim he had already sent her away, that he had completely broken it off. Is this his idea of being completely done?
Zhao Xinru's face was haggard, and her eyes were red, making her look pitiful, "Lawyer Xia, I really didn't do it on purpose... But I, I'm pregnant... Brother Pei, Lawyer Xu initially didn't like me. It was because my family was sick, he pitied me, he had drunk some alcohol, and he mistook me for you... And then..."
"I had planned to resign and leave, but then I discovered I was pregnant... I can deal with my own difficulties, but the child is innocent..."
Jiang Ziyao laughed bitterly out of sheer frustration, "You didn't do it on purpose, so Xu Pei raped you? Then why didn't you report him to the police, or shall I help you do it now? The child in your belly is the best evidence, surely enough to bring Xu Pei to justice, to have him sentenced for ten or eight years!"
Zhao Xinru waved her hands frantically, "No, no, Lawyer Xu didn't force me, it was me... I'm sorry, Lawyer Xia, I really didn't want to wrong you. But I just... I couldn't help it. Isn't it said that love, cough, and poverty are the three things in this world that are the hardest to endure? I'm sorry..."
Xia Chu stepped towards her, towering above, "Indeed, love is hard to resist, but stealing from others is wrong, it's lacking in propriety, righteousness, integrity, and honor. The greatest difference between humans and animals is that humans have these virtues, and animals do not!"
Zhao Xinru's eyes reddened further as tears started to spin in her eyes, "Lawyer Xia, I know you hate me now, and I truly am in the wrong. You can hit or scold me, and I'll accept it. But the child in my stomach is innocent. Please, raise your noble hand, and spare me and Lawyer Xu..."
Xia Chu laughed lightly, "Oh? And how else should I accommodate you? Didn't I fulfill your wish by not getting a marriage certificate with Xu Pei yesterday? Or should I also have Xu Pei immediately go and register with you to truly accommodate you both?"
Zhao Xinru fell silent, merely bowing her head and weeping, her shoulders shaking with sobs.
Not having a marriage certificate certainly wasn't enough; she had to make sure that Xia Chu completely lost all hope of ever reconciling with Xu Pei.
As soon as Xia Chu and Jiang Ziyao saw Zhao Xinru's demeanor, they knew what she was up to.
She was clearly eager to add fuel to the fire, fearing that Xia Chu and Xu Pei would not break up after all.
Jiang Ziyao also confronted Zhao Xinru, her face full of scorn, "It seems you're aware that even though you're carrying Xu Pei's child, he's just playing games with you. Although you, as the 'other woman,' have nothing to your name and can't compare to Xia Chu in any respect, at least you have the self-awareness to admit it as your one redeeming quality."
She sneered and continued her venomous tirade, "Are you so sure Xu Pei wants this child? If he did, he would have set you up comfortably by now instead of having you charge into battle yourself. It's true, he just wanted a bit of fun like a ladybug, but he certainly didn't intend to have a swarm of little ladybugs!"
These words were truly harsh and immediately enraged Zhao Xinru beyond pretending to be pitiable, "Watch your mouth, or be careful I'll sue you for defamation! Xu Pei and I are both single, why can't we be together? And what right do you have to call me a 'homewrecker'? Lawyer Xia hasn't said anything yet, and here you are, an outsider, jumping up and down in outrage."
"What, are you eyeing Lawyer Xu for yourself, so you can't stand to see him with me?"
But Jiang Ziyao was not the least bit angry; she actually laughed, "You're like a dung beetle, naturally drawn to filth, and you think others share your tastes? You have the nerve to talk about you and Xu Pei being single; doesn't everyone know that Xu Pei and Xia Chu were supposed to register their marriage yesterday and are going to hold their wedding next month?"
"They're just missing that piece of paper. Yet here you are, sticking your foot in, shamelessly claiming you're not the 'other woman.' Truly, a man can be shameless, but even ghosts would be scared of you! Get out right now; Xia Chu may not be recycling trash, but that doesn't mean it's your turn to jump around in front of her. Go, or don't blame me if I get physical!"
These words extinguished Zhao Xinru's anger.
If she could provoke Jiang Ziyao into hitting her, when Xu Pei came back and saw it, even if he wasn't sympathetic toward her, he would feel that Jiang Ziyao had slapped his face. And for Jiang Ziyao to take action, it would be as good as Xia Chu doing it herself.
Wouldn't that settle their break up for good?
Zhao Xinru had an idea and became even more furious, "By what right do you tell me to leave? I am an employee of Xing Yao; even my boss can't just send me away, let alone an outsider like you? You want to get physical? Go ahead, I dare you to touch me, see if I'm afraid of you. I will think less of you if you don't!"
Finally, Jiang Ziyao couldn't hold back her anger any longer, "You dare be so arrogant as a homewrecker? Fine, since you're practically begging me to hit you, I guess I have to grant your wish. Tsk, I've never seen someone so cheap, actually begging others to hit her. It's true, the world is full of wonders."
As she spoke, she already raised her hand towards Zhao Xinru.
Unfortunately, before she could strike, Xu Pei returned, "Jiang Ziyao, what are you doing? Assaulting my employee in my own law firm, do you think I'm dead? I'm asking you to leave immediately; Xing Yao doesn't welcome you!"
Zhao Xinru was inwardly delighted; her eyes turned red again, "Pei... Lawyer Xu, don't blame Lawyer Jiang and Lawyer Xia. It's really my fault, I've wronged Xia Chu. Whether it's getting hit or scolded, I deserve it all, and I won't have any complaints."
Xu Pei disliked Jiang Ziyao's opposition at every turn, especially her readiness to resort to violence. Didn't she know one should consider the owner before beating the dog?
But Zhao Xinru showing up here now undoubtedly made him even more infuriated.
He could barely contain his voice, "Who told you to come here? Didn't I already agree to all your terms yesterday and made our final break? What more do you want?"
Zhao Xinru's tears fell, "Pei Ge, I don't want anything, I didn't want things to turn out so ugly... I'm truly no match for Xia Chu and I really didn't want to cause you trouble. But I... I'm pregnant, no matter how difficult it is for me, it doesn't matter, but the child is innocent, I..."