Chapter 17: It's the First Time I've Ever Met Someone as Outrageous as You

Luo Minglang gazed at his wife, her eyes filled with confusion and sorrow, sending a tremor through his heart and stirring a sudden sense of unease. He hurriedly embraced her, feeling guilty for failing to keep his promise.

He had once pledged to his wife that he would never let her be hurt, so he said, “Honey, I was wrong. Please don’t be upset. If she’s fired, so be it—it’s only a secretary.”

Zhang Guoguo felt a flutter of joy within her; this was exactly what she wanted—a man who knew how to admit his mistakes and honor his promises. She responded to his embrace, feeling lucky her soul inhabited this body.

He held her tightly, relieved to see her anger dissipate, then kissed her forehead. Picking up the desk phone, he pressed the number seven and said, “Manny, please settle Anne’s salary for the next six months. Yes, she’s been fired.”

After hanging up, he gave Zhang Guoguo a gentle smile. Suddenly, Zhang Guoguo felt herself a bit ruthless, but her inner turmoil was defeated by reality. After all, how could she allow another woman to covet her man—especially when that woman brazenly attempted to seduce him right under her nose?

Leaving Luo Minglang’s office, Zhang Guoguo spotted Anne at the fire exit, scolding a young secretary. The secretary looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six, her head bowed, unable to utter a word in protest.

Anne’s voice rang out: “I’m the supervisor of the president’s office. Whoever makes mistakes here, it’s my responsibility, even if it’s the president’s wife. There are no family distinctions in the workplace. I hope you understand—here, work is paramount. Got it? Don’t gossip about the president and his wife being sweet together. Mind your own business.”

What arrogance. Zhang Guoguo strode over, staring at Anne, who instantly paled in fright.

“Madam, madam, why are you here? Weren’t you in the president’s—?”

“If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t know how you manage people, Anne. As supervisor, it’s your duty to keep your subordinates in line, but don’t be too harsh. Sometimes, a little humanity is necessary. This young secretary just said a few sweet words about me and Minglang; it’s not as if she was spreading anything malicious. I don’t see any harm in it.”

“You’re right, madam,” Anne conceded, lowering her head. She turned to the young secretary and said, “Get back to work now.”

The secretary murmured assent and hurried away in small, anxious steps. Watching this, Zhang Guoguo spoke bluntly, “Anne, you’re fired.”

The words struck like a bolt from the blue. Anne blurted out, “Why?”

“Don’t you understand?” Zhang Guoguo appraised her from head to toe. Anne was an exquisitely cunning woman, a fox if ever there was one. If she were a man, she doubted she could resist such temptation long-term.

Anne pressed, anxious, “Is it because of what I just said?”

“It has nothing to do with that. I simply want you gone.”

“No, madam, you can’t just fire me because you don’t like me. I’ve never made a fundamental mistake. I’ve been with the president for years. He wouldn’t fire me.”

“If I ask him to, do you think he’d dare refuse? Don’t forget, Anne, I am his wife.”

“There has to be a reason. Disliking me is too shallow.”

Anne refused to give up, feigning innocence with reddened eyes. Zhang Guoguo smiled, “I know you care about this job, and that’s why you’re upset—you’re about to leave Luo Minglang, unable to stay by his side, watch him, or pay attention to him anymore.” She stepped closer to Anne, continuing, “Don’t think I don’t see through your scheming—what you’re plotting, what you desire. Go look in the mirror. You’re not someone who can aspire to him.”

Anne’s voice trembled, “How did you see through me? I thought I hid it so well.”

“Hide it? Did you even try?” Zhang Guoguo pointed to the president’s office door, biting out her words, “You don’t know what you looked like just now, rushing out of my husband’s office with your buttons all askew? You probably did it on purpose for the secretaries to see, to hint at some ambiguity between you and the president. You just never expected me to show up. Women who covet other people’s husbands and lack proper values—no wife would let you near her man. Especially not mine—especially not Luo Minglang.”

Luo Minglang had just come out, overhearing the conversation between his wife and Anne. Around the corner, he was overjoyed to see how much his wife cared for him.

A fifteen-degree smile curled his pink lips, sweet enough to overload the senses.

*

An Ruier had someone bring Xu Mengdie to an abandoned, deserted construction site, tying her tightly to a wooden pole, her whole body bound and unable to escape.

Terrified, Xu Mengdie pleaded, “Ruier, I really don’t know anything about the recording. Besides, I was involved too—if it came out, it would hurt me as well. Why would I sabotage myself?”

“Who else could it be? Hardly anyone knew, and you’re the most suspicious. I checked the wedding footage—apart from the staff, only you went to the sound control area. Xu Mengdie, I treated you well—how could you betray me? Without me, you wouldn’t have what you do today.”

Two sharp slaps landed, merciless, making Xu Mengdie’s nose bleed. She turned her face aside, dizzy, “Ruier, I only went to check the sound controls. Ask the staff if you don’t believe me—I never touched the equipment and don’t know how to operate it. Someone else must be framing me.”

“Then tell me who. If you don’t give me answers today, next year on this day will mark your death.”

“I don’t know who it was, but I swear I never betrayed you or sold you out. I’ve followed you loyally for years, willing to work myself to the bone because you saved my family’s life. I could never betray you. It must be Shen Linyue—she must have come back for revenge. I heard she hasn’t been cremated yet; maybe she’s not dead, pretending to be so to seek revenge. Yes, that must be it. Ruier, you must be careful.”

An Ruier trembled, “What did you say? Shen Linyue wasn’t cremated?”

To verify, two days later, An Ruier had someone dig up Shen Linyue’s grave at Galaxy Park. The patrol guards tried to stop them but were beaten up instead. That night, the news broke that Gu Yiqiao’s ex-wife’s grave had been exhumed. Not only Zhang Guoguo, but even the Shen family was furious.

Gu Yiqiao, upon learning of it, was enraged. The first person he thought of was An Ruier.

Having avoided An Ruier for a whole week, Gu Yiqiao finally found her. The moment they met, he angrily grabbed her chin—her prosthetic slid askew, leaving her looking utterly hideous.

“Killing Linyue wasn’t enough—you even dug up her grave. An Ruier, I’ve never seen anyone as vile as you.”