Ye Jiuliang arched an eyebrow, not in a hurry to speak. His fingertips glided across the phone screen, and then he dragged out the video and the bankās money transfer record.
The next second, the phone beside Mo Su chimed.
It was the notification sound of an incoming message.
Mengzhu glanced at the lit phone screen from the corner of her eye. She swallowed hard, her palms slick with nervous sweat.
Mo Su picked up the phone, clicked on the message from Ye Jiuliang, and scanned the content, feeling the last shred of hope in her heart shatter.
Her face darkened, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the phone.
Suddenly, she stood up and swung a backhanded slap across the face.
The movement was quick and fierce.
"Smackā"
The force was considerable; Mengzhuās ear rang with a buzzing sound, the left side of her cheek branded with a palm print, fingers distinct and threaded with blood.
Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, but she didnāt dare to wipe it away.
Mengzhu staggered, then quickly steadied herself, standing still with her head bowed, silent.
"Speak, who allowed you to do these things behind my back?" Mo Suās face was stern as she reprimanded harshly.
"Mengzhu, I have always trusted you so much. When did you start to pull these tricks behind my back?"
"Miss, Iām sorry, it was my own decision. I thought you liked Mr. Li, so I... It was just my own presumption. Itās all up to the miss to punish me," Mengzhu croaked.
"What am I supposed to say about you? You even dare to spread rumors about this kind of thing. You really infuriate me," Mo Su feigned disappointment.
Ye Jiuliang watched the two of them act in concert, a thin, cool smile on his lips.
Tsk tsk, such a waste of acting talent not to be in the moviesāan outright lead actress and supporting actress.
"What do you think youāve done, creating such a mess? How do you expect me to clean up this disaster for you?" Mo Suās face was ashen as she commanded coldly.
"Apologize to Mr. Li and Miss Ye right now."
Mengzhu nodded, turned around, and faced in the direction of Ye Jiuliang and the others, "Mr. Li, Miss Ye, Iām sorry. This was all my rash action. I did this on my own accord, and it has nothing to do with the miss. Itās all my fault. Please forgive me this time, Iām sorry."
She bowed deeply, her attitude seemingly sincere, though what she truly thought, who could say.
Her voice was cool as she said, "You think a simple apology will do?"
Mengzhuās face showed embarrassment, and she was at a loss.
Mo Su turned around, lowering her posture for once, "Miss Ye, this situation is due to my failure to manage my subordinates. Please be generous, and donāt stoop to her level."
Ye Jiuliang stood up, walked around the table, and slowly approached her, "What if I insist on making an issue of it?"
Mo Suās complexion tightened, "Then, what does Miss Ye wish for?"
Ye Jiuliang cocked his head, glancing indifferently at Mengzhu. His fair hand suddenly reached out toward her arm.
Mengzhu reflexively tried to dodge, but how could Ye Jiuliang let her escape when he was set on dealing with her?
A light pinch on her shoulder and the sound of dislocated bones faintly echoed.
With intense pain shooting through her shoulders, Mengzhuās face turned deathly pale, her hands powerless to retaliate.
"Heh, thatās all it takes to get to you?" Ye Jiuliang sneered coldly, grabbed her arm, and with a twist, executed an over-the-shoulder throw.
"Thumpā"
Her spine struck the cold marble floor, and Mengzhu let out a pained groan, her facial features contorted in agony.
Witnessing this scene, Mo Suās face grew dark; Ye Jiuliangās action was undoubtedly a slap in her face, a lesson for Mengzhu but effectively a strike against her.
Her hand tightened at her side. Mo Su glared at the person on the floor and, managing to hold back no longer, she struck out.
She rushed forward, standing alone in front of Mengzhu. "Miss Ye, youāve already taught her a lesson; isnāt this enough?"
"Itās not for you to say whether itās enough or not," Ye Jiuliang flicked her hand dismissively. "Now, I call the shots."
"Step aside, now."
Mo Suās expression was tense, her feet rooted firmly in place, refusing to budge.
She said, "Miss Ye, please, everything in moderation."
"Shouldnāt Miss Mo be saying this to your subordinate?" Ye Jiuliang let out a cold, light laugh, a chill running through her voice.
"The rumors have been spreading for so many days, growing more vicious by the day. Why didnāt your subordinate know when to stop?"
Mo Su clenched her teeth tightly. "I apologize to you on her behalf. I am sorry, this matter was my oversight. Please, Miss Ye, show some leniency and spare her this once."
"Sorry, but I donāt accept the apology youāre offering," Ye Jiuliang glanced at her indifferently. "Whoever started the rumor, I will deal with them; pleas from others are useless."
As someone who has always been revered, Mo Su had never lowered herself in front of others. To endure to this extent was already her limit. "If Miss Ye insists on not showing mercy, then I have no choice but to offend you."
Ye Jiuliang glanced at her, as if to say, try offending me and see what happens.
Brushing past her, Ye Jiuliang stretched out her hand toward Mengzhu, who was staggering to her feet.
Suddenly, a slender hand swept over, attempting to block her.
Ye Jiuliang scoffed derisively, as if anticipating Mo Suās intervention. Her outstretched hand suddenly turned, elbowing towards Mo Suās shoulder.
She narrowed her cold eyes, delivering a fierce blow.
Caught off guard by the attack, Mo Su didnāt even have time to dodge and took a sharp elbow to the shoulder.
Her balance lost, she stumbled backward, when a cool hand suddenly gripped her wrist.
Mo Su looked up, colliding with Ye Jiuliangās icy gaze, a foreboding sense enveloping her heart.
In that moment of distraction, her wrist suddenly throbbed with pain.
"You..."
Before she could finish speaking, the pressure on her wrist vanished.
Ye Jiuliang withdrew her hand, pocketing it leisurely, her eyes still on Mengzhu. "Iāll take the interest for now. As for the principal, Iāll come to collect it when Iām in a good mood. Remember, I donāt care who owns the dog when Iām beating it."
Mengzhuās face paled, avoiding Ye Jiuliangās cold eyes.
"Miss Mo, weāll take our leave now. Iāll come to have tea and chat when Iām free."
With that, Ye Jiuliang turned around, her eyes warming up when they fell upon Li Mohan.
"Mohan, letās go."
Li Mohan got up, and the two of them left together.
Miss Mo clutched her wrist, watching their figures disappear at the door, her face as dark as coal.
"Miss, is your hand okay? Should I call a doctor to have a look?" Mengzhuās face was swollen, speech somewhat slurred.
Mo Suās face was cold with discomfort. Ye Jiuliang had intentionally twisted her wrist, just because she had twisted Mo Chenās wrist that day.
Ye Jiuliang was taking revenge for Mo Chen.
"What happened with the task?" she rebuked coldly.
This time it was her own failure to manage things properly, and Mengzhu dared not argue, "Sorry, Miss. It was my lack of caution."
Seeing her battered and in pain, Mo Su said impatiently, "Get yourself checked by a doctor and leave."
"Yes," Mengzhu nodded, quickly exiting.