Xue Weiwei suddenly sat up straight and whispered to her, “I just got word from HR. Apparently, Zheng Yuan resigned.”
“Huh? Wasn’t he still here this morning? Why so sudden?” Xu Yinyin looked puzzled.
“Who knows?” Xue Weiwei also found it strange but silently prayed for her to quickly start discussing this with “Xiao Qi.” Everyone was waiting for the juicy follow-up.
“Xiao Qi, I remember Yaoyao’s notes mentioned that Zheng Yuan was Zheng Rui’s puppet, placed in the company to eventually take over for him. With Zheng Yuan there, Zheng Rui could still control things remotely even if he retired. So why did he resign? Did he mess up and flee?”
“Zheng Rui is known for being shrewd and cautious. If he did something wrong, there’s no way he’d leave evidence behind. Also, your second aunt and her faction are natural rivals of Old Zheng. If there really was a mistake, she would’ve used it as an excuse to eliminate him completely. A resignation wouldn’t be enough.”
“True. Speaking of which, in the workplace, choosing the right side is crucial. A single wrong move, especially for low-level employees, could get you caught in the crossfire and turned into cannon fodder.”
The cafeteria was filled with employees from various departments. Some knew Xu Yinyin’s thoughts were purely about gossip, while others, hearing her inner musings for the first time, were taken by surprise.
Those employees inadvertently stepping into this melon minefield widened their eyes, pricked up their ears, and pretended to listen casually.
“Right now, Grandpa is drafting his will. To create a good environment for the heir, he’ll undoubtedly clean house and pave the way for the successor.”
“At times of upheaval like this, the lower your position, the more you should stay out of trouble. It’s crucial not to let greed turn you into someone else’s pawn, only to be sold out and even thank them for it.”
“How so?” The system was intrigued.
Those with no real power, feeling like potential cannon fodder, suddenly sat up straighter, as if they wanted antennas to pick up every signal.
“The company has three main factions. First, there’s the founding generation that helped Grandpa build his empire, led by Zheng Rui and two other key figures. Second, there’s my second uncle’s group, supported by my capable second aunt, who has long controlled the company’s day-to-day operations. Lastly, there’s my scheming little uncle-in-law. He has no solid backing, but with his silver tongue, he’s managed to recruit a few company veterans as allies.”
“As for my dad, who was forced into the role of acting chairman, he’s the most pitiful. He has no ambition but is compelled to act, making enemies left and right. He’s basically a lightning rod for grievances. No wonder my second aunt targets him—a case of one person wanting something they can’t have, while the other doesn’t want it at all. Isn’t that infuriating?”
“In sensitive times like these, the best thing to do is to lay low and wait for the storm to pass, not foolishly try to fish in troubled waters.”
“You have to understand, Grandpa is a man who climbed his way from being a construction worker to consistently ranking in the top ten of the global rich list. How could he not see through the petty schemes of those around him? He’s just too busy to deal with minor squabbles, because businessmen always prioritize maximizing gains with minimal cost.”
“I bet Grandpa’s plan is to let the factions fight each other so he can reap the benefits. Those who are stirring up trouble now are probably just bait he’s thrown out. Once they destroy each other, he’ll wipe them all out in one sweep.”
“I’m skeptical. Human nature is unpredictable. How can Grandpa be so confident they’ll take the bait?”
The system’s doubts mirrored those of the listeners.
As powerful as the old man might be, he’s been behind the scenes for years. Anyone with ambition would’ve already built their own loyal following by now. He couldn’t possibly monitor them all.
Tang Wan was a prime example. Her authority had long surpassed that of the acting chairman. If the old man were truly wise, he would’ve intervened earlier. Instead, he did nothing, even landing in the ICU last month, almost at death’s door.
The employees aligned with factions scoffed at Xu Yinyin’s naive analysis. What does a rookie girl who relies on a useless father know?
Meanwhile, the neutral gossip lovers were taking mental notes, vowing to remain low-key.
“You still don’t understand human nature. All powerful figures share a common flaw: arrogance. To deal with them, you have to let them inflate their egos until they lose sight of reality. When they think they’re invincible, you strike a heavy blow that destroys both their body and spirit.”
“Is it really that dramatic? I don’t buy it.” The system remained doubtful.
Faction-aligned listeners also rolled their eyes in disbelief.
“Well, let’s just wait and see.”
“Until it’s proven, I’ll remain skeptical.”
“Fair enough. I respect opinions that differ from mine.”
The faction-aligned gossipers silently scoffed. “What a waste of time. Not a single useful point. This ruins my meal. Thumbs down!”
“Who is Xu Yinyin? Get out here!”
A loud, angry voice shattered the chatter, drawing everyone’s attention to the source.
At the cafeteria entrance stood a woman in a tailored suit, her makeup impeccable, her aura exuding hostility.
The piercing, fiery gaze swept across everyone in the cafeteria, making people inexplicably tremble.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
“Why is Zheng Yuan’s sister here?”
Xue Weiwei’s heart tightened. She wanted to give Xu Yinyin a hint but hesitated, worried about scaring her. After all, Xu Yinyin seemed unaware that her inner thoughts could be heard. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be spilling all this juicy gossip about a wealthy family so openly.
If she spilled the beans, where would Xue Weiwei go for entertainment in the future? She and her gossip crew had only just glimpsed the dawn of endless drama!
The gossip crew shared her concern and immediately messaged her, warning her not to say a word.
Xue Weiwei responded with multiple bowing and pleading emojis to show her loyalty.
“Why is Zheng Yuan’s sister looking for me?” Xu Yinyin was thoroughly confused.
“She’s got some juicy melon—let’s find it!”
“What melon? Spill it—I want a taste!”
The duo’s excited voices shifted the attention of those who had been worried for Xu Yinyin.
Zheng Sisi, aside from turning into a protective dragon when her own people were wronged, was known to be warm and amiable. Despite her father’s high status, she lacked the arrogance her brother displayed.
She was known for hosting charity galas, supporting education and farming, donating medical equipment to remote areas, and eagerly participating in volunteer activities. She was practically a beacon of positive energy.
People often mused that if Zheng Sisi took over the company, she would undoubtedly outperform her brother, possibly even assisting Old Zheng in replacing the chairman.
But for such an accomplished and dynamic woman, what kind of scandal could there be?
Zheng Sisi’s face darkened further upon hearing the sudden shift in Xu Yinyin’s thoughts.
Before coming, she had managed to contact her brother. Clearly furious, he had spilled everything in one breath when she asked what had happened.
After hearing it all, Zheng Sisi had been ready to tear Xu Yinyin apart with her bare hands.
Someone who spread other people’s privacy as entertainment was utterly detestable—completely devoid of morals, decency, or conscience!
Today, she was determined to drag Xu Yinyin to the police station and charge her with slander and defamation. She would make sure Xu Yinyin rotted in prison!
“Xu Yinyin, get out here! You—”
Zheng Sisi’s accusatory words were inexplicably silenced. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out, as if her voice had been muted.
The melon-loving crowd watched as she struggled to speak but failed, their sympathetic gazes falling on her. Poor woman—so angry and embarrassed she couldn’t even muster the courage to confront her opponent!
Under the pitying eyes from all directions, Zheng Sisi was overcome with shame and frustration. Refusing to give up, she tried to speak again, but still, no sound came out.
What the hell is this?!
“This elegant woman is the ultimate holy mother!”
“What? The ultimate holy mother?”
Xue Weiwei, about to take a bite of her food, froze mid-motion, her eyes wide with shock.
The surrounding gossipers collectively gasped, though silently.
Zheng Sisi looked as if she had been struck by lightning. No! She wasn’t some “holy mother”! She just had a soft heart and couldn’t stand to see others suffer!
“Zheng Sisi has always known her husband has a mistress. Yesterday, the mistress gave birth, and Zheng Sisi personally picked her up and brought her home to recover during her postpartum confinement. The four of them are now living together: Zheng Sisi takes care of the baby while her husband and the mistress are responsible for watching her take care of the baby—a harmonious family of four.”
“…” Xu Yinyin’s silence was deafening.
Zheng Sisi’s vision darkened, and she collapsed into a cafeteria chair.
It was over. Everyone could hear Xu Yinyin’s inner thoughts, but she couldn’t even voice a single accusation.
Even if she could, there was no way she’d explain herself in public—it would only expose her own embarrassing secrets!
Damn it!
“Huh? Women in such degrading marriages are usually in it for money, signing agreements with rich tycoons who give them millions in allowance while spending their time at work and away from home. The wife just fulfills her duty by helping take care of the mistress and her kids. But Zheng Sisi’s father is one of the three tycoons at Fengyi, holding 12% of the shares and worth billions! She doesn’t need to lower herself like this… Unless her husband’s family is even more powerful?”
“Ha! Her husband is nothing but a son-in-law who married into the family. With Zheng Sisi’s financial support, he became a renowned painter whose works start at tens of millions. In the art world, he’s considered a genius.”
“Actually, without Zheng Sisi using charity auctions to hype up his paintings, they would be completely worthless. But Zheng Sisi never told him that. She absolutely idolizes her husband and spares no effort to boost his reputation. After all, back in college, he was recognized as a genius—a campus heartthrob and the unattainable ideal for all the female students. Being able to pull such a lofty figure down from his pedestal gave her an unmatched sense of achievement.”
“Uh… does every rich young lady come with a built-in charity gene? The moment they see a poor but brilliant scholar or a talented guy from a humble background, they feel the urge to lift them up, or else they can’t sit still?”
“Let me guess: after her help and all the media hype, the guy’s paintings start selling like crazy. He gets drunk on his newfound fame as an artist and starts acting all arrogant, right?”
“Not only arrogant, but he also starts looking down on Zheng Sisi, accusing her of being tainted by the stench of money and unworthy of his pure, artistic soul. Then he uses the excuse of seeking inspiration and muses to frequent entertainment venues, living a life of indulgence and debauchery.”
“Oh my gosh, I have never encountered such shameless behavior!”
The female gossipers clenched their fists in fury, while the male gossipers were openly impressed. Who wouldn’t want to live off their wife in such style?
“And it gets worse. Once, he took a group of shady friends to a nightclub, and afterward, he called Zheng Sisi to pay the bill. He even bet his friends that she’d arrive within half an hour. Not only did she show up in time, but he won 20,000 yuan on the spot. Everyone cheered, calling her “the best sister-in-law,” mocking her in every way possible. And just like that, Zheng Sisi earned a reputation as the ultimate ‘filial and virtuous wife.’”
“WTF!”
The onlookers silently exclaimed, “WTFFFF!”
This is too explosive! Miss Sisi is truly beautiful and kind-hearted. 🙂
“Now that I think about it, maybe her helping the mistress take care of the child isn’t as hard to accept?”
Xu Yinyin’s mouth twitched in shock: “If you’re going to put it that way, then yes, that’s definitely a small thing compared to the bigger picture.”
“What does this man look like? How did he manage to make Zheng Sisi so obsessed?”
The system let out a smug chuckle and then released a picture.
After looking at it, Xu Yinyin gasped deeply, the pause lasting for more than thirty seconds.
The onlookers were all intrigued by her almost breathless gasp, eagerly itching to share the system’s image and catch a glimpse of his face.
“Please, just describe the look of this high-and-mighty guy!”
“How do I describe him? Saying he’s a beast would be an insult to animals. With that messy hair and his pitiful, dog-like appearance, how dare he be the “white moonlight” of all the girls in school? Where does he get his confidence?”
“Speaking of which, this brings up another melon.”
“Oh my, the drama keeps unfolding?! Don’t tell me the “white moonlight” persona was all part of a scheming plot?”
“Bingo, Yinyin, you’re so smart.”
At this point, all the onlookers were rubbing their hands in anticipation, bouncing around like eager squirrels, wishing they could dig in deeper.
Meanwhile, Zheng Sisi looked pale, staring at Xu Yinyin with a mixture of hatred and sorrow in her eyes.
The secret she’d been desperately hiding was about to be exposed to the world in a way everyone would know.
“Ah, don’t praise me, just hurry up and tell me!”
Xu Yinyin urged, rubbing her hands together.
The melon-eaters held their breath, eagerly awaiting the next bombshell to drop.
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