Wei Yumeng found Wu Yi somewhat exasperating. While she didn't particularly dislike Wu Yi, Catherine's approach felt too blatant.
Giving away someone close to her to someone else didn't sit right.
"Sorry, Director Wei," Wu Yi said, still feeling a pang of regret. She didn't want to do this.
Wei Yumeng smiled. "What you're looking for isn't here. You can tell her that when you go back."
Wu Yi nodded. She didn't really believe Wei Yumeng would leave anything important behind either. Only Catherine, it seemed, would think Wei Yumeng would leave it in the office.
After all, Catherine was already in a panic and her mind was reeling from this matter.
Wu Yi ended up helping Wei Yumeng with some of her work. She actually enjoyed working with Wei Yumeng because she was clear-thinking, logical, and easy to communicate with.
Wei Yumeng, too, didn't think Wu Yi was a bad person. She likely had no choice but to become Catherine's assistant, and as an assistant, she had to do as Catherine commanded.
If her plan succeeded this time, she would definitely keep Wu Yi.
Time ticked by. Catherine hadn't expected Wu Yi to be gone for so long. Today was the deadline Lin Zong had set for everything to be resolved. She couldn't wait any longer.
Wei Yumeng knew it was Catherine by the sound of her footsteps.
"Have you thought it through?"
Catherine remained silent, seemingly unsure how to begin.
"As long as you agree to what I'm about to say, I can help you sort this out right now," Wei Yumeng continued, regardless of Catherine's reaction. "I want you to personally apologize to the collaborators and the workers, and resign from your position as acting president."
Catherine looked at Wei Yumeng in disbelief. "How is that possible? How much effort did it take for me to get here? You want me to give it all up with just one sentence?"
Wei Yumeng's voice turned cold. "It's up to you whether you want to make the exchange or not. I don't mind; this matter wasn't really my concern to begin with."
Catherine sneered. "Don't pretend with me. For the sake of my parents, you won't just stand by and do nothing, will you? They are your biological parents. You wouldn't be so heartless."
Wei Yumeng merely glanced at Catherine, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind about whether Catherine knew what she was saying.
Catherine had thought mentioning Song Lijun and Feng Zhenhua would soften Wei Yumeng, but Wei Yumeng's indifferent gaze seemed to pierce right through her.
"That's my only condition. Think carefully before you answer," Wei Yumeng reiterated her terms.
Looking at Wei Yumeng, Catherine felt something was off. Wei Yumeng's attitude even made her suspect that Wei Yumeng might have deliberately orchestrated this whole thing. After all, she had found it strange at the time that those companies seemed intent on distancing themselves from Wei Yumeng.
"I think you're in cahoots with them. You deliberately set me up just to take this position."
Wei Yumeng looked at her with disdain. "Weren't those contracts your doing? Why are you blaming me?"
Catherine truly didn't know how to respond. It was her own suspicion about Wei Yumeng, with no actual evidence.
"You!" Catherine was still resentful but had nothing more to say.
Wei Yumeng picked up her belongings. "I'm leaving for the day. Since our transaction was unsuccessful, please leave as well."
With that, Wei Yumeng left Catherine alone in the office and walked away.
"Miss Catherine..."
"Get lost!" Catherine yelled at Wu Yi. "You're completely useless. What good are you to me?"
Wu Yi never expected to be fired for such a reason. With tears welling up in her eyes, she ran out.
Catherine was out of options. Her only recourse now was to try her luck with Song Lijun.
Just then, the hospital called. "Miss Catherine, Mrs. Feng has woken up."
Catherine rushed to the hospital and, upon seeing Song Lijun, threw herself into her arms.
"Mom, I'm sorry. I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have scared you."
Song Lijun looked at Catherine and simply sighed. "Has the matter been resolved?"
Catherine shook her head. "Not yet."
"Don't worry, once your father wakes up, I'll speak to him. Regardless, your father has the final say in company matters." Although Song Lijun said this, her expression was not good, clearly still concerned about the project.
"Mom, if this matter is resolved, I will definitely learn my lesson. I really didn't mean for any of this to happen."
Song Lijun sighed. "Mom believes you, of course."
Catherine looked at Song Lijun, then suddenly adopted an angry tone. "Mom, I think that Wei Yumeng must be overjoyed seeing us in such a predicament."
Song Lijun looked at Catherine, confused. "Why do you say that?"
"We talked before I came here today. I'm really starting to suspect that Wei Yumeng deliberately set me up."
Song Lijun immediately stopped her. "Linlin, you can't just say such things. Besides, I don't think that child is that kind of person."
"Why? How long have you known each other? And you're already taking her side?"
Catherine was indignant. She genuinely couldn't understand why.
"It's not that Mom is taking her side. When will you stop pushing your problems onto others when something goes wrong?" Song Lijun looked at Catherine with a hint of anger.
Some things Song Lijun knew but hadn't mentioned. But seeing Catherine's imperious behavior occasionally, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
Catherine bit her lip. She now felt that Song Lijun was just protecting Wei Yumeng because Wei Yumeng was her biological daughter.
She stopped arguing with Song Lijun, maintaining a defiant posture, believing that no matter what she said, she wouldn't change Song Lijun's opinion.
Seeing Catherine like this, Song Lijun couldn't help but sigh. She even began to wonder if she had spoiled her too much.
She hadn't felt this strongly before, but now, in contrast with Wei Yumeng, Catherine's flaws seemed amplified.
She even began to doubt that if Catherine were left to her own devices, she might become someone utterly detestable.
Catherine was unaware of Song Lijun's thoughts. She had already started planning her next round of revenge against Wei Yumeng. Since Wei Yumeng wouldn't let her have an easy time, she had to fight back.