When Zhan Mohan left, he told Wei Yumeng not to wait for him for lunch, but by afternoon, he still hadn't returned. If he had gone somewhere else, it would have been fine, but going back to the Zhan family to see the old master made Wei Yumeng a bit worried.
Looking at the number on her phone, which she hadn't called in a long time, she dialed it, but no one answered for a long time. After calling several times with the same result, her heart sank to the bottom.
She had some understanding of the old master's temper, and she could guess the most likely reason for Zhan Mohan's disappearance. However, she hadn't even put her phone down when someone knocked on the door.
This was Zhan Mohan's private apartment, and anyone who could find their way here was someone familiar to both of them, so she wasn't very surprised to see Cen Yuan when she opened the door.
"Miss Wei, the old master wants to talk to you."
It was the same place as last time, the same private room, but this time, her attitude upon entering was not hostile. He gestured with his chin to the seat opposite him, signaling her to sit down.
However, Zhan Mohan had gone missing after returning to the Zhan family, and then the old master wanted to talk to her. Wei Yumeng didn't think the old master would say anything approving of her this time.
Indeed, the old master always got straight to the point, "I've checked, and you didn't lie. This child is a child of the Zhan family."
Wei Yumeng didn't speak, quietly waiting for the old master's next words.
As expected, the old master immediately asked, "But do you think you are worthy of being his mother?"
Obviously, this was the greatest insult to a mother. Given the old master's dislike for her, it was not surprising that he would say such a thing. But as a mother, Wei Yumeng did not want to be questioned like this.
She straightened her body slightly, "I believe there is no such thing as being worthy or unworthy between a mother and child. This is my child. I carried him for ten months. We are mother and child, and no one can change that or question it."
The old master sometimes appreciated her sharp wit, but he disliked her showing off in front of him.
Therefore, he preferred to be direct in their conversation and clearly expressed the purpose of his visit.
"My reason for coming to you is simple. I will never agree to you and Mohan being together. I don't need to explain the reasons; you know them yourself. I am here to discuss the matter of the child."
Upon hearing this, Wei Yumeng instinctively covered her stomach and listened to the old master continue.
"Since this child is Mohan's, he will naturally be raised by the Zhan family. However, you and Mohan are divorced, and there is no possibility of remarriage. So, after you give birth, I will give you a sum of money. This money will be enough for you to leave Pengcheng and live a life of comfort and security elsewhere. As for you and Mohan, you should no longer have any contact."
Wei Yumeng had anticipated that the old master would ask her to leave Zhan Mohan, but she hadn't expected him to try to take her child. Driven by her maternal instincts, she refused outright.
"Old Master Zhan, I cannot agree to your demands. This child is mine, and I will never give him up!"
This was the child of her and Zhan Mohan, the best testament to the life they had shared. No matter what happened between her and Zhan Mohan in the future, this child would always be her hope. Although she knew how much Old Master Zhan valued his descendants, she had to take a gamble.
Upon hearing her refusal, Old Master Zhan's face darkened considerably. "Wei Yumeng, don't refuse a kind offer and then face consequences. I am willing to discuss this with you because you are carrying a child of the Zhan family. This child bears the Zhan surname and must be raised by the Zhan family."
Wei Yumeng did not acknowledge any of this. She remained steadfast, refusing to back down even half an inch. "This is the Zhan family's child, and it is also my child. I cannot leave him."
"I am offering you a sum of money as compensation. Don't test my patience, or you will lose both the child and the money."
Stubborn as she was, Wei Yumeng still refused. "I am not doing this for money. Old Master Zhan, I will never agree to what you have said."
Seeing her obstinacy, the old master lost patience and no longer wished to speak with her.
"Wei Yumeng, since you are unwilling, then don't blame me for taking forceful measures."
Wei Yumeng didn't speak, using her silence to express her disagreement.
The old master said no more and got up to leave. At the door, he added, "Don't expect Mohan to help you with anything. Also, I've already sent someone to change the apartment's password."
With that, he closed the door heavily and left, still maintaining his composure despite being angered by Wei Yumeng. "Cen Yuan, go and do two things for me. First, clean up everything online about Wei Yumeng and Xin Ran. I don't want anything to negatively impact the company. Second, call Shi Ming and ask her to come and see me."
"Yes."
In the private room, Wei Yumeng watched the old master leave in silence. After the door closed, she let out a long sigh. The days ahead would likely not be easy.
She touched her stomach with a wry smile, "Baby, don't be afraid. Mommy will not hand you over to anyone."
She couldn't return to Zhan Mohan's apartment now, so she had to call Mu Linjing. Mu Linjing was still at work at this time, so she went to the company as well.
Zhan Mohan was not at the company, and Fang Xun didn't know where he was. Sitting at her own desk, she realized she felt out of place in this office.
Her colleagues were gathered in small groups, discussing something, and some would even glance at her from time to time, then quickly look away and pretend to be casual when their eyes met hers.
Having been in the workplace for a long time, this situation was not uncommon. Moreover, given the uproar yesterday, it would be strange if no one at the company was talking about it today.
She didn't need to strain her ears to know the general topic of their conversation.
After sitting for a while, a document was suddenly thrown onto her desk.
Feng Shiming looked at her disdainfully, gesturing with her eyes for her to look at the document.
Opening the folder, the words "Termination Letter" were centered on the first line, the meaning of which was obvious.
Feng Shiming sneered, "Take a good look. It's still warm; it was just printed."
She pushed the document back. "My work hasn't been fully handed over yet. I'll leave after I've completed it."
Feng Shiming seemed to have heard a joke of the century. She laughed exaggeratedly in the office, pointing at the three large characters in the center of the document with her freshly done nail polish, as if afraid she wouldn't recognize them, and deliberately read them aloud.
"Termination Letter. Read it clearly. It's not that you're resigning; the company is firing you. They don't want you anymore, understand? Who do you think you are, working so sporadically and causing the company to lose an important cooperation project? I'm telling you, the company doesn't keep idle people."
She deliberately spoke loudly so that all the colleagues in the office could hear clearly. This not only embarrassed Wei Yumeng but also made these subordinates respect her as their superior.
Wei Yumeng looked at her triumphant expression and, belatedly realized that since Zhan Mohan was not at the company now, the company's decision was actually Old Master Zhan's decision. This was the "forceful measure" Old Master Zhan had mentioned.
Thinking of this, she felt there was no point in arguing with Feng Shiming. It was a fruitless effort, a waste of words, and only invited further trouble.
She picked up the termination letter and signed it. Feng Shiming snatched it away, very satisfied. "Good. I didn't expect you to be so sensible. Hurry up and pack your things; don't disturb other employees."
In a short period, this was the second time she had packed her belongings and left Zhan's. Having originally not had many personal items, she left the Zhan building with her belongings. This time, she would likely never return.
Thinking of the child in her belly that she needed to support, and then considering her savings, which were practically zero, she had no time for melancholy. She immediately took out her phone and called Xin Ran.
"Last time you said you found me a job. Where is the address? Send it to me now; I need to go for an interview."
Xin Ran had already been worried about her due to the online commotion. Seeing that the situation was under control, she had been hesitating whether to call her, but now hearing that she needed to find a job again, she couldn't help but ask in confusion, "Have you finished the handover of your job at Zhan's?"
"Yes," she replied briefly. "Which company were you talking about last time? I'll go for an interview now."
Xin Ran had intended to accompany her, but thinking of the rumors and that woman Zheng Yuanyuan, she couldn't bring herself to say it, to avoid causing her further trouble. She let her go alone.