"To prove your innocence, how can you say I'm making a mountain out of a molehill?" Zhan Mohan acted as if he was doing them a favor, then turned his head and instructed Fang Xun, "Go and investigate."
"Yes."
Wei Anguo and Yin Fang exchanged glances, both knowing Zhan Mohan's methods and the speed of his assistant's work. If a thorough investigation revealed the truth, how would they ever save face?
Seeing Fang Xun about to leave, Yin Fang rushed forward.
"Oh, Assistant Fang, don't go. I just remembered..."
Wei Yumeng's eyes sharpened: "Quick, tell me where you hid my mother!"
Yin Fang was completely lacking in confidence now. She pointed behind them.
"In the small room in the backyard. We were thinking that someone would be coming later, and it wouldn't look good to see your mother in such a state, so we temporarily put her in the backyard."
Wei Yumeng's shoulders trembled with anger.
"Even now, you're still trying to make excuses!"
With that, she went to the backyard and indeed found a small wooden house, though she had no idea when it had been built.
She tried to push the door open, only to discover it was locked. She knocked forcefully.
"Mom, Mom... it's Yumeng, can you hear me?"
There was no response from inside.
Wei Yumeng grew more anxious and quickly ran back to the living room to find Yin Fang.
"The key, where's the key?"
Yin Fang then handed the key from her waist to Wei Yumeng. Wei Yumeng ran to unlock the door. When she pushed it open, Gu Shuyi was lying on the floor.
"Mom!"
Zhan Mohan, hearing Wei Yumeng's voice from the living room, instructed Fang Xun.
"Quickly carry her out and send her to the hospital."
Fang Xun rushed over and lifted Gu Shuyi from the floor. Wei Yumeng followed behind.
"Mr. Zhan..."
"Put her in the car first."
Fang Xun walked out with Wei Yumeng. She didn't have time to say anything more to Wei Anguo and Yin Fang.
Zhan Mohan's cold eyes stared at the two of them.
"Now it seems the truth is out. I'd trouble you to tell me, who hit Wei Yumeng just now?"
Yin Fang hadn't expected Zhan Mohan to pursue this matter. She knew evasion wouldn't solve anything, and surely Zhan Mohan wouldn't let Wei Yumeng retaliate.
She calmly admitted, "Wei Yumeng was disrespectful to an elder. Doesn't she deserve a slap? Besides, this is our family matter. Mr. Zhan shouldn't interfere."
Wei Anguo was even more perplexed. He had heard from Gu Shuyi that Wei Yumeng was living a life of hardship in the Zhan family and had asked for his help. But from Zhan Mohan's reaction, it seemed completely different.
Wasn't he doting on Wei Yumeng?
"It's true that she shouldn't have been disrespectful to an elder, but she is not just anyone now. She is the young madam of the Zhan family. If this were to spread, and it was known that the young madam of the Zhan family was slapped, where would the Zhan family's reputation stand?"
Zhan Mohan spoke each word with great force, his eyes like they were immersed in an ice cave, emitting a chilling glare.
Intimidated by Zhan Mohan's stern demeanor, Yin Fang dared not speak, feeling as if she had made a huge mistake.
No matter how much Wei Anguo feared Zhan Mohan, he felt it was not an outsider's place to interfere with him disciplining his own daughter.
Moreover, had Zhan Mohan lost his mind? He hadn't married Wei Yumeng into the Zhan family for her to enjoy a life of luxury, but rather to endure suffering.
If she were meant to live a life of ease, he would have sent Wei Jin long ago. Why would he let an illegitimate daughter get such an opportunity?
"Mohan, even though Yumeng is married into your Zhan family, she is still a member of my Wei family, and she carries my Wei Anguo's blood. Do you mean to say that disciplining my own daughter requires your Zhan family's approval?"
"We don't need your approval, but I have to consider the Zhan family's reputation. Since you've already hit her, I can't have anyone hit back. Just have her apologize to Wei Yumeng."
He considered this request to be not unreasonable.
But how could Wei Anguo and Yin Fang agree to Zhan Mohan's demand, especially Wei Anguo, who felt his position as head of the family was being threatened?
He became furious, his face turning extremely unpleasant, yet he couldn't openly express his anger towards Zhan Mohan.
"Mohan, isn't your request excessive? For Yin Fang, an elder, to apologize to Yumeng, where would her face be?"
Zhan Mohan suddenly smiled, a hint of coldness in the curve of his lips.
"Compared to Auntie's face, I think the Zhan family's face is more important."
From his words, it seemed he was prepared to take forceful action.
Yin Fang felt her dignity had been insulted. She lifted her chin and retorted to Zhan Mohan.
"What if I refuse?"
Zhan Mohan's dark eyes held a sharp glint. He glanced down at his watch, as if contemplating, and after a moment, spoke slowly.
"It's fine too. I've heard that the company's finances have been a bit tight recently. Our Zhan Corporation is preparing to establish a subsidiary. Perhaps we should acquire your company first?"
"Zhan Mohan, do you think you can acquire our company just like that? It's considered a pioneer. Speaking like this, aren't you being too careless!"
Zhan Mohan's words completely enraged Wei Anguo. The company was his last resort. He would fight anyone who threatened it.
He showed no fear, taking the lead and speaking in a soft, low male voice that carried immense weight.
"It's just a matter of money. The Zhan family is not short of money."
What an arrogant tone, but coming from him, it didn't sound out of place at all.
"You..." Wei Anguo's face turned ashen, his jaw trembling silently.
There was no point in continuing the stalemate. It was Wei Anguo who finally relented. He couldn't risk the company's survival.
He could only endure it for now and said to Yin Fang, "Why don't you just agree to him?"
"What did you say? For me to apologize to Wei Yumeng? You might as well kill me."
Usually, she was always superior to Wei Yumeng. For her to apologize to a junior now would be a humiliation.
Wei Anguo whispered in her ear, "You need to think clearly. Is it an apology to Yumeng, or do you want the company to be acquired by the Zhan family, and then all of us will be begging on the streets?"
After all the effort to have Wei Jin make a sacrifice, Gao Dazhuang was willing to invest in the company. Now, if they offended Zhan Mohan again, Wei Jin's sacrifice would be in vain, and the company would be gone.
Yin Fang gritted her teeth, feeling a great deal of reluctance, but she didn't want the company to go bankrupt.
"Fine, I'll apologize to her."
"Then remember this apology. I need to leave now."
Seeing Zhan Mohan reach the doorway, Wei Anguo and Yin Fang breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear the man say one more thing.
"You two had better pray that Wei Yumeng's mother is alright, otherwise..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but it was implied that Wei Anguo and Yin Fang were intelligent enough to understand.
After Zhan Mohan left, Fang Xun helped him into the car, heading straight for the hospital.
Due to Gu Shuyi's previous condition, she was immediately sent to the emergency room.
She grabbed the doctor's hand and pleaded, "I beg you, please save my mother."
"Don't worry, we'll do our best."
Wei Yumeng stood at the door, her face pale. Having not changed her clothes for two days, she looked utterly disheveled, tears in her eyes, her lips so dry they were chapped.
She spoke in a hoarse voice, "Heaven, please protect my mother's safety. I'm willing to trade ten years of my life for her well-being."
Zhan Mohan sat in his wheelchair and said to Fang Xun.
"Stay here and keep watch. If there's any news, tell me."
"Yes."
He looked at Wei Yumeng standing in front of the operating room and remembered what Old Master Zhan had instructed: Wei Yumeng had to be brought back within an hour, or he would not be lenient.
Grandfather was a man of his word. Upon learning that Wei Yumeng had escaped this time, he had become extremely angry.
In the Zhan family, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous. Wei Yumeng had crossed the Zhan family's bottom line.
He said coldly, "Wei Yumeng, you need to come back with me."
"No, I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying here to be with my mother." Wei Yumeng seemed to have gathered all her courage and openly refused Zhan Mohan.
Zhan Mohan's gaze was stern and aggressive.
"With Fang Xun here watching, any developments will be notified to us immediately. You must return with me!"
Wei Yumeng suddenly produced a knife from somewhere and pressed it to her neck.
"If you make me go back now, I'll die here!"
Zhan Mohan's taut handsome face turned icy, the tension between them palpable.
"Wei Yumeng, are you threatening me?"