"Young Master Zhan, this isn't my fault, is it? If you and Director Ning really wanted to do 'that', it wouldn't have worked anyway."
He was paralyzed from the waist down, completely unable to do 'that'. Even if Ning Tao had used all her tricks, it would likely have been in vain.
How could Zhan Mohan not understand her implication? He immediately shot her a cold glare, his voice sounding sinister and terrifying, carried by the cold wind.
"Are you saying I'm incapable?"
Wei Yumeng's heart pounded under his gaze.
"I'm not saying you're incapable. I just think it's better not to let subordinates know their superior's shortcomings. What if it spreads throughout the entire company? It would harm your manliness."
By then, the entire company would not only know that Zhan Mohan was paralyzed from the waist down but also that he was physiologically affected. How embarrassing would that be?
A surge of anger brewed in Zhan Mohan's chest, his eyes narrowing.
This damned woman dared to doubt his abilities.
The fortune teller had said Wei Yumeng could make him stand up again. Now, it seemed that as long as this woman stayed by his side for one more day, he might just die prematurely.
That mouth of hers was truly as malicious as it could get.
Since she doubted him so much, it would be a blow to his masculinity if he didn't show her his true strength.
He beckoned her sinisterly with a finger.
"Come here."
Wei Yumeng looked at him warily, not daring to move rashly.
"What for?"
Zhan Mohan's eyes sharpened. "As your superior's command, do you dare disobey?"
After hesitating for a long time, Wei Yumeng cautiously walked to his side.
"I must warn you first... ah..."
As soon as she spoke, the man's arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her onto his lap.
Wei Yumeng struggled to get up. "Zhan Mohan, what are you doing? Let go of me!"
Wasn't this man disgusted? He had just touched Ning Tao, and now he was touching her. Being paralyzed from the waist down didn't seem to affect his womanizing at all.
He pinched her soft waist with deliberate force, his warm breath close to her ear, and a wicked smile played on his lips.
"Why don't you call out a little louder, draw everyone's attention? Then, let's see if they'll think you were trying to seduce me?"
Wei Yumeng glared at him, infuriated.
"How can you be so despicable?"
"You and I are husband and wife. This can only be considered marital bliss between husband and wife. How is that my fault?"
She questioned his ability as a man, so he had to let her know that his masculinity was not something that could be easily doubted.
Zhan Mohan lifted the hem of her clothes and leaned in to kiss her lips. No matter how much Wei Yumeng struggled, she was ultimately held firmly in his embrace.
Until she heard the sound of a metal belt, she was startled and bit his lip, the taste of rust spreading between them.
He recoiled in pain, raising a hand to wipe away the blood from the corner of his mouth with his fingertips.
"Wei Yumeng, are you a dog? You bite people so much?"
Wei Yumeng's face turned pale with fear, her voice trembling.
"You... you said you couldn't do 'that'?"
But what she had felt just now was like a branding iron. What was that?
Zhan Mohan smiled wickedly, his voice a husky, low murmur.
"Who told you that being paralyzed means you can't do 'that'? I have all the feelings I should have."
This woman was too naive to be dangerous. She believed anything the outside world said.
Wei Yumeng suddenly felt deeply deceived. She thought she had entered a wolf's den, but it was a tiger's lair, and there was nowhere to escape.
She had always thought Zhan Mohan couldn't do 'that' with women, which was why she felt safe sharing a bed with him. But now...
She had actually spent so many dangerous nights.
"Then your leg paralysis, does that also mean..."
"Young Master Zhan, the HR representative has arrived and is waiting for you in the conference room."
Just as Wei Yumeng was about to ask the crucial question, Fang Xun pushed the door open, abruptly interrupting her.
Zhan Mohan's wicked smile subsided, and he returned to his usual indifferent demeanor.
"Take the documents and let's go now."
"Yes."
Fang Xun walked over and pushed Zhan Mohan outwards.
Only after the office door closed did Wei Yumeng come to her senses. She was increasingly suspicious that Zhan Mohan's legs were not truly paralyzed.
She was determined to get to the bottom of this.
As Fang Xun pushed Zhan Mohan past Ning Tao's office, they heard the sound of things being thrown and a woman's heartbroken screams.
"Young Master Zhan, it seems Madam doesn't need you to avenge her anymore."
Zhan Mohan's gaze turned cold. "Who told you I was avenging her? Ning Tao's behavior is setting a bad example for the company's atmosphere. Strict punishment is necessary."
Fang Xun quickly nodded. "I misspoke. It's not about avenging Madam, but about rectifying the company's atmosphere."
He felt much better hearing that.
After Zhan Mohan finished his meeting, he had Fang Xun post a notice. The colleagues in the office murmured in disbelief after reading the content.
"No way, Wei Yumeng actually secured this project? How is that possible? She's just a newcomer, and Mr. Li is notoriously difficult to appease."
"Even Director Ning couldn't get it done. How could she possibly have succeeded?"
"You guys heard she got into the company through the back door, right? This project... could it be that too..."
Everyone understood.
"Don't start baseless speculation here. Maybe Wei Yumeng really secured it through her own capabilities."
Mu Linjing hadn't seen it with her own eyes, but having interacted with Wei Yumeng twice, she felt she wasn't that kind of person.
"What capabilities could a newcomer like Wei Yumeng have?"
Ning Tao walked out at this moment. The anger from earlier was gone from her face, but it was still evident that she was in a bad mood.
Mu Linjing said cautiously, "But she did secure the project herself. We've never had a newcomer land a project within days of joining the company."
She felt Wei Yumeng had done quite well.
Seeing Mu Linjing defend Wei Yumeng, Ning Tao shot her a cold glance, then added.
"Wei Yumeng did secure the project. As for how she did it, I'm not too sure, as I wasn't present at the time."
Her words led to much speculation. Wei Yumeng had gone with Ning Tao, so how could she not have been present? Unless Wei Yumeng herself had asked Ning Tao to leave.
The crowd started whispering again.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Ning Tao dismissed the employees.
"Everyone, go back to your work. No more discussions about this matter."
Once the employees had returned to their seats, the ruthlessness in Ning Tao's eyes became evident. She sneered.
Let's see how Wei Yumeng would cope with all these rumors.
However, she still needed to ask Li Huan how exactly Wei Yumeng managed to secure this project.
Wei Yumeng returned from the restroom to hear the office buzzing with discussions. She shook the water off her hands and asked Mu Linjing.
"What are these people talking about?"
Mu Linjing's expression turned awkward as she pulled Wei Yumeng aside.
"May I ask how you secured Mr. Li's project? Director Ning just came over, and her words implied that something happened between you and Mr. Li."
Wei Yumeng thought that what had happened earlier was at least a lesson for Ning Tao. Who knew that in the time it took her to go to the restroom, she would strike back and slander her again?
Her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Mu Linjing.
"Do you believe me?"
"Of course, I believe you. I've been in the company for a long time, and I have some understanding of Director Ning's character."
She hadn't gotten to where she was today solely on her experience and abilities. Cunning was essential.
Wei Yumeng nodded. "Since you believe me, I won't hide it from you. I didn't actually secure this project. Young Master Zhan signed it."
She decided it wasn't appropriate to tell Mu Linjing the specifics.
Mu Linjing was astonished. "Young Master Zhan signed it! Then... then Director Ning isn't slandering you? She just said in front of so many colleagues that you..."
"It's fine. Let them say what they want."
Why should she care about what people she had no connection with said?
After work, Wei Anguo called her again, still inquiring about the previous incident.
Wei Yumeng thought that since it was Wei Jin who had hit Zhan Mohan, she should know the details best.
"Alright, I'll come back later."
"Mmm." Wei Anguo was overjoyed when she agreed.
She left the company and thought she should send Zhan Mohan a message to let him know, to avoid him coming to find fault with her later.
She took a taxi back to the Wei family. As soon as she entered, she saw Wei Jin and Yin Fang sitting on chairs, both with casts on their legs and arms, looking extremely pathetic.
She couldn't help but find it a little amusing and suddenly felt grateful to that mysterious man.
Wei Jin saw Wei Yumeng and, enraged, stood up to hit her. As soon as she stood, a sharp pain shot through her leg, and she slumped back down.
She remembered her current physical inconvenience, but the anger in her heart couldn't be suppressed. She could only glare fiercely at Wei Yumeng.
"You damn person! It's all your fault, you jinx!"
Wei Yumeng chuckled. "Don't you think this is retribution?"
Why wouldn't they be punished for their evil deeds, and for colluding to hide her mother?
Yin Fang was much calmer than Wei Jin. She sat in her chair, completely still, only moving her lips slightly.
"I think you don't want to know your mother's whereabouts anymore."
Wei Yumeng's eyes turned cold, shooting towards Yin Fang like ice blades. Yin Fang felt a pang of fear, thinking, "This brat, what kind of look is that?"
"If you dare touch a single hair on my mother's head, I'll make the Wei family pay!"
Wei Jin yelled, "I think you've gone mad! If the Wei family is ruined, you won't have an easy time either."
"Do you think I truly care about being the Wei family's eldest daughter? More than wealth and status, I only want my mother to be safe."
After all, no one had truly treated her as the Wei family's eldest daughter all these years; it was just a false title.
Yin Fang, however, did not see it that way.
"If you lose the title of the Wei family's eldest daughter, the servants at the Zhan family will trample you like mud."
Wei Yumeng didn't back down at all and retorted, "If it weren't for the Wei family, do you think I would have married Zhan Mohan?"
If her mother were not involved, did they think these people could threaten her?
Yin Fang was about to scold this brat thoroughly when Wei Anguo put his hand on her shoulder from behind.
"Stop arguing."
Yin Fang exchanged a look with him, understanding the meaning he conveyed, and nodded.
Wei Anguo walked up to Wei Yumeng.
"Since you're back, let's have a meal first."
"No need. I don't think this house would have prepared food for me."
"Yumeng! Don't say that. After all, you're my daughter. This is always your home. Sit down and have a meal before you go."
The words "you're my daughter" finally moved Wei Yumeng. Fine, she had something to ask anyway.
After taking her seat, Wei Yumeng got straight to the point.
"Dad, were you sure back then that Zhan Mohan was paralyzed from being hit?"