Chu Xi sneered, "I think the one who doesn't want this to be widely known is you. Because you did something wrong and fear damaging your illustrious image outside."
"Zhan Jingrui, after seven years by your side, I finally see you clearly today. You truly are a hypocrite in a scholar's robe!"
The people at the table were even more bewildered.
What in the world was going on? What happened between them?
Liang Bo stood awkwardly, trying to smooth things over.
"Let's talk it out properly, Chu Xi. You two have been together for so many years..."
Zhan Jingrui interrupted him, "My business with her has nothing to do with you. You don't need to speak up for us."
Then he looked back at Chu Xi, "I don't have any illustrious image to protect, and I'm not afraid of losing face. Since you already know everything, and you feel better only by saying it out loud in front of everyone, I don't mind saying it here. However, are you sure?"
Chu Xi let out a cold laugh, her voice rising slightly, "What's there to be unsure about? If you dare to do shameless things, I dare to hear them! Speak!"
Zhan Jingrui shifted into a more comfortable position, leaning back against the chair.
Not caring if it got out, or what others would say about him, he spoke directly to Chu Xi.
"I admit I'm a scumbag, I'm not human, I've wronged you, and I've wasted seven years of your life. The truth is, when I pursued you, it wasn't because I liked you, but to anger He Yao."
Everyone gasped, even Liang Bo was stunned.
After a two-second pause, he quickly moved to stop Zhan Jingrui.
"This is such a private matter. Why don't we leave first, and you two can sort it out privately."
"No need. You probably already know, so there's no point in pretending. I'll talk to you after I finish with her."
Zhan Jingrui looked back at Chu Xi.
"Actually, before you, I had been dating He Yao for several months, and to make it easier to see her, I even bought an apartment. We often stayed together."
Chu Xi recalled that Zhan Jingrui liked He Yao, and He Yao also liked him. They couldn't be together for various reasons, so they always held a place for each other in their hearts.
But she never imagined there was such a past.
He pursued her just to anger He Yao. And he even bought He Yao an apartment, and they lived together?!
How could she describe her feelings at that moment?
It felt as if her heart had been pierced by countless holes, with cold wind rushing in. She wanted to rush over and tear Zhan Jingrui to pieces.
"What did you say?"
She was so angry that her voice trembled, her whole body shaking.
"Zhan Jingrui, tell me again, what happened between you two?"
"You've been with me for so many years, yet you wouldn't even hold my hand. Turns out it wasn't about being a germaphobe? You lived with He Yao?"
Zhan Jingrui knew she was furious, and seeing her state, he felt she could faint at any moment.
But the words had been spoken, and there was no point in hiding anything further.
"You can curse me, you can hit me, do whatever you want, I'll accept it all, as it's my own doing. But this has nothing to do with He Yao."
"Do you think saying that makes you sound manly, domineering, deeply devoted, and worthy of praise? It has nothing to do with He Yao? You're still protecting her even now? Then what the hell am I to you!"
Chu Xi was furious. She grabbed a half-empty plate in front of her and hurled it at Zhan Jingrui.
However, even in this moment, she retained some reason.
She dared not aim for his head.
Zhan Jingrui closed his eyes, not dodging. His crisp white shirt and sharp suit were instantly stained with oil.
His chest ached from the impact of the plate, but he didn't even flinch.
"If you're still not satisfied, you can smash all of this onto me. I promise I won't dodge."
Chu Xi had always considered herself noble and rational, disdainful of using vulgar language.
She believed that emotions could be expressed through civilized words; why would she need to become so crude?
But now she realized that without crude language, her anger could not be adequately expressed.
She unleashed all the curses she had learned from movies onto Zhan Jingrui, smashing wine glasses and chopsticks onto him with a clatter.
Liang Bo couldn't bear to watch and tried to intervene.
"It's too late for hitting now. Let's talk it out properly. Please stop smashing things."
"Get lost! Are you feeling sorry for him too? I cursed He Yao, I even tried to frame her, and you can't stand it, right?"
"You all feel sorry for her, and He Yao is the only woman in the world worthy of your men's love. Am I just trash, not even worth a second glance from you, right?"
Liang Bo was confused by her outburst, "How did I get involved in this?"
"If you have nothing to do with it, then get lost! Be an audience member honestly! Otherwise, I'll hit you too!"
Liang Bo could only sit back down, looking at Zhan Jingrui with sympathy.
Chu Xi, having had enough of hitting and cursing, slumped back into her chair, utterly exhausted, and looked coldly at Zhan Jingrui.
"You came to see Liang Bo today, all because He Yao was arrested, right? To tell you the truth, he has nothing to do with it. I did it."
Liang Bo was shocked for the umpteenth time, "What? He Yao was arrested? You did it? What happened?"
Chu Xi then turned her cold smile towards Liang Bo.
"Didn't you ask me to use your computer? I found a contract on your computer. You know what shady dealings you two have been up to."
Liang Bo pondered for two seconds, "You!"
Chu Xi wore a look of utter despair, "You want to curse me, think I'm vicious, wicked, that I approached you with ulterior motives, right? Fine, curse me all you want, I admit it."
"Those who wronged me, I will retaliate against them! I want to make you suffer, to make her pay the price she deserves!"
Chu Xi's lips claimed satisfaction, but her face was etched with endless sorrow.
Liang Bo felt both pity and speechlessness towards her.
He could only look at Zhan Jingrui and explain the entire contract signing between him and He Yao from the beginning.
Knowing it was He Yao's doing, and that she hadn't been wrongly accused, Zhan Jingrui had nothing more to say. After a few seconds of silence, he looked at Chu Xi.
"So, what do you want?"
"What do I want? Haven't I made it clear enough? You wronged me, so I will retaliate! I want to make you suffer, and make her pay the price she deserves!"
Zhan Jingrui shook his head, looking at her steadfastly.
"You're seeking revenge on the wrong person, Chu Xi. I'm the one who wronged you, and I'm also the one who wronged He Yao. You should be taking revenge on me."
"If you can only find release by doing this, then I'll turn myself in right now."
"Taking kickbacks was something I instructed her to do. She's not involved."
The crowd was once again in an uproar, and Chu Xi was almost driven to death by anger.
"Are you crazy? You, the president of the Zhan Group, would care about a few hundred thousand in kickbacks? You instructed her to do it? Can you be any more ridiculous?"
"I've said what I had to say. Believe it or not, I'm leaving now."
With that, Zhan Jingrui stood up and walked towards the exit.
Chu Xi, enraged, also stood up and smashed two more plates with a clatter.
"Zhan Jingrui, you're willing to risk your own life, and the reputation of the Zhan family, just to protect her? You're truly something!"