CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: BAI YUEGUANG’S STAND-IN

The highest seaside restaurant in Jiang City, Mu Chen looked at Xiao Jun with tears in her eyes, her silent demeanor making one’s heart ache.

Xiao Jun patiently comforted her.

"He’s just a man. You’re so outstanding that you can find someone better even without Shen Liao."

But Mu Chen looked at him and asked.

"I heard from Wei Fu that you went on a trip to Europe with Jiang Lai a while ago, is that true?"

Xiao Jun was stunned. Those days in Italy were vividly imprinted in his mind, and even now, when mentioned again, he couldn’t help but recall that dazzling smile by the lakeside, an excitement he couldn’t suppress.

He nodded.

"Yes."

"You don’t have to do this for me. No matter what, I don’t want you to wrong yourself like this."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jun instinctively refuted.

"I initially just couldn’t stand her. After some time, I realized that woman wasn’t really that bad-hearted, just that both she and you were deceived by Shen Liao."

Mu Chen keenly sensed the bias and tolerance in Xiao Jun’s words. Her heart sank, as she tried to keep her composure while looking at the man who had been by her side since childhood.

"You, like Jiang Lai?"

"Impossible! How could that be, Mu Chen, you know I wouldn’t fall for someone else."

Mu Chen felt a bit colder inside and asked him calmly.

"Then what’s the relationship like between you and Jiang Lai?"

Xiao Jun, afraid she might misunderstand, kept denying it.

"There’s really nothing between us, we’re just friends now."

"Friends? Since you’re friends, can you do me a favor?"

After a bit of explanation, Xiao Jun looked at Mu Chen with a peculiar gaze.

"You want me to steal the backup of Jiang Lai’s surveillance video?"

"It’s not stealing, just checking whether she has it or not. After all, this was done by Wei Fu out of a moment of impulse back then."

"So you did plagiarize Jiang Lai’s work?"

Xiao Jun’s directness made Mu Chen’s face flush instantly.

"I don’t know. After all, Wei Fu said it was a birthday gift for me and I could use it however I wanted, so I used it commercially. I didn’t expect... that she would do such a thing. But things have come to this, and I can’t just watch her fall from grace. You’re the best friend of both Wei Fu and me, can you help her?"

Xiao Jun frowned, feeling something off in Mu Chen’s words.

It seemed like she benefitted from everything, while Wei Fu took all the blame?

Clearly, she was speaking on behalf of Wei Fu, yet Xiao Jun couldn’t shake off the feeling that she was shifting responsibility away from herself.

"Since it’s Wei Fu’s fault, why not have her apologize to Jiang Lai in private and you explain the situation on Weibo? Wouldn’t the matter be resolved then?"

"No."

Mu Chen instinctively refuted.

"After all, Wei Fu’s family isn’t just a small household, and with her proud nature, she would never apologize to Jiang Lai. I understand her, so I have no choice but to ask you for help."

Xiao Jun felt a bit irritated, the Mu Chen in front of him felt somewhat unfamiliar. Why was this unfamiliarity appearing, when the Mu Chen he knew before was the perfect goddess in his eyes? Now, she seemed like an ordinary person...

"Since that’s the case, let her be. If she made a mistake, she should face the consequences. Jiang Lai has been heavily criticized online lately, and it’s only right for Wei Fu to apologize to her. You just need to explain the reason clearly and not worry so much."

After speaking, Xiao Jun glanced at his watch.

"I have a meeting tonight, let me take you back first."

Mu Chen gritted her teeth, looked at Xiao Jun’s furrowed brow, and, suppressing her anxiety, got into his car.

"Xiao Jun, Jiang Lai and Shen Liao are back together."

Keeping his eyes on the road, Xiao Jun nodded.

"I know."

It’s not like he couldn’t see things on Weibo.

Mu Chen choked back her tears, clenching her purse tightly, her voice low and despairing.

"I gave up my overseas career for Shen Liao, because he made me lose face in front of so many people. Now, because of Jiang Lai, I have nothing, neither career nor love... If Wei Fu’s affair is exposed, both she and I will definitely be implicated. Things online are quickly forgotten, Jiang Lai might have lost these things, but she still has Shen Liao. As long as she has Shen Liao, she’ll be well-off for the rest of her life. But I’m different... For so many years, I’ve relied on my own efforts to reach this position. I can’t bear such a loss and blow, Xiao Jun... you’re the only one who can help me now."

A woman’s sobs made Xiao Jun go soft-hearted.

After all, this was the woman he’d loved for so many years.

"But why do you think I can get Jiang Lai’s surveillance video?"

"Because I think Jiang Lai likes you... If she didn’t, why would she spend so much time with you in Europe?"

Xiao Jun’s heart stirred slightly, remembering the joke Jiang Lai made when they first met.

"I’ll think about it."

"Xiao Jun, you’re the only one who can help us now."

——

Shen Liao lazed around until ten in the morning again before going to the company, not forgetting to stop by the changing room to kiss Jiang Lai on his way out.

At the company entrance, the driver opened the car door, and Secretary Dong, who had been waiting at the door, quickly tidied her attire and stepped forward to report the day’s work schedule to Shen Liao.

As they entered the elevator, Shen Liao noticed a figure waiting outside the employee elevator.

"Is there a new recruitment plan this year?"

"The recruitment plan hasn’t officially started this year. Currently, each department is compiling staff turnover statistics, with recruitment expected to start in March next year."

Shen Liao nodded and instructed Secretary Dong before entering the office.

"Have the director of the HR department come to my office."

Soon, Chen Gang, the director of the HR department, walked into the office, slightly nervous as he swallowed, seeing Shen Liao engrossed in his paperwork.

"Boss, you were looking for me."

"The recruitment plan hasn’t started this year. Why is there a new face in the company?"

Chen Gang’s heartbeat skipped, and before he could say anything, he saw Shen Liao lift his head, his eyes coldly meeting his gaze.

"I’ll give you a day to sort this out. Whoever brought her onboard, let her leave with them."

Chen Gang was scared out of his wits and didn’t dare plead for his subordinate; he could only nod repeatedly.

As long as it doesn’t implicate him.

Back in the department, he immediately saw Gao Peipei surrounded by a group of female employees in conversation.

Seeing him approach, Gao Peipei quickly put on a smiling face and greeted him amicably.

"Good morning, Uncle Chen."

"Come to my office."

Gao Peipei nodded, smiling as she said goodbye to her colleagues, then followed him into the office.

No sooner had they stepped in than Chen Gang said,

"Go handle your resignation procedures this afternoon, pack your things, and leave the company quickly."