Yang Yang's heart involuntarily fluttered with panic.
"Then what do you want?"
"Or rather, what do you want me to do so that you can see the sincerity of my apology?"
What Yang Yang meant was, what did Tang Xiaomin want her to do.
Speaking is an art, and in this way, any subsequent actions by Yang Yang became coercion from Tang Xiaomin.
She thought that Tang Xiaomin would definitely not dare to make things too difficult for her in front of everyone.
Unfortunately, she was terribly mistaken.
A cold smile curved Tang Xiaomin's lips; she knew Yang Yang's little trickery like the back of her hand.
"Speaking of which, I'm the victim here."
"I won't make things too difficult for you. Whatever injury I sustained, you suffer the same, and then we'll be even. This matter will end here."
Being even meant that Yang Yang's foot would also have to be pricked by a thumbtack.
And it had to be as deeply embedded as Tang Xiaomin's.
Just thinking of the pain, Yang Yang couldn't help but tremble.
Since childhood, her parents had doted on her; when had she ever suffered such an injury?
"Tang Xiaomin, don't push me too far. I already said it wasn't me who set a trap for you, and I've already apologized."
"I don't accept a verbal apology. Because when I was ambushed and injured, the pain was mine," Tang Xiaomin said coldly.
"If an apology is enough, then what's the point of laws?"
Tang Xiaomin's words were met with general agreement.
"Exactly, some mistakes are unforgivable, which is why there's legal punishment for criminals."
"I don't think her apology is sincere at all. Let's not waste any more time with her, just call the police."
"Even if it doesn't lead to legal punishment, it can still tarnish her reputation. We can't let her off easy."
...
Everyone present was an arrogant second-generation heir, and all of them had strong tempers.
Under such pressure, Yang Yang's face turned extremely unsightly.
She couldn't help but cast a pleading look at Ye Lingyun.
"Lingyun, what do you think?"
She could have avoided all of this, but Ye Lingyun had been constantly pressuring her.
At this moment, as long as Ye Lingyun said a word, no one would dare to object.
But Ye Lingyun's words plunged Yang Yang into despair once more.
"If you make a mistake, you must have the courage to bear the consequences. So many people are watching you, show some grace."
Grace?
This was clearly humiliation.
With things having reached this point, Yang Yang had no other choice.
If she didn't do it, Ye Lingyun would make a big deal out of this matter, and their engagement would be in jeopardy.
"Alright, I understand."
A thumbtack, placed on the stage by an unknown person.
Gritting her teeth, Yang Yang slowly walked onto it.
In front of everyone's eyes, she hardened her heart and stepped directly onto it.
The moment the thumbtack pierced her sole, an agonizing pain surged through her, making her let out a soft moan, her face contorted in pain.
Pain.
It hurt so much.
She had never felt such pain in her entire life.
*Snap...*
*Snap, snap...*
...
Unsure who started it, faint scattered applause erupted from the crowd.
Whether it was mockery, praise, or something else, Yang Yang was too numb with pain to distinguish.
As the show concluded, Tang Xiaomin turned and left without a word.
Following her, the onlookers who had come to watch also dispersed gradually.
Yang Yang sat alone on the stage, looking at her foot pierced by the thumbtack.
When everyone had largely left, the tears of grievance finally couldn't be held back, wetting her eyes.
Pain, humiliation, and grievance—several emotions consumed her.
Tang Xiaomin was certainly detestable, but what hurt her the most was Ye Lingyun.
She was his fiancée, yet he watched her get injured with his own eyes.
Was such a man truly suitable for marriage and a lifelong commitment?
After most people had left, Ye Lingyun slowly walked onto the stage and came to Yang Yang's side.
He hadn't expected her to go this far.
He thought that with her pampered upbringing, she wouldn't be able to stand it and would run away in anger.
"It's just a small injury, it will heal quickly. There's no need to go to the hospital."
As Ye Lingyun spoke, he stealthily pulled the thumbtack from her foot when Yang Yang wasn't paying attention.
"Hiss..."
Yang Yang cried out in pain, her brows tightly furrowed.
If she hadn't apologized to Tang Xiaomin, would Ye Lingyun have said these words to her or helped her remove the tack?
"When you get back, have the family doctor apply some antiseptic. I'll take you home."
This was the first time Ye Lingyun had taken the initiative to send Yang Yang home.
Later, he indeed personally drove Yang Yang home.
This had always been a luxury for Yang Yang.
Yang Yang couldn't feel any joy from this kind of "slap and then a candy" scenario.
As they parted, Ye Lingyun instructed Yang Yang, "Rest well at home for the next few days, and go back to school after you've recovered."
After Ye Lingyun left, Yang Yang let out a cold laugh on the spot.
"Heh... For Tang Xiaomin, you were willing to push me to the point of stepping on a thumbtack."
"If your Uncle and Aunt were to find out that you show such favoritism towards Tang Xiaomin, what would they think?"
Yang Yang didn't idle either. She immediately called Ye Lingyun's mother, Madam Ye.
"Auntie, I'm injured."
"Yang'er, what happened?"
...
Yang Yang recounted everything that had happened between her and Tang Xiaomin to Madam Ye.
"Auntie, my injury is not important. But Lingyun treated me like this for Tang Xiaomin. How will others see me, how will they see him, and how will they see us?"
Yang Yang's question hit the mark.
"Yang'er, don't worry, Auntie will handle this. Lingyun was just considering the bigger picture, which is why you were wronged. Don't worry, Auntie won't let Tang Xiaomin's matter go unchecked."
Madam Ye hung up the phone, her face solemn.
She usually kept a low profile; even after her family acquired the Ye Corporation, she maintained her discreet style and didn't interfere much with Ye Lingyun.
But who was Tang Xiaomin?
She was a woman who had a complicated engagement history with the previous Ye Corporation president, Ye Fengxing.
Tang Xiaomin's entanglement with Ye Lingyun was definitely not a good thing.
The marriage alliance between the Ye family and the Yang family was imperative, and no one could disrupt it.
Tang Xiaomin was also not simple; she was first engaged to Ye Fengxing, then involved with Mr. Yan of Xianfu Group, and now entangled with Ye Lingyun... these were not ordinary men.
Madam Ye found this Tang Xiaomin to be incredibly troublesome.
"Ye Lan, for the banquet the day after tomorrow, personally deliver an invitation to Zhang Meiyu, inviting her and her daughter Tang Xiaomin to attend."
Ye Lan, the housekeeper, was confused by this decision.
"Madam, the Tang family has fallen into decline. Isn't inviting Zhang Meiyu and her daughter a bit too generous?"
"What do you know? The Tang family is not what it used to be. But Zhang Meiyu's daughter is very capable, and she's now interfering with Lingyun and Yang'er's engagement."
"I want to see who this person is, who can be so formidable."
Ye Lan's expression changed.
"Tang Xiaomin? Madam, are you referring to Tang Xiaomin who was previously engaged to Master Feng?"
"Who else could it be?"