Wei Yanran was the most embarrassed. She hadn't expected Xie Sui to pull a stunt like this, thinking she had some standing in his heart.
Everyone's smiles felt like mockery.
Lin Wanwan was quite pleased. At least he knew better. However, she didn't fire Wei Yanran. Having won this round, there was no need to be ruthless.
Instead, she aimed for psychological destruction, making sure Wei Yanran saw who was truly in charge of the company.
She could even show her magnanimity. Lin Wanwan wasn't foolish; she had long seen Wei Yanran's feelings for Xie Sui.
It was normal for a wealthy and accomplished man to have women vying for his attention. But if anyone tried to disrupt her family, Lin Wanwan would not be lenient.
After this incident, Lin Wanwan handed over Xie Sui's case entirely to the law firm, completely sidelining Wei Yanran.
Unwilling to accept this, Wei Yanran sought out Xie Sui again, wanting clarity. She was hired by him, and if she were to leave, it should be at his behest, not Lin Wanwan's.
However, this time Xie Sui didn't see her. He met with a new lawyer instead and signed an agreement to replace her. All matters were to be handled by the new lawyer.
The new lawyer was an industry leader, in his mid-thirties, already a golden-tier lawyer. He was male, named Meng Shuan, and had returned after studying in the Eagle Country. His resume and experience were impeccable.
If he handled Xie Sui's case successfully, his reputation in the industry would soar to new heights.
Therefore, he took it very seriously. Regarding Wei Yanran, he felt a sense of disappointment, like a good hand being ruined. She should have just done her job as a lawyer. Why antagonize the employer? It was a path of self-destruction.
When the termination agreement was handed to her, Wei Yanran's face turned ashen. "I want to see Mr. Xie."
"Don't you understand? Mr. Xie doesn't want to see you. He's giving you face. Why are you deceiving yourself and persisting?"
Wei Yanran bit her lip. "I'm not convinced. How can a woman from the countryside like her earn Mr. Xie's favor?"
Meng Shuan was speechless. "They are legally married and have four children. Isn't it natural for them to be in love? Ms. Wei, you are truly shaming us lawyers."
Wei Yanran covered her face, forced to admit her complete defeat.
...
This matter was resolved, but the reports concerning Smith escalated, fueled by the Du siblings. With several newspapers colluding, Lin Wanwan's lawyer's letters only appeared as an act of guilt.
They weren't afraid. In this day and age, which newspaper didn't receive a basketful of lawyer's letters?
Lin Wanwan was furious. These newspapers were truly fabricating stories. With a single picture to start, they had spun several versions of romantic histories.
Some claimed Smith fell in love at first sight, others that they were secretly colluding against Xie Sui. The public loved such sensationalism, and sales soared.
Even their own newspaper was tempted; this was money!
Intimidated by Lin Wanwan's cold glare, they dared not speak.
Lin Wanwan was in a terrible mood because of this. Sheng Ruyi's attempts to console her were in vain; she could only accompany her more often.
There was a reception that evening. After a quick dress-up, Lin Wanwan pulled herself together to attend. It was a business summit, attended by the heads of various companies and their business partners. Lin Wanwan had to be there.
Continuous exposure was necessary to show the outside world the healthy operations of her group and to dispel negative news.
However, this particular banquet felt different because Smith was also attending. The recent rumors about them had been rampant, and everyone was eager to see them together.
The first time Lin Wanwan saw Smith, she instinctively wanted to avoid him. Sheng Ruyi looked at her with concern. Soon, Lin Wanwan smiled generously and extended her hand first. "Hello, Mr. Smith. Has everything been going smoothly recently?"
Smith felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't expected his unintentional actions to cause Lin Wanwan so much trouble.
He had wanted to apologize, but seeing her seemingly unfazed, he relaxed. They shook hands lightly, maintaining a distance. "Thank you for your concern. It's been alright. Ms. Lin, please go ahead. Mr. Xie and I are good friends. Once he comes out, we can have a meal together."
"That would be nice. I've heard him mention you. You met in Ao City, didn't you? It's a shame I was pregnant then and couldn't accompany him."
"Mr. Xie is very fortunate. You two already have four children. I can't imagine it; it's too daunting."
Lin Wanwan was curious. "Why is it daunting? The children are all well-behaved. I don't find having many children to be a problem."
"Aren't they very boisterous? Especially the boys. I can't imagine having four boys at home. How... lively it would be."
Sheng Ruyi translated, couldn't help but smile. She hadn't realized Mr. Smith disliked children.
Lin Wanwan said, "When you meet my sons, you'll understand the joy of raising children. They can be incredibly frustrating when they're mischievous, but when they're good, you'll see the most beautiful, heartwarming little angels."
"Absolutely, absolutely. Ms. Lin, please go ahead."
"Thank you."
They chatted for a while, and to the outside world, they appeared like old friends, not like they had any illicit affair.
Du Yujie was so angry her teeth ached. Why was Lin Wanwan so lucky? Everyone was willing to dote on and protect her.
Lin Wanwan calmly handled the gazes, gradually getting used to them. As long as she didn't care, no one could do anything to her. To live comfortably, one had to be a bit thick-skinned.
Besides, they didn't dare confront her directly or embarrass her, as that would mean making an enemy.
Lin Wanwan breathed a sigh of relief. After some pleasantries, she went to the restroom. While reapplying her makeup, she saw Du Yujie.
Her eyes flickered slightly. She couldn't be bothered to greet her; this woman was not one to say anything good, and Lin Wanwan didn't expect any pleasantries.
"Lin Wanwan, you're quite something. Mr. Smith is completely smitten with you. I didn't believe in vamps before, but now I do. You have a way of captivating men."
Lin Wanwan smiled. "Miss Du, I know you wouldn't say anything pleasant, but I didn't expect you to be so foul-mouthed. Are you jealous looking like this? It's truly ugly. But I'm honored that the esteemed Miss Du is jealous of me. Doesn't that count as a form of success!"
"You... you're shameless!"
Lin Wanwan sneered. "Shameless? You're far from it, Miss Du. I didn't chase a man to the mainland and end up in such a pathetic state. Have you forgotten your experience on the mainland?"
Du Yujie's pupils widened. Recalling the unpleasant past, she trembled. "Don't get cocky. I won't let you have an easy time."
"Haven't you always been like this? And what have you gained? You've studied for so many years, been abroad, yet you don't understand the saying 'harming others without benefiting yourself'?"
Lin Wanwan smiled disdainfully. "Where do you get the nerve to pick a fight? Aren't you afraid I'll tell the world your children aren't Xie Sui's?"
This struck Lin Wanwan to the core. That period had been agonizing, even making her consider ending her life. How dare she bring that up!
She raised her hand and slapped her across the face. "You dare to spread rumors? Du Yujie, I've never met such a shameless, venomous woman. You can go ahead and say it. A paternity test can settle anything. Even if my first two sons weren't related to Xie Sui, I've had two more now. Surely you can't spread rumors about them too? We have love, we have sons. No matter what you say, as long as Xie Sui doesn't doubt me, you'll be like a clown, laughable and detestable!"
Du Yujie hadn't expected her to strike first and immediately retaliated. However, Lin Wanwan grabbed her wrist. Her hands, accustomed to years of farm work, were strong. Du Yujie cried out in pain, her wrist held tight. "Let go!"
"If you dare to spread rumors, I'll rip your mouth apart and reveal your past experience of being trafficked. Let's see if your Du family cares about its reputation."
Du Yujie finally grew fearful, her bravado fading. "You wouldn't dare?"
"You've already attacked me, why wouldn't I dare? Don't push me. A barefoot person isn't afraid of someone with shoes. If it weren't for Du Feiyang, your Du family wouldn't be able to protect you!"
Lin Wanwan threw her to the ground, wiped her hands, and tossed the tissue at her face before walking away proudly.
Du Yujie was furious, staring at Lin Wanwan's retreating back with hatred, vowing to make her die.
...
When Lin Wanwan returned, Sheng Ruyi wasn't there. She picked up a glass of juice to drink, but then remembered something. She put the juice down and went to the tea bar to get an unopened bottle of mineral water.
Sheng Ruyi had warned her not to drink anything of unknown origin, as many people resorted to foul play, and many had been ruined this way.
The hidden figures were disappointed. This woman was too vigilant. However, if the covert approach failed, they would resort to overt tactics.
"Miss Lin, Miss Sheng would like you to come over. Her dress was stained with wine, and she'd like your help changing into another one."
Lin Wanwan didn't suspect anything. "Alright, let's go."
The server led her to a lounge. It was quiet here, and the lighting was dim. Lin Wanwan suddenly felt something was wrong. Just as she was about to ask the server, she realized he had disappeared at some point.
Lin Wanwan's heart sank. She then saw a short young man wearing a garish pink suit and a mouth full of gold teeth, making the color impossible to look at directly.
"Yo, this lady is hot! Serve Brother Wu well, and you won't be shortchanged."
The follower, referred to as Brother Wu, grinned lecherously. He thought if he could have her after Brother Wu was done, he'd get some leftovers. This woman was indeed stunning.
Lin Wanwan's expression darkened. "I don't know you. Don't try to bully me. I scare myself when I get fierce."
"Hahaha..."
The men laughed. "We like them feisty, full of spirit. Show us how fierce you can be."
They made a move to grab her. Lin Wanwan's eyes hardened. She took off her high heels, and the ten-centimeter sharp heel plunged into Brother Wu's face. "I told you not to provoke me. You look like a monkey that's evolved. How dare you show your face to disgust people?"
"You, let go! Do you know who our Brother Wu is?"
"I don't care who he is. He provoked me first. Don't blame me for being impolite. Get out of the way. Anyone who dares to come near me, I'll put a hole in their neck and see if they can live!"