Chapter 71: Brewing

Fan Xia first took a bottle of mineral water from the trunk and washed his face, then brought Rong Xiu to the hospital. On the way, she had the security department catch the man who splashed bleach on Rong Xiu.

According to that crazy man’s words, it seemed that his wife-master had gotten together with another man, so when he saw that post online, he became so agitated that he wanted Rong Xiu dead.

However, Fan Xia didn’t care about his experiences. After catching that man, she directly had security call the police to handle it as they should.

When Zhuang Nian learned of this incident, he called: “How could a madman sneak into the underground parking lot? What are those security guards doing? I specifically instructed to strengthen security! Should we just fire them all?”

“No, we can’t fire them,” Fan Xia said, speeding along the road.

“Why not? They can’t even handle basic security precautions. What’s the point of keeping them?” Zhuang Nian didn’t understand.

“It’s a special period now. No matter how people outside discuss it, the company’s internal affairs can’t be in chaos. I know those security guards are useless, but if we suddenly fire them at this time, it’s hard to guarantee they won’t hold grudges and talk nonsense in front of those reporters. Moreover, new security can’t quickly get up to speed.”

Zhuang Nian was silent for a while, seemingly finding her words reasonable: “Then what do you suggest we do?”

“Bring in experienced security teams. Say it’s because the company has grown and we’re short-handed. After the storm passes and the new security becomes familiar with the building environment, then we can clear out those people.”

“Alright.” Zhuang Nian hung up and immediately began preparations.

They quickly arrived at the hospital. Fan Xia explained to the doctor that Rong Xiu had been splashed with bleach, and the doctor immediately conducted a physical examination on him.

Although bleach is not as terrifying as sulfuric acid, the large amount of strong oxidizing substances it contains can cause facial dryness and peeling when splashed on a person’s face. If it accidentally enters the eyes, it can also damage the eyeballs. If accidentally inhaled into the throat, it may cause respiratory tract damage and other problems.

Although Rong Xiu said that only some bleach had splashed on his face, and he didn’t feel any obvious abnormalities in his eyes or throat, and he didn’t appear to be injured, Rong Xiu was after all the top boss of the hospital doctors. They couldn’t afford to be careless, and all kinds of examinations had to be done thoroughly.

During the examination, Fan Xia stayed by his side.

The online incident was causing an uproar, but no matter how these hospital staff discussed behind Rong Xiu’s back or how unworthy they thought he was, they still had to behave properly in front of him. This is the advantage of power.

Fan Xia also knew clearly that although the online world was boiling with anger, wanting to drag Rong Xiu down from his position as chairman, tie him up for public humiliation of an adulterous man and then set him on fire, none of this had touched the core interests of the Shanhai Group. Even if the public relations department dealt with it coldly, without making statements or responses, all the storms would subside before long.

Fan Xia thought that perhaps Rong Xiu thought the same way, which was why he felt at ease letting Zhuang Nian handle this matter. To him, the online comments weren’t really a blow at all.

But what truly hurt him was probably his father’s accusations and his friend’s severing ties. No matter how tough Rong Xiu’s heart was, hearing those embarrassing words from his own father would make him feel sad.

Moreover, a crazed man suddenly appeared halfway and splashed bleach on Rong Xiu. This was the most fatal blow. Men care most about their appearance. If that wasn’t bleach but real sulfuric acid, he probably would have been beyond saving by now.

Even though he now knew it was just bleach, Rong Xiu was still shaken. Fan Xia could feel slight trembling as she patted his shoulder. It was clear he was trying his best to hold it together.

Fan Xia felt guilty in her heart.

The doctor was using a slit lamp to examine Rong Xiu’s eyeballs. The extremely dazzling strong light shone on his eyes, revealing a warm-toned luster as transparent as the finest amber. But this light was very uncomfortable. Fan Xia sat beside him, holding his hand tightly in hers.

Then the situation online didn’t slow down just because Rong Xiu had been splashed with bleach. Instead, it became even more intense and endless.

The public relations department didn’t reveal the incident of Rong Xiu being maliciously harmed, then call for an end to cyberbullying. This approach might work for ordinary incidents, but for affairs, it would only be adding fuel to the fire. Not only would it not stop those people online, but it would make them fall into a frenzy of judgment, engage in collective carnival, and even intensify their crusade against Rong Xiu.

“Gossip gossip, a police car came to Shanhai Group. Does anyone know what’s going on?”

“Don’t know, asked security, but they claim not to know. They’re being very tight-lipped.”

“Hope there isn’t another scandal.”

“I wouldn’t believe it for other companies, but for Shanhai Group, it seems very possible, haha. Look at how arrogant that little Rong Xiu was before, now he’s hiding like a turtle, not daring to come out.”

“He dared to step on the poster’s wounds before, why doesn’t he dare say a word now? Are you scared?”

“You above don’t understand anything. He’s probably in his wife-master’s arms right now going ‘Sister, those people online are so fierce, I’m so scared!’ Women just eat up that weak and delicate act. The more of a fuss we make, the more she’ll pity that little one, and might even blame the original wife for exposing this.”

“But with things blown up like this, surely the poster’s wife-master won’t want Rong Xiu anymore, right? If she still doesn’t leave him at this point, that’s true love!”

“Although, who exactly is the poster’s wife-master? I only know Rong Xiu is the homewrecker, but what does the woman look like? I really don’t know. Can someone tell me?”

“Now that you mention it, it’s true! We’ve been so focused on tearing down the little one, does anyone know who the woman is?”

“The poster didn’t expose the woman, which shows they still love their wife-master, right? Even at this time, they’re still protecting the wife-master’s privacy. What a good original partner, how could you bear to cheat!”

“Fun fact, Rong Xiu did recently hire a female CEO assistant. I was fortunate enough to meet the poster’s wife-master with the team.”

“Whoa! Please share more inside information!”

“Me too, me too, kind person please say more, how did they end up having an affair?”

“How else would they hook up? Boss and subordinate, feelings develop over time. Seems she’s a top graduate from Imperial University, undeniably capable, and as for looks… even more undeniable. Could easily make it in the entertainment industry. Good personality too, never gets handsy or takes advantage of male colleagues. Many guys in the company secretly like her. Didn’t expect…”

“…You’re making me curious, kind of want to see her now.”

“Yeah yeah, does anyone have a photo of the poster’s wife-master? Please.”

“Oooh I saw someone post a photo in a group chat.”

“Which group which group?”

“Please share the photo, let us take a look.”

“I saw it too. How to put it, suddenly I kind of understand Rong Xiu… Her looks are too unfair!”

“Not entering the entertainment industry is the biggest loss for the industry.”

Gu Jin Yi had just finished training, took a shower to wash away the sweat, and put on a hoodie. He came out to see several teammates gathered together, excitedly discussing something while staring at their phones.

“I didn’t understand before why Rong Xiu would want to be someone’s little lover, but after seeing the photo, even being a kept man isn’t bad.”

“To be honest, with looks like that, even without Rong Xiu, the poster probably couldn’t keep her anyway? If not Rong Xiu, there would be others.”

“And just in terms of looks, Rong Xiu and the poster’s wife-master really do match better. The poster hasn’t posted their own photo for so long, is it because they’re not good-looking? So it’s even harder to keep the wife-master’s heart.”

“Indeed, Rong Xiu’s looks are more compatible.”

“You guys need to wake up! Little lovers rely on their youth to destroy other people’s families. Think of the poor poster. How can being a little lover be justified!”

“But honestly, if a wife-master is too beautiful, the husband would indeed feel very insecure. It’s normal not to be able to keep her. If Rong Xiu didn’t take the position, someone else would.”

Gu Jin Yi walked over, wiping the water droplets from his short hair: “What are you guys talking about?”

“The little lover scandal that’s hot online recently. A rich second-generation male CEO willingly lowered himself to be someone’s female subordinate and little lover.” A teammate handed him the phone to look at.

At first, when Gu Jin Yi heard about the little lover scandal, he didn’t care. He had seen too many affairs. His own mother abandoned him and his father for a little lover. Most women are cold-blooded and heartless, to the point of not caring about the life and death of their own son, except for Fan Xia.

She was gentle and steady. In all the years with Lan Sheng, she had never been ambiguous with other men. After marriage, she was even more devoted. She was one of the extremely rare responsible good women in society. From his ignorant teenage years, he had liked Fan Xia, but Fan Xia already had Brother Lan Sheng by her side then.

He could only hide this feeling in his heart, not wanting to become what he once hated most – a third party destroying a family.

Just as Gu Jin Yi felt bored and was about to leave, he inadvertently glimpsed the phone, which happened to be displaying photos of Rong Xiu and Fan Xia.

He froze on the spot, his bright clear eyes stunned, unconsciously murmuring: “Sister Fan?”

“Jin Yi, you know this person?” His teammates seemed to smell gossip and all crowded around: “Tell us quickly! How do you know her? Is that really her in the photo? It’s not photoshopped? Did you know about her affair with Rong Xiu? How did they get together? Do you know the original partner?”

The teammates crowded around with intense curiosity.

“I don’t know, don’t ask me.” Gu Jin Yi grabbed his jacket and ran out. The cold wind blew on his face, but he still felt dazed. He pulled up that post and read it from beginning to end, still unable to believe it. Sister Fan was so good to Brother Lan Sheng, why would she have an affair?

And the person she had an affair with was such a vicious man, not satisfied with driving Brother Lan Sheng to slit his wrists, but still wanting to step on his wounds.

Such a vicious man, Sister Fan must not know. She must have been deceived by this bad man!