Chapter 94: The Truth Behind the White Jade Hairpin Revealed

Hearing Huo Yanchen's words, Gu Yunci felt completely refreshed, his mood lifting all at once.

Though he hadn't slept a wink all night, his eyes were full of red veins with some bruising beneath the corners, but his heart and eyes were filled with her shadow, and all traces of exhaustion, irritability, and insomnia vanished at once, every last one.

He practically leapt out of bed in excitement, went to the bathroom for a shower, then put on an exquisitely tailored bespoke suit and headed to the company, radiant and emanating an air of refinement.

Gu Clan Building, first-floor lobby.

Meng Shutang stood facing Zhou Songyan, who couldn't praise her enough, saying that if she developed her career at Gu Clan, she'd be at least at the vice president level or above.

Bai Cixian overheard this and immediately curled her lips with a cold sneer.

In the elevator, she began spreading rumors that Meng Shutang and Zhou Songyan had an unusual relationship, speculating whether the two were having an affair.

Good news stays indoors; bad news travels a thousand miles.

In the cafeteria at noon, everyone's gossip of the day was all about this.

As a result, when Zhou Songyan went to eat, colleagues close to him joked, "I hear you've got someone on the side behind your wife's back?"

Zhou Songyan was an upright man who couldn't tolerate such jokes. "Who's been spouting this nonsense?"

The colleague said, "Everyone's talking about it—about you and Meng Shutang."

"Nonsense!" Zhou Songyan jumped with anxiety. "Shutang and I are perfectly innocent. Neither of us is that kind of person."

Having worked together for years, many people believed in Zhou Songyan's character, but they couldn't help it when everyone was saying so, especially since it involved a matter between a man and a woman.

One person tells ten, ten tell a hundred.

Zhou Songyan was so furious he simply took leave and stopped coming to the company.

These words also reached Meng Shutang's ears, but she wasn't afraid.

Having worked with Zhou Songyan for years, she naturally knew his personality—at a time like this, he must be feeling like he wanted to die.

He and Lu Shenyang were the same kind of people: guarding their hearts like jade, guarding their integrity like pines, refusing to tarnish their reputation even in death.

She thought about calling him to offer some comfort, but feared it would only stir up more trouble for him, so she didn't.

In between, she went to the pantry to get water and ran into Qiao Mo.

Qiao Mo's work area was on the seventh floor; showing up at this particular moment clearly meant she was up to no good.

"Well, if it isn't Teacher Meng? I figured you'd be just like Manager Zhou, too scared to come to work!"

Meng Shutang ignored her, which only made her more emboldened. She covered her mouth in feigned surprise.

"Everyone says you wanted to take a shortcut to climb the ranks, but I actually think Manager Zhou's level is really beneath you.

I'm a straight talker—don't take it to heart.

We girls are better off keeping our names clean, lest people find out and it becomes known to everyone, and you couldn't clear your name even if you jumped into the Yellow River."

Saying that, she walked away with a smile.

Gu Yunci learned about this from the internet.

It had already hit the trending searches, saying a Gu Clan executive and a prominent master in the industry had both had affairs, and so on.

Photos of the two of them were still posted up there.

It had caused a very negative impact on Gu Clan, even affecting the stock price.

He immediately called the Public Relations Department and ordered them to suppress the trending topic.

He also told Qin Zheng, "Investigate this matter. No matter who's involved, investigate to the bottom. Don't spare the marketing accounts either."

Qiao Mo left the second underground level and came back with two iced Americanos. The moment she entered the lobby, she heard several colleagues whispering.

"It's true. I just came downstairs and, in the elevator, I heard Special Assistant Qin on the phone with the Public Relations Department, saying to suppress the trending searches."

"Right. Colleagues from the Integrity Inspection Department said President Gu was furious and ordered a thorough investigation."

"President Gu truly loves Manager Zhou—no wonder Manager Zhou is so devoted."

……

Returning to the seventh floor, Qiao Mo saw several empty workstations in her area. She asked a colleague and learned that the Integrity Inspection Department had called those people away. Her expression changed immediately.

She turned and went downstairs to the Administrative Logistics Department to find Bai Cixian.

Ever since Bai Cixian was transferred to a marginal department, she didn't work at all.

Everyone knew about her relationship with Gu Yunci and simply assumed she didn't want to work, only wanting a cushy sinecure, so no one assigned her any tasks.

"My dear girl, you still have the mood to paint your nails here? President Gu is furious and has ordered the Integrity Inspection Department to investigate the rumors about Zhou Songyan and Meng Shutang.

Somehow, the trail led to our department. I just got back, and several people have already been called in.

I reckon it won't be long before they come for us."

At the mention of the Integrity Inspection Department, Bai Cixian shot to her feet. She peeked outside, then paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

After a moment's thought, she suddenly turned and grabbed Qiao Mo's hand. "Would you betray me?"

Many things from four years ago had been done by Qiao Mo on her behalf.

Qiao Mo looked at her, feeling somewhat frightened. "Of course not. We're best friends."

"If it comes to the absolute worst, you'll take all of this on for me. Qiao Mo, don't worry, I won't forget you."

Bai Cixian clasped her hand. "Your mother's medical bills—I'll pay them."

Qiao Mo thought briefly. "Cixian, you had a miscarriage for President Gu's sake. He's always remembered that debt of gratitude. I think he'll turn a blind eye.

But if he finds out I was the one who did it, how am I supposed to face myself afterward?

You know my family isn't as well-off as yours. If I lose my job, I'm nothing."

Bai Cixian was about to say something more when the door was shoved open with a bang.

People from the Integrity Inspection Department stood at the doorway.

Bai Cixian barely paused to think before shoving Qiao Mo forward. "I've already given her a talking-to. She knows she was wrong."

Qiao Mo was taken away.

Bai Cixian sat in her office, unable to stay still.

She was especially afraid that Qiao Mo wouldn't be able to hold out and would expose her.

But half an hour passed, and the Integrity Inspectorate Department did not come.

An hour, and still they had not come.

She knew they weren't coming.

Only then did she feel at ease.

……

When work ended in the afternoon, Meng Shutang walked out of the Gu Clan building and could still hear scattered fragments of rumors about her and Zhou Songyan.

She didn't say anything, pretending she hadn't heard, and left the company, heading straight to the Huo household.

The moment she entered, she saw Gu Yunci and Bai Cixian.

Unlike four years ago, the two were not the least bit intimate, standing far apart.

Several people seemed to be discussing something.

She caught a few words about a white jade hairpin and couldn't help paying closer attention.

Huo Yanchen said, "Miss Bai, if I remember correctly, it was my cousin who insisted on seeing it, so I pressed Yunci to get it from the old lady.

How did it become something Yunci gave to you?"

Bai Cixian's expression stiffened. "Young Master Huo, you drank too much that day and must be misremembering. We're not talking about the same one — the one I mean had a crack on it."

Huo Yanchen gave a faint smile and glanced at Meng Shutang, who had just come in. "Of course we're talking about the same one. The Gu family's treasures are all one of a kind — how could there be any substitutes?

That Ming Dynasty white jade hairpin was accidentally broken by my cousin, and she was so frightened she hugged me and cried for a long time.

I called my grandfather right then, and my grandfather said that if the old lady of the Gu family really pursued the matter, we'd simply compensate her with another one.

That hairpin, from beginning to end, never belonged to you, nor ever passed through your hands."