Chapter 2446

Su Xinghui said, "Xiaoya, you don't believe this nonsense, do you?"

Lu Xiaoya said, "Of course I don't believe it—otherwise I wouldn't have called you; I'd have gone straight to Yanzhong City."

Su Xinghui understood Lu Xiaoya's meaning: she wanted him to tell her the full story, just so she'd know; she still trusted him absolutely, but trust between husband and wife required honesty.

Su Xinghui then recounted in full the conflict they'd had with Lu Guojun that night, and further described everything he'd done at Yanfang Group during this time—because only then could he reveal why those people had spread such rumors to defame him.

Lu Xiaoya listened in silence, not interrupting; she knew Su Xinghui well enough to be certain her husband wouldn't suddenly become a stranger to her, and besides, this time he'd been with Yu Ruizhi and Yu Ruoqiu—she had no reason to doubt him.

Yet she needed to know what Su Xinghui was doing in Yanzhong City, because Lu Xiaoya knew rumors that surfaced so suddenly never arose without cause—they must mean he'd offended someone; she was no stranger to this, having endured it several times already, each time because Su Xinghui had angered someone or pressed them too hard.

Lu Xiaoya also understood why those people had spread this rumor and made sure it reached her ears: they wanted to throw her into chaos, provoke her into quarreling with Su Xinghui, ignite trouble at home, and thereby reduce the pressure he was putting on them.

And since those people believed Su Xinghui's influence came from her, this was a strategy to cut the ground from under his feet—if Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya broke apart, Lu Zhenghong would no longer be his backing; instead, he'd become his enemy.

What a clever plan—but those people had no idea of Su Xinghui's true strength, nor did they understand the source of the trust between Lu Xiaoya and Su Xinghui.

The more they did this, the less likely Lu Xiaoya was to fall for their trap.

Su Xinghui had spoken for nearly half an hour before finishing; Lu Xiaoya finally whispered, "Xinghui, don't worry—I believe you, and I won't fall for their scheme. Focus on your work in Yanzhong City; I'll handle things at home."

Su Xinghui felt a great weight lift—he knew Lu Xiaoya trusted him, but she was his closest kin, and his heart had always been heavy, fearing she might misunderstand him; as the saying goes, "Three people make a tiger," and gossip, repeated often enough, can make people believe anything.

Su Xinghui said, "Mm, Xiaoya, thank you."

Lu Xiaoya said, "Don't mention it. Snow's coming to Yanzhong City tonight—wear more clothes."

This was the second time Lu Xiaoya had reminded him to dress warmly; Su Xinghui's heart warmed—only family cared about the weather forecast in the city where you were. He said, "Xiaoya, take care of yourself too."

Lu Xiaoya hung up, but Su Xinghui's anger hadn't faded—these people were utterly despicable!

Yet he could understand their despicability: it was because he was pressuring them too hard, which proved his target was correct—he'd brought in accountants to audit them, and that had struck right at their fatal weakness.

So now, he needed to push Liu Yunqing's team to speed up their audit; the faster Liu Yunqing worked, the more initiative Su Xinghui would gain.

Su Xinghui first called Yu Ruizhi, repeating to him what Lu Xiaoya had told him; Yu Ruizhi exploded at once: "That bastard Lu Guojun is truly despicable—I should've punched him that night."

Su Xinghui said, "Lu Guojun might have someone behind him, Brother Yu—can you find out who's spreading these rumors?"

Yu Ruizhi said, "Fine, I'll investigate this—I'll also clear up the mess for you. What the hell is going on?"

Indeed, what the hell was going on? They'd set out to do something good—how had it turned into a jealous brawl?

But if they didn't respond, they'd never be able to explain themselves clearly—after all, hadn't they gone singing that night? And Yanzhong City, with its unflattering nickname as the "Entertainment Capital of the North," made it inevitable: a fight in a karaoke street there? Anyone would jump to the wrong conclusion.

Besides, people love gossip—two groups fighting over a singing girl? Doesn't that sound more dramatic?

The enemy spread this rumor while hiding Lu Guojun's name, naming only Su Xinghui—they wanted him alone to bear the blame. As head of the central delegation, could he possibly keep his position after such a scandal?