Chapter 40

Bai Mei hadn’t expected Yu Xiangnian to ask for those things back. Feeling guilty, she tugged at her sleeve, trying to hide her wrist.

She continued to smile, trying to appear understanding, “Oh, Nian Nian, no problem. I’ll return them to you in a few days.”

Yu Xiangnian smiled, “Alright, I was worried you might be upset! Bai Mei, you’re so considerate.”

Bai Mei said, “I’ve been meaning to return them to you, but since you didn’t seem to need them, I’ve been using them until now.”

Yu Xiangnian changed the topic, pointing to a book on the top shelf of the cabinet, “Bai Mei, can you get that book for me?”

Bai Mei glanced at it, then stood up and unlocked the cabinet with a key, reaching high to grab the book.

Her sleeve slid down, revealing her wrist.

Yu Xiangnian clearly saw the silver watch on her wrist, with its face cracked.

No wonder Bai Mei had been trying to hide her wrist.

Bai Mei handed the book to Yu Xiangnian, who, without beating around the bush, said bluntly, “Bai Mei, you broke my watch!”

Bai Mei’s face changed, and she quickly hid her hands behind her back, stammering, “Nian Nian, I… I’ll get it fixed.”

Yu Xiangnian firmly said, “I don’t want it anymore. You need to compensate me with a new one.”

She had been waiting for the right moment to ask Bai Mei for these things back since she arrived here.

Even if Bai Mei returned them, Yu Xiangnian wouldn’t want them anymore after they had been used for so long.

She wanted Bai Mei to compensate her with brand new items, and today was the right time!

“What?!” Bai Mei’s eyes widened in surprise. After a moment, she put on a pitiful expression, “Nian Nian, you lent them to me voluntarily. If you need them back, I’ll return them, but how can you ask for new ones?”

Yu Xiangnian responded coldly, “I lent them to you when they were brand new, and I hadn’t even used them. Now, the watch is broken, so it’s only right you compensate me with a new one. As for the bicycle, you’ve been riding it every day and worn it out. You should return a new one too!”

Seeing Yu Xiangnian’s determined attitude, Bai Mei’s eyes reddened, and she burst into tears.

Partly because she didn’t have the money to buy new replacements, and partly to play on Yu Xiangnian’s sympathy, hoping she would retract her demand.

Hearing Bai Mei’s crying, people from the neighboring offices quickly gathered to see what was going on.

“Nian Nian, how can you do this? You lent them to me willingly, and now you’re asking for new ones. Are you trying to trick me?” Bai Mei sobbed.

“What’s going on?” Ding Yunfei asked, looking from Bai Mei to Yu Xiangnian.

“Why don’t you ask her why she’s crying?” Yu Xiangnian retorted with disdain.

She had planned to resolve this privately with Bai Mei, but since Bai Mei had attracted a crowd, she might as well let everyone hear the story.

“Comrade Bai Mei, what’s going on?” Ding Yunfei asked Bai Mei again.

Between sobs, Bai Mei explained, “Yu Xiangnian lent me her watch and bicycle voluntarily. Now she wants them back, which is fine, but she’s asking me to compensate her with new ones.”

Some of the onlookers sided with Bai Mei, thinking Yu Xiangnian was being unreasonable. Borrowing something and then demanding a new replacement seemed unfair and might deter others from lending things in the future.

Others sided with Yu Xiangnian, believing that Bai Mei had used the dowry items for so long without returning them, so compensating with new ones was justified. They had long been annoyed by Bai Mei flaunting borrowed items as if they were hers.

Although Bai Mei didn’t mention the broken watch, Ding Yunfei knew about it.

Yesterday, during their date, he had been riding the bicycle with Bai Mei when they hit a large pothole, causing them both to fall off. Bai Mei’s wrist had hit the ground, breaking the watch.

However, Ding Yunfei pretended not to know and spoke from a “fair” perspective, “Comrade Yu, if you want Comrade Bai Mei to return the watch and bicycle, she can do that. Asking her to compensate with new ones is too much.”

Yu Xiangnian looked at him with a smile. Her usually charming eyes now held a touch of coldness, making Ding Yunfei feel uneasy.

“Comrade Yu, this is a personal matter between you and Comrade Bai Mei. You should resolve it privately,” he added.

“No need. Since everyone is here, you can all serve as witnesses,” Yu Xiangnian said, grabbing Bai Mei’s wrist and pulling back her sleeve. “Look at this watch, it’s in this state. Asking her to replace it with a new one is fair, isn’t it?”

Bai Mei struggled, but Yu Xiangnian held her wrist firmly, preventing her from breaking free.

Everyone saw the silver watch on Bai Mei’s wrist, its strap scratched and the face cracked like a spider web, making the hands barely visible.

“It’s in such bad shape, she should replace it with a new one.”

“That’s Yu’s dowry. She was generous to lend it out, and since it’s broken, it’s only right to replace it with a new one.”

“Exactly. Bai Mei wore the watch every day without taking care of it. I saw her moving things without even taking it off.”

Hearing everyone’s comments, Yu Xiangnian finally let go of Bai Mei’s hand.

Bai Mei’s face alternated between red and white as she looked imploringly at Ding Yunfei.

Ding Yunfei, feeling guilty, avoided her gaze and said nothing.

Finally, Yu Xiangnian’s gaze settled on Deputy Minister of Logistics, Yin Yuankai.

“Minister Yin, please help us resolve this fairly,” Yu Xiangnian said with a smile.

Everyone else also turned to look at Yin Yuankai, who smiled awkwardly, regretting that he had come to watch the commotion.

Bai Mei was someone he had recruited and was his niece. Naturally, he wanted to protect her. However, Yu Xiangnian was the General’s daughter, and he didn’t dare offend her. Besides, he had heard everyone’s comments.

This time, it was clear that Yu Xiangnian was in the right!

Clearing his throat, Yin Yuankai said, “Alright then, Comrade Bai Mei, you will compensate Comrade Yu with a new watch. You can keep the old one for yourself.”

“And the bicycle?” Yu Xiangnian reminded him.

“And the bicycle as well. You’ll compensate with a new one and keep the old one,” Yin Yuankai added.

Bai Mei, who had stopped crying, now looked pale.

The thought of spending so much money made her both distressed and anxious, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

Ding Yunfei quickly agreed, “Minister Yin is right. Comrade Bai Mei, you should compensate Comrade Yu with a new watch and bicycle.”

After speaking, he smiled amicably at Yu Xiangnian.

Yu Xiangnian ignored him.

Yin Yuankai just wanted to end this matter quickly. Having the entire logistics department standing around watching was unseemly.

“Alright, that’s settled then. Everyone, disperse and get back to your work!”

As people began to leave, Bai Mei suddenly shouted, “Wait!”