Chapter 12

The timid female workers screamed in fright, while the braver men stepped forward reluctantly to manage the situation.

“Director! Director, how did you fall like this? Someone call for help—take the director to the hospital!”

Zhao Yunsheng stood in the crowd, beaming with amusement.

Director Xiang spat a mouthful of blood, pointing furiously at the triumphant Zhao Yunsheng.

“Zhao Yunsheng, you little brat! I won’t let you get away with this!”

“Someone call the police! What are you all standing around for? It was Zhao Yunsheng who hit me—it wasn’t an accident at all!”

Let her call the police—she had been worried this wouldn’t escalate enough.

Facing the skeptical gazes of those around, Zhao Yunsheng’s expression changed. She instantly started crying, looking pitiful as she denied the accusation.

“Director Xiang, how could you falsely accuse me?”

Everyone outside the office whispered among themselves, sympathizing with Zhao Yunsheng.

“That’s true… Yunsheng’s just a young girl. How could she possibly take on Director Xiang?”

“Besides, Director Xiang is seriously injured. How could a little girl like her have done this?”

No weapon, no motive—if the police came, there was no way she’d be in trouble.

Seeing everyone defend “that brat,” Xiang’s anger nearly caused him to faint. Shaking, he pointed at Zhao Yunsheng, insisting,

“Call the police! This must be reported!”

“Zhao Yunsheng, just wait—when the police catch you, you’ll be sent to a labor camp!”

He shouted his threats and collapsed to the ground, unable to vent further.

Once he calmed down, pain wracked his body, trembling all over. A man in his forties or fifties secretly shed tears from the agony.

Half an hour later, Director Xiang, Zhao Yunsheng, and several witnesses from the doorway were taken to the nearest police station.

After the statements were taken, Zhao Yunsheng remained the most innocent party.

Director Xiang fumed, face red and neck bulging, while a nurse tended to his wounds. Despite the pain, he still argued,

“Officer, it really was Zhao Yunsheng who hit me. It was just the two of us in the room—who else could it have been?”

Zhao Yunsheng, feared by him, kept her head low, looking pitiful, pretending to wipe away tears behind Xu Mingjuan.

The police officer glanced over, seeing the girl’s tear-streaked face, and frowned. He asked firmly,

“Director Xiang, you said Zhao Yunsheng hit you with a yellow stick, but we couldn’t find any stick in the office.”

“Moreover, she had just changed clothes before entering. Her hands were empty—where would she have gotten a weapon?”

“She’s so slight. How could she have hurt you this badly?”

Xiang slammed his hand on the table, glaring at Zhao Yunsheng.

“Zhao Yunsheng! Do you dare admit it?”

Zhao Yunsheng shivered in mock fear, waving her hands to avoid his gaze.

“Director Xiang, it wasn’t me! Why do you have to falsely accuse me? You always take advantage of my gentle nature. You bully me in private and I see you harassing other women too.”

The police officer shot Xiang a cold glare. Xiang was trapped; if this brat turned the tables, he’d have no way out.

Clenching his fists, he ground his remaining teeth, unwilling to admit defeat.

“Fine, I fell myself, okay?”

He thought he could let the matter slide. Zhao Yunsheng, a young widow, was easy enough to handle—he just wanted peace. But Zhao Yunsheng had other plans.

“What about the times you bullied me?”

Before Xiang could react, Zhao Yunsheng turned to a nearby officer, looking pitiful, tugging at his sleeve, pretending to wipe tears as she complained.

“Officer, you have to help me! Director Xiang called me into his office using work as an excuse, threatening me to obey him. If I refused, he said he’d fire me from the meat factory!”

“You’re lying!”

Xiang was sweating profusely; this brat even had the audacity to play the victim first?

“Officer, don’t listen to Zhao Yunsheng’s nonsense. She’s a widow and has been flirting with me in the factory. She’s just imagining things.”

At the crucial moment, a woman in her forties stepped forward.

She was Liu Ping, a team leader in Xu Mingjuan’s workshop, known for fawning over Director Xiang. Facts were twisted in front of her, but Zhao Yunsheng only smirked.

“Is it really me imagining things, or are you clinging to power, afraid the support will vanish? Aunt Liu, I’ve seen you give Director Xiang gifts multiple times. Otherwise, how did you become a team leader?”

Liu Ping’s eyes darted around nervously, obviously caught off guard.

“You little widow, you’re spouting nonsense! I earned this position through hard work! You tried to seduce someone and failed, then frame Director Xiang and drag me into it? Shameless!”

“Don’t think we don’t know how many men you’ve slept with behind the scenes. Where did your money come from to raise your child? I heard you’ve got a TV and refrigerator at home—who bought that for you?”

Before she could retort, someone spoke up.

“I bought them for her. What of it? It’s my money—I don’t need your permission.”

The voice was sharp, tinged with anger and authority, causing everyone to turn.

A man in military uniform, broad-shouldered and tall, stepped in.

His expression was solemn, imposing, with a gun at his waist. Two soldiers followed behind him.

The grand entrance terrified Liu Ping, who had been shouting moments ago.

Even Director Xiang’s hands and feet turned cold, wiping sweat nervously.

Who exactly was Zhao Yunsheng?

Before anyone could ask, Pei Hechuan approached, standing authoritatively beside Zhao Yunsheng, towering over Liu Ping with a piercing gaze.

“I am Zhao Yunsheng’s husband. Aunt Liu, do you think every household’s fridge or TV is beyond my reach?”

“As my wife, does she need anyone else to buy her two simple appliances?”

Cold sweat ran down Liu Ping’s face. She was stunned—Zhao Yunsheng was a military spouse?

Why had no one ever mentioned her husband in the past two years? Was he always on duty?

“Ah… comrade, you misunderstand. I just… I just…”

Liu Ping’s mind scrambled. She had no way to defend herself and ended up bowing apologetically to Zhao Yunsheng.

“Yunsheng, I’m sorry. It was all me babbling nonsense. You’re a big person; don’t take it personally. I speak too quickly, but I mean no harm.”

Seeing Liu Ping’s complete shift in attitude, Zhao Yunsheng twitched her mouth, thinking, Being a military spouse is really useful! Should I use this to my advantage before the heroine even shows up?