Chapter 16: The Confrontation Begins

Given the current situation, the police were probably all busy maintaining public order.

Besides, in times like these, people are more afraid of chaos—who would bother with something so petty?

Even under normal circumstances, this would only be considered a dispute, typically handled internally or resolved privately.

---

“Jiang Yuan, I didn’t expect you to be so heartless. No matter what, you and Chao Yang shared a bed for so many years. You two even have a daughter together, and you won’t show even a shred of compassion?”

Bai Mengmeng looked at her with righteous indignation, as if Jiang Yuan had committed some unforgivable crime.

Jiang Yuan snorted coldly, chin raised. “You, with no morals at all, think you can guilt-trip me with morality? If you had any decency and could keep your legs together, we wouldn’t be in this situation!”

“You’re spouting nonsense!”

Bai Mengmeng’s face twisted in anger, her voice rising. Her biggest shame in life was being the mistress of Xia Chaoyang.

“You know perfectly well whether I’m telling the truth or not…”

“Jiang Yuan, I know you’re angry, but Chao Yang loves me. He told me I’m the only one in his heart. You know what? The one who isn’t loved is the real mistress!”

This bizarre reasoning, stated so seriously, made Jiang Yuan laugh.

“If that’s how you want to play it, then let’s break this down properly. You said the one who isn’t loved is the mistress? Which law in our country says that? Don’t come here spouting nonsense. Is that how all you homewreckers justify yourselves?

And don’t bring up the kid again. You keep saying your son is Chao Yang’s—what proof do you have?”

Her direct questioning made Bai Mengmeng flush red.

“Of course I have proof! My son looks exactly like Chao Yang—they’re like they came from the same mold. What more do you want?”

To be fair, that was actually true.

The boy did look a lot like Xia Chaoyang—especially the eyes, nearly identical.

But since he wasn’t here, Bai Mengmeng could say whatever she wanted.

More and more people started gathering in the stairwell, all eager for gossip. Most of their phones were dead anyway, and this drama was free entertainment.

---

“Give me a break. Your kid and Xia Chaoyang? They look nothing alike.

You were so desperate to find a new man—who knows who the real father is?

Chaoyang’s just a sucker, blind and foolish enough to take you in.”

“You’re full of it!”

Bai Mengmeng’s pretty face contorted with rage. She had put effort into her appearance today, but her current twisted expression erased any hint of the delicate beauty she was trying to portray.

“My son Xiaodong is Chao Yang’s. No question about it. Stop trying to drag me through the mud.”

People glanced at each other, unsure who to believe.

But Jiang Yuan was so calm—it made her seem even more credible. After all, who could stay this composed after being pushed out of her marriage by a mistress?

---

“Enough already. Everyone knows about ‘Goddess Mengmeng.’

Two thousand yuan a night, all clearly priced. Plenty of guys from the market have been with you. Don’t you remember?

Wasn’t it at Old Wang’s shop, where you got so into it you passed out right there? If not for that, you wouldn’t have met Xia Chaoyang again.

Old Wang said you were wild… tsk tsk.”

“You’re spouting garbage! Jiang Yuan, you’re smearing me on purpose—this is slander, and I’m going to sue you!”

Jiang Yuan looked at her innocently. “Weren’t you the one always acting sweet and pitiful? You can’t even handle this?”

“If you’re so innocent, what are you getting worked up for? Remember when Old Wang said you have a red birthmark on your butt? If you’re clean, why not show everyone?”

Bai Mengmeng panicked. She didn’t even know any Old Wang, and her relationship with Xia Chaoyang hadn’t happened like that.

And she didn’t have a red mark on her butt either.

---

“Heh. Now I get it. Jiang Yuan, you’re just jealous of us. You can’t stand to see us happy.

So you’re slandering me, hoping everyone turns against me.

Whether or not I have a birthmark, I’m not showing anyone! How is that even a fair argument?!”

Ah, not so dumb after all—she at least had some sense left.

Of course, all that was made up by Jiang Yuan.

In her past life, Bai Mengmeng kept urging Xia Chaoyang to force Jiang Yuan into prostitution. She even spread nasty rumors about her.

Now, she was just giving her a taste of her own medicine.

---

“Enough. What’s the point of all this? Even if no one else knows you, I know what kind of person you are.

While you were sleeping with Xia Chaoyang, you were probably messing with others too.

Now you’re broke—go back to your old trade. Plenty of men here, maybe one of them wants to be your sugar daddy.”

She raised her voice deliberately. Instantly, the glances from the crowd turned hostile and lewd.

One man from downstairs even rubbed his chin suggestively.

---

Bai Mengmeng’s eyes welled with tears. She forced out two drops.

“Jiang Yuan, how could you humiliate me like this? God is watching. I swear to the heavens, I, Bai Mengmeng, am pure and innocent. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me!”

Jiang Yuan casually picked at her non-existent earwax and flicked her fingernails, producing a crisp snap.

“Enough already. We’re all materialists here. If oaths worked, what would we need the police for?”

Her reasoning was surprisingly solid and unshakable.

---

“Hey there, pretty lady,” the man from downstairs chimed in, “I’ve got money. If you need some, I can lend you a little.”

His wife, standing next to him, was having none of it. She smacked him hard.

“Shameless! We don’t have any money. I’m standing right here, and you’re trying to flirt? I’ll kill you!”

She actually started hitting him.

The man didn’t dare retaliate, not with so many people watching.

“I just said I’d lend her money. I didn’t mean anything else. What are you so worked up about?”

“Worked up? You’ve got a wandering eye again, huh? Can’t resist a cheap slut? I knew it!”

Bai Mengmeng’s face turned all kinds of red and white—extremely unpleasant to look at.

---

“Enough! This is going too far. You’re verbally assaulting me—that’s against the law!”

But the woman wasn’t backing down. Bai Mengmeng had overestimated her own appeal.

“Shut your mouth, you homewrecker. You tried to ruin my family. I’ll skin you alive!”

With that, she actually lunged, forcing Bai Mengmeng to retreat quickly.