"Don't worry, as long as Wu Zhishang is generous enough to forgive you, I’ll disappear from your sight forever."
"Miss, please let my friend go. He was just too angry because he loves Wu Zhishang so much. He didn’t mean to insult you. Please, stop fighting."
Listening to the man’s incessant chatter only irritated Zhang Xinyan even more. While tearing into Zhao Miaomiao, she also managed to slap Lv Jian twice, prompting him to join the fray.
The security team, noticing the commotion outside the building, rushed out to intervene. But when they saw Assistant Zhang holding her own against two people, they silently formed a circle around them instead.
Just then, Wu Zhishang and Lin Ran arrived downstairs.
On their way down in the elevator, a junior assistant had already sent them the surveillance footage of what had happened at the entrance.
They both fell into deep thought as they watched Zhang Xinyan’s swift and precise movements.
Wu Zhishang froze for a moment, murmuring to himself, "Her insults... are pretty vicious."
Lin Ran: "Is that the point here? Old Wu, I find this assistant quite interesting. She stood up for you this time—make sure you compensate her properly, at least for workplace injuries."
Back when he was with Zhao Miaomiao, Wu Zhishang had always been the one giving endlessly, never receiving equal love in return.But now, an assistant who could have easily stayed out of it had stepped in to defend him.
Somehow, he felt something indescribable in his heart.
He had felt this way before—with Chen Qingtian.
Wu Zhishang was the kind of person who would repay kindness tenfold.
But if someone wronged him, he wouldn’t necessarily seek revenge.
The classic "nice guy."
In life, such people are the easiest to get along with—and also the easiest to bully. But if they ever snapped, they could become the most ruthless.
Zhang Xinyan had stood up for him. Regardless of her motives, the result was in his favor.
He wouldn’t forget this debt.
As they stepped outside, Lin Ran immediately spotted the crowd gathered in a circle.
"The Chairman and Mr. Wu are here!" someone shouted. Everyone turned to look and quickly made way.
Lin Ran was puzzled. Why hadn’t these people stopped the fight? Getting paid to stand around and watch?
What kind of security was this? They had to be fired.
But when he saw the three people at the center, he understood.
Ah, so they were protecting their own fighter. Not bad.
Zhao Miaomiao knew Wu Zhishang had arrived and was ready to stop fighting, but Zhang Xinyan refused to let go.
At this point, Zhang Xinyan was half-kneeling on the ground, one hand gripping Zhao Miaomiao’s hair while the other relentlessly slapped her. Her knee pressed against Lv Jian’s throat, and he was already starting to see stars.
Zhao Miaomiao lay half-prone, one arm feebly trying to block the slaps while the other clung to Zhang Xinyan’s hair, barely holding on.
"Zhishang’s here. I don’t want to fight anymore. Let me go."
Zhang Xinyan kept slapping her. "You let go first."
Zhao Miaomiao: "Let’s count to three and release at the same time."
Zhang Xinyan: "Fine." (Slap! Slap! Slap!)
Zhao Miaomiao: "One! Two! Three!"
Silence. Neither let go.
"Why didn’t you let go?" (Sobbing)
"You didn’t either!" (Slap! Slap! Slap!)
Zhao Miaomiao: "Let’s try again. Whoever doesn’t let go is a dog."
Zhang Xinyan: "Deal." (Slap! Slap! Slap!)
Zhao Miaomiao: "One! Two! Three!"
Silence again. Still no release.
"You liar! You’re such a dog!"
Zhang Xinyan: "Right back at you—woof woof woof!" (Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!)
From the ground, Lv Jian gasped, "Just... kill... me... already..."
He had truly reached his limit. When he’d first joined the fight, Zhang Xinyan had kicked him straight in the groin, instantly crippling him. As he lay there wailing, she had then seized him by the throat.
Security finally stepped in to separate them, mostly prying Zhao Miaomiao’s fingers loose.
But no one stopped Zhang Xinyan. As they pulled them apart, she yanked hard—and a clump of Zhao Miaomiao’s hair came away in her hand.
"Ah—!" Zhao Miaomiao clutched her head, wailing in pain.
Lin Ran stifled a laugh. So she’s the spicy type. Old Wu might finally be saved.
If Wu Zhishang wasn’t completely clueless, this should scare Zhao Miaomiao off for good.
Wu Zhishang approached, and this time, Lin Ran stayed back as a mere spectator.
Zhao Miaomiao immediately put on a pitiful face. "Zhishang, I came to see you. I missed you so much. I was wrong—please don’t leave me. I swear it wasn’t about your money."
Wu Zhishang ignored her. Instead, he walked up to Zhang Xinyan, looking at his still-fuming assistant, and suddenly smiled.
Zhang Xinyan glared at him. "Do I look ridiculous to you?"
Wu Zhishang shook his head. "Not ridiculous. Adorable. You’ve worked hard, my warrior. I’ll take it from here."
He turned to Zhao Miaomiao, her face a picture of misery.
Then—he slapped her.
Wu Zhishang swore he had never hit anyone that hard in his life.
"Bzzz—" Zhao Miaomiao’s ears rang. Her already reddened cheek swelled instantly, the skin splitting slightly as blood seeped out.
Wu Zhishang pulled out his wallet and tossed a wad of cash at her. "Go get your ears checked. Next time, it won’t be this easy."
Then, noticing Zhang Xinyan’s reddened palm, he took her hand and walked away, leaving Zhao Miaomiao clutching her ear in shock.
In her daze, she watched as Wu Zhishang walked off, hand in hand with another woman.
Their fingers intertwined tightly—somehow, memories flooded Zhao Miaomiao’s mind.
"Can I hold your hand, Miaomiao?"
"Can I hold it forever?"
"Can I hold it for a lifetime?"
Back then, she had vowed, "Of course. You’re only allowed to hold my hand. If you ever hold another woman’s, I’ll never see you again."
Now, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
She truly regretted it.
Everything had changed. The man who once swore to love only her—she had truly lost him.
When she came here, Zhao Miaomiao had thought Wu Zhishang was just throwing a tantrum. Now, she understood.
He had broken his promise. By holding another woman’s hand, he was telling her—
It was over.
On the ground, Lv Jian finally caught his breath. "Miaomiao, let’s go. None of this is Zhishang’s fault—it’s mine for ruining your relationship. Let’s get you to the hospital. I’m worried about your injuries. Ah... I’m just useless. I couldn’t protect you like Zhishang could..."