Chapter 171 - JJ's Truth

For the whole day, Shi Lian cannot think of anything else other than the ring. She trusts Moxing but what if he fails to make the ring in one day? She cannot even ask for another day time. That creepy man is too cunning, he will know for sure that Shi Lian is up to something. 

Even when Zichen called her a few minutes before, she wasn't attentive to what he was saying. She only heard about another business trip. He was going on another business trip again. She felt sad because she cannot even meet him or hug him openly. He has become her secret that she is afraid to reveal to the world. The most she is scared about her relationship is telling her father. He warned her once but she didn't listen to him. How could she just cut him off? She liked him too much to break things with him. She didn't realize when he became important to her. 

Waking from her thought bubble, she thinks of going to talk with JJ. She hasn't seen him since yesterday. When he said about being careful, she is guessing it must be related to her uncle since they used to hang out together. 

She leaves her office, walking up to Fang Xiao's desk, she tells her where she is heading to. Although it's not at all required to tell your secretary about your whereabouts she feels she should tell her. 

Stepping out of the elevator, she goes to his office. Employees pass by her, greeting her as she goes. Reaching outside the door of his office room, she knocks on the door. 

"Come in!" he yells from inside the room. 

Hearing his order, she twists the doorknob and pushes the door, entering in. Seeing Shi Lian, he gets up from his seat instantly and bows to her. 

"Chairwoman" he croaks. Clearing his throat, he says, "How may I help you?"

"Please sit," she tells him with a smile. "I wanted to discuss something with you."

She plants her butt in the chair opposite to his and crossing her legs, she looks at him. 

When he does not says anything, she starts, "You must have heard about my uncle— I mean, Mr. Zheng Yi ending up in jail" she glances to notices his reaction. He appears as if the room is suffocating her. He refuses to meet her gaze so continues, "How do you feel about this?"

"Why are you asking me this?" he asks, his voice shaking nervously. 

"Because I am guessing when you said about being careful, you meant him. Am I correct?"

The look on his face shows she is right. "Look, you can tell me. It's not like I would fire you or anything."

He meets her eyes, his fingers locked together tightly that the redness around his fingertips can be seen. 

"You were the one who put him to jail?" he asks, more like asserts. She smiles because her guess is turning out to be right after all. 

"The news says he is behind bars because he transferred the company's money illegally. But you must have guessed, it's not the real truth" he says confidently. 

He nods slightly. She is expecting him to ask the real truth but he doesn't say anything. Why wasn't he saying anything? 

"Aren't you curious on what basis he was arrested?" she asks, crossing her arms before her chest. 

He sighs as if having done with his drama. "I am actually but I think I know it," he says, with tone now more active. 

She cannot hide the surprisement on her face. "Really? Mind telling me?"

"Because he tried to kill you," he says and that surely gives Shi Lian goosebumps. Her eyes widen in horror and she gasps. 

She didn't expect he will know. Her uncle must have told her about the kidnapping but why? Why would he tell him out of all? Is he also one of them? The question in her mind makes her face twist in anger. What if he is also working with his uncle? 

"What else did he tell you?" she asks, her eyebrows pressing together. 

He downcasts his eyes with guilt. She asks again, this time it is an order. 

He abruptly gets up from the chair and bows his head to her. "Before I starting I would apologize to you. I am sorry so very much. You can fire me after what I will say and I think you should."

Shi Lian is now more confused and eager to know what did they two talked about her? 

Taking a glance, he again looks down and starts speaking. Shi Lian has never seen him this meek and weak. "Mr. Mo came to my office and put an offer in front of me. He offered me to join hands with him and kick you out of the company" he glances up and sees Shi Lian's eyes narrowing at him, he continues, "I took his offer because I despised you. I didn't like that someone younger than me and immature like you was capable of handling the company. So after then, we started spending more time. Mostly we would discuss you and how to snatch the position from you without even coming into the limelight. But then one day, Zheng Yi came to me with rage in his eyes and said he wanted to kill you as soon as he can."

Shi Lian cannot believe what she is hearing. She trusted this guy and she never really thought he would be the one who would want to hurt her. She clenches her teeth together so hard that her jaw hurts. "Then?" she demands to proceed further. 

He continues from where he left, "I was scared. Even though I despised you, I never thought of killing you or hurting you physically. When I didn't agree with him, he threatened me. After that every time I saw you I would feel guilty so I would run away and when I saw Zheng Yi, I would feel hatred and scared because he looked determined to make me go downfall. So when I came to my senses, I couldn't stop myself from warning you."

He brings both his palms together and apologizes, "I am truly very sorry. I know I did wrong."

Shi Lian's face is etched with fury and she is breathing hard. It's like getting a shock which is painful and unexpected. 

She rises from the chair and slams her palm on the desk. "I cannot believe you will do this" she hisses, glaring at him. "I thought you were nice. I trusted you! And you were secretly hating me?" she bellows, "If you have so much problem with me, you could have told me!"

He does not say anything, his head remains down with shame. She continues, her ears getting red. "I should have known when I saw the both of you chatting and laughing together. I knew my uncle was a snake who never cared about anyone and I also knew he was going to do something. But the thought of you being a part of his plan is....is just too unexpected for me. You disappointed me so much."

She cannot even look at him. She feels hurt knowing the people she trusted turned out to be the actual snake. 

"You must still hate me, right? Oh, wait, are you still planning how to kick me out of the office?" she scorns, her words coming out like venom. 

He looks up, his eyes fill with guilt and his lips trembling, hearing her words. He opens his mouth and says, "No, I don't."

She let out a scoff, not at all believing him. "I can't read your mind and I can't even detect your mouth if you are lying or saying the truth."

"You can fire me. I won't object to it, Chairwoman" he says sincerely. 

She grinds her teeth together and looks at him, his with a grimace. "I won't" she declares, loud and clear. "You will work, twice as much you work normally but you won't get a penny until I say."

He opens his mouth to object or say something but closes it again. He nods a reluctant nod. 

"I'll be the one setting your schedule and you cannot object. You cannot resign as well" she says, pointing her index at him, her eyes wide and raging. 

This is more torturous than firing him and since he knows he has done a big mistake, he does not object to it. The weight he was feeling for the past weeks, is now lifted off from his chest. 

"Immature, isn't it?" she scorns, with a mocking smirk. "That's me. The immature Chairwoman for you" she adds. 

The surroundings are heavier and Shi Lian feels she is suffocating inside. Turning on her heels, she goes to open the door, and steps out of the office, closing the door from behind with a loud thud. 

The secretary, which Shi Lian never notice, jump from her seat when Shi Lian exit from the office, her face fuming with anger and her heels making loud clanking sounds.