Courtyard House: Drunk and barging into the Xu family's house, I woke up numb.

"Don't worry, of course I don't believe that. Do you think I don't understand you even if others don't?"

"You, Qin Huairu, might do such a thing to others, but you would never do such a thing to Sha Zhu."

“I’ve seen your expressions and actions over the years, so there’s no need for you to pressure Sha Zhu. If you just say the word, Sha Zhu will be eager to marry you.”

"As for sleeping together before marriage, it was just something we couldn't help ourselves to, but it was a bit cold to do it in the cellar, huh?"

Qin Huairu was both angry and annoyed by Liu Lan's words, especially the last sentence, "a bit cold," which made her grit her teeth in hatred.

Qin Huairu bit her lip, suppressing her anger.

"Liu Lan, I haven't offended you recently, have I? Why do you have to be so sarcastic and hurtful with your words?"

Liu Lan quickly waved her hand.

"Qin Huairu, you're wrong about that. I wasn't trying to hurt you with my words; I was trying to protect you."

"They said you two were having an affair, so I explained it to them. I told them that you two were in love!"

Upon hearing that Liu Lan had told this to others, Qin Huairu immediately stood up.

Liu Lan wasn't speaking up for them at all; she was clearly kicking them while they were down, confirming the past events that had led to her having an affair with Sha Zhu.

She even implied, openly and subtly, that she and Sha Zhu had feelings for each other before, which clearly meant that this wasn't the first time they'd had an affair.

"Liu Lan, are you trying to help?"

"You're actually making things worse!"

"I think you're just trying to sabotage us and smear us because you saw me marrying Sha Zhu!"

"The guy you climbed up to never intended to marry you; he was just playing around with you."

"What's wrong? Now that you see me marrying Sha Zhu, are you envious or jealous?"

“I’m telling you, it’s no use. Don’t forget that you’re a married woman, and he’s a married man too.”

"Even if you two are in love, to outsiders it would be considered adultery. Besides, I don't think there's any affection between you two."

Several people in the canteen knew the inside story of Liu Lan's affair with Deputy Factory Director Li, including He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu usually bosses Liu Lan around, looking down on everything and no one is interested in anything, partly due to this factor.

In her eyes, Qin Huairu was far superior to Liu Lan, who was a woman who slept with her superiors, as they were both women.

However, due to Deputy Factory Director Li's authority, no one usually dared to expose it.

Now, Qin Huairu was first dismissed by Deputy Factory Director Li with a blank sheet of paper, and then she was provoked to her face by his lover Liu Lan.

Since she was leaving anyway, she didn't hold back and directly exposed Liu Lan's affair with Deputy Factory Director Li in front of her.

Since following Deputy Factory Director Li, Liu Lan has never suffered such humiliation, except for Sha Zhu.

(Nodidi) You should know that she is usually in charge of receiving guests at the factory, and even the canteen director Wang Jiaxing has to treat her with deference.

Now that Qin Huairu, the woman who had an affair with Sha Zhu, was saying such things to her, how could she not be furious?

"Qin Huairu, you're nothing but a slut, how dare you say that to me?"

"Do you think no one knows about your past affair with Xiao Cangku and your attempt to seduce Xu Damao?"

"The factory didn't expose you because they were being lenient with you. But you, after failing to seduce Xu Damao, ended up sleeping with Sha Zhu."

"Now the factory has fired you because of your own conduct issues. Instead of reflecting on your own actions, you've come to find fault with me and frame me."

"If I don't teach you a lesson today, everyone will think I, Liu Lan, am easy to bully!"

After saying this, Liu Lan swung the mop in her hand and hit Qin Huairu, who was frightened by Liu Lan's action.

She didn't dare linger any longer, grabbed her handbag and ran out of the cafeteria, bumping into a handyman returning from the restroom in her haste.

Chapter 159 Ding Qiunan's Grievance, and Xia Jie's Curious Nature [Please Subscribe!]

Cao Xu and Xia Jie were walking towards the security department building.

At this moment, Cao Xu saw Ding Qiunan running from the direction of the factory office toward the security department building. Her steps were somewhat flustered, as if she had been frightened.

Cao Xu frowned slightly. He knew that Ding Qiunan wouldn't have gone to the security department to find him unless there was something wrong.

He waved to Zhang Guangrong, a member of the fourth patrol team who was patrolling not far away, and Zhang Guangrong immediately ran over.

"Section Chief, what are your instructions?"

Cao Xu introduced first.

"It's an honor. This is Comrade Xia Jie, our newly appointed deputy director."

Zhang Guangrong quickly saluted.

"Hello, Director Xia!"

Cao Xu turned to look at Xia Jie, who had returned Zhang Guangrong's greeting.

"Director Xia, this is Zhang Guangrong, from the Security Section, Fourth Security Team."

"I have some things to take care of here, so he can accompany you to take a look around the cafeteria."

Xia Jie said calmly.

"Of course, no problem. Section Chief Cao, please go ahead and get busy."

Cao Xu went up to the second floor and went straight to his office. After opening the office door, he saw Ding Qiunan lying on his desk.

Seeing Ding Qiunan's head buried in her arms and her shoulders trembling slightly, Cao Xu knew that the girl was probably crying.

He walked to the desk, placed his hand on the back of her neck, and spoke softly.

"If anyone bullies you, tell me 900, and I'll get revenge for you."

Ding Qiunan looked up after hearing Cao Xu's voice and saw the familiar face in front of her.

She turned around and hugged Cao Xu tightly, burying her head in his waist, looking aggrieved.

"Cao Xu, you won't abandon me, will you?"

Hearing Ding Qiunan's sobs, Cao Xu stroked her hair and said with heartache.

"Silly girl, I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere."

......................................................................................................

As Xia Jie watched Cao Xu's departing figure, and then thought of the woman who had run upstairs earlier, she fell into deep thought.

Zhang Guangrong, standing to the side, sized up the newly arrived Deputy Director Xia, who looked to be in his early twenties.

This year is really strange. First, a section chief at the level of a full section chief was appointed, but he couldn't even get a position. Now, a deputy director at the level of a deputy division chief in his early twenties has arrived.

Strange things happen every year, but this year there seem to be more than usual. I wonder if this deputy director and their section chief can be on the same side.

It's no wonder Zhang Guangrong overthinks things. Below Sun Guofu are his own section chief and the deputy director in front of him, two big shots. Although they are superior and subordinate, aren't they also competitors?

"Director Xia, where would you like to go for an inspection? I'll show you the way."

Xia Jie came to her senses and realized that she had been overthinking things. What did it matter to her what his relationship with that woman was?

"Xiao Zhang, can you take me to the cafeteria?"

Xia Jie said casually as she walked to the cafeteria.

"Xiao Zhang, how old are you this year?"

Zhang Guangrong said.

"Director Xia, I am twenty-one years old this year and have been working in the security department for three years."

Xia Jie said.

"You joined the security department at the age of 21 or 23. That's quite early."

"So, are you married yet?"

Zhang Guangrong scratched his head.

"not yet."

Xia Jie teased Zhang Guangrong, who looked slightly shy.

"You're 21 and still not married, do you have a boyfriend?"

Zhang Guangrong was not good at dealing with women, especially since this woman was his superior's superior.

He didn't know why Director Xia had asked about his marital status, but he answered truthfully nonetheless.

My family introduced me to someone, and we're dating now.

Xia Jie pressed for an answer.

"You're dating someone, that's great! When are you planning to get married?"

Zhang Guangrong felt he was about to collapse, and he really wanted to escape.

It's really infuriating to have him talk about his feelings with a female boss who's about his own age.

If he didn't know his own worth, he would have suspected that this person had a crush on him.