The Mao group's plan backfired since their company was completely forgotten. It was supposed to be a PR work for them yet their company wasn't even mentioned once in the trending topic.

Mao Zhilan was really angry at this flop plan. The Mao group was only mentioned in the initial articles but on the next articles, they were not mentioned anymore. It was actually her plan to create a mess between the Xing couple. Mao Fa Dai only obliged to her request and made a hefty million contract with Hongqi's company.

Mao Fa Dai actually wanted to stop this messy compet.i.tion with Xiulan's company since he has greater problems to solve. Especially that the mystery hacker suddenly stopped attacking his company server. He was very anxious of the next plan and attack of the hacker. He can't even sleep at night because of the sudden disappearance of that hacker. He had to come up some plans on how to catch the hacker and build a strong firewall in his server.

Now, the Mao group had to wait for six months for Gong Yuming's contract to expire. It was such a flop that even the employees under the Mao group vehemently didn't like the idea. It was such a waste of money and time. To think that they even hired a problematic amba.s.sador like Gong Yuming.

The old employees already have a bad judgment over Zhilan for so many years. They were treated like trash by her and she would always spend hefty amounts of money on her shopping. They really hate her and they somewhat pity their boss that he had impregnate such wretched woman that lead to his early marriage.

Their enraged judgment over her has exceeded maximum when she suddenly wanted to hire Gong Yuming as a company celebrity amba.s.sador. They all thought she was really stupid and a bad luck.

Also, it was an open secret within the company that Mrs. Zhao was very insecure of Song Xiulan. Only the old employees knew about this since they would always hear the witch Mrs. Zhao getting angry at her husband and would always mention Song Xiulan's name.

Now they realized that she actually had to spend millions just to get her revenge and offend Song Xiulan. How could she even do this? Did she already forgot that Song Xiulan was now married to S city's wealthiest person? She was also the one who encouraged their boss to pirate Song Xiulan's programmers. They were all nervous. If ever Song Xiulan would get angry at their company, they are all doomed.

Hongqi's company continuously denied the scandalous rumor and even tried to extinguish it. But the netizens were very much eager to expose a non-existent scandal.

Hongqi was actually more worried that Xiulan might believe these rumors. He's now trying to come up with a plan on how to stop this never ending rumors about him and Gong Yuming. He could only think of kicking out Gong Yuming out of his company.

But he can't do that. His company might get a lawsuit of unfair treatment and wrongful termination [1]. It was never the best plan.

He could only think of possibly just put Gong Yuming in more out of the country projects. This way, Gong Yuming was far away from him. The more they are in the same place and event, the more people would start talking and create unnecessary rumors. He doesn't want any of that anymore and he's really worried of what his wife was thinking. He doesn't want her to believe such rumors. She was very important.

Add to his anxiety, Xiulan was very diligent and dutiful being his wife these past few days. She was mysteriously kind ever since that night she poured out her frustrations. She was so kind and very warm towards him that he can't help but to be wary. Her behavior was so exquisite. He was so curious what she was thinking. Whenever he asks her, she would always give him a charming smile and tell him that everything is fine.

For him, when a woman is silent and obedient, it means that she has a lot of things in her mind that she doesn't want to share. He's not sure if she's plotting something evil or good but either way, it makes him nervous. As long as she won't leave him, everything will be fine.

In Xiulan's side, it was actually mysteriously calm. Xiulan's public relations team has answered all the media's inquiry regarding this scandalous matter. They repeatedly answered them that the relations.h.i.+p between Xiulan and Hongqi are fine and it was just bad rumors.

Xiulan would always kindly posed her left hand with the extravagant wedding ring whenever she's out of her office. Paparazzis continuously tailed and followed her. Whenever the paparazzis try to question her, she would always answer them with grace and smile.

With her calm response over these scandals, the netizens have branded her as a martyr wife. They thought she was incredibly doing a good job as a kind and gracious wife because her husband was the wealthiest man and she was only afraid of him. They all speculated and judge her like they really know what was happening behind doors.

These speculations all started because most women that are married into a powerful families tend to create a façade that everything was okay in their marital life but actually everything was a mess.

The netizens might have started creating make up stories about her calm demeanor but Xiulan didn't mind them anymore. She was immune and didn't bother listening to their opinions.

She put all her attention in her company and the problems of the Lin family. She started not to think much of her weird feelings towards her husband. It only gave her stress anyway.

To keep her feet on the ground, she tried to follow his old commands about her public image. She became diligent in following his orders when it comes to her public image. She didn't complain or let Hongqi hear anything from her. It almost came off like she was a robot.

Whenever they are alone together, she acted like a caring and dutiful wife. She doesn't know why she started acting and move like this but all the reason she could think of was that she wants a peaceful marriage life.

Divorce was not in her plans anymore. Looking for a reason to divorce made her head ache so much. And she doesn't have any time for idle thoughts too. In case there's a chance to divorce, of course she will grab it. But right now, their lives are peaceful and scandals can't be avoided since her husband is very famous but it's just a minor problem that can be solved.

She kept understanding her situation, actually their situation, that her thoughts has reached to the point where all she wanted that everything should be on the safe side. It might be boring but this is the only thing she could think of.

Especially now that she realized that the weird feelings she currently has for her husband was actually a blooming spring that she can't avoid. She's harboring feelings, it's not love yet but it will eventually go there. Falling in love is the most dangerous thing in this world. As possible, she doesn't want to easily and quickly fall or be trapped in that dangerous zone.

"Boss, boss… Boss!" Secretary Dandan shouted to get her boss' attention. Her boss has been s.p.a.cing out ever since the meeting ended. They are currently in S city's auditing department, a government office near the city hall. They attended a four hours meeting and it seems that it burned her boss' brain cells.

"Sorry, Dandan. What is it?" Xiulan broke her reverie and confusedly looked at Dandan. She didn't remember what they were talking about. Her head suddenly lost in thoughts. She might be tired from all work, problems and everything that has been disturbing her mind.

"I may need to pa.s.s by the bookstore first before we go back to the office. I just need to buy a few office supplies." Dandan said and quickly gaze at her boss' face.

"Okay." Xiulan nodded and went back to being silent. Dandan somewhat guessed that her boss might be stressed out because of that on-going rumor about her husband and Gong Yuming.

They are now in the bas.e.m.e.nt parking lot. Dandan hastily ran towards their car so she can immediately start it. Xiulan was walking too slowly since she was wearing high heels shoes today.

She was almost near her car when the car door next to hers suddenly opens and revealed a woman who's wearing a blood red dress, exposed cleavage and her makeup was quite thick. The stranger was beautiful and s.e.xy but there was an obvious contempt in her eyes.

Xiulan lagged for a bit and kept thinking who this woman was. The stranger was blocking her way and she needs to ride her car.

Dandan almost jumped out of her seat when she saw Gong Yuming emerging from the car beside them. She quickly went out to protect her boss. She silently prayed "Oh my G.o.d, please no cat fight!"

"Hi, Miss Song. It's the first time we met, isn't it?" Gong Yuming's cold voice resonated in the dark and s.p.a.cious parking lot. Her eyes glimmered with hatred. Her perfectly manicured hands made a gesture of wanting to shake hands.

"Miss Gong." Xiulan monotonously greeted Gong Yuming and took her hand for a handshake. She warmly shook her hands but her voice has that lazy tone. She was not in the mood right now and she wanted to rest.

"I didn't expect to see you here. Are you finished with your meeting? Can you spare me some of you precious time?" Gong Yuming asked simultaneously and didn't let go of Xiulan's hand.

Secretary Dandan wanted to break off their hands and s.n.a.t.c.h her boss so they can escape this place. Her boss must not be photographed with Gong Yuming or else her boss' efforts to extinguish these rumors would go to waste!

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[1] In law, wrongful dismissal, also called wrongful termination or wrongful discharge, is a situation in which an employee's contract of employment has been terminated by the employer, where the termination breaches one or more terms of the contract of employment, or a statute provision or rule in employment law.