The oppressive atmosphere inside and outside the workshop lingered for a moment.
Finally, Pei Jiangmu was the first to rein in the terrifying chill around him and the surging storm in his eyes.
He kept his gaze fixed on the fragile figure outside the door, as if it would shatter at a touch.
His heart felt as if it was being tightly clutched by an invisible hand.
The sharp pain overrode the brief moment of cold suspicion.
No.
He denied himself in his heart.
Even if she had not loved him before, and even... abandoned their child.
That was all in the past.
It must be that he had not treated her well enough before.
This time, he would not give her any chance to push him away again.
He would make her fall in love with him again and stay by his side willingly.
He would uncover all the mysteries.
He would sweep away all the obstacles.
And now, he couldn't let her sink into such helplessness and fear.
The anger that almost burned everything was forcefully suppressed deep into the bottom of his heart.
It transformed into a more profound and firm determination.
He took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and tried his best to look calm and gentle.
Then he pushed open the glass door and walked out.
He walked up to Meng Ruozhao. Without saying a word immediately, he slowly crouched down to look her in the eye.
He didn't try to touch her -
He knew she might need some space now. He just quietly looked at her with his deep, dark eyes.
Meng Ruozhao sensed the movement beside her and looked up blankly.
Her eye sockets were red, and there was still a lingering look of panic and confusion in her eyes.
"The floor is cold," Pei Jiangmu said in a low voice, deliberately softening his tone, with an undeniable concern.
"Come inside and sit down first, okay?"
Meng Ruozhao stared blankly at him, as if she didn't react at first.
Pei Jiangmu reached out his hand to her and patiently waited.
"No matter what happens, I'll be with you."
His calmness and words were like a floating log, and Meng Ruozhao, who was almost drowning in her chaotic thoughts, subconsciously grabbed it.
She hesitated for a moment and finally reached out her hand and placed it in his warm palm. She stood up with his help.
But her legs were numb, and she staggered. Pei Jiangmu immediately steadied her with his body, his movements natural and restrained.
"Thank you," Meng Ruozhao said in a low voice, her voice still a bit hoarse.
She quickly withdrew her hand and avoided his gaze, trying to regain her composure.
"I'm fine. Let's get back to work."
She forced herself to straighten her back, walked towards the workbench, and picked up the design drawings.
But the slightly trembling tips of her fingers still betrayed her inner unease.
Pei Jiangmu watched her back as she struggled to hold herself together. His eyes darkened.
He didn't ask any more questions, nor did he show any signs of strangeness.
He just silently walked to her side and occasionally made small talk as if casually.
For example, commenting on the pattern of a piece of fabric or asking a simple question about the frog closures on a cheongsam.
Trying to distract her.
His company was clumsy but persistent, with an irresistible tenderness.
Meng Ruozhao was in a complete mess. At first, she responded to his words absent - mindedly.
But gradually, she strangely drew a little bit of strength from it, which prevented her from completely collapsing.
Meanwhile, in the president's office of Du's Group.
Wu Qian informed Du Feng that the surgical records had been completely destroyed and there was no way to trace them.
"Mr. Du, you can rest assured now," she said.
"The matter was handled very cleanly back then. Even if that report were to leak out, it wouldn't prove anything."
Du Feng leaned back in his leather chair and let out a long sigh of relief.
The boulder that had been weighing on his mind had finally been removed. He no longer had to worry that the damned report would turn into a time - bomb.
But what followed was a deeper sense of doubt and curiosity.
The matter had been handled so cleanly and neatly. This was definitely not something Meng Ruozhao could have accomplished on her own.
Sure enough, there had been someone protecting her all these years, and that person had amazing influence.
Who was this person? What was their relationship with her?
Why did this person seem to have disappeared from her life after her car accident?
Du Feng's eyes became inquisitive.
He thought that perhaps he had really underestimated this daughter of his.
A little girl who had been lost since childhood not only went abroad to study but also had been so well - protected.
He looked up at Wu Qian.
"Go and investigate Meng Ruozhao's experiences from the time she got lost until now in detail. The more detailed, the better."
He had actually investigated before but found nothing and didn't take it seriously.
Now, he needed to know what else was hidden behind her.
On the other side, in Xia Lian's room, the mother - daughter duo also received the same news.
"Mom, that bitch Meng Ruozhao is really lucky!" Du Xixi stamped her foot angrily.
"The records are all gone. How can we prove that she had an abortion?"
"Even if we throw the report in Yan Qiubai's face, that bitch Meng Ruozhao can just flat - out deny it, saying it's forged and a frame - up. We won't have any way to deal with her!"
"Yan Qiubai might even think we have bad intentions!"
Xia Lian's face was also horribly gloomy.
She hadn't expected Meng Ruozhao to have cleaned up her past so thoroughly.
This only made her more convinced that Meng Ruozhao was a fox spirit who was good at hiding and seducing men!
"What are you panicking about!" Xia Lian scolded her daughter. There was a malicious glint in her eyes.
"If we can't prove she had an abortion, then let her 'look' like a slut!"
"What does a young master like Yan Qiubai value most? His reputation! His woman's innocence!"
"He might be attracted to that little bitch's face and be temporarily bewitched by her, but he will never marry a woman who is promiscuous and sleeps around."
Du Xixi's eyes lit up. "Mom, what do you mean?"
"Since we don't have solid evidence, then we'll create the 'appearance'!" Xia Lian lowered her voice, and a cold, calculating look appeared on her face.
"Find a few reliable people and spread the news."
"Say that Meng Ruozhao's studio is just a front, and she uses it to meet rich and powerful men."
"Say that while she's leading Yan Qiubai on, she's also having an affair with other young masters."
"Isn't she supposed to be so high - and - mighty? We'll show people that her high - mindedness is just an act."
"Moreover, I heard that she's also involved in a plagiarism scandal."
Du Xixi got excited too.
"Plagiarism scandal?"
"Yes!" Xia Lian thought the plan was getting more and more malicious.
"Say that she has no real design talent at all. All those so - called 'originals' are plagiarized."
"And that she uses improper means to curry favor with men and attract customers!"
"Portray her as a woman who will stop at nothing to climb the social ladder, has a chaotic private life, and has no professional ethics!"
"Be a bit vague in your words. Don't provide specific evidence, but make it sound vivid, as if everyone knows about it."
She let out a cold laugh.
"This kind of rumor about 'morality' is like dirty water. Once it's splashed on, it's very hard to wash off."
"We don't need evidence. As long as Yan Qiubai hears it and has a seed of doubt planted in his heart, that's enough."
"Maybe he won't believe it the first or second time, but after a few times, with a bit of 'coincidence', see if he can still tolerate her."
"Once Yan Qiubai gets tired of her, crushing her will be as easy as crushing an ant."
Du Xixi got excited as she listened. A twisted look of pleasure appeared on her face.
"Mom, you're so smart! I'll go and arrange it right away! We must make that bitch lose her reputation and be unable to survive in the social circle!"
The mother and daughter looked at each other and smiled. Their eyes were filled with malicious understanding.