Chapter 139 Shielding

Chapter 139: Taking Her Side

Mo Wanzhen had been feeling down these past couple of days, and the story began a few days earlier:

She had always been close with a few girls from the garment workshop, who were among the first to join the factory and were roughly her age. They often ate together at the factory, and when their days off coincided, they would go shopping or catch a movie.

But gradually, this camaraderie had recently become "unbalanced."

After the factory had been operating smoothly for a while, and as time passed and workers accumulated more hours, it was now time for the garment workshop to select supervisors based on performance and rank.

As a member of management, Mo Wanzhen had always handled such matters with strict impartiality.

And she truly was impartial.

However, the girls she was close with all aspired to management positions and believed they had a good relationship with Mo Wanzhen. They hinted, either openly or subtly, hoping Mo Wanzhen would show them favoritism, thinking that as a senior factory leader, her word alone could decide who became a supervisor.

As it turned out, Mo Wanzhen missed those hints and remained impartial; none of the girls she knew were selected.

Over the past few days, those girls had been giving Mo Wanzhen the cold shoulder. Not only did they stop eating or chatting with her, but when Mo Wanzhen approached them about work matters, they ignored her entirely, let alone making plans to go shopping on their days off.

Mo Wanzhen naturally noticed. She didn’t say anything or get angry. Though she felt uncomfortable, she made sure her work wasn't affected.

Unexpectedly, for reasons unknown, the girls began leveraging their past closeness with Mo Wanzhen to spread gossip about her private life, twisting things she had confided in them during their friendship.

They questioned how Mo Wanzhen, at such a young age, could hold a leadership position in such a large factory.

They claimed it was because she had been involved with the Big Boss back when they were in Haicheng.

They made it sound incredibly convincing.

And because these girls had previously been close to Mo Wanzhen, many people in the workshop believed them.

The rumors spread like wildfire.

By the time Mo Wanzhen heard about it, the gossip was rampant in nearly every workshop.

Not wanting to disrupt normal operations, she initially endured it. But by noon, she couldn’t take it anymore and went to the workshop to confront the girls she used to be close with, asking why they were spreading such falsehoods.

Some of the girls remained silent, others denied having said anything, while one particularly feisty and outspoken girl retorted, "Didn't you? The curtains in Manager Jiang’s office are always drawn, and you go in every day. Who knows what you’re doing in there?"

Mo Wanzhen was both enraged and humiliated. After a few exchanges, she ended up in a heated argument with the girls.

The feisty one even shouted, "If you have the guts, fire me then!"

"I’m not afraid if this goes all the way to Manager Jiang!"

The workshop was in chaos. It was already half-past one, but instead of working, everyone had gathered to watch the drama unfold.

While feeling angry, Mo Wanzhen realized she couldn’t control the situation, which left her frustrated, self-reproachful, and panicked.

In the end, it was Wang Chuang who stepped in, shouting, "What the hell's going on here? What are you all gathered for?"

"What time is it? What are you doing?"

"Anyone who doesn’t want to work can get out!"

Only then did the crowd disperse.

Mo Wanzhen, holding back tears and flushed with humiliation, silently left the garment workshop.

Wang Chuang followed her out, handed her a tissue, and tried to comfort her: "Don't mind them. That's just how people are—once they gather in a crowd, they tend to lose control."

Mo Wanzhen felt guilty, wronged, and humiliated.

That evening, after work, Mo Wanzhen discovered that both tires of her bicycle were flat.

She knew it was an act of revenge—someone had let the air out. She went to the guard booth to borrow a pump.

But when she tried to pump the tires, she realized they had been slashed.

She was at a loss for words and had a good idea who was responsible. Furious but saying nothing, she took the bicycle from the security guard and silently walked away, pushing it.

Walking along at a steady pace, she felt stifled and incompetent.

Jiang Luo had put her in charge of the factory, yet after all this time, she still couldn’t keep things under control.

Mo Wanzhen walked alone by the roadside, feeling really down.

After walking for some time, she heard two beeps and saw a car pull up beside her.

Mo Wanzhen turned and recognized the familiar color—it was Wang Chuang’s car.

She looked over as Wang Chuang rolled down the passenger window from the driver’s seat and asked, "Why aren’t you riding? Is your bike broken?"

"The tires are flat."

Soon, the trunk of the black sedan was open, holding the disabled bicycle. In the front seats, Wang Chuang drove while Mo Wanzhen sat in the passenger seat.

Mo Wanzhen was truly frustrated and hurt. Overwhelmed by emotion, she began crying quietly as soon as she got in the car.

Wang Chuang, who'd been at the factory and knew what happened, comforted her while driving: "None of this is your fault."

"Selecting managers is based on capability—that’s the factory’s rule. It’s not about who’s friends with you or me."

"And don’t listen to those spiteful women talking nonsense."

"Some people, regardless of gender, have sick minds and foul mouths."

"When Yu Dong first arrived, rumors were flying that she was Jiang Luo’s mistress."

"They even said she was seeing me on the side too."

"Those shameless gossips—I happened to overhear them once and slapped one so hard he was searching for his teeth."

Mo Wanzhen couldn't help laughing.

Seeing her laugh, Wang Chuang smiled too and suggested, "How about we find a place to sit down and have a drink?"

"A little alcohol to drown your sorrows, then sleep it off. You’ll forget everything by tomorrow."

"Okay."

Mo Wanzhen nodded.

Later, at a street food stall, before their ordered dishes even arrived, Wang Chuang stared in disbelief as Mo Wanzhen lifted a bottle of beer and chugged the whole bottle in one go.

Wang Chuang: "..."

"You... you..."

Wang Chuang felt he had failed to recognize her capability—neither he nor Jiang Luo could drink like that.

Mo Wanzhen, on the other hand, finished the bottle, slammed it down on the table with a loud "smack," and with a cold, imposing expression, cursed in the Northern Jiangsu dialect: "Those bastards’ sons will be born without assholes."

Huh?

Wang Chuang didn’t understand.

Mo Wanzhen turned her head and called out in Mandarin: "Boss, get me a case of beer."

A whole case?!

Wang Chuang was stunned again.

The next day, having gotten over it overnight, Mo Wanzhen strode into the clothing workshop in her black mid-heel shoes, click-clacking. She walked up to the workstations of those girls, pointed at them, and calmly said, "Stop working. Put everything down."

"Go to accounting and get your pay."

"What do you mean?" the feistiest one shouted.

Mo Wanzhen, who was about to leave, turned back and smiled: "It means you're fired."

"Can’t you understand?"

With that, she turned and walked away, her heels click-clacking.

"By what right?! I’m going to find the factory manager! I’m going to find Jiang Luo! I’m going to report you!"

Without even turning her head, Mo Wanzhen replied, "Jiang Luo isn’t involved in these things."

"Complain all you want."

"If you kick up a fuss, you can also have a good chat with Jiang Luo about how you’ve been gossiping about my relationship with him."

"You are Jiang Luo’s mistress!" a female voice yelled, and the noisy surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Mo Wanzhen turned around, strode back with a stern face, and slapped the girl across the face: "Mistress, my foot!"

Naturally, things escalated. Unfortunately, Jiang Luo doesn’t deal with this sort of thing—he wasn’t even at the factory. It was Wang Chuang who handled the aftermath.

Wang Chuang had no doubt—he unconditionally backed Mo Wanzhen and fired all the girls. The slapped girl said she’d call the cops, but Wang Chuang said, "There are surveillance cameras in the workshop and every corner of the factory. It’s plain as day whether you slandered Director Mo—it’s all recorded. Go ahead and call the police. After you do, we’ll sue you for defamation and have you pay thousands in compensation for emotional distress. Feel free to call them."

Not only that, Wang Chuang also taught them a lesson. He immediately put up banners in several workshops that read, "Spreading Rumors Is Illegal—Keep Your Mouth Shut," which put a stop to the workers’ gossip.

"Thank you," Mo Wanzhen said sincerely.

"No need to thank me. We’re all in this together," Wang Chuang replied casually. "Let’s find time to drink together again sometime."

"Sure," Mo Wanzhen smiled.

That day, when Jiang Luo drove his Bentley into the industrial park, he happened to see Wang Chuang in his rented Volkswagen, teaching Mo Wanzhen how to drive on the road.

What the—?

Jiang Luo hit the brakes, nearly causing Old Four behind him to rear-end the car. Wang Junqing, sitting in the back seat, smashed into the back of the front seat, almost chipping a tooth.

Wang Junqing was speechless.

In the Bentley, Jiang Luo rolled down the passenger window and leaned out to get a better look at Wang Chuang and Mo Wanzhen practicing driving in the distance. The two were chatting and laughing.

Well, well, well.

Jiang Luo smirked.

Later that afternoon, when they were together in the office, Wang Chuang brought some documents for Jiang Luo to sign. Jiang Luo ribbed, "So, playing driving instructor now?"

Wang Chuang paused. "Oh, you mean that."

He said, scratching his face calmly, "Wanzhen said she wanted to learn how to drive, so I took her out for a practice session in my car."

"Waaan-zheeen."

Jiang Luo drawled mockingly.

Wang Chuang, who was about to leave, turned his head and said, "Knock it off. You're the one obsessed with love, so you see it everywhere."

"Fine, I'm the one with nothing but love on my mind. You're not like that—you're Mr. Proper."

Jiang Luo drawled and teased again.

Wang Chuang left and headed to his office. On the way, he happened to run into Mo Wanzhen, who was on her way to the workshop.

Mo Wanzhen raised her hand in greeting. Wang Chuang said as he walked, "Let's have dinner together tonight. Have a couple of drinks."

"Sounds good."

Mo Wanzhen agreed cheerfully. "Wait for me after work then. I have some things to take care of in the workshop."

"Alright."

In late September, Huang Bingbing and Zhao Shuo got married in Haicheng. The parents of both families, along with the newlyweds, stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, greeting the guests. They had also hired a photographer to capture the precious moments of the evening.

"So good to see you."

Su Lan, dressed in a cheongsam, greeted the guests with a smile.

The entrance to the banquet hall was buzzing with activity. With so many relatives and friends from both families, they couldn't get to everyone. A photographer was also taking group photos of the newlyweds and the guests at the entrance.

Just then, Xiao Lu, dressed in a suit, stepped out of the elevator carrying a large paper bag and quickly made his way toward the banquet hall.

As he approached, he waited for the newlyweds to finish taking a photo with a couple before stepping forward with a smile. "Ms. Huang, I presume? Hello, we've met before—at Shengfei Factory."

Huang Bingbing recognized Xiao Lu and was surprised. She quickly explained to Zhao Shuo beside her, "He's Jiang Luo's secretary."

Zhao Shuo was also taken aback.

Xiao Lu then handed over the paper bag with a smile. "Ms. Huang, Mr. Jiang asked me to deliver this."

He also passed along a red envelope. "Mr. Jiang wishes you a happy marriage. He couldn't make it due to work, but this is his wedding gift."

Huang Bing Bing and Zhao Shuo exchanged a look, accepted the items, and smiled, "Thank you. Secretary Lu, please come in and have a wedding toast."

Xiao Lu waved his hand, "No thanks, I've got other things to do. Happy wedding, Miss Huang. I won’t disturb you further."

Xiao Lu came like the wind and left just as swiftly, leaving Zhao Shuo holding the paper bag and Huang Bing Bing just as surprised.

Huang Bing Bing then explained to Zhao Shuo that she had previously visited Jiang Luo’s factory and had invited Jiang Luo to their wedding.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuo felt touched.

"Dad, Mom."

The couple called Su Lan and Zhao Guangyuan over, showing them the paper bag and red envelope, explaining that Jiang Luo had sent someone to deliver them.

In this lifetime, Huang Bing Bing had no prior acquaintance with Jiang Luo and no personal connection, so she naturally didn’t think Jiang Luo had sent these gifts because of her.

She smiled and said to Su Lan and the others, "Jiang Luo still thinks of you. Although he couldn’t make it, the thought counts."

Su Lan and Zhao Guangyuan were both delighted. Knowing that Huang Bing Bing had specifically invited Jiang Luo to the wedding, they were also deeply touched and repeatedly said, "Bing Bing, thank you. That was very thoughtful of you."

Huang Bing Bing smiled, "We’re family, after all."

She then asked Zhao Shuo to hand the gift bag and red envelope to Su Lan, "Mom, please keep these for us for now."

She added, "Jiang Luo has really done well for himself now, earning a lot of money. This red envelope is so generous."

Just then, Huang Bing Bing’s parents also came over, curious about what the group was discussing.

Hearing Huang Bing Bing’s words, her mother chimed in, "That’s right, your younger son is really capable. A relative of a friend of mine works at his factory and says the benefits there are excellent. With such good treatment, he must be making a fortune."

Zhao Shuo, Su Lan, and Zhao Guangyuan were naturally pleased to hear this and also felt proud.

Thinking of Jiang Luo, who had specifically sent gifts and money, they felt somewhat comforted.

"You're here!"

"Congratulations!"

The family continued to welcome their guests with cheerful smiles.