C8 Chapter 8

The sound of something slamming onto the table sent a shiver down everyone's spine. They were well aware of CEO Xu Rong's reputation for strictness, and now they had been caught red-handed. They barely dared to breathe, let alone move.

"Is this nonsense more important than your jobs?" Xu Rong snorted disdainfully and inhaled deeply. "From now on, if I catch anyone spreading gossip, you can pack your bags and leave."

The room fell silent, with everyone too afraid to even whisper. No one dared to make a peep.

"Please, CEO, calm down," the secretary interjected, unable to stand the stifling tension.

With another cold snort, Xu Rong didn't give the assembly another glance. She strode back to her office in her high heels, fully aware that the whispers would start again the moment her back was turned. They claimed she was unfit to lead Winterfell Industries. How laughable.

Settling into her office chair, Xu Rong noticed a newspaper headlined "Lucky Couple" on her desk. She spread it open, her expression one of utter detachment. This man, also named Chen Dong, was certainly crafty.

Surviving a fall from such a height without a scratch was implausible. At the very least, he should have been knocked unconscious. It was just too far-fetched. The antiseptic scent filled the air as Chen Dong's fingers twitched and his eyelids cracked open, revealing the sterile ceiling above.

He remained silent, overwhelmed by the swarm of reporters around him. He was urgently in need of a bathroom break.

"It's truly miraculous," they said outside. "The hospital's third-floor surveillance footage shows Mr. Chen catching a mop with one hand, breaking his fall."

The reporters were huddled by the door, buzzing with excitement.

"He's awake! He's awake!" someone shouted, and the crowd surged in, encircling the bed.

Black and red microphones nearly jabbed into Chen Dong's mouth as a barrage of questions rained down on him.

"Mr. Chen, was it sheer luck that you caught the mop?"

"Do you possess some kind of special power?"

"What is your occupation, Mr. Chen?"

Entertainment news always had a penchant for the dramatic, never hesitating to elevate someone to the status of a deity, so long as they didn't inflate them to the point of absurdity.

Chen Dong wasn't the least bit concerned about the prospect of being taken to a research institute for study.

"This..." As one of the reporters took the microphone, their barrage of questions abruptly ceased. They fixed their gaze on Chen Dong, who, with a bead of sweat on his brow, explained, "I was just lucky at the time. Without thinking, I reached out and, by chance, grabbed the mop."

The reporters fell silent.

Yet, this was merely a minor news story that would only capture the spotlight for a few days. Soon enough, Chen Dong's prominence would fade, and it would no longer be his concern.

Feeling much lighter after leaving the men's restroom, Chen Dong shook the water from his hands and walked past a hospital room where he heard Lee Susu's voice.

Inside, several reporters were posing questions to her. Despite being without makeup, her face bore a graceful smile, and she was radiantly beautiful. She answered their questions with a calm and measured tone, skillfully maintaining her composure.

It seemed that, despite her naivety, she understood how to leverage the situation to promote Susu Fashion during this media frenzy.

Chen Dong inwardly scoffed, recognizing her intent to capitalize on the current entertainment news to market Susu Fashion.

When the conversation turned to her husband's identity, Lee Susu's lips tightened, and a flash of anger crossed her eyes. She steeled herself, engaging in a delicate dance with the reporters. Chen Dong, with his back to the reporters, feigned being another patient to avoid detection. Once the reporters had departed, Lee Susu, unable to hold back any longer, clutched Wang Lifang's hand and wept.

Hearing her beloved daughter cry, Wang Lifang became flustered and tried to console her, asking, "What's wrong? Why the sudden tears?"

Chen Dong listened, almost certain that the woman inside was attempting to manipulate him.

"Mom, you have no idea what that man said on the rooftop." Lee Susu, her voice breaking, gripped her mother's hand and recounted every word Chen Dong had said on the rooftop: "We can't go on like this. We've been more than fair to him, and yet he covets the Lee family's fortune."

As she spoke, tears streamed down Lee Susu's cheeks. But to her surprise, her mother withdrew her hand, giving her a peculiar look.

"Mom, is there something on my face?" Lee Susu asked, feeling extremely uncomfortable as her mother's gaze lingered on her, to the point where she couldn't even shed a tear.

"It was Dongdong who fearlessly jumped from the rooftop to save you when you fell," her mother explained.

"Do you think you'd be resting here comfortably if Dongdong hadn't grabbed that mop?"

"He could have been after the Lee family's wealth, but saving your life... that's priceless."

Wang Lifang had no interest in mincing words. With a dismissive snort, she advised, "You'd better think it over."

Tears traced dry paths down Lee Susu's cheeks. Blinking, she wondered if she had been mistaken all along.

She deserved that scolding!

That woman had it coming. Chen Dong touched his nose and quickly slipped into his own hospital room before his mother-in-law could leave.

During his stay, Wang Lifang visited him, and Chen Dong feigned sleep in his bed.

Once back home, after an uneventful time at the hospital where neither sustained serious injuries, Wang Lifang doted on Chen Dong more than ever. Lee Susu, however, remained unchanged.

"Grab the blanket and head outside," came the abrupt command.

Chen Dong caught the blanket thrown his way, grateful for the warmth as the weather had grown colder. It was a welcome change from his wife's usual cold shoulder.

Wang Lifang, witnessing this, quickly approached and took Chen Dong's hand, leading him into the room. "What's going on? Where will Dongdong sleep?"

Startled by her mother's sudden entrance, Lee Susu felt a twinge of guilt.

"My wife's upset, so I'll sleep on the couch outside," Chen Dong said nonchalantly, pulling the couch a bit closer.

Wang Lifang, however, saw this as an injustice to Dongdong. With a stern face, she snatched the blanket from Chen Dong and tossed it onto the bed. "You're not going anywhere. You'll sleep right here."

Chen Dong stood frozen, his legs heavy as if filled with lead.

His mother-in-law was quite formidable.

Given her demeanor, Chen Dong wouldn't put it past her to resort to drugging their food.

While Lee Susu was still processing the situation, Wang Lifang pushed Chen Dong onto the bed and, on her way out, made sure to lock the door behind her.

Beneath him was a soft cotton quilt, and beside him lay a stunningly beautiful wife—a situation many would consider themselves fortunate to be in. Yet, for Chen Dong, it felt as though he was sitting on pins and needles. He could only shift his body slightly to one side.

"Don't think for a second that you've succeeded by acting this way." A wave of cold mockery washed over Lee Susu's face, her eyes brimming with loathing as she spitefully hugged the blanket and tossed it onto the floor. "I will not give you any chance."

Chen Dong touched his nose, bemused. He hadn't even considered the possibility...

Lee Susu carefully spread the blanket on the floor and then pulled it over her head, seeking refuge under its cover.