Chapter 223 - The Turn In The Tide
Ruomei said, "My spy who I ordered to gather information about Jiang Ruiling! He said to me that they have feelings for each other! I am not lying! I will call him in front of you and prove my point."
She quickly dialed his number. A gruff voice came from the other end. "What do you want now? I am busy."
"I just want you to repeat what you found about Jiang Ruiling. Tell me how you gave me the news of her and Shen Yang's relationship!"
"Huh? What nonsense are you spouting? Are you on drugs?"
Ruomei froze.
"When did I give you any information like that?"
Her mouth opened in horror. "What are you saying!? I gave you money to find out about Jiang Ruiling and this is what you told me! Did you forget?"
"I think you are the one with the memory problem here. Yes you did tell me to investigate her, but I came back with nothing, remember? That woman's history is as clean as it could get."
She was in disbelief. As expected, everybody gave her disdainful stares.
"You! How could you lie? You cannot go back on your report! I gave you money too!"
He snorted. "Of course, you did. Even though I told you many times that there is nothing suspicious about her, you refused to give up and forced me to work like a dog. You made me keep digging about her. Of course, I won't do it for free. You utterly wasted my time and expect not to pay me for it. Foolish!"
Wen Yaoting clenched his jaw. "Shi Ruomei, what the fuck is this!? You said that your information is a hundred percent rock solid! Now, what am I hearing?"
Ruomei trembled and her hands were shaking. "Y-you cannot do this to me. You are lying!"
"Then prove it. I know what I said. If you have the evidence to prove me wrong then show me."
She froze. She realized that she had no such evidence. She hadn't recorded their conversation.
"I...I…"
"Sounds like you have nothing. So now if you excuse me, I will hang up. I have other clients too and unlike you, I have some work to do here for real."
He hung up.
On the other side in a dark warehouse, the spy said, "I-I did what you told me to! I refuted all of her claims just like you wanted! Now please let me go!"
Wei's underworld guards, who had tied him in the room, were keeping an eye on him. With Wei's connections, it didn't take much time to locate Ruomei's spy. It was easy after that. They just had to threaten him to speak what they wanted.
One of the guards said, "Not yet. Boss will personally meet you. If you could prove that you are useful to him, then you will stay alive."
"I-If I couldn't…?"
Silence.
The spy gulped.
At least, there was some hope.
Back at the venue, Ruomei failed in proving her and now she was facing everyone's criticism.
Jiang Ruiling said, "Is there anything else to say, Shi Ruomei?"
"Don't act so innocent, Jiang Ruiling! It must be you again who did this to save yourself."
"If I really had to save myself, then I wouldn't have admitted my mistake today. But I realized that I was wrong."
Some of the people whispered.
"True, true. It takes so much guts to admit this."
"In fact, I should say that Jiang Ruiling is so courageous."
"And here are Shi Ruomei and Wen Yaoting who didn't come clean even with all the evidence against them."
"Horrible!"
Shen Yang came forward and said, "I hope you will stop now, Miss Shi. I am merely young mistress's bodyguard, and there is nothing suspicious between us. I respect her as my master and nothing else."
Jiang Ruiling said, "Indeed. I won't marry a bodyguard."
"You…"
"But I think they are a good match," Jiang Fai's voice suddenly resounded among everyone. The Old Madam jolted in shock. "Huh?"
There was a long silence after Jiang Fai's comment. Lihua inwardly gave him a thumbs up.
Great going, Fai Fai!
The teenager shrugged. "I mean Shen Yang is good-looking and he is strong too. He is loyal and completely dedicated to the Jiang family. Isn't it more important than his status? I mean…" he snickered at Wen Yaoting, "look at this man. What is the use of all his money and status if he is a disgusting bastard through and through? He is just another Li Tingzhe!"
Wen Yaoting froze.
Damn this kid comparing me to a bodyguard?
Jiang Fai beamed. "Plus Shen Yang is the chief of our security forces. That means he is so dependable. The Jiang family's whole security is in his hands. That just proves his capability. And what did you do huh? You just fooled around with women and the one deal that you handled only brought loss to the Wen group. There is not a single quality in you!"
Wen Yaoting's face turned red in embarrassment.
He snorted. "Hmph. If it was me, I would surely choose a girl who has a good heart over somebody's status. Thank you for proving to me that wealth is only superficial. For lifelong happiness, it's only your good personality that matters."
His words made everyone deeply contemplate this issue. Even all the socialites who wish to live a rich life admitted that they wouldn't be able to marry a man like Wen Yaoting and live a miserable life.
Neither he had the heart to keep a woman happy nor the brains to work in a company.
The ladies immediately whispered, "He is not wrong."
"Now that I look closely at him, Shen Yang is indeed so handsome."
"That serious expression on his face makes him even more attractive, to be honest…" one of them giggled.
"Look at his muscles! Who doesn't want a strong man?"
"While Wen Yaoting looks as if he would collapse with just one punch," they laughed.
Mrs. He, a beautiful middle-aged socialite, couldn't help but say, "I think Old Madam can think about setting Jiang Ruiling with Shen Yang."