CHAPTER 277: CHAPTER 277: THINGS BEST KEPT IN THE DARK

Her heart raced uneasily, and after a long pause, she cautiously said, "Then... then I apologize to you, I won’t bother you anymore."

Shen Zhaoli didn’t know why, but upon hearing Wen Jiao say this, the irritation in his heart seemed to intensify.

He coldly looked at her, the corners of his lips slightly curved, the sarcasm in his eyes thickening, "Not bother me? Then whom do you plan to bother tonight? Wen Jiao, don’t assume that everyone is like me, at your beck and call!"

Wen Jiao’s cough became more violent, she lowered her head, masking the guilt on her face, and said softly, "You also said... at my beck and call..."

"So, you’ve found it quite convenient to use me, have you?" Shen Zhaoli coldly stared at her, his heart tightening with anger, yet it seemed like all of it was self-inflicted. He stared at Wen Jiao for a long time, slowly stood upright, and took a few steps back.

Wen Jiao stared at him blankly, confusion clear in her eyes.

Shen Zhaoli then spoke again, his voice icy cold, "I have other things to attend to; have Xie Zhang send you home."

Wen Jiao leaned against the sofa, silent until Shen Zhaoli left.

Miss Wen felt a delayed sense of guilt.

Xie Zhang, who values efficiency in his work, delivered Wen Jiao to Bian Yue’s office early the next morning.

"Your close friend caused havoc in my bar yesterday, and now I’ve brought her to you," Xie Zhang said, then glanced at the high stack of documents on Bian Yue’s desk and raised an eyebrow, "It seems you’ve been genuinely busy lately."

Bian Yue walked nervously towards Wen Jiao, not caring that Xie Zhang was present, and began to inquire in detail, "What happened? How did you end up like this?"

Feeling guilty, Wen Jiao said softly, "It’s nothing! Oh, I still had a lot of work undone yesterday, Bian Yue, I’ll go and keep busy, I will come back later to have dinner with you!"

After speaking, she ran out as if on fire.

Xie Zhang, aware that he and Bian Yue are hardly close, smiled and said, "Then, I won’t bother you further, I’ll be leaving."

"Wait."

Xie Zhang looked surprised at Bian Yue, who had treated him like air since he walked in, now suddenly stopping him.

"Xie Zhang, are you busy right now?" Bian Yue asked, his expression unreadable.

Xie Zhang raised an eyebrow, his tone even flatter, "Do you have something to say?"

"In half an hour, Wang Dan’an will be here. I think you might be interested," Bian Yue said indifferently. "Do you remember An Jiayi grew up in an orphanage?"

"I remember, but what does this have to do with Wang Dan’an?" Xie Zhang’s voice held a hint of confusion, "Bian Yue, you’re not going to tell me that An Jiayi suffered at the orphanage and ask me to administer justice, are you?"

"I know you’re not that driven by a sense of justice, but what if it’s not just a matter of suffering?" Bian Yue poured a cup of tea, and the misty fragrance of the tea lingered in the air, as he placed the teacup on the table, "If that’s the case, would you be interested?"

Xie Zhang’s originally nonchalant expression finally took on a layer of coldness.

Half an hour later, Wang Dan’an, who was completely unaware, appeared in Bian Yue’s office.

He came today in a very grand posture, not only bringing a congratulatory gift but also bringing his confidant, Huang Zhangyue, clearly indicating his intention to pledge allegiance.

"President Bian, congratulations on your relocation. This Bian Group’s office is much bigger than Honey’s previous one!" Wang Dan’an entered with a smile, saw Xie Zhang on the side, paused: "Mr. Xie is also here."

"President Wang." Xie Zhang spoke casually, his gaze lightly swept over Wang Dan’an, indifferently passing by, revealing a hint of fatigue.

Wang Dan’an was at a loss, unsure why Xie Zhang was here.

Bian Yue stood up, went to Wang Dan’an, and smilingly reached out his hand, "Long time no see."

"Indeed, it’s been a long time! President Bian, you are now a busy man, it’s harder and harder for me and President Huang to schedule a meeting with you," Wang Dan’an said with a smile.

Huang Zhangyue picked up the conversation, chiming in: "Yes, President Wang was just mentioning on the way here that President Bian is no longer as leisurely as before, a person of high position has many matters."

Bian Yue’s smile remained, she sat next to Xie Zhang and placed the document in her hand on the table, "President Wang, please take a look at this."

Wang Dan’an didn’t yet know what was inside the document. Hearing Bian Yue’s words at this moment, he smiled and nodded, picking up the document to read.

However, the next moment, the smile on his face froze, replaced by a look of anger, turning to Bian Yue, "President Bian, what is the meaning of this?"

"Just some materials, President Wang should be familiar with them." Bian Yue chuckled lightly, watching Wang Dan’an who stood in front of her without giving any face, "These items have all passed through your hands before; you pretending not to have seen them now, I really don’t understand."

"Bian Yue, you..." Wang Dan’an, under the bewildered gaze of Huang Zhangyue, his face flushed, and he said breathlessly, "What exactly do you want? If you do not wish to collaborate with Red Mountain, you can just say so plainly."

"Collaboration is collaboration, truth is truth, can these two be confused?" Bian Yue wasn’t affected by Wang Dan’an’s emotions, retorting sharply.

Xie Zhang, who had been sitting aside, finally couldn’t restrain his curiosity and picked up the document on the table, beginning to read through.

It was about an institution called Nancheng Orphanage, detailing all information from its inception. Xie Zhang saw that the Li Family was deeply involved, and his father Xie Quan had also once invested; the background relationships were complex.

A feeling of unease churned within Xie Zhang, his face hardened as he set down the document, his gaze toward Bian Yue grew more urgent.

Bian Yue kept her eyes fixed on Wang Dan’an, coldly saying: "Do you think that just because so much time has passed, these matters will never be unearthed? People have died because of this matter, people’s lives have been ruined by this so-called orphanage, President Wang, don’t you feel any guilt?"

Wang Dan’an was so angry that his heart hurt, yet Bian Yue’s relentless demeanor inevitably made people uneasy.

"President Bian, our President Wang hasn’t been in good health recently..." Seeing that there was no easing of the situation, Huang Zhangyue quickly interjected: "I’ll take President Wang back to rest first. As for the matter of cooperation, we can find another time to have a good talk."

Bian Yue remained noncommittal until Wang Dan’an and Huang Zhangyue left. Then she turned to Xie Zhang and slowly said, "Do you now understand why I asked you to come here?"

"Because of An Jiayi."

"That’s right, she was also a child from this orphanage. Xie Zhang, your father could not have been unaware; he’s strongly pushing you two apart, how much of it is because he doesn’t want you to see all this?" Bian Yue tapped her fingertips on the scattered files, word by word, "The filthy secrets beneath the undercurrents are truly detestable."

Xie Zhang looked at Bian Yue, bloodshot spreading in his eyes, and the next moment, he rose silently and quickly walked towards the main door.