C24 Unfair Treatment?

Xia Hao and his companion arrived at the chairman's office together. Upon opening the door, Xia Hao's eyelids twitched involuntably. As he had anticipated, Xia Mengyao had already beaten him to the punch in finding Xia Yunsheng. Judging by Xia Yunsheng's extremely dark expression, it was likely he had already heard what Xia Mengyao had to say.

While Xia Hao was contemplating how to begin, Xia Zilan preempted him with an accusation.

"Xia Mengyao, you have some nerve showing up here to see Grandfather, you shameless thing!"

Confusion flickered in Xia Mengyao's reddened eyes as she faced the domineering Xia Zilan.

Chen Feng, observing from the side, squinted thoughtfully. He had been somewhat concerned when Xia Mengyao had set out to meet Xia Yunsheng alone, suspecting that Xia Hao wouldn't just sit back and do nothing. Clearly, Xia Zilan's aggressive posture indicated that Xia Hao had indeed prepared a rebuttal.

Things were about to get interesting.

"Xia Zilan, what are you implying?" Xia Mengyao inquired, bewildered.

"What am I implying?" Xia Zilan retorted with a sneer. "Didn't you go to Gu Dongchen's Golden Age this afternoon and spend the whole afternoon in a private room with him?"

Xia Mengyao paused, then responded, "Yes, I went to Golden Age, but I didn't spend the entire afternoon in a private room with Gu Dongchen!"

"You're lying! Xia Hao saw you enter the room and you didn't come out all afternoon!" Xia Zilan declared triumphantly, surprised that Xia Mengyao would so foolishly admit to visiting Golden Age.

"Xia Hao!" Xia Mengyao spun around, her teeth clenched, and glared at Xia Hao. She had come to the realization that Xia Hao was attempting to twist the truth and defame her.

Unfazed by Xia Mengyao's icy stare, Xia Hao stood his ground.

"Why are you looking at me, Xia Mengyao? Are you afraid to admit the truth?"

"I've done nothing wrong!" Xia Mengyao was livid.

"You know exactly what you've done," Xia Hao retorted coldly.

"Xia Mengyao, stop taking us for fools. It was one thing to sleep with Lin Zongwei for the Xia family's sake. But this time, sleeping with Gu Dongchen is crossing the line. Your actions are reprehensible. Do you view yourself as some kind of public facility where anyone can engage with you sexually?"

Before Xia Zilan could finish speaking, Chen Feng's hand struck her across the face.

"Speak civilly," Chen Feng stated coolly. He was fed up with Xia Zilan, the foolish woman who was being manipulated by others yet wore a look of self-satisfaction. Without a lesson, she might never recognize her own boundaries.

Xia Zilan clutched her cheek, shocked. Chen Feng, the waste, had actually dared to strike her?

Once she regained her composure, Xia Zilan became nearly hysterical.

"You lowlife, by what right do you hit me!"

"You're the useless one. Your wife cheated on you, so why take it out on me!"

"Why don't you hit Xia Mengyao instead..."

Chen Feng's hand met Xia Zilan's face again as he sneered, "If you can't speak decently, I'll teach you how."

"Grandfather, are you seeing this? Chen Feng has no regard for the Xia family. He beat Xia Hao this morning, and now me in the afternoon. Is he planning to strike you tomorrow?" Xia Zilan, in tears, turned to Xia Yunsheng. She couldn't believe Chen Feng's audacity, daring to slap her twice in front of Xia Yunsheng, showing no respect for him whatsoever.

Xia Yunsheng's expression darkened ominously. Xia Mengyao's earlier complaints had already irritated him, and now Xia Hao and Xia Zilan's conflicting accounts only added to his frustration. He was at a loss as to whom to believe.

But what truly astounded Xia Yunsheng was Chen Feng's conduct. This live-in son-in-law, whom the Xia family deemed worthless and whom he had nearly forgotten, had struck another.

He had not only hit Xia Hao that morning but also boasted fearlessness in the face of authority, displaying utter disregard for anyone else.

Was this a challenge to his authority?

However, Xia Yunsheng was not in the mood to stoop to Chen Feng's level. Once this incident was resolved, he would show Chen Feng who truly held power in the Xia family.

"Enough!" Xia Yunsheng barked, slamming his hand on the table with an air of command. Instantly, Xia Zilan fell quiet.

"Let's set aside the matter concerning Chen Feng for now," Xia Yunsheng said with a cold glance in Chen Feng's direction.

"What's imperative at the moment is for me to understand who is deceiving me—Xia Hao, Mengyao, one of you isn't telling the truth!"

Xia Yunsheng's inquiry was indeed pressing. The dispute between Xia Hao and Xia Mengyao was of immediate concern, as it directly affected the reputation of the Xia family.

Xia Mengyao's complexion turned pale. Xia Yunsheng's words made it clear that he had never believed her from the start.

"Mengyao, you claim that Xia Hao threatened you with Chen Feng's life to coerce you into going to the Golden Age. Then, he supposedly drugged your drink, leading to a sexual encounter with Gu Dongchen. Do you have any proof?" Xia Yunsheng asked authoritatively.

"Yes!" Xia Mengyao inhaled deeply and pulled out her phone, displaying the message Xia Hao had sent her: "Xia Mengyao, if you don't come in half an hour, don't blame me for how I treat Chen Feng!"

Upon seeing the message, Xia Yunsheng's expression turned icy. He turned to Xia Hao and demanded, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

But Xia Hao remained composed, confidently responding, "Grandfather, I didn't send that message. If you look closely at the phone number, you'll see it's not mine. Xia Mengyao is trying to set me up."

Xia Yunsheng's gaze shifted back to Xia Mengyao.

Xia Mengyao's brows knitted slightly; she had indeed neglected to consider that detail—the phone number wasn't the one Xia Hao usually used.

"Grandfather, before sending that text, Xia Hao had called me, insisting I go to the Golden Age," Xia Mengyao admitted truthfully.

"Did I ever call you, Xia Mengyao? Don't make false accusations!" Xia Hao feigned outrage, yet inwardly, he felt a surge of excitement. Clearly, the naïve Xia Mengyao was no match for him. He had preemptively obtained a new SIM card to execute his plan, confident that even if Xia Yunsheng ordered an investigation, nothing would be traced back to him.

So the situation simplified considerably. With no evidence on either side, it boiled down to who could make the more convincing argument.

"You..." Xia Mengyao was so furious she nearly gritted her teeth. Xia Hao was adamantly denying everything, leaving her with no recourse.

Chen Feng sighed internally. His wife was still too innocent. She hadn't considered how malicious people could be, how even relatives might sometimes be willing to push you over the edge.

He did, of course, have evidence. Gu Dongchen was the most substantial proof!

If he just brought Gu Dongchen to confront Xia Hao face to face, Xia Hao would surely be unable to continue his denial.

But Chen Feng wasn't keen on taking that route. He saw this as an opportunity for Xia Mengyao to mature a bit. Sometimes, being overly kind could be a disadvantage.

"So you're saying you don't actually have any solid evidence?" Xia Yunsheng's voice turned icy.