Chapter 10: A Marriage Under Fire
1353 Words
Morning came with chaos.
Zhang Mei had barely slept.
The storm from the night before had disappeared, leaving the city washed clean, but the quiet morning did not last long.
Her phone began vibrating nonstop on the bedside table.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Buzz.
Zhang Mei slowly opened her eyes.
She reached for the phone, still half asleep.
Then she saw the notifications.
Hundreds of them.
Messages. News alerts. Social media tags.
Her chest tightened immediately.
Something was wrong.
She sat up quickly and opened the first alert.
Her blood ran cold.
"WeiTech CEO's Wife Linked to Corporate Espionage Scandal—New Evidence Emerges."
The same headline.
Exactly like the one Guo Ren had shown them the night before.
The nightmare had returned.
Zhang Mei scrolled further down the article.
Photos appeared on the screen.
The same photos from three years ago.
Her meeting with executives from a rival company.
The article claimed that new evidence suggested Zhang Mei had secretly leaked WeiTech information to outside competitors.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"This is insane…" she whispered.
The door to the bedroom suddenly opened.
Liang Wei walked in.
He was already dressed in a dark suit, his expression calm but cold.
"You've seen it," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Zhang Mei nodded slowly.
"It's everywhere."
She opened another news app.
The headlines were spreading like wildfire.
"WeiTech CEO Marries Corporate Spy?"
"Investors Question Liang Wei's Judgment."
"Zhang Mei's Past Scandal Returns."
Zhang Mei exhaled slowly.
"They're repeating the same story."
Liang Wei walked to the window, looking out over the city skyline.
"Wang Xiao moves fast."
Zhang Mei lowered the phone.
"He planned this."
"Of course he did."
Another notification appeared.
This time from WeiTech's financial news tracker.
Zhang Mei opened it.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Liang Wei."
He turned.
"WeiTech stock just dropped five percent."
Liang Wei didn't look surprised.
"That was expected."
Zhang Mei stared at the screen.
Five percent in one morning meant millions lost already.
And the market had just opened.
Her stomach tightened.
"This is only the beginning."
Liang Wei walked toward the door.
"The board called an emergency meeting."
Zhang Mei stood.
"They're blaming me."
Liang Wei paused slightly.
"Of course they are."
He looked at her.
"You should come."
Zhang Mei blinked.
"You want me there?"
"If they're attacking you," Liang Wei said calmly, "you should hear it directly."
Zhang Mei picked up her coat.
"Fine."
Her voice was steady now.
But inside, the pressure was building.
Three years ago, the same scandal had destroyed her reputation.
This time…
She refused to let history repeat itself.
WeiTech Group – Boardroom
The boardroom was already filled when Liang Wei and Zhang Mei entered.
Executives sat around the long table, their faces tense.
Some were whispering quietly.
Others were staring at their phones.
The moment Zhang Mei walked in, the whispers grew louder.
Huo Zhen stood near the screen at the front of the room.
His expression was serious.
"You're just in time," he said quietly to Liang Wei.
Liang Wei nodded and took his seat at the head of the table.
Zhang Mei sat beside him.
A middle-aged executive immediately spoke.
"President Liang, we have a serious problem."
Liang Wei leaned back slightly.
"I'm aware."
The executive tapped his tablet.
The large screen behind Huo Zhen lit up.
A stock chart appeared.
WeiTech's stock line was falling sharply.
Murmurs filled the room.
"It's already dropped eight percent," another board member said.
"Investors are panicking."
"Several partners are asking for clarification."
One older director looked directly at Zhang Mei.
"The market believes WeiTech is connected to corporate espionage."
The accusation hung heavily in the air.
Zhang Mei met his gaze calmly.
"You mean you believe it."
The man frowned.
"Miss Zhang, the media is reporting"
"Media reports don't equal facts."
The room fell slightly quieter.
Another executive spoke.
"The issue isn't just the accusations."
He turned to Liang Wei.
"It's the public perception."
More murmurs followed.
"Investors believe you made an irresponsible decision by marrying her."
Zhang Mei's hands tightened slightly on the table.
The man continued.
"This scandal damages WeiTech's credibility."
Another director nodded.
"Exactly."
"President Liang, the solution is simple."
The room grew quiet again.
Everyone knew what was coming.
Liang Wei said nothing.
The director cleared his throat.
"You need to publicly distance yourself from Zhang Mei."
The words landed like a hammer.
Zhang Mei felt a strange calm settle over her.
She had expected this.
Three years ago, her own family had abandoned her even faster.
Another executive spoke.
"A temporary separation would reassure investors."
"Yes," someone else added. "At least until the scandal fades."
Zhang Mei slowly turned toward Liang Wei.
His expression was unreadable.
The directors continued pressing.
"If you release a statement saying this marriage has nothing to do with WeiTech"
"Or better," another man suggested, "announce a divorce."
The word echoed in the room.
Divorce.
Zhang Mei felt something twist in her chest.
Of course.
Their marriage was only a contract anyway.
This would be the easiest solution.
She looked down at the table, preparing herself for the inevitable.
Silence filled the boardroom.
Everyone waited for Liang Wei's answer.
Several seconds passed.
Then Liang Wei slowly stood up.
The room quieted immediately.
He walked toward the screen showing the falling stock chart.
His gaze swept across the board members.
Cold.
Sharp.
Calculating.
"Let me confirm something," he said calmly.
"You believe WeiTech's stock dropped because of my wife."
Several directors nodded.
"Yes."
"The market reacts to perception."
"And right now," another added, "that perception is extremely negative."
Liang Wei folded his arms.
"I see."
He walked slowly back toward the table.
Then he looked directly at Zhang Mei.
Their eyes met briefly.
Something passed silently between them.
Then Liang Wei turned back to the board.
His voice was calm.
But every word carried absolute authority.
"You want me to distance myself from her."
No one spoke.
Liang Wei continued.
"You want me to pretend this marriage was a mistake."
One director nodded carefully.
"It would stabilize the market."
Another added cautiously,
"It would reassure investors."
Liang Wei was silent for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
The sound startled everyone in the room.
Because Liang Wei almost never laughed.
He looked around the table again.
His gaze was colder than before.
"You think the market fears Zhang Mei."
No one replied.
Liang Wei placed both hands on the table.
Then he said something that stunned the entire room.
"No."
The directors looked confused.
Liang Wei's voice hardened.
"The market doesn't fear Zhang Mei."
He paused.
"It fears weakness."
The room went completely silent.
He straightened.
"And if the CEO of WeiTech abandons his wife the moment rumors appear—"
His eyes swept across the table.
"That would show weakness."
No one dared interrupt.
Liang Wei's next words fell like thunder.
"My wife stays."
Shock rippled through the boardroom.
Several directors stared at him in disbelief.
"President Liang"
He cut them off immediately.
"This discussion is over."
His voice was final.
No negotiation.
No hesitation.
He picked up his tablet and turned toward the door.
"Anyone who believes Zhang Mei is a liability to WeiTech is free to resign."
The boardroom fell completely silent.
No one moved.
Liang Wei walked out without another word.
Zhang Mei sat frozen in her chair.
Her heart was beating faster than she expected.
He had defended her.
Not just privately.
But in front of the entire board.
Huo Zhen walked over quietly.
He leaned slightly closer and whispered,
"Well… that was dramatic."
Zhang Mei didn't respond.
Because across the room, several board members were staring at her with new expressions.
Not suspicion.
Something else.
Respect.
But at that exact moment
Huo Zhen's phone suddenly rang.
He answered quickly.
Then his face went pale.
He looked at Zhang Mei.
And said something that made her stomach drop.
"There's another problem."
Zhang Mei frowned.
"What?"
Huo Zhen swallowed.
"Wang Xiao just bought another ten percent of WeiTech shares."
The room went silent again.
Because if that was true…
Wang Xiao now owned twenty-five percent of WeiTech.
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