Chapter Twenty-One: The Secretary's Duties

The man glared at me with hostility, his eyes lingering for several moments before he turned to Gu Ruoyan, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So that’s why you haven’t answered your phone since last night. Turns out you brought your little lover home for a night of debauchery. Now I finally know what kind of woman you are. All that pretending to be pure and virtuous, accusing me all day for having women outside, making me feel ashamed and guilty in front of you—how was I supposed to know you’re just like me? No, you’re even worse. At least I admit my faults, but you say one thing to my face and do another behind my back. There’s a saying for this, isn’t there? Hmph! Playing the harlot while trying to set up a monument to chastity…”

His words grew increasingly venomous and I suddenly stood up, angered. “What gives you the right to say that? Manager Gu is the most upright woman I’ve ever met. I—” I got halfway through my protest when Gu Ruoyan tugged at my arm. Turning to look, I saw her face pale, shaking her head at me slowly.

The man continued to spit his insults. “Look at that! Your little lover is pretty protective of you, isn’t he? Well, well, very loyal.”

Fury boiled within me. To be so maliciously accused of something that simply wasn’t true—I could not stand being wrongly blamed. How could I not be livid when a man attacked us like this? I wanted to step forward and clear things up, to demand justice.

Seeing my anger and intent to confront him, Gu Ruoyan hurried ahead, afraid