OBS Chapter 1448 Why did you mess with her?
Chapter 1448 Why did you mess with her?
Chapter 1448 Why did you mess with her?
After Tang Jing left, the office returned to silence. Qin Hao sat in his chair, staring at the closed door, lost in thought for a moment.
He knew Tang Jing's personality; once she decided to help Luo Zijun, she would go all out. As for Luo Zijun, she was currently emotionally unstable and highly likely to do something irrational. This divorce case probably wouldn't end so easily.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Hao picked up his phone and dialed Chen Junsheng's number.
"Tang Jing came to see me just now."
"Tang Jing?" Chen Junsheng's voice became tense. "What did she say?"
“She hired a lawyer for Luo Zijun,” Qin Hao said simply. “She wants to help Luo Zijun win custody of Ping’er.”
On the other end of the phone, Chen Junsheng was silent. After a long while, he said bitterly, "Tang Jing came to see me this afternoon. She stormed into my office, pointed her finger at me, and yelled at me, saying I was trying to drive Luo Zijun to her death... I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm mainly worried about how it will affect my work. You know, Chenxing and Bianti are working so closely together now..."
"You don't need to worry about that," Qin Hao interrupted him. "Tang Jing will be going to Hong Kong for her rotation next month, and Vivian will take over from her and liaise with Chenxing. Even if you have personal grudges, it won't affect your work."
Upon hearing this news, Chen Junsheng visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good...that's good..."
But Qin Hao immediately added, his tone serious: "However, after you and Luo Zijun divorce, who will take care of Ping'er? This is the most pressing issue you need to resolve right now, and it's also the only key reason why Luo Zijun might fight you for custody. When the court decides on custody, in addition to considering economic conditions, it will also consider who can better take care of the child's daily life."
Chen Junsheng quickly said, "I've already talked to my parents about this. They're both retired and in good health, so they're very willing to take care of Ping'er for me."
Qin Hao nodded: "It's good that you're prepared."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Hao leaned back in his chair and gazed at the night view outside the window.
Besides friendship and business dealings, there was a deeper reason why he helped Chen Junsheng—he disliked Luo Zijun.
In the original drama, after her divorce, Luo Zijun, with the help of He Han and Tang Jing, rose through the ranks to become a workplace elite. But that was after all thanks to the protagonist's halo, the personal guidance of He Han, a top mentor, and the selfless support of Tang Jing, her best friend.
Qin Hao wanted to see if Luo Zijun, a full-time housewife who hadn't worked for over ten years, could survive in the fiercely competitive city of Shanghai without He Han's "golden touch," and whether she could truly rise to become a workplace elite.
……
It's already the end of the month.
Since Luo Zijun consistently refused to sign the divorce agreement, Chen Junsheng had no choice but to let Attorney Zhang pursue legal action. Attorney Zhang began collecting various information about Luo Zijun's family—their financial situation, family members, living environment, etc.—in preparation for proving in court that Luo Zijun was incapable of raising the child independently.
Meanwhile, on the other side, after learning about Luo Zijun's family situation in detail, Lawyer Wang, whom Tang Jing had hired, also scratched his head in bewilderment.
That afternoon, Attorney Wang visited Luo Zijun's house again for a meeting with Tang Jing, Luo Zijun, Xue Zhenzhu, and others. Bai Guang was also there, but he sat in a corner playing on his phone, seemingly indifferent to the situation.
“Ms. Luo, if I may be frank,” Attorney Wang pushed up his glasses, his expression serious, “given your family circumstances and those of your family, it will likely be very difficult for you to win custody.”
He opened the folder and took out an analysis report: "First of all, you are currently unemployed and have no stable source of income. Although Mr. Chen promised to provide assistance after the divorce, the court will first consider your own financial capabilities when deciding on custody."
"Secondly, your mother is retired and has a limited pension. Your sister, Ms. Luo Ziqun, works as a sales clerk in a supermarket with a low income, and her own family is not well-off. She also has a husband and children to support, so it is difficult for her to provide you with substantial assistance."
Attorney Wang paused, glanced at Luo Zijun's pale face, and continued, "Unless you can immediately find a financially capable marriage partner who is willing to raise the child with you, our chances of winning in court are extremely low."
"You're talking nonsense!" Luo Zijun was furious upon hearing this, slamming her hand on the table and standing up. "Whose lawyer are you anyway? I want Ping'er. Ping'er is everything to me. I can't live without him!"
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, and her voice choked with sobs: "I raised Ping'er from a baby, from feeding him and changing his diapers to teaching him to walk and talk... I was involved in every step of his growth. Just because Chen Junsheng is rich, does that mean he should take away my custody rights? Is that fair?"
Attorney Wang looked at the emotionally charged Luo Zijun, then at Tang Jing beside her, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Ms. Luo, I deeply sympathize with your situation. I also understand your feelings as a mother. However, when the court ultimately decides on custody, it's not about who has contributed more in the past, but about who can provide a stable environment for the child's growth in the future. This includes various aspects such as economic conditions, family harmony, and educational resources."
He sighed: "Excuse me for being frank, but given your family's current situation—your mother's pension is limited, your sister's income is low, your brother-in-law doesn't have a stable job, and he even has a gambling addiction—this could become the focus of the opposing lawyer's full-fledged attack. They will use this to prove that Ping'er cannot have a stable living environment with you."
"What nonsense are you spouting, lawyer?" Xue Zhenzhu was displeased. She stood up and pointed at Lawyer Wang: "What's wrong with us? Although we don't make a lot of money, we haven't committed any crimes! Why are we being attacked? We may be poor, but we live upright lives. What's there to attack us about?"
Attorney Wang frowned, ignoring Xue Zhenzhu, and continued speaking to Luo Zijun: "Ms. Luo, I'm not saying this to discourage you, but to make you face reality. If we really want to go through legal proceedings, we must prepare in advance to deal with all the possible attacks the other party may raise."
"Don't you understand?" Bai Guang, who had been silent until now, suddenly interrupted, his tone laced with sarcasm: "The lawyer made it so clear that he thinks we're too poor and a burden. He's afraid that if Ping'er stays with us, she'll end up like us, a penniless nobody."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zhenzhu flew into a rage and turned her anger towards Bai Guang: "How dare you say that! If Ziqun hadn't married you, if she had married a husband with even a little financial means, she wouldn't be in this situation where she can't help at all! Look at you, you have no money, no job, you just laze around all day, and you're still making sarcastic remarks here!"
Seeing that Xue Zhenzhu was turning her attention to him again, Bai Guang mocked, "Yes, she married a rich man, and then he dumped her. The whole family of three is now divorced and single-parent."
"Even if he got dumped, he's still better than you. At least Chen Junsheng gave you a house, a car, and savings. What do you have? You're penniless and still making sarcastic remarks. Get out of here, you're not welcome!" Xue Zhenzhu was furious.
Seeing that the two had once again fallen into an endless argument, Tang Jing quickly stood up and called for a stop: "Enough! Stop arguing!"
Xue Zhenzhu and Bai Guang both shut their mouths, but they still glared at each other, neither willing to give in.
Tang Jing took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down: "Auntie, Bai Guang, the most important thing right now is how to win custody of Ping'er for Zijun. Will arguing here solve anything?"
Although Xue Zhenzhu stopped arguing with Bai Guang, she couldn't help him at all. She could only hold Luo Zijun and sob, "Zijun, it's all my fault for being useless and unable to help you... If I had any ability, you wouldn't have to suffer like this..."
With tears welling in her eyes, Luo Zijun comforted her mother, "No, blame me... It's my fault. I've spent so much money over the years without knowing how to save... If we had saved even half, it would have been several million, enough to raise Ping'er..."
At this point, she choked up. If she hadn't been so extravagant, if she had known how to plan for the future, if she had understood Chen Junsheng's hardships... perhaps Chen Junsheng wouldn't have divorced her? Perhaps she wouldn't be in this predicament now?
But life doesn't offer "what ifs." Some mistakes, once made, can never be undone.
Tang Jing felt a pang of sadness seeing Luo Zijun's distress. She gently patted Luo Zijun's shoulder and comforted her, "Zijun, don't be so pessimistic. You still have me. No matter how difficult it is, I will help you."
She paused, then looked at Attorney Wang: "Attorney Wang, as far as I know, Chen Junsheng works long hours and is extremely busy. From childhood to adulthood, Ping'er has mainly been cared for by Zijun. If it can be proven that Chen Junsheng was unable to participate in the child's upbringing due to work and failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a father, wouldn't that help Zijun win custody?"
This question rekindled hope in both Luo Zijun and Xue Zhenzhu, and they both looked at Attorney Wang.
Attorney Wang pondered for a moment and said cautiously, "There is such an opportunity. If it can be proven that the father has been absent from the child's upbringing for a long time and has seriously neglected the child's care and companionship, then the court will indeed take this into consideration when making a judgment."
But he quickly added, "However, as far as I know, Chen Junsheng's parents are retired, and if they are willing to take on the responsibility of caring for their grandson, the court may consider that, although Chen Junsheng himself is busy with work, his parents can fill the gap and provide stable family care for the child."
Looking at Luo Zijun's expectant eyes, he felt a pang of pity, but still spoke the truth: "I can only say that we will try our best to fight from this angle, but the win rate... I can't guarantee it. After all, economic conditions are such a crucial factor."
Disappointment reappeared on Luo Zijun's face. Tang Jing gripped her hand tightly and then said to Attorney Wang, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Attorney Wang. No matter the outcome, we'll do our best. I'll give you Chen Junsheng's attendance records later to prove that he works long hours and rarely has time to spend with his child."
“Okay.” Attorney Wang nodded. “That’s all for today. I’ll go back and prepare the materials. I’ll contact you again if there are any developments.”
After seeing Attorney Wang off, silence fell over the room again. Luo Zijun sat blankly on the sofa, her eyes vacant, lost in thought. Xue Zhenzhu wiped away tears beside her. Bai Guang had long since disappeared.
Tang Jing watched this scene, her heart aching. She knew that Luo Zijun's chances of winning this case were very slim. But she couldn't say it aloud, she couldn't crush Luo Zijun's last hope.
All she could do was try her best to help.
……
The following morning, Tang Jing arrived in Bianti, yawning.
She barely slept a wink last night, her mind filled with thoughts of Luo Zijun. She tried various methods and explored all sorts of possibilities, but the conclusions she reached were not optimistic.
As soon as Tang Jing sat down in her office, she called her assistant, Xiao Liu, in.
"Xiao Liu, could you get me Chen Junsheng's attendance records for the last three years?" Tang Jing said directly, "The more detailed the better."
Assistant Liu looked distressed and said, "Sis, last time I helped you investigate whether Chen Junsheng was having an affair, my friend at Chenxing almost got fired... And now you want me to keep track of things again, this..."
Tang Jing looked at Xiao Liu and said earnestly, "Xiao Liu, I know this is difficult for you. But this matter is very important to me. Just consider it as me owing you this opportunity, okay?"
Xiao Liu hesitated for a moment, but looking at Tang Jing's tired yet determined eyes, he finally softened: "Well... okay. But it's a promise, this is the last time."
“Okay, I promise, this is the last time,” Tang Jing said solemnly.
"Then I'll go get back to work." Xiao Liu nodded, turned around, and left the office.
After Xiao Liu left, Tang Jing opened her laptop, logged into her email, and prepared to handle work matters. But as soon as she successfully logged in, a new email popped up, urging her from Hong Kong to quickly hand over her work and go to Hong Kong for her rotation.
Tang Jing bit her thumb and fell into deep thought.
A year-long rotation in Hong Kong would lead to a position as a senior partner upon her return. This was a significant step in her career, a goal she had strived for for many years. If she missed this opportunity, she didn't know when the next one would come. Moreover, the company had its rules; refusing the rotation without a valid reason would not only affect her promotion but could even jeopardize her future within the company.
However, Luo Zijun's current situation...
If she leaves Shanghai for Hong Kong now, what will happen to Luo Zijun? Who can help her with the lawsuit? Who can comfort her when she's emotionally broken? Who can lend a helping hand when she needs it?
Tang Jing knew that Xue Zhenzhu couldn't be of much help, Luo Ziqun was in dire straits, and Bai Guang was even less reliable. If she left, Luo Zijun would truly be left alone and helpless.
With that in mind, Tang Jing made a decision.
She replied to an email, her tone tactful but firm, stating that due to personal reasons, she was temporarily unable to travel to Hong Kong for her rotation, requesting the company's understanding, and inquiring whether there were any other solutions.
After sending the email, Tang Jing leaned back in her chair and let out a long sigh. She knew this decision might come at a great cost. But she didn't regret it.
Half an hour later, there was a knock on the office door. Tang Jing thought it was her assistant, Xiao Liu, who had already obtained Chen Junsheng's attendance record, but when she looked up, she found that it was Qin Hao who had entered.
Qin Hao's expression was grim. He walked to his desk, looked at Tang Jing, and said sternly, "They just called me from Hong Kong, asking why you can't go to Hong Kong on time. Tang Jing, do you know what you're doing?"
Tang Jing pursed her lips and met Qin Hao's gaze: "I know. But I can't leave Shanghai at this time. Luo Zijun is currently in a lawsuit with Chen Junsheng, and she'll go crazy without Ping'er. I have to stay and help her."
“This reason won’t be accepted in Hong Kong,” Qin Hao said. “The company has its own rules, and job rotation is a necessary condition for promotion. If you don’t have a legitimate reason—such as serious illness or family changes—the company will not approve your postponement or cancellation of job rotation.”
He paused, looking at Tang Jing: "Are you sure you want to give up the opportunity to be promoted to senior partner for Luo Zijun? Do you know how many people would kill for this opportunity? Do you know that if you miss this chance, the next one might be three years from now, or even longer?"
Tang Jing was silent for a few seconds, then raised her head, her eyes resolute: "If there is no way to have the best of both worlds, I have no choice but to give up. I can't just watch Luo Zijun lose her child and everything. She is my friend, my best friend."
Qin Hao looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions. After a long while, he slowly said, "I hope you won't regret it."
After saying that, he turned and left the office.
The moment the door closed, Tang Jing felt a wave of exhaustion. She knew Qin Hao was right; this opportunity was rare, and if she gave it up, she might never get another. But she didn't regret it. Shouldn't friends lend a helping hand when the other needs it most?
……
Soon, the news that Tang Jing had given up her job rotation in Hong Kong spread like wildfire throughout Bianti Company. Even Chenxing downstairs heard the news.
This matter is being hotly debated in the group chats of various departments.
"Have you heard? Tang Jing gave up her rotation in Hong Kong! That was a great opportunity to become a senior partner!"
"Really? Why? Have you lost your mind?"
"I don't know. I heard it's for personal reasons. But what personal reasons could be more important than being promoted to senior partner?"
"Could it be that they can't bear to part with President Qin? They want to stay in Shanghai, hoping to take advantage of their proximity?"
"That's all ancient history. They broke up a long time ago. Haven't you seen Vivian always by President Qin's side lately?"
"Really? I was wondering why I hadn't seen President Qin and Tang Jing going out alone for so long. So they broke up."
"Why didn't Tang Jing go to Hong Kong? Was it really for personal reasons? Did something happen at home?"
"I don't know. But Vivian's hopes are dashed now. If Tang Jing doesn't leave, the director's position won't be vacant, and Vivian won't be able to get the job."
"Shh, keep your voice down, Vivian's here..."
In the office area, Vivian was storming angrily toward Tang Jing's office. Her face was grim, her steps were heavy, and her high heels clattered on the floor, as if venting her rage.
Everyone held their breath, secretly watching her, thinking: This is going to be interesting.
With a "bang," Vivian pushed open the door to Tang Jing's office without even knocking.
Tang Jing was sitting at her desk reading documents when she heard the voice. She looked up and saw Vivian. Her face was expressionless as she simply said, "Don't you know how to knock before entering?"
Vivian walked to the desk, placed her hands on the surface, stared at Tang Jing, and said in a trembling voice, "Tang Jing, you're determined to make things difficult for me, aren't you? What have I done to offend you that you're targeting me like this?"
Tang Jing put down the documents, picked up the coffee on the table, took a small sip, and said calmly, "If you say so, then so be it."
This nonchalant attitude further enraged Vivian. She straightened up and pointed at Tang Jing: "Are you crazy! That's a chance to be promoted to senior partner! An opportunity that so many people dream of! You're just giving it up like that? Just to go against me?"
Tang Jing put down her coffee cup, leaned back in her chair, looked at Vivian, and said slowly, "It doesn't matter. I'll have plenty of opportunities in the future anyway. But I'm sorry to disappoint you—if I don't leave, you'll never be able to sit in this office."
Vivian's face flushed red with anger, but she quickly calmed down. She realized that Tang Jing was deliberately provoking her, trying to make her lose her temper.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and then took a bank card from her handbag and placed it on Tang Jing's desk.
"Do you know what this is?" Vivian's voice returned to calm, even carrying a hint of smugness: "Qin Hao's supplementary card. I just got it yesterday."
She looked at Tang Jing, her eyes filled with smugness: "You'll probably never have that in your lifetime, right?"
Tang Jing's face changed instantly. Her fingers gripped the coffee cup tightly, her knuckles turning white. She stared at the bank card on the table, feeling as if something inside her had shattered.
"You... shameless!" Tang Jing's eyes reddened for once, and her voice trembled with emotion.
Vivian became even more smug upon seeing Tang Jing's reaction. She leaned down, got closer to Tang Jing, and whispered, "What's shameless about love between men and women? You have your advantages, I have mine, let's rely on our own abilities. You can try and take it from me too."
She straightened up, picked up the card, and fiddled with it in her hand: "But I advise you to just forget about it. Qin Hao is very good to me now, and we're very happy together. Even if you want to take it away, you can't."
Tang Jing took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. Looking at Vivian's smug face, she suddenly laughed, a mocking smile: "Hmph, just a supplementary credit card. Do you really think you can marry him?"
Vivian's expression shifted, but she quickly regained her smile: "Whether we get married or not, I don't care. I'm very open-minded; as long as we're happy together, that's all that matters. Unlike some people who can't let go but pretend to be high-minded, ending up with nothing..."
Before she could finish speaking, a cup of coffee was splashed in her face.
Warm coffee was splashed all over Vivian's face, running down her hair and cheeks, staining her carefully chosen clothes. She stood there stunned for a few seconds before she reacted and screamed, "Ah—Tang Jing! You're crazy!"
Outside the office, everyone heard the scream. They looked at each other, unsure what had happened inside, but all guessed that something was wrong.
Soon, the office door was pulled open, and Vivian rushed out, covering her face in a disheveled state. Her hair was wet, her face and clothes were stained with coffee, and her makeup was ruined; she looked extremely disheveled.
She rushed to the restroom without looking back, leaving a group of dumbfounded colleagues behind.
In the office, Tang Jing stood still, holding an empty coffee cup. Her chest heaved, and her breathing was rapid; she was clearly still visibly upset.
She looked in the direction Vivian had left, but felt no joy of victory.
That supplementary credit card had completely extinguished her hope. There was truly no longer any possibility between her and Qin Hao.
……
Meanwhile, in Qin Hao's office, Vivian was sitting on the sofa, crying her heart out.
She had changed her clothes and redone her makeup, but her eyes were still red, and there were still tear stains on her face. She cried as she poured out her troubles to Qin Hao.
“...She was the one who bullied me, and you still defended her!” Vivian sobbed.
Qin Hao sat behind his desk, looking at Vivian who was crying pitifully, feeling both annoyed and amused: "Why did you have to provoke her of all people? Don't you know she's been in a bad mood lately?"
"How was I supposed to know she'd be so volatile!" Vivian said, feeling wronged. "I just wanted to ask her why she wasn't going to Hong Kong, I didn't mean any harm. And she just threw coffee at me! Qin Hao, you have to stand up for me! This is workplace bullying!"
Qin Hao shrugged, his expression helpless: "I was just stating the facts. No matter what, she's still your boss. You went to her office to provoke her, how can I help you?"
"Hmph, you're always on her side anyway." Vivian pouted, looking unhappy. "Do you two still have feelings for each other? Is that why you're protecting her like this?"
Qin Hao looked at her and suddenly laughed: "If I side with her, what business is it of yours?"
Vivian was taken aback by these words, then burst into laughter through her tears. She stood up from the sofa, walked to Qin Hao's side, hugged him tightly from behind, and pressed her face against his back.
“At least with you, I won against her,” she said softly, her voice filled with satisfaction. “That’s enough.”
Qin Hao didn't push her away, but he also didn't respond. He just stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on the window.
The office was quiet, with only Vivian's soft breathing.
After a while, Qin Hao gently patted Vivian's hand: "Alright, stop crying. I'll take you to buy new clothes tonight as compensation."
"Really?" Vivian looked up, her eyes lighting up.
"Really," Qin Hao said. "Now, let's go back to work. I still have things to take care of."
"Okay." Vivian happily let go of Qin Hao's hand, kissed him on the cheek, and then left the office like a cheerful little bird.