I Got a Phone Call

Zhang Yang was calling his boss, Zhang Xuanyi. Cheng Dongxue listened in the whole time, but she did not interrupt or make a sound.

Through the phone, Cheng Dongxue heard the man on the other end. He sounded a lot like her boss, Zhang Xuanyi.

"You're talking to my boss? What did you send him? Let me see." Cheng Dongxue was curious. Somehow, Zhang Yang had managed to bargain with Zhang Xuanyi without giving an inch—and get a senior executive who had risen through the ranks by using his wife's body fired.

"When we get home." Zhang Yang gave her only that answer, confirming that he had called Zhang Xuanyi.

As for the video, he could not show it to just anyone, not even his own wife. It was hardly the sort of steamy clip she should watch while driving. Even the most seasoned driver might run off the road.

"Did you call from your own phone?" Cheng Dongxue's brows drew together. She was worried about him.

Mobile numbers had long been registered under real names, so any call could be traced to its owner.

"It's fine. I doubt he'd dare do anything." Zhang Yang shook his head. This was no great problem; he had ways to handle it.

Even if Zhang Xuanyi identified Zhang Yang, he would not turn to the law to protect himself. After all, he had something to hide.

Zhang Xuanyi sat in his office chair, tugging at what little hair he had left. At this rate, he would pull himself bald.

He had to act at once. If the video got out, it would damage not only his reputation but the company's as well.

His company was large and preparing to go public. A sex scandal would be disastrous, causing losses they could never recover.

After a long spell of thought, he realized it was almost time for work. He had to deal with this now, or the consequences would be unthinkable.

"Yang, come to the office. Come straight to my room." Zhang Xuanyi finally called Yang Qintian.

Yang Qintian was surprised to hear from his boss. Judging by his tone, it was urgent.

"Mr. Zhang, what's so urgent? Should I come alone?" Yang Qintian had grown used to bringing his wife, Cheng Li, along.

"Yes. Come alone, and get here right away to pack your things." Zhang Xuanyi hung up before he had to explain.

"You're joking..." Yang Qintian frowned and tried to laugh it off, but the line had already gone dead.

"Secretary Zhang, come to my office." After hanging up, Zhang Xuanyi called Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jing arrived moments later. This clearly concerned Yang Qintian, and Zhang Xuanyi knew exactly what kind of relationship she had with him. That made her the best person for the job.

"Look into this number. Who owns it? Where are they from? What do they do? I want everything you can find on this person within three days." Zhang Xuanyi was furious that someone had dared threaten him.

She took the note he handed her. A mobile number was written on it.

"Yes, Mr. Zhang." Zhang Jing pocketed the note.

"Go. The sooner, the better. For the next three days, do nothing else. Find out who this is, and you'll be my secretary." Zhang Xuanyi dangled the promotion before her.

Zhang Jing held grudges. Yesterday, Yang Qintian had repaid her good intentions by slapping her in front of everyone. She was happy to stop being his secretary, especially if it meant a promotion to Zhang Xuanyi's office.

But she caught the implication in his words and could not help asking, "What about Mr. Yang?"

"He'll tell you about his situation himself. Investigate that number. Now." Zhang Xuanyi had no room to worry about anyone else. He had to learn who was behind this, or neither he nor the company would know what had hit them.

"I'll get on it right away, Mr. Zhang." For the moment, Zhang Jing put Yang Qintian out of her mind.

After Secretary Zhang left, Yang Qintian appeared in Zhang Xuanyi's office wearing sunglasses and a mask.

"What happened to you?" Zhang Xuanyi asked. Yang Qintian was covered up so thoroughly that he could barely recognize him.

Yang Qintian and Zhang Xuanyi were close, but their interests did not always align.

Yang Qintian slowly removed his mask and sunglasses. His face was bruised and swollen, with both eyes blackened. Someone had clearly beaten him badly.

"How did you end up like that?" Yang Qintian was usually arrogant. With Zhang Xuanyi backing him at the company, he bullied others, and no one had ever dared raise their voice at him.

"Mr. Zhang, what exactly did you mean on the phone?" The mention of last night made Yang Qintian's jaw ache. He gave no answer and went straight to the point.

Whoever had threatened him with the call and video must have a grudge against Yang Qintian. Perhaps that same person had left him in this state.

"We have a problem. You need to leave for a while. Once this blows over, you can come back." Zhang Xuanyi did not want to spell it out and make things awkward between them.

Yang Qintian frowned. He had not broken any laws, so why did it sound as though he had to go on the run?

In fact, the situation was worse than that.

"Why?" Yang Qintian was still in the dark.

"I got a phone call..." Left with no choice, and needing to calm Yang Qintian down, Zhang Xuanyi told him the truth.

Yang Qintian fell silent and searched his memory. He had offended so many people that he could not guess who it was. Whoever this person was, they had considerable reach—even Zhang Xuanyi's private secrets were known to them.

"Who do you think it could be?" Zhang Xuanyi desperately wanted to find the person as soon as possible. He also wanted to know whom Yang Qintian had offended.

"Yang, to be safe, you should leave the company for now. You'll still receive your salary. When this is over, you can come back to your old position." Zhang Xuanyi had to offer him something to make him agree.

"And if I refuse?" Yang Qintian was bitter. After sacrificing his wife's body to get ahead, he was being fired.

He feared that if he left the company, he might never be allowed back. Then Cheng Li's sacrifice would have been for nothing.

"If you refuse, the company will fire you outright." Zhang Xuanyi's temper flared. The phone call had already put him through enough, and now he had a stubborn Yang Qintian to deal with too.

Zhang Xuanyi was not someone to cross. Yang Qintian had no choice but to accept.

"Fine, Mr. Zhang. I agree," Yang Qintian said through gritted teeth.

"Good. Go pack your things. The company will announce that you've left." Zhang Xuanyi rose, frustrated beyond words, to gather his own things.

Yang Qintian could not let it go. Even if he got his position back, he would likely miss the company's public listing. As a senior executive, he would have received shares. Now he would get none.

He even began to wonder whether Zhang Xuanyi had arranged all this behind the scenes, firing him to increase his own shareholding.