In the Fang family's living room, Fang Yaozu stared at Zhang Caiyu on the floor.
His anger had subsided. He had contacted people and thought of many ways.
When he sat back on the sofa, he found Zhang Caiyu had already gotten up and was standing in the corner.
During the earlier scuffle, with hitting, smashing, and kicking, Zhang Caiyu's evening gown had been torn considerably.
In his rage, he hadn't noticed, but now, Fang Yaozu's gaze fell upon Zhang Caiyu's chest.
There were bruises on her chest, bloodstains at the corners of her mouth, and contusions all over her body.
Fang Yaozu, who had always had peculiar tastes, suddenly felt a desire.
This fool had almost dragged him to his death. If she wanted to use his influence again, she should at least pay some price.
Fang Yaozu narrowed his eyes. In any case, women like Zhang Caiyu were cheap; for a bit of investment, she wouldn't leave even if he beat her to death.
"You, come here," Fang Yaozu beckoned.
Zhang Caiyu thought Fang Yaozu's anger had dissipated and hurried forward with small steps, "Mr. Fang!"
"You almost got me killed today," Fang Yaozu leaned back on the sofa, arms spread. "Zhang Caiyu, do you remember our investment contract? Strictly speaking, you've already breached it. I can withdraw my investment and demand enormous compensation from you."
"Mr. Fang, I'm so sorry! I will definitely make amends!"
Fang Yaozu sneered, "I don't need your amends now, you useless thing. But I can give you three choices, what do you say?"
"What choices?" Zhang Caiyu looked at Fang Yaozu.
Fang Yaozu held up a finger. "One, I withdraw my investment and no longer concern myself with your affairs, but you need to pay liquidated damages.
Two, I withdraw my investment, you don't have to pay liquidated damages, but I won't suppress the matters concerning Yunmu for you anymore. You'll go to prison, and I imagine in a few years, you can start a new life."
Zhang Caiyu looked at Fang Yaozu in disbelief, her heart growing colder.
"What's the third one? I choose the third one!"
Fang Yaozu smiled. "The third is, be my mistress, but not just anyone can be my mistress."
Zhang Caiyu hesitated for less than five seconds. She had always wanted to marry into a wealthy family. Even if she couldn't marry now, as long as she could use his influence, it would be worth it!
"Okay!"
A hint of disdain flashed in Fang Yaozu's eyes. "I said not everyone can be my mistress. To be my mistress, you must satisfy all my demands."
Zhang Caiyu nodded repeatedly. It was just about sex, she understood.
Being exploited long-term was much better than the first two options. Perhaps over time, Fang Yaozu would develop feelings for her, and he might even divorce Lin Xiaoya and marry her.
Even if not, he would still give her considerable benefits!
"Mr. Fang, don't worry, I—"
"Take off your clothes," Fang Yaozu interrupted Zhang Caiyu.
Zhang Caiyu froze and glanced at the outside of the door, where the servants had returned to their duties, and other servants were coming and going.
Both male and female.
"Here, here?"
"Yes."
Zhang Caiyu trembled.
Fang Yaozu laughed. "I told you, I can not let you pay money and not interfere with your affairs. The Yunmu matter was something you caused yourself. You go to prison for a few years, and when you get out, it's a new life. Or do you want to choose that?"
Zhang Caiyu closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and fiercely pulled the ribbon that tied the back of her dress.
The dress fell, leaving only a bra and panties.
Fang Yaozu nodded. "Continue."
Half an hour later, Song Nuan took the opportunity while Fang Yaozu's anger had subsided to go upstairs and tend to her red, swollen face.
Holding an ice pack, she descended the spiral staircase. Halfway down, she heard a strange yet familiar sound.
Standing on the spiral staircase, Song Nuan saw Fang Yaozu and Zhang Caiyu below.
Fang Yaozu had one foot on Zhang Caiyu's fair skin, and the golf club in his hand moved over her body.
Song Nuan's face stiffened, and the ice pack in her hand fell to the ground.
Fang Yaozu turned his head and saw Song Nuan. He showed no particular reaction.
"Husband, husband—"
"What, want to come up and join the fun?" Fang Yaozu asked with a smile, looking at the dazed Zhang Caiyu on the floor.
"Why are you doing this to Caiyu—" Song Nuan's heart was filled with immense hatred. She was already disgusted by Fang Yaozu, yet she had to depend on him.
She hated that Zhang Caiyu was such a fool, but since she still needed to use her, she couldn't just tell Zhang Caiyu to leave.
Now, all she could muster was this.
Fang Yaozu sneered dismissively. "I gave her choices. Either be professional and pay the money, or take responsibility for your own actions. But she chose this path. Why should I refuse?"
Song Nuan stared at Zhang Caiyu, her gaze deepening.
Seven o'clock in the evening.
A junior reporter posted a Weibo message, adding the topic of Qingsui's plagiarism, which had been trending recently.
Soon, this Weibo post shot to the top, with likes and comments skyrocketing.
Even those who were not interested in perfume, or some netizens who didn't understand Qin He and Zhang Caiyu, flocked to it.
For no other reason than the recording being too sensational.
Reality was more fantastical than fiction. Everyone listened incredulously to the recordings.
Although called recordings, they actually only captured Qin He and Zhang Caiyu entering the room. Afterwards, the person recording from outside the door captured audio through the crack.
The clear conversation between Qin He and Zhang Caiyu quickly attracted the attention of people from various other industries.
Zhang Caiyu's selective editing, Zhang Caiyu the plagiarism dog, Zhang Caiyu's Yunmu incident, and who were Zhang Caiyu's hidden patrons Fang Yaozu and Lin Xiaoya.
A series of questions and trending topics appeared on Weibo.
Qin He hadn't expected such an audio recording to break through to mainstream attention and ignite a full-scale online discussion.
The main reason was that the dialogue touched upon so many pain points for current netizens.
When Qin He deleted the part where she scared Zhang Caiyu at the end, she hadn't cut off the initial few slaps.
Netizen comments: "Damn, listening to this is so satisfying."
"Little He, are your hands tired? If not, slap her a few more times!"
"Borrowed hands? Just beat people like this to death!"
To deal with Qin He, Zhang Caiyu had been using money to keep the plagiarism of the Ku Fang formula by Yecha at the top of the trending list. Now, she had shot herself in the foot.
Trending topic number two: "Boycott Cai Fang Perfume Studio!"
Qin He clicked on Weibo and saw that most of it was about Zhang Caiyu's character.
The people there listed Zhang Caiyu's top ten sins:
Defaming and extorting Professor Qin He, a medical professor who had made significant contributions to human medicine.
The person also provided a summary of her achievements below, listing all the good deeds she had done.
When Qin He saw this point, she felt a little embarrassed and ashamed.
Second, illegally importing and using regulated private mine Yunmu, which was indeed a black mine employing child labor.
The third and fourth points were about the messes she had made on the program team, as well as past suspicions of tax evasion and her morally questionable nature of clinging to Fang Yaozu.
Ten points in total, which had unearthed more dirt as they dug.
Fang Yaozu was the dirt, and he was thoroughly exposed by netizens.
Fang's company was quite famous in the country, with a large daily chemical brand under its umbrella that raked in profits daily.
In an instant, several well-known shampoos and skincare products from the daily chemical brand were boycotted.
Qin He didn't know how long this would last, but she felt that as long as Qingsui's tarnished reputation was cleared, it would be enough.