Chapter 32

After being comforted by Shen Bining, Chen Nian's anxiety and anger naturally shifted to the culprit, Lisa.

"Was it Tang Hui's cousin who did it? I knew it was her as soon as I heard a foreign girl was causing you trouble. Is this woman crazy? Does she have to be with the person she likes? If she can't get them, she goes and harasses and slanders them? Who gave her that right? Does she think everyone is her parents, indulging her without limits? I heard Qi Wang say before that when they were in college, Tang Hui was constantly annoyed by Lisa. Whenever a girl pursued Tang Hui, Lisa would go and make a scene. She was like an unreasonable elementary school student. I heard that one of the reasons Tang Hui gave up his career in the US and returned to China was to avoid Lisa. She actually chased after him. I've never seen such a persistent and relentless way of pursuing someone."

Shen Bining nodded in agreement, saying, "Actually, from a psychological perspective, Lisa's behavior is almost pathological. She really needs to see a psychologist."

Those who provide end-of-life care services need to know some psychology, which is why Shen Binning took this course in college.

"Does Tang Hui know about this?" Chen Nian suddenly asked, frowning.

Shen Bining's breath hitched, and she stammered, "I didn't tell him. I didn't know how to bring it up."

"Why didn't you tell him he needed to handle this?" Chen Nian said angrily. "You two were just pretending to be a couple. You did him such a big favor, and now you've gotten yourself into trouble. It's so unfair! The one causing trouble is his cousin, who's also a suitor. Shouldn't he have done something about Lisa?"

Shen Bining frowned with some difficulty and muttered, "It's actually quite difficult for him to be caught in the middle. If it were just an ordinary suitor, it would be fine, but you know that she is his aunt's husband's daughter. He was raised by his aunt and uncle since he was a child, and he always feels that he owes them something."

"You can't say that. He owes his aunt and uncle, not Lisa. Besides, one thing is one thing. If he wants to repay their kindness in raising him, he should take care of them in the future. There's no reason for him to keep indulging his cousin's troubles, especially since innocent people have been affected this time. If he really wanted to repay their kindness, he could have just gotten together with Lisa. It's clear he doesn't agree that repaying a debt means endlessly accommodating Lisa. He really can't tolerate Lisa this time. Otherwise, Lisa will dare to cause you trouble again. You don't owe them anything. Why should their private affairs cause you to be slandered in the hospital? Who will be responsible for your reputation?"

As Chen Nian spoke, she suddenly stood up and hurriedly prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?" Shen Bining quickly asked, but she already had the answer in her heart.

Chen Nian had already reached the door and said decisively, "Don't worry about it, I have my own way. If you're hesitant to speak up, then I'll do it."

Before he could finish speaking, the person had already disappeared.

*

Tang Hui received Chen Nian's call during lunch.

He was eating his lunch alone in his office when he saw the incoming call on his phone screen and was quite surprised.

As a friend, he must have Chen Nian's phone number and WeChat, but the two have never contacted each other—she's his brother's wife, there's no reason for them to contact each other unless it's something important.

So Chen Nian's sudden call today must be for something important. At first, Tang Hui thought it was related to Qi Wang, but he quickly dismissed the idea and concluded that Chen Nian was calling him because of Shen Bining.

Tang Hui quickly answered the phone, but before he could even say hello, Chen Nian started criticizing him on the other end.

It was obvious that Chen Nian made the call in a fit of anger, giving him no chance to speak. Even though he was a lawyer, he was rendered speechless by Chen Nian's usually soft-spoken words.

He also understood why Chen Nian was angry; it really was because of Shen Bining.

Upon hearing Chen Nian recount Lisa's trouble-making with Shen Bining and the rumors Shen Bining had endured in the hospital these past few days, Tang Hui felt a surge of rage.

He knew Lisa's personality and knew that this girl wouldn't let it go easily; she was going to cause more trouble.

But he never expected that Lisa would be so unreasonable, actually going to Shen Bining's workplace to cause trouble and even slandering her as a mistress.

"Tang Hui, I know about you and Ningning. Ultimately, you weren't really a couple; you were just helping each other out. But isn't your cousin going too far? Coming to the hospital to cause trouble and even slandering Ningning as a mistress? Do you know how awful this has become in the hospital? Ningning hasn't been working there long, but she's always been diligent and conscientious, with a great reputation and good word-of-mouth at the hospital. And your cousin has ruined it all. She's an innocent victim. How is she supposed to face the hospital now? Your cousin is going too far. Does she think the world revolves around her? Does she think she can act crazy regardless of the situation or the facts just because she's unhappy? Why should anyone give in to her? I'm calling you today because I hope you can handle this properly. If your cousin comes to the hospital to cause trouble again, I will immediately call the police and sue her for defamation. Don't say I didn't give you face then."

Chen Nian angrily issued an ultimatum. She rarely spoke harshly, but she couldn't tolerate her best friend being hurt.

"Thank you for telling me all this. I really didn't know about this. Bining didn't tell me, and Lisa was even more afraid to tell me. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have stood idly by. Don't worry, I will definitely take Lisa to the hospital to apologize to Bining in person and clarify things. I will never let Bining suffer any injustice," Tang Hui said cautiously.

After receiving Tang Hui's affirmative reply, Chen Nian calmed down a bit, told Tang Hui to hurry up, and then hung up the phone.

Tang Hui had just finished his call with Chen Nian when he immediately called Shen Bining.

Shen Bining seemed to have anticipated Tang Hui's call, and answered quickly. Before she could speak, she let out a soft sigh.

Tang Hui mistakenly thought that the sigh was because Shen Bining was troubled by the recent rumors, and immediately felt even more guilty, so he apologized first.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know Lisa would act so recklessly and cause you trouble."

Shen Bining's voice didn't sound angry at all, at least much better than Chen Nian's. She just said in a muffled voice, "It wasn't you who did it, why are you apologizing? I believe you didn't expect things to develop so seriously."

"It's been several days since this happened, why didn't you tell me?" Tang Hui asked.

Shen Bining hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "I don't want to make things difficult for you anymore. I know you can't do anything about Lisa. Besides, what's done is done, and complaining won't help. If Niannian hadn't found out and insisted on getting an explanation from you, I would have kept it from you."

“Who says it’s no use?” Tang Hui interrupted Shen Bining, his voice filled with unwavering determination. “I will take Lisa to apologize to you in person and clarify things. In short, I can’t let you be affected by rumors. It’s none of your business anyway, and you shouldn’t have to bear this.”

Shen Bining was stunned for a while, seemingly not expecting Tang Hui to offer this solution. She thought Tang Hui wouldn't want to make things difficult for Lisa and would at most apologize to her privately.

However, it must be said that after hearing Tang Hui's assurance, Shen Bining's mood instantly improved. Tang Hui did not blindly favor or indulge his cousin; he distinguished right from wrong and reasoned with her. He believed that if you were wrong, you should apologize and take responsibility for the consequences.

Shen Bining understood that only a truly virtuous person could do this. Her impression of Tang Hui grew better and better, and she thought to herself: Even if we can't be lovers in the future, this friend is still worth having.

*

That day, Tang Hui unusually did not work overtime. He left the law firm early and went to the hotel to find Lisa.

When Lisa received Tang Hui's call saying he wanted to see her right away, she was so happy she almost flew. She hurriedly took a shower, put on beautiful makeup, and wore a sexy and charming dress, humming a song as she waited for her sweetheart to arrive.

But when she saw Tang Hui in the hotel lobby coffee shop, his face dark and clearly filled with suppressed anger, her heart skipped a beat, and the sweet smile that had been on her face finally froze.

Oh no, Tang Hui knows she went to cause trouble for Shen Bining. At that moment, a trembling voice rang in Lisa's mind. She knew she had been caught, and Tang Hui had come to settle scores with her.

Lisa suppressed her fear and pretended nothing was wrong, continuing to smile sweetly at Tang Hui. However, there was no mirror for her to see how stiff and guilty her smile looked.

"Tang Hui, have you had dinner yet? The steak at this hotel is pretty good, we..." Lisa decided to take the initiative and invite Tang Hui back for dinner first, hoping to get away with it.

Unfortunately, Tang Hui didn't buy into her act at all. He coldly interrupted her and said bluntly, "Tomorrow, you will come with me to the hospital to apologize to Bi Ning in person and clarify that she is not a third party."

What's meant to happen will happen. At this moment, Lisa's fear was replaced by resentment—Tang Hui's first words to her were to tell her to apologize to that woman, without even asking how she had been these past few days.

"I'm not going. Asking me to apologize to her is impossible." Lisa was both angry and aggrieved. Once her temper flared up, she wouldn't listen to anyone and resolutely refused Tang Hui's request.

Tang Hui remained calm, as if he had already anticipated Lisa's response. However, when he spoke again, his tone was increasingly cold and menacing. "I'm not discussing this with you, and this isn't a child's joke. I'm seriously demanding that you apologize to Bining and clarify the situation."

Lisa was hurt by Tang Hui's stern and cold attitude, and her blue eyes immediately turned red. The more wronged she felt, the angrier she became, and the angrier she became, the more she wanted to do the opposite of Tang Hui.

“I’m not going, what can you do to me?” Lisa yelled.

Tang Hui narrowed his beautiful phoenix eyes slightly, his gaze gradually sharpening. He stepped forward and issued an ultimatum to Lisa in an unprecedentedly sharp tone.

“Lisa, have we spoiled you too much, letting you think you can do whatever you want, even hurting others without restraint? You're all grown up now, you should be responsible for your words and actions. I'm warning you, if you don't do as I say, I will formally sue you for defamation as your lawyer, Shen Bining. You should know that everything you said is false, and it wouldn't be difficult to sue you. You'd better think carefully before answering me, whether you want to come with me to apologize and clarify, or do you want to be in the defendant's seat.”

Lisa stared at Tang Hui in horror, tears finally rolling down her cheeks. She seemed not to recognize Tang Hui at all, her eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

Then, her voice trembling, she murmured, "For that woman, you...you're going to sue me..."