Gu Zhiyuan, standing next to him, wore a dark blue cotton-padded coat and a black scarf, and stood upwind, blocking the cold night wind.
He would occasionally bend down and ask Xu Ningyan if she was cold and if her body could handle it.
His caring and gentle demeanor made all the married and unmarried women below him extremely envious.
They were all thinking to themselves, putting everything else aside, just looking at how affectionate Gu Zhiyuan and his partner were, they knew that the couple was doing really well.
If something really happened to Xu Ningyan, which man could tolerate it?
Xu Zhenzhu gritted her teeth, her mouth filled with a metallic taste. Her eyes, fixed on Xu Ningyan, were filled with resentment and venom. How could that bitch Xu Siya be so lucky? She was kidnapped and taken to the mountains and yet she emerged unscathed? Were those men all pushovers? Completely useless?
Her resentful gaze was undisguised, only those in the audience couldn't see it.
The leaders on the stage could see everything clearly.
Mr. Lu was still smiling, but his eyes were like sharp blades as he swept past Xu Zhenzhu's back and met Lu Kai's gaze, giving him a wink.
He couldn't stop cursing under his breath.
I had told the young couple many times before that Xu Zhenzhu should be sincere and humble on stage today. She agreed to everything in person, but now she is looking at Gu Zhiyuan and his wife with hatred in front of so many people.
Even if those in the audience can't see it, do they think the leaders on stage are blind?
Lu Kai received the signal and saw Xu Zhenzhu standing by the stage, refusing to move forward, which made him anxious.
The searchlight shone on the stage, and he dared not move forward, afraid of being exposed to the spotlight. He could only bend down and carefully inch his way to the shadows at the edge of the stage: "Pearl, Pearl, don't be afraid, I'm here with you."
Xu Zhenzhu heard Lu Kai's voice, looked down to look for him, and finally saw his shadow in the dark corner in front of the stage.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she pouted, looking aggrieved, as if she wanted to give up.
Lu Kai knew Xu Zhenzhu well, and seeing her like this, he knew she was scared. He quickly said, "Zhenzhu, don't be afraid, I'm with you! It'll be alright after you finish reading, I'm here for you—"
At this point, you have to coax the person into apologizing and leaving.
Xu Zhenzhu knew in her heart that she had to apologize today, but she habitually wanted to rely on Lu Kai and hoped that at the crucial moment Lu Kai would step in and say that she didn't need to apologize.
Upon hearing Lu Kai's words, boos erupted from below, and the leaders on the stage also looked displeased.
She knew she couldn't dawdle any longer, so she gritted her teeth and took two steps forward, stopping about five or six steps away from Xu Ningyan and Gu Zhiyuan.
He held up the self-criticism that Lu Kai had helped him write and began to read it aloud.
She felt ashamed and embarrassed, and wished she could finish reading quickly. She read it out in a blurry voice, then gave Gu Zhiyuan and Xu Ningyan a hasty bow, said "I'm sorry!" and turned to run off the stage.
Before Xu Ningyan could even speak, the people in the audience protested.
They were so close that even those near the stage couldn't hear clearly, let alone those behind them.
I saw Xu Zhenzhu open and close her mouth a few times, and then she tried to run away?
Absolutely not!
Immediately someone shouted, "What kind of attitude is this? Who writes a self-criticism like this? We didn't even hear you clearly!"
"Yes, her attitude is wrong! It's not an attitude of admitting her mistakes and reflecting on them at all!"
"Let's have a thorough review! We all need to hear it!"
...
The crowd below was indignant, while the leaders on the stage had subtle expressions in their eyes.
They all looked at Lu's father.
Wu Jie looked at Lu's father with a half-smile: "Old Lu, look at the public's outcry, we can't ignore it. And since you've already agreed to apologize, you should at least show some respect, right?"
Mr. Lu was so angry he was about to vomit blood! He had built up his reputation and face for most of his life, and now most of it was gone.
On the surface, he still had to maintain a respectable demeanor: "Director Wu is right, we naturally follow the voice of the people! We'll do what needs to be done, don't worry about me!"
Xu Zhenzhu, who had just run to the edge of the stage, was stopped and gestured to return to the center of the stage.
Xu Zhenzhu was indignant and shouted, "I've already apologized, what more do you want from me? You're bullying me! Don't touch me! If you touch me again, I'll report you for indecent assault—"
Lu Kai didn't want to go on stage, but upon hearing this, he didn't care anymore and immediately flipped himself up from below the stage.
He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the people who were stopping Xu Zhenzhu, and smiled apologetically: "Please don't take it to heart, everyone. I'll try to persuade her, I'll try to persuade her—"
People still have to give Lu Kai some face, after all, he has his father behind him.
Although those people didn't look too good, they took a step back and nodded to Lu Kai, "Then you guys hurry up!"
Lu Kai pulled Xu Zhenzhu into a corner. Although they were still within the range of the searchlights, there was nothing he could do.
Xu Zhenzhu felt wronged upon seeing Lu Kai, and tears welled up in her eyes. She choked out, "I've already apologized, but they still make things difficult for me! They're just bullying me—"
Lu Kai was seething with anger, but he had to suppress his temper and persuade her, "Pearl, just bear with it a little longer! Everyone down below is watching! Just pretend they're not human, they're all just radishes!"
Xu Zhenzhu still felt it wouldn't work: "Brother Kai, I can't, really—"
Lu Kai's patience had reached its limit, and his voice turned cold and hard: "Pearl, think it through! The leaders are all here today. If you continue to be perfunctory like before, they might force you to do it again."
"Think about it, just go up there and read it honestly once, and everything will be fine afterwards! Otherwise, you'll have to stay on stage all day! Which is more embarrassing?"
Xu Zhenzhu was still somewhat indignant: "If I go up there and read a self-criticism, I'll not only lose face for myself, but also for you and the Lu family. Doesn't Dad care?"
Lu Kai's voice grew increasingly impatient: "You think it's shameful? Doesn't Dad know it's shameful? If you keep dragging your feet like this, it'll be even more shameful! Even if Dad wants to discipline you, are you asking him to make a mistake in front of everyone? Pearl, have you thought this through? Do you really want to lose Dad's job for your sake? Your pride isn't worth that much!"
This was the first time Lu Kai had ever spoken such harsh words to Xu Zhenzhu.
Xu Zhenzhu looked up at Lu Kai in surprise, only to see his tense and impatient expression. She was clearly afraid, and managed to suppress her anger: "But, but—"
"What do you mean 'but'? Go up there and read this apology letter properly today, and apologize to Gu Zhiyuan and Xu Siya! Get through this first! We'll deal with the rest later. There's plenty of time, and we'll get our revenge eventually!"
Xu Zhenzhu lowered her head and gave a muffled reply.
Clutching the letter of self-criticism, he walked back onto the stage.
The audience fell silent.
Xu Zhenzhu didn't know how she endured the humiliation to finish reading the self-criticism, nor how she bowed and apologized to Gu Zhiyuan and Xu Ningyan, and she didn't even know how she stepped off the stage.
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