Jason didn't say it outright, but the way he asked that question just now implied that he wanted Wantong to be unable to continue in this industry.
Jason, of course, didn't say anything to Cheng Rui and hung up the phone soon after.
As for the Hu Min Daily, after receiving the lawyer's letter from Shang Rui Group, they responded quickly by directly publishing an apology letter on their public account and official Weibo.
They apologized for the lack of rigor in this news report to Shang Rui Group and the general public, and pledged to remember this lesson and adhere to the authenticity of news and the bottom line of journalism in every report in the future.
As for Wantong's internal punishment, it was announced throughout the newspaper.
Wantong was penalized for violating the newspaper's regulations by publishing false news without investigation, forfeiting her fourth-quarter bonus and revoking her position as deputy head of the economics team.
After this incident, Wantong left the office without asking for leave.
No one expected the newspaper to be so decisive this time, but Emma had an indescribable feeling. She wasn't targeting Wantong; she just saw a sense of social responsibility and mission in the old journalists like the editor-in-chief.
Their concepts might be a bit outdated, but they were brave enough to take responsibility and admit their mistakes.
The reason why Editor Yao agreed to publish Wantong's article was because it involved student food safety. Now that they were wrong, no one shirked responsibility.
Even the editor-in-chief took responsibility and, like Wantong, forfeited his fourth-quarter bonus.
*
When Jason called, Emma was reading the internal email sent by the editor-in-chief, hoping that all colleagues could remember their mission and not be blinded by so-called heat.
The pleasure in Emma's voice was evident, and Jason noticed it too.
He asked, "Are you happy today?"
Emma knew he was flying to New Zealand in the afternoon, so she asked, "Have you arrived at the airport?"
"Just arrived." At the moment, he was sitting by the window in the VIP lounge, looking outside, listening to her obviously happy voice, and couldn't help but feel happy with her.
Emma told him about the newspaper's punishment, and her happiness was not because Wantong was punished.
She wasn't that childish; she was just delighted that everything was moving in the right direction. The newspaper didn't just focus on so-called heat but also had the courage to admit its mistakes.
Jason listened to her voice but didn't mention what he had done.
He didn't mention the matter of Shang Rui Group.
After Emma's incident, Jason had into her affairs at the newspaper and found out that she had been deliberately bullied by Wantong before.
He cherished Emma so much that he was reluctant to let anyone else touch her.
Since he married Emma, he had never even raised a finger to her, let alone speak to her loudly.
Although it had something to do with his restrained and calm personality, it was more that he was reluctant to do so.
The girl he held in his hands was actually bullied by others.
He had been forbearing before, but that didn't mean he had forgotten.
Jason has never been a stingy person; on the contrary, he has never cared about people who are unreasonable towards him.
But when it came to Emma's matters, he was just so narrow-minded.
When he heard her say that she envied others for having a father to protect them, Jason really felt heartache.
So he would disregard his status and make things difficult for a woman.
It's not an act of a great man, but Jason did it openly because no one could touch Emma.
She is his Achilles' heel.
The news didn't come as a surprise to everyone; it just provided more gossip for the tea room.
"Is Wantong really resigning?"
"How glorious she used to be—our newspaper always prioritized her for the best opportunities before anyone else. Now she's fallen so far. If she doesn't leave now, is she really waiting to be kicked out?"
"You guys say that even someone as famous and connected as Wantong has been outplayed by Emma. Won't our newspaper become Emma's domain in the future?"
Women's relationships are so unpredictable. When Wantong was around, everyone spoke of her with disdain and arrogance. Now that she's resigning, all anyone can express is regret for her.
These whispers spread throughout the newspaper office.
Emma, never one to engage in office gossip, was unaware of the rumors about her. Hua Zheng had heard some of them but chose not to tell Emma, not wanting to affect her mood.
It wasn't until Wantong came back in the evening to pack up her things,特意 choosing a time when others had left, that the situation became awkward.
She didn't expect the large office to be empty except for Emma's desk, which was still lit.
Wantong was surprised to see Emma still there, and the atmosphere immediately became awkward.
Emma glanced at her and continued with her work. She was used to working overtime, especially these days when Jason was abroad on business, and she didn't want to go home too early.
As Wantong packed her belongings, the only sound in the office was the occasional tapping of keys.
She forced herself not to look back.
It wasn't until she had packed all her belongings and was ready to leave that she couldn't help but turn to Emma, who was still immersed in her work: "Emma."
Startled by being called out, Emma frowned slightly and looked up.
She looked at Wantong, who was staring at her with a particularly resentful gaze. Although Wantong had never considered Hu Min Daily as the end of her career—she had long considered resigning—she never imagined leaving in such a humiliating manner.
She attributed all of this to Emma.
So before leaving, she couldn't help but say, "You needn't be too complacent. Even if I'm gone, do you think you can achieve what I have?"
Achieve what she had?
Emma was taken aback for a moment, then found it laughable. Achieve like her by fabricating fake news?
"You can rest assured, I will never be like you," Emma said calmly.
Wantong was annoyed and wanted to retort, but Emma leaned back in her chair, gestured to the box in her arms, and said softly, "Since you're leaving, let's skip the parting threats, shall we?"
"I wish you a bright future at your new company."
Emma was about to look back down but then, as if remembering something, looked up seriously and said, "But please, no more fake news in the future. The taste of lawsuits is not pleasant."
She wasn't one for verbal sparring, but Wantong seemed to understand little about the wisdom of leaving well enough alone.
Emma wasn't the type to hold back and let herself be wronged. She had no obligation or interest in listening to Wantong's sarcasm.
Wantong had wanted to regain some dignity before leaving, but a few words from Emma left her too furious to utter a single word.
As for the kind of threats like "you wait, I won't let you go," she was too embarrassed to even say them.
In the end, Wantong said nothing and left the newspaper office.
Emma's heart sank as she listened to the crude and ridiculous voices on the other end of the line. She could hardly believe that Tang Mi, who had been so careful and deliberate in her plans, was now in such a situation.
"Where are you having dinner?" Emma asked again, her voice sharp with suppressed anger.
The man on the other end, still smirking, replied, "Oh, the little lady hasn't eaten yet, has she? Alright, come on over." He actually told her the location and the private room number.
Without hesitation, Emma got in her car and drove straight there. Although it wasn't far from her office, the traffic in Shanghai at this hour was a nightmare, and the red lights seemed to stretch on forever, her palm tapping impatiently on the steering wheel.
When she arrived at the upscale club, valet parking attendants were available, and Emma handed over her keys without a word and strode inside. After asking a waiter for directions to the private room, she headed straight there.
She didn't knock; she just pushed the door open with a bang.
The room was lively, and a man was just about to speak, raising his glass, when the door burst open, and everyone turned to look.
As the people in the room got a clear look at the woman at the door, even though it was winter and everyone was bundled up, she wore a fitted coat open to reveal a white sweater, black trousers, and flat boots.
Her outfit was far from bulky; instead, it accentuated her slim waist and long legs. Especially her legs, which seemed naturally slender or perhaps elongated by the boots, appeared exceptionally long and straight.
"Beautiful lady, who are you looking for?" A man with a red face and a whiff of alcohol asked.
Emma scanned the room, her gaze settling on Tang Mi, who had taken off her coat and was only in her inner clothes. Besides her dazed look and flushed cheeks, she seemed unharmed.
However, seeing Tang Mi in that state, Emma knew she must have had too much to drink.
"Here to pick someone up," Emma said coldly, walking in and pulling Tang Mi up from her chair. "Let's go, I'll take you home."
Before they could turn around, a man nearby stood up with some displeasure, letting out several 'ai's before saying, "What's this about? You come in and take people away as soon as you enter. What, is our gathering some kind of cannibalistic affair?"
Emma's attitude displeased everyone present.
"You've gotten her like this; what do you think?" Emma rarely attended such banquets, but she was aware that forcing drinks at the table was not uncommon, and there had even been news of people dying from excessive drinking.
The man scoffed, "We forced her? You should ask if she wanted to drink. She was begging us to pour it for her. After all, she's waiting for my investment."
Emma felt disgusted just looking at his face. Even among the wealthy, there were differences in quality, and some people just flaunted their money arrogantly.
"Get out of the way," Emma snapped, not wanting to waste another word on this man.
The man, not known for his good temper, was about to lose it despite Emma's beauty and her public slight. "You really don't know when you're beaten, do you?"
He pointed to the transparent carafe of alcohol on the table and sneered, "If you don't finish this today, I'll make sure you don't leave this room."
The man exuded an arrogant aura as if he owned the place.
As soon as he finished speaking, Emma across from him picked up the small pot from the table and splashed it towards him.
Tang Mi, who had been feeling dizzy from drinking too much, heard Emma by her side. As she struggled to open her eyes, she saw someone about to raise a hand to Emma and became furious.
She seemed to gain strength suddenly and lunged forward, "How dare you hit my sister, you're looking for death."
Even Emma, who hadn't expected the quiet person to erupt, was caught off guard and couldn't stop Tang Mi from pouncing on the man.
As the man was about to fight back, two men in black suits rushed in from outside.
They pulled Tang Mi up from the left and right and then restrained the man who was about to hit someone.
Tang Mi's legs were a bit soft, and Emma supported her from behind, looking at the two men who rushed in and asking in confusion, "Emma, who are they?"
Emma thought for a moment and had some guesses in her heart.
Perhaps these two were the bodyguards Jason had always arranged to protect her. Sometimes she had the feeling that someone was following her, but she thought she was overthinking it.
Now it seems she wasn't overthinking it.
As for the man who wanted to hit someone, he was short and drunk, and he was stopped in an instant.
"Madam, why don't you leave first, and we will handle this," one of the men in black suits said, turning his head.
At this time, everyone in the private room looked at Emma, who had brought bodyguards when she went out?
Then Tang Mi, in a voice she thought was low but everyone could hear, said, "Jing Xi, are these bodyguards your husband assigned to you?"
Emma didn't speak, but it should be.
Tang Mi envied her and said, "Bodyguards specifically to help you fight?"
Even the always calm Emma was stunned. No, of course not. What kind of bodyguards specifically for fighting? She's a journalist, not a fighter.
She never looks for trouble!
But Tang Mi was still speaking in an extremely admiring and envious tone, "I'm so envious."
Emma: "..."
The chaos in the private room quickly attracted the attention of the staff at the club, and soon a manager-level person came to deal with the problem. But the two bodyguards still dutifully held the man.
"Could you two let this gentleman go first?" the manager said, seeing the man's face was very painful when he was restrained.
"Yes, yes, let go of President Qiao first."
The people in the private room who didn't dare to speak before, seeing the staff and security of the club rushing over, felt they had the courage to speak for the man.
But the bodyguard who had just spoken to Emma said coldly, "This gentleman just behaved violently. Unless he can promise to calm down."
This means that if the other party doesn't promise, they won't agree to let go of the person.
But the bodyguard didn't do much to President Qiao. At most, both hands were like iron clamps, tightly holding the man's wrists, making him unable to move.
President Qiao, a middle-aged man who was short and fat, couldn't compare with these two strong bodyguards, so he couldn't break free from the bodyguards' restraint.
The manager frowned and said helplessly, "Sir, if you don't let go, I can only call the police to handle it."
"Okay, call the police. He just said I can't leave this door today," Emma said coldly, looking around at everyone in the private room. When President Qiao made the statement just now, these people all had an expression of watching the drama. "I really want to see who can't leave this door today."
If President Qiao just made a casual threat, Emma is now being tough.
She looked at each person one by one and asked Tang Mi in a voice that was not loud or low, "Did they just force you to drink?"
"They did," Tang Mi nodded affirmatively.
Emma was annoyed with such people. Yes, Tang Mi did have a request for them, but investment is a matter of willingness. If you are willing to invest, then invest. If you are not willing, then forget it. What's the problem with forcing people to drink to death?
Do you have to drink to reflect a person's value?
But at this moment, President Qiao was still being held, and his mouth was still not quiet, cursing, "So what if I did force you to drink? What if you have bodyguards? If you have the ability, let them hit me, hit me."
Everyone in the private room was almost shocked by his shameless strength. He had seen shameless people, but he had never seen such a shameless person.
Emma would not let the bodyguards really beat him.
She smiled and instead raised her chin slightly to the bodyguard, and said in a light voice, "You let him go first."
President Qiao thought Emma was bluffed by his words, and the person who felt he had regained his face said, "Little girl, you really think that bringing two bodyguards out can do anything to me."
Tang Mi was indeed asking for their help, but she couldn't watch Emma being wronged like this.
Tang Mi was seething. Her friend Emma was no ordinary person, and she wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for her.
Emma said calmly, "I don't want to do anything to you, but the fact that you forced my friend to drink can't just be ignored."
The group of men found this amusing; they had already forced the drinks, what could they do now?
One of them spoke up, "Little girl, your friend agreed to come to dinner, and drinking is inevitable. What do you want us to do?"
"I see, it's hard for you, right?" Emma pondered for a moment, then looked around and finally focused on Mr. Qiao. "I think it's not that difficult. How about this, everyone here punishes themselves with three drinks and then says, 'Miss Tang, I'm sorry.' We can let this go."
Emma's tone was quite calm, but to these men, it sounded as crazy as drunken ramblings. She wanted them to drink and apologize.
These men were inherently chauvinistic and didn't take women seriously, or they wouldn't have said that Tang Mi should drink just because she agreed to dinner.
They didn't think forcing drinks was wrong and might even get angry when refused.
Today, Emma was here to challenge them. If they dared to force drinks, then they had to face the consequences.
Of course, the one who didn't believe in the evil was the first to jump out to die. Mr. Qiao still looked at her with disdain and said, "I say, you really think we are afraid of you with just two bodyguards. If you dare not to leave, I will call someone to deal with you now."
Emma ignored him as if he was barking, and looked at the other men sitting by the round table.
Suddenly, she chuckled and said, "Oh, right, I was in such a hurry to come in that I forgot to introduce myself. I am a reporter from Hu Min Daily."
Upon hearing the word "reporter," those who were still indifferent and thought it was impossible to apologize became panicked.
Mr. Qiao sneered, "Are you threatening us? So what if you're a reporter? We're just having a normal social drink."
Emma had no expression: "As far as I know, there are public officials among you. If it's exposed that you're visiting such a high-end club at this time, do you think your position is still secure?"
Mr. Qiao's eyes widened, completely unexpected that Emma had grasped their weak point. Indeed, there were people working in the government sector here. Their gathering was indeed a business dinner. But now, the authorities are cracking down, and public opinion is very strict. Even if there is no transaction of money and power, it is enough to make the person drink a pot.
Immediately, someone became restless.
But Emma didn't let them go and continued, "There are also corporate executives here, right? Forcing women to drink is a form of sexual harassment in the workplace... But if you're all like this Mr. Qiao who doesn't care, you can refuse to apologize, no problem."
Emma sneered, it's not uncommon for corporate executives to be forced to resign after such incidents.
She wanted to see how many were not afraid of death.
Suddenly, the entire private room fell into a dead silence.
Moreover, the door of the private room was open at this time, and many people came to watch the excitement when they heard the movement.
Finally, someone stood up from the table, picked up the wine glass in front of him, drank three cups in a row, then took the coat on the coat rack behind him and held it in his hand. When he walked to Tang Mi's side.
"I'm sorry, Miss Tang."
The man didn't dare to look at Tang Mi, said it, and left the private room with his coat.
Soon, the other people in the private room stood up one after another, drank, took their clothes, and finally walked to Tang Mi's side.
"I'm sorry, Miss Tang."
...
"I'm sorry, Miss Tang."
Finally, only Mr. Qiao was left in the private room. He stiffened his neck and looked at Emma, sneering, "I will not apologize, what can you do to me."
This Mr. Qiao is his own boss, and he thinks he is not afraid of Emma's threat.
"Hey, such a lively scene." Suddenly a voice came from the door.
Mr. Qiao turned his head and was stunned: "Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Yichen strolled into the room with one hand casually in his pocket, his expression devoid of surprise. After a swift glance at Mr. Qiao, he looked at Emma with a particularly gentle demeanor and said, "Jing Xi, you're here and didn't even give me a call."
His attitude was amiable and intimate, exuding a sense of familiarity with Emma.
Mr. Qiao looked back and forth between the two, Xiao Yichen's status was no secret to him.
But even he was being so polite to this reporter; could it be that she really had some significant background?
"Had a bit of an issue and came over on the spur of the moment," Emma replied, her expression softening and less cold when speaking to Xiao Yichen, with a hint of a smile.
Xiao Yichen had been standing at the door, intending to step in and assist. After all, one girl facing off against so many men was a concern.
He was worried Emma might get the short end of the stick.
He had an investment in this place and could claim it as his territory. If Emma were to be wronged on his watch, Xiao Yichen felt certain that Jason would have his back when he returned from abroad.
But in the moment he dallied outside, Emma had already seized the group's Achilles' heel.
It was rather satisfying to hear, even for him.
At this moment, Mr. Qiao still had a defiant look. Xiao Yichen decided not to just stand by and watch.
He looked at Mr. Qiao and chuckled, his tone seemingly amicable: "Mr. Qiao, what you've done today isn't quite gentlemanly. Even if the young lady is seeking your help, she shouldn't be treated like this."
Tang Mi, though barely standing, had red-rimmed eyes.
It was evident that she had consumed too much alcohol, which was causing her current state.
"Apologize, and we can call it a day. Otherwise, I might be lenient, but others might not be so understanding," Xiao Yichen's tone was polite, but his words carried a less than cordial message.
Especially as Xiao Yichen approached him, seemingly friendly as he draped his arm over Mr. Qiao's shoulder and whispered a few words into his ear.
Upon hearing them, Mr. Qiao's expression changed instantly.
The arrogance and bravado from moments ago vanished, replaced by anxiety as he pleaded, "Mr. Xiao, you must help me. I didn't mean to cause trouble for Miss Tang. If it weren't for Miss Su asking me to look out for her, I wouldn't have done this."
His hastily spoken words caused both Emma and Xiao Yichen to pause.
Emma looked up at Xiao Yichen, who was also staring back at her, clearly thinking of the same person. Xiao Yichen's face changed; he hadn't expected this matter to involve Su Yihe.
Emma, however, remained calm and said evenly, "Call Su Yihe now."
Mr. Qiao's face changed again; this was really pushing him into a corner.
"Call her now, and I won't cause you any trouble," Emma said calmly.
Eventually, Mr. Qiao took out his phone. He figured he'd stay out of this battle among deities. He had genuinely thought it was a minor issue and believed that handling it well might even help him build a relationship with Su Yihe.
Mr. Qiao had a close relationship with the Su family, which was why Su Yihe had approached him for this matter.
Once the call was dialed, it didn't take long for the other party to pick up. It sounded a bit noisy on the other end, as if they were on a film set, until a distant voice came through: "Hello."
"It's Emma," Emma said, getting straight to the point.
The other end didn't hang up immediately, but there was silence.
As Emma held the phone to her ear, her knuckles turned white from the tight grip: "Su Yihe, if there's a next time, I will tear you apart."
With that single sentence, she hung up the phone.
Xiao Yichen couldn't help but lick his lips, feeling a dryness in his throat.
Suddenly, he understood that Su Yihe would never be a match for Emma. There was a desperate and resolute aura about this girl. Su Yihe might be good at playing petty tricks, but if they were to confront each other directly, even if Emma was alone...
She would indeed tear Su Yihe apart.
As Emma led Tang Mi out the door, the cold winter wind outside immediately sent a shiver through Tang Mi.
It was the liveliest time of the night in Shanghai, with cars forming a river of traffic on the roads. Behind them, the upscale club's decor was subtle yet luxurious. From the entrance, one could see the dazzling crystal chandeliers hanging in the lobby.