The woman who attempted suicide was saved, but the bloody photos from the scene somehow began to circulate wildly on the internet.
Her tragic background was also revealed—born in the countryside, raised by a single parent, she had been helping with farm work since childhood, and even earned her own middle school tuition… Everyone who read her story was moved by her self-reliance and resilience, sympathizing with her and consequently blaming the capitalist who drove her to choose death.
Yue Corporation faced severe criticism and Yue Wantong became the target of online abuse. Many marketing accounts took advantage of the situation to garner sympathy for the woman who attempted suicide.
Both were 23 years old—one was on a pedestal above the masses, the other wallowed in the mud before being forced to attempt suicide…
What a stark contrast, capable of evoking sympathy from others.
Yue Corporation has issued a statement, but it has been drowned out by the multitude of criticisms.
All eyes are on the vulnerable, regardless of what response the Yue Corporation makes, it is seen as an attempt to whitewash themselves, all fake in their eyes.
Several media outlets have criticized the Yue Corporation’s actions, damaging the company’s external image and directly impacting its stock price. Wan Tong faced pressure from all sides, as the root cause of this incident lies with her.
At night, Wan Tong huddled in bed, glancing at Yu Sheng standing by the window. “Yu Sheng, what do you say we should do?”
Yu Sheng hung up the phone, glanced out the window again, then closed it before returning to the bedside. “Everyone’s watching, but it’s alright. Get some sleep.”
Wan Tong nodded, glancing at Yu Sheng’s sleek and restrained black uniform, suddenly feeling a desire to buy clothes for Yu Sheng. Other bodyguards wore stylish suits and sunglasses, so Yu Sheng should have them too.
So, in the fifteen minutes Yu Sheng was away in her own room, Wan Tong ordered several sets of suits in Yu Sheng’s size, along with sunglasses of the same model as Wan Tong’s own.
Yu Sheng returned in black pajamas. Seeing that Wan Tong hadn’t slept yet, she sat down beside the bed and smoothed the covers for Wan Tong.
Wan Tong patted the spot beside her, “Yu Sheng, will you sleep with me tonight?”
Yu Sheng had been waiting for this moment, so without hesitation, she lay down.
“Yu Sheng, have you grown taller again?” Wan Tong lay on her side, staring at Yu Sheng intently.
Yu Sheng turned her head, “It seems like it.”
Yu Sheng also felt that her body had been acting strangely recently, always feeling feverish, as if something was about to burst out of her body.
Perhaps it’s because she’s about to reach adulthood. It’s said that before gender differentiation, there will indeed be a series of symptoms, each person’s being slightly different.
“What kind of constitution do you have that you can still grow taller?” Wan Tong chuckled. Wan Tong wanted Yu Sheng to develop her chest, but instead, she grew taller.
It seemed like they were both thinking about the same thing. Wan Tong watched as Yu Sheng reached out and touched her flat chest.
“It hasn’t grown here.” After Yu Sheng finished touching, she concluded, with a slight furrow of her eyebrows, perhaps disappointed.
“…” Sure enough, women’s words are deceitful. Wan Tong thought Yusheng didn’t care about her flat chest, but perhaps she did care after all?
“Or, I’ll hire a masseur for you another day? I heard massages can really help with growth…” Wan Tong suggested.
“Massage? Here?” Yu Sheng’s eyes widened in surprise, staring at Wan Tong blankly.
It was the first time Wan Tong had seen such a lively expression on Yu Sheng face, and she was immediately amused. “Yes, want me to massage you?”
Yu Sheng looked at the two hands Wan Tong extended and imagined the scene for a moment. It seemed not too difficult to accept.
So, Yu Sheng nodded slowly.
Wan Tong bounced up, rubbing her hands together and knelt beside Yu Sheng, then pressed down on Yu Sheng’s chest.
Hmm, it’s really flat.
“What the… Is this… a pectoral muscle?” Wan Tong retracted her hand in shock.
Yu Sheng lay flat, looking as if she was ready to take on whatever Wan Tong did to her. Upon hearing Wan Tong’s question, she innocently blinked her eyes, “Hmm.”
Wan Tong tentatively poked Yu Sheng’s abdomen with her finger, finding it also firm with apparent abdominal muscles.
“Do you have mermaid line?” she asked.
Yu Sheng didn’t understand what mermaid line was, so she shook her head, “I don’t know.”
“Shall I confirm it for you?” Wan Tong said, already lifting Yu Sheng’s hem with her fingers.
Sure enough, there were.
That slim waist actually had a few abdominal muscles and even mermaid line.
Envious, she’s envious.
Wan Tong let go of Yu Sheng’s hem, then touched her own flat but soft abdomen, sighing deeply.
“I’m going to bed, good night.”
Yu Sheng sat up, glanced at her flat chest and abdomen, her voice inexplicably low, “Good night.”
Actually, Yu Sheng also wanted to touch Wan Tong.
This thought had been lingering in Yu Sheng’s mind, then she ended up completely sleepless.
Everyone was waiting for Wan Tong to break down, waiting for her to admit her lack of management ability, but after two days of silence, when all the negative publicity reached its peak, Wan Tong had the PR department hold a press conference.
Just before going on stage, Yue Jingye received a last-minute notification and hurried over. At that moment, Wan Tong calmly appeared in front of the media cameras, giving a simple explanation of the suicide incident of the waitress.
She was calm and confident, as if she hadn’t experienced an online backlash, as if she hadn’t felt the pressure from the reporters.
Firstly, that waitress was caught on CCTV taking money from the shop and stealing valuable decorations. Her misconduct led to a fifteen-day detention, but the Yue Corporation did not pursue further compensation. After she regained her freedom, not only did she not reflect on her actions, she even went to a restaurant under the Yue Corporation and attempted suicide, bringing extremely negative impacts to both the restaurant and the Yue Corporation.
The waitress had now been out of danger, and all medical expenses were covered by the Yue Corporation. The waitress and her family had given multiple interviews to the media, spreading slanderous remarks against the Yue Corporation, and demanding substantial compensation. So let her ask, if someone commits suicide in someone else’s shop, should the owner compensate? If that’s the case, then boldly speaking, wouldn’t this become a profession for some?
Wan Tong also had some short videos played, all taken in the hospital. In the videos, the waitress was seen listening to her mother’s instigations, portraying herself as a victim in front of the camera. Her family was shown discussing how to demand money from the Yue Corporation, with scenes of them plotting and making sarcastic remarks, all of which were captured and heard by the reporters present.
Some people’s faces turned red-hot. They had also interviewed the waitress who attempted suicide and her family. In their interviews, the waitress and her family seemed kind and honest, but they never expected that it was all an act.
They were being used and had unknowingly spread the hypocritical remarks to the public.
In the final video, the waitress’s uncle, smoking a cigarette, sighed, “If that girl had died, we would’ve got even more compensation. It’s a pity, she should’ve listened to that person’s advice…”
The press conference was live-streamed, and many netizens who were following the matter were caught off guard by the sudden twist. Initially, the bullet screen was filled with curses directed at the Yue Corporation and Yue Wantong, calling them heartless. However, after a brief moment of silence, the focus shifted to blaming the waitress for manipulating them.
What is truly terrifying is that from the occasional comments in the video, it seems the waitress’s suicide at the restaurant was deliberately incited. Who was behind this? Was it the person who initially asked her to install the camera? Was it a deliberate attempt to target Yue Wantong?
If so, Yue Wantong’s situation is truly pitiable. First, she survived a major car accident, and now it seems she is still mired in crises. No wonder she hired a personal bodyguard.
Considering she’s only 23 years old and already shouldering the entire corporation’s responsibilities, facing pressure from all directions alone, how oppressive must such a life be?
After the press conference, Wan Tong returned to her office, and Yue Jingye came in shortly after.
“Tongtong, why wasn’t the press conference announced in advance? It was too hasty.”
Wan Tong rubbed her temples, “I decided on it last minute. After all, this is my mess, so I have to handle it completely.”
“So, have you had people watching the hospital these past two days?” Yue Jingye handed her a cup of hot tea, a gentle smile on his face.
Wan Tong liked tea, just like her father. Knowing this, Yue Jingye would bring her good tea whenever he found some.
“I just had someone keep an eye on things casually. Who knew those people really couldn’t keep their mouths shut? Give them a little money, and they start talking, and they’re greedy too.”
Wan Tong smiled at Yue Jingye, took the teacup, and took a sip. The fragrance filled her mouth, but it no longer brought her the same joy as before.
“Fortunately, they exposed themselves, otherwise, it would have been really unfavorable for us.” Yue Jingye smiled too, his handsome face particularly amiable. “Tongtong, shall we go out to celebrate tonight?”
Wan Tong put down the teacup, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at him, “Uncle, you might not be in the mood to celebrate later.”
A dark glint flashed in Yue Jingye’s eyes as he looked at her confident demeanor, a foreboding feeling rising within him.
“How could that be? Is something going to happen to the corporation?”
“Yue Corporation is fine. It’s just… something might happen at my home.”
After Wan Tong finished speaking, Yue Jingye’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the caller ID but didn’t answer.
“Tongtong, you still seem distant from your uncle,” he sighed, turned, and walked out.
Watching his back, Wan Tong’s smile gradually faded. Yu Sheng and Zheng Jun came in together.
“President Yue, are you alright?”
Wan Tong shook her head. Meeting Yu Sheng’s concerned gaze, she waved her hand and said, “What could happen to me? This is my turf.”
The one in trouble was Butler Zhong.
Since Wan Tong’s car accident, Butler Zhong had treated her as usual, but he probably sensed that she was suspicious of him, and his weak psychological state made him flustered.
Yue Jingye, afraid of being implicated, quickly distanced himself from Butler Zhong.
Butler Zhong had done many things over the years, including orchestrating the kidnapping Wan Tong experienced many years ago.
So, it’s truly remarkable that Wan Tong managed to survive all this.
Butler Zhong orchestrated the car accident without leaving any evidence. However, traces from the previous kidnapping case were discovered by the police, leading to Butler Zhong’s arrest.
Of course, these clues were uncovered by investigators hired by Wan Tong.
The public opinion online shifted. Wan Tong’s stunning appearance at the press conference drew significant attention.
The fickle netizens had already forgotten how they had previously accused her of ‘forcing someone to commit suicide and ruining a family.’ Now, the screen was filled with admirers praising her beauty.
Wan Tong soaked in the bathtub, browsing her phone for a while, then made a call to Zheng Jun, asking him to find a reliable housekeeper.
Wrapped in a towel, she came out of the bathroom, humming a tune often sung by Yu Sheng.
Yu Sheng, having nothing to do, was organizing Wan Tong’s walk-in wardrobe.
Wan Tong had grown accustomed to Yu Sheng’s presence. With her mind a bit foggy from the steam, she took her pajamas and casually let her towel drop.
Yu Sheng heard the noise, turned around, and her pupils gradually widened.
Wan Tong stood sideways. After the towel fell, she stepped on it, as she wasn’t wearing shoes.
One arm was draped across her chest, but it didn’t cover much.
A little over a month ago, when Yu Sheng rescued her, Yu Sheng had helped her change clothes in a rush, not thinking much of it.
But now, Yu Sheng felt an uncontrollable different emotion stirring within her.
Yu Sheng closed her eyes, but the dark vision was still dominated by the curve of Wan Tong’s side.
*Bang.*
Hearing the sound, Wan Tong glanced over to see Yu Sheng abruptly standing up, bumping into a shelf behind her, but she didn’t stop and ran out.
“A’Sheng?” Wan Tong called out, but Yu Sheng didn’t turn back and slammed the door behind her.
Yu Sheng returned to her room, locked the door, and collapsed on her bed, breathing heavily.
Yu Sheng felt awful, like she had a severe cold and high fever, her breathing erratic.
“Why…” With her dark blue eyes tinged with confusion, Yu Sheng felt like she was on the verge of gender differentiation.
But there were still two days until Yu Sheng’s birthday.
Could it be happening early?
Due to certain factors, some mermaids did experience early differentiation.
Yu Sheng clearly understood that her condition was triggered by Wan Tong, because of the uncontrollable thoughts that had just surged in her mind.
Cold sweat beaded on Yu Sheng’s forehead, all sounds seemed distant, and she vaguely heard Wan Tong calling at the door.
She managed to get up and said to the door, “I’m fine. See you tomorrow. Good night.”
Wan Tong found Yu Sheng’s voice unusually deep and replied, “Alright, good night. If you feel unwell, let me know.”
“Mm.” Yu Sheng responded with a deep voice, her throat itching and her tone changed.
Wan Tong stood by the door for a while before returning to her room.
Hearing her close the door, Yu Sheng went back to her bed and collapsed again.
Pressing a hand to her chest, Yu Sheng prayed that it would develop into the shape Wan Tong desired, as she was tired of drinking soup every day…
But then she thought, if she truly became a girl, wouldn’t that mean she couldn’t be like her parents, to be with Wan Tong forever?
rokumi’s note : I can finally refer to Yu Sheng as he/him starting next chapter!