Liu Weiqing and her brother felt a sense of urgency upon hearing Wan Fuyuâs words.
"Sister..." Liu Weiguang began to panic, standing behind his older sister like a frightened chicken. If Gu Lijuan were here, she would probably laugh. Where had all that bullishness about handling people gone?
Liu Weiqing stood protectively in front of her younger brother, glared at Wan Fuyu, and demanded, "What do you want to do?"
Wan Fuyu said, "Weiguang, this time you have to take full responsibility. You need to say that it was all your own idea and doesnât represent our companyâs stance. It was out of your personal self-interest, understand?"
He was planning to make Liu Weiguang the companyâs scapegoat!
Liu Weiguangâs face turned pale, "Sister, are they going to lock me up?!"
Liu Weiqing screamed, "Are you saying my brother should be the scapegoat?"
"Theyâve traced it back to him, what else can we do? They came right to us naming him by name. Do you think I want this?" Wan Fuyu roared back.
"No way. Weiguang is the Liu Familyâs only seed; he canât be tarnished!" Liu Weiqing said without a second thought.
"So what do you suggest, should I take his place?" Wan Fuyu glared at her with a cold smirk.
"Gu Lijuan, let her take the fall. Just say she was the one directing everything, and Weiguang was just following her orders," Liu Weiqing coldly gazed at him. "Itâs come to this point; stop trying to protect that little slut. Wan Fuyu, you better remember how my father carried you out of that coal slag pit. Without my father, you wouldâve died a long time ago; could you still have today?"
Wan Fuyu replied, "Stop always mentioning your father. Now that itâs traced back to Weiguang, thereâs no way to deny it. Otherwise, why would they specifically name him for investigation?"
"Sister..." Liu Weiguang trembled, "I, I did it all for the company! Brother-in-law, you canât do this to me."
Liu Weiqing accused, "So you are protecting that little slut after all!"
"Iâm not protecting anyone; Iâm just looking after the bigger picture," Wan Fuyu replied calmly, "This matter isnât as serious as murder or arson. Thereâs no need for prison; as long as everything is confessed honestly, at worst, it means making an apology and paying a fine. I can personally go to Joy Soon Loy to apologize; will that suffice?"
Liu Weiqing pursed her lips tightly.
"But if he doesnât go, this issue will fall on our companyâs shoulders. Tell me, if that happens, could our company survive? Would you still be able to live your lavish life? If Weiguang shoulders it himself and claims it was personal, then it has nothing to do with us. Once this matter blows over, he doesnât have to work at the company. He can just do some other business!" Wan Fuyu added.
Liu Weiqing fell into contemplation, then after a long pause, she asked, "Really wonât end up in prison?"
"Sister!" Liu Weiguang grew anxious.
Liu Weiqing waved her hand, "If Weiguang is to take it upon himself, there are two conditions."
"Speak!"
"First, you provide funding for Weiguang to start a business. Second, fire Gu Lijuan!" Liu Weiqing lifted her chin, "Just Weiguang by himself isnât credible enough; adding Gu Lijuan makes it more believable. It was her who had an ulterior motive, and thatâs why she conspired with Weiguang!"
Wan Fuyu furrowed his brow; Gu Lijuan had always been helpful, and she was also his lover. Liu Weiqing was obviously using this as an opportunity to stab her in the back.
But, if he didnât agree, the fate of the company could instantly plummet.
Wan Fuyu thought over this as someone tightly gripped the doorknob from outside the office. It was Gu Lijuan.
"Fine!"
Gu Lijuan, having heard Wan Fuyuâs acquiescence inside, loosened her grip on the doorknob and slumped to the floor, tears falling.
After years of mutual support and devoted loyalty, she had ultimately been defeated by interests. She was utterly crushed!