Do Not Speak Ill of My Mother!-Chapter 669 - 610: The First to Leave Zhongxing (Part 2)
The "tap, tap, tap" of high heels hitting the ground was like the cold death knell, crushing Xu Mengjie’s already shattered heart, until it completely disappeared at the end of the hallway.
Xi Hongxia’s words, tempered with ice, seemed to carry a biting chill, repeatedly cutting at her ears, leaving her once beautiful bubble of love, wrapped in a giant sweet dream, riddled with holes.
Finally—"crack," it shattered completely!
The sound was so clear it made her very soul tremble.
In the empty and dim corner, the icy walls supported her faltering body.
Tears silently surged, mixed with despair and an impulse nearly self-destructive, streaming unchecked down her face.
No knowing how long passed, as if she had exhausted the last ounce of strength, she trembled as she raised her hand, wiping away the disarray on her face, and dark tear marks spread across her sleeve.
She took a deep breath, finally pushing open the door to the Director of Artists’ office.
The scene inside contrasted starkly with her collapse.
Zhou Jue was sitting behind a wide, polished desk, concentrated on organizing project documents with Director Tang. The afternoon light poured through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, outlining his meticulous silhouette.
However, this tranquility was instantly shattered by Xu Mengjie’s intrusion.
Seeing the disheveled girl at the door, with eyes swollen like walnuts, Zhou Jue clearly paused for a moment.
He put down the documents in his hand, frowning slightly, his eyes quickly shifting from confusion to concern, but there was a deeper confusion.
This girl, just half an hour ago in the meeting, was personally named by President Yue to be taken under his wing, with a dazzling bright future. Why did she now look as if the whole world had abandoned her?
"Xiao Xu?" Zhou Jue’s voice was gentle, trying to soothe, "What’s wrong? You look so pale. Come, sit down and tell me." He gestured to the chair opposite his desk.
Seeing this, Director Tang very tactfully stood up: "You two talk, I’ll go handle something first." He quickly left, gently closing the door behind him, sealing off the outside world.
"Thank you... Director Tang..." Xu Mengjie’s voice was so hoarse it could barely be heard, laden with heavy shame and sobs. Once only she and Zhou Jue were left in the office, she resembled a startled rabbit, head bowed, not daring to meet Zhou Jue’s eyes, only staring intently at her intertwined, white-knuckled fingers.
"President Zhou..." she stammered, her broken sob almost tuneless.
Seeing her in this state, the concern on Zhou Jue’s face receded like a tide.
Years of industry experience made him keenly sense the scent of a storm. He didn’t rush her, only leaned back slightly into his broad leather chair, crossing his hands on the desk, his long fingers tapping lightly, unconsciously. His gaze turned sharp and calm, scrutinizing the girl on the brink of collapse as if with a scalpel.
The air in the office seemed to instantly freeze, becoming heavy.
"Tell me, what happened?" Zhou Jue’s voice was steady, but carried an undeniable force, "Is it a problem at work? Or... a personal issue?" He deliberately emphasized the last four words, his gaze locked on her bowed head.
Xu Mengjie trembled violently, as if stung by that gaze. She raised her head, looking at Zhou Jue with tear-filled eyes, her lips trembling fiercely, as if gathering the last bit of courage. That courage seemed to come from the abyss of despair. Finally, a few words pushed their way out from her shattered chest forcefully, with blood foam and final resolve:
"I... I want... to terminate the contract."
The air went dead silent.
The last trace of expression vanished from Zhou Jue’s face, as if he put on a cold mask. He looked at the tearful girl before him, whose eyes showed a stubbornness verging on madness, the last hint of human warmth in his eyes extinguished.
The office echoed with nothing but Xu Mengjie’s suppressed, intermittent sobbing, sounding especially piercing in the emptiness.
The silence lasted more than ten seconds, each second like a heavy hammer striking Xu Mengjie’s taut nerves. Zhou Jue’s crossed fingers tightened slightly.
"Xiao Xu, to be honest, during the background check, I learned about your situation... terminate the contract?" Zhou Jue finally spoke, his voice as calm as a machine, devoid of any ripple, yet carrying immense pressure, "Do you know what you are saying?"
Xu Mengjie simply cried, nodding vigorously, her nails digging deep into her palms.
Zhou Jue leaned slightly forward, his gaze like that of a hawk, capturing her: "In Xingyue’s future planning, there is the name Xu Mengjie, and as a key development target!"
