Chapter 5 On Trial

• The Bentley sped toward the east. Zhong Zhen knew that it was where the crazy rich people lived.
• She was lost in her thoughts. What was Fang Xinping's motive for luring Feng Beichen to her house?
• It was such a messy string of thoughts to untangle and it seemed that it would take a long time to clear things up. Or perhaps, it would become an impossible task...
• She looked out of the car windows aimlessly. The car had turned into a street full of big houses. Zhong Zhen saw the shimmering reflection of the moon on a body of water and recognized that she was passing by Lu Xiu Lake.
• Soon after, the car stopped at the entrance of a luxurious villa that stood alone in its grandeur.
• Xiang Ming and Zhang Junyan alighted from the car to support Feng Beichen before bringing him out. A maid ran out of the villa to lend them a helping hand.
• “You, get out of the car!” Zhang Junyan turned her head and barked at Zhong Zhen coldly.
• Zhong Zhen walked behind Zhang Junyan like a criminal into a splendidly decorated living room.
• Seeing Xiang Ming and the maid helping Feng Beichen up the stairs, Zhong Zhen took a while to take in the sight around her. She stood aside while Zhang Junyan made a call requesting for the doctor to make a house call.
• After she ended the call, Zhang Junyan pointed to a room and ordered Zhong Zhen to enter. Upon entering, Zhong Zhen was locked in.
• She figured that this must be the maid’s room. She sat resting on the soft bed, closed her eyes to meditate and fell into a deep sleep slowly.
• “Hey! Wake up quickly!” Zhong Zhen heard Zhang Junyan's loud piercing voice. She thought that she was dreaming and lifted her hands to rub her eyes.
• Zhang Junyan was furious that she was responding so slowly, so she flung her stilettos at Zhong Zhen and kicked her.
• When Zhong Zhen felt the kick, she opened her eyes and stared at Zhang Junyan, who frowned at her disdainfully before saying, “I cannot believe that you can sleep so soundly after doing such a terrible thing! Follow me quickly.”
• What crime have I committed? Zhong Zhen stood up and saw Zhang Junyan walk out of the room without giving her another glance.
• Zhong Zhen bared her teeth at her but followed behind. Despite her frustration, she did not strike back at once, but chose to tolerate and remain silent instead.
• She had no choice but to play it by ear. Thinking back, it seemed really strange that Fang Xinping had led Feng Beichen to her house!
• Zhang Junyan led Zhong Zhen up to the first floor, opened the door to the first room on her right and switched on the lights. She sat on the couch and pointed toward the other seat, then gestured for Zhong Zhen to sit down.
• Zhong Zhen figured that this was the study, and she sat down obediently. Zhang Junyan then pointed at the paper and pen on the table before yelling, “Write down all that had happened tonight. Do not leave out any details!”
• Zhong Zhen turned her head slightly to stare at Zhang Junyan. Who does Zhang Junyan think she is? How can she talk to me with such an attitude?
• Under Zhong Zhen’s piercing stare, Zhang Junyan felt goosebumps creeping up on her body. Just as she was going to yell again, she heard the sound of footsteps at the door.
• Both women looked up to see Xiang Ming walking in. He glanced momentarily at Zhong Zhen but then turned toward Zhang Junyan, “What? Are you not done with her yet?”
• Zhang Junyan flushed and barked at Zhong Zhen, “Are you going to write or not?”
• The latter clenched her teeth and took a deep breath. She lifted the pen then lowered her head to start writing.
• A few simple sentences would do, as long as there was no mention of Fang Xinping. She finished writing a summary of the incident, then pushed the paper over to Zhang Junyan.
• Xiang Ming and Zhang Junyan both read the contents together. Seconds later, both of them looked up at Zhong Zhen with strange expressions.
• “Do you think that we are stupid?” Zhang Junyan took the lead and shot a furious look at Zhong Zhen, “Do you think you can get away with just a few words?”
• Xiang Ming pondered for a while, then said in a threatening way, “Ms. Zhong, if you can’t explain yourself properly, we will make a police report!”
• A police report?
• Zhong Zhen was stunned for a moment but she quickly recovered from the shock. She spoke calmly, “Great. Go ahead and make a police report then!”
• Once she said that, Xiang Ming and Zhang Junyan fell silent at once. They did not expect that sort of response coming from her.
• There was another round of footsteps coming from outside.
• Zhong Zhen turned her head to see a towering figure entering the room.
• Zhang Junyan got up quickly, while Feng Beichen headed directly to the leather chair behind his work desk and sat down. He fixed his icy gaze at Zhong Zhen and asked, “What is your name?”
• “My name is Zhong Zhen.” Zhong Zhen swallowed in fear as she stared at him. Oops. There are a few scratches on his neck! I actually scratched him earlier!
• Feng Beichen's expression darkened when he noticed Zhong Zhen avoiding eye contact with him. The veins on his forehead started throbbing.
• “Do you know who I am?” Beneath that cold exterior, it seemed like he was about to explode in anger.
• Feng Beichen had a strong personality. Zhong Zhen dared not look at him directly but just answered softly, “Of course I do.”
• Xiang Ming's body trembled lightly as he looked at Zhong Zhen with a tinge of guilt. Feng Beichen then asked again, “How do you know who I am?”
• Zhong Zhen licked her lips nervously, “I don’t know you formally. However, I’ve seen a photograph of you in a magazine before. This afternoon, when I went for an interview at your company, I recognized you when I saw you, Mr. Feng.” Zhong Zhen’s tone was earnest.
• Oh, I see! And I thought that she found out about the previous deal! Xiang Ming's shoulders relaxed visibly as he heaved a sigh of relief inside.
• Feng Beichen's icy stare softened. However, he continued to stare at Zhong Zhen. “Alright, how about giving me more details? Where and how did you meet me earlier tonight? Also, why did I end up being beaten up by you?”
• “I don’t know how you ended up there. When I came out of the house, I saw your car parked outside with you in it.” Zhong Zhen tried her best to come clean about this incident without revealing her friend.
• “You are really lying through your teeth!” Zhang Junyan could not help but interrupt. She was outraged and pointed at Zhong Zhen, “Have you forgotten that there are security monitors and dash cams?”
• Zhong Zhen thought about it seriously and replied, “Ms. Zhang, if the security monitors and dash cams are able to provide you with evidence, then why do you need me to write a report about what happened? If you think that I truly have done something heinous, why did you not report me to the police directly?”
• “You!” Zhang Junyan was rendered speechless by her questions.
• “That's enough!” Feng Beichen ordered sternly, “Both of you go downstairs. I will question her personally.”
• “Yes, Mr. Feng,” Xiang Ming and Zhang Junyan replied in unison, and then shot warning looks at Zhong Zhen before closing the door behind them.
• Feng Beichen leaned backward into his chair and placed his elbow on the armrest with fingers on his chin. His eyes focused on Zhong Zhen once again, “How did you know that we are recruiting?”
• Such an intense gaze from him made Zhong Zhen really nervous.
• However, she knew she could not reveal that she learned about the recruitment information through Fang Xinping. So, she said, “I saw an advertisement in the newspaper.”