Shen Xiumei hadn't expected that after painstakingly avoiding the overhead surveillance, she'd be caught by another.
Meeting Wei Shikang's wounded gaze, she felt only disgust.
This man was utterly repulsive, and now, he couldn't even save her.
And he dared to ask her what she was doing?
"Heh." Shen Xiumei let out a mocking laugh. "You ask what I'm doing? Pouring wine for Huo Rou."
Wei Shikang couldn't believe it. He muttered, "Speak plainly, what was that thing? You didn't... you didn't do it on purpose..."
By the end, he couldn't even convince himself.
He had cast aside all his dignity to beg. To prove her innocence, he had knelt and kowtowed to people!
How could she...
How could it be like this?
He slumped onto a nearby stool, lowering his head in silence.
After a long pause, he spoke softly, "Meimei, plead guilty."
Shen Xiumei's contempt deepened in her eyes.
Wei Shikang didn't look up, so he didn't see her expression. He continued to ponder with his head down, saying, "If there were no serious consequences, you just need to confess proactively, sincerely repent..."
He then looked up and gazed deeply at Shen Xiumei. "If you truly reform, I will wait for you."
"You just had a momentary lapse in judgment, went down the wrong path. You supported me when I was at my lowest, and I can wait for you outside indefinitely."
Though Wei Shikang couldn't accept Shen Xiumei for who she was, the years of their relationship were real, and Shen Xiumei's love for him was genuine.
All he could do was wait for her.
"So, how did you get in?" Shen Xiumei asked calmly. She already had a guess but needed to confirm it.
Mentioning this, Wei Shikang felt even more ashamed. "I begged Teacher Huo Rou to let me see you. Teacher Huo Rou is a very kind person. If you sincerely repent and apologize to her, she will forgive you."
Wei Shikang had heard that a letter of forgiveness could reduce the sentence to some extent. He continued to persuade Shen Xiumei, "If the victim forgives you, your sentence can be reduced."
When Shen Xiumei heard Wei Shikang say he begged Huo Rou to get in, her contempt was no longer concealable.
Huo Rou's expression turned cold upon hearing that Wei Shikang was still harboring such intentions. Her voice was firm and undeniable.
"Traitors are unforgivable!"
The consequences of one person's betrayal could be immense.
Every traitor had to pay the price for their actions!
Every single one!
A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Huo Rou's eyes, and her pupils slowly began to turn blood red.
Traitors deserved to die!
She clenched her fists tightly, suppressing the madness and agitation within her.
Wei Shikang still tried to plead for Shen Xiumei. "Teacher Huo Rou, Meimei just had a momentary lapse. Her heart isn't bad, really..."
Huo Rou, hearing his pleas for Shen Xiumei, suddenly lunged forward and slapped him.
No one had expected the usually quiet and gentle person to suddenly strike him, and with such force.
Wei Shikang was thrown back by the impact, hitting the wall and slumping down.
He clutched his face, looking at the blood-red-eyed Huo Rou in disbelief.
"You knew she was this kind of person, and you still begged for her, made excuses for her..."
Her voice trembled slightly, chilling him to the bone. "Birds of a feather flock together. Begging for a traitor, you..."
Qin Ningyi, seeing Huo Rou's unstable state, stepped forward and took her hand. "Does it hurt?"
Huo Rou turned her bloodshot eyes to him.
Qin Ningyi's breath hitched.
"There, there," he said, carefully pulling her into his embrace, enclosing her hand in his and gently rubbing it. "She will receive the punishment she deserves."
His voice was soft, and cold.
Wei Shikang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. He opened his mouth, intending to defend Shen Xiumei again.
Qin Ningyi kicked him, fearing that his words would further agitate Huo Rou.
Shen Xiumei watched indifferently as Wei Shikang cowered in the corner. She let out a contemptuous scoff. "Pah!"
"Useless."
Hearing her words, Wei Shikang looked at her in disbelief.
The pretense of vulnerability was gone from Shen Xiumei's face, replaced by utter disgust.
Wei Shikang couldn't believe what he was hearing. He asked dumbfoundedly, "Meimei, what did you say?"
"Don't call me Meimei, it's disgusting." Shen Xiumei rolled her eyes, looking at Wei Shikang's pathetic state.
Back then, she couldn't even get her hands on the core materials of the project team. Now, she was still too incompetent to even rescue her.
Good thing she wasn't counting on him anyway.
Shen Xiumei leaned back against her chair and fell silent.
Wei Shikang hadn't expected that after his humble efforts to win leniency for her, he would receive only "useless" and "disgusting" in return.