I stretched out my hand and forcefully pinched the corner of my clothes. Even if everyone believed that Mantuan was an honest man, I didn’t.

“What do you know or not know…?” Mantuan turned his head to look at Zhang Fang. “What are you even talking about?”

“I’m talking about this woman having an affair at the previous workshop!” Zhang Fang roared loudly. “Weren’t you in the same workshop as her before? You saw it, didn’t you?”

Although I was looking at Mantuan’s profile, I could see his expression was exceptionally pained.

Yes, if you think about it from Mantuan’s perspective, if this matter were to be brought up for public discussion, it wouldn’t just tear open my wounds, but his as well.

After all, he was also one of the victims in this “mistress scandal.”

Although the harm he suffered was nothing compared to what I endured, he was hurt nonetheless.

Zhang Fang was obviously so angry at me that she had lost her head. She no longer cared about Mantuan’s situation and insisted on making him publicly expose my “true face.”

“Say something!” She shook Mantuan’s body. “Why have you turned into wood again! Say something!”

After hearing this, Mantuan remained silent for a long time. In front of everyone, he finally said, “Stop making a fuss… We finally found work… Let’s get to work quickly…”

“I’m making a fuss? What am I making a fuss about?” Zhang Fang suddenly pushed him hard. “Zhang Mantuan, I really can’t figure you out… Why do you keep protecting this loose woman?!”

After hearing this sentence, Mantuan’s expression finally changed. The combination of his features gradually transformed from feigned composure to unbearable pain.

I could imagine how much pain he was in, and I could also imagine why he was in pain.

The reason he could talk with Zhang Fang all the way to the stage of preparing for marriage, and was even willing to travel to another city with her, was probably just one thing.

That was because he believed that at least Zhang Fang trusted him.

But now, with one sentence from Zhang Fang, that trust was completely obliterated.

“When did I ever protect her… Zhang Fang, you…” Mantuan said with a slight tremble. “I’ve told you so many times already… Why won’t you just listen…”

“Don’t change the subject!” Zhang Fang said. “Zhang Mantuan, I’m just asking you one question: was Zhang Lijuan the leader’s mistress in your previous workshop or not?!”

The crowd fell completely silent, their gazes sweeping back and forth between the three of us. My showdown with Zhang Fang had finally reached the point of judgment.

But what kind of answer would this riddled-with-holes judge give to match his current position?

Would he completely pin this baseless crime on me?

I saw him lower his head and remain silent for a long time before finally speaking the answer that only he could give—

“I… I don’t know if she is or not.”

After hearing this sentence, the silence among the crowd seemed to rise to another dimension.

“Don’t… know?” Zhang Fang was also stunned. “Zhang Mantuan, what are you saying? Everyone in your workshop knew, but you don’t?!”

After hearing this, I slowly lowered my head as well.

Mantuan was still the same as always. He didn’t lie. He truly didn’t know whether I was a mistress or not.

He now understood that based solely on those absurd pieces of evidence and various rumors and gossip, there was no way to judge what a person had actually done.

But once he denied that I was a mistress, he would stand in opposition to everyone. This situation had once pushed him into the abyss before, and he couldn’t possibly want to repeat that experience.

So he couldn’t say “yes,” and he couldn’t say “no.” He could only say “I don’t know.”

But what about for me…?

This answer was no different from saying “yes.”

After all, in everyone’s eyes, the honest and upright Zhang Mantuan had hesitantly said “I don’t know.”

If this matter were a rumor, he could of course firmly deny it to preserve a girl’s innocence, but he only said “I don’t know.”

What a perfect “I don’t know.”

I slowly walked forward one step and said softly, “Zhang Mantuan… You should know the power of rumors, right? I’m already standing at the edge of a cliff, and you still won’t pull me back?”

“But I… I really don’t know… I have absolutely no way to confirm whether you are or aren’t…” He kept his head down, continuously showing a pained expression.

Before I could say another word to him, Zhang Fang suddenly rushed over and pushed me hard.

“Zhang Lijuan! Stop being so fickle! Now you’re trying to seduce Mantuan too?!”

I had no strength left in my body and stumbled from her push.

I had been too naive all along. From the very beginning, there was no way I could win this showdown.

Zhang Fang stood on the moral high ground of a thousand years of history, baring her teeth alongside the monster.

She had spread the plague to countless minions, and these minions would spend the rest of their lives talking about me.

They would laugh, shake their heads, and pass this story down through generations. What’s more, some would even teach their children not to become someone like me.

I originally thought this situation would continue for a long time, until I died, but now it seemed…

Even after I died, it would never cease.

I heard footsteps rising from the crowd behind me. Looking back, I saw the workshop director and his secretary walking over with angry expressions.

Yes, our quarrel this time was no different from a collective strike. He was furious again.

“What are you all trying to do…?” He tried to suppress his voice, shouldering his way through the crowd to stand before Zhang Fang and me. “Are you completely done working? I’ve been feeling like you’ve all been acting strange lately. What’s going on?!”

I hesitated for two seconds before speaking, “Director, I want to call the police station. Someone here is spreading rumors about me.”

“Spread—” Zhang Fang was stunned after hearing this and quickly looked at me. “Zhang Lijuan, you shameless wretch… Are you crazy? You’re the one having an affair, and you want to call the police station!”

The workshop director, who had been full of anger, clearly changed his expression when he heard the three words “police station,” as if things were more serious than he had imagined.

“What affair… What police station?” He was stunned for a moment before speaking. “Can’t you resolve things privately? How much time would calling the police station waste? Don’t disrupt the entire workshop’s production over personal matters. If you delay the shipping schedule, which one of you will compensate?”

“Then let her compensate,” I said through gritted teeth. “She’s spreading rumors about me. Why should I compensate?!”

Seeing the situation escalating further, the workshop director ultimately found himself in a difficult position. He looked at me, then at Zhang Fang, and finally turned back to his secretary and said, “Use the phone in my office to call. Remember to tell them it’s not a big deal. Don’t make a big fuss out of it. They don’t need to send too many people.”

“Okay!”

I don’t know how long I waited there. Perhaps ten minutes, perhaps twenty minutes. Everyone’s atmosphere was strangely terrifying, and all workshop production had stopped.

I knew that this time I must have caused tremendous trouble, but could anyone teach me what I should do?

I remained helpless throughout.

Since I had no way to calm this matter down, I could only continue to escalate it.

When two police officers arrived, I finally lifted my head to look at them. Seeing their uniforms, I suddenly felt the urge to cry.

Looking back carefully, that seemed to be a feeling of “finally, someone has come to save me.”

“What’s the matter?” The two police officers came over with their bags tucked under their arms, scanning everyone as they approached Zhang Fang and me.

Zhang Fang stared at them with wide eyes, not knowing whether she was nervous or afraid. She couldn’t speak for a long time.