Chapter 57: The Video Goes Viral

Zhou Chen and Nan Li drove back home separately. After what had just happened, Nan Li's mood had recovered quite a bit.

"Lily, if you really feel aggrieved, you might as well just resign. That way, we can focus entirely on building our own career."

However, Nan Li did not agree right away. Instead, she said, "I need to think about it. Husband, give me some time."

To resign just like that was something she truly found hard to accept in her heart. Yet, if she did not resign, she would have to become a manager in the marketing department—a position worlds apart from her previous role. The psychological gap was simply too vast.

Not pressing her further, Zhou Chen said, "Then go and rest for a while first."

"Mm."

Too many things had happened today, and Nan Li was indeed exhausted; she longed for a good rest.

After settling Nan Li in to rest, Zhou Chen returned to the study, took out his phone, and opened WeChat. There were already numerous unread messages.

He clicked on one of the videos, which was precisely the dispute that had just occurred at the neighborhood intersection. However, the video had clearly been edited: the parts involving him and Nan Li completely omitted their faces, whereas the sections featuring Tian Yulan clearly showed her face several times, captured in sharp detail.

In particular, the video was accompanied by subtitles. While it did not explicitly state Tian Yulan's identity, it outlined the full sequence of events, carrying captions like "How the world has degenerated, the mistress's daughter making a scene against the ex-wife's daughter in broad daylight..."

As for Tian Yulan's frantic cursing and panicked escape at the end, everything was captured with crystal clarity.

Earlier, Zhou Chen had not been entirely truthful with Nan Li; the camera had indeed been left running to record the entire process. This was done at Zhou Chen's instruction, though he had no intention of telling Nan Li because doing so was admittedly somewhat going too far.

Even so, Zhou Chen went ahead with it anyway, because Tian Yulan's repeated provocations had long since worn away his patience. He had to teach Tian Yulan a profound lesson.

"As I said, whatever the cost, I will pay double."

After sending the message, Zhou Chen let out a long breath. Although exposing someone else's privacy was not a particularly admirable act, against someone like Tian Yulan, this had to be one of the best methods. After all, he could not physically assault her, nor could he expect Nan Li to get into a physical fight with Tian Yulan.

The person introduced by President Fang was indeed reliable and exceptionally fast. Utilizing news media channels, they spread the video through various platforms. In today's era, the dissemination speed of self-media was astonishing, and coupled with intentional paid promotion, the spread was naturally lightning-fast.

Next, all that remained was to wait for the matter to ferment.

Nan Li did not want to resign just like that; she still gritted her teeth and prepared to push a little harder to see if any opportunities remained.

Only reality dealt her a harsh blow. Following her demotion, the president of Weinuo avoided meeting her, everyone else's attitude toward her underwent a radical transformation, and she wasn't even qualified to go up to the top floor for a cup of coffee anymore.

All of this made Nan Li feel intensely miserable. Inevitably, her husband's words echoed in her mind: rather than staying here to be bullied, she might as well just leave.

Yet, after striving for so long, having to leave in such a disgraced and defeated manner was something she found utterly unbearable.

Under Zhou Chen's arrangement, the video concerning Tian Yulan was spreading like wildfire. While it did not trigger a nationwide sensation, it caused quite a stir within a smaller circle. After all, keywords like "mistress," "mistress's daughter," and "the feud between the mistress's daughter and the ex-wife's daughter" were bound to easily ignite public opinion.

Yan Peng and his son, who had been staying with his parents for the past few days, were living a wonderfully carefree life now that they were free from Tian Yulan's oppression.

It wasn't just the father and son; Yan's parents were also in exceptionally high spirits. This was the first time they felt such joy and contentment since their son's family moved out. As for their daughter-in-law Tian Yulan, she had long been completely ignored by them.

Yan Peng was sitting on the sofa scrolling through his phone when he suddenly stumbled upon a video. The video had already accumulated millions of likes and tens of thousands of comments. Curious about the content, which involved something about a mistress, he started watching.

The moment he looked, he was struck dumb with shock, discovering that the female protagonist in the video looked strikingly similar to his wife. Looking closer, it was indeed none other than his wife, Tian Yulan.

"Damn it, something's happened!"

Careful of nothing else, Yan Peng hurriedly put on his clothes and, amidst the shouts of his mother, rushed out of the villa.

As soon as Yan Peng arrived home, he found Tian Yulan disheveled, hiding in her room like a lunatic...

"Husband, what on earth is going on with that video on TikTok?"

Nan Li had been preoccupied with work matters lately and had little time to browse her phone, but the video fermented at such a speed that it was actually seen by her mother, Zhao Na. Although their full faces weren't visible, Zhao Na instantly recognized the silhouettes of Nan Li and Xia Junshan, let alone Tian Yulan, whose face was clearly exposed.

Consequently, a horrified Zhao Na immediately called Nan Li. Upon learning of it, Nan Li was deeply shocked and rushed home to interrogate Zhou Chen immediately.

Seeing the video Nan Li was playing, Zhou Chen looked completely unfazed and said, "Perhaps it was filmed and posted by some onlooker at the scene that day."

Nan Li demanded angrily, "Husband, do you take me for a fool? Would an onlooker's post be that clear, and deliberately avoid showing both of our faces? Did you lie to me last time? Did you arrange for those people to spread this video?"

Knowing it was impossible to keep it from Nan Li any longer, Zhou Chen replied, "That's right, I am the one who had people do it. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd object. This Tian Yulan has targeted us time and time again, ruined your career, and even hurt Huanhuan and Mom. I've tolerated it for a long time, but this time I refuse to hold back any longer. I have to teach her a lesson."

"But if you do this, our identities might be exposed as well. How humiliating is that?" Nan Li urged anxiously.

Zhou Chen calmly explained, "Don't worry, the focus right now is Tian Yulan, not us. Even if our identities are found out, it's very limited. Besides, there's nothing shameful about us; the disgraceful one is Tian Yulan. Since she dared to play dirty first, we can certainly retaliate in kind. Why should we let her push us around? This time is meant to humiliate her, to teach her a profound lesson so she knows we aren't to be trifled with either."

Although Nan Li knew what Zhou Chen said made sense, she was still filled with lingering misgivings.

"You know very well how developed self-media is nowadays. If we do this, we'll completely burn bridges. Even if we don't care, what about Dad?"

Zhou Chen said dismissively, "Haven't we burned bridges long ago? As for Dad, things have already reached this stage—do you honestly think we'll ever get along in the future? You are his biological daughter; unless he truly wants nothing to do with you anymore, he won't do anything drastic."

"What kind of logic is that?" Nan Li asked, somewhat annoyed.

Sighing softly, Zhou Chen said, "Wife, 'a gentle horse is ridden by others, a kind person is bullied by others'—you were the one who told me that before. If she could ruin your career today, she could pull off even worse stunts tomorrow. We might be able to take it, but what if the children get hurt? There is no permanent defense against a thief, so it's better for us to strike first."

Seeing Zhou Chen's indifferent attitude, Nan Li retorted angrily, "Did you ever think that if our reputations are damaged, it might affect opening our tutoring institution?"

Zhou Chen replied, "Wife, you're thinking too far ahead. How could an incident like this possibly have that much of an impact? Besides, we did nothing wrong in this matter; even if people find out, we are in the right. Since we are in the right, why worry so much?"

"I finally understand. In the past, we thought too much and put on too many airs, which is why Tian Yulan kept targeting and harassing us. When dealing with people like that, you can't stand on ceremony. Since they have no shame, we'll use harsher methods. I'd like to see if they truly have no shame left at all."

Inside Nan Li's mind, two voices were battling: one felt that doing this was deeply immoral, while the other felt Zhou Chen made complete sense. The two voices argued endlessly...

"Have it your way then, I'm staying out of this. I don't plan on going back to the company either—I'm resigning."

Hearing this, Zhou Chen was overjoyed. "That's fantastic!"

"Fantastic your head, Xia Junshan! I'm starting to think you were just waiting for this day. Can't you ever wish me something good?" Nan Li scolded angrily.

Zhou Chen laughed, "I said that precisely because I wish you well. If you could have been promoted to director, I guarantee I wouldn't have said a word. But since you weren't promoted and instead got demoted—and even your president is about to be transferred away—why stay there and suffer grievances? You might as well resign, and we can start our own business together as a couple."

Although Nan Li had already made up her mind, seeing Zhou Chen's smiling face still irritated her.

"In just over a month, both of us have resigned. If our startup fails to make money, the whole family will be left drinking the northwest wind."

"It won't come to that. I still have my novel royalties as a fallback, so I'm not afraid."