Xiao Yize’s pleasant voice came from afar, getting closer.
What he said was clearly audible to everyone present.
Everyone widened their eyes in astonishment and directed their gaze toward Xiao Yize. His fair and handsome face bore a hint of anger.
Yan Zhirou hurriedly walked forward with a look of grievance, her tone soft and demure.
"Young Master Xiao, I don’t understand what you just said. Why... why are you firing me? What did I do wrong?"
"Yan Zhirou, if you have even a shred of shame left in you, apologize to your sister Yan Xinxin right now."
The smile and the grievance on Yan Zhirou’s face began to crack.
The stern expression on Xiao Yize’s face made it clear that he was dead serious.
"Young Master Xiao, you must have misunderstood me! I have never done anything to wrong my sister! Last time, she made a scene here and said all kinds of things to slander me! You saw it yourself—I even followed your guidance and completed a draft design..."
"Since you’re so insistent on arguing, then please explain what alloy, starlight, and irregular forms respectively signify in jewelry design."
Yan Zhirou froze, but she refused to give up.
"Young Master Xiao, I don’t really get those technical terms, but I genuinely designed this draft myself! Look! This design sketch was drawn by me personally—"
"This was done by a painter named Dick that you paid. Here are the transaction records showing you spent two thousand yuan to purchase this design from him. The drawing he provided for you is nothing but a copy."
Xiao Yize unhesitatingly exposed her deceit.
Yan Zhirou’s face instantly turned ashen. Even those few people who had been fervently defending her earlier took hesitant steps back, now casting doubtful looks at her.
"Do you still want to argue?"
Xiao Yiran asked as he casually tossed the evidence in his hand in front of Yan Zhirou.
"It’s truly unimaginable. As Yan Xinxin’s sister, you stooped to such despicable acts."
Yan Zhirou suddenly yelled, tears of grievance and helplessness brimming in her alluring eyes.
"I swear I didn’t do such a thing! Sis, why are you doing this to me?"
Yan Xinxin’s wide eyes were filled with confusion on her delicate face. What did she do to her?
"You’re just jealous that I’m younger and more talented than you, aren’t you? Why do you keep forcing me into a corner? Fine, I won’t fight with you anymore! If you insist it’s yours, then it’s all yours!"
Yan Zhirou sobbed and shouted, tears streaming down her face pitifully, evoking as much sympathy as she could.
"Young Master Xiao, you don’t need to fire me. I’ll leave on my own!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Zhirou wiped her tears with her hand and hurriedly ran toward the door.
A few seconds later, a pained cry came from the doorway as Yan Zhirou tripped and fell sprawled on the ground, looking utterly pathetic.
Yan Xinxin glanced back instinctively, catching sight of Yan Zhirou in such a sorry state.
Her foot hesitated mid-step, but she abruptly stopped herself.
She, Yan Xinxin, no longer had a sister.
From the moment Yan Zhirou sold her to a strange man for money, their sisterly bond had been severed.
Yan Zhirou picked herself up with difficulty and quickly fled in disgrace.
At that moment, Yan Xinxin finally understood why Xiao Yize had called her here.
"Thank you," Yan Xinxin said sincerely.
"No need to thank me. It was our lack of diligence in recruitment that led to this situation," Xiao Yize replied, his tone warm and kind, surprising those nearby.
What made them feel a burning embarrassment, though, was the revelation that Yan Zhirou had been the true culprit all along—crying thief to cover her own stealing. Everyone in the department, apart from Xiao Yize, had fallen for her lies!
"Yan Xinxin, there’s something I’d like to ask your opinion on. I wonder if you might be willing?"
Xiao Yize’s request piqued Yan Xinxin’s curiosity, and she blinked her beautiful eyes in intrigue.
"Eh? What sort of matter could possibly need my consent?"