The Traitor (16)

Xiu Ling thought about it before nodding. Indeed you could not have too many brilliant minds for a brainstorm session. Others could point out or consider details that you might have missed, after all, every one of us has our psychological blind spots.

Lin Kang's job at least until he earned his wife's forgiveness was to listen to Xiu Ling's every command so naturally he had no objection.

Thus a meeting was scheduled between all the parties involved in this scandal… except the culprit.

Xiu Ling did not hide the truth from Joann and informed her the meeting was held on Lee Mu's request. However, she did not reveal the man's reason for slandering Joann's name. Xiu Ling felt this was something private and not a detail that she should reveal on the man's behalf.

Joann had been trying to gain contact with her co-star so she was more than glad to accept the invitation. Xiu Ling promised that Lee Mu would give her the explanation she needed at the meeting so there was literally no reason for Joann not to attend.

She shared this news with her family and Xu Jing insisted on tagging along just in case this was some kind of trap. He had faith in Xiu Ling but he also felt the woman could be quite naive when it came to certain facets of life. Perhaps she was swindled by Lee Mu into scheduling this meeting. In any case, Xu Jing was worried about his wife and would not allow her to attend this meeting alone.

Joann was unable to persuade Xu Jing otherwise so she sighed and allowed the man to follow her.

The meeting was held at Lin Corps, the neutral territory that belonged to the third party, the party of the mediators.

When Joann saw Yi Nian and found out the young man was Lin Kang's new secretary, her brow raised with interest. She kept her comments to herself.

When they were led into the meeting room, the rest of the party was already there. Lin Kang was the first to stand up to greet her, "Miss Joann, welcome to my humble company. Glad to make your acquaintance."

Lin Kang's greeting laid down the tacit agreement that they should both remove their first encounter at this very same company out from their memory. Lin Kang had the intention of starting on a brand new slate.

Joann had not told her husband about her visit to Lin Corps during the crisis that befell Xu Corps. Like her mother-in-law, Xu Jing had the assumption that she went directly to Xiu Ling and Joann did nothing to change that opinion.

Seeing no reason to peel back old wounds, Joann decided to play along. She took Lin Kang's offered hand and said, "The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Lin Kang."

Xu Jing who stood beside Joann frowned imperceptibly. This was the first time Xu Jing was meeting Lin Kang, the man who was behind the hostile take-over attempting to swallow up Xu Corps.

Things were awkward between them was putting things lightly. Yes, admittedly, the hostile take-over was halted off at the last minute, but in Xu Jing's mind, it had nothing to do with Lin Kang.

Furthermore, he did not appreciate his wife acting all chummy with the man.

Xu Jing pulled his wife's arm and practically yanked her away from her interaction with Lin Kang, saying, "Joann, let's go. Let's not keep the rest waiting," as he dragged her to the meeting table.

Joann smiled apologetically at Lin Kang on Xu Jing's behalf and the latter acknowledged it with a smile of his own. It was a brief interaction but it cemented the unspoken agreement between the two that they would let bygone be bygone.

Joann rushed to give her best friend a hug. Xu Jing took a step back to give the two women their privacy. He looked around and he realized he was stranded in a room filled with enemies.

Lin Kang took the seat next to Xiu Ling and even though the seat next to him was open, Xu Jing was not going to sit beside his competitor. Then again, his other option wasn't that superb either.

There was an empty seat beside Lee Mu and Zao Ming but these two were behind the scandal that greatly harmed his wife's reputation.

Unable to find a place to sit, Xu Jing ultimately satisfied himself by standing around, waiting for Joann to finish hugging Xiu Ling. He would then sit beside his wife.

Xiu Ling pulled Joann over to sit beside her and this meant that Xu Jing took the chair two seats over from Lin Kang. He was one empty seat away from Lee Mu but considering the situation, Xu Jing supposed it would have to suffice.

It was Lee Mu who began the meeting by saying, "Joann, I am so sorry for what I have done to you. I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me but I understand if you don't."

A serious countenance came over Joann's face as she said, "Lee Mu, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure how I'm going to feel leaving this meeting room but you deserve to have your side heard… because I still consider you my friend."

Lee Mu nodded with emotions. "Joann… thank you."

While he took the time to rearrange his emotions, Zao Ming put his hand over Lee Mu's arm and he spoke on the man's behalf, "Sister Joann, if you want to blame someone, blame me. It was me who forced Lee Mu to do what he did. It is not his fault.

"As Lee Mu has taught me, you deserve the explanation behind our action that we have failed to give and the purpose of asking you out today is to rectify that."

Zao Ming took the envelope that he had shown Xiu Ling and Lin Kang yesterday out once more and he handed it over to Joann.