To expose someone face-to-face, disregarding all social niceties and sparing no one’s feelings—how awkward can an adult’s world get in such a situation?

Well, Ji Fei wasn’t awkward at all. After making her statement, she simply adopted a look that said, “Do as you see fit.”

Qin Zhao suppressed a grin behind his hand, while Qin Rong’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Pei Mingxuan, on the other hand, wanted to sigh. As a manager, she disliked unexpected incidents.

But… this did seem like an opportunity to create some momentum.

Yu Rouyin stared at Ji Fei, stunned. So she had also been in the restroom and heard that conversation, prompting this confrontation?

No one had expected to witness such a spectacle today—a revelation so explosive that, regardless of its truth, it was sure to make waves.

The three young women’s faces shifted from one shade to another, visibly shaken.

“This is nonsense! What are you talking about?” the director bellowed in anger.

The producer’s expression darkened as he glared at the trio. “You have a lot of nerve to spread rumors in our production team. Do you want to lose your jobs? Tell us, what did you actually see?”

Two of the girls were paralyzed with fear. Though they hadn’t started the rumor themselves, they had been listeners. Panicking, they pushed the third girl forward—the one who claimed she’d seen it with her own eyes.

But now, that girl’s courage evaporated. She stammered, “Teacher Ji must have misunderstood. How could the director and producer have any improper relationship with Teacher Yu?”

“Are you saying I misheard at my age? But you were speaking so loudly!” Ji Fei retorted with a smile. “You knew people might be in the restroom and still said it loudly. Isn’t that because you wanted it to spread? I heard you clearly, so why deny it now?”

The girl’s face turned pale, her eyes welling up with tears as she stared at Ji Fei, looking wronged, as if Ji Fei were using her power to bully her.

“I didn’t say that…” she whispered. Admitting it would ruin her. Why was Ji Fei, with her status, targeting a small assistant like her? It felt unfair.

Ridiculous. She’s acting like the victim now? Ji Fei thought. I get it—she probably assumed that even if I heard it, I’d keep quiet and subtly retaliate against Yu Rouyin. She never expected me to confront her in public, so she spread the rumor without fear.

Qin Zhao and Qin Rong mentally clicked their tongues in disdain. Despicable.

“But you said you saw Teacher Yu walk into the lounge where the director and producer were,” Ji Fei said, her tone tinged with amusement.

The girl’s face turned deathly white, and she waved her hands frantically. “That’s impossible! I’m always with the director. Teacher Yu never met with them alone. I couldn’t have said something like that. Please, Teacher Ji, don’t make this difficult for me.”

The other two girls exchanged uneasy glances but nodded along with her.

“It’s our fault for gossiping carelessly and causing a misunderstanding. We’re sorry,” one said.

“Yes, we apologize. Our team will ensure fairness in the competition,” the other added.

Ji Fei saw they were trying to cover it up.

“So you’re sure that Teacher Yu didn’t do anything to sway the director or producer and that her behavior has been above reproach?” Ji Fei asked pointedly.

All three nodded fervently.

“That’s odd,” Ji Fei said with a smile, pulling out her phone.

The trio, already drenched in cold sweat, froze. Surely, it couldn’t be…?

Indeed, Ji Fei played a video she’d recorded in the restroom.

It captured the most damning part of their conversation.

The trio’s faces twisted in shock, eyes wide with horror.

“I mean, if you’re going to report something, you should keep evidence,” Ji Fei said with a click of her tongue.

Everyone stared at her, amazed. Even paparazzi weren’t this diligent. Ji Fei had thought to gather evidence right away.

The audio was clear, and everyone heard it—not just second-hand gossip, but direct testimony from someone who claimed to have seen it.

The director and producer’s expressions darkened further. How long had this baseless rumor been circulating? How widespread had it become?

Initially, they’d thought it might have been a misunderstanding. These three girls were their assistants and knew them well; they had no reason to spread false rumors about Yu Rouyin, who hadn’t wronged them.

But some people, it seemed, would fabricate stories out of thin air.

“You…” The producer seethed with anger.

Panic erupted among the trio.

“We didn’t know! She said it!”

“This has nothing to do with us!”

The girl in the middle, as pale as a ghost and trembling, had hoped to downplay the situation. Now, cornered, she burst into tears.

Before she could cry more, the director roared, “You have the nerve to cry? Why would you spread such slander about us? You yourself said you’ve always been with us and never saw Teacher Yu alone. How could you lie like that?”

The girl’s legs gave out, and she collapsed. With the evidence so damning, she stopped denying it.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. It wasn’t on purpose. I was just confused for a moment, I… I…”

The director and producer, furious as they were, couldn’t vent their anger by lashing out.

Apologies had been made and the truth clarified; they would soothe the guests now and deal with the three girls later in private.

But deep down, they felt an unshakeable sense of having been smeared with filth.

“Don’t apologize to us. You owe Teacher Yu an apology,” the producer snapped.

The girl, completely disoriented, did as she was told, bowing deeply to Yu Rouyin. “I’m sorry, Teacher Yu.”

The gesture reminded everyone of past stories about Yu Rouyin’s alleged arrogance—how she ignored apologies from those who had wronged her.

This often led people to view her negatively. To them, not forgiving wasn’t a right; it was proof of pettiness or wielding power for intimidation.

So Yu Rouyin had gained a reputation for being haughty and overbearing.

Now, faced with the apology, Yu Rouyin did not respond. In fact, a slight, mocking smile appeared at her lips.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

Yu Rouyin quickly realized Ji Fei had deliberately made a public scene to squash the rumor.

Ji Fei meant to help her, and she was grateful. But was it worth it?

The truth was out, but would it matter?

In the past, Yu Rouyin had never sought public confrontation. Not because she was weak—because even if the truth came out, it wouldn’t change anything.

Yu Rouyin glanced at the spectators.

Those familiar with the director and producer found the rumor absurd from the start. Of course, they wouldn’t believe it; neither man was the type. Even Madam Zong, who backed away earlier, knew it wasn’t true.

But those who didn’t know them were just here for the drama.

They exchanged glances, silently agreeing to gossip once this was over.

Some things, it seemed, never changed.