Male Lead's Canon Fodder Wife

It wasn't that Old Zhao cared about the Huang family's reputation or future, but if his team members ended up in jail, it would reflect poorly on his performance report. That, in turn, could lower his chances for promotion.

Weighing the pros and cons, he finally turned to the Huang family and said, "Comrades, I have tried my best to help you, but this matter is clearly your fault. You must pay 500 yuan to Comrade Liu Piao as compensation and issue a public apology."

Hearing his verdict, the Huang family knew their team leader had given up on protecting them. Though reluctant, they didn't dare disobey and nodded stiffly.

Seeing their agreement, Old Zhao secretly sighed in relief and added, "Send the money to me later, and I will personally deliver it to Comrade Liu Piao."

With no more room to resist, Mother Huang's daughter forced herself to say through gritted teeth, "Team leader, we understand."

As soon as she finished speaking, Han Yuheng smiled and said, "Since we have all reached an agreement, this matter ends here. I hope no one will bring it up again in the future."

"Team leader, don't worry. As long as the Huang family stops bothering Sister Ah Piao, we promise to let this go. But if they dare to cause trouble again, I can't guarantee we will settle things as easily next time," Wang Muxiao said with a smile.

Noticing the hidden threat, Old Zhao was displeased. But since the Huang family was in the wrong, he forced a smile and replied, "Comrade Wang, rest assured. You have my word—the Huang family will not trouble Comrade Liu Piao again."

Seeing the frustration in Old Zhao's eyes, Wang Muxiao chuckled and said, "That's for the best. After all, everyone knows I have trouble controlling my mouth. If Jueyu's in-laws come to visit from the capital and I accidentally let something slip, then—"

Before she could finish, Old Zhao said with a forced smile, "Comrade Wang, we all have to see each other every day. It's better to maintain good relations."

"Of course! I'm glad we are on the same page, Comrade Zhao," Wang Muxiao said with a nod.

After she finished her words, she stood up, and said, "Team leader, since the matter is settled, we will take our leave. Oh, right—please let Sister Bai know that if she has time, she and Ah Ting should come visit me so the children can play together."

Han Yuheng stood as well, and replied with a smile, "I will pass on your message to my wife."

Wang Muxiao nodded before leaving the meeting room, followed by Liu Hua and Liu Piao.

As for the Huang family, they had arrived with great fanfare but left like beaten dogs. Mother Huang even had to be carried on her son-in-law's back after fainting from anger.

Outside the production team's office, the villagers who had been eavesdropping quickly scattered—eager to spread the latest gossip.

After leaving the production team's office, Liu Piao looked at her cousin and Wang Muxiao and said, "Ah Hua, Ah Xiao, thank you for helping me."

Then, she took Wang Muxiao's hand and said gratefully, "Ah Xiao, without your plan, I wouldn't have known how to clear my reputation. I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me. In the future, if you ever need my help, just ask. As long as it doesn't go against my morals and principles, I will do my best."

Seeing the gratitude in Liu Piao's eyes, Wang Muxiao smiled and replied, "Sister Ah Piao, I have long considered you my own sister. If not for you saving me from that wild dog when we were young, I might have been crippled—or worse, lost my life."

"What I did for you now is nothing compared to what you did for me back then. So, don't say such polite words and treat me like an outsider."

Hearing this, Liu Piao smiled and replied, "Ah Xiao, you already repaid that favor when you helped me escape from the wedding."

Liu Hua, who had been listening on the side, looked at them in surprise and asked, "Cousin, why have you never mentioned this to me? And Ah Xiao, were you hiding this from me because you didn't trust me?"

Seeing her friend's sharp gaze, Wang Muxiao sighed and asked, "Ah Hua, with your personality, if you had known that the bastard used Sister Ah Piao as his shield, would you have let him go and follow the plan?"@@novelbin@@

The moment she heard this, Liu Hua waved her hand and said, "Of course not! I would have caught him and beaten him up! How dare he push all the blame onto my cousin and run off to marry another woman without even divorcing first! He is a complete scumbag!"

"If you had caught and beaten him, you would have exposed Sister Ah Piao's whereabouts too. What do you think your uncle would have done once he found out where his daughter was?" Wang Muxiao asked.

Liu Hua fell silent for a moment before replying, "He would have dragged my cousin back and sent her to the Huang family."

"So now you understand why we didn't tell you back then, right?" Wang Muxiao asked again.

Hearing this, Liu Hua nodded, saying nothing.

Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire

Wang Muxiao reached out to hold her friend's hands and explained, "Ah Hua, it's not that we didn't trust you. But you are too impulsive and hot-headed. Rather than putting you in a difficult position and worrying for nothing, we decided to keep it from you."

"I'm sorry for not telling you all these years. I apologize—but if I must repeat it again, I would make the same choice."

Although Liu Hua felt a little uncomfortable in her heart, she knew her friend was right.

If she had known the truth back then, she wouldn't have been able to hold herself back and let that man go. After all, they were only sixteen at the time—not as mature as they were now.