No Evidence

Back in Beijing, whenever he dropped his family name, people would immediately yield and pander to him.

Meng Chang glanced back at Yao Ran and chuckled. “President Yang, are you sure that this thief is your fiancée? She has stolen something from the Meng family. I’m afraid we’ll have to take her away.”

When it came to the business interests of the Meng family, they didn’t give anyone an inch.

Meng Chang might not hold an important position in the family yet, but this much he knew.

Yang Ming scowled. Just as he was about to argue, Madam Meng appeared. Meng Ling trailed behind her, and the two of them sauntered over without a care in the world.

“Well, well, if it isn’t President Yang.”

Madam Meng greeted him first.

Yang Ming had been doing research on bone recovery for over twenty years, and even had his own research institute.

In comparison, the Meng family had only entered the venture a few years ago.

Needless to say, they were business rivals. But it hadn’t always been so tense between them.

Yang Ming’s research institute was a well-established and reputed institution in the landscape. People were therefore inclined to choose them over the competition, so the Yang family had the upper hand. Still, the conflict of interest was there.

Madam Meng was familiar with this President Yang. They had previously met in passing, and had even exchanged a few words.

As competitors, however, they had no real friendship between them. Like most cases, they only wished for each other’s downfall.

Their enmity would have remained subtle, too, if it hadn’t been for Yao Ran’s treachery.

At that moment, the thug who was holding her had clamped a hand over her mouth, preventing her from uttering another word.

Yao Ran could only watch helplessly as Madam Meng approached Yang Ming.

“Madam Meng,” Yang Ming greeted, though his considerably tightened with stress. “You must have a lot of free time, for you to have come all the way to City A.”

Of course, he knew the reason why she was here, but he refused to acknowledge it. They still need to keep up appearances, after all.

But Madam Meng had no intention to beat around the bush. She went straight to the point. “This girl had come to the Meng family a few days ago, with the excuse that she wanted to catch up with my Lingling. As it turned out, she only wheedled her way in to steal something from the Meng family. It is only right that we take her and teach her a lesson! I sure hope that President Yang would not stop us from seeking justice.”

She hadn’t expected this young man to interfere in the first place.

Anyone with common sense that his actions were taxing and would not be rewarded in any way.

He certainly couldn’t go against the Meng family head-on for the sake of this girl. At the end of the day, they were all businessmen. Profits moved them. And there was no profit to be had in saving Yao Ran. Once again, Yang Ming surprised Madam Meng.

“Allow me to introduce her to you. Miss Yao Ran is my fiancée. There is no way she could have stolen anything from the Meng family. It is simply not possible. I daresay you are mistaken, Madam Meng.”

Yang Ming narrowed his eyes and swept a cold glance over the woman.

“Unless, of course, you have evidence to prove your claim. If not, then you have no reasonable cause to apprehend her!”

Despite herself, Madam Meng balked at Yang Ming’s imposing manner.

She had never participated in any business dealings herself, much less a confrontation. At most, she would only raise her glass at her husband’s business partners while they discussed their affairs.

She was not as eloquent or as aggressive as her husband.

And now, she was faced with Yang Ming, who was the actual head of the Yang family’s research institute.

Not only that, but he was also the younger brother of the Yang family head. He was on a completely different level from her.

Most important of all, he was right—they had no concrete proof that Yao Ran had stolen the drug. The thieving girl had somehow managed to evade all the security cameras, leaving only a single fingerprint in the lab.

Even worse, they had no way to verify her fingerprint, as they had no such records in their database.

Madam Meng hesitated and contemplated whether to pursue the matter or not.

But her shifty eyes had already given her away. Yang Ming instantly understood that they did not have any evidence to back them up.

He finally relaxed, then grew even more assertive. “Madam Meng, I’m sure that the Meng family does not want to cause any strife with our Yang family, isn’t that right? This is the future Young Mistress of the Yang family. Do you still want to take her away?”

Just like that, he bestowed the title of Young Mistress on Yao Ran.

Since their case was weak, the Meng family naturally couldn’t apprehend her. Madam Meng’s eyes dimmed, and her face was filled with regret.