A single sentence.

Coupled with that insidious tone and mocking expression.

Even someone with a dull mind could pick up on the insinuation in Wang Tao's words.

This wasn't just an insult to Chen Yinuo.

It was also an insult to Ye Chen!

"Don't listen to his nonsense! You know about the contract signing. He's just jealous of my promotion and is fabricating lies to slander me!"

Instinctively, Chen Yinuo anxiously explained to Ye Chen.

By now, the people around them had turned their attention to the scene.

Their gazes toward Chen Yinuo were full of suggestive curiosity.

"Jealous of your promotion? Me? A dignified vice president, jealous of whether or not you get promoted? Do you think you could even pose a threat to me?" Wang Tao sneered.

He seemed to already picture the scene where Ye Chen would lose his temper and lash out at Chen Yinuo, berating her viciously.

Yes, that was exactly the outcome he hoped for.

However—

Ye Chen acted as if nothing had happened.

He first smiled slightly at Chen Yinuo, then turned to Wang Tao.

"President Wang, is it? What do you mean by this?"

The anticipated drama didn't unfold.

Instead, Wang Tao was dumbfounded by Ye Chen's question.

"What do I mean?"

You can't understand this?

Are you pretending to be clueless or are you genuinely that dumb?

I've already spelled it out for you. You don't get it? I'm saying you've been cheated on. Cheated on, got it? You're wearing a blindingly green hat, you know what that means? Your wife, for the sake of a promotion, betrayed you and climbed the ranks at work. Do you get it now?"

Wang Tao laughed coldly, completely unrestrained.

From what he had heard, Ye Chen was nothing but a cowardly loser and a gambling addict. That was why Wang Tao had previously dared to openly covet Chen Yinuo, certain that such a spineless loser would never dare cause trouble.

Even now!

Even if he was blatantly insulting the man, he didn't think Ye Chen would have the guts to retaliate.

"Hmph."

Ye Chen's lips curled into a slight, unaffected smile.

The next second—

He suddenly raised his hand and swung it forcefully toward Wang Tao's face.

Smack!

A crisp, resounding slap!

It didn't stop there.

After delivering the slap, Ye Chen followed up with a ruthless kick to Wang Tao's bulging beer belly.

Wang Tao staggered back several steps, crying out in pain.

Instantly, Chen Yinuo froze in shock.

She was utterly stunned.

Before, whenever she was harassed, Ye Chen would cower like an ostrich, afraid to even say a word. Worse, he would return home and vent his frustration on her with physical abuse.

Now, he was showing such an assertive, masculine side?

Was this even the same cowardly and abusive man?

"Y-You..."

Wang Tao clutched his stinging cheek in disbelief.

He had imagined countless scenarios of what might happen.

But never had he considered the possibility of being hit by Ye Chen.

In that moment, a raging fury boiled inside him.

But before he could retaliate against Ye Chen—

Ye Chen stepped forward, grabbing him by the throat.

"You should be grateful we live in a harmonious society," Ye Chen said grimly.

Then he raised his knee, driving it into Wang Tao's stomach.

Thud!

As Ye Chen simultaneously let go, Wang Tao fell to his knees with a heavy thump, clutching his abdomen in pain.

"You... you..."

Looking at Ye Chen, Chen Yinuo didn't feel afraid—not of the trouble his violence might cause.

Instead, she felt an unprecedented sense of security.

Her beautiful face trembled as she looked at this unfamiliar side of Ye Chen. Her voice quivered, and she was momentarily speechless.

"Daddy!"

At this moment, their daughter, Little Youyou, rushed out, tightly hugging Ye Chen's leg.

The little girl was trembling in fear. "Daddy, you hit someone! The police are going to arrest you! Daddy, run! Let's run away!"

"Youyou, don't be scared. From now on, Daddy will always protect you and Mommy. If anyone dares to bully you, Daddy won't let them get away with it! Even if the police come, even if it's someone as powerful as the king of the heavens, I won't allow anyone to harm you or Mommy!"

Ye Chen gently stroked Youyou's head, smiling softly.

Though his words were meant for Youyou, they were truly directed at Chen Yinuo.

"You're finished. You're so finished! If I don't send you to jail this time, I'll take your last name!" Wang Tao snarled, his face contorted with pain.

He pulled out his phone despite his trembling hands.

"Ye Chen, run!" Chen Yinuo cried out instinctively, panic flooding her voice.

"Run? You think you can escape? Even if you run, where would you hide?!" Wang Tao growled, dialing 110 as he held his aching stomach.

"You take Youyou home first. I was the one who hit him, and I'll face the consequences," Ye Chen said calmly, turning to Chen Yinuo.

Seeing the worry in Chen Yinuo's expression, Ye Chen felt that everything he'd done was worth it.

Meanwhile—

At the far end of the restaurant near the private room corridor.

Zhang Jingshan and Li Changfeng walked out side by side.

"Huh? What's going on over there?"

Zhang Jingshan looked toward the commotion by the window, noticing the restaurant staff rushing over.

"Can you stop being so nosy? Let's just go. The restaurant will handle it!" Li Changfeng said with a laugh, shaking his head.

"Wait, no... Is that..." Zhang Jingshan suddenly paused.

"What?" Li Changfeng also stopped, puzzled.

"That looks like Ye Chen! And the woman, isn't she his wife, Chen Yinuo?" Zhang Jingshan said, squinting for a better look.

"Ye Chen?" Li Changfeng raised an eyebrow.

He then focused his gaze more carefully.

"It is them!"

At that moment—

Without waiting for Zhang Jingshan to say anything, Li Changfeng hurried toward the scene.

He wouldn't normally meddle in other people's business.

But if it involved Ye Chen, he couldn't just ignore it.

Because Ye Chen was his savior—an undeniable lifesaver!

"Wang Tao? What are you doing here?"

When Li Changfeng reached the scene, he saw the company's vice president, Wang Tao, struggling to get up from the floor.

Li Changfeng was instantly taken aback.

"President Li!"

Wang Tao was equally surprised to see Li Changfeng appear so coincidentally.

The next second—

He quickly dropped his earlier aggressive demeanor.

"President Li, I just saw Supervisor Chen and her husband having a meal, so I came over to say hello. But her husband suddenly attacked me without warning, slapping me and knocking me to the ground. I've already called the police, and they're on their way. President Li, you have to stand up for me!"

The reason Wang Tao dared to spin the situation this way and seek Li Changfeng's help wasn't because he was foolish.

He knew full well Li Changfeng might not believe him.

But Wang Tao was confident that Li Changfeng would side with him.

After all, Li Changfeng's most beloved aunt was Wang Tao's maternal aunt.

It was this familial connection that secured Wang Tao's position as Vice President at Huaxing Commerce.

That said, while Wang Tao was a vile person, his professional capabilities were undeniable. Otherwise, given Li Changfeng's temperament, there was no way he would let an incompetent person occupy such an important role.