Chapter 29: Bai Jing Takes the Initiative

At this moment, Cao Kun seemed to be possessed by a master actor. His expression twisted, and he clutched his chest with his right hand, vividly portraying a sense of inner agony and torment.

As for Bai Jing, she was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on; every hair on her body seemed to stand on end. In her mind, there was only one thought: She must not tell Wang Shanshan! She absolutely must not tell Wang Shanshan!

Although she had never actually cheated—she was a victim, a person who had been forced—the existence of that video made it impossible for her to clear her name. Wang Yifu would not believe her, Cao Kun would not believe her, and Wang Shanshan certainly would not believe her either. Therefore, she was beyond redemption; the label of an adulteress was one she could never remove.

If Wang Shanshan found out, then just as Cao Kun had said, she would never be forgiven. It was her infidelity that had caused the family conflict to erupt. It was her infidelity that had driven Wang Yifu to seek out the adulterer for revenge. And it was her infidelity that had led Wang Yifu to commit murder and be thrown into prison. All of this was caused by her betrayal!

Parents love their children with their whole hearts. In Wang Shanshan’s mind, while her mother was certainly important, was her father any less so? Once she learned that it was her mother’s fault that her father had killed someone and ended up on a path of no return, how could she possibly accept it, let alone forgive it?

Therefore, Wang Shanshan must never know. Her family had already fallen apart, and now she only had this one daughter left. If her daughter were to turn away from her as well, she could not even imagine how she would go on living.

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Bai Jing stared into Cao Kun’s eyes, swallowed hard, and said, "Xiao Kun, you cannot tell Shanshan. You know what she’s like. If she finds out, not only will she never forgive me, she might even leave me. She has already lost her father; she cannot lose her mother too. You... you can’t be so cruel to her!"

Cao Kun wore a look of intense struggle and pain as he replied, "Aunt Bai, it is precisely because I considered this that I haven't told Shanshan yet. But the burden of keeping this secret is so agonizing, so painful. Every time I think about hiding this from her, I don't know how I can even face her!"

...

Two hours later, the bedroom door opened, and Cao Kun and Bai Jing stepped out. Wang Shanshan, who had been packing clothes and other items by herself, had already finished. Seeing her mother and Cao Kun emerge, she walked over in two quick strides. "Mom, what did you and Cao Kun decide?"

Facing this question, Cao Kun and Bai Jing exchanged a glance. Cao Kun was the first to react. He frowned and sighed, "Sigh, let’s talk later. Uncle Wang’s situation is quite complicated. Aunt Bai and I haven't reached a final decision yet. Mostly, Aunt Bai is still a bit shaken."

Hearing this, Wang Shanshan immediately looked as if she had realized something. Of course, her mother must be heartbroken and was only pretending to be strong in front of her. She must have been crying while in the room with Cao Kun. Thinking of this, Wang Shanshan hugged Bai Jing and said emotionally, "Mom, don't be sad. You still have me. I will always be with you."

Bai Jing hugged her daughter back gently while winking at Cao Kun as a gesture of thanks.

...

Seven o'clock that evening, as Bai Jing placed several hot dishes on the dining table, the three of them began their dinner.

"Mom, you and Cao Kun talked for so long, what did you decide? What kind of lawyer are we going to hire?" Wang Shanshan had been preoccupied with the matter of hiring a lawyer and asked impatiently after just one bite of food.

Bai Jing paused, looking at Cao Kun with a helpless expression. What had they decided? Although they had spent two hours in the room, they hadn't discussed lawyers at all. She had no idea how to answer.

Cao Kun noticed Bai Jing’s plea for help. He continued eating while taking over the conversation. "Actually, Aunt Bai and I were just about to tell you."

"Aunt Bai and I discussed it carefully. We don't need to hire a top-tier, expensive lawyer right now. It’s not time for court yet, so we’ll start by hiring a standard lawyer to make contact with Uncle Wang first. We need to see if he’s being mistreated during his detention and if he needs daily necessities, bedding, or other items."

"Furthermore, by hiring this lawyer, we can keep track of the case's progress and adjust our strategy accordingly. If Uncle Wang is innocent and there are doubts about the case, we will immediately hire the best lawyer to take over. If he did indeed commit the murder, then we must compensate the victim’s family and strive to obtain a letter of forgiveness. That way, the judge may consider a reduced sentence."

Cao Kun’s explanation was methodical and clear, causing Bai Jing to look at him with newfound respect. She hadn't expected a boy who had just graduated from high school to be so knowledgeable, as if he had experienced such things himself. Looking at her own daughter, who, besides being beautiful and having a good figure, seemed like an illiterate in comparison, she felt a strange mix of emotions.

Bai Jing smiled slightly and looked at Wang Shanshan. "Exactly. That is the final result of the discussion between Xiao Kun and me."

Huh? With just a few words, he had taken all the credit?