Chapter 38: A Bewildered Wang Shanshan

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Five minutes later!

Cao Kun glanced at the bank notification confirming that three million yuan had been deposited, smiled, and put away his phone.

Meanwhile, every trace of a smile had vanished from Huang Jianren’s parents’ faces.

Cautious!

Far too cautious!

On the transfer record, Cao Kun had made them clearly state that the payment was for a pearl purchase—not some illicit exchange that could not bear the light of day.

He had left not even the slightest opening for anyone to exploit. Every cent had a clearly documented source. He was completely unafraid of any investigation!

“Then shall I call Wang Yifu’s daughter in so we can discuss things further?” Cao Kun asked with a smile.

“Good.” Huang Jianren’s father hurriedly nodded with a smile. “Let’s discuss it further.”

Ten minutes later!

Wang Shanshan entered the café holding a half-eaten ice cream, looking somewhat innocent.

She had already been preparing to go shopping.

After all, she was not stupid. Given Huang Jianren’s parents’ attitude, there was no way they would issue a letter of forgiveness for less than two million six hundred thousand yuan.

And she could not produce that amount.

So she had already lost all hope.

Since the negotiations were bound to fail, she might as well go shopping while she was out.

But before she could even begin, Cao Kun called her and summoned her back.

She was actually unwilling to return.

The atmosphere was oppressive, and the outcome could not be changed. What was the point of coming back to negotiate?

But Cao Kun had called her, and she could not refuse to come. After all, this was ultimately her family’s affair.

“How did it go, Cao Kun? Did the negotiations fall through?” Wang Shanshan asked quietly when she reached his side.

“No. Quite the opposite.” Cao Kun smiled. “Huang Jianren’s parents have agreed to issue your father a letter of forgiveness in exchange for compensation of eight hundred thousand yuan.”

What?

They had agreed?

Wang Shanshan’s eyes widened, filled with shock and disbelief.

How was that possible?

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How could they possibly have agreed?

Wasn’t two million six hundred thousand yuan their absolute minimum? Why had they agreed to accept only eight hundred thousand?

Seeing the horror on Wang Shanshan’s face, Huang Jianren’s father smiled and said, “Miss Wang, you really ought to thank Mr. Cao properly. If he hadn’t kept putting in a good word for you, there is no way we would have issued a letter of forgiveness for eight hundred thousand yuan.”

Wang Shanshan was still dazed. “So… you really agreed?”

“We did,” Huang Jianren’s father replied. “Whenever you hand over the eight hundred thousand yuan, we will issue your father the letter of forgiveness. That is our decision.”

The four of them continued talking in the café for a while. Wang Shanshan, however, remained in a daze throughout. Even when Huang Jianren’s parents left, she still had not come to her senses.

At that moment, there was only one question in her mind.

How had they agreed?

They had clearly said that two million six hundred thousand was their bottom line. How had eight hundred thousand suddenly become acceptable?

It was only eight hundred thousand yuan!

It was practically as though they had accepted that amount in exchange for their son’s life. And they were just going to let it go?

Were they out of their minds?

They drove BMWs worth more than a million yuan, so how could they agree to this over a paltry eight hundred thousand?

Watching Wang Shanshan’s dazed expression, Cao Kun could barely keep the smile from his lips.

He had said that Wang Shanshan was selfish by nature. Now the truth had been exposed, hadn’t it?

When she learned that the other party would never issue a letter of forgiveness for eight hundred thousand yuan, Wang Shanshan had seemed like a devoted daughter determined to save her father. Her heart had appeared to be overflowing with filial devotion.

She had even looked as though she wished she could immediately stuff the eight hundred thousand yuan into their hands and kneel down to beg them to issue the letter.

Because she knew they would never agree.

But now that they had truly agreed to issue the letter for eight hundred thousand yuan, she had instantly gone dumbfounded.

Because her supposed eagerness to save her father had all been fake.

If she handed over every bit of the family’s property to save Wang Yifu, what would she do afterward?

Her university tuition, living expenses, cosmetics, pretty clothes, and all the rest required money. Where was that money supposed to come from?

That was why Cao Kun had known from the very beginning that, between Bai Jing and Wang Shanshan, Wang Shanshan was the one most reluctant to part with this money.

Still, because she loved performing and pretending so much, Cao Kun had decided to indulge her and help her maintain the image of a profoundly filial daughter.

Besides, now that things had reached this point, she had no choice but to produce the eight hundred thousand yuan.

“Shanshan, let’s go,” Cao Kun said. “We’ll get something to eat.”

Wang Shanshan looked at him woodenly, her expression still somewhat vacant. “Cao Kun, how do you think they ended up agreeing?”

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Cao Kun looked puzzled. “What’s wrong, Shanshan? Shouldn’t you be happy that they agreed? Haven’t you always wanted them to issue a letter of forgiveness?”

Wang Shanshan came back to herself and stammered, “Yes, I—I certainly wanted them to issue the letter. But didn’t they say two million six hundred thousand was the minimum? How did they suddenly agree to eight hundred thousand?”

“It was your filial devotion that moved them.” Cao Kun smiled brightly. “Actually, after you left, I didn’t say much to them. I simply told them about everything you’ve been going through these past few days and explained that you had already exhausted every possible means to save your father.”

“You even fell out with your mother over it.”

“Most importantly, when they learned that your family could raise no more than eight hundred thousand yuan and that you intended to use every last bit of it to save your father, they were completely moved by the sincere bond between you and your father.”

“They never expected you to go so far to save him. It was precisely your filial devotion that touched them.”

“So in the end, they agreed to issue Uncle Wang a letter of forgiveness in exchange for eight hundred thousand yuan.”

After hearing Cao Kun’s explanation, Wang Shanshan wished she could slap herself hard across the face.

Damn it, were that couple insane?

They would not even let her pretend for a while!

She had only been putting on an act. How could they have taken it seriously?

If she handed over the entire eight hundred thousand yuan, what was she supposed to eat and drink afterward? Did they have no brains?

“All right, Shanshan.” Cao Kun seemed not to notice the dejection on her face and said cheerfully, “At least we finally have some good news today. Come on, lunch is on me. Let’s have a proper meal.”

Wang Shanshan forced a bitter smile. “Cao Kun, maybe we should forget it. I ate that ice cream earlier, and my stomach feels a little uncomfortable. I think I’d rather go home and rest first.”

“Really?” Cao Kun asked with concern. “Then I’ll accompany you. Should we go to the hospital and get you checked out?”

“No, no, there’s no need.” Wang Shanshan hurriedly refused. “I’m just feeling a little uncomfortable and want to rest by myself for a while. You go eat. I’m going home.”

Without waiting for Cao Kun to respond, Wang Shanshan turned around and hurried away.

Watching her retreating figure, Cao Kun’s lips curved upward before he could stop them.

“Thinking of backing out? Keep dreaming. I’m not going to give you the chance.”

With that, Cao Kun took out his phone and called Bai Jing.

“Hello, Aunt Bai. Are you finished with your beauty treatment?”

“Really? Then shall I come find you?”

“Heh heh, all right. I’ll get a room and wait for you. I have nothing to do this afternoon anyway.”

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