Chapter 405: Chapter 405: Quite the Schemer
The buzz-cut man raised his eyebrows slightly and gestured toward the contract on the table with his gaze.
“Everything is clearly stated on the contract. You two may want to take a good look. I have all the time in the world, so take your time and read through it slowly.”
Ten minutes later.
Fang Jianfu finished reading the contract.
His entire demeanor instantly sank.
“Done reading? See, I didn’t deceive you, did I?” The buzz-cut man said.
Fang Jianfu glanced at Pan Lian and nodded.
Pan Lian’s legs gave out, and she collapsed directly onto the floor.
“Honey!”
Fang Jianfu quickly supported her. “Honey, are you alright?”
Pan Lian’s spirit seemed completely shattered.
“No, impossible. Hao couldn’t have gone gambling, impossible! He must have been tricked.”
Her lips kept muttering non-stop.
Suddenly, she turned her gaze toward the buzz-cut man sitting on the sofa and interrogated him furiously, “It was you, wasn’t it? You and your men set a trap for my son, didn’t you?”
The buzz-cut man curled his lips wickedly and replied, “You don’t need to say all that. Just one word: the money. Are you going to pay or not?”
“While people often say ‘father pays for the son’s debts,’ ‘son pays for the father’s debts’ is pretty common too. I’ll give you five more minutes to think it over, or else…”
He purposefully paused before directing his gaze toward Fang Huaying, who had been lying indifferently on the hospital bed. With a devilish grin, he said, “Then I’ll have no choice but to take her with me.”
Fang Huaying’s face froze, her brows furrowed tightly.
“This has nothing to do with me! Don’t even think about involving me!” she said through gritted teeth.
The buzz-cut man’s expression darkened as he stared at her malevolently. “Aren’t you his sister? How can this have nothing to do with you? Relax. We wouldn’t touch a woman who’s been ruined and passed around; we’re not trying to catch something.”
Fang Huaying narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression grim.
Five minutes later, the buzz-cut man looked at the two people still sitting on the ground and smiled politely. “Mr. Fang, Ms. Pan, have you made up your minds?”
Pan Lian opened her mouth and said, “We can’t come up with this much money all at once. Besides, I need to confirm my son’s safety. You said he’s disappeared without a trace—how do I know it wasn’t your doing?”
The buzz-cut man snickered upon hearing this.
Then he stood up and said, “Alright. We’re not unreasonable barbarians here. Since that’s the case, I’ll give you two more days. However…”
He turned toward Fang Huaying, raising his brows, “We’ll have to take her with us for the next two days. Once we get the money, we’ll naturally send your precious daughter back.”
Fang Huaying immediately looked at Pan Lian and Fang Jianfu. “Dad, Mom, please give them the money! I don’t want to go with them!”
She wasn’t stupid. She knew the nature of these people very well.
If she went with them, what kind of torment would she face?
She immediately added, “This is my brother’s fault! You can’t make me pay the price for his mistakes!”
Pan Lian said nothing, her silence an implicit agreement.
But Fang Jianfu loved his daughter dearly. He turned to the buzz-cut man and said, “My daughter is still in the hospital. She can’t leave with you. If something happens to her, can you bear the consequences?”
The man pondered this for a moment before sitting down again.
He said, “Then the two of you can go. We’ll take care of your daughter here.”
“…”
In the end, Pan Lian and Fang Jianfu left the hospital room.
“Honey, are we really leaving like this? Won’t Yingying be bullied?”
Fang Jianfu was still worried about the people inside.
Pan Lian said, “If you’re so worried, you can go back to accompany her.”
Then she hurried off.
Her mind was entirely consumed with thoughts of Pan Hao. If he had indeed been gambling, trying to establish himself with the Gu Family later would only become a greater impossibility.
But seven million was no small number, and she couldn’t scrape together that kind of money in such a short time.
She’d already spent a significant amount on Fang Huaying’s situation previously.
…
Dong Xiaoxiao was released after being held for two days, finally seeing Dong Jian.
“Dad, please get me out of here—I don’t want to stay in this hellhole anymore,” she cried to Dong Jian.
She’d never been subjected to such injustice in her life. Inside those walls for just two days, she’d almost gone insane.
Dong Jian looked at her, noticing how much she’d aged emotionally in such a short time, unsure of what to say.
“Xiaoxiao, I’m sorry. Dad’s been busy with company matters recently and couldn’t step away. I’ve already sent a lawyer to negotiate—hopefully, you can be bailed out soon,” he said.
Dong Xiaoxiao nodded with grievance.
She glanced behind him, her eyes falling short of finding Hu Yunqin’s presence, which disappointed her.
Since that day, she hadn’t seen Hu Yunqin again.
“Dad, where’s Mom?” she asked.
Dong Jian replied, “Your mom hasn’t been feeling well these past two days, so she’s resting at home.”
Soon after, the lawyer returned with a police officer.
“President Dong, the bail has been posted. Miss Dong can leave now.”
On the way back to Lake Heart Villa, the lawyer said, “President Dong, though Miss Dong has been bailed out, the matter remains tricky.”
Dong Jian asked, “How so?”
The lawyer replied, “Miss Dong’s offense is classified as attempted, which is a violation of the law but hasn’t escalated beyond remediation. The tricky part lies in the other party’s stance. If they refuse a settlement, Miss Dong will likely lose the case and carry a criminal record.”
“Therefore, the best resolution now is to try and negotiate with the other party for a settlement.”
Upon hearing this, Dong Xiaoxiao’s anger flared. “Dad, it’s that bitch Lan Yan! She deliberately set me up. She won’t let me off the hook and just wants to ruin me. She’s trying to humiliate our Dong Family!”
“Dad, you must avenge me!”
Dong Jian glanced at her sideways and sighed deeply.
“Xiaoxiao, I’ve told you many times before to control your temper. Otherwise, you’ll end up at a disadvantage.”
“Look at the state you’re in now. If you hadn’t been reckless, none of this would have happened!”
Dong Xiaoxiao bowed her head, biting her lip.
“Dad, I promise I’ll never act impulsively again. But you have to avenge me for this matter.”
Dong Jian looked at her helplessly and patted her hand. “Alright, I’ll have someone take care of this for you. Just behave yourself for now.”
“I understand.”
At one in the afternoon, Lan Yan was summoned to Lake Heart Villa.
She didn’t want to come, knowing Hu Yunqin had summoned her only to ask her to let Dong Xiaoxiao off.
But she still came.
What surprised her, however, was the presence of others at the villa.
She recognized the couple she’d encountered in the hospital elevator with Xiao Si.
“Yanyan, you’re here. Come over and sit down,” Hu Yunqin greeted her warmly.
After speaking, she coughed a few times.
She explained, “I haven’t been feeling well lately—must have caught a cold. So don’t get too close to me.”
Lan Yan had no intention of moving closer.
Pan Lian and Fang Jianfu froze momentarily upon seeing Lan Yan.
Suddenly, Pan Lian remembered the widely-discussed matter of Hu Yunqin seeking her long-lost daughter. Could it be this person before her?
Driven by curiosity, Pan Lian asked, “Yunqin, is this your daughter?”
Though she’d seen the circulated video that day, there had been no mention of specifics.
Hu Yunqin nodded slightly. “Yes.”
She then turned to Lan Yan and added, “Yanyan, this is a friend of mine. You can call her Aunt Lian.”
Lan Yan glanced indifferently at Pan Lian, remaining silent.
She then turned toward Hu Yunqin, getting straight to the point. “Why have you called me today? Speak. I have plans later and don’t have time to waste here.”
The atmosphere immediately hung awkwardly for Hu Yunqin.
And for Pan Lian.
Pan Lian’s embarrassment, however, was mingled with curiosity. Clearly, Lan Yan held no close bond with Hu Yunqin. Why was that?
Hadn’t they been searching for over 20 years?
Why did their relationship appear so strained?
At this moment, Dong Jian’s voice came from upstairs, “Lan Yan, it’s me who asked you to come, not your mother.”
Lan Yan turned her head toward the sound and saw Dong Xiaoxiao and Dong Jian descending from the stairs.
Seeing Dong Xiaoxiao present in this villa was entirely unsurprising to Lan Yan.
She’d already been informed from the moment Dong Xiaoxiao left the police station.
Lan Yan remained silent, awaiting Dong Jian’s words.
Dong Xiaoxiao’s gaze, upon seeing Lan Yan, was filled with fury and hatred.
She shot her one glance before outright disregarding her existence.
“Yanyan, Uncle wants to have a chat with you—would that be alright?”
Dong Jian’s tone was warm and amicable.
Lan Yan replied, “Alright.”
“Then follow me to the study.”
With that, Dong Jian began walking toward the study ahead of her.
Lan Yan rose and followed him.
However, as she passed by Dong Xiaoxiao, the latter grabbed her wrist.
Lan Yan stopped, tilting her head to glance at her coldly. “Miss Dong, is there something you need?”
Dong Xiaoxiao leaned close to her ear and whispered smugly, “Sister, you can’t touch me. Just give up.”
Lan Yan smirked coldly. “You’re giving yourself too much credit. I have no time to waste dealing with you. Besides, with intelligence like yours, you’re hardly worth the effort.”
“You…”
Dong Xiaoxiao bit her lip, suppressing the urge to lash out, recalling her father’s earlier warnings.
She changed her tact and said, “Lan Yan, you better watch your back. The pain I endured, you’ll pay for it twice over.”
Lan Yan remained unfazed by her threats.
Her tone as she responded was cold and steady, “Done talking? If so, let go.”
Dong Xiaoxiao snorted, releasing her grip.
Lan Yan dismissed her childish antics entirely.
In the study room.
Dong Jian looked at her and said, “Take a seat, child.”
This was only her second encounter with Dong Jian, who maintained his ever-kind facade.
Lan Yan settled into the chair opposite him.
“President Dong, just tell me what you want to say directly.”
She wasn’t one to beat around the bush.
Dong Jian chuckled at her forthright demeanor. “I quite like your personality. You and Xiaoxiao are indeed polar opposites. But I find your straightforwardness more appealing; it reminds me of your mother.”
Lan Yan remained expressionless, her face void of emotion.
She didn’t see any resemblance between herself and Hu Yunqin.
“Since you’re so upfront, Uncle will get straight to the point too.” He said warmly, “Yanyan, Uncle knows that Xiaoxiao was wrong this time. On her behalf, I apologize to you. The child has been spoiled by your mom and me, making her willful, unreasonable, and even sometimes obliviously arrogant. Her intentions aren’t bad—she just lacks forethought and is impulsive.”
Although Dong Jian seemed to criticize Dong Xiaoxiao, Lan Yan could still pick up on the indulgence hidden in his words.
Lan Yan felt no envy but found those remarks somewhat ridiculous.
“President Dong, are you saying that because your daughter’s spoiled and kind-hearted, I should forgive her? Act as if none of this ever happened?”
Her lips curled into a cold smile. “If that’s the case, President Dong, your standards seem a little hypocritical.”
Seeing his expression shift slightly, she added, “Pardon me, President Dong. You know I’ve always been straightforward and dislike lying.”
Given what she said, Dong Jian couldn’t retort; otherwise, he would come off as petty.
He simply nodded. “You’re right. Uncle indeed harbors a bias—it’s natural for parents to be partial. Xiaoxiao is my only daughter, so I naturally want to do everything I can for her. But rest assured, Uncle doesn’t intend for you to suffer in this; you can ask for any compensation you’d like.”
Lan Yan responded with scorn in her eyes. “Are you sure you’ll agree to whatever I propose?”
Dong Jian confirmed, “As long as it’s within my capacity to fulfill or afford, I’ll agree.”
Lan Yan fell silent for a moment.
With a faint smile, she replied, “Sorry, but I lack nothing, President Dong, so I have no interest in your compensation.”
“…”
Dong Jian hadn’t expected such resistance from a young woman.
Meanwhile, in the living room below.
Pan Lian approached Hu Yunqin with a hidden agenda.
Though Pan Lian had been there for nearly half an hour, she still hadn’t managed to broach the topic of borrowing money.
And Hu Yunqin, from start to finish, hadn’t inquired why Pan Lian had come, nor whether something had happened that required assistance.
The two were simply exchanging casual remarks.
“Yunqin, when did you find your lost daughter?” Pan Lian asked.
Hu Yunqin replied, “Not long ago—just recently.”
“Then why didn’t you announce it publicly? I thought perhaps you hadn’t found her yet.” Pan Lian commented.
“Yanyan still hasn’t fully adapted. I’ll announce it when she’s ready—I’m not in a rush.”
“Oh, I see.”
Finally summoning her courage, Pan Lian asked directly, “Yunqin, aside from visiting you today, I also have something I need your help with.”