Overdo

Tian Shi reluctantly went to answer the phone, still lingering with reluctance. "Sister Fang, you go ahead and buy groceries first. When there's a chance, you must teach me your bargaining tips."

This young lady was quite interesting. As she walked out of the lounge and crossed the central courtyard, she suddenly heard a calm yet powerful voice say, "Miss Fang, please wait."

It was an elderly gentleman who looked somewhat familiar. His sharp, penetrating gaze swept over her, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. The old man spoke very politely, "My surname is Lei. I wonder if Miss Fang would mind stepping aside? There are some matters I'd like to discuss with you."

Judging by his demeanor, he was clearly someone important. But Fang Xiaoyue had never done anything to feel guilty about, so why should she be afraid? She followed him calmly through the winding corridors, eventually arriving at a place she had never been before. It appeared to be an extremely large suite, with windows draped in luxurious floor-length velvet curtains. The carpet was so thick that her feet sank over an inch into it, making her footsteps completely silent. The room was filled with flowers and fruits, and behind the sofa stood an eighteen-panel screen carved from rosewood and ivory. Soft, yellowish light slanted across the intricate openwork patterns on the screen. Such opulence was something she had only seen in movie sets—it was hard to believe this was still inside a hospital.

The old man surnamed Lei sat down on the sofa and said indifferently, "Please have a seat, Miss Fang."

Finally, she remembered who he was. Finally, she understood why he looked so familiar—he was actually Lei Shaogong. No wonder he carried such an imposing presence. But judging by his demeanor, his intentions were clearly not good, and this definitely wouldn't end well. Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, he said, "Miss Fang, I must apologize, but I'm afraid we must ask you to leave Zhuo Zheng."

Leave Zhuo Zheng? She found it almost laughable. What kind of request was that? It sounded like the most clichéd line from a romantic movie, and she could already guess what would come next. True to form, Lei Shaogong continued, "Zhuo Zheng has a bright future ahead of him, Miss Fang. I believe your relationship with him is inappropriate." How disappointing—couldn't he come up with something more original? Why was he asking her to leave Zhuo Zheng? They were just friends. Besides, how could Zhuo Zheng possibly warrant such an important figure acting as a mediator?

Aha! She understood now. The relationship between Zhuo Zheng and Miss Murong was clearly common knowledge. Judging by the earlier situation, Mr. Murong was quite satisfied with this prospective son-in-law. That was why he had sent such a prominent figure to break them up—even though she and Zhuo Zheng weren't actually a couple. Still, she couldn't stand their high-handed tactics. That Miss Murong was two-timing herself, yet she had the nerve to send someone to order her to "leave Zhuo Zheng." Hah! As if!

She replied calmly, "Mr. Lei, I'm afraid your request is something I cannot comply with. You might as well ask Zhuo Zheng himself whether he's willing to leave me." Even though they were just friends, she couldn't stand by and watch him fall into the clutches of a femme fatale. She'd throw the words out there first—at least let them know that Miss Murong couldn't have her cake and eat it too.

But Mr. Lei showed no change in expression. "Miss Fang, I believe you must understand that we are not here to request this of you."

She leaned forward slightly, studying this imposing political figure who exuded authority without even raising his voice. With composure and calm, she said, "Minister Lei, I have no intention of accepting any threats from you either."A strange glint flashed in his eyes. "Little girl, you've got quite the nerve. Name your price."

Yes! How could they skip the most crucial scene of writing a check? It was absolutely essential in novels and movies. Watching him take out his checkbook, she had the overwhelming urge to burst into laughter. How absurd—she never thought she'd actually get to experience such a moment. She took the flimsy piece of paper and carefully examined the amount: five hundred thousand. He was certainly generous. She spoke slowly and deliberately, "Five hundred thousand—it's not a big sum to you, and it's not to me either! To buy peace for your conscience, it's too cheap; to buy my love, it's also too cheap! So, save it!" She blew lightly on the check, and it drifted diagonally to the carpet.

Seeing that although Lei Shaogong remained expressionless, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes that he hadn't managed to conceal, she couldn't help feeling smug. Ever since watching "Autumn Song," she had memorized this line perfectly, never imagining it would actually come in handy one day. He slowly said, "Miss Fang, according to our investigation, you have a great fondness for money."

The implication was that she was materialistic, and yes, she was. But someone with her style would naturally be materialistic in a unique way. She met his gaze calmly, "Yes, I do love money as much as my life. But I won't sell my self-respect, my feelings, or my integrity for it."

Lei Shaogong laughed. "Don't think you can play the long game to catch a big fish. You should know that if Zhuo Zheng insists, he could lose everything he has now. In the end, you'll still be left with nothing."

Of course, failing to become Mr. Murong's son-in-law would be a devastating loss. She smiled slyly, "Minister Lei, whether Zhuo Zheng insists or not is something you should discuss with him. If he insists on marrying Miss Murong, that's his choice. If he actually gives up being Mr. Murong's son-in-law for me, that's also his choice. I don't think you can influence his decision."

Why did Minister Lei's expression suddenly look so strange? He abruptly asked, "He wants to marry Miss Murong?"

"Yes, isn't that why you brought me here to threaten and bribe me?"

His expression was hard to describe—perhaps a mix of amusement and exasperation—but it looked really odd. Whatever, she had said all she needed to say. After a moment's thought, she added a final blow, "As for your precious young lady, teach her how to care for others first. Don't bully others with your influence or play both sides. Although Zhuo Zheng only earns three hundred seventy-six a month, he's as much a real man as that young achiever Mu Shiyang. What she's doing is an insult to both of them."

His expression grew even more interesting. "How do you know how much Zhuo Zheng earns per month?"

She lifted her chin. "He told me."

His face was hidden in the shadow of the curtains, making it hard to discern his expression, but it still seemed peculiar. He said, "Three hundred seventy-six—that's really quite a lot.""Indeed, by ordinary salary standards, it's quite substantial. However, I see him being extravagant all day long, spending money without any planning—I'm afraid he won't save a single penny by the end of the year. He's practically born to be a prince consort; after all, the Murong family is wealthy. If he marries the eldest daughter, he won't have to worry about supporting a family."

Suddenly, she heard a faint chuckle that seemed to come from behind the screen. She instinctively turned her head—could someone be hiding there? But Lei Shaogong coughed and said, "Miss Fang, I must admit..." Before he could finish, the door was abruptly pushed open with force. It was Zhuo Zheng, looking utterly flustered and agitated. "Father..."

She stared in astonishment. Why was he in such a state, like an enraged lion? Wait, what did he just call out? Subconsciously, she turned to look at Lei Shaogong on the sofa, who rose slowly and calmly asked, "What's wrong, Little Zhuo?"