Bai Lin had thought more than once, deep in her heart, about the Shen Family’s downfall. The harder Shen Yuan’s fists hit her, the more she longed for their bankruptcy. At the same time, she knew that once she left the Shen Family, she couldn’t go back to the Bai Family either.
With her own abilities, she could at best earn a little money and wouldn’t be able to live the present lavish lifestyle. She didn’t yearn for these things. What she feared was the unknown future.
Bai Zhirui didn’t persuade her. "Think it through yourself. If you don’t get involved, I’ll hand the Bai Family over to Fu Bing, and I’ll work for her in the future."
Bai Lin’s expression was vacant. "Give me some more time to think."
After leaving the hospital, Bai Lin drove around by herself.
She had been married into the Shen Family for quite some time now. She had been pregnant twice. The first time, Shen Shichen objected, and to placate him, Shen Yuan made her abort it. The second time, she miscarried due to domestic abuse from Shen Yuan. After that, Shen Yuan scorned her for her inability to bear children and kept a mistress. She had nothing but the empty title of Mrs. Shen. Without the Bai Family, Shen Yuan and Shen Shichen would treat her even worse.
She was forty, with many days yet to come. Could she continue to live like this?
Bai Lin looked at the rolling river waters, lost in thought.
Zhang Jing brought food to Bai Zhirui and saw her typing away at her laptop.
"What you should be doing now is recovering. Work can wait until later."
"I know my own body well." In the past, her legs had no strength, and the area below her waist felt cold, often without sensation. These past few days, she had felt her legs growing warm, with an urgent desire to stand up. She knew her legs could recover.
Bai Zhirui quickly saved her work, then closed her laptop. "Take my laptop to Fu Bing later; she’ll know how to use what’s inside."
Zhang Jing nodded and didn’t fuss over the laptop. She laid the dishes out on the table, one by one.
"Let’s eat first."
Bai Zhirui’s face showed a faint smile.
Zhang Jing looked at her. "You’re much prettier now."
"Did you see me before?"
"Yeah, I’ve seen the matches between you and Bing. You were pretty before, but not happy."
Bai Zhirui’s hand paused as she reached for chopsticks. She said teasingly, "I used to be a pawn for my family, doing whatever they asked. Now, I am my own person."
"You are especially good now."
"Don’t you think I’m cold-blooded for not saving my brother?"
"If you’ve been in a women’s prison, you’d know what those people went through before they got locked up."
Bai Zhirui asked, "What did you go in for?"
"A few rich guys were bullying a girl, and I happened to pass by and beat them up, seriously injuring one of them. That street had no surveillance. All witnesses, including the victim, claimed I started the fight, so I had no way to clear my name."
"My family cut ties with me the first chance they got and even moved away."
"If it weren’t for Bing, I wouldn’t have a place to stay."
Bai Zhirui didn’t comfort her. "If I hadn’t met you and Fu Bing, I’d have had nobody to rely on either."
Zhang Jing said, "You’re smart; you’ll have a good future."
Bai Zhirui’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen.
Bai Lin: "What do I need to do?"
Bai Zhirui: "You don’t need to do anything. Just go out to clear your mind, and everything will be fine when you come back."
Her aunt possessed a certain shrewdness but was timid by nature. It was already enough that she had agreed to join her in dealing with the Bai and Shen families.
Bai Lin: "I won’t let you get your hands dirty all by yourself."
Bai Zhirui: "Then come over, take my laptop with Zhang Jing, and go see Fu Bing. Fu Bing will arrange a place for you to stay, don’t worry."
Bai Lin came over quickly. Google seaʀᴄh N0v3l.Fiɾe.net
Bai Zhirui had Zhang Jing handle her discharge procedures.
The three of them went to meet Fu Bing together.
Fu Bing was not surprised at all and had someone arrange accommodations for them.
She brought the materials provided by Bai Zhirui and Bai Lin to Ren Ye and President Han.
Ren Ye did not have any medical-related industries under his name and had only come into contact with the medical field this year while working with Fu Bing on a medical platform. Seeing those files and reports involving confidential information, his expression was inscrutable.
President Han, however, was so angry that he smashed two teacups before he could barely calm down. "Bai Zifeng and Shen Yuan, these two scoundrels! The country gave them such great advantages, yet they’re still insatiably greedy. If it weren’t for old times’ sake, they would be in jail already!"
Ren Ye said, "Don’t let Xiaobing get involved in this. Wrap things up at your level."
President Han naturally understood. If Fu Bing were implicated, those with vested interests in the Bai and Shen Families would turn against Fu Bing.
"I’ll handle this cleanly, without letting anyone suspect Xiaofu. Also, it’s best not to keep Bai Lin and Bai Zhirui around Xiaofu. I suggest sending them away, with a few more protectors. Even if they need to cooperate, they should do so privately under different identities."
"After this incident, the Bai Family and Shen Family will definitely collapse. I will find a way to transfer the resources of the Bai and Shen families through legitimate channels, so that you can take over without anyone daring to question it."
After finishing, President Han hurried away with his laptop.
Ren Ye felt relieved. "Let’s go, time to have dinner at home."
Fu Bing smiled. "I’ve never seen you so eager to eat before."
"That’s because I hadn’t yet met anyone whose cooking truly speaks to my heart."
Ren Ye escorted her to the car.
Autumn had arrived, and it had just rained. The wind blew, feeling especially cold. Ren Ye walked to Fu Bing’s side to block the wind.
After getting into the car, Fu Bing couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle, are you sure you don’t want to find a companion? Having someone who understands and cares for you is really nice."
"You and Ren Zhi are caring enough."
Ren Ye had thought about it. He was too clever, and his temperament was cold. He did not believe that he could lose control due to love. His affection and love seemed more like a calculated trade-off. He believed that any wife or children of his would definitely not be happy. He also had no interest in maintaining such a burdensome relationship.
"It seems Zhang Man is out of hope then," Fu Bing remarked.
Ren Ye responded with a smile, "Since she’s your friend, tell her not to waste time on me."
"I did. She probably has a particular preference for your type of man. Until she finds someone who excites her more, you’re still the man of her dreams."
Ren Ye thought of Zhang Man’s enchanting face and felt a slight warmth in his chest, but he forcefully suppressed it. In their circles, it was common for older men to seek out younger women in their twenties. He understood it. Fresh bodies, smooth brains without wit, all for their indulgence. Indeed, a nice distraction. He was fine being an onlooker, but he would never participate himself. These kinds of diversions brought him more trouble than benefits, and he would not allow himself to engage in such unprofitable pursuits.
「*」
Qin Jinhai returned to Jiangcheng.
The first thing he did was visit Liu Pharmaceutical.
Liu Pharmaceutical was now in dire straits. Their finances had major flaws, which could reveal problems upon the slightest investigation. It was a hot potato, promising immense potential gains yet incredibly difficult to resolve. Even if someone wanted to buy, they only considered the profitable subsidiaries of Liu Pharmaceutical; they had no intention of touching those subsidiaries that couldn’t even break even.
Liu Pharmaceutical had over ten thousand registered employees. If not handled well, it would become a social issue.
Qin Jinhai spent his days and nights in Liu Xinping’s office. He could only sleep two or three hours a day. Everyone was enduring, their complexions ashen and dark from the strain, all wanting to secure a livelihood for as many people as possible.
Meanwhile, Liu Xinping’s body was sent back to Jiangcheng, causing a great commotion within the Liu Family.