Wu Cuihua hobbled home, not daring to go to the hospital. The check in her arms felt like a bomb about to explode!
She was terrified, convinced that the beating she received was somehow linked to this bomb.
Enduring the pain, she treated her wounds at home and was surprised to find that though they didn't seem serious, they were incredibly painful. This only increased her fear.
She had heard stories before of people who could inflict intense pain without leaving a visible mark.
She hadn't believed it then, but now she had no choice.
The next day, limping, she arrived at Shen Qingqing's villa, following the address her son had given her. She rang the doorbell.
A maid opened the door. Seeing the grand villa already made her more afraid.
When she saw the lavish decorations in the living room and the respectful demeanor of the servants towards Shen Qingqing, her heart sank.
Who exactly had her son offended? No wonder he had given her the fifty thousand yuan without hesitation.
Someone like that could easily find someone to beat her up!
Wu Cuihua was truly frightened this time. She didn't even glance at Zhang Xiaotao beside her, but instead, with trembling hands, placed the check on the brown coffee table.
"I'm returning the check. I don't want the money. I just want my son back."
She spoke with utmost humility.
Zhang Xiaotao was surprised. Her mother, who was usually as greedy as ever, was returning the check. But she knew it must be because of Miss Shen.
She wasn't sure how it had happened. Clearly, after leaving the police station, her mother hadn't been like this.
Wu Cuihua, with a pale face, looked pleadingly at Shen Qingqing. "Miss Shen, I'm not asking for anything else. I just hope you can forgive me. I don't want the money, and I won't bother Xiaotao anymore. I just want you to give me my son back. Please, he is my life!"
Zhang Xiaotao thought she wouldn't be hurt, but hearing those words still caused her heart to ache.
The most important person in her heart had always been Yu Fei.
Shen Qingqing handed the decision over to Zhang Xiaotao. "You decide. Detention, or release."
Wu Cuihua stiffened. But for her son, she gritted her teeth, suppressed her anger, and pleaded with Zhang Xiaotao. "Consider it my begging, Mom."
Zhang Xiaotao was momentarily stunned. This was the first time she had heard her mother beg. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
She remained silent for a long, long time. Wu Cuihua thought she wouldn't agree and felt despair. Then, suddenly, Zhang Xiaotao relented.
"Forget it, Miss Shen. Let him go."
Shen Qingqing nodded indifferently. Such a small fry wasn't worth her attention. She casually made a phone call.
Less than five minutes after hanging up, Wu Cuihua received a call from her son.
He was out.
Wu Cuihua's heart finally settled. Looking at Shen Qingqing again, she felt a mixture of awe and fear. Without daring to say another word, she turned and left.
Her retreating figure was so hurried, it was as if she was being chased by ghosts.
Shen Qingqing stroked her chin, pondering. Wu Cuihua wouldn't have changed her mind for no reason. There must be a reason. Who was helping her from behind the scenes?
Could it be... Fu Jingshu?
She lowered her hand, her relaxed expression slowly turning serious. Pushing aside her thoughts, she looked at Zhang Xiaotao. "From now on, you are completely free."
Zhang Xiaotao also flashed a faint smile. "Yes, I can't wait to embrace a beautiful future."
The next day, Shen Qingqing returned to work. As soon as she entered the building, got into the elevator, and reached her office, she heard the respectful greetings of employees along the way.
"President Shen."
"Good morning, President Shen!"
Upon entering her office, Shen Qingqing saw Da Ke Lin sitting on the sofa. He quickly stood up upon seeing her. "You're finally here!"
"What's wrong?"
"We had an uninvited guest."
"Who?"
Ke Lin's expression was hesitant.
Soon, Shen Qingqing knew who had arrived. The woman was wearing a black suit, exuding an air of capability.
But she had a gentle smile on her face, making one feel as if they were basking in the spring breeze.
"President Shen, we meet again."
"Miss Lu." Shen Qingqing placed her pen into the pen holder, relaxed her back, and leaned against the chair. "What brings you to my company?"
"Of course, to discuss cooperation." Lu Wanying placed a document on the desk.
This document was a cooperation project between Shen's Group and Lu's Group, clearly detailing terms that had been negotiated when Shen Zhizhong was still in charge.
After Shen Qingqing took over, she had recognized Lu Junze, and considering Lu's Group's substantial background, it was indeed suitable for cooperation, so she hadn't rejected the contract.
However, she hadn't expected the person in charge sent by the other party to be Lu Wanying.
Lu Wanying, acting quite familiar, sat down on the sofa and looked around. "President Shen, your office is nicely decorated."
"Thank you for the compliment." Shen Qingqing pressed the intercom button and asked Ke Lin to bring a cup of coffee. "Miss Lu, I'm curious, what is your position at Lu's Group?"
Lu Wanying's smile slightly faded. "What, President Shen, do you think I don't have the authority to speak with you?"
"Not at all." Shen Qingqing remained seated in her office chair, showing no intention of engaging in a face-to-face conversation. "I'm just concerned that this cooperation is of great importance. With Miss Lu's authority, can you make the final decision?"
Lu Wanying's smile disappeared completely. "Of course."
"In that case, let's discuss the details of the cooperation." Shen Qingqing adopted a strictly business-like attitude, as if the two had never had any past grievances.
Lu Wanying narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at her with some surprise. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. It was Ke Lin, bringing a cup of freshly brewed, steaming coffee.
But when the coffee was brought to her, Lu Wanying didn't reach for it. "I don't like coffee."
Ke Lin politely asked, "Then what do you prefer to drink?"
"Tea."
"I'll make you some, please wait a moment."
"I don't want you to make it." Lu Wanying turned to look at Shen Qingqing, who was looking down at the document. She said, word by word, "I want her to make it."
Ke Lin's smile vanished. "Miss Lu..."
Before he could finish, Shen Qingqing looked up. Her expression was impassive. "Miss Lu, I am not good at making tea for others."
Her words were polite yet decisive, rejecting the request without any room for negotiation.
Lu Wanying became somewhat unhappy. "President Shen, is this how you treat a partner with sincerity?"
Shen Qingqing closed the document, her expression unchanged. "Who says partners must serve tea and pour water? I am the CEO of Shen's Group, not a servant to cater to others."
The atmosphere instantly froze, and the office fell into dead silence.
Lu Wanying hadn't expected such a blunt refusal. She thought that since Shen Qingqing knew she was the pampered daughter of the Lu family and still wanted to cooperate with Lu's Group, she must value this partnership greatly.
This reaction was unexpected.
Ke Lin suppressed a smile and said, "Miss Lu, you might not know, but our President Shen has this kind of personality. She's decisive and resolute, and although these adjectives might sound strange for a young lady, she is indeed fearsome in the business world."
No one dared to ask her to pour tea and water, fearing she might poison it!
As Lu Wanying was about to speak, she felt a document thrown at her face. She fumbled to catch it, and looked up to meet Shen Qingqing's cold gaze.
"Get out. The cooperation with Lu's Group ends here."
"Are you crazy?"
Lu Wanying couldn't understand why she was so decisive. Didn't she want this multi-million dollar cooperation deal?
"Ke Lin."
Shen Qingqing uttered only his name, and Ke Lin immediately understood. Politely, yet irrefutably, he "escorted" Lu Wanying out.