Ning Ziqiang was a bas***d. He clearly knew how to get to Ning Ran. He knew she couldn’t bear to see her mother’s belongings be mishandled.
Ning Ran never believed in witchcraft, but she could not stand any disrespectful behavior against her dead mother.
Ning Ran could only agree to it and head to the restaurant Luo Yi had booked.
It was more of a small eatery than a restaurant. It didn’t even have private rooms.
Ning Ran immediately caught sight of a middle-aged woman sitting at a table. It was Luo Yi. She had aged, no longer adorned with jewelry.
Her hairstyle was still the same, except that she had thicker makeup now. She was trying to hide her sagging skin with heavy makeup.
“Ran, please come over. Sit!”
Luo Yi pretended to be enthusiastic as she greeted Ning Ran. However, her eyes were filled with hatred.
Ning Ran walked over, expressionless, and asked, “Where are my mother’s belongings?”
“Take a seat. Don’t rush. Let’s eat,” Luo Yi beckoned.
“I don’t have time to waste with you. Hand over my mother’s belongings now! I don’t care what it is, return them all to me,” Ning Ran yelled.
“How short-tempered of you!. We have not met for so long. I initially asked your father to invite you home but thought you wouldn’t be willing since there are many misunderstandings between us. That is why I chose this place instead. Don’t be so hostile, we can talk while we eat.”
Luo Yi signaled for the owner of the eatery to have the food served. Ning Ran realized there was no point in being fretful. She had no alternative but to sit down.
But she didn’t eat as she didn’t have the appetite.
Ning Ziqiang and Luo Yi were enjoying the food, even praising the food as they ate.
Ning Ran looked at her watch anxiously. School had ended for her kids. She had wanted to pick them up but was still engaged here.
She would not be able to make it on time. Thus, she texted Qiao Zhan, saying, “Captain Qiao, something suddenly came up. I won’t be able to pick up the kids anymore. Please help me pick them up.”
“You should eat some too, Ran. The dishes here are really good even though it’s just a small eatery,” Ning Ziqiang beckoned Ning Ran.
“What do both of you want? Stop beating around the bush. I don’t have time to waste with the two of you,” Ning Ran said coldly.
“Ran, grab a bite first. We can talk about it after this meal,” Luo Yi also beckoned Ning Ran.
“Spit it out!” Ning Ran was getting angry.
Ning Ziqiang signaled Luo Yi with a glance to talk.
Luo Yi put her chopsticks down and said, “Ran, it is such… the economy has been bad these two years, business is badly affected, and the company has been poorly managed. We owe a huge debt…”
“What does it have to do with me?” Ning Ran cut off Luo Yi.
“Don’t worry, please hear me out. We don’t need you to pay off our debts. However, your father is growing ill these days.”
Luo Yi gave Ning Ziqiang a look when she said that. Ning Ziqiang immediately placed his chopsticks down and coughed. How very cooperative of him.
Ning Ran watched them act coldly and kept her silence.
“The hospital has diagnosed him with cancer. He needs a huge sum of money for treatment. He wouldn’t be able to survive for more than half a year if he doesn’t get treatment immediately…” Luo Yi cried.
Luo Yi paused. She didn’t let Ning Ziqiang act this time around. It was her turn.
She wasn’t able to squeeze out tears no matter how hard she tried. It was amusing to see her trying so hard.
Ning Ran was unimpressed as she continued to watch her act.
“We owed too much money, it’s to a point where we don’t even have enough for food. Where else can we get the money to treat his illness? We had initially wanted to borrow from friends and family. However, they would not even want to meet us or pick up the phone when they found out our current state.”
She continued with crocodile tears, “We do not have any other alternatives other than to look you up. We hope you will help your father. If he dies, our family will be devastated. Ran, please put aside our misunderstandings and help your father!”
Ning Ran watched their absurd performance quietly as if she was watching a farce.
“My home has long fallen apart,” Ning Ran replied coldly.
“Ran, I know you have many misunderstandings about us. But your father is dying, you must help us.”
It was interesting how Luo Yi used her words. She used ‘must’, which means she was leaving no room for negotiations.
“There are no misunderstandings between us. I just hate you,” Ning Ran scowled, going straight to the point.
Luo Yi and Ning Ziqiang looked at each other and kept silent.
“Ran, it really was just a misunderstanding. We have nothing to do with your mother’s death,” Luo Yi said.
“You guys killed my mother, that’s it,” Ning Ran said.
“Ran, we can’t help it if you were to word it as such.” Luo Yi was turning ghastly.
“I don’t care if you really are sick. I don’t have the money. Don’t even think about getting a penny from me,” Ning Ran said coldly.
Luo Yi and Ning Ziqiang gave each other another look.
“Ran, it’s justifiable for you to hate me, but he is your biological father. Do you want to watch him die?” Luo Yi said.
“He had watched my mother died years ago. Didn’t both of you said it was a misunderstanding? Well, he can explain it to my mother face-to-face now,” Ning Ran said.
“Ran, I’m your biological father. You have my blood in you!” Ning Ziqiang yelled shamelessly.
“No, you’re not my father. Even if we are related by blood, there is no kinship between us. You killed my mother. I will never forgive you in this lifetime. Never!”
Ning Ran’s eyes were filled with tears.
“Ran!”
“Stop! Just return my mother’s belongings to me. We’ll call it even. I won’t seek my revenge, and both of you can stop looking for me. We will go our separate ways and not meet each other again.” Ning Ran stood up.
“Ran, do you really not care about your father’s life anymore? Are you even human?”
“He had also not cared about my mother’s life, so why should I care? I don’t care anymore, and I don’t have the money.”
“If you don’t give me the money, I will pass your mother’s belongings to the sorceress so that your mother wouldn’t be able to rest in peace!”
Luo Yi had been acting all along. She finally showed her true colors now.
Ning Ran laughed coldly, “This is a fallout right? How much does it cost to get my mother’s belongings back?”
“Ten million,” Luo Yi quoted simply.
Ning Ran laughed angrily, “Ten million? Do both of you think I print money? Or do you think I’m a billionaire?”
“We believe you can afford ten million,” Luo Yi said.
“Should I be thanking you? Both of you must be crazy for money. Using my mother’s belongings to blackmail me for ten million? I will not give you the money even if I have it! I’m going to call the police now to charge both of you for blackmailing me!” With that, Ning Ran took her phone out.
