With half a bottle of Maotai down Ning Ziqiang’s gullet, Ouyang Qing was able to find out everything about the Ning family.
“Sir, this matter is really quite simple. It’s not that she doesn’t want to lend you the money; it’s just that there are still too many misunderstandings between you two. She’s being a little prideful, that’s all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a plan that will ensure she gives you the money.”
Excited, Ning Ziqiang demanded, “What do I have to do?”
“All you have to do is go along with my plan, and I can assure you that she’ll cough up the money. However, you can’t let anyone know about this plan. In fact, you can’t let anyone find out we know each other either.”
“Aren’t you friends with Ran? What’s wrong with us knowing each other?”
Ouyang Qing chuckled, replying, “I’m not at liberty to reveal certain things. Rest assured that I’m doing all this for you, sir. You want the money, don’t you?”
“Of course! Do you even need to ask?”
“Then are you willing to obey whatever I say?”
“Yes, I am. But…”
“Don’t worry, sir. I won’t do anything that will harm her. All I want to do is help the two of you resolve your misunderstandings with each other. The most important thing is to help you out of this difficult situation.”
Ouyang Qing’s guileless and sweet appearance made the words coming out of her mouth all the more believable.
Was it any wonder that Ning Ziqiang trusted her?
Not only did she treat me to a free meal with Maotai, now she’s even willing to help me out of this dire situation! She’s practically a heaven-sent angel!
“Alright. I’ll do whatever you say!” he agreed.
“Wonderful! Then it’s settled. I’ll be in touch with you.”
“Okay. How should I address you?”
“I’m called Cheng Xiangyun. I’m Ning Ran’s assistant.”
She had seen this name mentioned when she had her men investigate Ning Ran. By using a name from someone close to Ning Ran, there was no way Ning Ziqiang would not believe her.
“Oh, you’re her assistant? Does she know you came to talk to me?” Ning Ziqiang questioned in an agitated tone.
“No, she doesn’t. I know she’s very unhappy about this situation, though. That’s why I’m here to help you out. Once this issue is resolved, she’ll be able to focus on her work. In a way, this is personal but also official business.”
“Splendid! You’re absolutely right! As long as Ran settles these debts of mine, I won’t bother her any longer!” Ning Ziqiang promised with a wide smile.
“Alright, sir. I have some matters to attend to so I’ll be taking my leave. You can stay here and continue drinking.”
Upon hearing that Ouyang Qing was departing, Ning Ziqiang leaped to his feet as well. He was worried that she would leave without paying the bill. He could not possibly pay for all this!
“I’m done too! It’s a pity to leave this liquor unfinished… I’ll be taking it with me then! Hehehe…”
Giggling, Ouyang Qing suggested, “That’s up to you, sir. I’ve already paid the bill. Actually, a lot of these dishes have not even been touched yet. You can take them with you if you don’t mind.”
Ning Ziqiang, who had been planning to do exactly that, instantly responded with, “Great! I was just thinking that we shouldn’t be so wasteful. I’ll tell the waiter to put them in takeout containers.”
…
At five in the afternoon, Ning Ran received a phone call from an unknown number.
An unfamiliar man’s voice spoke up through the phone, “Are you Ning Ran?”
“I am, and you are?”
“I’m a policeman. Your father is threatening to jump into the river. Please get here as soon as you can!”
“My father?”
“Your father is Ning Ziqiang, isn’t he? He said he’s run out of options and doesn’t know what else he can do. You better hurry before he actually jumps! Things are starting to get a little tense over here! We’re currently at…”
After jotting down the address, Ning Ran hung up while in a daze.
Just what is that shameless old man up to this time? What’s this about jumping into the river? Didn’t I just give him five thousand yesterday? What does he want now? Then again, if I don’t do anything and he really does die, I’ll definitely regret this for the rest of my life.
Unable to come up with a better plan, she took leave from the director and rushed over to the address the policeman had given her.
Emerald River was a river that cut through Flower City. A few years ago, the water was so polluted that the air nearby stank badly.
In the past few years, a lot of money had gone into treating the water. Most of the factories upstream, the major cause of the pollution, had been shut down. Now, the water was a lot clearer, and the river had become one of Flower City’s loveliest sceneries.
At that moment, Ning Ziqiang was standing on Dragon’s Bridge, one of the bridges spanning across the Emerald River. In truth, it would be more accurate to say that he was standing astride the railings by the side of the bridge.
A crowd had formed nearby. Some people were trying to persuade him to come down while some were busy taking videos or photos of him. A few horrible people kept shouting, “Are you going to jump or not?”
“There she is! His daughter is here!” The crowd stirred at her arrival.
Ning Ran’s beauty clearly astounded them as they had not expected the old man would have such a gorgeous daughter.
Most of the males in the crowd focused their cameras on her instead of Ning Ziqiang, trying to capture her beauty.
“Ning Ziqiang, get down from there! Stop this nonsense of yours!”
Tears gathered in the corners of Ning Ran’s eyes as grief tore at her insides.
She was not sad that Ning Ziqiang was trying to commit suicide. No, she was upset at how she could have such a man as her father. Not only had he killed her mother, now he kept making things difficult for her too.
Fathers were supposed to treat their daughters like their lovers from a past life. They were supposed to spoil and pamper them, even be willing to give up their lives for them. Yet why did her father only know how to exploit and inconvenience her?
When Ning Ziqiang spotted Ning Ran, a relieved expression crossed his face. “Ran, I knew you wouldn’t just leave me to die!”
“Ning Ziqiang, would you climb down from there? Stop making a scene!”
“Ran, I know you have a lot of misunderstandings toward me. With the people here as my witnesses, I sincerely apologize to you. Ran, I’m so sorry. I did not do right by you or your mother. Please forgive me!” Ning Ziqiang yelled at the top of his lungs.
The nosy bystanders shifted eagerly at his words, knowing there was something more going on than they had thought.
Ning Ran had not expected Ning Ziqiang would act out like this. “Just get down here first. We can talk once you’re down here in front of me.”
“No, I won’t climb down! I-I… I’ll jump down if you don’t forgive me! I’ll die right before you!” he screamed like a madman.
“Go ahead and jump then!” she was sorely tempted to say. After much effort, she managed to swallow the words down.
No matter how much of a b*****d he was, he was technically still her father.
She could not just stand aside and watch him die. Although he might not necessarily die even if he jumped from here, she could not risk it.
“I forgive you. Now get down here!”
“Then when are you going to transfer the money to me? The money you said you would give me to pay off my debts!”
Ning Ran was absolutely bewildered at his words. Since when did I make such a promise?
Last night when they had met, she had treated him to a meal and given him five thousand. He had been ecstatic then but had not mentioned anything about his debts.
“When did I say I would pay off your debts?”
“You said what happened in the past has always been a thorn in your side. If you really do forgive me then you would forget about what I did and help me settle my debts! Ran, I was wrong. I really regret what I did to you and your mother. Truly! But I don’t have any other choice now! Please just help me this once! I wouldn’t have forced you if I didn’t know you could do this! I know you have the financial ability now to pay for my debts! You’re driving a luxury car and living in a villa. Can’t you use your pocket money to help me? Besides, you promised me! If you don’t do this for me, are you going to just watch as I’m forced to commit suicide?”
