Chapter 252: Conditions
After silently cursing the absurdity of Lin Chen’s Protagonist Halo, Wang Haoran got straight to the point with Cheng Rui.
“That little kid, Lin Chen, he ca to you because he wants a favor. He’s asking you to withdraw the charges against that Divine Doctor Xue who treated Ma Hongsheng and botched it. The one being held.”
Cheng Rui imdiately understood. Her voice ca through the phone, composed but curious. “What do you want to do?”
Wang Haoran couldn’t help but praise her. “Talking to smart won is such a relief.”
“I thought you n didn’t like smart won?” Her tone carried a hint of amusent.
“Well, that’s true… but only with one condition,” Wang Haoran replied smoothly.
A condition. And that condition was simple—so long as she wasn’t his woman, it didn’t matter.
Cheng Rui fell silent for a beat, then sighed inwardly. If only… if only she were his woman, she’d be willing to act stupid—so stupid she’d throw away her IQ altogether. But sadly, that opportunity had never co.
“I’m listening. What exactly do you want to do?” she asked again, shaking off the thoughts that montarily clouded her heart.
“You care about debts of gratitude, don’t you?” Wang Haoran didn’t give instructions right away. Instead, he tested the waters.
“To , your word matters more than fate itself,” Cheng Rui said with unwavering seriousness. “I can give up anything for it.”
She was a woman with a ruthless edge.
Forget favors—even if he told her right now to unplug Ma Hongsheng’s oxygen supply, she wouldn’t flinch. And if he asked her to erase the child they’d had together, she could do that too. No hesitation.
Wang Haoran was montarily stunned by her words. Not because he doubted her sincerity—her Favorability toward him was already maxed out—but hearing it from her lips carried a different weight. A strange, almost pleasant satisfaction swelled within him.
Still, he already had his hands full juggling several Female Leads. He had no special interest in Cheng Rui. He wasn’t exactly trying to beco the next Cao Cao.
“Later, when you et Lin Chen,” Wang Haoran began, his voice turning calm and instructive—
—
At a quiet café, Cheng Rui ended her call with Wang Haoran just monts before Lin Chen arrived. The eight-year-old boy walked in with a young woman who looked to be around twenty.
She already knew, from the call, that this woman was Bian Suwen—a Divine Doctor in her own right.
“Hello, Auntie,” Lin Chen greeted with a bright, polite smile.
“Good day to you, Madam Ma,” Bian Suwen followed up respectfully.
“Please, sit,” Cheng Rui smiled faintly, nodding at the server to bring over three cups of coffee.
After a brief round of pleasantries, Lin Chen didn’t waste ti. He could sense Third Sister’s growing anxiety. He cut straight to the point.
“Auntie, here’s the situation. My Third Sister’s Junior—his surna is Xue—made a mistake while treating soone, and things went wrong. We’re here today hoping you’ll consider showing rcy and withdrawing the charges.”
Cheng Rui had already heard this from Wang Haoran, so she wasn’t surprised. Still, for appearance’s sake, she put on a look of feigned astonishnt. Then she turned to Bian Suwen, her expression cooling.
“That quack surnad Xue is your Junior? So that makes you a doctor too?”
“Yes, Madam Ma,” Bian Suwen nodded, maintaining composure. “My Junior is quite skilled. What happened last ti must have been an accident.”
Cheng Rui’s tone turned icy. “I don’t care whether it was an accident. All I know is that my husband is now lying in bed, barely above a vegetative state. Courtesy of your Junior.”
Bian Suwen said solemnly, “I’m willing to treat your husband myself. I give you my word—I’ll cure him. Please, I ask that you withdraw your accusation.”
Cheng Rui’s eyes sharpened, boring into her like blades. “That’s exactly what your Junior said last ti. And look what happened.”
The pressure radiating from her was suffocating. Bian Suwen, montarily overwheld, couldn’t respond.
Lin Chen stepped in hurriedly. “Auntie, actually—”
Cheng Rui cut him off, changing the subject without missing a beat. “Oh right, little one. You helped find my son the other day. I never properly thanked you.”
She pulled out a check and set it on the table before him.
“This is a token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”
Lin Chen blinked, glanced at the figure written on the check.
Fifty million.
This woman really didn’t do anything by halves. Still, he didn’t need the money. More importantly, accepting it would an the favor was repaid.
He pushed the check back. “Auntie, I can’t take this. Please take it back.”
Cheng Rui didn’t argue. She simply took out another check.
This ti, it was for a hundred million.
She pushed both checks across the table again. “Take them. It’s my heartfelt thanks.”
Lin Chen’s youthful face remained firm. “Auntie, I helped you purely out of kindness. I wasn’t expecting any reward. A child that young getting lost—anyone would’ve stepped up.”
He looked at her seriously, pushed the checks back again. “I truly can’t accept this. If you insist on giving it to , it feels like you’re insulting .”
Cheng Rui studied his face, then slowly nodded and retrieved the checks. “You’re a good child. In that case, I won’t insist.”
Bian Suwen and Lin Chen both quietly exhaled, thinking they’d finally made so progress.
But before either could speak further, Cheng Rui stood up.
“I’ve already paid the bill. I’ve got matters to attend to, so I won’t be staying.”
“Auntie, about that matter—” Lin Chen quickly stood as well.
“What matter?” she asked, feigning ignorance.
“My Third Sister’s Junior…”
Cheng Rui gave a sly smile. “Didn’t you just say you didn’t want anything in return? Are you going back on your word already? Tsk tsk. Lying isn’t good, little one.”
“I—” Lin Chen was left speechless.
Cheng Rui picked up her purse and turned to leave.
Bian Suwen shot to her feet. “Madam Ma, so long as you withdraw the accusation, whatever your conditions are—we’ll agree to them.”
Cheng Rui paused, pretending to consider it. Then she said, “My son’s really into Bugatti toy cars lately. If you can get one, I might reconsider.”
“Bugatti toy car? That’s easy enough,” Lin Chen said without thinking.
Cheng Rui turned back, a faint smirk playing on her lips. “Yes, a toy car. But I an the kind you can drive. And brand new. Best if it’s delivered today. Because who knows—my son might not care about Bugatti anymore after today.”
Her aning was clear.
Only soone like a top-tier tycoon could call a tens-of-millions Bugatti a child’s toy.
Brand new. Sa day delivery. In a city like Qingling? That was a tall order.
Lin Chen’s expression darkened briefly, but then a thought ca to him. There was soone annoying who’d recently bought a Bugatti… and barely even driven it.
“Auntie, you said it. Let’s treat that as a deal.” Lin Chen agreed imdiately.
“Only today. After today, don’t bother.” Cheng Rui tossed out the final words and left.
Bian Suwen’s brow furrowed. “Xiao Chen, if we were in the Imperial Capital, maybe we could find a brand new Bugatti in a day. But this is Qingling. Where are we going to find one that quickly?”
Lin Chen replied, “Soone we know just bought one a few days ago.”
“Who?”
“Wang Haoran.”
Bian Suwen’s face twitched.
They’d just dismissed Wang Haoran so coldly earlier… and now, they had to go crawling back to him.
Her mood turned complicated. Lin Chen wasn’t much better. He still clearly rembered what they’d said less than an hour ago.
Don’t get cocky. If you ever want my help, you’ll have to call Daddy.
I can do anything. I’ll never ask you for help.
And now, here they were…
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