Five Million

Zhao Wenman lowered her stance and apologized to Xiao Lingyu.

Everyone thought Xiao Lingyu should be content with Zhao Wenman's apology. After all, Zhao Wenman was a wealthy young lady apologizing to Xiao Lingyu, a puny employee.

Even though Zhao Wenman drugged Xiao Lingyu, it was because of Zhao Wenman that Xiao Lingyu got to know Yan Siming. If anything, Xiao Lingyu should kneel to thank Zhao Wenman. Without Yan Siming, Xiao Lingyu was nothing. She would not have the confidence to slap Zhao Wenman and demand an apology.

However, Xiao Lingyu didn't seem content. Her eyes were frosty. She did not make a sound. The scene was unexpectedly silent.

Zhao Wenman bit her lower lip tightly. Her lowered face was carved with hatred.

She had never apologized to another person before. But today, she was humiliated and slapped in public.

Zhao Huiqing coughed lightly. Zhao Wenman received the signal. She bit her lips and repeated unwillingly, "I'm sorry, Miss Xiao!"

Xiao Lingyu finally spoke. She smirked and asked, "Are you really sorry? Besides, Miss Zhao, do you think a simple apology can erase what you've done to me? Are you expecting me to forgive you with a 'sorry'? I'm sorry, but your words do not carry any weight to me."

Zhao Wenman instantly wanted to explode. Fury surged through her. She was livid and was about to scream when her father smiled and cut in. "Miss Xiao, how about I compensate you with five hundred thousand RMB? It'll be an apology from Man 'Er. What do you say?"

Since the apology was not weighty enough, then he would add some money on top of it. It should be enough to move Xiao Lingyu. 

Despite the smiles, Zhao Huiqing's heart was filled with contempt. He believed Xiao Lingyu was a gold digger, and she was only after one thing. Therefore, he cut to the chase and offered her five hundred thousand to apologize. 

This was a vast sum. For a small employee like Xiao Lingyu, it was her salary over ten years.

Xiao Lingyu came from the countryside. With this amount of money, Xiao Lingyu could return home and provide her family with a good life. There was no reason Xiao Lingyu would reject him.

As long as Xiao Lingyu accepted the money, she also accepted Zhao Wenman's apology, and Huiqing Group would be saved.

Many things circled in Zhao Huiqing's mind. But in the end, he was certain that Xiao Lingyu would take the money.

However, Zhao Huiqing's calculation was wrong.

For a small employee from the countryside, five hundred thousand was a lot, but Xiao Lingyu didn't need the money. She needed justice and truth.

Xiao Lingyu shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, Zhao Huiqing added, "One million RMB then!" He assumed Xiao Lingyu thought the money was too little, so he doubled it.

The other employees looked at Xiao Lingyu with redness in their eyes. They were jealous. Their monthly salary was only several thousand. They had to work for about twenty years without eating, drinking, and splurging to earn one million.

Regardless, Xiao Lingyu still shook her head.

Zhao Huiqing's face was dark.

However, he had to maintain a degree of composure. He gritted his teeth, "Miss Xiao, then name your price!"

'This bitch! How greedy can she be?'

Xiao Lingyu shook her head again. She chuckled. "Zhao Huiqing, do you think everything can be bought with money? Love, innocence, and reputation, they can all be priced?"

Like father, like daughter!

Zhao Huiqing had to take responsibility for how selfish and cold-hearted Zhao Wenman was.

Zhao Huiqing was furious. His face was white with anger. Xiao Lingyu didn't even refer to him as the chairman but directly called him by his name. However, Zhao Huiqing was extremely patient. He smiled forcefully. "Of course not, Miss Xiao."

Xiao Lingyu chided, "You said it yourself. Love, innocence, and reputation cannot be bought with money. Your daughter stole my boyfriend, drugged me, ruined my reputation, and gifted me to a pervert. If these things can be priced, how much do you think you should compensate me?"

Zhao Huiqing staggered back, and his brain was dazed. He had no idea his daughter was so ruthless towards Xiao Lingyu, and to make matters worse, she was caught with evidence!

After Zhao Huiqing steadied himself, he turned to slap Zhao Wenman again. He rebuked, "Useless!"

Zhao Wenman's face looked more like an impressionist painting. Her head was swollen to the size of a pig's head. She looked horrifying. Gone was the usual pretty young lady.

Even so, Zhao Wenman didn't dare to make a sound.

Zhao Huiqing turned back to Xiao Lingyu. "Then what exactly does Miss Xiao want to forgive Man 'Er?" Then Zhao Huiqing turned to Yan Siming. He demanded, "Young Master Yan, are you seriously going to let this woman run rampant with your power?"

Zhao Huiqing almost called Yan Siming out for his unreasonable nature. He was a tyrant for bullying them.

Yan Siming's face darkened. He said lightly, "Are you questioning me?" He twisted a lock of Xiao Lingyu's hair and sniffed it with his nose. This was very flirtatious, and it annoyed Xiao Lingyu. Yan Siming turned back to Zhao Huiqing. "I have already decided to hand over the fate of Huiqing Group to my little firecracker! And that's that!"

Zhao Huiqing's face paled. He had a bad feeling.

Yan Siming then said, "My little firecracker, as long as you promise to be my woman, I'll give you ten million, let alone one million. What do you say?"

Xiao Lingyu rolled her eyes and said, "Young Master Yan, these are two very different things. The chairman intends to pay for my mental damage and reputation loss."

'But you're trying to use the money to buy my body, so how is that the same?' Xiao Lingyu didn't voice it explicitly, but she believed Yan Siming understood him.

As expected, Yan Siming did not press.

Xiao Lingyu looked at Zhao Huiqing and said with the ghost of a smile. "Chairman, I can forgive your daughter, but I have two conditions!"

Zhao Huiqing was delighted. He quickly nodded and replied, "Sure, sure. As long as it is to save Huiqing Group, I will agree to twenty conditions, much less two!"

Xiao Lingyu nodded. "First, you will give me five million in compensation for my mental damage and reputation loss."