The other party spoke so nicely that any further entanglement would make their intentions too obvious.
Ma Songhan smiled and extended his hand to shake Tang's father's hand.
"Then we'll trouble Mr. Tang. We'll be waiting at home. Please inform us once things are arranged."
The group of people, having sorted out the essentials, returned to their own home with He Yao.
As the door closed, Tang's father breathed a sigh of relief, dropping the pretense from his face. He looked sternly at Tang's mother.
"I told you long ago that Rui Rui wasn't acting normally a while back and needed timely intervention. But you insisted on stopping me. Now look, something has truly happened."
Tang's mother also hadn't expected such a turn of events. Her face was filled with disbelief and regret.
"Rui Rui grew up with us. You know his temperament better than anyone else. He's always been such a sensible and well-behaved child, just a bit cold."
"I thought it was a good thing for him to finally be willing to interact with people. Who knew..."
Tang Nannan came out and interrupted them.
"Alright, he's grown up. Especially during puberty, it's normal for him to have his own thoughts. Neither of you intentionally made him this way, so there's no need to blame yourselves."
"Besides, are you so sure this was his doing? What if those people..."
Hu Jiasheng picked up where she left off.
"Whether they had a premeditated plan or Rui Rui acted on youthful impulse, things have reached this point, and Dad did the right thing."
"The saying goes, the barefoot are not afraid of those wearing shoes. If they are shameless, Rui Rui must be, the Zhan family must be, and Mom and Dad must be too. If we insist on investigating the truth, and it becomes public at school, or spreads online..."
Tang Nannan understood the implications behind her words and fell silent.
"I'm not entirely clear about the street he mentioned. Dad, what's the approximate housing price in that area?"
Tang's father said, "It's not a good area, not worth much. And you should be grateful for that. They were after money, they didn't really intend to escalate things."
"Problems that can be solved with money are not problems. Let this matter rest. There's no need to let A Jue and Nan Fang know. Let's not expose it either."
"Rui Rui is already proud and cold. If he knew that all of us knew his secret and did this behind his back, he wouldn't be able to handle it."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
After a moment of silence, Tang Nannan spoke again.
"Understood. This matter will be handled by Ah Sheng and me. We'll definitely manage it well. But the hospital fees are accounted for, and the nutrition fees..."
Hu Jiasheng put his arm around her shoulders and led her back inside.
"It's cold outside, let's talk inside."
"Ma Songhan looks like a very calculating person. We can't spend money and still be manipulated by him. I'll have someone investigate his workplace and draft an agreement."
"We must ensure this matter stays buried with him forever."
As for He Yao, as soon as she entered the house, her aunt started making snide remarks.
"Oh my, what's the point of being rich? Rich people can look down on others with their noses in the air?"
"Look how arrogant they are, they didn't even let us in after such a big incident! I say, Songhan, sister, you two are too big-hearted! Since you're convinced it was their child who did it..."
He Yao stopped in her tracks, looking at her with cold eyes, scaring her into silence.
"I, I was just speaking up for you."
He Yao sneered, mocking her own ridiculous fate and these ridiculous adults.
"Speaking up for me? I think you're just hoping I'll get together with Zhan Jingrui."
"If I were with a son from a rich family, you could come to their door and ask for some money. You wouldn't have raised me all these years in vain. The investment has paid off, you should be happy, right?"
He Yao's mother, having been angered by her for a while and just having endured the disdainful looks at the Zhan family, had reached her limit.
Pointing at He Yao's scalp, she yelled furiously.
"Shut up! Don't force me to slap you! You did something disgraceful and still have the nerve to talk back, do you think you're the emperor?"
"Auntie is absolutely right! Look at their attitude just now, we shouldn't have compromised! Your youth is priceless, and you think a dilapidated house can settle it..."
In the end, it all came down to money.
At this moment, He Yao had completely given up on this family, on this mother.
She wasn't their child; she was merely the product of a love-struck mind.
Perhaps her mother would be happier if she died, and no one would spend her money or stand in the way of her finding another partner.
The term "burden" seemed to have been invented specifically for her.
Her father didn't love her, her mother didn't care for her, and she couldn't be with Zhan Jingrui.
Perhaps, disappearing forever with his child would be the best outcome for her.
He Yao suddenly lost the will to fight.
She was so tired, her arm hurt so much, she just wanted to rest.
"Fine. You're all right. Whatever you say. I won't be stubborn anymore, okay?"
Her face was pale, and she swayed upstairs, enduring their varied gazes.
Downstairs, the adults gathered, fiercely discussing how to extort more money from the Zhan family.
Aunt: "The houses in that area aren't worth much. Yao Yao's entire life has been ruined by them, we can't just let it go. We must demand more for nutrition."
Uncle: "Exactly. Look at their family's attitude. If they don't cooperate, we'll make a big scene. See who's more afraid of whom. I have a friend whose sister-in-law knows someone at the television station..."
He Yao returned upstairs and fell asleep immediately.
She had a series of chaotic dreams, and later woke up to the pain in her arm.
Her phone had been confiscated, there was no alarm clock in the room, she didn't know what time it was. It was pitch black all around, and the house was quiet.
She figured it must be the middle of the night, and everyone had fallen asleep.
Good, this was exactly what she had been waiting for.
Once she truly made up her mind, she no longer felt distressed.
Dragging her aching arm, she quietly went downstairs, to the kitchen, found half a bucket of cooking oil, and slowly poured it under the cabinets and sofas.
As she had anticipated, it wasn't enough.
Fortunately, she and Zhan Jingrui had cash at home, and she could go back to get it.
As long as she could buy more oil and douse everything, these things she hated so much, including herself, would turn to ashes.
Although she had to walk back, she had plenty of strength now.
She quietly slipped out the door, clutching her arm, and began to run.
She ran intermittently, and by the time she returned home, she was drenched in sweat.
Unexpectedly, as she opened the door, someone was sitting in the living room.
If He Yao hadn't already resigned herself to life and death, she would have been startled.
Their eyes met, and as they recognized each other, Hu Jiasheng slowly stood up.
"I'm not mistaken, it really is you."
"It's so late, why are you here?"
He Yao felt no need to answer him. No matter how she behaved, he wouldn't accept her.
She walked straight to the bedroom, opened the bedside table, found the money, stuffed it into her pocket, and came back out.
As she went to open the door, Hu Jiasheng blocked her path.
"Don't you want to talk to me?"
"Get out of the way."