Chapter Thirteen: Stay with Me Tomorrow Night

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One hundred thousand yuan—a sum so large that even if Zhuo Wengang resorted to stealing or robbery, he couldn't possibly come up with it. Stealing? He lacked the skill. Robbery? Even if it required no particular expertise, he certainly didn't have the guts for it.

He had intended to visit Zhuo Nan in the detention room, but the matter of the money weighed too heavily on his mind. Instead, he decided to go home and try to figure out a solution. However, just because Zhuo Wengang chose not to speak of it, didn't mean others wouldn't. After he left, Lan Qian made her way to the detention room.

"What? A hundred thousand? Wang Zhenguo is making outrageous demands!" Zhuo Nan thought to himself, wondering if Fatty Wang had gone mad with greed. To name such a price—if he'd known it would come to this, he might as well have crippled Wang's son; a man like that was nothing but a waste of food.

"Zhuo Nan, I'm really sorry. There's nothing I can do to help with this," Miss Lan sighed, a hint of regret in her voice.

What kind of situation was this? Zhuo Nan was taken aback by her words; their relationship wasn't nearly close enough for this. Still, he couldn't ignore her good intentions.

With a quick turn of thought, Zhuo Nan's cunning resurfaced. "Sister Lan, I acted rashly and brought such trouble upon my family. The ones I feel most sorry for are Second Uncle and Aunt. Please, help me pass a message to them: tell them I don't agree to a private settlement. We simply don't have that kind of money, and there's no need for them to go into debt on my account. Let everything proceed according to the rules. I'm grown up now. If I've made a mistake, I should bear the consequences. I can't let my family shoulder this for me."

Just that brief speech raised Zhuo Nan several notches in Lan Qian's estimation. She admired this boy's willingness to take responsibility for his actions.

Silently, Lan Qian resolved that this case must be settled privately. If it went through standard procedure, Zhuo Nan would be left with a criminal record. For a fifteen-year-old child, that would be grossly unfair.

"Don't talk nonsense. Just behave yourself while you're in here and don't make any more trouble. As for everything else, let me try to think of a way," Miss Lan said, caught in his web. Seeing Zhuo Nan's earnest manner, paired with his Academy Award-worthy performance, she was destined to be ensnared by his "magic."

Zhuo Nan was secretly delighted. Little Sister, your experience still isn't enough. Outwardly, however, he wore a face of sincere repentance. "Sister Lan, I'm telling the truth. I've learned a lot from this. Even if I miss the high school entrance exam, I can repeat a year and try to get into a good school, so my uncle and aunt won't be disappointed."

"It's good that you know your mistake. Leave the rest to me. You must take the entrance exam, and if you get into a good school, you have to let me know," Lan Qian said, actually feeling the joy of being an elder sister.

"Sister Lan, I can't trouble you like this. It must be so hard for you," Zhuo Nan put on the air of a hero about to sacrifice himself. No matter how big the problem, he'd shoulder it alone, not bothering others.

Miss Lan grew angry. "What do you know? You're fussing like a girl—just leave it to me." She called out, "Old Wu, take him back and keep a close eye on him."

Old Wu scurried over. After so many years in the police system, he could see things clearly. This young woman, though not old, must have powerful connections—certainly not someone a lowly officer like himself could afford to offend. "Don't worry, Officer Lan, I'll take good care of him."

"Thank you, Old Wu," Lan Qian replied with a slight smile, making Old Wu's repressed heart flutter.

After Lan Qian left, Old Wu led Zhuo Nan back to their cell. Halfway there, he suddenly remarked, "Kid, your acting isn't half bad."

Zhuo Nan was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "Old Wu, I'll buy you a drink someday."

"You said it. I'll hold you to it."

"Alright then, just wait for it... hahaha..."

*****Line Break*****

"Brother Nan, don't worry. Once we're out, the boys and I will take care of what you asked," Long Kun had said to Zhuo Nan before leaving the cell.

Now the cell, which could hold a dozen or so, was empty except for Zhuo Nan himself. It felt lonely. All he could do was wait for word from Long Kun. Damn it, if they really found something, he’d try to extort two or three million first. Zhuo Nan trusted Long Kun deeply; there weren’t many people left who valued loyalty, but Long Kun was one of them.

Wang Liru hadn't slept well for two days. She had already borrowed from everyone she could think of, scraping together just over ten thousand—barely half of what was needed. What now? Even though the factory knew about her family's trouble—how could they not? Her son had put the leader’s child in the hospital. When her coworkers talked about it, they seemed as if they were venting their own grievances. But when it came to lending money, there were only two words: "Don't have any."

She couldn’t borrow the money, but still had to go to work. Zhuo Wengang had already taken leave, but Wang Liru couldn’t afford to—otherwise, what would be left of her salary at the end of the month? Though she hadn’t slept well the night before, she still got up early, made breakfast for Zhuo Lanlan, and only went to work after her daughter had eaten. These days, Lanlan had become the subject of gossip at school, but thankfully, she was sensible and didn't blame Zhuo Nan. On the contrary, she insisted on visiting her brother in the detention center.

She had barely started working in the workshop when the supervisor, Old Ma, came looking for her. Wang Zhenguo wanted to see her. Deep inside, Wang Liru was afraid of Wang Zhenguo. She remembered when she first started at the factory, there was a rumor—unverified, but disturbingly detailed—that Wang Zhenguo had taken a liking to a new female worker, raped her, and even got her pregnant. The woman later tried to report him but failed and was eventually fired.

Though it was only a rumor, Wang Liru believed it. She recalled that when she started, Wang Zhenguo seemed to be interested in her too. But what needed to happen would happen, and seeing him in broad daylight in his office couldn’t be that dangerous, could it?

Fatty Wang's office was the last room on the third floor of the new office building. The room was spacious; facing the door was Wang Zhenguo’s massive rosewood desk—considered a luxury in those days. On the desk was a computer, with the monitor perched atop the case. Fatty Wang sat behind the desk, a grotesque imitation of a dignified man. When Wang Liru walked in, he immediately stood up and came around the desk.

"Liru, you’re here! Take a seat, would you like some tea?" Fatty Wang beamed, his smile reminiscent of the Laughing Buddha—if only he shared a fraction of that benevolence.

The sight of him made Wang Liru nauseous. She deliberately left the door open, wary of any inappropriate moves. "No need for niceties, Director Wang. Please just tell me what you want," she said, her tone icy. Wang Zhenguo was unfazed.

He chuckled. "Liru, there’s nothing in particular, just wanted to ask if your family is facing any difficulties."

Wang Liru sneered inwardly. As if you didn’t know. But now, needing his help, she could only swallow her pride and plead, "Director Wang, I’m a woman so I’ll speak plainly. There’s no way my family can come up with a hundred thousand. Forty thousand is the most we can manage. Please, for the sake of Zhuo Nan’s late parents, let the boy go. My husband and I will never forget your kindness—we’d repay you in our next lives if we could."

He laughed again. "Liru, don’t make it sound so serious. Boys fighting, that’s no big deal." As he spoke, he walked over and closed the door.

Wang Liru wanted to protest, but was afraid to anger him. "Forty thousand it is," Fatty Wang’s words sounded like music to her ears. "Director Wang, do you mean it? Forty thousand is enough?"

"Of course," he said, "but I have one condition." As he spoke, the old lecher’s hand landed on her shoulder.

Wang Liru jumped back, frightened, and asked, "What is your condition?"

He withdrew his hand with a regretful flick. "It’s simple. Spend one night with me tomorrow and I’ll forgive the remaining sixty thousand."

From heaven to hell in an instant—her greatest fear had come to pass. Wang Liru trembled with rage and, after a brief pause, pointed at Wang Zhenguo’s nose and cursed, "You’re nothing but a beast, a filthy degenerate…"

Wang Zhenguo’s gentle facade vanished. He grabbed her by the throat, making Wang Liru cough and gasp, unable to speak, her hands clawing desperately at his. "You filthy whore, don’t you dare act all pure with me. You think you’re still some innocent maiden? Look at those sagging tits—if I want you, you should consider it a blessing. Come tomorrow night and spend one night with me, and the matter will be settled. Otherwise, I’ll have someone deal with that bastard Zhuo Nan of yours in lockup." With that, he released her and even groped her chest as he let go.

Freed, Wang Liru gasped for breath, then hurled herself at Wang Zhenguo in a frenzy. "Wang Zhenguo, you beast! I’ll fight you to the death!"

"Fuck off!" Wang Zhenguo kicked her to the floor, snarling, "Slut, I’m giving you a chance—don’t be ungrateful. There are plenty of women who want to get in my bed. Think it over. Get out now. If I don’t see you tomorrow night, then the day after, I’ll have someone kill your Zhuo Nan."

Wang Liru didn’t even know how she made it home—just numbly told Old Ma she needed leave and left. Old Ma, knowing her family’s predicament, did his best to look after her.

When she got home, Zhuo Wengang was still out trying to borrow money, and Lanlan was at school. Alone, she sat on the bed, staring blankly at a family photo of the four of them, and broke down in tears.

****There will be another update at midnight****