Chapter 13 — Called Off Right on the Spot

Lam Man’s complexion shifted instantly. "Stop spouting nonsense," she snapped.

"Uncle Chau has a granddaughter in high school, studying at an institution funded by the Shen family. You used this leverage to coerce him into changing his testimony, didn't you?"

Lam Man panicked for a fleeting second, but quickly regained her composure. "Where is your proof?"

I had no proof. At least, not yet. The old patriarch chuckled coldly. "If you have no proof, keep your mouth shut."

Shen Zhihan looked directly at me. "Hua Qinghe, letting things escalate to this point benefits no one at all."

I countered, "And so?"

"You apologize to Lam Man, withdraw your complaints against her, and the research institute's contract will be restored. As for the marriage, we can postpone it temporarily."

Lam Man lifted her chin in supreme arrogance. "Miss Hua, I am not an unreasonable person. If you bow your head to me and offer an apology, I can let go of the fact that you falsely accused me of drunk driving."

Hearing her words, the fury inside me suddenly dissolved into a profound, chilling calm.

"And if I refuse?"

The patriarch shoved the document across the table toward me. "Then today, I will have someone take this very paper and throw it right at the entrance of your father's workplace. Let everyone with eyes see firsthand just how ungrateful and treacherous the Hua family truly is."

Shen Zhihan made no move to stop him. In Lam Man’s eyes bloomed the fierce, triumphant pleasure of a victor. "Miss Hua, a person shouldn't be too stubbornly foolish for their own good."

Suddenly, the sound of commotion echoed from outside the conference room. Door broke in violently, clutching a thick folder in her hand.

"Qinghe, don't believe a single word they say!"

She slammed the file down onto the conference table, panting heavily as she hurled accusations. "Old Chau isn't suffering from some sudden crisis of conscience! His granddaughter was summoned by the school administration this morning and told her scholarship funding might be revoked!"

Lam Man shrieked, "You're lying!"

Door pointed a finger straight between her eyes. "Lying, am I? Do you dare call the school right this second and check?"

Shen Zhihan turned his gaze to Lam Man. "Is this true?"

Lam Man averted her eyes, dodging his stare. "I don't know anything about it."

I opened the document envelope. Inside lay a photograph of a school summons notice, accompanied by a partially played voice note sent by Uncle Chau himself. In the recording, his voice trembled with weeping. *"Miss Hua, I am deeply sorry, but my granddaughter cannot afford to miss her education. Assistant Lam told me that as long as I changed my statement, she would leave the child alone."*

Silence swallowed the conference room entirely. Lam Man lunged forward, attempting to snatch the files away, but Door shoved her firmly to the ground.

"Trying to destroy evidence now? Do you think this Shen Corporation is a den of bandits?"

Shen Zhihan’s expression turned utterly grotesque. "Lam Man, explain yourself."

Lam Man wept, shaking her head frantically. "It wasn't me! They colluded with each other just to frame me."

I stared straight at Shen Zhihan. "Now, do you still expect me to apologize?"

His lips parted, but no words came out. The old patriarch suddenly slammed his cane hard against the floor with a sharp crack. "Even if Man Man did something wrong, it was only because you forced her into it!"

I burst out laughing. "The Shen family truly shares the same bloodline—equally shameless to the core."

The patriarch’s face turned ashen with rage. "Hua Qinghe, I will ask you one last time: do you agree or not?"

"I do not."

"Very well." He picked up his phone and dialed a number right in front of me. "Bring the materials over. The more people who see them, the better."

I took a step forward. "You wouldn't dare."

The patriarch glared at me with venomous eyes. "What is there that I wouldn't dare?"

Shen Zhihan reached out to block my path. "Hua Qinghe, stop making a scene. It's not too late to bow your head now."

Lam Man cowered behind his back, her voice light and venomous as a viper's. "Miss Hua, just apologize to me once. How hard can that possibly be?"

Door’s eyes burned red with fury. "You people are utterly ruthless and oppressive!"

The old patriarch pushed a porcelain teacup across the table toward me. "Kneel, offer the tea, and apologize."

Shen Zhihan remained completely silent, not uttering another single word.