Chapter 445 Brother Zhou, you've been hiding it well!
Miao Miao said tremblingly, "I...I was really bewitched back then."
Miaomiao cried even harder, her shoulders shaking and her forehead banging against the cold floor with soft thuds. "My mom is in the hospital and needs surgery fees, my brother is taking the college entrance exam next year and needs money for tutoring classes. I really need the money. I really know I was wrong. Please have mercy and give me another chance. I will never do anything crooked again."
As she spoke, she pulled a crumpled hospital bill from her pocket and handed it to Cui Xiao with trembling hands. The amount and hospitalization information on the bill were clearly visible.
Cui Xiao's gaze swept over the payment slip, but her fingertips showed no intention of taking it; she simply looked away.
She reached out and pulled out a few tissues from the coffee table, slowly wiping the cuffs of her trousers that had been stained with Miao Miao's tears. The tissues left faint damp marks on the fabric.
She tossed the used tissue into the trash can, looked up at Miaomiao on the ground, her eyes devoid of any pity, her tone icy, "Your difficulties are your own business, not a reason for you to scheme against others. Nobody's life is easy. Just because you're desperate doesn't give you the right to take a knife and stab innocent people."
Cui Xiao paused, recalling everything that happened in the car last night, her voice growing colder, "Besides, do you think that even if you sleep with Zhou Mubin, he'll give you money? You're wrong. He'll willingly spend money on the women he sleeps with, but if he's been tricked and it's not his choice, let alone giving you money, it's uncertain whether you'll even see the sun rise the next day."
Cui Xiao's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on Miao Miao, extinguishing her last glimmer of hope.
Miao Miao's thinking was simple: Zhou Mubin was so rich, even a little money from his pocket could support her for a lifetime. She didn't ask for much, nor did she want to cause any more trouble. As long as Zhou Mubin was willing to buy peace and quiet, she could never appear in front of him again.
To everyone's surprise, Zhou Mubin's willpower was incredibly strong.
Miao Miao's crying stopped abruptly. Her hands fell limply to her sides, and the payment slip fluttered to the floor. She slumped to the ground, staring blankly ahead, with only her shoulders still trembling unconsciously.
Zhou Mubin turned his head to look at Cui Xiao beside him. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, which was then replaced by a deep smile. The smile contained appreciation and a hint of pride that was not easily detected.
He quietly reached out and gently touched the back of Cui Xiao's hand with the back of his fingers, as if to comfort her or to express his approval. He knew that Cui Xiao was never a soft-hearted person, and this clarity and decisiveness was exactly what he admired most.
This appreciation lasted only a moment. When Zhou Mubin turned to look at Miao Miao, who was lying on the ground looking lost and dejected, the temperature in his eyes instantly dropped to freezing.
He stubbed out the cigarette between his fingers in the ashtray, the force of the movement sending sparks flying. "You think you can erase what you've done by playing the victim and begging for forgiveness?"
He took out his phone, his fingertips swiping rapidly across the screen, his voice chilling enough to freeze the air, "It seems you have absolutely no reverence for your future."
Miao Miao suddenly raised her head, a flicker of panic rekindling in her empty eyes. "Brother Zhou, what...what are you going to do?"
Zhou Mubin ignored her and dialed a number directly, pressing the speakerphone button.
The call was quickly answered, and a respectful male voice came from the other end, "Attorney Zhou, what can I do for you?"
Zhou Mubin's voice was flat and authoritative, "Principal Li, your school has a student named Miao Miao, who is a sophomore in the law school."
Miao Miao's face turned deathly pale instantly. She scrambled to Zhou Mubin's feet and clung tightly to his leg. "No, Brother Zhou, please don't! That's my only hope!"
Upon seeing this, Xu Chenghao quickly stepped forward, pulled her away, and pinned her to the ground, rendering her unable to move.
The person on the other end of the phone quickly replied, "That's right, Attorney Zhou, there is indeed such a person."
"From now on, cancel her scholarship eligibility." Zhou Mubin glanced down at Miao Miao struggling at his feet, his tone unwavering. "Also, inform her that according to the funding agreement, she has violated public order and good morals and damaged the reputation of the sponsor, and needs to return last year's full scholarship amount. If she does not settle the debt within a week, I will have the legal department intervene."
What Miao Miao didn't know was that the scholarship from HKU was sponsored by Zhou Mubin to his alma mater, and he also had the right to cancel Miao Miao's scholarship.
"Yes, Mr. Zhou, I'll arrange it right away."
Zhou Mubin hung up the phone immediately and threw it on the coffee table.
Miao Miao collapsed to the ground, her eyes glazed over, muttering to herself, "It's over...it's all over..."
Her family was already struggling financially, and this full scholarship covered their tuition and living expenses. Now that the scholarship has been canceled and has to be refunded, not to mention her mother's surgery fees, even her own tuition fees have become astronomical.
She raised her head and glared venomously at Cui Xiao, but was met with a cold look from Zhou Mubin, which frightened her so much that she immediately lowered her head and began to tremble all over.
Cui Xiao sat to the side, watching the scene before her, her fingertips slightly curled.
She guessed that Zhou Mubin would punish Miao Miao, but she didn't expect it to be so harsh.
But on second thought, if Miao Miao hadn't been so greedy, she wouldn't have ended up like this; ultimately, she only had herself to blame.
She turned her head to look at Zhou Mubin, and met his gaze. The coldness in his eyes had not completely faded, but it softened when it met hers.
Zhou Mubin didn't even glance at Miao Miao again. He raised his chin at Xu Chenghao and said in a cold tone, "Take her away. Don't let her get in the way here."
Xu Chenghao responded with "Okay" and stepped forward to support the limp Miaomiao.
Miao Miao felt weak all over and was dragged along like a lump of mud. When she passed the entrance, she still looked back with a glimmer of hope, but she only saw Zhou Mubin talking to Cui Xiao with his head down. His posture was so gentle that he was completely different from before. Despair overwhelmed her.
The door slammed shut, finally shutting out that venomous gaze.
When Xu Chenghao returned after dealing with Miaomiao, he saw Zhou Mubin squatting by the coffee table, carefully wiping away the water stains left on the payment slip that Miaomiao had dropped with a damp cloth. His movements were patient and meticulous.
Cui Xiao leaned back on the sofa, holding the warm water Zhou Mubin had just poured for her, her gaze fixed on his back, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tenderness.
The chill in the living room had long since dissipated, replaced by an indescribable, ambiguous atmosphere.
Xu Chenghao raised an eyebrow, coughed lightly to break the silence, walked to the sofa and sat down, looking at Zhou Mubin with a half-smile, "Well done, Brother Zhou, you've kept it well hidden."
As he spoke, his eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, his tone full of teasing, "Tell me honestly, did you manage to win over Miss Cui?"
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