After all this fuss, it turns out that Zhu Jianrui isn't Zhuang Li's son? The department head was stunned.
He and the original owner had been colleagues for seven or eight years, so he naturally knew his specific situation well. His son didn't have the same last name as him, but he was indeed his biological son. Zhuang Li usually didn't like to communicate with his colleagues, but when his son got full marks on a test, he would often show off to others. His proud attitude didn't seem like someone who treated an adopted child, let alone the child of Mr. Wang next door.
The department head was confused by the news. He turned his head to Zhuang Li and then to Zhu Jianrui, as if he wanted to do a DNA test on the father and son with his naked eyes.
The others did the same, staring at Zhuang Li and Zhu Jianrui back and forth.
The chubby boy asked in surprise: "Zhu Jianrui, isn't the Great God your father?"
Zhu Jianrui's cheeks flushed red, his teeth clenched, feeling extremely embarrassed. Although he disdained being Zhuang Li's son, that didn't mean he was willing to expose the news in public. Being the adopted son of a loser for fourteen years wasn't a glorious thing.
Zhuang Li stared at his gradually distorted face and chuckled, "He knows better than anyone whether I am his biological father or not. Otherwise, why do you think he attacked my company?"
The chubby boy's mind was completely confused. He murmured, "That's not right, Master, you have always been Zhu Jianrui's father. He and I have been friends since childhood. I know your family situation! Why did he attack your company? Because he knows you are not his father? No, the logic here is wrong. Even if he knew you were not his biological father, you raised him for fourteen years. Why would he retaliate against you? There must be some logical flaw here."
The chubby boy ruffled his hair, and his squinting eyes were filled with confusion.
Everyone in the mediation room was also confused.
Upon learning that his father wasn't his biological son, the son attacked his father's company and held him responsible. Think carefully about this statement. Is there something wrong with it? Is there such a son who repays kindness with hatred? Did raising you for fourteen years make a mistake?
The chubby boy's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted, "By the way, Master, did you abuse Zhu Jianrui? Zhu Jianrui said you weren't nice to him at all."
The bewildered crowd turned to look at Zhuang Li, their eyes filled with obvious accusation and disdain. The logic made sense. Why would a perfectly good child seek revenge against his adoptive father for no apparent reason? If Zhuang Li had truly fulfilled his responsibilities as a father over the past fourteen years, caring for his son meticulously, and his son wasn't inherently bad, how could he not be grateful?
Zhuang Li read everyone's thoughts from their eyes and couldn't help but clapped his hands on the armrest of his chair and chuckled softly. Being misunderstood, despised, and criticized, he didn't feel the slightest bit uncomfortable. Instead, he was like a bystander, enjoying the absurdity of the scene.
Before the low laughter faded away, a man and a woman pushed open the door of the mediation room and hurried in, followed by a chubby couple, and then several leaders of the police station.
"Mom and Dad, you're here." The chubby boy shrank behind Zhu Jianrui.
Zhu Jianrui saw the tall man walking in front and shouted, "Dad!"
As a result, everyone's eyes were on the man, and based on his facial features that were 90% similar to Zhu Jianrui, they determined that he was "Old Wang next door."
Mr. Fang stared in surprise: "Mr. Gong, why is it you?!"
A closer look revealed this man's face, a frequent presence in financial magazines. Who else could it be but Gong Xuanlin, the current leader of the Gong Group? His eldest brother, Gong Xuanqi, was even more remarkable, having already joined the cabinet and reportedly a strong chance of winning the upcoming election and becoming president.
That’s right, the China in this world is a presidential republic, and its political system is completely different from the parallel world that Zhuang Li had visited before.
As soon as Gong Xuanlin arrived, everyone in the mediation room suddenly became much shorter for no reason and forgot their original purpose.
Only Zhuang Li threw the thick stack of bills on the table and said calmly: "Mr. Gong, let's talk about Zhu Jianrui's compensation." Facing the person at the top of the pyramid, he was not afraid at all.
Instead, Mr. Fang, who had been so talkative before, was the first to become intimidated. He waved his hands repeatedly to explain, "No, no, no, we at MIK don't need any compensation from Zhu Jianrui. Mr. Gong, everything before was a misunderstanding."
Gong Xuanlin glanced at them gravely and ordered, "Everyone who is not involved should get out."
Mr. Fang, still wanting to explain, immediately dragged his department head with him and hurried out of the mediation room. The chubby teenager was also dragged out by his parents, grabbed by the ears. Several police officers glanced back and forth at the two groups, hesitating whether to withdraw, when they heard Zhuang Li's equally stern tone, "Comrades, please stay and serve as witnesses for both of us. Today, I intend to divorce Zhu Miaomiao and dissolve my father-son relationship with Zhu Jianrui."
Gong Xuanlin walked over slowly but didn't sit down. Instead, he lowered his head, looked down at Zhuang Li, and said indifferently, "You guys can stay. It's a good opportunity to help me change my household registration information. My wife and children are all mine. They have nothing to do with any of you outsiders."
Several policemen had no choice but to nod in agreement, while at the same time they were also imagining a human drama in their minds.
At the same time, several men who had been standing at the door also walked in. They were dressed in smart suits, carrying expensive briefcases, and wearing shiny black leather shoes. They were obviously members of the elite class.
"This is my legal team." Gong Xuanlin raised his chin towards them.
On the other side, Zhu Miaomiao was hugging Zhu Jianrui and crying quietly. Then she shouted at Zhuang Li in a hoarse voice, "What right did you call the police to arrest my son? I want to divorce you! Today! I didn't lie to you when we got married. You knew all along that the child was not yours!"
Several policemen couldn't help but look shocked. They had never seen a man willingly put a green hat on his head.
"How much do you want? Is five million enough?" Gong Xuanlin slowly approached Zhuang Li, his towering presence looming over him, bringing a heavy sense of oppression. This was how those in power handled matters: they pressured you from all sides, intimidated you, and then finally gave you a little sweet treat, making you leave in gratitude.
Several police officers secretly shook their heads, feeling that the five million wasn't worth it. Zhuang Li had wanted to raise the child himself, but after agreeing to do so, he reneged, began abusing the child, and even forced the child onto a path of crime. He was clearly not a good person. After entering the police station, he hadn't said a single word of concern to Zhu Jianrui. This single detail alone showed that he had no feelings for the child at all.
When dealing with someone like this, offering money to them is the wrong approach; they should be held accountable for their child abuse. If Zhu Jianrui hadn't suffered so much injustice and accumulated so much hatred, would he have attacked MIK? After all, he's a well-regarded kid, praised by everyone. This stain shouldn't be left on his life.
Amidst the police's contempt and under the pressure of Gong Xuanlin, Zhuang Li slowly leaned back against the sofa, withdrawing from the shadow that enveloped him. His thin lips curled slightly, and his voice was full of amusement: "Five million? It doesn't seem enough."
He's truly insatiable! Several policemen revealed a look of understanding. They'd seen plenty of scoundrels like Zhuang Li.
Gong Xuanlin's tone became increasingly grim: "How much do you want?"
Zhu Miaomiao shouted angrily behind him, "Xuanlin, don't give him a penny! Otherwise, he will blackmail you endlessly in the future!"
Gong Xuanlin turned around to comfort his wife and children.
Several police officers agreed, thinking to themselves, "Yes, Ms. Zhu, you're right to think that way. If there's any problem that can be resolved legally, please seek help from the police. Never give money privately. You never know if giving money this time will lead to another." Based on past experience, when it comes to a child's reputation and future, this is a 100% surefire way to end up in a bottomless pit.
Everyone's thoughts were written on their faces.
Zhuang Li watched their performance silently. For some reason, he clapped his hands on the armrests of his chair and laughed softly. Tears welled up in the corners of his narrow eyes, as if he had just watched the most ridiculous farce.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to hold myself back, but I couldn't." He tapped his temples with his slender index finger and said distressedly, "Gong Xuanlin, there's something wrong with your brain. I can't understand your logic, and you don't seem to understand me either. Let your lawyer come and talk to me. To be honest, five million really isn't enough."
He pointed at a few lawyers and pushed the stack of bills over.
Several lawyers immediately picked up the bills and examined them, their faces gradually becoming distorted. They had already researched Zhuang Li's situation before arriving and knew he was a powerless orphan who lived a very hard life. He had struggled for over a decade to buy a small house in a remote area, and he still owed a huge mortgage.
Five million was a perfectly reasonable price to get rid of him. If he asked for too much, they could add a little more, but only after they had sufficiently intimidated and pressured him, letting him know who to provoke and who to stay away from.
But after looking at the bills, they realized how ridiculous the five million was! Even Mr. Gong, who had said five million, looked ridiculous.
Due to his hardship and the need to raise a wife and children, the original owner had been keeping accounts since his junior year of high school. He had to understand where every penny went so he could save more for the next expense. After receiving these accounts, Zhuang Li checked his bank statements, finding they mostly matched. He also broke down the accounts into various categories, annotating each with a timeline.
Several lawyers originally thought that today's task was simple, and that they only needed to write a check and sign a divorce agreement, but now it seems that they are still missing the most important piece of equipment.
"Do you have a calculator? Lend us one." The chief lawyer raised his head and said to several policemen, his cheeks flushed with shame.
This shame wasn't because his mental arithmetic was too poor, but because of the five million his boss had previously given him. Anyone with a normal mind, after looking at this bill, would understand how much Zhuang Li had sacrificed to take care of Zhu Miaomiao and her son. Anyone else would have been crushed by the sheer size of the figures.
Is five million enough to buy out the marriage and custody rights? It might be enough for others, but it was a complete joke for Zhuang Li.
Zhu Miaomiao's insistence on not giving Zhuang Li a penny was sheer chuckle. Anyone in this world could look down on Zhuang Li, but she and Zhu Jianrui were the least qualified to disparage each other, let alone engage in so-called "revenge."
There is only gratitude between them, where does the hatred come from?
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