Song Mai quickly explained, "That's not what I meant..."
Lin Ran stubbornly took her hand:
“I know what you’re afraid of, but that’s precisely why I have to go with you. Otherwise, how can you handle it alone? If we go together, we can figure out a solution together, and we’ll be able to solve any problems that arise.”
Hearing Lin Ran's words, a warm feeling welled up in her heart. Song Mai held her hand back, her eyes filled with emotion.
"Okay, let's go together."
Sure enough, Song's mother was waiting for Song Mai at the company's front desk. As soon as she saw Song Mai come out, she rushed forward and grabbed her, as if afraid that she would run away.
Lin Ran, somewhat speechless, gently pushed away Song Mai's hand that was gripping her injured arm:
"Don't worry, she won't run away. Since she said she wanted to talk to you, she won't change her mind at the last minute."
For safety reasons, Song Mai didn't go too far and just sat down in a coffee shop near the company.
The waiter quickly brought three cups of coffee and placed them in front of the three people.
Song's mother glanced at the upscale environment of the coffee shop, took a sip of the steaming latte in front of her, and spat it out several times.
"What is this thing that's so bitter?"
The coffee shop employee smiled somewhat awkwardly:
"This is an Italian latte."
Song's mother glanced at the clerk and asked, "What kind of latte is this? How much is it?"
"This latte costs thirty-nine yuan."
Upon hearing this, Song's mother's eyes widened immediately, her expression appearing quite exaggerated.
"What? So expensive! Thirty-nine yuan for just a small cup of bitter water?"
The shop assistant was extremely embarrassed, and the smile on his face became somewhat stiff.
Song Mai smiled helplessly and asked her to get Song's mother a new cup of hot milk before she walked away with a sigh of relief.
But after the shop assistant left, Song's mother quickly turned her anger towards Song Mai.
"Is this how you usually spend money when you're out? A latte costs thirty-nine yuan. Do you know that's equivalent to our family's food expenses for a day? I'm frugal and thrifty at home, but you're so extravagant outside. No wonder you say you don't have any money when I ask you for it. You did it on purpose, spending all your money on yourself!"
She spoke harshly, her expression somewhat distorted, as if Song Mai was not her biological daughter, but an enemy, as if Song Mai had committed a terrible crime by buying this latte.
Song Mai sipped his coffee slowly and deliberately, completely unmoved.
Just as Song's mother was getting extremely anxious, she slowly said:
"First of all, I almost never drink coffee, and I'm not here for coffee today. I just want a place to talk business. Secondly, regardless of whether I have enough money left for coffee after I give you money, I'm the one who earns all the money, and I support the Song family. It wouldn't be unreasonable for me to come here for coffee often."
Song's mother glared at her, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You're the daughter I raised; you should give me the money you earn!"
Her voice was loud, clearly indicating she was about to start an argument. It sounded jarring in the quiet atmosphere of the coffee shop, attracting many strange looks from passersby.
Song Mai frowned unhappily: "I'm not here to argue with you. Do you still want to talk or not? If you don't, you can leave."
Upon hearing this, Song's mother indeed quieted down.
She snorted coldly: "Speak, what other ideas do you have?"
Song Mai sat up straight:
“I can tell you the solution and I can help you resolve the matter, but after this, whatever happens to the Song family has nothing to do with me. Don’t come looking for me again, and don’t try to pin anything on me. I will give you and Dad a sum of money every month as living expenses, and if you get sick, my brother and I will split the medical expenses.”
But I won't pay for other inexplicable expenses, including my brother's family expenses and Xiao Hao's tuition. I have my own life, and I won't keep cleaning up your messes or paying for your greed. If you agree to this, then we can talk; if you don't, then there's nothing to talk about.
Upon hearing this, Song's mother's face immediately turned ashen.
She slammed her hand on the table, and the hot milk she had barely drunk immediately splashed all over the table.
"So that's what you were thinking, being so kind! You want to cut ties with us? Don't even think about it, I'll never agree to that!"
Lin Ran was also convinced by Song's mother's logic.
Song Mai never seemed to mention severing ties from beginning to end, and she also said that she would pay the money she was owed, but she just wouldn't be taken advantage of. It's absurd that Song's mother would escalate the matter to severing ties.
Song Mai took a sip of coffee: "When did I say I wanted to sever ties? Since you won't agree, there's no need to waste time. We have things to do, so we'll be leaving now."
As she spoke, she winked at Lin Ran.
Lin Ran immediately understood and picked up her bag to leave.
Seeing this, Song's mother became anxious and started yelling at Song Mai.
"Xiao Hao is my only grandson and your own nephew. You can't abandon him!"
Song Mai said without turning her head:
“I can help. I’ve already made myself very clear. It’s not that I’m unwilling to save him, it’s that you, as his grandmother, are unwilling to save your own grandson.”
Seeing that Song Mai was about to walk away, Song's mother shouted through gritted teeth in desperation.
"Wait! I promise!"
Song Mai and Lin Ran exchanged a smile, then turned around and looked back.
The two sat down again, and Song Mai took a document out of her bag and pushed it in front of her mother.
"Let's sign it. Words are no proof; the agreement shall prevail."
Song's mother was furious that Song Mai had come so prepared.
"I really underestimated you."
She read the agreement carefully twice before reluctantly signing her name.
"Tell me, what's your plan?"
After confirming that the agreement was correct, Song Mai put it into her bag before speaking:
"It's not necessarily about using money to solve this. He may be rich and powerful, but don't forget that everyone is bound by the law. Marriage is a voluntary act. If a bride price is given but the marriage doesn't happen, the bride price should be returned according to the law. His demand for two million is clearly extortion, and kidnapping Xiao Hao to blackmail him is kidnapping. These two things combined are enough to sentence him to ten or eight years."
Song's mother clutched the hem of her clothes tightly, her face filled with fear: "You mean call the police?"
Song Mai nodded: "Yes, his kidnapping of Xiao Hao constitutes kidnapping. We can call the police. This is a public prosecution case. After the police make their determination, they will transfer it to the procuratorate, which will then file a public prosecution. As for the two million, we can also file a lawsuit in court at the same time. As long as we win the case, we can return the five hundred thousand."
Hearing Song Mai's words, Song's mother was stunned, feeling that Song Mai in front of her was somewhat unfamiliar.
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