Xu Keke was no longer the arrogant major general she used to be; she instantly sensed something was off about Zhou Heng's tone. She explained obsequiously, "Didn't my dad say today that Zhang Man can't compare to me? If I do anything, Zhang Man has to give up her entire fortune. I mean, she's giving me her heart and soul, not me."
She didn't need to explain; Zhou Heng had seen everything Xu Keke had done to Huang Pinjia. To say she was particularly attentive wouldn't be accurate. It was more like raising a pet—playing with him when she felt like it, and letting him be when she wasn't. But even with a pet, he didn't want to see her being too attentive.
The next day, Zhou Heng kept his word and cleared Huang Pinjia of all evidence of embezzlement. However, he left a loose end for Zhang Man's people, making it easy for them to know who had helped them.
He also transferred the money he had embezzled and accepted bribes from Huang Pinjia to Zhang Man's name.
His move successfully lured Xu's parents over.
Mr. Xu acted as if he had never been there that day, remaining hidden to the side and refusing to step forward. He left Mrs. Xu to deal with Xu Keke's crying and fussing all alone.
“Coco, Manman is your cousin. You can’t just ignore her. She’s in such a big debt now, what are you going to do with her?”
Xu Keke said nonchalantly, "Didn't she borrow money and make up for it?"
Xu's mother cried beautifully; her still-beautiful face glistened with tears, which then rolled down her cheeks. She didn't wipe them away, letting them fall freely.
She said sadly, "But, but when will it ever be over? This was originally Huang Pinjia's debt, what does it have to do with Manman? How can we let her borrow money?"
Xu Keke nodded in agreement, "That's right. How could someone as shrewd as her agree to do that?"
"No, Coco, it's wrong of her to take Huang Pinjia away from you, but please, please, for the sake of you being sisters, could you please..."
Zhou Heng was stunned, as was Huang Pinjia, who had just rushed into the room. Xu Keke and Zhang Man, on the contrary, who should have been the most surprised, remained calm.
"Coco, you already knew?" Mr. Xu pushed Mrs. Xu aside and rushed to Coco's side.
"It wasn't too early. When I was injured, there was a period when my brain was conscious. I could hear what you were saying at my bedside. I just couldn't control my body. It was a bit like the kind of astral projection recorded in ancient times."
Xu Keke explained it very clearly to her father.
"Coco, don't listen to these two women's nonsense, it's not true..."
Xu Keke smiled at her father, "I know you are only my parents in name. My real parents are not you."
Xu's mother became anxious, "How could it not be? You were born after I carried you for ten months."
Xu Keke laughed, "Yes, otherwise I wouldn't have kept calling you Mother. I wouldn't have let Zhang Man keep buzzing around me like a fly. You've actually been acting very well, but if you really want to fulfill your responsibilities as a mother, you should have argued with Grandfather. Like Zhang Man, even if you changed your identity, you should have kept her by your side. Only when you see her can you feel at ease. Instead of how you treated me, begging the bodyguard to let me stay one more minute when I was leaving."
When I grew up, I realized that begging for that one minute was meaningless; it was just for show.
And then there's the food you cook, which isn't very good. If you really cared, you would have done what you did with Zhang Man: knowing your cooking wasn't good, you would have hired a good chef for her and bought her the food she wanted. Instead of insisting on cooking yourself, making a mess of things, and then watching me swallow that pile of disgusting food that you yourself wouldn't want to eat.
You're putting on a show. These things don't require being a mother. You'll do them if you genuinely want to be good to someone.
After Xu Keke finished speaking, she glanced at Zhou Heng. Huang Pinjia, who was next to him, thought she was looking at him, and her delicate face was full of guilt.
Xu's mother's face turned deathly pale, and the tears in her eyes dried instantly. Only her damp cheeks showed that she had just been crying.
"Alright, Zhang Man, I won't help you. You can go back now. By the way, I heard that you two have officially become husband and wife to make up for that money. Congratulations!"
Xu Keke glanced at Zhou Heng, who reluctantly had a large box pushed out from inside.
"I promised to give you a wedding gift. This is everything I've bought for you over the years. Take it with you. I have no money left. My assets are already..."
Xu Keke glanced at Zhou Heng, then nervously shut her mouth.
Some things are easy to investigate. For example, Xu Keke and Zhou Heng are legally married, and all of Xu Keke's assets have been transferred to Zhou Heng.
Neither Zhang Man nor the Xu couple bothered her anymore. Of course, they had time to bother her. The couple was exhausted from trying to repay their debts, having exhausted all means. It was said that even the Xu couple were avoiding them, as they could barely make ends meet themselves, let alone help Zhang Man repay that bottomless pit.
In critical moments, some people prioritize their own safety above all else. Such people are selfish, yet they cannot be blamed. After all, everyone has the right to choose. As long as it doesn't harm others, one can choose not to help.
“Just let him take all your money.” Xu Keke was enjoying the artificial beach sunshine when Wei Chi, sitting next to her, was furious. He had been reprimanded by Zhou Heng, and his blonde nurse had run away; all of this had been making him rather irritable lately.
"It's a very strange logic. He still loves me even though I have no money or power. Maybe he wants to prove that he doesn't love me for my money or power, but for me as a person."
Wei Chi said it was too complicated and he couldn't understand it.
Xu Keke laughed, "Do you believe that? I can get that money back anytime. Do you think our family's business changes hands so easily?"
Xu Keke was delighted, seeing the shock on Wei Chi's face. He pleased her, which prompted Xu Keke to say a few more words, "Since I'm taking that money, I have to bear the corresponding responsibilities. No one will let me leave that position easily. But I'm tired, I don't want to do it anymore. The money is in his hands, they don't dare let him go, because of his background, no one will trust him."
As Zhou Heng walked towards them, Xu Keke whispered in Wei Chi's ear, "Can we install that game chip again?"
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