Chapter 55
“Now that everyone’s here, isn’t it time to sign the severance letter?” Xu Ke once again placed the severance letter that had not been handed over in the middle of the two families, staring directly into Tian mother’s eyes.
Tian mother felt guilty under Xu Ke’s gaze, but thinking of future benefits, she stubbornly shook her head and pretended she didn’t know anything. This made the groomsmen who came with Yang Hui want to rush over and hit her, even though she’s an older woman.
“What severance letter? I’m here to marry off my daughter, not sever ties. Why should I sign it? I’m not signing anything. If you don’t want to get married, then leave. There’s no way I’m letting you separate me from my daughter.” Tian mother waved her arms and turned her head away, avoiding Xu Ke’s gaze.
“You took our four million and now you want to back out?” Yang Hui said angrily as he looked at Tian mother’s behavior.
“What do you mean I took your four million? When did I take it? You can’t just slander someone with empty words.” Tian mother retorted rudely, displaying a shameless and unrepentant attitude.
“Mrs. Tian, although I haven’t come out from the room, I heard everything that just happened. I heard you discussing selling me like a commodity. Since you’ve decided to sell me, at least keep some business ethics and stop messing around here. No one present is a fool; if you keep causing trouble, you’ll only embarrass yourself.” Tian Xiajuan casually wiped the tears off her face and said coldly yet clearly.
Her makeup was smeared from crying, but her eyes were shining brighter than the sun.
“You ungrateful child, no wonder they say daughters are outsiders. You haven’t even married yet, and you’re already siding with them. Once you marry, are you going to disown me as your mother, disown your brother, and this family too? Husband, look at the daughter we raised; now she’s doing well and doesn’t care about our family anymore.” Tian mother slapped her thigh and started her usual antics, but no one paid her any attention except for Tian Lijun, who was still playing along with his mother.
Xu Ke stood at the bottom of the steps watching their seemingly endless performance. He glanced at the time with a frown. Having been watching Xu Ke, Lawyer Bai coldly spoke up, “Mrs. Tian, Mr. Tian, do you think playing tricks can get you out of this? You have two options now: one, keep your promise and sign immediately; two, we charge you and your son with fraud, considering you’re both adults and the amount defrauded is significant, you might spend the rest of your lives in prison.”
Lawyer Bai’s words momentarily silenced Tian mother’s cries. Mother and son exchanged glances, and Tian Lijun spoke up, “Who can prove we committed fraud? The money was given willingly, not deceived from them. Do you have any evidence? If not, be careful not to slander us, or we’ll sue you for defamation.”
“Go ahead and try, see if I, Bai Tang, go in first or if the two of you end up in prison first.” Lawyer Bai adjusted his black-rimmed glasses with a relaxed and pleased demeanor.
“Let’s see, you think we’re afraid of you?” Tian mother continued to shout, but Tian Lijun’s face had turned pale. Xu Ke noticed Tian Lijun’s sudden change in expression and raised his eyebrow, then subtly glanced at the lawyer sent by Xu Jie.
“Who did you say you are?” Tian Lijun swallowed hard and asked with a strained voice.
“I am Bai Tang, unchanged in name or face.”
“Is it the Bai Tang I’m thinking of?”
“I suppose it’s correct.”
The people present didn’t understand their cryptic exchange, but after Bai Tang confirmed his identity, they saw Tian Lijun’s pale face and the sweat the size of soybeans on his forehead, along with his constantly trembling hands.
“I’ll sign. I’ll sign it now.” The crowd watched as Tian Lijun almost rushed to where Xu Ke was, took the severance letter from Bai Tang’s hand, and unhesitatingly signed his name under everyone’s gaze, then shoved the pen into Tian mother’s hand, urging her to sign quickly.
“You unfilial child, why are you signing this? Don’t you want to get married?” Tian mother held the severance letter with Tian Lijun’s signature, scolding him with anger and disappointment.
“I want to live.” Tian Lijun shouted loudly, his pupils constricting with visible fear.
“What are you talking about? Who dares to threaten your life?” Tian mother, bewildered by Tian Lijun’s reaction, said in a daze.
“Bai Tang, Bai Tang from Yun City, who never loses a case. Nobody ever comes out alive once he puts them in prison. Mom, I’m begging you, please sign it, okay?” Tian Lijun pleaded tearfully with his mother to sign.
What he didn’t mention was what he had heard from his friends in Yun City, that Bai Tang had dirty hands, he had killed people himself, and especially liked torturing them.
Recalling his friends’ descriptions, Tian Lijun shuddered, knowing he was still young and didn’t want to die.
Tian Lijun’s behavior affected Tian mother, and under his repeated urgings, the severance letter was quickly signed, but no one stepped forward to take it. Everyone looked at Bai Tang with wary and uncertain eyes.
They hadn’t been to Yun City and didn’t know Bai Tang’s reputation, but from Tian Lijun’s reaction and his recent words, they gathered that Bai Tang was no ordinary person. And someone so out of the ordinary was showing such deference to Xu Ke. What kind of status must Xu Ke have?
People who were already in awe of Xu Ke’s mysterious nature now felt fear added to their awe. They moved further away from him, almost creating a vacuum around Xu Ke. However, the two people who were being distanced seemed unaware, and Bai Tang even stepped forward to take the severance letter from Tian Lijun’s hands and handed the letter and pen to Tian Xiajuan.
Tian Lijun, though a reckless person, had seen and heard much in his travels, so hearing Tian Lijun’s description of Bai Tang scared Tian Xiajuan. When Bai Tang extended the items, she took a step back into Yang Hui’s arms, leaving Yang Hui to take the severance letter with an apologetic smile from Bai Tang’s hands.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Bai Tang adjusted his glasses and said with a smile.