Throughout the afternoon, Kong Lian endured the whispers and judgments of her classmates, trying hard to remain calm and ignore the disdainful gazes around her.
Even though she kept telling herself that she shouldn't care about the opinions of these irrelevant people, she still felt suffocated and miserable inside.
She waited until the end of school and left hurriedly without waiting for Hu Xiyue and the others.
Zhao Yi and Guo Tongwen watched her retreating figure and made a few derisive remarks.
"I don't think she realizes how terrible she looks," Zhao Yi commented lightly.
Guo Tongwen chuckled, "Definitely not. She tried to maintain a smile all afternoon, but it just looked ridiculous."
When Kong Lian reached the school gate, she got into a sedan and waved goodbye to the two of them.
The driver, Uncle Wang, couldn't help but ask when he noticed her good mood, "Miss, you seem very happy today. Did something good happen?"
"I was praised by a teacher," Kong Lian replied with a smile.
"Miss, you are so excellent. It's only natural to be praised," Uncle Wang praised.
Some people rejoice, while others worry.
As soon as Kong Lian returned home, her face drooped, and a gloomy look appeared in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ruan Fengru approached and handed her a glass of freshly squeezed juice.
Kong Lian threw herself into her mother's embrace and cried loudly.
She quietly waited, crying out all her frustration and grievances without receiving any comfort.
After venting all her pent-up emotions, Kong Lian raised her head and wiped away her tears.
"Now can you tell me what happened?" her mother asked.
She had been so happy just a couple of days ago, but today she looked like this.
Kong Lian explained the whole story, from the cause to the consequences. "I really didn't expect her to inform the principal in advance. And I never imagined that they had surveillance cameras in their house. Why didn't Dad tell me? If I had known, I wouldn't have lost so badly."
Actually, that wasn't the main point. The crucial part was the sentence that followed.
"Mom, I lost."
"I dug a pit for her, and now I have to fill it myself. What should I do now?"
Just thinking about the cost of renting Mingshan Island for the weekend made Kong Lian panic.
Just renting the island for two days would cost nearly ten million, not to mention leasing the cruise ship and other expenses on the island. Initially, she had deliberately quoted high prices to set a trap for Ren Ran, but now she had to bear the consequences herself.
"How foolish!" Kong Lian lowered her head, not daring to argue.
They couldn't come up with millions, so they would have to rely on Dad.
Ruan Fengru stood up. "You need to reflect on yourself."
She walked into the study and dialed Kong Liji's private number.
Normally, she rarely called that number, as he was the one who usually contacted her.
Kong Liji answered the call while on his way home. "What's up?"
Ruan Fengru's gentle voice sounded, "Liji, our daughter made a bet with Ren Ran and lost. We need three million for the expenses."
If it had been before, asking him for three million wouldn't have been a problem.
But ever since the end of the auction, a considerable amount of their private funds had been spent, not to mention Ren Suya using his supplementary card for those two old men and Ren Ran buying many things.
The money in the account was almost depleted.
"I don't have that much money on hand right now," Kong Liji refused.
Ruan Fengru frowned. She knew that he had spent a lot of money buying gifts for that mother and daughter last time, but she was certain that he still had plenty of funds and securities for investment.
Even though she understood that he could provide it but chose not to, Ruan Fengru wasn't angry. Instead, she kindly said, "I'll figure it out myself."
Her words made Kong Liji feel guilty.
But when he thought about how he had used up most of his liquid assets and couldn't touch the remaining funds, he could only suppress that guilt.
"When things stabilize here, I'll bring you over for a few days."
Ruan Fengru was delighted by the sweet promise he gave. "Okay!"
Detecting her happiness, Kong Liji felt satisfied. If he were standing in front of Ruan Fengru right now, he would see that her excitement was only surface-level and hadn't reached her heart.
"Liji, I feel so sorry for you. Over there, you're constantly under surveillance and can't be yourself for a moment," Ruan Fengru said with sympathy.
"Surveillance? What surveillance?" Kong Liji seized the key point.
Ruan Fengru was surprised. "You don't know? They installed surveillance cameras at home."
"What!" Kong Liji's composed expression shattered.
"Liji, you really didn't know? There's surveillance over there?" Ruan Fengru asked in astonishment.
"Tell me what's going on."
Softly, Ruan Fengru recounted the situation between their daughter and Ren Ran, emphasizing the matter of surveillance. Finally, she sighed lightly. "Liji, do you think they might know something?"
Kong Liji narrowed his eyes. "Tell Lingling not to take any action and wait for my message."
"Okay."
Thinking about the money he had been swindled out of, Kong Liji said, "I'll transfer ten million to you. That's the money I can currently get my hands on. The rest of the money is tied up in investments and can't be withdrawn for now."
"Liji, you don't have to do that. I'll figure it out myself."
"Be good, take it from me."
After hanging up the phone, he squinted his eyes and pondered carefully about the recent period, but everything seemed normal.
After contemplating for a while, he finally decided to go back and take a look to put his mind at ease.
Returning to Haishi City, he didn't notify anyone. He was prepared to launch a surprise attack.
Arriving at Xishan Villa, neither Ren Suya nor Ren Ran were there. Only a few servants, including Aunt Li, were at home.
"Sir, you're back."
"The madam and Miss haven't come back yet?"
"No, they're still at Mr. Ren's place."
Kong Liji nodded lightly and walked towards the living room, scanning his gaze back and forth, but he didn't find any surveillance equipment in the living room.
Aunt Li found it strange. "Sir, what are you looking for?"
"The surveillance that was here before, where is it?"
"Surveillance? There's no surveillance here." Aunt Li was puzzled. "Sir, where did you put it before? Let me ask the others if they've seen it."
"No need, I probably made a mistake."
Kong Liji returned to his study and immediately checked the room but didn't find any surveillance equipment.
Could it be a pinhole camera?
Kong Liji dialed Ruan Fengru's number. "Send me that video."
"Okay, I'll have Lingling send it to you."
Within five minutes, Kong Liji received the video.
At first glance, he recognized that the location where the video took place was at the Mid-Mountain Villa, not their current Creekside Villa.
What a misunderstanding!
Kong Liji was somewhat relieved that he didn't inquire about Ren Suya.
It wasn't surprising that the old man had installed surveillance cameras.
Things weren't going well on their side, and it even affected his judgment, almost ruining his plan.
He used to think that the clever Ling Ling would be more than enough to deal with Ren Ran, but now it seemed that Ling Ling couldn't compare to Ren Ran.
Despite his careful calculations, he couldn't outsmart the other party. How foolish.
He wasn't foolish; he must have inherited his mother's genes.
Throughout the afternoon, Kong Lian endured the whispers and judgments of her classmates, trying hard to remain calm and ignore the disdainful gazes around her.
Even though she kept telling herself that she shouldn't care about the opinions of these irrelevant people, she still felt suffocated and miserable inside.
She waited until the end of school and left hurriedly without waiting for Hu Xiyue and the others.
Zhao Yi and Guo Tongwen watched her retreating figure and made a few derisive remarks.
"I don't think she realizes how terrible she looks," Zhao Yi commented lightly.
Guo Tongwen chuckled, "Definitely not. She tried to maintain a smile all afternoon, but it just looked ridiculous."
When Kong Lian reached the school gate, she got into a sedan and waved goodbye to the two of them.
The driver, Uncle Wang, couldn't help but ask when he noticed her good mood, "Miss, you seem very happy today. Did something good happen?"
"I was praised by a teacher," Kong Lian replied with a smile.
"Miss, you are so excellent. It's only natural to be praised," Uncle Wang praised.
Some people rejoice, while others worry.
As soon as Kong Lian returned home, her face drooped, and a gloomy look appeared in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ruan Fengru approached and handed her a glass of freshly squeezed juice.
Kong Lian threw herself into her mother's embrace and cried loudly.
She quietly waited, crying out all her frustration and grievances without receiving any comfort.
After venting all her pent-up emotions, Kong Lian raised her head and wiped away her tears.
"Now can you tell me what happened?" her mother asked.
She had been so happy just a couple of days ago, but today she looked like this.
Kong Lian explained the whole story, from the cause to the consequences. "I really didn't expect her to inform the principal in advance. And I never imagined that they had surveillance cameras in their house. Why didn't Dad tell me? If I had known, I wouldn't have lost so badly."
Actually, that wasn't the main point. The crucial part was the sentence that followed.
"Mom, I lost."
"I dug a pit for her, and now I have to fill it myself. What should I do now?"
Just thinking about the cost of renting Mingshan Island for the weekend made Kong Lian panic.
Just renting the island for two days would cost nearly ten million, not to mention leasing the cruise ship and other expenses on the island. Initially, she had deliberately quoted high prices to set a trap for Ren Ran, but now she had to bear the consequences herself.
"How foolish!" Kong Lian lowered her head, not daring to argue.
They couldn't come up with millions, so they would have to rely on Dad.
Ruan Fengru stood up. "You need to reflect on yourself."
She walked into the study and dialed Kong Liji's private number.
Normally, she rarely called that number, as he was the one who usually contacted her.
Kong Liji answered the call while on his way home. "What's up?"
Ruan Fengru's gentle voice sounded, "Liji, our daughter made a bet with Ren Ran and lost. We need three million for the expenses."
If it had been before, asking him for three million wouldn't have been a problem.
But ever since the end of the auction, a considerable amount of their private funds had been spent, not to mention Ren Suya using his supplementary card for those two old men and Ren Ran buying many things.
The money in the account was almost depleted.
"I don't have that much money on hand right now," Kong Liji refused.
Ruan Fengru frowned. She knew that he had spent a lot of money buying gifts for that mother and daughter last time, but she was certain that he still had plenty of funds and securities for investment.
Even though she understood that he could provide it but chose not to, Ruan Fengru wasn't angry. Instead, she kindly said, "I'll figure it out myself."
Her words made Kong Liji feel guilty.
But when he thought about how he had used up most of his liquid assets and couldn't touch the remaining funds, he could only suppress that guilt.
"When things stabilize here, I'll bring you over for a few days."
Ruan Fengru was delighted by the sweet promise he gave. "Okay!"
Detecting her happiness, Kong Liji felt satisfied. If he were standing in front of Ruan Fengru right now, he would see that her excitement was only surface-level and hadn't reached her heart.
"Liji, I feel so sorry for you. Over there, you're constantly under surveillance and can't be yourself for a moment," Ruan Fengru said with sympathy.
"Surveillance? What surveillance?" Kong Liji seized the key point.
Ruan Fengru was surprised. "You don't know? They installed surveillance cameras at home."
"What!" Kong Liji's composed expression shattered.
"Liji, you really didn't know? There's surveillance over there?" Ruan Fengru asked in astonishment.
"Tell me what's going on."
Softly, Ruan Fengru recounted the situation between their daughter and Ren Ran, emphasizing the matter of surveillance. Finally, she sighed lightly. "Liji, do you think they might know something?"
Kong Liji narrowed his eyes. "Tell Lingling not to take any action and wait for my message."
"Okay."
Thinking about the money he had been swindled out of, Kong Liji said, "I'll transfer ten million to you. That's the money I can currently get my hands on. The rest of the money is tied up in investments and can't be withdrawn for now."
"Liji, you don't have to do that. I'll figure it out myself."
"Be good, take it from me."
After hanging up the phone, he squinted his eyes and pondered carefully about the recent period, but everything seemed normal.
After contemplating for a while, he finally decided to go back and take a look to put his mind at ease.
Returning to Haishi City, he didn't notify anyone. He was prepared to launch a surprise attack.
Arriving at Xishan Villa, neither Ren Suya nor Ren Ran were there. Only a few servants, including Aunt Li, were at home.
"Sir, you're back."
"The madam and Miss haven't come back yet?"
"No, they're still at Mr. Ren's place."
Kong Liji nodded lightly and walked towards the living room, scanning his gaze back and forth, but he didn't find any surveillance equipment in the living room.
Aunt Li found it strange. "Sir, what are you looking for?"
"The surveillance that was here before, where is it?"
"Surveillance? There's no surveillance here." Aunt Li was puzzled. "Sir, where did you put it before? Let me ask the others if they've seen it."
"No need, I probably made a mistake."
Kong Liji returned to his study and immediately checked the room but didn't find any surveillance equipment.
Could it be a pinhole camera?
Kong Liji dialed Ruan Fengru's number. "Send me that video."
"Okay, I'll have Lingling send it to you."
Within five minutes, Kong Liji received the video.
At first glance, he recognized that the location where the video took place was at the Mid-Mountain Villa, not their current Creekside Villa.
What a misunderstanding!
Kong Liji was somewhat relieved that he didn't inquire about Ren Suya.
It wasn't surprising that the old man had installed surveillance cameras.
Things weren't going well on their side, and it even affected his judgment, almost ruining his plan.
He used to think that the clever Ling Ling would be more than enough to deal with Ren Ran, but now it seemed that Ling Ling couldn't compare to Ren Ran.
Despite his careful calculations, he couldn't outsmart the other party. How foolish.
He wasn't foolish; he must have inherited his mother's genes.
