Chapter 790 — Calling at the Door to Apologize — "So How Much Money Will It Take, Then?" Kang Zhaoming Asked.

"I figure it'll take at least this much." Wang Shubin held up one hand, fingers spread, and after a moment's hesitation said: "Now that Xiaofen's gotten tangled up with Kang Xiaobo and Wei Zhao, her sights have risen. An ordinary hundred thousand or eighty thousand won't even register with her anymore!"

"Five hundred thousand... that's a bit much, but it's not unacceptable." Kang Zhaoming nodded. "All right, I'll talk to my family and have them give me the money. Tomorrow morning we go see Xiaofen. This has to be settled fast, so we don't spend a long night full of dreams."

"Tomorrow it would be best to have Xiaofen sign an agreement as well. This five hundred thousand of ours counts as compensation to her; once she signs, she can't pursue the past any further, and she can't breathe a word of it to anyone else either!" Wang Shubin suggested.

"Naturally. Otherwise what if she takes the money and then denies everything afterward?" Kang Zhaoming nodded. "The cut on my hand is too small. So you're saying next time it ought to be a bit more serious?"

"No rush on that!" Wang Shubin waved a hand. "Young Master Ming, you had a cold yesterday, and today you cut your hand — that's already enough to rouse suspicion. If you get hurt again right on the heels of it, Guan Xin is bound to think something's wrong!"

"That's true. But the thought of having to fake a serious injury gives me palpitations. A light wound already hurts this much — what would a serious one be like?" The very thought frightened Kang Zhaoming a little. "The pressing matter is still to settle this business with Xiaofen!"

...

Today was the second time Qibing Real Estate had formally met with the residents of the shantytown. Li Cihua, Jin Gubang, and Zhong Fabai presided, at a temporary demolition office set up in front of the shantytown.

The shantytown residents had gathered at the door of the demolition office at first light. Everyone had been looking forward to this day; in their eyes, Qibing Real Estate had surely come bearing sincerity this time. The forced demolition earlier had stirred up real trouble — though it had been quietly settled afterward, it had cost a good deal of money.

Everyone acquainted with Mama Tang knew that Young Master Bing had paid no small price for it. So in their view, having learned its lesson, Qibing Real Estate would surely negotiate compensation with the shantytown residents on equal terms.

Looking at the shantytown residents, their faces full of expectation, Li Cihua sneered inwardly. These people really were laughably foolish, thinking that because the forced demolition had caused trouble last time, this time they would truly be negotiated with as equals? How naive!

Qibing Real Estate's available funds were already running low; it simply could not produce much money to compensate the shantytown residents. And the company was desperate to expand, desperate to launch its first development — it had to cut through the knot with a sharp blade. Zhao Qibing could not afford to wait. He had been in Songshan City so long without accomplishing anything; how was he to answer to the Zhao family?

Though no one in the Zhao family, including his own father, had said anything so far, Zhao Qibing reckoned they must be deeply disappointed in him. If he couldn't even handle a handful of obstinate commoners, how could he ever take charge of the Zhao family?

Li Cihua's plan this time was simple: lure the shantytown residents to the demolition office, then carry out another forced demolition — and the target would be the only building in the shantytown, the three-section red-brick building.

Tearing down the single-story houses one by one was too much trouble, and demolishing one or two would have no deterrent effect. Only by leaving a whole crowd of people without a roof over their heads could they be forced to accept Qibing Real Estate's compensation agreement!

And knocking down that three-section building was merely a matter of a few bulldozer pushes. By the time the residents realized something was wrong, it would be too late.

Early that morning, Xiaofen's parents had gone with the others to the demolition office, leaving Xiaofen alone at home. They thought her legs were not in good shape, and they also feared that if disputes arose in today's negotiations, Xiaofen might be upset all over again...

No sooner had her parents left than a knock came at the door. Xiaofen assumed her father or mother had forgotten something, and without thinking much she walked over and opened the door — but when she saw who it was, she froze!

"What? Not happy to see me?" Kang Zhaoming said with a smile, looking at Xiaofen. Damn, this girl had grown even prettier than before. If she weren't so infatuated, playing with her a while longer wouldn't have mattered.

"You... you... Kang Zhaoming, what are you doing at my home?" Xiaofen glared at Kang Zhaoming, looking thoroughly unfriendly.

A month ago, if Kang Zhaoming had come to her door, Xiaofen would likely have been beside herself with joy. But now, nourished by new love, she had long since awakened from her former infatuation and seen Kang Zhaoming for what he was; every last longing for him was dead. Seeing Kang Zhaoming was like seeing a stranger — worse than a stranger, even.

After all, that hatred was not something she could easily set down! This man had ruined her whole life! Though Kang Xiaobo treated her well and had never scorned her, Xiaofen always felt she owed him — that she had not been able to give him an intact body — and the thought filled her with guilt.

And the one who had caused all of it was Kang Zhaoming. How could Xiaofen give him a pleasant face?

Kang Zhaoming had come alone, without Wang Shubin or Zhu Xiaozhang, because this visit was meant to be a performance for Xiaofen's benefit; only by showing sufficient sincerity could he shut her up. Bringing Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin would have smacked of putting on the airs of a young master, so to avoid arousing her disgust, he had brought none of them.

"Xiaofen, I came today because I truly want to have a good talk with you. Let me in first, and then we'll talk?" Kang Zhaoming said with a smile, trying hard to make his words sound sincere.

"There's nothing for us to talk about." Xiaofen shook her head and moved to close the door.

Kang Zhaoming was startled — he couldn't let her shut the door, or his visit would have been for nothing. He hastily caught hold of the door. "Xiaofen, don't close the door yet. I came today to apologize to you!"

"Apologize? Apologize for what?" Xiaofen frowned, but did not immediately shut the door.

"Xiaofen, I was young and reckless in the past, and I brought you a great deal of hurt. I've come to your door today especially to apologize to you!" Kang Zhaoming said with great "sincerity."

"Oh. I don't want to bring up the past anymore. You should go..." What Xiaofen said was in fact the truth: she had completely let go of the past. Seeing Kang Zhaoming now, though she still hated him somewhat, she also blamed herself for having been so foolish back then as to believe in such a man!

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