Chapter 34: Meeting Yellow Hair’s Parents

An hour later, Wang Shanshan returned to Cao Kun’s home carrying five dishes.

Cao Kun was sitting on the sofa watching TV, and Bai Jing was no longer lying in bed; she was busy washing the bedsheets and other items. Seeing this, Wang Shanshan felt a sense of relief wash over her. As long as Bai Jing wasn’t just lying in bed and had started doing chores, it meant she was no longer angry. This was also evident from the radiant, smiling expression on her flushed face. If she were still angry, she wouldn’t be smiling with such happiness and contentment.

"Mom, why are you washing the sheets all of a sudden? Didn't we just change them yesterday?" Wang Shanshan placed the groceries on the living room coffee table and skipped over to Bai Jing, who was using the washing machine.

"Oh, I accidentally got them wet just now," Bai Jing said with a smile, patting Wang Shanshan on the head. "I figured I might as well wash them and put on new ones."

"I see!" Wang Shanshan didn't think much of it and said cheerfully, "Mom, just let the washing machine do the work. I bought all your favorite food today, let’s go eat."

"Alright."

...

Eight o’clock in the evening.

A pleasant dinner concluded, and as usual, Bai Jing went out for a stroll, with Cao Kun tagging along. Wang Shanshan was left home alone. She sat on the sofa watching TV, but her eyes were vacant, and her thoughts were clearly elsewhere. After a while, she shook her head, puzzled. For some reason, she felt that her mother was different from before.

The dinner had been harmonious, with the three of them chatting and laughing, and Wang Shanshan could tell her mother was genuinely happy. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. She couldn't quite put her finger on what it was—it was as if, while her mother’s mood and state were excellent, she had somehow grown more distant.

"Forget it, maybe it's just because so much has happened these past few days." Unable to pinpoint the change, she attributed it to the recent chaos, pushed the thought to the back of her mind, and returned her attention to the television.

One o'clock in the morning.

Just like the previous night, it was only at this hour that Cao Kun and Bai Jing returned. They seemed to have gone for a "night run" again; Bai Jing’s face was flushed, clearly the result of strenuous exercise. Wang Shanshan didn't find anything unusual about this. Given the major upheaval in their family, it was normal for her mother to use exercise to vent her emotions and stress. The only downside was that they were returning quite late, but it wasn't anything serious. Since Cao Kun was with her, nothing bad would happen.

Thinking of this, Wang Shanshan felt like giving herself a pat on the back. She felt the smartest thing she had ever done in her life was keeping Cao Kun as her "lickspittle." He was so useful! Whenever she needed anything, he was there to handle it. Of course, he did have one drawback: his appetite had been whetted. After what happened in the café private room earlier, she felt that the minor favors she used to offer were no longer enough to satisfy him. In other words, if she wanted to keep him invested, she would have to provide something at least on par with what happened in the café.

...

The next morning, Cao Kun and Wang Shanshan left the house together. They had an appointment to meet with the victim's parents to discuss the situation. Although Wang Shanshan could only scrape together 800,000, which was far from the 3.5 million the other side demanded, it was her last resort. Regardless of whether it would work, she had to try.

As for Bai Jing, she had booked an appointment at a nearby beauty salon. Ever since she was awakened by Cao Kun’s words the day before and decided to reclaim her own life, she stopped pretending. She didn't want to save Wang Yifu; in her heart, she truly didn't! She felt that the years she had spent living with Wang Yifu were neither happy nor fulfilling. If not for Wang Shanshan, she would have divorced him long ago. Therefore, she refused to join Wang Shanshan in negotiating compensation with the victim's family.

Instead, she cared more about her face. There were still faint bruises from where Wang Yifu had struck her, and she wanted to get a beauty treatment to clear them up and pamper her skin. Even though Cao Kun told her she was as delicate as an eighteen-year-old girl—perhaps even more succulent and vibrant—she knew her age was a factor. Maintenance was absolutely essential.

When Wang Shanshan learned that Bai Jing wasn't going with her to talk to the victim's parents but was instead heading to a beauty salon, she was stunned. Her father was still being held at the police station, his fate uncertain, and her mother wanted to go get a beauty treatment? Was this appropriate?

However, faced with Wang Shanshan’s confusion and shock, Bai Jing didn't even offer an explanation. She simply gave her a smile and walked out of the house with a light, confident stride. Cao Kun had told her she was an independent individual who should live for herself, so she wasn't going to let herself be troubled by Wang Shanshan’s problems anymore. Saving Wang Yifu was Wang Shanshan’s own choice and her own responsibility. She wouldn't be intervening.

Wang Shanshan clearly didn't realize that Bai Jing had already found her true self with Cao Kun’s help. She remained dazed even after leaving the house with him.

"Cao Kun, what do you think is wrong with my mom? We're going to negotiate compensation for my dad, and she’s going for a beauty treatment? Is there something wrong with her head?"

Listening to Wang Shanshan’s dissatisfaction, Cao Kun nearly laughed out loud. He had only mentioned to Bai Jing the night before that she should reclaim her self-worth and stop living for others. He hadn't expected her to be so obedient, drawing a clear line in the sand with Wang Shanshan today. *You save your father, I’ll get my beauty treatment; we won't interfere with each other!*

At this rate, Cao Kun felt he wouldn't even need to stir the pot; this mother and daughter would soon be at each other's throats. What a pair of exquisite women to look forward to!

With these thoughts, Cao Kun forced a bitter smile. "Perhaps your mother has some hidden bitterness in her heart."

"What bitterness could she have?" Wang Shanshan complained. "This is about my father's life and death! No matter what, she shouldn't just ignore it and go get a beauty treatment."

Cao Kun nodded with a smile. "Alright, alright, don't be angry. Even if your mother isn't here, you still have me. Don't worry, I’ll never leave you behind."

Hearing this, Wang Shanshan felt slightly touched. "Yes, you're the best. Thankfully you're here, otherwise I wouldn't know what to do."

...

Twenty minutes later, in a café in Xia County, Cao Kun walked over to a window seat holding Wang Shanshan’s hand. Two people were already seated there—a man and a woman in their early forties. They were glowering at Wang Shanshan and Cao Kun with fierce, hostile eyes.

They were the victim's parents. This wasn't Cao Kun’s first time meeting them. In his previous life, after he accidentally killed their son, he had already faced them.