"Mum, Mum, are we about to see Grandpa?" Luo Yutong tugged at Luo Jiayi's arm, her little face filled with expectation.
"Yes, we'll see Grandpa soon. Do you like that, Tongtong?" Luo Jiayi touched Luo Yutong's face, laughing lightly, yet the smile was painfully forced.
She had run away from home five years ago and now, Luo Yutong was almost five years old!
That night five years ago, after she was violated, the scandal spread like wildfire across Su City.
Without her father Luo Jianming's strong encouragement to return home, Luo Yutong would still be drifting outside, refusing to return to this place of sorrow.
"I like it." Luo Yutong giggled while biting her finger, her big eyes narrowing into cute slits.
"That's great!"
The car stopped outside the Luo family's house; even after five years, nothing inside had changed much. Luo Jiayi led Luo Yutong through the door.
"So, you've decided to come back!" A loud scolding rang out as soon as they entered.
Looking up, Luo Jiayi saw her aunt Luo Fengming. The loud noise scared Luo Yutong, who hid timidly behind Luo Jiayi.
If it were only Luo Jiayi, facing the dominant Luo Fengming, she would have recoiled. However, when she saw Luo Yutong fearfully hiding behind her, a surge of maternal instinct blew up within her.
"What do you mean, Aunt? I came home to see my father, and I don't think it has anything to do with you."
Luo Fengming was taken aback. The previously well-behaved Luo Jiayi was now confronting her.
In an instant, Luo Fengming felt her face was being lost; after all, a junior was now openly challenging her. This warranted a good lesson indeed!
"Hmph, do you think I wanted to deal with your family's mess? If it wasn't for your father's severe injury and hospitalization, I wouldn't have come here."
"What? Father is seriously injured and hospitalized?" Luo Jiayi suddenly became anxious. She had just received a call from Luo Jianming yesterday, yet he was seriously injured and hospitalized today.
"What were you thinking? I'm the one who paid for his hospitalization. I'm telling you, you'd better pay back this money as soon as possible; otherwise, I'll have his oxygen tube removed!"
"You..." Luo Jiayi pointed at Luo Fengming but couldn't say a word.
"What 'you'? Let me tell you this: the car accident Luo Jianming had was all because of you! You jinx! Ever since you came to the Luo family, its power has been declining. Are you not a disaster for the Luo family?"
Luo Fengming mocked Luo Jiayi. She had disliked Luo Jiayi since she was little, and now that she finally had the chance to ridicule her, she of course strutted about boastfully.
Luo Jiayi furrowed her eyebrows, patted the frightened Luo Yutong, and said to Luo Fengming, "Just wait, I will repay the money. Tell me which hospital father is in, I want to visit him."
"If you don't pay, I won't tell you where he is." Luo Fengming said with a sinister smile, "Repay the money? Sure, you have two days. After two days, I will pull his oxygen tube."
"What did you say!" Luo Jiayi was shocked. For the past five years, she had barely managed to raise Luo Yutong and had no spare money.
Now, Luo Fengming obviously intended to make things difficult for her!
"If you can't find the money, there's another way."
As expected, Luo Fengming's sly intentions became apparent, "If you can't repay the money, go to room 603 of the Hilton Hotel and satisfy Mr. Zhang's demands. You won't have to give me a single penny."
Looking at Luo Fengming's vile face, Luo Jiayi felt disgusted.
But in a flash, an even more terrifying thought crossed her mind - was Luo Jianming's car accident really an accident?
"That's not acceptable! Offer another condition." Luo Jiayi firmly rejected, a girl's chastity was not to be defiled. She would never do such a disgusting thing.
"Oh? Then there's nothing I can do."
Luo Fengming pushed Luo Jiayi and Luo Yutong out the door, declaring, "You have two days. If you can't raise half a million, forget about ever seeing your father again!"
The door slammed shut and Luo Fengming, twisting his portly figure, sauntered away.
Fingers dug deeply into her palm, Luo Jiayi watched Luo Fengming's retreating figure. Her expression was icy.
The entire incident was far from simple; Luo Jianming's car accident had absolutely been orchestrated.
"Luo Fengming, you're unworthy to be a Luo!" Luo Jiayi left with Luo Yutong, heading towards the home of her best friend, Qiu Qingqing, whom she had contacted beforehand.
Qiu Qingqing came from a well-off family and was highly capable, a truly deserving operations prodigy. With the money she earned, she'd made the down payment for a villa in the suburbs, and had moved into it long ago, embracing the life of a house slave. The first person Luo Jiayi contacted upon returning to S City was Qiu Qingqing.
"When will you reach my place?"
The moment Luo Jiayi connected the call, Qiu Qingqing asked eagerly.
After her best friend had suddenly disappeared from S City for five years, Qiu Qingqing had been very lonely.
"Approximately....an hour, I guess." Looking at the long traffic jam, Luo Jiayi sighed. It was indeed a global financial hub, even the traffic jams were extensive.
An hour later, Luo Jiayi got off the car, carrying Luo Yutong in her arms. Luo Yutong was nearing five, an age known for being a heavy sleeper. She had already fallen asleep on the taxi.
"You keep an eye on Yutong, she's a good girl and won't make a fuss. I have something I need to handle." Luo Jiayi didn't stand on ceremony with Qiu Qingqing. They were very close friends, there was no need for formalities.
"Go ahead." Qiu Qingqing held Luo Yutong and gently stroked her smooth, little face with a look of satisfaction, "How I wish I had skin this smooth."
Having seen to Luo Yutong’s care, Luo Jiayi started reaching out to Luo Jianming’s old friends, hoping to discover if they knew the truth behind Luo Jianming’s car accident.
However, almost everyone unanimously shook their heads, completely clueless. Some even suspected that Luo Jiayi might have been deceived by her aunt.
Luo Jiayi had tried to call Shao Jianming, but all she got was a busy tone.
The day passed quickly, and a call from Luo Fengming came, "How is it? Have you gathered the money? No money, and I might just need to pull your father's oxygen tube!"
Luo Jiayi responded with urgency, "He is still your brother, how could you be so ruthless!"
"Brother? Humph, saving his life is generous enough. Hurry up and bring the money, or go to Hilton room 603, or else...Humph!"
Luo Fengming hung up the phone, not giving Luo Jiayi a chance for negotiation.
Luo Jiayi looked up at the sky, lost in thought and heaving a long sigh.
She had no other choice. Could it be that the first thing she did upon returning to Su City was to sell...[save her father?
At the Hilton Hotel, Luo Jiayi stood in front of the room door, knocked, and lowered her proud head.
Even if she cherished her innocence, for her father's life, she still made a choice.
The door opened, and a shirtless man appeared before Luo Jiayi.
Luo Jiayi looked up and was instantly stunned.
With his perfect features and carved-like appearance, his well-proportioned body was filled with strength. He was almost too perfect. Most importantly, the lordly, kingly aura he exuded was so overwhelming that Luo Jiayi was left breathless.
Could such a man, for her body, have contrived such a grand play?
