Yao Chunmei was extremely impatient with Bai Wenxi's leisurely manner. She was itching to snatch the pen and sign for her.
But considering that Bai Wenxi would be her future financial backer, she dared not overstep. She could only grit her teeth and endure.
Bai Wenxi deliberately twirled the pen between her fingers but didn't put it to paper for a long time. "You want me to sign? You must tell me, did you owe money to Wu Qishan?"
Yao Chunmei immediately realized that Bai Yunxi had betrayed her. She shot a fierce glare at her daughter.
Bai Yunxi finally showed some reaction. She bent her neck, completely avoiding her mother's angry stare.
Of course, Yao Chunmei couldn't reveal the truth of being blackmailed. She had to play along. "He's just a good - playing friend. He was kind enough to lend me money. It's all my own fault for being useless."
Lying came as easily as breathing to her. "Now I lost in gambling. He can't do business at a loss. At least I have to pay back the principal."
Bai Wenxi immediately followed up. "Tell me about this person and the place where you gambled."
Yao Chunmei showed a reluctant look. "Why do you need to know so much? That place is smoky. It's not good for a rich young lady like you to go there."
Bai Wenxi suddenly slapped the table, startling everyone present. "It's not good for me to go there, but it's okay for you? Do you still remember your current identity, the widow of the painter Bai Zhongxun?"
Yao Chunmei was shamed by her young step - daughter's sarcasm. She couldn't help retorting. "I can understand if you don't want to lend me money."
She still refused to admit her fault and stubbornly insisted. "But you don't have to interrogate me like a criminal. If you don't lend me the money, I can always find friends to help. I don't need your false kindness!"
Bai Wenxi wanted to see how capable she was. "You'll solve it by yourself? Since you've said that, it's meaningless for me to lend you the money."
She immediately put the check back into the drawer. Seeing that Bai Wenxi was serious, Yao Chunmei instantly cowered. "I was just angry because I was so anxious. I'm at least your elder. Don't you have a bit of tolerance?"
Bai Yunxi watched silently as her mother put on a show. Her face was bruised and swollen. Every slight movement was excruciatingly painful.
How sad...
She recalled her curse on Bai Wenxi, hoping that she would be abused by an illegitimate child. But it was herself who suffered. She always sneered at Bai Wenxi for losing her mother early, but now her own mother was addicted to gambling and socializing. After marrying her off, she didn't care about her at all.
Yao Chunmei lowered her stance, wearing a flattering smile on her face. In her anger, she scolded the silent Bai Yunxi.
"You're like a dead person. Say something for your mother. Tell your sister that I was just temporarily blinded by greed and will never do it again."
Bai Yunxi was grabbed and shaken by Yao Chunmei like a fallen leaf in the gale. Her half - tied ponytail was loosened. Strands of hair stuck to her cheeks, making her look even more down - and - out.
Bai Wenxi was annoyed by her nagging, but she still held her ground. "This is not a small amount of money. Once I give it to you, I don't expect you to pay it back immediately. Don't I even have the right to ask?"
"Why do you owe this person money? Do you have any other financial dealings with him? I can't be a fool, can I?"
Yao Chunmei hesitated a bit. She and Wu Qishan were now just in a simple cooperative relationship, laundering money for him through the Moon Island Company. There was really no debt dispute between them.
But if she didn't tell this lie, it would be hard to get the money.
Suddenly, Bai Yunxi dropped a bombshell. "I know who this Wu Qishan is. For a while, he often came to find my mother, saying they were going out to do business."
Yao Chunmei was almost mad at her daughter. Not only was she useless in getting money for her, but she also stabbed her in the back.
Yao Chunmei instantly lost her confidence. Her lips turned pale.
She pinched Bai Yunxi's arm in a fit of anger. "You ungrateful girl, siding with outsiders. If you don't say a word, no one will think you're mute."
Bai Wenxi had no interest in watching this mother - daughter drama. She just wanted to know who this Wu Qishan was. "I'd like to meet your creditor. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
"I'll help you pay back the money this time. But if he tries any tricks and raises the price on purpose, I can't afford usury."
Yao Chunmei couldn't refute, but thinking that the money for blackmail was urgent and no one else could help her.
It was worth taking the risk for her own dignity!
Yao Chunmei nervously agreed to Bai Wenxi's request. "Give me the money, and I'll arrange for you to meet him tonight."
Bai Wenxi signed the check readily. As soon as Yao Chunmei got the check, she became cocky again, no longer the dejected woman who had just come in.
Yao Chunmei had it all figured out. As long as she could get rid of those nuisances, it wouldn't be difficult to let Wu Qishan meet this girl.
With her ability, this girl wouldn't be able to find out Wu Qishan's background.
When Yao Chunmei told her old lover about this request, Wu Qishan didn't hesitate much. "What? You embezzled the Bai family's assets and the Bai family's eldest daughter found out. Now she's coming to settle the score with me?"
Yao Chunmei gave him a coquettish look. "How could that be! We've done things flawlessly over the years. What can a little girl like her understand?"
"Alas, I've run into trouble recently. I was blackmailed and they're asking for a large sum of money. In the end, I had no choice but to borrow money from her to pay off the debt."
Yao Chunmei felt no gratitude at all. Instead, she complained. "I had to say that I owed you money from gambling. I didn't expect this girl to be so scheming. She insists on meeting you, the creditor, in person and says she wants to watch the IOU be destroyed."
Actually, Wu Qishan had already known that Yao Chunmei was being blackmailed with a video. It was no longer a secret in the circle.
It was just that this woman was usually too arrogant and had a bad reputation. Everyone just gloated when they knew about it, and no one rushed to lend her money.
Wu Qishan pretended to just find out and blamed Yao Chunmei. "When you ran into such trouble, why didn't you tell me earlier? Maybe I could have scraped up some money for you, and you wouldn't have to ask your step - daughter for money."
Yao Chunmei was furious. She had hinted to Wu Qishan many times that she was in urgent need of money, but this guy always changed the subject and turned a deaf ear. Now that he knew the problem was solved, he was acting like a good guy.
This former fraud alliance had fallen apart. They had different motives. If it weren't for their business dealings, Yao Chunmei might have fallen out with Wu Qishan long ago.
The meeting place was chosen in a hidden, high - class restaurant. Only VIP customers could enter. Wu Qishan deliberately chose such a private place.
It's really him!
Bai Wenxi noticed the shiny bald head and the bushy beard, exactly the same as the photo the detective Min had given her. She confirmed the man's identity.
She quietly turned on the recorder in her pocket. "Mr. Wu, hello."
"Are you just a simple poker - playing friend with my step - mother?"