Chapter 790 — A Visit to Apologize

"I figure it'll take at least this much." Wang Shubin held up one hand, splayed his fingers, then hesitated. "Now that Xiao Fen's gotten tangled up with Kang Xiaofeng and Wei Zhao, she's aiming higher. An ordinary hundred or eighty thousand won't turn her head anymore!"

"Five hundred thousand... that's a bit much, but not unacceptable." Kang Jingming nodded. "All right, I'll talk to my family and have them get me the money. Tomorrow morning we'll go see Xiao Fen. This has to be settled fast, before it drags on and something else comes up!"

"Tomorrow we'd best have Xiao Fen sign an agreement as well. Call the five hundred thousand compensation, and once she signs, she can't pursue the old matter anymore, and she can't bring it up to anyone else!" Wang Shubin suggested.

"Naturally. Otherwise what if she takes the money and denies everything afterward?" Kang Jingming nodded. "The cut on my hand is too small. Does that mean next time I should make it a bit worse?"

"No rush on that!" Wang Shubin waved a hand. "Young Master Ming, you caught a cold yesterday and cut your hand today. That's already suspicious enough. If you get hurt again right after, Guan Xin will definitely smell something wrong!"

"That's true, but the thought of deliberately inflicting a serious wound gives me palpitations. A minor cut already hurts this much—what would a serious one feel like?" Kang Jingming shuddered at the very idea. "The pressing matter right now is still settling things with Xiao Fen!"

……………………

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 residents had gathered at the door of the demolition office bright and early. Everyone had been looking forward to this day. In their eyes, Qibing Real Estate had surely come this time with sincerity. The previous forced demolition had caused a real incident; though it had been quietly settled afterward, it had cost a pretty penny.

Everyone who knew Mama Tang knew that Young Master Bing had paid a considerable price for that. So in their view, having learned its lesson, Qibing Real Estate would surely discuss compensation with the shantytown residents on equal terms this time.

Looking at the shantytown residents, their faces full of hope, Li Cihua sneered inwardly. These people really were laughably naive. Did they think that because the last forced demolition had caused trouble, this time there would be genuine negotiation on equal footing? How utterly childish!

Qibing Real Estate's available funds were running low, and it simply could not afford to pay the residents much compensation. Yet the company was desperate to grow, desperate to launch its first development, and it had to cut through the knot with a sharp blade. Zhao Qibing could not afford to wait. He had been in Songshan City this long without producing any results—how was he supposed to answer to the Zhao family?

Though no one in the Zhao family, including his own father, had said anything to him yet, Zhao Qibing reckoned they must be deeply disappointed in him. If he could not even handle a handful of troublesome commoners, how could he ever be trusted to run 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. The target this time was the only multi-story 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 not have the needed deterrent effect. Only by leaving a whole crowd of people homeless would they be forced to accept Qibing Real Estate's compensation agreement!

And demolishing that three-section building would take only a few bulldozer pushes. By the time the residents realized something was wrong, it would already be too late.

Early that morning, Xiao Fen's parents had gone to the demolition office with the others, leaving Xiao Fen at home alone. They figured her legs were not in good shape, and they were also afraid that if disputes broke out at today's negotiation, Xiao Fen might be upset again.

No sooner had her parents left than a knock came at the door. Xiao Fen thought her father or mother must have forgotten something, and without thinking much she went over and opened the door—only to freeze on the spot.

"What's the matter? Not happy to see me?" Kang Jingming smiled at Xiao Fen. Damn, the girl had grown even prettier than before. If she weren't so hopelessly devoted, it would have been worth playing around with her a while longer.

"You... you... Kang Jingming, what are you doing at my home?" Xiao Fen glared at him, thoroughly unfriendly.

If this had been a month ago, had Kang Jingming come knocking at her door, Xiao Fen would probably have been overcome with delight. But now, nourished by new love, she had long since awakened from her old infatuation. She had seen Kang Jingming for what he was, had cut off every last hope concerning him. Seeing him now was like seeing a stranger—worse than a stranger!

After all, that hatred was not something one could easily set down. This man had ruined her life! Though Kang Xiaofeng treated her well and had never held her past against her, Xiao Fen always felt she owed him, that she had not been able to give him an unspoiled body, and the thought filled her with guilt.

And the one who had caused all of it was Kang Jingming. How could Xiao Fen possibly give him a friendly face?

Kang Jingming had come alone, without bringing Wang Shubin or Zhu Xiaozhang. This visit was meant to put on a show for Xiao Fen, to display enough sincerity to make her keep quiet. Bringing Zhu Xiaozhang and Wang Shubin along would have smacked of flaunting his status as a rich young master, so to keep Xiao Fen from feeling resentful, he had brought neither of them.

"Xiao Fen, I came today because I really do want to have a proper talk with you. Will you let me in first?" Kang Jingming said with a smile, trying hard to make his words sound sincere.

"There is nothing left for us to talk about." Xiaofen shook her head and made to close the door.

Kang Jingming was startled. He could not let Xiaofen shut the door, or his trip would have been for nothing. He hastily caught hold of the door and said, "Xiaofen, don't close it yet. I came today to apologize to you!"

"Apologize? Apologize for what?" Xiaofen frowned, though she did not shut the door right away.

"Xiaofen, I was young and reckless in the past, and I caused you a great deal of pain. I have come to your door today expressly to apologize to you!" Kang Jingming said with great "sincerity."

"Oh, I don't care to bring up the past anymore. You should go..." What Xiaofen said was in fact the truth. She had put the past behind her completely. Seeing Kang Jingming now, though she still hated him somewhat, she also blamed herself for having been so foolish back then as to believe in a man like him!