Chapter 10: She Is Still Pure, Worth an Even Higher Price

After Wu Liping managed to restrain her daughter, she lifted her head to look at her husband, but before she could say anything, Bai Lu burst into tears, clinging to Shen Yanghong’s arm.

“Daddy, please don’t hit Mommy and Sister anymore! You’ll beat them to death!!”

Shen Yanghong: “?”

I only slapped them twice—how could that possibly be deadly?

Bai Lu sobbed so hard she could barely catch her breath, “Daddy, Mommy and Sister don’t like me, so I don’t want them either. But I don’t want you to beat them to death. I know you hit them because you were angry for my sake, but Daddy, can you stop hitting people?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yanghong let out a deep sigh of relief.

He had truly been afraid Bai Lu would say she didn’t want parents and a sister like them.

After all, in just three months, Bai Lu would turn eighteen and become an adult.

Once she was an adult, she’d be harder to control.

Considering the Shen family’s attitude toward Bai Lu all these years, even he thought she should cut ties with them.

Fortunately, since Bai Lu started acting, she had been obedient, and he never laid a hand on her again. To keep her under control, he often bought her gifts.

It seemed that, in Bai Lu’s heart, he was still a good father. As for those incidents from her childhood, she must have long forgotten them.

Shen Yanghong couldn’t help but think of the debt collector’s call from earlier. Without hesitation, he distanced himself from his wife and daughter. “Alright, if you don’t want Daddy to hit anyone, I won’t. Come on, let’s go back to your room. We don’t need them.”

“Mm, mm.” Still sobbing, Bai Lu clung to Shen Yanghong’s sleeve as they turned to leave, not sparing a single glance at his wife and daughter.

The nurse, anxious as she was, knew it wasn’t her place to meddle in another’s family affairs. All she could do was sigh—this foolish child Bai Lu was far too eager for familial love.

Back in the hospital room, Shen Yanghong’s phone rang incessantly, but Bai Lu gripped his sleeve tightly, refusing to let him go, as if terrified of losing her last kin.

“Daddy, I’ll be good. I’ll work hard at acting, I’m not afraid of hardship or fatigue. I’ll earn lots of money to honor you. Please don’t be like Mommy and Sister. Don’t abandon me, alright?”

Meeting Bai Lu’s tear-filled eyes, Shen Yanghong glanced at his phone screen, steeling his heart. “Don’t worry, Daddy will never abandon you! You’ll always be my daughter!”

Bai Lu smiled at him through her tears, trying to please him.

Perhaps fearing he’d find her repugnant, even when she wiped her nose, Bai Lu turned away to do it in secret.

The sight was so pitiful that even Shen Yanghong’s hardened heart softened. “Good girl, Bai Lu.”

She turned back, hiding a slight smile as she wiped her nose. “Daddy, my eyes hurt.”

Shen Yanghong tucked her in. “You’ve cried too much. Just sleep, and you’ll feel better. Go to sleep now.”

Bai Lu clung to his sleeve. “Daddy, don’t go.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy’s not going anywhere. I’ll be right outside.”

Only then did Bai Lu nod and close her eyes.

As Shen Yanghong was closing the door, he saw her open her eyes to look at him with reluctance and worry. When she realized he’d seen her, she hurriedly shut her eyes, both fearful and anxious.

She must still be afraid he’d think she was being difficult and would abandon her.

“Daddy’s really not going anywhere. Go to sleep, and when you wake up, I’ll have dinner with you.”

Bai Lu closed her eyes, but quickly opened them again. “Daddy…”

Shen Yanghong mustered his last shred of patience. “What is it now?”

Bai Lu blinked. “Mommy and Sister… You stood up for me and punished them. I’m very moved. I’m sure they know they were wrong now. Daddy, I’ve already forgiven them. Can you forgive them too? I still want our family to be whole.”

Send you all off together—straight to the afterlife.

After all, that was his wife and biological daughter. He wouldn’t abandon them over a trivial matter. Since they’d reconcile sooner or later, she might as well play the kindhearted one.

Moreover, with the temperament of Shen Xinluo and Wu Liping, that slap from Shen Yanghong, insignificant as it seemed, was enough to sow the seeds of discord in the Shen family.

As long as she tended it carefully, that seed would soon sprout.

Watching husband, wife, mother, and daughters turn on each other—wasn’t that the greatest satisfaction?

Shen Yanghong said, “Whether or not I forgive them depends on whether your mother and sister truly know they were wrong. Now rest up.”

Closing the door, Shen Yanghong’s heart softened yet again.

This girl, Bai Lu, not only earned him money but was obedient and sensible.

Compared to the two women in the next room, who not only failed to make money but constantly lost their tempers and needed constant placating!

What did Shen Xinluo have to be dissatisfied about? Whenever there were good things or opportunities, hadn’t he, as her father, always given them to Xinluo first? She had no ambition and wanted to ruin his golden goose too?

All she and her mother did was envy Bai Lu—both of them were brainless fools.

Already irritated, Shen Yanghong grew more agitated as his phone kept ringing. He stormed across the hallway and answered the call. “Brother Jin, that’s out of the question.”

“Oh? So the great Director Shen dares to talk to me like that?”

Leaning against the door, Shen Yanghong’s tone changed. “Brother Jin, you know I wouldn’t dare. You know my daughter Bai Lu—she’s a veritable golden goose. Killing the goose for its eggs isn’t wise, Brother Jin! As long as you keep Bai Lu, you’ll never worry about getting your money. I’ve already arranged an ad deal for her and got an advance of half a million. I’ll wire it to you tomorrow. As for the rest—”

Brother Jin interrupted with a sigh, “Old Shen, you’ve been gambling at my casino for over a decade. Have I ever hounded you for money before?”

Shen Yanghong, a seasoned player in the industry, caught on immediately. “Is it that some boss has taken a liking to Bai Lu?”

“I’ll be frank with you. I couldn’t care less about the million or so you owe me. I know well enough that Bai Lu’s a golden goose. But this time, a boss has set his sights on her and specifically asked for her. My hands are tied.”

Shen Yanghong panicked. “Brother Jin, you know as well as I do that a one-off score isn’t worth it! Bai Lu still has years ahead of her—she’s only seventeen, with her prime ahead! Even if you want to sell her, you can’t do it for just a million! She’s beautiful, young, and still pure! She could fetch a much higher price!”

Brother Jin was silent for a moment. “You’re right. After the first time, she’ll never be worth as much. I’ll give you three days. If you pay up within three days, I’ll find a way to cover for you.”

“Brother Jin! Where am I supposed to find another half a million? I’ve already maxed out my advance from the brand!”

Brother Jin said, “Let me show you a way. Didn’t you used to brag that the young master of Yuxing Entertainment liked Bai Lu? Their family’s loaded—surely they can spare half a million for their future father-in-law. In fact, a million is nothing to them.”

Shen Yanghong’s eyes lit up. “Brother Jin, I’ll get right on it—”

“Fine, fine. Go hit up your rich son-in-law. Remember, three days. If you don’t pay, either bring Bai Lu to me, or your own two hands. You know my rules.”

“I know, I know! Don’t worry, Brother Jin!”

Soon after, Shen Yanghong called another number. “Young Master Yu, I’m Bai Lu’s father. You’ve always cared about her, and now that she’s awake, I thought I should let you know—what?! You’re almost here? Where are you? I’ll come meet you!”

At this, the mother and daughter, who were on their way to apologize to their husband and father, hurriedly slipped back into their room before Shen Yanghong could come out.

“Mom, Bai Lu got us beaten by Dad, and now Dad’s in trouble with the casino. Why don’t we—”

Smack! Another crisp slap.

First her own father, now her own mother—Shen Xinluo was left questioning her very existence.

Wu Liping, furious, exclaimed, “Didn’t your father make it clear? There’s a difference between a single meal and a lifetime’s feast—can’t you tell the difference? If Bai Lu goes to sleep with some old man, the whole circle will hear about it by tomorrow! Who would work with her after that? Worthless girl, your father and I went to great lengths to promote you. Not only did you let that wretched orphan outshine you, now you want to cut off our family’s only source of income?! Maybe we should just send you instead of Bai Lu—”