Chapter 725 - 726 The Ins and Outs

Chapter 725: Chapter 726 The Ins and Outs

Shen Ruoqing clenched her teeth and said, "Don’t talk about six hundred thousand; even if you give me six million, I won’t sell my daughter."

The man immediately responded, "How can you call it selling? She is also my daughter. I just want her to live with me. Besides, without the burden of a daughter, couldn’t you find somebody else? It’s not easy to find a man willing to accept a woman who already has a daughter."

Shen Ruoqing looked at the man with an expression that suddenly showed neither joy nor bitterness, and said indifferently, "That’s my own business, none of your concern."

Old Madam Wang said impatiently, "Are you trying to force us to do something we don’t want to do, before you’ll let go?"

"I’m forcing you... what a good choice of words. You wealthy people, when you find someone displeasing, you just wave them off, and when you see someone useful, you beckon them back. If they don’t agree, you say they’re forcing you. It seems like everything in the world must revolve around you."

The man immediately said, "Ruoqing, the child is ours after all. I am still her father, no matter what."

Shen Ruoqing let out a cold laugh, glanced at the young woman, and said, "Fine, if you want to fulfill the father’s responsibility, then move in with me. I will not stop you from recognizing your daughter."

"Huh?" The woman, who had been keeping a straight face the whole time, now looked even more fiercely displeased, eyeing her own husband.

The man coughed uncomfortably and said, "That’s definitely out of the question. I’m already married."

Shen Ruoqing cut him off decisively, "Since it’s out of the question, then don’t harass me anymore. If you want children, go have your own. I won’t let my daughter live with a stepmother."

Having said that, Shen Ruoqing turned around to leave, and directly saw Song Xiaodong and Lin Su’er coming her way.

Lin Su’er immediately said, "Reporter Shen, let’s leave together."

"Alright!" Shen Ruoqing agreed, really not wanting to tangle with these people any longer, and left with Lin Su’er and Song Xiaodong.

"Humph, truly ungrateful." Old Madam Wang’s annoyed snort was heard behind them as they got into their car and drove away.

Shen Ruoqing got into the car with Song Xiaodong, her emotions still unsettled.

Lin Su’er and Song Xiaodong didn’t know how to comfort her, so they sat quietly in the car for some time, and Shen Ruoqing then forced a smile and said, "I’m really sorry for making a scene in front of you."

Lin Su’er replied, "Don’t worry about it... but can you tell us about it? If it’s inconvenient, that’s okay."

"Sigh..." Shen Ruoqing let out a sigh and said, "That man’s name is Wang Youqiang, the father of my daughter. We studied at the same university. He pursued me relentlessly back then, and being young and naive, I was charmed by his handsome looks and sweet nothings, so we started dating. After graduating, I dreamed of marrying him, but when I was pregnant for over seven months, his family flat-out refused to accept me."

"At the time, I considered his situation; since his family was strongly opposed, I didn’t push for marriage and simply gave birth. But before my daughter even turned a month old, he already got married to someone else."

Shen Ruoqing’s mouth twitched slightly as she shook her head, "Back then, I foolishly thought he succumbed to family pressure and had been forced into marriage, but still loved me. However... it was only later that I found out, not long after I got pregnant, he was already involved with that woman. Plus, her family has money too, making them a well-matched couple, while I was just a poor girl he wanted to toy with. He never intended to marry me."

"I was completely disheartened. I wanted to end it all, but seeing my daughter’s cute face, I eventually decided to live well for her sake. He might not want us, but I couldn’t abandon my own daughter. She is flesh of my flesh. I thought it would be better to pretend that she didn’t have a father."

"Ever since then, Wang Youqiang hasn’t contacted me once, nor given a dime for my daughter’s living expenses. I, Shen Ruoqing, don’t need his help; I’ve been raising my daughter on my own. But now, his wife turns out to be infertile, and he’s the only child in his family. Now he wants to take my daughter back. As if I would allow that to happen."

"That is indeed outrageous," Lin Su’er nodded again and again.

Shen Ruoqing shook her head lightly, "The main issue isn’t really about fighting for pride. I could let go of that for my daughter’s future. But his wife is not a good person, she has a terrible temper. If my daughter went to live with them, she would definitely be mistreated, and that’s the main reason I’m strongly against it."

Lin Su’er expressed her agreement, "Right, right. Not all stepmothers are bad, but they can never replace a biological mother, and if they have a difficult personality, the child would indeed suffer."

Shen Ruoqing said, "Exactly, that’s what I think. In my care, although I can’t provide as good an education or as comfortable a life due to lack of money, I can teach my daughter how to be a person of integrity. I can ensure she has a heart striving for better and lives a free and happy life."

Lin Su’er remarked, "Your daughter is indeed a very adorable child. I adore her too. The thought of her unhappy every day makes me feel terrible."

Shen Ruoqing added, "But... I really don’t know if I can keep my daughter. The Wang family is wealthy and powerful, while I’m just a minor journalist. I truly have no way to compete with them."

Song Xiaodong said, "If they use any underhanded methods, I can see if there’s any way I can help you."

Shen Ruoqing looked at Song Xiaodong and then forced a smile as she said, "Thank you, Doctor Song, for the kind offer. If I need it, I will come to you."

Her response was merely polite. The Wang family was too powerful and influential for ordinary people to provoke. Song Xiaodong had saved her daughter’s life, and she hadn’t even had the chance to properly thank him for that, let alone trouble him with this.

Shen Ruoqing exhaled deeply and said, "Sigh, talking to you has made me feel much better. Not only did I fail to treat you nicely today, but I also burdened you with my troubles. I’m truly sorry."

Lin Su’er hastily replied, "It’s okay, it’s okay. We’re friends now, and I’m still hoping you’ll help promote my work."

Shen Ruoqing quickly said, "Definitely, I will start preparing the article tonight, then I’ll let you review it to see if anything is inappropriate before I make revisions, aiming to publish it as soon as possible."