Chapter 284: Chapter 284

Bai Zhirui led Shen Shichen into her devilish room. The closer she got to the room’s balcony, the stiffer her body became.

If... if there hadn’t been that self-righteous transaction to save the Bai Family, what would she be like now?

Shen Shichen said impatiently, "If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don’t waste my time."

"We grew up together, and both our families tacitly approved of our marriage. Do you truly harbor no feelings for me whatsoever?"

"I will not marry a worthless cripple!"

Shen Shichen’s words were like a knife, stabbing viciously into Bai Zhirui’s heart.

When Bai Zhirui wasn’t present, he could still dredge up some lingering affection from their past. But when she appeared in public just now, the mocking and pitying glances from others made him realize he could never accept a disabled woman, even if the Bai and Shen families were long-standing friends of generations! He had so many women to choose from; why should he pick a cripple? What would others think of him if he married her?

Suddenly, Bai Zhirui no longer wished to say anything.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shichen didn’t even spare her a glance and strode out quickly.

Bai Zhirui gazed at the reinforced balcony, her heart as cold as ice.

Why bother trying to please a man who didn’t treasure her? Her legs... as long as she persevered with rehabilitation, she would surely stand again one day.

"Shen Shichen, just you wait!"

Bai Zhirui turned and knocked on Fu Bing’s door. Zhang Jing, recognizing her as the one who had mediated earlier, led her inside.

Fu Bing was not surprised to see Bai Zhirui.

"I can treat your leg, but I want Shen Family Pharmaceuticals in exchange."

Bai Zhirui said, "Shen Family Pharmaceuticals has only held its place in the market these past few years thanks to my Bai Family’s research and development. Ever since I became unable to stand, the way the Shen Family has shunned me has also made my Bai Family wary of them. If my Bai Family were to cooperate directly with you, the Shen Family would inevitably decline."

Fu Bing showed no emotion. "When discussing cooperation with individuals who lack credibility, I place more trust in black-and-white contracts."

Noticing Bai Zhirui’s disappointed expression, she spoke again. "After all, healing you offers me no benefit."

Bai Zhirui’s heart had already been considerably strengthened by her recent rehabilitation. She didn’t flip the table as she might have in the past. Instead, she forced herself to remain calm. Updates are released by novel⚑fire.net

"The person currently managing the Bai Family is Bai Fen. I can arrange for him to speak with you. My sole condition is that you heal my legs!"

Fu Bing glanced at Zhang Jing.

Zhang Jing said, "Miss Bai, please."

Bai Zhirui had no choice but to depart.

Fu Bing glanced down at the project feasibility report prepared by Yang Ningzheng. Over the past year, Yang Ningzheng had managed to poach an expensive research and development team. Such R&D teams were incredibly expensive. Until the R&D team could produce tangible results, profits from other projects had to be channeled into covering their substantial expenses. Moreover, the business sectors of the Bai and Shen families were their next primary targets.

Even if the Bai Family had lost face in the grand competition last year, their roots ran deep, especially since Bai Zhirui’s grandfather had made outstanding contributions in the past. A family of such standing wouldn’t be easily toppled by a single incident. That was why she had initially set her sights on the Shen Family. However, if the Bai Family demonstrated genuine sincerity in cooperating, it wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Bai Zhirui played the recording of her private conversation with Shen Shichen for Bai Fen.

Bai Fen pondered for a long time before asking, "What do you intend to do?"

"The Shen Family are like ungrateful wolves; no matter how much you feed them, they’ll never be loyal. Instead of desperately clinging to them, we’d be better off finding a new partner."

Bai Fen said, "I know his words and actions have hurt you. You knew what kind of person he was; it’s not as if you only just discovered it. Don’t you think it’s a bit late to be protesting now?"

Bai Zhirui’s eyes glinted with aggression as she stared intently at Bai Fen.

"So, you’re saying I should just endure this humiliation? Then what’s the point of having a powerful natal family? When I’m out there suffering, my family stays silent, even advising me to bear it!" Bai Zhirui ground out, "Have the men of the Bai Family become so spineless?!"

"You made me take all the blame initially, ruining my future, then trapped me at home with your sanctimonious pronouncements, forcing me to endure all the slander!"

"I shouldered everything and ended up with crippled legs. Then, deeming me useless, you tell me to go curry favor with men to secure my own future!"

"Well done, Bai Family! Truly impressive!"

Bai Zhirui unleashed all the malice in her heart without restraint.

Bai Fen’s face alternated between shades of pale and green. "Must you cause such a scene here? Will you only be satisfied once you’ve dragged the Bai Family’s reputation through the mud?"

"This is the very place where I once plunged into hell!" Bai Zhirui stated coldly. "You can continue your charade of peace and tranquility, but I have no intention of playing along anymore. Since the Bai Family cannot be my pillar of support, I will find one that can!"

"What are you scheming? Do you honestly believe Fu Bing’s place is some kind of sanctuary?"

"No matter what, it’s better than a pack of hypocrites like you!"

Bai Zhirui still clung to a final shred of illusion in her heart. She had brought immense honor to the Bai Family, solidifying their position in the pharmaceutical industry. Her legs were impaired, yes, but her mind remained sharp. She still possessed value to the Bai Family.

Bai Fen was enraged by Bai Zhirui’s words. "You’re a cripple! If you behave yourself, you can continue to live comfortably. But if you entertain any other notions, don’t blame me for disregarding old ties!"

Bai Zhirui had been wounded by Shen Shichen before. Being hurt by her own family again hardly registered. For the past year, she had been utterly and completely ignored. She had long understood her significance—or rather, insignificance—in their eyes. She just hadn’t wanted to confront it. But seeing Fu Bing again, a sudden surge of courage ignited within her. It propelled her forward! An inexplicable conviction bloomed: Fu Bing could guide her out of this mire.

"I’ve seen precisely what your ’familial ties’ are worth, and I’ve long been clear about the future that awaits me with you!" Thinking of the past, Bai Zhirui felt nothing but disgust.

They had exploited her for every ounce of her worth. Once she was deemed useless, she was callously discarded.

The murderous intent in Bai Fen’s eyes was undisguised.

For people like them, skilled in the use of medicines, disposing of someone was laughably easy. A little something slipped into their food or drink, allowed to accumulate, and the person would simply drop dead. The police would likely never even find a trace.

Bai Zhirui met the murderous glint in Bai Fen’s eyes, suppressing the pain in her heart. "Do you honestly think I’d dare to challenge you without making any preparations? I’ve copied all the R&D team’s new projects. If anything happens to me, those files will be automatically sent to Fu Bing’s email. At that point, your secret agreement with the Shen Family will be breached, and they won’t let you, or the Bai Family, off the hook."

As Bai Zhirui spoke these words, her tone remained utterly flat.

She had never, ever, conceived of using such tactics against her own kin. But they all had her pegged. They knew they could inflict pain upon her without any compunction.

"What good would the Bai Family’s downfall do you?" Bai Fen was so furious he felt like strangling Bai Zhirui. Did she hit her head and go stupid when she fell? he fumed internally.

"The Bai Family hasn’t fallen, yet I haven’t gained a single thing!"

"Haven’t my contributions to the Bai Family surpassed yours? So why are *you* the heir?"

"You possess no particular talent, and your abilities are mediocre at best. Yet, simply because you are male, you effortlessly obtained the position I could never reach, no matter how much I sacrificed!"

"None of you have ever truly experienced hardship, yet you so casually dictate the course of my life, grinding me into the dirt!"

"When you did all those things, did you ever, for one moment, consider me a member of the Bai Family?!"