Chapter 282: The Lin Family Apologizes to Jiang Lai on Their Daughter's Behalf

She watched Gu Sen and Gu Hui leave.

Ke Zhongying immediately linked arms with Jiang Lai and said with a smile, "How was that? Not nervous, right?"

Jiang Lai shook her head. "Not nervous."

As the two turned to leave, Jiang Lai looked once more in the direction Gu Sen's car had departed and remarked, "Gu Zhiyan and Gu Yinxue really don't resemble Uncle Gu much."

She was referring to the first impression they gave.

Gu Zhiyan had repeatedly brought up that she was an orphan by origin, saying that her trying to compete with Lin Shutong and the Ji Family was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree, and hoping she would know her place.

Gu Yinxue looked kindly enough, but everything about her felt off, always giving her an inexplicable chill.

Only Uncle Gu was refined in manner, gentle in speech, both amiable and mindful of boundaries.

Ke Zhongying walked with her arm in hers and said, "Of course they're different. The Gu family has a lot of people, more flourishing than the Ke Family. The Nian Family and the Gu family have always been close, but Ms. Nian only acknowledges Uncle Gu as a good friend—and to a degree that even my dad wouldn't be jealous. That tells you about Uncle Gu's character, right?"

"How could Gu Zhiyan and Gu Yinxue compare? Sure, Gu Zhiyan is also a famous lawyer in B City, but who knows how much of that is inflated. Besides, being a law firm partner doesn't necessarily require top-tier ability. In short, there are a lot of twists and turns behind it."

"The Gu family arranged for Gu Zhiyan to enter the legal profession not because they wanted him to become the foremost lawyer in the industry. To put it bluntly, it's just a social tool."

"But speaking of which, Gu Yinxue is quite fortunate." Ke Zhongying said in earnest, "Gu Yinxue can do whatever she wants to do, and Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu are very supportive. Of course, my mom and dad are too, hehe."

"But my dad said that Gu Yinxue is actually more suited to the Gu family's family environment than Gu Zhiyan." Ke Zhongying shrugged. "Probably because Gu Yinxue's mind is deeper."

As they talked, the two had already reached the car, and they drove back to Number Ten Courtyard.

At the gate, a security guard came out and said, "Dr. Jiang, tonight a Mr. Lin and a Ms. Ji came to visit you."

Ke Zhongying: "Those two surnames together—aren't they Lin Shutong's parents?"

Jiang Lai nodded.

The security guard continued, "Since they couldn't reach you directly, Dr. Jiang, we didn't let them in. The two waited a long time without seeing you and have already left, but they said they'll come again tomorrow and asked me to let you know. They hope you'll give them a chance to meet with you."

Most likely it was about repaying the money.

Jiang Lai replied with just two words: "We'll see."

The security guard understood her meaning and answered, "I'll send them off. Please rest assured, Dr. Jiang."

Jiang Lai: "Thank you."

Jiang Lai had assumed the other party meant tomorrow evening; she hadn't expected it to be early morning.

Lin Fu and Lin Mu stood three meters away from the entrance of Number Ten Courtyard, wearing ordinary black down jackets, standing in the cold wind, their carefully groomed hair blown slightly disheveled, yet with their arms linked together—a couple supporting each other.

Worry creased their brows, their eyes showed faint red veins, and the tips of their noses were reddened by the cold wind.

Seeing Jiang Lai appear, they immediately stepped forward but didn't enter directly, instead stopping at a closer spot, waiting for Jiang Lai to scan her face and come out.

"Hello, Dr. Jiang. My surname is Lin. I am Lin Shutong's father."

"My surname is Ji. I am Lin Shutong's mother. Dr. Jiang, could you give us a little time to talk?"

The two didn't crowd around her, keeping an appropriate distance, their pleading gazes following her every movement.

Lin Fu said, "Ten minutes, is that okay?"

Lin Mu said, "Dr. Jiang."

They were just an ordinary pair of parents, doing what they could to do something for their daughter.

One was Professor Lin, the other was Professor Ji.

Jiang Lai had always held a natural respect for teachers; after taking a couple of steps, she ultimately stopped and looked back at them.

The two came forward with delight, emphasizing that they would only take ten minutes.

Jiang Lai said, "Professor Lin, Professor Ji, let's talk in the car. I've been very busy lately."

Ke Zhongyu had helped her a great deal, and she couldn't directly repay him with material wealth, but she could devote more effort to the Three-Region Project, bringing the product to market as early as possible. The Ke Clan's market value would soar as a result, and subsequently enter a phase of sustained profitability.

Since Nanshan Villa and Number Ten Courtyard were not on the way, Ke Zhongyu also didn't want to keep sending a car to pick up and drop off Jiang Lai, worried that it would put too much pressure on her.

The car Jiang Lai had hailed on her phone was parked by the roadside at this very moment.

The three got into the car.

Lin Fu first expressed his apology: "Dr. Jiang, we want to say sorry for our daughter interfering in your marriage."

"We're sorry. It was our lax discipline. We don't expect your forgiveness. The outcome she faces now is one she brought upon herself, and we have no complaints. We only hate that we've taught and educated countless people, yet failed to properly raise our own daughter."

Lin Mu also said, "Dr. Jiang, I'm sorry."

Jiang Lai had no father or mother and always found herself envying those who did. Lin Shutong actually had decent parents, but making her own parents swallow their pride to come apologize was rather unfilial.

She looked at the two of them without blame and said, "I don't resent you."

Lin Fu and Lin Mu said in unison, "We know."

They could see it.

Lin Mu placed a bank card into Jiang Lai's hand. "There's fifty million in here. It's the largest amount we can return at this time. As for the car and the house, please set aside some time, Dr. Jiang, and we'll go through the title transfer. All the luxury goods will be returned together as well."

The bank card lying in Jiang Lai's palm was warm—it must have been warmed in their hands.

Fifty million—surely it had already bankrupted the two professors, borrowing from everyone they possibly could.

Lin Fu pleaded, "We will definitely return the one hundred and twenty million. This is fifty million. For the remaining seventy million, could you give us some time, Dr. Jiang? And please, when the court-ordered repayment date arrives, don't apply for compulsory enforcement."

Lin Mu looked at her with reddened eyes.

Jiang Lai averted her gaze, holding the card and said, "I'll accept the fifty million, but the remaining seventy million shouldn't be repaid by you. Even if you come to repay the money in the future, I won't accept it. Lin Shutong is twenty-eight years old and has long been capable of bearing civil liability."

"Forgive me, but I cannot agree to your request."

Jiang Lai wasn't confrontational with them and even treated them politely. No matter how worried the two were about their daughter, they couldn't push their luck and keep begging.

Jiang Lai had the driver stop at the crosswalk ahead. She gave the two a slight nod, rolled up the window, and the car continued forward.

Lin Fu put his arm around Lin Mu's shoulders and let out a heavy sigh.

Lin Mu said, "There's still seventy million. What do we do?"

Lin Fu: "Dr. Jiang is right. Shutong has long been capable of bearing civil liability."

Lin Mu: "Are we just going to leave it at that?"

Lin Fu let out another sigh; he also didn't know.

At this moment, Lin Shutong was no longer stubbornly guarding outside Ji Lao's hospital ward; instead, she gritted her teeth and knelt down.

She had been kneeling for half a day already.

She knelt, leaning left and right.

"Grandfather..." she cried out repeatedly, hoping that appealing to family ties and using the bitter ploy would work.