Chapter 204: Never Die, Never Rest

Li's father thought Su Ruo was scared, so he immediately made a lion's demand.

But Su Ruo only gave him a glance, then turned and left without hesitation.

Seeing Su Ruo about to leave, Li's father panicked at once: "Ten thousand won't do, five thousand is okay!"

Su Ruo looked back at him with contempt: "I'll at most provide you with a train ticket back, not a cent of money."

Li's father instantly grew angrier, feeling that his daughter had become this way entirely because Su Ruo had led her astray.

Before knowing Su Ruo, the daughter was disobedient too, but she would never defy her parents like this now; at this point Li's father blamed all his resentment and dissatisfaction on Su Ruo.

But he dared not act, wary of Su Ruo's bodyguards; Li's mother watched Su Ruo walk farther away, unable to hold back, and called out to stop her.

"We don't need you to buy our tickets for the return trip; just give us the money and we'll buy them ourselves."

Li's mother thought simply: now they're dirt poor, any penny we can get is a penny!

Su Ruo would hardly miss her little thought; she headed straight to the amusement park without looking back, completely ignoring her.

Li's father and mother watched Su Ruo leave, feeling furious and exasperated.

By then it was dark, the factory had closed, and they had no choice but to leave.

But the next day they came again, following the same old routine as yesterday, except that noticeably fewer workers were watching.

Some workers, fearing trouble, took a detour when they saw them.

But on the third day, the fourth day… Li's father and mother persisted, coming every day as if tireless.

On the fifth day of Li's father and mother causing a scene at the factory gate, Su Ruo sensed something was off, because according to her calculations, they had no money and could not possibly last three days before heading home.

But now Li's father and mother not only persisted, they were dressed cleanly and in good spirits—nothing like the penniless, wind‑blown, rain‑soaked state they claimed.

Moreover, several reporters showed up at the factory gate today.

These reporters came with a hostile attitude; after interviewing Li's father and mother, they immediately turned their focus on Su Ruo.

"Factory Manager Su, haven't you always proclaimed that Xia Hua Clothing Factory is great and that you're dedicated to helping others?"

"How could someone who doesn't even care for their own parents and younger brother possibly help others?"

"I've heard that your relationship with Manager Li was good when you went to the countryside; what do you think of this?"

The female reporter asked aggressively, having prepared thoroughly; she had investigated herself and Li Zhaodi down to the last detail, clearly coming with a plan.

Initially Su Ruo thought Li's father and mother were after Li Zhaodi, since she had always looked down on that daughter who suddenly struck it rich—how could they pass up such a chance to latch on and suck her dry?

Now it seems she was mistaken; this incident is clearly aimed at the clothing factory.

Seeing reporters backing them up, Li's father and mother grew bolder, and their crying became ever more pitiful.

Su Ruo looked coldly at all this: "I won't comment without knowing the full story; I'll give everyone an explanation tomorrow."

Then she turned and left without looking back.

Although Su Ruo said she would give an explanation tomorrow, that very night a program aired featuring her visit to Li Zhaodi.

After learning about Li Zhaodi's upbringing, people felt sympathy and also great respect, for it is truly difficult to turn one's fate around under such circumstances.

At the end of the program, Li Zhaodi generously said that although she had never enjoyed her parents' love from childhood, they later even sold her for a hundred dollars.

But they remain her parents; if they can return to the village and stop disturbing her life, she is willing to pay their train fare and will give them fifty dollars each month for living expenses.

Fifty dollars is nothing to Li Zhaodi, but if it can buy a peaceful life and the factory's reputation, the money is well spent.

After watching the interview, everyone praised Li Zhaodi's kindness, while feeling that Li's father and mother were excessively harsh—what parents could be so heartless?

Public opinion almost unanimously supported Li Zhaodi.

People have preconceived notions; with Li Zhaodi's interview coming first, thereafter no matter who says anything, people will instinctively feel doubtful, and what Li Zhaodi said is indeed true.

At this moment, the female reporter who conducted today's interview looked deathly pale. Standing before a woman in black robes, she had lost all her earlier arrogance.

The woman in black robes before her, her face twisting with anger, had thought she could use Li's father and mother's affair to suppress Su Ruo properly.

She hadn't expected that Li Zhaodi had already prerecorded the interview, and that it was a CCTV broadcast, rendering all her efforts these past days useless.

Furthermore, to retaliate against Su Ruo, they had printed that many copies of a newspaper this afternoon, which have now all become waste paper.

They still have to work overtime to revise the manuscript, otherwise tomorrow's newspaper will have to be left blank.

A series of setbacks made the woman in black robes furious; she swept everything on the table onto the floor.

Because the motion was too large, she inadvertently revealed her half‑face covered in scars; the female reporter, seeing this, was instantly frightened and cried out.

The woman in black robes angrily pointed at the door and said: "Get out!"

Hearing that, the female reporter hurried away, not daring to look back.

If the hatred in the black‑robed woman's eyes were substance, she would furiously curse: "Su Ruo, I will certainly make you die a horrible death—do you think this is the end? Absolutely not!"

"You ruined my life; even if I die, I won't let you have an easy time. I will make you watch, one by one, everyone you care about leave you."

"Hahaha…" the woman's mad laughter echoed through the room, sending chills down people's spines.

After Li Zhaodi's interview aired, Li's father and mother became like rats crossing the street—everyone shouted to beat them.

They no longer dared to cause trouble at the clothing factory, had lost the mysterious person's help, and now didn't even have money for food.

Seeing that continuing this way would lead to starvation, they had no choice but to accept Su Ruo's train ticket.

"Here is the return train ticket and this month's fifty‑dollar support fee; as long as you stay obediently in the village and stop causing trouble, we will send the money back on time."

"But if you insist on going your own way, I cannot guarantee that you will return each time unharmed, as you did this time."

Upon hearing Su Ruo's words, Li's father and mother shuddered instantly, indicating they dared not do so.

Su Ruo watched the backs of Li's father and mother as they left, feeling no joy at all; she always sensed that the person behind them would not let things rest easily and would surely stir up more trouble.