CHAPTER 560: CHAPTER 554: BLACKMAIL (SECOND UPDATE)

Luo Zhiyong saw a series of actions from Zhou Yunmei, slightly frowned, not understanding what her plan really was. According to common sense, when seeing such a scenario with their daughter-in-law, isn’t it normal to try to downplay big issues and dismiss small ones?

Ordinarily, one would take cover and resolve matters within the family, to avoid airing dirty laundry. Yet, Zhou Yunmei seemed determined to escalate the situation.

Luo Zhiyong did not anticipate this, but Fang Pingying immediately guessed Zhou Yunmei’s intention.

Zhou Yunmei recognized Shuanzi and knew he was associated with the high-interest loans. The Luo Family must have been at their wits’ end over the usury lately. Now that Zhou Yunmei had caught Shuanzi in a compromising position, she would certainly exploit it. At the very least, she would ensure the debt from the high-interest loan was wiped clean.

Fang Pingying wouldn’t intervene in these matters, but seeing Luo Zhiyong cluelessly unable to figure it out at all made her roll her eyes in exasperation.

She glared at Luo Zhiyong, signaling him to move aside, and whispered, "Your mom is probably planning to extort them, to erase the high-interest loan Luo Zhiming owes. But Shuanzi is not someone to be trifled with, tell her to be careful, so it doesn’t end with her life in jeopardy."

After hearing Fang Pingying’s words, Luo Zhiyong also realized the truth and fully agreed with her. Zhou Yunmei’s conversation with Shuanzi was undoubtedly about the high-interest loan.

Thinking this, Luo Zhiyong’s expression darkened, and he called out, "Let her be, we’re leaving, it’s getting late, I’ll take you guys back."

"But..." Just as Fang Pingying and Luo Zhiyong were about to leave, they suddenly heard Shuanzi’s ominous voice from inside, "Old lady, if you dare to threaten me again, believe it or not, I will take your life today."

Their steps halted immediately.

Although Luo Zhiyong had just vowed to heaven never to deal with Zhou Yunmei again, if her life were truly at risk, he could not just stand by and watch her be killed.

But Luo Zhiyong also knew that if he intervened in Zhou Yunmei’s affairs at this moment, it would render his previous words meaningless. He could not afford to step in again, not even to warn Zhou Yunmei, otherwise, she would discern that Luo Zhiyong would still look after her no matter what, and she would only become more overbearing in the future.

After a moment of silence, Luo Zhiyong could not think of a course of action and, out of frustration, said, "Forget it, let her handle it. Since she has the guts to blackmail a loan shark, she probably can handle what comes next."

With that said, Luo Zhiyong called Fang Pingying and Luo Honglan to leave, his irritation at its peak; he truly didn’t want to deal with this anymore.

Although Fang Pingying utterly loathed Zhou Yunmei, she didn’t hate her enough to wish death upon her at the hands of someone else. Besides, considering Luo Zhiyong was also leaving, if Zhou Yunmei indeed died, it would pose a difficult situation.

So, she whispered, "I’ll go first, you guys think of something else."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhiyong reached out to stop Fang Pingying from leaving alone. Fang Pingying glanced at him and did not insist any further.

After a moment of silence, Luo Honglan also grasped Luo Zhiyong’s concerns and suddenly spoke up, "Big brother, perhaps I should go and give her a reminder. Whatever she decides to do will be up to her."

"Honglan..." Luo Zhiyong stretched out his hand to stop Luo Honglan, not wanting to involve her or let her selflessly step into the mess with Zhou Yunmei.

But Luo Honglan murmured, "Big brother, I’m different from you. She knows I can’t do much, she can’t rely on me for anything. Plus, once I get married, I won’t be part of the Luo Family anymore. Compared to you, I have far fewer responsibilities."

Having said that, Luo Honglan ignored Luo Zhiyong’s attempt to stop her and walked towards the house.

Seeing that Luo Honglan couldn’t be dissuaded, Luo Zhiyong pulled Fang Pingying into hiding in a darker spot, letting Zhou Yunmei think they had really left. Otherwise, with someone backing her up, Zhou Yunmei would be out of control.

Luo Honglan stepped forward, knocked on the door, and it was Zhou Yunmei who answered. Luo Honglan glanced inside the room, called Zhou Yunmei out, and whispered sternly, "Enough is enough. Shuanzi is not someone to be trifled with. You better not end up losing the money and getting yourself into trouble."

Zhou Yunmei wasn’t focusing on Luo Honglan’s words but looked around instead and asked, "Where are your brother and sister-in-law?"

Luo Honglan glanced over to where Luo Zhiyong and Fang Pingying had been, saw that they weren’t there, and caught their drift, saying, "They’ve left."

"Left?" Zhou Yunmei with disbelief peeked around again and not seeing anyone, frowned, "Those heartless ones really left?"

Hearing that, Luo Honglan frowned and said, "Didn’t you hear what big brother just said? He won’t concern himself with you all anymore. From now on, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because big brother cleans up after you."

"I..."

Before Zhou Yunmei could finish, Luo Honglan said, "I’m leaving too. You better let that person go quickly. Otherwise, if you lose your life over this, there won’t even be anyone to collect your body."

After Luo Honglan finished speaking, she too walked away, leaving Zhou Yunmei stamping her feet in anger on the spot.

After Zhou Yunmei returned to the room, Luo Zhiyong and Fang Pingying also left the guest house and met up with Luo Honglan at the entrance.

The three of them stood at the entrance, none speaking.

Deep down, they all knew that they shouldn’t interfere with Zhou Yunmei’s business anymore, but if her life was really in jeopardy, they would still have to figure something out.

After all, even if Zhou Yunmei wasn’t their mother, just a stranger, if they knew a stranger’s life was in danger, they couldn’t just watch idly.

After standing for a while, Luo Zhiyong said, "Why don’t you two go back first? I’ll keep watch outside. If something really seems off, I won’t intervene; I’ll just call the police."

Hearing this, Luo Honglan still felt worried and said to Fang Pingying, "Sister-in-law, I want to stay and see what happens as well..."

Seeing that both of them wanted to stay, Fang Pingying figured that if there were indeed trouble, calling the police would solve it, so she decided not to muddy the waters. She nodded, "Then you two siblings keep watch here, I’m going back, Ruirui and Yaoyao are still at home."

As Fang Pingying was about to leave, Luo Zhiyong grabbed her, his eyes intently on her, "Forget it, let’s all stay. I wouldn’t feel at ease with you going back alone. Without us here, I reckon my mom won’t be able to cause any real trouble, and Shuanzi will probably scare her off soon enough."

Fang Pingying looked into Luo Zhiyong’s eyes and nodded. This area around the train station is the most chaotic place in the provincial city; for safety’s sake, she decided to stay.

Luo Zhiyong was right; once Zhou Yunmei realized they had all left, her arrogance deflated greatly. She muttered a few words at the doorstep and reentered the room. Then she attempted to intimidate Shuanzi, "I’m telling you, I won’t let this go just like that. If you don’t give me a proper explanation, I... I’ll report you to the police." (Si Ye created a group, interested girls can join, group number: 5-6-0-8-0-3-1-6-6, knock on the door with the name of any character in the book.)