Chapter 18: Apology

Police Station.

Du Xingyuan and Ning Lan had already spent a whole day and night here. During that time, no one treated them like a tycoon or a celebrity; all they received was one meal and one bottle of water. Neither of them had ever endured such treatment, and yet, they dared not cause a scene at the police station.

Moreover, the mere thought that it was Lian Hanqi’s people who had sent them here made them shiver uncontrollably.

Ning Lan’s tears were nearly dried up. “Xingyuan, do you think we’ll never get out? Why haven’t Uncle and Auntie come yet?”

By rights, Du Xingyuan’s parents would never allow their only son to suffer, but this time, it involved Lian Hanqi…

Thinking of that formidable, cold, and merciless man made Du Xingyuan even more agitated. The sound of Ning Lan’s weeping beside him only made it worse. “Stop crying!”

Startled by his abruptness, Ning Lan was at a loss. When she lifted her head and saw the dark, thunderous expression on Du Xingyuan’s face, she didn’t even dare to cry anymore.

When they saw Yun Fu again, it was as if their positions had been reversed.

Yun Fu looked down on them from above, while they were utterly disheveled and wretched.

Observing their obvious dejection, Yun Fu’s lips curled ever so slightly. That hint of a smile, falling into Ning Lan’s eyes, felt like a resounding slap across her face.

Behind Yun Fu stood a middle-aged man in uniform, exuding an indescribable authority and presence, yet now standing respectfully behind Yun Fu.

Du Yong and Lin Lirong finally saw their son and let out a sigh of relief.

“You unfilial child!” Du Yong glared fiercely at Du Xingyuan, then turned his gaze to Yun Fu.

At that moment, Yun Fu stood with her arms crossed, her exquisite face betraying no emotion, her gaze icy and indifferent.

Du Yong remembered their agreement.

“You two!” Du Yong glared at the pair again. “Apologize to Yun Fu!”

“What?!” Ning Lan froze, pointing at herself, then at Yun Fu, her face full of disbelief.

They wanted her to apologize to Yun Fu? What a joke.

Lin Lirong had long since grown weary of this woman. It was bad enough that she had dragged her son into trouble, but she’d also cost them a large sum of money.

Her face darkened as she looked at Ning Lan. “If you want to leave this place, you’d better behave and apologize!”

Du Xingyuan looked at his parents, then at Yun Fu and the man behind her.

That was the Chief of Police. He suddenly remembered having met him once by chance. He never imagined that their trouble would merit the chief’s personal involvement.

But then again, with Lian Hanqi involved, it was no surprise.

A complicated emotion surged within him. Du Xingyuan looked at Yun Fu, lowered his head, and bowed respectfully. “Yun Fu, everything that happened this time, and before, was my fault. I’m sorry.”

In that moment, Yun Fu felt something erupt within her.

Looking at the man before her, she felt lighter than ever before.

She knew these were the remnants of the original soul’s emotions. She sighed internally—at last, the girl had received the apology she deserved.

But that was not all she wanted.

Her gaze swept to Ning Lan’s face, noting her indignation, the way she clenched her fists and was forced to bow her head—how satisfying.

If Du Xingyuan could apologize, how could Ning Lan not? Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to lower her head. “Yun Fu, I’m sorry. Everything before was my fault.”

Yun Fu’s lips curled with indifference as she spun her phone lazily in her hand. With the group watching her intently, she parted her red lips and spoke: “I don’t hear a trace of sincerity.”

“…”

“!!!”

Ning Lan’s eyes burned with hatred as she glared at Yun Fu, but a sharp look from Lin Lirong made her quickly lower her head again.

Yun Fu leaned languidly against the wall outside the holding cell, her beautiful eyes cool and devoid of warmth as she watched them through the bars.

“How about this? Post a public apology online, pin it to the top, and don’t take it down. That would show your sincerity, wouldn’t it?”

Du Xingyuan and Ning Lan’s expressions turned ghastly. They were public figures—apologizing to Yun Fu publicly would be humiliating.

Hatred surged in Ning Lan’s eyes as she stared daggers at Yun Fu. “Impossible!”

Yun Fu raised an eyebrow and straightened leisurely from the wall, turning to the chief behind her. “In that case, Chief Ding, as for these two…”

Before she’d even finished, Lin Lirong and Du Yong’s faces changed and they rushed to intervene.

“We’ll apologize!” Du Yong shot a warning glare at Ning Lan. “Yun Fu, we’ll apologize as you wish.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll make sure Xingyuan apologizes to you.” As for Ning Lan, as long as she didn’t drag their son down, they didn’t care what happened to her.

Du Xingyuan clenched his teeth, watching his parents bow and scrape to Yun Fu, feeling a wave of bitterness.

He knew that offending Lian Hanqi had left his parents desperate enough to seek Yun Fu’s help.

“Yun Fu, I will apologize. All media under Star Entertainment will cooperate. The apology will be pinned to the top of our social media. Please, forgive me this once.”

Just then, Yun Fu’s phone chimed.

She glanced down—a transfer successful, another fifty million in her account. Not bad.

But then she looked at Ning Lan, who still looked as if she wanted nothing more than to kill her. Yun Fu loathed that look most of all.

“Ning Lan, apologize to Yun Fu!” Du Xingyuan gave Ning Lan a hard shove.

Ning Lan’s eyes instantly brimmed with tears. When had she ever endured such humiliation? And to apologize to Yun Fu? Was she even worthy?

But looking at Du Xingyuan’s parents’ grim faces, at Yun Fu’s unaffected demeanor, and at Chief Ding behind her—

Gritting her teeth, Ning Lan bowed her head again. “I’ll post an apology on social media and cooperate with the media as well.”

With both of them yielding, Du Yong and Lin Lirong looked pleadingly at Yun Fu, their eyes full of supplication.

Yun Fu lazily lifted her gaze and nodded at Chief Ding behind her. “Please, let them out.”

“Yes, Miss Yun.”

With a gesture from Chief Ding, his subordinates quickly unlocked the holding cell.

Du Xingyuan and Ning Lan were finally released.

All four of them breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.

Chief Ding looked at the young woman before him, his admiration growing. To have these two utterly at her mercy—this girl was no ordinary person.

He couldn’t help but add, “I hope you will honor your promise to Miss Yun.”

It sounded like a reminder, but it was truly a warning.

Du Yong and Lin Lirong quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, we will. Please rest assured, Chief Ding.”

Catching Yun Fu’s eye, they hastily added, “You too, Miss Yun, rest assured.”