Chapter 269: Driving Her Mad

Bai Ge was furious: “You’ve really driven me mad!”

“I didn’t expect it to turn out like this, Mom. What should we do now?”

Song Yinyin looked rather worried.

She had no idea how to handle such a huge mess.

Bai Ge waved her hand: “Don’t be afraid. Your mother won’t let anything happen to you. Just tell me honestly—what exactly did Song Qingtian say to you?”

“She just threatened me.”

Song Yinyin stepped aside and sat down, looking very aggrieved.

Bai Ge asked, “Did she call you first?”

“Not exactly. I called her and demanded five million; otherwise, I’d file a lawsuit accusing her of murdering Father.”

“So she turned around and threatened you instead?”

“That’s right. We parted on bad terms. She said she had evidence that I’d forced her to undress. I didn’t take it seriously at the time, but soon after, she posted a video. Back then, my face was blurred, while Zhou Zishan’s and Kong Yuxiao’s faces weren’t. So I figured I’d better strike first—before she made my face public—and silence her by eliminating the threat.”

Song Yinyin grew more and more agitated as she spoke: “How was I supposed to know things would get so out of control? This morning, Zhou Zishan even called me, asking what we should do. At that time, his face still wasn’t blurred.”

Bai Ge remained unnaturally calm: “Call Zhou Zishan and ask him if they paid off Song Qingtian.”

Song Yinyin shook her head: “No way. If they had paid, they’d definitely have asked me first.”

“Then hurry up and call him!”

Bai Ge’s expression was icy, leaving no room for argument.

Song Yinyin didn’t dare hesitate. She immediately called Zhou Zishan, but the line was dead.

Song Yinyin couldn’t understand—it just wasn’t possible.

She tried Kong Yuxiao next, but he didn’t answer either.

“Why aren’t they picking up?”

Bai Ge was already certain that Zhou Zishan and Kong Yuxiao had bought their peace with money.

“Alright, stop calling. It’s useless.”

With that, Bai Ge took out her phone and called Song Yingtang, briefly and clearly explaining the situation.

Song Yingtang acted decisively: he told Bai Ge to contact the Zhou and Kong families, find out how much they had paid, and then reach out to Song Qingtian to let her know they were willing to pay to keep the matter quiet.

“Record this conversation.”

Song Yingtang had thought ahead.

Bai Ge nodded: “Got it.”

Bai Ge hung up and prepared to call the Zhou family—luckily, she had their number.

“Mom, where are we going to get that kind of money? Song Qingtian is asking for fifty million! Forget fifty million—we don’t even have five million!”

“You don’t, but someone else does. Don’t worry.”

Bai Ge dialed the number, and the Zhou family answered.

Bai Ge wasn’t exactly polite when she spoke:

“How much did you pay to buy your peace?”

The Zhou family had no intention of hiding the truth. They knew this whole affair involved all three kids, and even if they cleared Zhou Zishan and Kong Yuxiao, they still wouldn’t be truly safe. The only thing that mattered was keeping Song Yinyin out of trouble.

So the Zhou family tried to reason with her: “You should talk some sense into Yinyin too. She’s not a child anymore—she needs to think carefully before acting. Let this be a lesson in avoiding unnecessary trouble and loss.”

“How much was it?”

Bai Ge didn’t want any more excuses.

Since the Zhou and Kong families had already reached an agreement but hadn’t told them, it felt like they were deliberately taking advantage of these widows and orphans.

The Zhou family finally came clean: “Together, we paid ten million each—twenty million total.”

Bai Ge’s face instantly changed.

Ten million was no small sum.

For the Zhou and Kong families, it was easily affordable.

But for her, it wasn’t.

“Understood.”

Bai Ge didn’t want any more pleasantries. She hung up the phone right away.

As soon as the call ended, Bai Ge turned to Song Yinyin, shaking her head in exasperation. She’d warned her not to mess with Song Qingtian, but Song Yinyin wouldn’t listen. Now look at the mess she’d made.

Still, Bai Ge didn’t blame Song Yinyin. Instead, she said, “Leave this alone. Go back upstairs and rest for a few days. Once everything’s settled, we’ll talk again.”

Song Yinyin got up, realizing she’d done something wrong, and headed back upstairs.

Meanwhile, Bai Ge went out to consult with Song Yingtang about what to do next.

End of Chapter 269: Driving Her Mad