Chapter 699 - 699: It's Not About You

"What reaction did your dad have to this?" Xiao Feng asked.

Song Keren shook her head slightly in disappointment, "No reaction. Honestly, I didn't expect him to have any reaction. He couldn't possibly abandon the principles he's upheld for half his life just for me."

"Not confident in yourself?"

"This has nothing to do with confidence. Besides, I don't think he's wrong for not getting involved."

Xiao Feng nodded, "Alright, we should find time for the two of us to have a good talk. Where in the world is there such a father..."

"Hold on!" Song Keren's eyes widened, interrupting, "You and my dad... brothers?"

"Yeah!" Xiao Feng's expression was serious, showing no sign of joking, "Hey niece, the water's gone, pour your uncle another cup."

As he spoke, he handed over the cup.

"Smack!"

Song Keren slapped Xiao Feng's wrist, expressionless, "I never realized you had a habit of making such vulgar jokes."

Xiao Feng stood up, unamused, "Who's joking with you? You know Di Xuedong and your dad are sworn brothers, right?"

Song Keren's expression changed, suddenly having a bad feeling.

This guy even knows this, could he really not be joking?

Then she heard Xiao Feng continue, "Di Xuedong and your dad are like brothers, and Di Xuedong's son, Di Junxiong, is my apprentice.

You've been to school, do the math yourself, by seniority, don't you have to call me uncle?"

"When did this happen?" Song Keren asked tightly, clenching her fists.

Xiao Feng feigned surprise, "Last month's affair. What? Di Junxiong didn't tell you?"

"You took Di Junxiong as an apprentice just to take advantage of me?" Song Keren asked suspiciously.

"How could that be!" Xiao Feng replied righteously, "Do you think I'm someone with that kind of low taste?"

"Aren't you?"

"Yes!" Xiao Feng admitted readily.

"..." Song Keren.

The change came so fast, it was hard to react.

"Hey niece, one must approach things with a positive mind to find happiness." Xiao Feng said pretentiously, "Think about it, at least you live in a villa and drive a car.

There are many kids in the mountains who can't even go to school, think about them, it might make you feel better.

Why aren't you speaking, niece?"

"What do you want me to say?" Song Keren replied through gritted teeth.

Xiao Feng chuckled, "Of course, I want to know what you plan to do next."

"What can I do?" Song Keren snorted coldly, "You must have noticed before you came in; I'm now a major surveillance target.

Honestly, it feels pretty bad. I can finally understand how Miao Youmin felt at that time.

Anyway, the innocent need no defense; for things I've never done, even if they kill me, I won't admit it!"

Xiao Feng's expression turned serious, "Hey niece, I have to say a few words to you. You absolutely mustn't have this kind of self-destructive thinking.

Relying on others to clear your name is a very dangerous approach in itself.

You might end up waiting and waiting, only to find yourself waiting into a big prison."

"Don't think the investigation team is that incompetent," Song Keren replied irritably.

"Ah..." Xiao Feng sighed, speaking earnestly, "Hey niece, you're still too young. Many of your thoughts are naive and overly optimistic.

If, as you say, innocence speaks for itself, would you be suspended right now with so many people watching outside?

Wake up, this kind of meticulous and interconnected plan is clearly not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a deliberate scheme.

Think about it, would the person behind this have started preparing right after the Shen Group's bankruptcy if they weren't confident in ruining you?"

Song Keren's face instantly turned serious, "Are you saying this is just the beginning?"

"It's quite obvious," Xiao Feng shrugged, "So, niece, you have to..."

Song Keren couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted, "Can you stop calling me 'niece' all the time?"

"Sure, any request from my niece, of course, as an uncle, I have to agree," Xiao Feng nodded readily.

"..." Song Keren.

Fortunately, Xiao Feng didn't keep on with the "niece" talk endlessly and quickly got to the main point, "This matter apparently targets you, but I feel it's likely directed at your dad.

Having the president of a private bank play a dead pawn is not an easy feat.

At least among the so-called wealthy families in Jiangcheng, no one can do that."

"Logically, I haven't been in Jiangcheng for long, so the most likely person to do this among those I've offended should be the Bai Family behind Miao Youmin," Song Keren pondered, touching her chin, "Could it be that the Bai Family caught something on Yu Pengpo, forcing him to do this?"

Xiao Feng shook his head, "No such possibility. Imagine, if you were Yu Pengpo, would you choose to spend decades in prison, or use all your assets to outright annihilate the Bai Family?

Don't doubt whether Yu Pengpo has the financial capability; the shares he gave to Shen Hongcai are worth two Shen Groups. The Bai Family's pedigree is old, but its strength is not necessarily great."

"If someone is indeed using me to attack my dad, then it's really a big problem," Song Keren said with an ugly expression, "At the very least, clearing my name will be hard."

Xiao Feng pondered, "Actually, it might not be. Although the other side's design is meticulous, the evidence is just your signature and fingerprint, which can be easily forged.

As long as the evidence chain can be overturned, the charges won't stand.

Perhaps... the person who planned all this never intended to send you to prison?"

At this point, a glimmer of light flashed in Xiao Feng's eyes as he said, "I get it. The ultimate goal of the other side was actually achieved the moment you were suspended."

"What do you mean?" Song Keren questioned.

Xiao Feng smiled slightly, "As mentioned earlier, this scheme wasn't designed against you. The real target is still your dad.

There's a legal presumption of innocence, but from the public's perspective, it's not like that at all.

Just like now, with your suspension, outsiders will certainly think, if you hadn't committed any bribery or corruption, why would you be suspended?

Even if you eventually clear your name, outsiders will still think your dad manipulated things behind the scenes because of him.

In other words, no matter what label gets pasted on, once it's on you, it's like a stubborn adhesive, impossible to shake off."

"Then will my dad be in danger?" Song Keren asked nervously.

Xiao Feng shrugged, "You ask me, but who should I ask? We haven't even found out who set up the scheme, so who knows what other tricks they have up their sleeves.

Anyway, that Huilu Bank name is really cleverly picked.

Huilu, bribery, it's as if they never intended to take the right path."

Just then, the phone in his pocket rang, and the name on the screen appeared as: Sun Shijie.

Why is this old man calling?