Huo Linsheng didn't say whether he believed her or not.
He just gave a faint "hmm".
Seeing this, Ling Nuan grew anxious. "I really didn't this time. I originally wanted to tell you, but you care so much about Shen Shaoqing. If I had told you, you definitely wouldn't have let me go see him. That's why I kept it from you. But I was worried something might go wrong, so I wanted an extra layer of protection for myself."
Ling Nuan desperately searched for reasons to prove she was right.
"Last time, I turned off my phone to draw your concern and lead you there. But this time, I didn't do anything. It wasn't me!" Ling Nuan thought of a point to prove her innocence.
Hearing this, Huo Linsheng curled his lips in a sneer. "Someone else would do it for this matter."
Ling Nuan was stunned.
From Huo Linsheng's perspective, the whole thing probably went like this: Ling Nuan knew Shen Shaoqing was using her grandmother's house to scheme against her, so she played along. What could Shen Shaoqing do at this moment? Maybe he just wanted to drive a wedge between her and him. Then, as the key figure, how could he not show up to watch this good show?
Ling Nuan explained, "I didn't know! Before it happened, I had no idea what means Shen Shaoqing would use against me. How could I have guessed they would definitely call you over?"
Huo Linsheng said nothing and just looked at Ling Nuan.
Ling Nuan's eyes were full of complex emotions: pain, sadness, the agony of being misunderstood, and the anxiety of fearing his misunderstanding.
Huo Linsheng was silent for a moment.
"Okay, I believe you," Huo Linsheng said.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan let out a sigh of relief. With tears still on her face, she managed a smile.
She was really afraid that misunderstandings like this would arise between her and Huo Linsheng and ultimately affect their relationship.
Since Huo Linsheng said he believed her, he didn't want to bring up this matter again.
He continued, "Shen Shaoqing and the others were too hasty. They didn't have time to clean up the mess. There are surveillance videos, physical evidence, and witnesses. You can sue Shen Shaoqing."
"Of course I will sue!" Ling Nuan didn't hesitate.
How could she miss such a good opportunity to send Shen Shaoqing to jail? Especially since he had tried to scheme against her!
Huo Linsheng gave a "hmm" and continued, "I'll have someone follow up on this. After the incident, Huo Xiao took a lawyer there and brought the people back."
Ling Nuan wasn't surprised.
Although Shen Shaoqing had drugged her, she hadn't suffered much harm. At least, there were no external injuries in the physical examination. Moreover, they were still barely relatives. If the matter involved relatives, it would become a family matter.
It wasn't surprising that Shen Shaoqing could be bailed out by Huo Xiao. But as long as she insisted on pursuing the matter, Shen Shaoqing would surely pay the price.
After Ling Nuan gave a "hmm", she asked, "Why did you come to the old mansion today?"
Although it wasn't Ling Nuan's first time at the Huo family's old mansion, in the current situation, staying here made her feel a bit uneasy.
Huo Linsheng was silent for a moment.
After a while, he finally spoke, "You'll stay in the old mansion for the next period."
Ling Nuan was suddenly stunned.
Staying in the old mansion didn't just mean living there for this period. What was even more terrifying was the meaning hidden behind it.
"What does this mean? Didn't you say..."
"I've changed my mind," Huo Linsheng interrupted Ling Nuan and gave her the final verdict. "From today on, you'll stay in the old mansion. Dad will arrange for someone to help you get familiar with the family affairs. There will be a lot of socializing with other families at the end of the year. You really should learn."
These words were like a basin of icy cold water poured on her mercilessly on a cold winter day.
Ling Nuan shivered all over.
She was cold all over and extremely anxious. With a sob in her voice, she seemed to be trying to arouse a bit of Huo Linsheng's soft - heartedness. "You clearly promised me before that you'd let me finish the things at hand."
"So I said, I've changed my mind," Huo Linsheng seemed a bit heartless.
Seeing Huo Linsheng like this, Ling Nuan immediately thought that what had happened today had still made him suspicious.
"Huo Linsheng, if you're suspicious of me and Shen Shaoqing, I can assure you. From today on, I'll definitely keep a distance from him. If I do it again, you can do whatever you want, and I won't have any objections. Please believe me, okay?" Ling Nuan's tone couldn't help but carry a bit of pleading.
Her plan had progressed to this stage. Suddenly stopping now might make all her efforts come to nothing. Ling Nuan couldn't accept this result.
She had planned so hard for so long. She had finally seen the light of hope, but it was shattered at the last step. She couldn't accept it.
"I've said, I believe you," Huo Linsheng replied.
"If you believe me, why are you still doing this? Huo Linsheng, you know how much I care about this. How could you abandon me at this time?" Ling Nuan felt like she was really going crazy.
Hearing Ling Nuan's words, Huo Linsheng sneered.
"Abandon? Ling Nuan, how dare you say this word in front of me?" Huo Linsheng found it ridiculous.
"But you're abandoning me now!" Ling Nuan's voice got louder.
She felt that her already precarious world had finally cracked, and the crack was still widening.
"Speaking of abandonment, who can compare to you?" Huo Linsheng mocked.
Ling Nuan was in disbelief. Angry, she spoke without thinking. "I used you, but Huo Linsheng, from the moment I approached you, you knew what my purpose was. You accepted all this, and now you're blaming me? Don't you think it's too ridiculous?"
"Yes, I'm stupid enough to let you use me," Huo Linsheng was also holding back his anger.
Hearing Huo Linsheng's words, Ling Nuan's anger cooled down a bit.
She softened her tone again. "Huo Linsheng, I can agree to anything else. Just on this matter, Huo Linsheng, I beg you. Can you give me a few more days? Seven days? Five days? Three days, Huo Linsheng!"
By the end, Ling Nuan couldn't hold back her tears, and they welled up in her eyes.
Seeing Ling Nuan like this, Huo Linsheng did feel heartache.
But when he thought of the scene he had seen, he hardened his heart again. "Ling Nuan, I've tolerated so much from you and forgiven you. I've said, don't see Shen Shaoqing again. But in your heart, it seems that you can easily break your promise to me. In your heart, am I really so ridiculous that I'll just obediently listen to you after a few words of coaxing?"
"I didn't," Ling Nuan cried uncontrollably.
"I know it was wrong of me to see Shen Shaoqing. I'm sorry. It was my fault. I won't do it again in the future. Huo Linsheng, just this once, okay?"
This was probably the most humble moment in Ling Nuan's life.
If the old Mr. Huo had spoken, and Huo Linsheng didn't help her, she wouldn't be able to get involved in the Huo family's affairs at all. It would be extremely difficult to continue her plan later.
All her hopes rested on Huo Linsheng.
Huo Linsheng wavered.
But in the end, he closed his eyes. "Ling Nuan, this time, I can't agree to you. You've never cared about our agreement."