"That..."
Ernie was just about to speak when a white figure suddenly stumbled straight toward them.
Su Qiao reacted swiftly, pulling Ernie aside and dodging the approaching person.
"Xiao Qiao!"
The person's tearful, trembling, choked-up appearance startled Su Qiao into pulling Ernie back several more steps.
"What are you doing? Trying to stage an accident for compensation?"
"We're several meters away from you and can't reach you at all. Don't even think about extorting money from us."
A dazed look flashed across Xia Xiaodie's face. She quickly recovered, wiped the corners of her eyes, and once again looked as if she were about to burst into tears.
"Xiao Qiao, I'm sorry. It was all my fault. I was blinded by envy for a moment and had my younger brother trick Sanlang into revealing information about your family. That's how..."
Xia Xiaodie sorrowfully sniffed and wiped her eyes before fixing Su Qiao with her reddened eyes.
"Xiao Qiao, this really has nothing to do with my mother, nor with my maternal grandfather's family. They had no idea the formula for this tooth powder belonged to your family. If you have to blame someone, blame me!"
"I only beg you, I beg you not to hire people to smash up my maternal grandfather's family's general store anymore."
"My maternal grandfather's entire family—more than a dozen people—depends on that store to live. If the store can't open, they'll all starve to death."
The more Xia Xiaodie spoke, the more tears streamed down her face, as if the sky itself had collapsed. In the end, she covered her face and knelt on the ground, utterly heartbroken.
"Xiao Qiao, please, I beg you, show mercy and spare their lives! As long as you let them go, I'll do anything you ask. I'll work like an