"Hand over the cash, and exchange the household registration book."

Lin Mian's heart was subtly pricked, as she lifted the box in her hand. The weight was heavy, much like her current mood.

"Is there any other requirement?" she asked.

Shi Lin stood outside the door, dressed in clean white shirt, buttons fastened up to the top, paired with sleek black trousers with neat cuffs, exuding a faint aura of restraint.

Dressed in clothes, he appeared presentable.

Lin Mian shook her head. Besides the money, she had no other request at the moment.

"Okay," Shi Lin's dark calm eyes squinted slightly. "Since there are no other requests, come back at nine o'clock tonight."

Lin Mian's heartbeat froze for a moment, as she surprisingly understood his words.

Nine o'clock in the evening... it was the moment when his desire was at its peak, and she had to accept his advances, allowing him to manipulate her as he pleased.

At this moment, she no longer had the right to refuse Shi Lin.

Lin Mian nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

Shi Lin didn't say anything more, he checked the time on his watch, turned around, and headed to work.

Lin Mian closed the door and waited for a while, opening the box in the meantime. The banknotes were neatly arranged in rows, she roughly counted them, not more not less, exactly fifty thousand.

She had never seen so much money in her life before. It was unexpected that the first time she saw such money was in exchange for selling herself.

Lin Mian forced a bitter smile, resealed the box, and then walked out of the room.

...

Thirty minutes later.

Lin Mian walked into Zhao Guilan's hospital room, carrying the heavy money box.

At that moment, there weren't many people in the room. The bed next to Zhao Guilan's was empty, with only Zhao Guilan playing on her phone while Lin Zheng slept by her bedside.

When Zhao Guilan saw Lin Mian, the cheerful expression on her face instantly turned sour.

"Where did you go all night? You didn't reply to my messages, didn't answer the phone. You saw that I didn't die, so you completely ignored me, right? If it weren't for your brother being here with me last night, I would've starved to death!" Zhao Guilan scolded.

Lin Mian walked coldly to the bedside and placed the box on her bed. Without a word, she pushed the switch to open it.

"Click!"

The box opened, revealing a row of bright red banknotes neatly arranged. It was a magnificent sight that left Zhao Guilan's eyes wide open in shock.

Her face was instantly filled with disbelief as she looked up at Lin Mian. "Where did you get so much money?"

Lin Mian smirked coldly. "Is it important to you?"

She threw the stack of money in front of Zhao Guilan, speaking coldly and indifferently. "Here is the fifty thousand you wanted. Not more, not less, just right. Are you satisfied now? Can you let me go?"

Zhao Guilan couldn't believe that Lin Mian had actually brought fifty thousand. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she was almost unable to close her mouth.

She never thought that this girl had such capabilities.

She always knew that this girl was not simple. Despite having money, she would act poor and needy every day, putting on a pitiful appearance. It turns out it was all an act!

With greed in her eyes, Zhao Guilan reached out to take the money. This was all hers!

But Lin Mian was one step ahead, pressing down on the stack of banknotes.

"If you want the money, you have to exchange it with my household registration book."

"What? This girl actually wants a household registration book?"

Zhao Guilan widened her eyes, reluctantly giving her a sharp look. "What do you need the household registration book for? Leave it with me for safekeeping. Worst case scenario, I just won't let you get married."

Lin Mian, with a stoic expression, pressed down on the stack of money. "Without the household registration book, I will take this money away with me. Not a penny will go to you."

Zhao Guilan's expression changed instantly.

"Are you asking for death? Are you trying to threaten your mother with this pile of money?"

"Handle it however you wish. If you want the money, exchange it with my household registration book. Otherwise, you won't get a single cent," Lin Mian spoke ruthlessly, giving her no room for negotiation.

She thought, and then looked at Zhao Guilan mockingly, "Mom, don't think about delaying time with me. I know how to control what belongs to me, and you only keep it with you all the time."

"So, I'm here to make a deal with you openly."

Zhao Guilan sneered in her heart, realizing that she had been guessed right. She would never leave such an important thing as her household registration book at home to be discovered by Lin Mian. She had stealthily given it to Lin Zhen when she was being rescued in the ICU, ensuring that Lin Mian never got her hands on it. This clever girl had never let anything slip past her watchful eyes.

She looked at the bed full of banknotes, itching to grab them, but the thought of having to give her household registration book to this girl made her snort a few times.

"If you want the household registration book, fifty thousand won't do. This is just the betrothal money for your brother's wedding. We also need money for the house and car at home. What if you have a son in the future, and the other party also gives a hundred thousand? Everything would go to waste now. What do you think?"

"If you don't want it now, even this fifty thousand will be gone." Lin Mian did not fall for her tricks, and coldly retorted, "You better weigh your options."

"What do you mean by this?" Zhao Guilan's face darkened, and her tone became much colder, "Are you trying to threaten me with this money?"

Lin Mian raised her hand and undid two buttons, pulling open her collar to reveal the red marks on her fair neck, densely packed and shocking to the eyes. Everywhere was filled with suggestive marks.

Zhao Guilan widened her eyes, "You..."

"I'm not a virgin anymore," Lin Mian interrupted her with a flat tone, cutting off all her words.