478: Chapter 473 The Child of Unknown Origin

The woman, Martha, froze, the terror in her eyes turning to bewilderment.

Shen Yan showed her a gentle smile and nodded.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Miller."

"I apologize for disturbing you."

Old Miller ignored Shen Yan's pleasantries. He walked to the table, lowered his voice, and spoke to his wife in a tone he thought was quiet, but Shen Yan heard perfectly clearly.

"They are paying."

"Five hundred for me every day."

Martha's eyes still lacked luster; she just stared numbly at her husband.

Old Miller emphasized his tone, leaning in closer.

"If you and our child also appear on camera, we get an extra three hundred each, every day."

"US dollars."

The last two words were like a stone tossed into stagnant water.

A ripple finally appeared in Martha's dull eyes.

She suddenly raised her head, looking past her husband toward Shen Yan.

That gaze was no longer fear, but a naked, calculating scrutiny.

The smile on Shen Yan's face didn't change, as if he hadn't noticed the look at all.

He knew the second fish had taken the bait.

His gaze seemingly casually fell upon the boy in the corner of the room.

"Oh, is this your son?"

He asked, his tone carrying a perfectly measured hint of surprise.

"He is quite handsome."

Both Old Miller and Martha followed his gaze.

"This child has a very special pair of eyes, just like the sky over the beaches of Saint-Lô."

Shen Yan was not stingy with his praise, which brought a hint of pride to Old Miller's face.

As if the child truly was his pride.

"When photographed, it will have a very strong sense of story."

Shen Yan subtly shifted his focus.

"It's just a pity..."

He frowned slightly, his face showing regret.

"How did he get that injury on his face?"

Old Miller's expression instantly stiffened, and Martha subconsciously averted her gaze from Shen Yan.

"The child was naughty and fell by himself."

Old Miller explained vaguely.

"Is that so?"

Shen Yan's tone gave away neither belief nor disbelief; he just shook his head.

"That won't do. Mr. Laurent has very high standards for models' faces."

"An injury like that will be very obvious under the high-definition camera and will ruin the aesthetic beauty of the shot."

He sounded genuinely troubled about the work.

The Millers exchanged a look, both showing anxiety.

Were the US dollars within reach about to slip away?

"Then... then what should we do?"

Martha couldn't help but ask, her voice hoarse.

Shen Yan seemed to consider it for a moment before proposing a 'win-win' solution.

"How about this."

"I see this wound is still quite new. If we treat it now, perhaps there is still time."

"I happen to be heading back to the city to procure some equipment. I can take the child to the best clinic in the city while I'm there and see if the scar can be removed."

His tone sounded so sincere, as if he were entirely considering their cooperation.

Alertness reappeared in Old Miller's eyes.

Taking the child away?

To the city?

Though greedy, he wasn't completely foolish.

"This... this might not be appropriate, right?"

"It would be too much trouble for you."

Shen Yan smiled.

"It's no trouble. To capture good work, this is all part of my job."

He noticed Old Miller's hesitation and directly addressed it.

"Mr. Miller, are you worried that I might abduct the child?"

Old Miller's expression was somewhat awkward, but he didn't deny it.

Shen Yan's smile became gentler.

"Please rest assured, I am a photographer's assistant with a legitimate profession, not a human trafficker."

"In America, child abduction is a serious crime. I won't jeopardize my future."

His words were reasonable and well-grounded, but the suspicion in Old Miller's eyes hadn't completely dissipated.

After all, when they first saw this boy, his expensive clothing formed a stark contrast with his current wretched state.

This child's origins were unknown.

And the Oriental man before them was equally mysterious.

Putting these two mysterious figures together made him uneasy.

Shen Yan took in their expressions completely.

He knew the persuasiveness of words had reached its limit.

Next, something more direct was needed.

He put down the folder in his hand, took off his backpack, and placed it on the greasy wooden table.

He unzipped it.

From the manila envelope inside, he pulled out a stack of crisp hundred-dollar bills, still smelling of ink.

It wasn't very thick, about thirty or forty bills.

Slap.

He casually tossed the stack of money onto the table.

The green image of Franklin seemed to glow in the dim room.

Martha's breathing instantly hitched.

Her eyes were glued to the stack of money, unable to look away for a second.

Old Miller's Adam's apple bobbed violently.

"This is three thousand US dollars."

Shen Yan's voice was flat, yet carried an irresistible magic.

"Consider it a deposit."

"I will take the child away, and you can keep this money for now."

"When I bring him back safely, you return the money to me."

"Of course, the compensation for our cooperation will be calculated separately."

He paused, delivering the final blow.

"If you still aren't reassured, then our cooperation will have to be canceled."

"I will go ask elsewhere."

"I am truly sorry for wasting your time."

Saying that, he reached out, preparing to take the money back from the table.

"No!"

Martha almost screamed the word out.

Her action was faster than her voice.

A thin, withered hand shot out like an eagle's claw, swiftly pressing down hard on the stack of US dollars.

As if afraid it would fly away.

The hesitation on Old Miller's face instantly crumbled before his wife's decisive action.

Martha looked up and shot a fierce glare at her husband.

That look carried a warning and a trace of madness.

As if saying: If you dare let this money slip away, I'm not done with you.

Then, she turned to Shen Yan, and her weather-beaten face instantly filled with a fawning smile.

"Sir, you must be joking."

"How could we not trust you?"

As she spoke, she used her other hand to swiftly scoop the money on the table into her own embrace, her movements startlingly practiced.

"This child is very naughty; he deserves to be taken out by you for some discipline."

She turned around and shouted sternly at Kevin in the corner.

"You! What are you still standing there for!"

"Hurry up and go with this gentleman!"

Kevin flinched violently at the sudden turn of events, raising his head, his azure eyes filled with fear and confusion.

He looked toward Shen Yan, then toward the couple whose faces had instantly changed.

Shen Yan didn't say another word.

He just watched everything calmly, then extended a hand toward Kevin.

The gentle, harmless smile was still on his face.

But deep within that smile, Kevin saw something as cold and unfathomable as the room itself.

He had no other choice.

The youth hesitated, but finally took a step, one by one, moving out of the shadow and toward the strange Oriental man.

As easily as completing the simplest transaction.