"Luu Wenlin, you’ll regret this! If you have the guts, say that again!"
The panicked expression they expected to see on Luu Wenlin’s face never appeared. Instead, his face was a picture of resolve.
"I said I’m not going through with this marriage!"
"You... you better think this through!" Dai Yingyue exclaimed, quickly standing up. "If you don’t get married, you won’t get the deposit for the banquet back, and all your friends and relatives have been invited. Are you really going to call off the wedding just like that?"
Perhaps he had been uncertain before, but now Luu Wenlin had made up his mind. He was no longer afraid. It was obvious that Dai Yingyue’s threats were useless.
Luu Wenlin extended his hand. "I’m not getting married! Give me back the Two Cents bride price I paid."
Seeing Luu Wenlin’s firm stance, Zheng Jin’s temper flared. "Luu Wenlin! Feeling bold, are you? Fine, we can call off the wedding! But we won’t return a milliliter of the bride price. And the house you bought has my name on it! After all these years we’ve been together, shouldn’t you compensate me for emotional distress?"
"Pfft!" Hearing such shameless words, Luu Qi, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Where do you get the nerve? Not returning the bride price? Are you two married? Why shouldn’t it be returned? Your name is on the house? And did you contribute even half a cent towards it? You want to divide the property? And as for compensation for emotional distress?"
Luu Qi swept a disdainful glance over the three of them. "My brother is already being generous by not asking you to pay back the money he spent on you all these years."
Just as they were about to say more, Xia Liang cut them off, her gaze fixed coldly on Zheng Jin. Her aura pressed down on the three of them.
"I told you to return the bride price. Did you hear me?"
Xia Liang’s voice was calm, but to them, it sounded as if her words had plunged them into a cavern of ice. Unable to withstand the pressure, Zheng Jin turned to look at Zheng He.
"Zheng He! Where’s the money?"
Zheng He swallowed nervously. "I... I spent it all." He stammered, a far cry from his previous arrogance.
"Hah? Spent it all? No money? Well, that’s an easy problem to solve," Xia Liang said, glancing around the room with interest. "This old house may be second-hand, but selling it should be enough to cover the cost. Of course, without a house, you’ll probably have to rent from now on."
Hearing Xia Liang’s playful tone, Zheng He fought to suppress his fear. Mustering his courage, he retorted, "Why are you acting so high and mighty? It’s only Two Cents, isn’t it?"
He then turned to Zheng Jin. "Sis, didn’t you say that Manager Sun from your company likes you? It shouldn’t be a problem for him to come up with Two Cents, right?"
At his words, Zheng Jin’s expression turned pained, and she silently lowered her head. Manager Sun was already forty years old and married. In other words, her own brother was telling her to become a mistress.
Seeing that Zheng Jin wasn’t responding, Zheng He grew anxious. "Mom, look at Sis."
Dai Yingyue quickly nudged Zheng Jin. "That’s right, dear. Didn’t you say Manager Sun is quite fond of you? Just ask him to lend you Two Cents. You can pay him back when you have the money."
Watching from the side, Luu Wenlin couldn’t bear it and started to say something, but he was silenced by a single sharp glare from Xia Liang. Luu Wenlin was startled, not expecting her gaze to be so terrifying.
Luu Qi quickly pulled Luu Wenlin aside and whispered, "Wenlin, if you go soft on them now, what about Uncle? For years, your entire salary has been drained by these vampires to buy this house. You haven’t saved a single point. That Three Cent is Uncle’s retirement money. If you don’t take it back, what will happen to him?"
Xia Liang’s words were clearly effective. When Luu Wenlin thought about how his father’s hair had turned grey and his back had stooped just so he could get married to the girl he loved, there was only one thing he could say.
"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Xia Liang."
"It’s no problem," Xia Liang said with a wave of her hand.
Luu Wenlin nodded and walked out the door. Xia Liang shot Luu Qi a look, signaling for her to keep an eye on him. In this kind of situation, Luu Wenlin was liable to do something foolish, like find a high place to feel the cold wind or jump into a river to cool his head. Luu Qi understood. She followed him out and immediately called her family, mainly because she was afraid she couldn’t restrain Luu Wenlin by herself.
"Alright, he’s gone," Xia Liang said, turning her attention back to the remaining three. Her Spiritual Power surged, and the immense pressure made them feel even more wretched.
Hearing her mother and brother’s calls, Zheng Jin finally broke. "Fine! Fine! I’ll go!" she shouted. "I’ll go find him! Is that enough? Are you satisfied now?" With that, she turned and ran into her room.
Her mother and brother breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing that Zheng Jin had agreed, Zheng He’s confidence returned, knowing the money could be repaid.
"Did you hear that? My sister agreed! Tomorrow! I’ll have the money for you tomorrow!"
"Fine." Xia Liang didn’t waste words, simply extending her hand. "Your IDs. Just in case you try to run."
Faced with this demand, the two could only swallow their anger. They reluctantly handed their ID cards to Xia Liang.
"Good." Taking the IDs, Xia Liang didn’t linger. "I’ll be back tomorrow evening. I expect the money to be ready for me."
With that, Xia Liang left. Only after she was gone did the two finally exhale. Zheng He ran to the door, spat viciously in the direction Xia Liang had gone, and muttered, "PAH! Who does this family of paupers think they’re fooling?"
He hurriedly shut the door, terrified Xia Liang might come back and cause more trouble. When he turned around, he saw a conflicted expression on Dai Yingyue’s face.
"Son, did we go too far this time? Your sister..." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel•fire.net
"Don’t say it, Mom!" Zheng He interrupted dismissively. "Sis is just having a hard time accepting it right now. She’ll get over it. In this day and age, money is king."
Compared to Luu Wenlin, that Manager Sun is the brother-in-law of my dreams! So what if he’s in his forties and weighs over two hundred pounds? He’s rich! The first time we met, he bought me the latest iPhone model. After only three meetings, he’d already bought me three pairs of AJs. Most importantly, he never nags me about getting a proper job. Instead, he tells me to come to him whenever I need money! For him not to become my brother-in-law would be a huge loss for the Zheng Family!
Hearing her son’s reasoning, Dai Yingyue nodded, comforting herself.
Once she gets a taste of a rich lifestyle, she’ll understand all the trouble I’ve gone to for her. She’ll understand.
Meanwhile, Xia Liang, who had just left, dialed Luu Qi’s number.
"Hey? Xiao Qi, where are you guys?"
Luu Qi sounded helpless on the other end. "We’re back home. Brother Wenlin has locked himself in his room and won’t see anyone."
"Alright, I’m on my way back."
Xia Liang hung up and hailed a taxi back to her uncle’s house.