Zhen Yu’s tense expression had just relaxed a little when she heard Han Mingyue add, "But he didn’t go to a hospital too far away, just went to check it out in Qi City! Then he has been receiving treatment in the town’s hospital ever since."
"Just went to check it out in Qi City?!" Zhen Yu’s heart slowly sank, sinking into the pitch-black abyss of despair.
"Yeah! I remember that time they went to seek medical treatment, my dad even specially called Aunt Cheng! It seemed to be to visit you and Zhen Yan, right? Didn’t he go see you guys?"
It’s just that it might have been better if he hadn’t.
Hesitating for a moment, and for the sake of her and her brother’s financial security, Zhen Yu still decided to clear up the whole situation!
"Why didn’t they go to check in a bigger hospital in the province or other places?"
"I heard it’s because the doctor said the medication wasn’t effective and was expensive. With that money, it was better to do acupuncture and massage, and keep up with physical rehabilitation."
With a touch of sarcasm, Zhen Yu asked, "That was advice from someone surnamed Zhen to Uncle Han, wasn’t it?!"
"...Yes," admitted Han Mingyue helplessly.
In fact, not only Han Mingyue, but even Han Youliang didn’t believe that those words could have come from a doctor! At that time, Mr. Han had also advised Mr. Zhen a bit, "Even if the medication isn’t very effective, it should still provide some improvement! Medication is still necessary, of course, along with actively complementing other treatments."
Mr. Zhen had ’uh-huh’d and agreed at the time, but who knows if he actually followed through with the medication treatment afterward? Han Youliang had his own life to live, could he have kept an eye specifically on the matters of Mr. Zhen’s household? Besides, it wasn’t easy to delve too deeply into these sorts of family affairs, even if they were sworn brothers...
Zhen Yu took a deep breath and asked, "Do you know what Zhen Hailong has been busy with this past year or so?! Did he squander all of the lottery winnings?"
Han Mingyue had a look of frustration.
Was this the attitude a daughter should have when speaking of her father?! Just now she was still calling him ’that Zhen’! Now she’s addressing him directly by name! And ’squandering’... Zhen Yu’s word choice was quite apt indeed! It was nothing but squandering!
Seeing that Han Mingyue didn’t reply, Zhen Yu couldn’t help but frown, "You don’t know?"
Han Mingyue remained silent for a moment, then said, "I know."
Zhen Yu, already mentally prepared, paused for only a moment before asserting firmly, "Tell me!"
These three simple words confirmed all suspicions and suddenly forced Zhen Yu to confront the malicious intent behind Mr. Zhen’s ’borrowing’ money.
"He knew my mom remarried a long time ago, right!" Zhen Yu’s voice was devoid of any emotion, cold and dead.
Han Mingyue suddenly became very concerned, "Xiao Yu! What’s wrong with you?! Did something happen to you?!"
Zhen Yu tilted her head back and blinked hard, forcibly pushing back the tears in her eyes before finally saying, "...Nothing!"
"You definitely have something going on!!" Han Mingyue was sure of it, wishing he could sprout wings and fly to see Zhen Yu that very moment. Unfortunately, he couldn’t. So, all he could do was try to persuade her over the phone, "Xiao Yu! If you have any problems, don’t keep them bottled up inside, talk to me, okay?! Is it related to Uncle Zhen? Maybe... I can help you from here!"
The sentiment in Han Mingyue’s last sentence moved the extremely pragmatic Zhen Yu, and she sniffed before responding, "First answer my question!"
"Okay! Ask away!" Han Mingyue immediately focused his attention and quickly replied.
"Is Zhen Hailong still gambling?"
"He is! My dad has tried to persuade him so many times to no avail!"
"Does he still own the Hardware Store?"
"Yes! That Zhang, cough! I heard she hid the property deed, claiming it’s her son’s life!"
"He’s got no money now, what can he gamble with?"
"My dad said he’s at war with that woman every day! Because not only does he neglect the hardware store’s business, but he also keeps taking money from the store."
"...Zhen Halong knew about my mom’s remarriage a long time ago, right..."
"Right!" After answering, Han Mingyue realized that Zhen Yu had just asked that question, hadn’t she?!
Before he could finish his thought, Zhen Yu suddenly burst into loud laughter on the other end of the phone! The more she laughed, the louder it got...
"Ha! Hahaha! Haha! Hahaha..."
Since her rebirth, Zhen Yu had been constantly worrying about making a living! She had put in all her effort and barely managed to pull her mother and brother out of the dire straits they found themselves in right after her parents’ divorce, making their home modestly prosperous!
Even though she had some conflicts and disagreements with her remarried mother lately, Zhen Yu still hadn’t given up the optimism she found after her rebirth.
Because Zhen Yu felt that her father ignoring her during the most financially desperate times in her previous life was already the saddest moment in her life! This life, no matter what, she was determined not to live worse than in her previous life!
But she didn’t expect that, although life had improved, her tragic experiences were even more profound than before!
Turns out Mr. Zhen had never given up on the plan to encroach on his children’s property!
Is Zhen Halong even human? Does he deserve to be a father...
Han Mingyue was terrified because Zhen Yu’s laughter conveyed endless desolation and sorrow...
"Xiao Yu! Xiao Yu?... Zhen Yu!!!"
"Bang! Little sister!" Zhen Yan’s anxious voice came through the receiver and into Han Mingyue’s ears, "Little sister, what’s wrong with you? Why are you crying?! Little sister! Little sister!!! Clatter..." After the sound of the phone dropping, the voice on the other side grew much quieter.
However, since there were only the two siblings in the opposite room, Han Mingyue could still clearly hear their voices.
"I’m crying? Ha! Starting today! If I shed a single tear over him again, I won’t deserve the name Zhen!" Zhen Yu said through her nasal voice, grinding her teeth with sarcasm, and she raised her hands to vigorously wipe her face, clearing away all the tears!
"Brother! Do you know? Zhen Halong is a thorough scumbag!"
"Yes, yes!! He’s scum! Ah, no? What did he do that makes him scum?"
The emotionally collapsed Zhen Yu never thought about keeping it from her brother, and she asked scornfully, "Do you know why he came to borrow money from us?"
"Wasn’t it for his son’s medical treatment?" Zhen Yan answered but then immediately sensed something off, counterasking, "Isn’t that the case?"
"Borrowing money is one thing, but using it to test us was ultimately his goal! He was targeting the two of us!"
Zhen Yan was somewhat confused, "What do you mean?!"
"He knew mom was remarried a long time ago! But he waited until now to borrow money! He probably guessed we had split from mom! And naturally, he found out because the delivery address was changed!!... Ha! Who doesn’t have a few shady friends, huh!"
"So what if he guessed it, so what if he knows! How does that even matter?!"
"How does it matter?! It’s an opportunity to fight for custody! He’s not aiming for ’borrowing money’ - his goal is to ’borrow people to amass wealth’! Such a two-for-one deal!"
Zhen Yan’s mouth hung open, not quite understanding the implications of Zhen Yu’s words.