Chapter 31: Refusal

Fan Xia’s eyes widened slightly, then she smiled with some relief: “I thought you would ask me to help Jing Jing repay the money.”

Wen Lan Sheng lowered his head in shame. When he heard Xie Cen crying on the phone, his first reaction was indeed to think of Fan Xia. His family wasn’t wealthy, with only one work-unit apartment left. There was no way they could come up with a million yuan. Only Fan Xia had that ability.

However, seeing Fan Xia’s relieved reaction, Wen Lan Sheng was glad he hadn’t asked for her help in repaying the money.

Fan Xia took his hand, her tone as gentle as clear water: “I don’t have much cash on hand, just enough for the down payment on this house. It would be difficult to come up with a million yuan unless I apply for an advance on my salary from the company, but that would definitely require Rong Xiu’s approval.”

Fan Xia’s words stopped there, but Wen Lan Sheng felt as if something had severely lashed his face, stinging and painful.

He had truly been spoiled by Fan Xia, instinctively wanting her to solve all his problems. He forgot that this was all Wen Jing’s own doing. If it weren’t for her, the family wouldn’t be under such great pressure.

Moreover, Wen Jing was his sister, a daughter of the Wen family, and had no connection to Fan Xia. Why should she be the one to give that million yuan?

To marry him, Xia Xia had spent hundreds of thousands on his engagement ring, wedding clothes, banquet, and new house. Money flowed out like water, one thing after another. How could she have any more to give?

Besides, even if she were to give money, it would have to go through Rong Xiu’s hands. Then Rong Xiu would know that Fan Xia was overspending to fill their family’s pit, and would find ways to interfere with their marriage.

Wen Lan Sheng’s heart felt as if it had been pricked, his eyes moist and slightly red. He was truly foolish, only now realizing Fan Xia’s difficulties.

“No need to apply to the company. Wen Jing’s matter has nothing to do with you. Xia Xia, you don’t need to think about giving us money anymore. You’re already working so hard out there. I don’t want you to have no savings left after struggling for so long.” Wen Lan Sheng fidgeted with his fingers, his voice choked with tears.

“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly crying?” Fan Xia cupped his face, wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Wen Lan Sheng shook his head, a crystal-clear tear flung from the corner of his eye: “It’s nothing, I just feel sorry for you. Xia Xia, we’ll find a way to deal with this money. You don’t need to give any.”

Fan Xia’s gaze was full of love and pity. After a long while, she slowly said: “Alright, I’ll do as you say.”

Because of the sudden incident, Fan Xia informed Rong Xiu and then took a taxi home with Wen Lan Sheng. Zhuang Nian, who had come to pick them up, watched Fan Xia leave hurriedly and couldn’t help but mutter softly: “Did something happen in President’s Assistant Fan’s family? Why are they in such a hurry?”

Rong Xiu’s deep, cold, narrow eyes darkened for a moment: “Let’s go.”

Zhuang Nian immediately withdrew his gaze, helping Rong Xiu with his luggage, and eagerly asked: “President, you must be tired from your business trip. Would you like to rest at the villa first?”

“Go to the company,” Rong Xiu said coolly, without any hesitation.

Zhuang Nian shook his head internally, truly a workaholic.

When Fan Xia and Wen Lan Sheng arrived home, they saw Xie Cen crying like a tear-stained person and Wen Ming Yue sitting silently on the sofa. She hung her head dejectedly, seeming truly at a dead end.

Seeing Fan Xia and Wen Lan Sheng return, a light of salvation lit up in Xie Cen’s desperate eyes. He hugged Wen Lan Sheng tightly, crying: “Lan Sheng, you’re finally back. You don’t know how much your sister has suffered in the police station. Early this morning, the police took her away. If we can’t give that million yuan, your sister will definitely be sentenced. Jing Jing is still so young, so small, she absolutely can’t go to prison or her whole life will be ruined, you know? You have to think of a way to save your sister quickly, Lan Sheng.”

Xie Cen kept crying and shouting, while Wen Lan Sheng felt both helpless and distressed.

No matter what, Wen Jing was his own sister. Of course he couldn’t bear to let her suffer the hardships of prison. But while feeling sorry for Wen Jing, he also felt some resentment towards her.

He resented her for stubbornly studying abroad, draining the family’s savings, and not even getting a degree in the end. She had finally found a job, only to cause trouble again, making the victim demand a million yuan in compensation.

That was a million yuan! For an ordinary family, that was an astronomical figure.

If it were just fifty thousand, Wen Lan Sheng could have paid it off with his own savings. But he really couldn’t come up with a million yuan. Who knew if after helping her settle this matter, there wouldn’t be a second or third time, like an bottomless pit waiting for him to fill?

No woman would want her husband to become someone who always helps his sister at the expense of his own family. He often browsed the Clover Forum and had seen too many divorced husbands whose unhappiness stemmed from the endless demands of their original families.

Wen Lan Sheng was also afraid, afraid that one day he would become like them.

That’s why he had strongly opposed letting Wen Jing move in with them. Because at that time, he had keenly sensed that Fan Xia had objections in her heart, but out of consideration for their relationship, she couldn’t speak up.

“Fan Xia.” Xie Cen’s damp hand tightly gripped Fan Xia’s: “You watched Jing Jing grow up too, and you’re her sister-in-law. You won’t let Jing Jing go to prison, right?”

“Dad! Don’t be like this!” Wen Lan Sheng pulled Xie Cen’s hand away, carefully glancing at Fan Xia. Seeing no obvious abnormality in her eyes, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Xie Cen’s words just now were as good as openly asking Fan Xia to pay.

Although he knew that for his sake, Fan Xia would certainly agree to help Wen Jing repay the money, he couldn’t bear it.

Fan Xia had been too good to him and his entire family.

They weren’t even married yet, and she had already let his parents move in to live together. If it were any other family, there would have been a huge fight, even divorce. But not only did Fan Xia not mind his parents, she even planned to leave this house for them in their old age.

This was such deep love. Wen Lan Sheng felt both happy and grateful, but also developed an unprecedented sense of crisis.

His own sister had suddenly incurred a debt of a million yuan before the wedding. Fan Xia must be unhappy about it. He had to let Fan Xia know that after marriage, he would wholeheartedly protect their small family, rather than being like those divorced husbands on the forum who couldn’t understand the principle that a married son is like spilled water, always helping their original family.

After marriage, he, Wen Lan Sheng, would completely become Fan Xia’s man. He wouldn’t let anyone or anything destroy their marriage, absolutely not, even if it was his closest family.

“Lan Sheng, your father is just anxious. Do you know what kind of place a detention center is? How is it any different from prison? Your sister has never suffered like this before. We need to gather money quickly and get her out.” Wen Ming Yue, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.

“I don’t want Jing Jing to stay in the detention center either. I also want to help her raise money quickly.” Wen Lan Sheng ran into the bedroom and came out with an Industrial and Commercial Bank passbook.

Xie Cen wiped away his tears and stared intently at the bank card, asking: “How much money is in here? Is it a million yuan?”

Wen Lan Sheng shook his head.

“Then, there must be at least 800,000, right?” Xie Cen asked urgently.

“Only 20,000.”

This was Wen Lan Sheng’s own private savings. His salary wasn’t high, and necessities like men’s clothes, shoes, skincare products, and the cost of preparing Fan Xia’s daily meals had almost made him live paycheck to paycheck. This 20,000 was what he had managed to save after working for a year, and he was giving it all out.

“What use is 20,000 yuan! They’re asking for a million! A million!” Xie Cen shrieked.

“This 20,000 yuan is what I, as a brother, can contribute to help Wen Jing. We really can’t give any more than this. As for the remaining 900,000…” Wen Lan Sheng squeezed his hand tightly, his eyes struggling for a moment before he said: “For the remaining 900,000, let’s sell our family’s house. Although it’s a suburban house, and a small work-unit apartment, if we sell it urgently at a discount, we should be able to get over a million.”

“Wen Lan Sheng! What nonsense are you talking!” Xie Cen was shocked, then slammed the table and berated him: “You actually want to force your dad and mom to sell our only old house! Do you want us old couple to beg on the streets in the future?”

Wen Lan Sheng took a deep breath, clinging tightly to Fan Xia to keep himself from collapsing. He knew it would turn out like this, but hearing such cold words from his own father still felt like being stabbed several times.

He closed his eyes, hiding the painful moisture in them, listening to Xie Cen’s angry scolding. He painfully said: “You won’t be homeless. Xia Xia said before, after we buy a new house, this house will be for your retirement. The old house is just sitting empty anyway, isn’t it better to use it to save Wen Jing?”

“What do you mean ‘just sitting empty’! That house is for your sister to marry her husband with, how can we sell it!” Xie Cen wished he could slap Wen Lan Sheng.

“If you don’t sell the old house, Wen Jing will only be able to marry her husband in prison.” Wen Lan Sheng stiffened his body, tightly holding Fan Xia’s hand.

“Good, good.” Hatred of disbelief floated in Xie Cen’s eyes: “I’ve really raised a good son, a white-eyed wolf! Now you’re living in a big house, driving a nice car, and you’re not willing to spend that million to save your sister’s life! How did I give birth to such a son!”

“Lan Sheng, you clearly have enough money to buy a second house, why can’t you take out the money for buying a house to save your sister first? She’s your own sister.” Wen Ming Yue, seeing the situation develop completely differently from what she had expected, became a bit flustered and spoke up.

“Fan Xia, Jing Jing is after all your sister-in-law. You’re an executive assistant in a big group. If people found out you have a sister-in-law in prison, it wouldn’t look good for you, would it?”

“Wen Jing going to prison has nothing to do with Xia Xia. Mom, don’t push everything onto Xia Xia. The house and money are all earned by Xia Xia’s hard work. We’re buying a new house so that you two elders can live comfortably in an elevator building. She really can’t give any more money, please don’t force her.” Wen Lan Sheng stood in front of Fan Xia, blocking Wen Ming Yue’s gaze.

“Actually, your father and I have been used to living a hard life. We don’t necessarily need to live in an elevator building. The old house is quite good too, we can go back to live there.” Wen Ming Yue gave Xie Cen a look.

Xie Cen immediately said: “Yes, your mom’s injury is almost healed, she can climb stairs now. We’ll move back right away. The old house absolutely cannot be sold. Since you can’t come up with the money for now, and you want to buy a new house, why not sell this house? I heard houses in this community can sell for 7 million now. After helping Jing Jing repay the money, you’ll have several million left. Won’t that be enough to buy an even bigger house?”

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*Spotlight on Finished Novel Translations*

Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.

Author: Eggshell Striving Upwards

Synopsis:

Fang Chuning considers herself a very ordinary student.

The only reason she could become the student council president is that her family has a bit of money.

In her opinion, Xu, the top student and all-around good student, is the best candidate for the student council president.

_____

Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.

But this is still far from enough.

He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.

Author’s Warnings:

1. This is a female-dominant male childbirth novel, a mindless sweet story. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

2. The female lead has a constitution that makes her loved by thousands. Except for being good-looking, wealthy, having status, a good figure, being good at sports, fighting, having some talent, and not bad at studying, she has no other outstanding qualities. Although ordinary, she is just loved by thousands. It can’t be changed. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.

3. (Important) The male lead is not a good person. He has bad intentions and incorrect values. If you can’t accept it, don’t enter! The story’s values do not represent the author’s values. If you can’t stand it, don’t scold. Please quietly click out.

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