CHAPTER 222: CHAPTER 220 A MATTER OF A SINGLE SENTENCE

Su Qingning’s aunt sneered. A mere beggar, daring to speak to me like that. If he weren’t Su Qingning’s husband, he wouldn’t even be allowed in the house.

Just as she was about to speak, a middle-aged man walked in leisurely. When Qiu Jianping and Su Qingning’s aunt saw him, they immediately rushed over, their faces plastered with smiles.

"Mr. He, we’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival!" Qiu Jianping said excitedly.

Hearing this, He Yonghong responded blandly, "Twenty million. I can’t guarantee the Xue Family will be lenient, and this money is non-refundable, even if negotiations fail. Of course, Qiu Jianping, if you think that’s too expensive, just pretend I never said a thing."

Qiu Jianping gasped. He’d never dreamed that the Second Master of the He Family would open with such an exorbitant price.

To be frank, Qiu Jianping knew his son had caused a monumental disaster this time, so when he contacted He Yonghong, he had already steeled himself to pay a hefty sum. However, he had only prepared ten million. That was the most he could sincerely offer. Any more than that, and it just didn’t seem worth it.

As a third-tier family in Jinling City, it wasn’t that the Qiu Family couldn’t produce twenty million. It was just that paying twenty million merely because his son had slapped someone felt utterly vicious.

Su Qingning’s aunt also felt it was a substantial amount, but she was willing to pay anything to save her son.

Honestly, Qiu Jianping desperately wanted to negotiate with He Yonghong to see if he might lower the price slightly. But he didn’t dare say a word. He knew that if he tried, He Yonghong would surely get angry, and then they would truly have no one left to help them.

Resigning himself to the situation, Qiu Jianping was about to agree, but at that exact moment, Lin Xiao suddenly chuckled. "He Yonghong, you sure have a big appetite."

At these words, the faces of Qiu Jianping and his wife changed dramatically. Su Qingning’s aunt, in particular, glared at Lin Xiao, her face flushing with shame and anger.

"Su Qingning, can you control your beggar husband? It’s one thing for him to be useless, but must he make a mess of things?"

Su Qingning’s peach-blossom eyes instantly turned red. She couldn’t believe such humiliating words were coming from her own aunt. She shot Lin Xiao a look of frustrated disappointment. She had warned him on the way here not to speak recklessly, but he had clearly let her words go in one ear and out the other.

"Just say a few words less!" Qiu Jianping hissed at his wife.

Su Qingning’s aunt huffed angrily, then turned back to He Yonghong with an apologetic smile. "Mr. He, please don’t take a beggar’s words to heart!"

He Yonghong, however, ignored her. He quickly walked over to Lin Xiao and said with trepidation, "Mr. Lin, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you."

BOOM!!!

Qiu Jianping and his wife were thunderstruck. The couple stared, dumbfounded, as the Second Master of the He Family, a second-tier family in Jinling City, showed such reverence to a common beggar.

Could it be that this beggar’s background is actually extraordinary?

Su Qingning, however, was not surprised. She had met He Yonghong that morning when she and Lin Xiao left the house, and his attitude toward Lin Xiao had been just as respectful then. But she knew why. It wasn’t because of some powerful background; it was because Lin Xiao lived in Wolong Villa, and He Yonghong was the steward of the entire villa complex.

Lin Xiao smiled and asked, "How did the wedding go?"

"Everything went smoothly, Mr. Lin!" He Yonghong replied hastily.

"Are you satisfied with the bride?" Lin Xiao asked with a grin.

"Satisfied, very satisfied," He Yonghong said, his voice laced with anxiety.

Qiu Jianping and his wife were stunned again. They had just attended the wedding of the He Family’s eldest young master that afternoon. How could Lin Xiao possibly know about it?

"Good, as long as you’re satisfied. Alright, you all can continue your chat. My wife and I will be leaving now," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

Yes, whether it was his earlier jab about He Yonghong’s exorbitant price or his current prodding about the He family’s marriage, it was all for a bit of showing off and face-slapping. He had originally planned to help Su Qingning’s uncle resolve this issue, but he could hardly be blamed for changing his mind when her aunt had looked down on him so contemptuously.

He Yonghong quickly interjected, "Mr. Lin, let me see you out!"

"No need!"

With that one phrase, Lin Xiao took Su Qingning’s hand, turned, and left.

After watching them depart, He Yonghong suddenly turned to Qiu Jianping. "What is your relationship with Mr. Lin?"

"I’m Su Qingning’s uncle," Qiu Jianping answered quickly.

"Her maternal uncle?" He Yonghong pressed.

"Yes, her maternal uncle!" Although he didn’t know why He Yonghong was asking, he nodded emphatically.

"And how is your relationship usually?" He Yonghong asked again.

"It’s, uh, it’s pretty good!" Qiu Jianping said.

He Yonghong’s expression suddenly soured. "Then you’re just being foolish! With a great Buddha right here available to you, why did you even come looking for me?"

Qiu Jianping and his wife were shocked once more. They knew that He Yonghong wasn’t just the Second Master of the He Family; he was also an associate of the young lady of the Shao Family. Such a status was nearly unparalleled in Jinling City. Yet, he had called that beggar a great Buddha.

Just how heaven-defying must his status be?

"Mr. He, isn’t Lin Xiao just a beggar?" Su Qingning’s aunt asked cautiously.

He Yonghong scoffed, looking at her as if she were a moron. "A beggar? You truly are an ignorant fool. Let me put it this way: if you want your son to walk away from this unscathed, one word from him is all it would take!"

Su Qingning’s aunt was completely stunned, her face as blank as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her mind was a chaotic mess, endlessly replaying He Yonghong’s words.

Qiu Jianping was equally astounded. He couldn’t help but ask in a trembling voice, "Mr. He, is Lin Xiao really that powerful?"

"Powerful? He’s someone even the young lady of the Shao Family tries to curry favor with. You tell me if he’s powerful! You probably don’t know this, but Lin Xiao is living in the Dragon King villa of the Hidden Dragon Villa estate—a mansion worth one billion yuan! It’s the most prestigious residence in all of Jinling City. And I don’t mind telling you, that villa was a gift to him from Miss Shao herself," He Yonghong said with a sneer.

BOOM!!!

Qiu Jianping and his wife were utterly and completely shattered by the revelation.

Especially Su Qingning’s aunt. It was as if she’d been viciously slapped across the face. She stared blankly at He Yonghong, utterly dumbfounded.

Suddenly, she remembered what Lin Xiao had just said. Her face turned deathly pale in an instant. Unable to withstand the shock, she collapsed to the ground with a thump.

Qiu Jianping snapped back to his senses. He roared, "Go! Get up and go apologize to Qing Ning and Lin Xiao right now!"