CHAPTER 171: CHAPTER 171: UGLY LOOKS, WISHFUL THINKING

"The bride price is one Yuan, and there’s a condition. After we’re married, if we divorce, the house must go to me. I don’t mean anything by it; I’m just afraid you might leave me someday. But don’t worry, my dear. As long as you don’t divorce me, the house will still be ours."

Hearing this, it wasn’t just Luu Wenlin who was stunned. Even Xia Liang wanted to punch these two shameless women in the head. How can such shameless people exist in this world?

That house was bought by Luu Wenlin alone. From the down payment to the monthly mortgage, Zheng Jin had never contributed a single cent. Now, she had the audacity to demand he sign such a prenuptial agreement without a shred of shame.

One either erupts in silence or perishes in it. Xia Liang quickly composed herself and looked at Luu Wenlin. Disappointment was written all over his face, but Zheng Jin looked like she still had more to say.

"Continue," he said, his voice flat.

Zheng Jin failed to notice his tone. Excitedly, she pointed at another clause in the agreement. "And there’s this clause. For the first four years of our marriage, all of my income has to go to my family. My father passed away early, and I’m the sole pillar of support. My whole family relies on me."

She then pointed to another line. "You know my family’s situation. We don’t have any money, so let’s just forget about the dowry from my side. Besides, my dear, as long as you get to marry me, you won’t care about these little things, right?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at Luu Wenlin.

At this, Luu Qi couldn’t hold back any longer. "Heh... you’re not much to look at, but you sure know how to dream."

"You..." Zheng Jin started to retort about her own looks, but when she glanced at Luu Qi, she faltered, realizing he might have a point.

"It’s alright, Xiao Qi. Let them speak," Luu Wenlin said calmly.

"Hmph!" Luu Qi fell silent, recognizing that his older brother had reached the absolute peak of his anger.

But Zheng Jin, having never seen Luu Wenlin truly angry, was completely oblivious. Thinking she had won, she shot a triumphant glance at Luu Qi and continued, "Also, dear, after we marry, we’ll need to buy another house. It has to be registered under my name and my brother’s name. After all, my brother’s abilities can’t compare to yours."

As she said this, even Zheng Jin seemed to realize, for a rare moment, that she might have gone too far.

"I know this is asking a lot, but you love me so much, you’ll surely support me, right? He is my brother, after all... If I, his older sister, don’t help him, he might never be able to afford a house in his entire life!"

At the end, Zheng Jin played the emotional card, staring at Luu Wenlin with an expectant look. Dai Yingyue, standing beside her, wore the same expression.

After a moment of silence, Luu Wenlin finally spoke. "You’ve made so many demands, always thinking about your family, about your brother. But have you ever once thought about me? The bride price went from Three Cents to Five Cents! For that extra Two Cents, my brother even had to give me the money he was saving for his own bride price! Before the wedding, you said to buy a house, so a nice house was bought. The new house was decorated, the hotel was booked, all our friends and relatives have been invited. And now you’re telling me you want a bride price of one Yuan? Where am I supposed to get the remaining Five Cents from? Have you ever considered my position?"

By the end, Luu Wenlin was practically roaring.

"I..." Zheng Jin had never seen him this furious. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Just then, a slovenly young man sauntered out of a room. "What’s with all the racket? What are you shouting about?" He shot a disdainful look at Luu Wenlin. "I don’t care where you get it. Mom, didn’t Sis say yesterday that he couldn’t even come up with Two Cents? Look at him now, scurrying over with the money today, isn’t he?"

This slovenly youth was Zheng Jin’s brother, Zheng He.

Seeing her son’s attitude, Dai Yingyue frowned. We’re doing all this for that foolish boy, and he still dares to speak like that.

She immediately snapped at him, "Is that how you speak to your future brother-in-law? Apologize this instant!"

But Zheng He just sneered. "Hah? Brother-in-law?" He scanned Luu Wenlin with utter contempt. "Can’t even produce one Yuan. What a penniless loser. You want to be my brother-in-law? I have no idea what my sister sees in you. Let me be direct: if you can’t come up with one Yuan and another house for me, then just call this wedding off."

As he finished, Zheng He stood there with an air of smug arrogance.

Hearing this, Luu Wenlin looked toward Zheng Jin and Dai Yingyue. They remained silent, clearly giving their tacit approval.

In that instant, Luu Wenlin felt as if the last ounce of his spirit had been drained from him. He collapsed onto the sofa.

Seeing this, Xia Liang knew that Luu Wenlin was completely and utterly disappointed. This is actually for the best, she thought. Now there’s no need to hold back.

Xia Liang stepped forward, her face a mask of mockery. "You demand one Yuan and a house, and call someone a penniless loser for not having it? Kid, I bet you can’t even produce a single point yourself. So what does that make you? The son of a penniless loser?"

Clearly, Xia Liang’s words had hit their mark. Zheng He grew flustered. "What did you say?"

Luu Qi jumped in to twist the knife. "Bro, you’re giving him too much credit. Forget one point; he’d be lucky to have five points. I bet he even has to ask his parents for money to take a girlfriend out to dinner."

This clearly struck another nerve. "You! You bitch, what did you just say?" Zheng He bellowed and lunged forward. Xia Liang quickly pulled Luu Qi behind her, ready to teach the punk a lesson.

But just then, Luu Wenlin rose to his feet. "You’ve got guts? Then try it."

It had to be said, Luu Wenlin’s one-meter-eighty-five frame combined with his grim tone was genuinely intimidating. Zheng He froze in his tracks. "Mom! Sis, look at him!"

Seeing her precious son being frightened, Dai Yingyue lost her composure. She leaped to her feet and screeched, "What do you think you’re doing? Luu Wenlin, you’re not even married yet and you’re already threatening to beat your little brother-in-law? Do you not want to get married anymore?"

She had expected Luu Wenlin to immediately apologize.

But this time, he didn’t. With bloodshot eyes, Luu Wenlin spoke, enunciating every single word.

"This wedding! I’m calling it off!"

"What?"

His words startled both women. After all, using the wedding to threaten him had always worked without fail. In their minds, Luu Wenlin loved Zheng Jin so much, and he had already gone to such great lengths inviting friends and family and preparing everything for the ceremony. They were confident that making a few outrageous demands wouldn’t be a problem. That confidence was their leverage.

After all, having come this far, he surely wouldn’t back out now.

They had pushed the bride price from Two Cents to Five Cents, and today to one Yuan plus a prenuptial agreement. They had even planned to demand a ’get-out-of-the-car’ fee of 88,888 mililiters on the wedding day—if he didn’t pay, the bride wouldn’t get out of the car.

Now, hearing Luu Wenlin’s declaration, they could hardly believe their ears.

Zheng Jin swallowed hard, struggling to calm the frantic beating of her heart and suppress the rising panic.