CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: THE PLAN IS UNDERWAY

The saleswoman brought over the POS machine and subconsciously prepared to hand it to Xia Weiguo.

But Xia Liang took it instead.

"I’ll do it."

"Huh?" Tiantian didn’t know how many times she had been surprised today.

It was then that Xia Weiguo and Luu Juan noticed her astonishment and immediately laughed.

"Young lady, our son made some money and is insisting on being filial to his father."

Xia Weiguo feigned a look of annoyance, but the pride on his face was impossible to hide. "I wasn’t even planning to come, but he insisted, so I had no choice... sigh." He even let out a sigh as he spoke.

This made Tiantian look at Xia Liang with growing amazement. He’s so young, yet he can buy his parents a three-million-mililiter luxury car without batting an eye! No wonder he didn’t want the G-Wagon earlier. He was genuinely worried about his parents’ safety!

Tiantian offered a sincere compliment, "Mister Xia is truly accomplished for his age. Uncle and Auntie, you are very fortunate."

After a round of compliments, Tiantian brought over a stack of contracts, explaining them as she asked Xia Weiguo to sign. Seeing that there were contracts to sign, Xia Weiguo and Luu Juan remained cautious, looking them over several times. After all the paperwork was completed, they drove off to get the license plate registered.

「Meanwhile, in a coffee shop.」

Zheng He appeared somewhat tense, holding a bank card in his hand.

"Auntie, I truly love your daughter. Here is the 250,000 bride price you asked for. I raised it myself. I hope you’ll let me marry your daughter."

As he spoke, he pushed the bank card across the table. Seated opposite him was, of course, Kong Man, but there was another woman beside her. She had a sharp, mean-spirited expression on her face.

"Let me tell you, if our Manman didn’t like you, I wouldn’t let her marry you so easily. Only 250,000 for the bride price? Do you know how much Old Li’s son offered? 300,000..."

Dai Yingyue bristled at the middle-aged woman’s tone and was about to retort, but Zheng He quickly tugged at her sleeve. For Zheng He’s sake, Dai Yingyue swallowed her frustration.

"Since the bride price is paid, shouldn’t we discuss a wedding date?" Zheng He eagerly interjected the moment Kong Man’s mother finished speaking. "The sooner, the better!"

After speaking, Zheng He looked at Kong Man with deep affection.

Seeing her son’s eagerness, Dai Yingyue could only nod. "How about we move things along and have the wedding in mid-October?"

Hearing this, Mother Kong stroked her chin. "Fine, but you’ll have to pay for the wedding banquet. Our family doesn’t have much money, after all."

It’s true what they say: what goes around, comes around. Dai Yingyue had said the same thing when Zheng Jin married Luu Wenlin, and now the tables had turned on her.

"Fine!" With things having reached this point and seeing how much her son loved the girl, there was no reason to refuse.

With Dai Yingyue’s agreement, the two families began to discuss the wedding arrangements.

「Back on Xia Liang’s side.」

Since the license plate registration process took about three days, they didn’t get it immediately. By the time they were done, it was already past eight in the evening. Exhausted from the day, Luu Juan didn’t feel like cooking, so they decided to eat out at the Red Lantern Hotpot Restaurant.

The family was enjoying a lively meal when Xia Liang’s phone screen lit up. He picked it up and opened the message. It was Kong Man’s daily report.

"Mister Xia, Zheng He came up with the 250,000 bride price today. I hired someone to pose as my mother, and we discussed the wedding banquet with Zheng He’s mother. The date is set for two weeks from now. I will proceed with the plan."

"Okay. I have high hopes for you." Xia Liang’s reply was as nonchalant as ever.

Kong Man quickly responded, "I will continue to do my best, Mister Xia."

This time, Xia Liang didn’t ask any more questions. He put his phone down and went back to eating.

Uncharacteristically, Luu Juan couldn’t help but ask, "Was that from Shi Ya?"

"No." Xia Liang shook his head.

CLANG.

In contrast, Luu Qi was stunned. "Auntie? You know Sister Xue?"

"How could I not?" Luu Juan was completely baffled. "Isn’t she your cousin’s girlfriend?"

Hearing Luu Juan’s question, Luu Qi quickly nodded. "Yes." At the same time, she looked at Xia Liang, her eyes wide with shock.

My cousin is really bold! Just think about it! That day, Auntie Luu Juan asked Xia Liang to come home, and he said ’she’s shy.’ Back then, I was still wondering how Auntie Luu Juan knew Xi Yiqian! We even talked about my cousin’s girlfriend after we got back, but we never mentioned a name. Now I realize she wasn’t talking about Xi Yiqian at all; she was talking about Qingxue! No wonder things felt off during our chat! Xi Yiqian is quiet and gets embarrassed easily, but Auntie Luu Juan said his girlfriend was lively, cheerful, and even a bit passionate. I did consider that she might be describing Qin Shiya, but that phone call misled me. I just assumed Xi Yiqian was more outgoing over the phone. Thank goodness I never said her name, or there would have been a disaster.

Just as Luu Qi breathed a sigh of relief, Luu Juan spoke again.

"I never would have guessed. Shi Ya is so outgoing and cheerful during our video calls, but in person, she’s actually a very quiet and shy girl."

"????"

When Luu Juan said this, Xia Liang was completely lost. "Mom? What are you talking about? Quiet and shy? That doesn’t sound like her at all."

"It doesn’t?" Luu Juan looked puzzled, glancing at Luu Qi. "But that’s what Qiqi told me. She said that in real life, Shi Ya would blush beet-red if you even asked her, ’Do you miss me?’"

Hearing this, Luu Qi was about to lose her mind. Auntie! Don’t make things up! I never said that! I was talking about Sister Yiqian! You’re spreading rumors! This is all my cousin’s fault!

Though she was screaming internally, she knew she couldn’t say any of this out loud. If they find out Xia Liang has two girlfriends, my uncle might just have to break out the belt he hasn’t used in years.

She felt Xia Liang’s questioning gaze on her. Their sibling telepathy was strong, and she immediately understood his unspoken question.

What have you been telling them?

Luu Qi glared back, not backing down an inch.

Shouldn’t you know what kind of mess you’ve made?

Although Xia Liang didn’t fully understand, he could tell from Luu Qi’s defiant stare that this was probably his fault.

COUGH, COUGH, COUGH.

Xia Liang coughed, forcefully changing the subject. "So, Dad, Mom, would you want to stay in the villa tomorrow?"

Hearing this, Luu Juan, despite feeling something was amiss, shook her head. "No, the villa is too big. We’re not used to just the two of us living in such a large place."

"Alright then! Let’s eat, let’s eat."

Having successfully changed the subject, Xia Liang couldn’t even manage a sigh of relief.