Chapter 115: Chapter 115: One Million Dowry Chapter 115: Chapter 115: One Million Dowry “Qiao En, hello, I am Xiaoxia, Ah De’s girlfriend. I am very pleased to meet you.”

The unfamiliar woman proactively stretched out a hand to greet Qiao En.

She was dressed provocatively, heavily made-up, and her blond hair was tied into a high ponytail. A tight tank top exposed her impressive cleavage.

Qiao En had met countless people; her instincts told her that something was off about this woman.

“Sorry, I don’t recognize you.”

Qiao En didn’t respond and coldly said those words, walking straight toward her mother’s bedroom.

The door was tightly closed with intermittent sobs coming from inside.

“Mom, it’s me.”

Qiao En knocked on the door, and after a while, it opened. Her mother appeared in front of Qiao En with red-rimmed eyes.

In the bedroom, Qiao En’s father leaned against the headboard, his face terribly grim.

Qiao De leaned against the window, his hands in his pockets, his face full of defiance.

As Qiao En entered, her mother was about to lock the door again, but Qiao En shook her head at her.

“Qiao De, what’s the deal with that woman outside?”

Qiao En asked bluntly.

Since their unpleasant argument at the hospital last time, Qiao De hadn’t been in touch with Qiao En for almost a month.

She had messaged him, but Qiao De hadn’t replied to a single word.

She had sent him living expenses twice; he did take the money.

“That’s all there is to it.”

Qiao De lazily replied.

Qiao En’s mother, covering her mouth and wiping away tears, said, “En, you really need to talk some sense into your brother. He’s lost his mind; he actually wants to marry that woman.”

Upon hearing this news, it felt as if Qiao En’s head exploded.

“Scoundrel!”

Qiao En’s father shook a trembling finger, muttering for a good while before spitting out four words. He was livid, his face ashen.

“Ah De, come outside with me.”

Qiao En’s face also darkened.

Qiao De had always been obedient and sensible, never causing trouble for the family. She had dismissed his involvement with the loan sharks as a momentary lapse of judgement. But Qiao En never expected that he was growing even more foolish.

Qiao De didn’t move. He glanced sideways at Qiao En, “I’ve already decided, I’m going to marry her. No one’s opposition will make a difference.”

His mother became furious and swung her hand to hit Qiao De, but her hand couldn’t bear to land on him.

Qiao En stepped forward, grabbed Qiao De by the arm, and began dragging him out.

“You want to get married? Then come out here and clear this up. What kind of man hides in his parents’ bedroom, leaving the woman he wants to marry outside? What kind of ability does that show?”

She provoked Qiao De with her words.

Sure enough, this tactic was very effective. Qiao De stormed out of the room, furious.

As soon as he came out, Xiaoxia came up to meet him.

“Darling.”

She pouted affectionately, calling Qiao De while tightly clinging to his arm, entwining herself around him as if she wanted to hang on him.

“Sit down, I have some questions to ask.”

Qiao En’s father and mother didn’t know how to face the situation, they chose to avoid it, but Qiao En could not.

She believed that no matter what happens, as long as one seeks solutions, issues can always be resolved.

“Have a seat.”

Xiaoxia almost dragged Qiao De to sit on the sofa; the two sat closely together like conjoined twins, unwilling to separate.

“Qiao De, I’m asking you again, have you really thought this through about marrying her?”

Qiao En asked again, righteously.

Qiao De had just started his second year in university, his studies were not yet over, and he was not even of legal age to marry. His judgement was extremely immature. Qiao En didn’t understand, why would he suddenly make such a decision?

And the woman he wanted to marry, Qiao En didn’t want to take a second glance at her. She was too worldly, not suitable for Qiao De.

She felt as disappointed as her mother, but she still forced herself to stay calm and listen to Qiao De’s thoughts, respecting his choice.

“Ah De, didn’t you say you would only love me in this life? Speak up, tell them.”

Qiao De remained silent, not saying a word, while Xiaoxia anxiously nudged his arm, urging him to speak.

After a long time, Qiao De finally spoke, “Yes, I’ve thought it through.”

He seemed to respond out of spite.

“Very well.”

Qiao En’s eyes dimmed slightly. Her younger brother whom she had grown up with, she suddenly felt like she didn’t recognize him anymore.

“Since you’ve decided to get married, how do you plan to proceed?”

Qiao En asked again.

This question innocuously unearthed key information.

Qiao De didn’t speak. Xiaoxia rushed to answer.

“Ah De said we’d hold the wedding first and get the marriage certificate when he reaches the legal age. As for the dowry, it’s usually three hundred thousand at least in my hometown, and since I’m the only daughter, we should add another hundred thousand. As for the housing, Ah De is currently jobless, so we can temporarily stay here; I won’t live with my in-laws, so your aunt and uncle will have to move out. Also, I’ve picked out the wedding dress, the metalware for the home, and the honeymoon destination; they’re not too expensive, about a hundred thousand should cover it…”

Xiaoxia kept talking non-stop, her eyes sparkling with pink bubbles, but Qiao En’s heart was blazing like a fiery mountain.

“Stop.”

Before Xiaoxia could finish, Qiao En cut her off.

“Qiao De, I just have two questions for you. First, where will the money for the wedding come from? Second, this house belongs to our parents; do you really want to force them out?”

“Sister Qiao En, don’t get me wrong…”

Xiaoxia tried to interrupt again, but Qiao En silenced her with a stern glance.

“Shut up, I wasn’t asking you.”

Xiaoxia pouted and fell silent but quietly shook Qiao De’s arm.

After a long while, Qiao De stood up impatiently.

“I will borrow the money myself, and I’ll pay it back once I graduate and start working. Our parents still have a house in the countryside, right? They can move there for now and come back once I buy them a new place.”

He spoke defiantly, but Qiao En was filled with rage.

“Where will you borrow from? Taking out another high-interest loan? Qiao De, have you forgotten what happened last time?”

Qiao En could not control her emotions, and her voice rose several decibels.

“Enough, that’s all in the past. Do you keep bringing it up to remind me that it was your money? I will pay you back in the future.”

Qiao De lost his temper too.

In the bedroom, their father pounded the bed in anger and their mother wept loudly.

He pinned all his hopes on the future as if money would be everywhere once he graduated from college, just waiting for him to pick it up.

“If you haven’t thought this through, just don’t get married yet.”

Qiao En made her stance clear.

Enraged, Qiao De headed for the door, “I’m definitely getting married.”

With that, he left, and Xiaoxia immediately followed him, her high heels clicking as she moved.

“Auntie, Qiao De and I have set the date for the wedding on the fifth of next month. Please have the money ready in advance and vacate the house early too.”

Xiaoxia leaned to speak through the doorway.

After she finished, she immediately rushed off.

The house quieted down again, but everyone’s mind was a mess.

Qiao En turned back and entered her mother’s bedroom, her father’s eyes were red, and her mother was in tears.

“Worthless fool,” her father cursed.

“Mom, don’t cry.”

Qiao En went over to her mother, embracing her shoulders to comfort her.

“En, what are we going to do? Your father just got over his illness, and we have no money left; where are we to borrow from?”

“Mom, don’t worry, maybe Ah De is just acting impulsively; I will go to his school later and have a good talk with him.”

Qiao En continued to reassure.

In the evening, she went to Qiao De’s school; he wasn’t in his dormitory and only returned late at night.

Upon seeing Qiao En, Qiao De turned around and walked away; Qiao En immediately followed him.

“Ah De, what’s going on? Why suddenly decide to marry?”

“Can’t I get married?”

Qiao De challenged her from a position of defiance.

“You’re so young; how can you get married? Don’t you know our family’s situation? Qiao De, you can be capricious, but don’t drag our parents into this.”

Qiao En also became angry.

Qiao De sneered, his eyes squinting at Qiao En, “If you can get married, why can’t I? I never said I’d take theirs for nothing; I’ll pay them back once I start working. Besides, I’m their son. When a son wants to marry, isn’t it natural for parents to prepare the wedding?”

He had changed; he had become a person Qiao En no longer recognized.

Those who only receive love learn only to take, not to be grateful.

Qiao En was so angry she was beyond words, but Qiao De’s next words shocked her even more.

“Qiao En, I didn’t say I would borrow money from you, so there’s no need for you to act here. Mother has already transferred me one million for the wedding expenses, a whole million!”

Qiao En was skeptical; her parents had been broke for a long time and couldn’t possibly have a million to give.

So, where did this million come from?

Suddenly, a bad premonition rose in her heart.

Without stopping, Qiao En rushed back home only to find her mother packing up to move.

“Mom, what’s with this million dollars?”

Her mother’s eyes dodged; she seemed to want to hide something.

But Qiao En stared at her insistently, determined to know the truth.

At last, her mother spoke.

“That million dollars, I got it from Mr. Ding as a dowry.”