CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 76: CAN I AFFORD IT, CAN YOU HANDLE IT?

Xia Xue’s father actually never imagined such a scene. He was expecting Xiao Lin to either tear up the check or curse him for selling out his daughter, as Xia Xue’s father genuinely wanted Xia Xue to find someone who would love and care for her. Otherwise, given the Xia Family’s dominance, how could Xia Xue live away without her father’s approval?

When Xia Xue’s father saw Xiao Lin swiftly filling out numbers on the check, Xia Xue’s father was very heartbroken. In the end, his daughter still hadn’t found someone who truly loved her.

However, upon hearing Xiao Lin’s words, Xia Xue’s father was slightly taken aback. He then saw Xiao Lin disdainfully toss the filled-out check onto the table, his expression calm yet slightly playful, as if he were watching a clown perform.

Xia Xue’s father suddenly found this young man somewhat intriguing—no, very intriguing. And when he accidentally caught sight of the row of nines on the check, Xia Xue’s father secretly felt glad for his daughter, but his face showed furious anger. He glared at Xiao Lin and said coldly, "Young man, learn to know when to stop and understand the situation!"

Xiao Lin showed no fear and said calmly, "What, didn’t you just let the lion open its mouth and ask me to fill it as I pleased? The amount on your check is too small, only nine digits! But I added two words after it." Xiao Lin’s expression was as infuriating as it could be, as if filling it to nine digits wasn’t enough.

Upon hearing this, Xia Xue’s father picked up the checkbook from the table and took a look, and he suddenly smiled out of fury. Written on it were many nines, filling all the spaces, with two additional words: USD.

"Insatiable like a snake swallowing an elephant!" Xia Xue’s father coldly looked at Xiao Lin. Ten billion USD, converted to Huaxia currency, would be over sixty billion, which is about the same as the Xia Family’s net assets.

"I think it’s too little. If it weren’t for you being Xia Xue’s father, I really wouldn’t want to offer any price!" Xiao Lin said indifferently. "Since you can’t afford it, then please leave!"

"Bang!" Xia Xue’s father couldn’t hold back any longer, and in anger slammed the small table in the car hard enough to make the whole car shake. The bodyguards outside hurriedly opened the car door and asked Xia Xue’s father, "Boss..."

Xia Xue’s father glared at the bodyguard and snapped, "Close the door, don’t you understand basic etiquette?" But the two bodyguards hesitated, exchanged a glance, and only then closed the door.

Xiao Lin was taken aback momentarily; these bodyguards didn’t seem to regard Xia Xue’s father highly, did they? And perhaps Xia Xue’s father had some unspeakable troubles? Xiao Lin closely observed Xia Xue’s father then; though he was outwardly furious, there was unconcealed helplessness and worry in his expressions.

Especially when Xia Xue’s father slammed the table, the bodyguards opened the car door on their own accord without waiting for the boss to speak, and even looked at each other after being shouted at before closing the door. Apparently, Xia Xue’s father’s situation was not easy, and Xiao Lin guessed that Xia Xue’s father might be under surveillance.

Following this line of thought, Xiao Lin considered more and more, from the bodyguards’ attitude towards Xia Xue’s father to Xia Xue’s father’s position in the Xia Family. Xiao Lin’s logic became clearer: it seemed Xia Xue’s father didn’t want to force Xia Xue to be with Fatty Wang, but was pressured by family obligations.

Thinking of this, Xiao Lin recalled that whenever Xia Xue spoke about family, there was resignation but never any hatred toward her father, mostly feeling helpless about the family.

Once the bodyguards closed the car door, Xia Xue’s father was still raging, looking at Xiao Lin and said angrily, "Young man, don’t you think you’re overdoing it? Besides, as Xia Xue’s father, what’s wrong with asking you to leave my daughter?"

Initially, Xiao Lin didn’t have lots of ideas, but upon having those thoughts, he increasingly felt Xia Xue’s father was indeed helpless. Though he outwardly seemed angry, Xiao Lin felt Xia Xue’s father didn’t really wish to marry Xia Xue off to Fatty Wang.

But due to other reasons, he had no choice.

"I don’t think it’s excessive at all. Since you can’t afford to pay, then let me ask you - if I want to marry Xia Xue, what price must I pay?" Xiao Lin asked calmly.

Xia Xue’s father froze; he hadn’t expected Xiao Lin to ask such a question. Gradually, the anger faded from his face, followed by hearty laughter, "Young man, if you can pay the numbers you just wrote, then I’ll let Xia Xue marry you!" Although Xia Xue’s father guessed that Xiao Lin had some background and confidence in his family’s resources, the number written was nine billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine. Converted to Huaxia currency, that would be over sixty billion - even for the Wang Family, they’d likely have to sell everything to come up with it.

"So, do you think you can come up with this money? Or put it another way, do you think the crisis currently faced by the Xia Family requires such an amount?" Xiao Lin looked at Xia Xue’s father with great interest. Sixty billion cash - based on the Xia Family’s current assets, it’s probably about as much as they have.

Insult, blatant insult; though Xia Xue’s father had some admiration for Xiao Lin’s previous conduct, the words coming out of his mouth now were just unappreciable to Xia Xue’s father.

"Young man, aren’t you afraid your tongue might slip from bragging?" Xia Xue’s father spoke with some anger but dared not overly provoke Xiao Lin. Although guessing Xiao Lin’s identity wasn’t certain, he did know Xiao Lin was quite capable; Fatty Wang’s two retired special forces bodyguards were no match for him.

"Perhaps you don’t know me; I always speak the truth!" Xiao Lin said ’modestly,’ leaving others wanting to beat him up.

Xia Xue’s father felt he might have come to the wrong place this time; this brat was not only infuriating.

Thinking of using money to pressure him? He easily talks about ten billion USD. Trying to intimidate him with power? He completely ignores it. Considering using physical force? That’s only wishful thinking; he easily defeated those two bodyguards without much effort.

"Alright then, I look forward to you being truthful!" Xia Xue’s father suddenly laughed, quite clearly signaling to show him out.

How could Xiao Lin not understand? He shrugged indifferently, stood up, opened the car door, and just as he was about to get out, he turned back, saying arrogantly to Xia Xue’s father, "That still depends on whether the Xia Family is worth me realizing my truth!"

Thanks: Feelings rewarded with 588 Qidian coins!

PS: The power was out yesterday, plus a toothache; today still with the toothache. As the saying goes, a toothache isn’t an illness, but when it flares up, it’s excruciating; I didn’t believe it before, but now I do. It’s so painful, it’s affecting my thinking... In anguish, this is all I could update!