CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60 BORROW MONEY 4_1

"Zhong Minghui has saved 70,000 to 80,000 yuan from work, but it’s still not enough for a down payment. And his family won’t contribute a single penny."

"You know my situation too. All my money has gone to my family. My current job doesn’t cover my expenses, and I only have 5,000 yuan as emergency money on my card. Zhong Minghui insists on buying a house, but he wants my family to chip in as well. If my parents don’t have the money, he suggests selling two of our family’s storefronts first. But how can we sell those storefronts? They’re connected to the two residential floors of our family home. It would be incredibly inconvenient if we sold them! Besides, in a small place like this, the storefronts wouldn’t fetch a high price. My parents would never agree to sell them... Zhong Minghui argues with me about this every day, and he hasn’t come home in half a month. His mother also makes veiled criticisms, saying I have no job, no money, and no education, and that I’m not good enough for her son..."

Yan Xixi was left dumbfounded.

"Xixi, I’ve run out of options. I’m terrified Zhong Minghui will leave me..."

Xu Xiaoya’s face was filled with pleading hope, but Yan Xixi could only turn away. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what Xu Xiaoya was implying; she was simply powerless to help. Even if she had the ability, she wasn’t willing to lend Xu Xiaoya money to buy a house right now.

Her tone was as gentle as possible. "Xiaoya, you need to think this through carefully. Now isn’t a good time to buy a house. And with Zhong Minghui’s current attitude, you definitely shouldn’t rush into it..."

"But he said he’ll marry me once we buy the house. Xixi, I have to buy a house..."

"I think he’s wanted to break up with you for a long time but lacked an excuse. That’s why he’s using the house to pressure you. He knows perfectly well you don’t have the money, yet he’s still relentlessly pushing you. Xiaoya, you need to wake up!"

"But he swore that as soon as we buy the house, he’ll get the marriage certificate with me."

Yan Xixi was speechless.

"Xixi, you’re not me; you don’t understand how I feel! I’ve pinned all my hopes on Zhong Minghui. I was counting on things finally looking up for me after he got his doctorate. And now you’re telling me to give up? What about all the sacrifices I’ve made?"

She was like a desperate gambler who had already lost everything, her eyes bloodshot, staking it all on one last throw. Having lost so much, she was desperate to win it back. Yet, the more she tried to recoup her losses, the more she lost—a vicious cycle leading to a dead end.

Xu Xiaoya’s eyes were bloodshot as she continued, "Xixi, you know me. I have nothing left now. If Zhong Minghui really abandons me, what am I supposed to do? Will all these years of my hard work have been for nothing?"

Yan Xixi wanted to say, Xiaoya, you’re only in your twenties. Even if you make a mistake once a year, you can still afford to make eight or ten more. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it; she didn’t have the heart. No one understood Xu Xiaoya’s sacrifices better than she did. That was why it was so hard for Xiaoya to let go. Now, this house had become her last straw, her only lifeline. Even knowing it was like drinking poison to quench her thirst, she felt she had to go through with it.

"Xixi, please help me, I’m begging you! I can’t think of any other way, and I don’t have any other friends I can borrow money from..."

So, the real purpose of her visit was finally clear—she had come to borrow money!

This was the first time Xu Xiaoya had ever asked her for something like this.

Despite the thousand words swirling in her mind, Yan Xixi could only keep them locked away in her heart.

After a moment of silence, Yan Xixi paid the bill, and they left together.

They stopped at an ATM. With Xu Xiaoya watching, Yan Xixi inserted her card, and the machine dispensed a stack of cash.

"Xiaoya, this is all I can get right now. My credit card has a limit of 30,000 yuan, with a cash withdrawal limit of 15,000. If you need more, I can help you pay for things directly with the remaining 15,000 on the card."

Xu Xiaoya stared in disbelief. "Is Wan Donglin really that stingy?"