northernbook Chapter 433 Even Bloodsucking Has Its Limits
Chapter 433 Even Bloodsucking Has Its Limits
"Meimei, slow down!"
Zhang Mei's steps were heavy, and she was stopped by Wen Tao.
"What do you mean I should slow down? Tell me how long the wedding has been delayed? My belly is so big, the baby is about to be born, and you still haven't raised enough for the bride price!"
Zhang Mei's eyes were sharp and her face was full of bitterness: "Wen Tao, if you don't love me, you should have said so earlier. I could have had an abortion right now and then thrown the child away!"
"No, it's not me, Meimei. I really love you, and I want to marry you, but you know my family's situation. We've already bought a house and a car, and with all that dowry money, we really can't afford it anymore. I..."
"Enough with the nonsense. If you can't pay up, let's settle this now. I'll contact the hospital as soon as I get back. Wen Tao, we're both completely finished!"
"Meimei!"
Zhang Mei shook him off and was about to leave, but she suddenly stopped in her tracks as soon as she turned around.
Wen Tao thought she had changed her mind and his face lit up with joy, but then he saw Zhang Mei's eyes narrow slightly as she looked at the window next to her.
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"If we're going to settle things between us, we can't avoid involving my parents."
Wen Yang stirred the bibimbap in front of her, her eyes revealing deep helplessness. "They've completely come to hate me for what happened with my brother. They still won't give up. A while ago, my mom called me crying, saying that Zhang Mei is about to give birth and wants to hold the wedding before she does. They're making life very difficult for my brother's family every day, and they want me to help them."
Xu Fangli frowned and put down her spoon: "How can we help? You've already given them enough; there's a limit to how much they can leech off you."
"They don't care about all that."
Wen Yang rolled her eyes. "They never think about where I get so much money. They just complain about being poor in front of me. Even my brother always says things like, 'Little sister, you're in the entertainment industry. You definitely earn a lot of money. You're a girl and you don't have anywhere to spend your money. What's wrong with sponsoring your brother's wedding?'"
Wen Yang imitated her brother's ruthless and mercenary tone, which made Yu Tianchang's eyebrows furrow tightly.
Yu Tian sat alone opposite him, having taken off his coat and revealing a simple white shirt that accentuated his well-toned shoulders.
He poured Wen Yang a glass of lemonade: "It's your own money, spend it however you want, don't pay any attention to what he says."
“I know, that’s why I haven’t told them where I work even though I’ve been back for so long.”
Wen Yang smiled wryly: "They don't even know I'm back."
"It's fine to keep it a secret for now. Let's wait and see if things take a turn for the better."
The three of them were eating and chatting when a voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Yangyang...is it really you?!"
The unexpected sound caused Wen Yang's spoon to clatter into the plate.
Xu Fangli looked up and saw Wen Tao, wearing a tight polo shirt, supporting Zhang Mei, who had a round belly, standing in front of their table.
It had been a long time since I'd seen Wen Tao, and he'd become even more greasy. He used to look somewhat similar to Wen Yang, and with his regular features, he was quite handsome.
During this period, he seemed to have lost his former energy and spirit. He walked beside Zhang Mei with a slight hunch in his shoulders, his eyes darting back and forth between Fang Li and Wen Yang, exuding a shrewd and calculating air about him.
"elder brother?"
Wen Yang's voice instantly turned eight degrees colder, "What are you doing here?"
"Your sister-in-law is about to give birth, so we just came to browse the maternity and baby store and buy some things."
Wen Tao looked happily at Zhang Mei's belly, then leaned closer to Wen Yang, saying solicitously, "By the way, when did you get back? Why didn't you come home? Mom was always talking about you, worried you wouldn't eat well alone out there."
His gaze swept across the dishes on the table, and his pupils visibly contracted when he saw that although the three of them were eating grilled meat bibimbap, they had ordered a large table of side dishes, as well as desserts and fruits.
"The food at this restaurant looks really good. Ordering so much must have cost a lot, right?"
Wen Yang clenched her fists under the table.
Xu Fangli noticed that her neatly trimmed nails had sunk into her palms.
Mr. Wen,
Xu Fangli smiled and interjected, "Would you like to sit with us? We just ordered too much."
Wen Yang frowned, wondering why Fang Li had suddenly extended an invitation.
Fang Li gave her a reassuring look, then looked kindly at Wen Tao and Zhang Mei.
Wen Tao's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously looked at Zhang Mei beside him. Zhang Mei suddenly sneered and said in a sarcastic tone, "Hypocrite, do you think we owe you a meal?"
One sentence made Wen Yang's face instantly darken.
Fang Li, on the other hand, didn't react much; in fact, she even had a slight smile on her lips.
Zhang Mei didn't sit down, but stood by the table and continued, "My wedding with your brother was postponed for several months because of you. I'm about to give birth, and you'd rather go out for a lavish meal with your friends than help your brother out. As a sister, you're truly heartless."
This is usually peak dining time.
It was strange enough that the two of them were standing there without sitting down, but on top of that, Zhang Mei didn't lower her voice when she spoke, as if she was deliberately trying to make sure everyone could hear her.
Before long, many people in the restaurant looked over, and the whispers gradually grew louder.
Wen Yang's face flushed red, not from shame, but from anger.
Xu Fangli gently pressed down on her trembling wrist.
"Mr. Wen."
Xu Fangli's voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire restaurant. "Wen Yang has worked hard to build her career. As family, shouldn't we support her? How did we end up being treated like debt collectors?"
Wen Tao was speechless, and Zhang Mei immediately retorted sharply, "Shouldn't family members help each other? Now that she has money, what's wrong with her helping her brother with his wedding?"
"Besides, has she grown up without spending money? How much money did her family spend raising her, sending her to university, and now that she's earning money, shouldn't she give back to her family? Hiding away and not even coming home is simply heartless!"
She pointed at Wen Yang's nose, "Do you know what your relatives and neighbors are saying about you? They say you're an ingrate! You won't even help your own brother!"
Wen Yang was so angry that she suddenly laughed.
She slowly wiped her mouth, her eyes turning chillingly cold as she looked up: "I'm an ingrate? Don't forget I paid half the money for your wedding house! Who's the heartless, ungrateful person here?!"
She glanced meaningfully at Wen Tao's waist, "Brother, since you're struggling so much that you can't even afford a wedding, why are you still wearing such a nice belt? A GUCCI belt, probably worth at least ten thousand? Last week, Mom said you borrowed her pension money; looks like you used it to save face?"
Wen Tao's expression changed, and he instinctively covered his belt buckle: "You! What nonsense are you talking about? This is fake!"
"Really? What did you do with Mom's pension?"
Wen Tao suddenly looked at Zhang Mei, who subtly tucked her sleeves in to cover the large gold bracelet on her wrist.