170: There's nothing new under the sun - Part 2 (Bonus Chapter)

The atmosphere at the dining table suddenly turned awkward.

Fortunately, the kind-hearted Jiang Ye couldn't just stand by and watch his third reserve wife choke on her words in front of him.

He picked up a piece of sushi and asked casually, "Regarding your brother, exactly how much do they want?"

Lin Wanxing breathed a secret sigh of relief; it was good that someone had picked up the conversation.

"188,000, plus the 'Three Golds and One Diamond,' and another 10,000 for the Title-change Fee."

"Wow! That much?" Su Ning couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Wanxing nodded helplessly. "Actually... in our town, this is considered the average level, not particularly exaggerated. It's just..."

Jiang Ye smiled and finished her sentence. "It's just that this should have been something for your parents and brother to worry about, but now it's all fallen on your shoulders, right?"

Lin Wanxing sighed softly, which was as good as an admission.

Around the Shengtian, the urban areas place more importance on houses and cars, so the bride price isn't the main expense, generally ranging between fifty to a hundred thousand. Moreover, many families eventually return both the bride price and the dowry to the young couple as startup funds for their new family.

But in the towns, the bride price is more valued, generally around one hundred to two hundred and fifty thousand. It's seen more as a symbol of face and sincerity, whereas the requirements for houses and cars can be negotiated.

In a case like hers, where they clearly intended to take her money and pass it along to become her brother's family assets, the nature of the situation was completely different.

Jiang Ye rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So that's why you always look so stressed out? This is the root of it?"

"Yeah..."

Lin Wanxing rubbed her temples. "My monthly salary is about 13,000 to 14,000, but I have to give 8,000 to my family, leaving myself with only 4,000 or 5,000 for rent and living expenses."

Su Ning's eyes widened instantly. "Holy crap!"

Lin Wanxing thought she was surprised by the heavy burden and was about to say she was "used to it," but then she heard Su Ning blurt out, "Fitness coaches make that much money?!"

"..."

Lin Wanxing and Jiang Ye both looked at her, speechless.

Why was this girl's focus always on money!

Su Ning also realized she had gone off-track and gave an embarrassed smile. "No wonder you asked for the cheaper second bedroom when you were looking for a place to rent, Sister Wanxing..."

Lin Wanxing said helplessly, "Actually, the rent for that previous house was also a bit high for me. But I don't usually have many major expenses, so I just wanted to be able to live comfortably when I got home at night..."

She paused and tried to cheer herself up. "But it's fine. It's needed by the end of the year anyway. If I work a bit harder this year, I should be able to make it."

"No way?!"

Su Ning was somewhat astonished. "Sister Wanxing, you really plan on giving it to them? They're clearly... you know, exploiting you, right? If you give it this time, what about next time? Are you going to keep giving forever?"

Jiang Ye was also a bit puzzled.

Judging from how she handled the Zhang Wenhai situation, Lin Wanxing was an assertive person capable of making decisions. Why was she so passive when it came to her family?

"It won't be forever."

Lin Wanxing shook her head, a complex look in her eyes.

"When I left for university, I made a deal with my family. They would fund my four years of college, and in return, most of my income for the five years after graduation would go to them. Now... there are two years left. I suppose... it's because the deadline is approaching that they want to squeeze out one last large sum?"

Su Ning and Jiang Ye exchanged another look, neither of them speaking this time.

This sounded a bit like using five years of financial sacrifice to trade for a certain degree of independence and freedom.

Without knowing the specific details, it was hard to judge, but it certainly left a heavy feeling in one's heart.

Having finally voiced what had been bottled up inside, Lin Wanxing felt as though her mood had truly lightened a bit.

She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat in earnest, then, as if remembering something, she turned to Su Ning.

"By the way, Xiao Su, about the part-time job at your voice chat room I mentioned before... why don't you help me ask about it again?"

Su Ning was just picking up a piece of tempura when she heard this. Her movements instantly froze, and she subconsciously glanced at Jiang Ye, alarm bells ringing in her head.

"Ah? Sister Wanxing, you... didn't you say you weren't going to do it?"

Lin Wanxing gave a helpless smile. "Even though I'm teaching Jiang Ye's private lessons now and my income has increased a bit, it's still too difficult to save up 200,000 in a single year. I still need to find a way, to find another path."

Her gaze became determined. "I think... once these two years are over, I'll truly and rightfully 'come out' from my family and completely start my own life."

Su Ning blinked, her heart pounding with anxiety as she tried to talk her out of it.

"Sister Wanxing, the voice chat room is actually... really difficult."

"I know it'll be hard. I don't expect to run into the kind of 'Big Sucker' you mentioned. But I believe that as long as I'm willing to learn diligently and pers—"

Lin Wanxing was speaking when she suddenly paused. "Xiao Su, what's wrong? Your right eyelid is twitching so much."

Su Ning rubbed her eyes, wailing inwardly. "No... it's nothing, maybe some sand got in."

Lin Wanxing saw her strange expression and assumed she was worried about her, so she smiled gratefully. She then turned to Jiang Ye, who hadn't said much.

"Jiang Ye, there's one more thing... I'd like to ask a favor."

Jiang Ye shifted his gaze away from Su Ning, who had an "I'm screwed" expression on her face, and raised an eyebrow, signaling her to continue.

Lin Wanxing pursed her lips, finding it a bit hard to speak. "It's... at the end of the month, my family... might come to the Shengtian to visit me. Could you... at that time... pretend to be my boyfriend?"

Before Jiang Ye could speak, she quickly added, her speech quickening slightly.

"Don't worry! It's just to deal with them, there won't be any unreasonable requests. And you can ask Miss Ye first; if she feels it's inconvenient, or if you don't want to help, it's really fine! It's really no problem!"