116: Chapter 116 Girls' Clique, Boyfriend Being Ostracized

Shen Muqing's words stung Liu Aiyuan inside the room, as well as Shen Qiang in the living room.

"This child." Shen Qiang could only offer an awkward smile; he couldn't lash out, not with his 'son-in-law' sitting right across from him.

Shen Muyan, however, seemed to enjoy the chaos, chiming in, "Brother, you're right. If it doesn't work out, we'll just find someone else. You're only 25! You've got plenty of good times ahead."

"Shen Muyan!!" Shen Qiang hissed, "Don't stir up trouble."

"Uncle..." Tang Luochuan picked up the wine and filled Shen Qiang's glass. "Shen Muyan told me earlier that you're planning to sell the house for her dowry?"

"Uh... yes, that's true. We still have an old family home in our hometown."

"There's no need. I don't want a single cent of Shen Muyan's dowry."

"..."

Shen Qiang stared at Tang Luochuan in astonishment. He didn't believe for a second that the young man before him was some naive fool. While he had money, he certainly wasn't the type to impulsively solve problems for others on a whim.

"Why not?" Shen Muyan protested, clearly unhappy.

Tang Luochuan patted her back to comfort her, then continued, "Uncle, you and Aunt are sensible people. I can't interfere in Shen Muqing's business, but I understand perfectly well that Shen Muyan's dowry money will end up being spent on it sooner or later. So, I'm saying this in advance to save you the trouble of having to ask later—we don't want a single cent of that money. Furthermore, for the wedding, I will provide a million-yuan bride price; that should be considered quite generous in your area, right?"

"You can take this money to subsidize Shen Muqing—we won't ask for it back. Additionally, if you two need any help with your daily lives, Shen Muyan and I will do our best to assist as your children, but as for anything else, we don't want to get involved."

Tang Luochuan knew how to talk. On the surface, he was refusing the dowry and offering a million-yuan bride price. In reality, he was slapping Shen Qiang in the face!!

He could tell that Shen Qiang and Liu Aiyuan were people who cared about appearances. His words seemed helpful, but in reality, they were attacking their self-esteem.

If Shen Qiang and Liu Aiyuan had been the snobbish, money-grubbing type, Tang Luochuan would have approached it differently.

Shen Qiang put down his wine glass and waved his hands repeatedly. He could hear that Tang Luochuan was belittling him.

But the words were phrased so elegantly that he couldn't directly refute them. "No! No, your Aunt and I have enough."

"No, what I mean is, Shen Muqing might not have enough."

"This kid, a smiling tiger..." A thought flashed through Shen Qiang's mind, but then he dismissed it. He wasn't trying to harm him; rather, he was tactfully piercing through the facade.

Shen Qiang also understood that with the way Li Wenjing was doing things, the family definitely couldn't afford it. Even if they tried to tough it out, it would be exhausting.

But Tang Luochuan had made it clear: a million-yuan bride price, and that's the end of it. This money... Shen Qiang glanced at his daughter. Shen Muyan looked clueless; she completely failed to grasp the clash between the two men.

This million yuan wasn't a bride price; it was the price to buy out the sibling bond between his daughter and his son.

Yet Tang Luochuan had pegged his personality perfectly. He really wasn't the type to have no shame at all; he would never say something idiotic like, "You should be helping your brother."

"Ahem, Luochuan, eat something! As for this matter..." Shen Qiang stopped mid-sentence and swallowed his words. He had wanted to say that he didn't need to worry about it.

But then he remembered that Tang Luochuan's words were airtight; he had said, "I can't interfere in this matter..." and everything they discussed was about Shen Muyan and him—either the bride price or the dowry.

"He's really shut me down!" Shen Qiang thought to himself, then calmly picked up his wine glass and took a sip. "Eat! Eat!"

"Alright!" Tang Luochuan didn't stand on ceremony. Seeing that the other party understood, he switched to devouring mode. His bowl had long since been filled with food by the three girls.

The sounds from the bedroom quieted down; it was impossible to hear what Liu Aiyuan and her son were whispering about. Throughout the meal, neither Liu Aiyuan nor Shen Muqing came out.

After the meal, Tang Luochuan took the three girls downstairs to wander around the residential complex to digest their food.

"Luochuan, please don't be angry at my brother! He's actually a good person, just... just a bit cowardly." Shen Muyan started speaking up for her brother now.

Tang Luochuan said, "I'm not angry. I'm just looking at the facts!"

Jiang Jinyue suddenly said, "Luochuan, you're giving a million-yuan bride price to marry Shen Muyan? What about me? My family..."

She felt a bit embarrassed; if it were really just a million, the Jiang Family wouldn't think much of it.

Su Wantang opened her mouth but didn't say anything, then reached out and tugged at Jiang Jinyue, signaling her to shut up.

"Your family is so rich! It definitely can't be a million," Tang Luochuan said immediately.

"Really?" Jiang Jinyue, acting like a total goofball, suddenly beamed, completely ignoring Shen Muyan. Seeing the senior's face, she finally shut her mouth.

Tang Luochuan continued, "You and the Su Family both have money. I won't pay a single cent in bride price; you two just tell your parents to prepare 50 million yuan in dowry each! Their son-in-law is ready to lie flat."

"Get lost... hahaha..."

With one sentence, Tang Luochuan livened up the atmosphere again. As for Shen Muqing's business, he could deal with it himself.

The evening breeze carried the chill of early autumn in Gusu City, which still had plenty of fun places. The four of them didn't go far, just walking along the edge of the nearby old city wall.

But the further they walked, the more something felt off! The three of them were climbing the city wall—indeed, the three of them: Shen Muyan, Jiang Jinyue, and Su Wantang were walking in front. Tang Luochuan followed behind.

He realized that these three girls had formed a clique. Tang Luochuan hated 'cliques' more than anything; wasn't this just excluding people?

But now that his girlfriend had voluntarily formed a clique, he felt helpless. Originally, he had stayed behind while climbing the wall to compare which of the three girls had the bigger butt.

But the three of them were chatting and laughing, walking surprisingly fast; Tang Luochuan actually couldn't keep up.

"I could understand walking fast while shopping, but climbing a city wall too?" He muttered to himself, then shouted ahead, "Wait for me, you three! What are you doing?"

Su Wantang glanced back at him, "The girls are having a meeting, don't try to join in!"

"Oh? Are you pushing me out? I'm your boyfriend, why shouldn't I be able to join?" Tang Luochuan quickened his pace and finally caught up.

Shen Muyan: "Jinyue, which brand do you use?"

Jiang Jinyue: "Sofy. What about you two?"

Shen Muyan: "Whisper!"

Su Wantang: "Me too!"

The three girls finished speaking and simultaneously turned to look at Tang Luochuan: "What about you?"

Tang Luochuan: "...Uh... can we talk about something else?"

Jiang Jinyue: "Dior lipstick is nice; I've always used their brand."

Shen Muyan: "I use a regular brand, but I used the money Luochuan gave me to buy a YSL one, hehe."

Su Wantang: "I usually use Givenchy."

The three girls looked at Tang Luochuan again: "What about you..."

Tang Luochuan: "...Dior... I've bought it, but... they make lipstick too? ...Hehe... never mind, you guys keep talking, hehe..."

If it were a two-person household, between one man and one woman, this kind of thing would absolutely never happen. Because in such a small household, it's 1-on-1; either you talk about topics of mutual interest, or you don't talk at all.

But now it was different. Those three could talk to each other, and Tang Luochuan couldn't get a word in. The shows, variety programs, and movies they were currently watching, which coffee shops or milk tea shops were good, and fashion. Then on to manicures, colored contacts, and skincare.

What was most unbearable was that the three girls were gossiping about Tang Luochuan's physique right to his face. Right to his face!! If even one of the three wasn't his girlfriend, this topic would never have come up. Who would discuss this with an outsider?