Ingratitude 01

Fang Zhiyi felt somewhat awkward; he had become a father once again at this moment.

Watching his son cautiously introduce his fiancée to him, Fang Zhiyi imitated the original host's manner and put on airs.

"You've got some nerve, haven't you? Gone for years without coming back, and the moment you return, you tell your old man you're getting married?"

Although Fang Mingyu was somewhat afraid of his old father, his tone remained firm: "Dad, I sent you a message about it."

"Do I look like I read messages?" Fang Zhiyi grumbled angrily.

Fang Mingyu secretly squeezed his fiancée's hand and immediately saw her encouraging look: "Anyway, I've told you. Weiwei is a wonderful girl, and I'm determined to marry no one but her."

Fang Zhiyi's gaze shifted to Lin Wei, who met his eyes without a trace of fear.

"Hey, how did I end up landing right in front of a Tasker?" Fang Zhiyi asked Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei was also helpless: "It couldn't be helped... But don't worry, unless I allow it, those Systems can't see me."

Right now, in his eyes, a translucent little orb was floating above the shoulder of his future daughter-in-law, Lin Wei, and every word of the conversation between the System and Lin Wei was clearly audible to him.

Fang Mingyu was a kind-hearted young man. While traveling, he got lost hiking and consequently met Chen Nian. This teenage girl wore clothes washed to a pale color, was thin and small, with mud on her ankles, but her eyes were bright and clear.

Upon learning that Chen Nian's family situation was very difficult—her father unable to work, her mother having to stay home to care for him, and she having a younger brother—Fang Mingyu understood why Chen Nian was about to drop out of school to wash dishes at a restaurant in town to make ends meet.

Looking at the optimistic girl, Fang Mingyu didn't consult anyone. He immediately took out all the money he had on him: "You must continue your studies. Take this for now, and ask me for more if it's not enough."

Chen Nian refused until her father nodded in agreement.

That day, the Chen family served Fang Mingyu a meal with the best things they had at home. From that day on, Fang Mingyu became the Chen family's benefactor. He himself was capable, had a stable job with a decent salary. Through friends of friends, Fang Mingyu found Chen's Father a job as a security guard at a factory in town, bringing in over a thousand yuan a month. He also covered all expenses for Chen Nian and her younger brother.

He sent living expenses on time every month, bought school supplies and clothes. The Chen family was immensely grateful to Fang Mingyu, often saying, "We've met a living Bodhisattva." Fang Mingyu would just smile sheepishly and say, "As long as the children study hard."

When Fang Mingyu got married, the Chen family specially took the train to congratulate him. Chen Nian, wearing a new dress Fang Mingyu had sent her, timidly handed a bag of fried peanuts to the bride, Lin Wei. Lin Wei could see the family's nervousness, so she smiled, took Chen Nian's hand, and said, "If you ever face difficulties in the future, just say so. Mingyu and I will try our best to help you."

The partner of such a kind person as Fang Mingyu was also kind.

But they never imagined that this kindness would eventually become a noose tightening around their necks.

When Chen Nian said she wanted to attend high school in the city, her family begged Fang Mingyu to let her stay at his house. Fang Mingyu had no objections, considering Chen Nian was far from home. However, Lin Wei was somewhat unhappy because she and Fang Mingyu had just discussed having a child and were planning to convert the spare room into a nursery. But looking at the pitiful Chen family, Lin Wei ultimately agreed.

After Chen Nian started high school, her expenses gradually increased. Chen's parents also frequently called to ask for money—sometimes for Chen Nian's younger brother's living expenses, sometimes to complain about hardships, like someone in the family falling ill, to ask for a few hundred yuan.

Over time, Lin Wei began to have doubts: "Are we giving them too much?"

Fang Mingyu sighed, "Their family really does have it hard. Let's wait a bit longer. It'll be better once Chen Nian goes to university."

Lin Wei smiled, "You're right. Let's see this good deed through to the end."

When Chen Nian first moved in, she was quite sensible, helping with cleaning, laundry, and dishes. But gradually, she changed.

She would secretly use Lin Wei's skincare products and wear Lin Wei's clothes when the couple wasn't home. She found Lin Wei's cooking too bland and often ate out instead—of course, Fang Mingyu paid the bills. When asked, she would say she had been studying for a long time and just ate out conveniently.

Fang Mingyu didn't think too much of it. He was very busy, working overtime almost every day to earn more money.

The Chen family also visited frequently. They never came empty-handed, bringing either vegetables they grew or some unknown "health supplements." However, their words always hinted at getting Fang Mingyu to reimburse their travel expenses. They even started treating Fang Mingyu's home as their own, entering and leaving various rooms without any hesitation.

One day, Chen's Father asked Fang Mingyu to find him a job, saying he also wanted to come to the city to ease the family's financial pressure.

Fang Mingyu was puzzled. He didn't know that the security guard job he had found for Chen's Father had already been gambled away by him in a card game. Faced with such a request, Fang Mingyu felt overwhelmed. He was just a technician, without much influence.

Chen's Father's face darkened: "Mingyu, you promised to help her back then. You also said our two families were like relatives. Now, do you not want to acknowledge your poor relatives anymore?"

Fang Mingyu felt as if a thorn had pierced his heart. In the end, he asked a friend and found Chen's Father a janitorial job at a private company. But Chen's Father quit after just two days, complaining the pay was too low. The entire Chen family felt Fang Mingyu had just found them a lousy job to brush them off. Of course, Fang Mingyu was unaware of this.

Lin Wei became pregnant. Upon hearing the news, Chen Nian immediately had Chen's Mother come to their house, saying she would take care of Lin Wei. Fang Mingyu thought about it and agreed. However, Chen's Mother did hardly any work. Instead, she made Lin Wei, with her growing belly, do the household chores. She only put on a show when Fang Mingyu came home from work. Knowing Fang Mingyu was under a lot of pressure, Lin Wei thought it better to avoid trouble. Then one day, she fainted in the kitchen. Chen's Mother, lying on the sofa watching TV, didn't pay any attention. By the time Lin Wei was taken to the hospital, it was too late—the baby couldn't be saved. Knowing she had caused a disaster, Chen's Mother left without a word, taking Chen Nian with her.

Fang Mingyu took a long leave to stay home with his wife. Who would have thought that Chen Nian, who had disappeared for a while, would show up again.

She said she was getting married.

"Your house is in a good location. Since you don't have children, sell it to me. At the price from ten years ago."

Fang Mingyu was shocked. He simply couldn't understand how Chen Nian could say such a thing. Lin Wei, already weak, shouted at her to get out. Chen Nian left with a face full of resentment and a cold sneer.

The next day, Chen's Mother brought relatives she had called from their hometown and surrounded the entrance of Fang Mingyu's company, accusing him of being "ungrateful and taking advantage of their daughter without giving anything back."