Ingratitude 06

This statement left the Fang family relatives momentarily stunned.

Chen Nian also realized it. Sure enough, Fang Mingyu was doing it on purpose. Ever since he got married, he had deliberately been trying to shake off her whole family! Well, she certainly couldn't let him have his way!

Chen Nian's pretense was completely torn away. She strode straight for the door but was quickly pushed back out.

"What do you think you're doing?" Fang Xiaoyan stood with her arms crossed.

"I want to see Brother Mingyu!" Chen Nian shouted, all traces of her previous shyness and timidity gone. "Make him come out and see me!"

"Pah! What are you, that he should come out to see you?" Fang Xiaoyan shot her a scornful look. "Addicted to getting a free ride, are you?"

Chen Nian was on the verge of breaking down. She had already planned out her future life; how could it end here! She tried to force her way in again, only to be shoved back violently, landing hard on the ground.

Naturally, Chen's Father and Chen's Mother couldn't stand by and watch this. "Are you bullying people just because you have the upper hand?"

"Bullshit! I'm not bullying 'people', I'm bullying you!"

And so, the third round of this conflict began again after a two-day break, though the location had changed.

It wasn't until the police arrived and saw it was the same two groups again that they were somewhat exasperated.

This time, the Chen family was guilty of trespassing, and the Fang family had resorted to violence. What to do? Follow procedure, of course.

The Chen family had old wounds topped with new ones. Seeing that the little savings they had gotten from Fang Mingyu were about to run out, they immediately decided to sue the Fang family. But who could have known that the Fang family, upon getting wind of the news, vanished with astonishing speed, catching a bus and leaving that very afternoon.

By now, Chen Nian was convinced this was all deliberately arranged by Fang Mingyu. So, she wanted to sue Fang Mingyu. However, due to insufficient evidence and the need for a considerable amount of money to proceed, Chen Nian was temporarily at a loss. She had no solution, but Chen's Mother did.

The next afternoon, Chen's Mother led them to Fang Mingyu's company. Fang Mingyu sometimes mailed them things from his office, so they had the address.

After causing a huge scene, they learned that Fang Mingyu had taken leave for his honeymoon. The Chen family grew even more resentful. Here they were, his whole family waiting for his help, and he was off vacationing? Spending all that money on fun—wouldn't it be better to give it to them? Chen Nian burst into loud sobs, leading onlookers to speculate whether the young woman had been deceived by Fang Mingyu.

The news spread rapidly as before.

Fang Mingyu also received a message from his company, ordering him to return and report immediately. He had no choice. Fortunately, Lin Wei said it was fine and he could return first by himself.

But as soon as Fang Mingyu landed, he got a call from the company. The person on the other end said he no longer needed to come in and report.

Fang Mingyu was utterly confused until he saw a video sent by a colleague. Watching the footage of Chen's Mother acting like a shrew and Chen Nian like a mini-shrew, his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Dejected, he returned home, only to find other people living there.

Fang Mingyu was even more bewildered.

"Didn't you sell this house? An old man sold it, and I've already paid in full! Don't you try to swindle me!" A burly man impatiently shoved him out the door.

Fang Mingyu's mind flashed with an image of his father's face.

He couldn't understand what was happening.

And worse than that, he had no money. Some of his money was with his wife, and most of it was with his dad. Thinking of his father, a chill ran through him. How could he do this to his own son?

Wandering the streets in a daze, he tried calling Lin Wei but couldn't get through. The place they had gone to was scenic but had terrible signal.

But then his phone rang. Seeing the familiar number, he answered it.

The person on the other end hesitated. "Fang Mingyu?"

Fang Mingyu's heart sank. "Yes."

"You actually know how to answer the phone? My parents and brother came in good faith to congratulate you, and this is how you treat us!" Chen Nian shouted angrily over the phone.

Fang Mingyu hurried to explain. "I really don't know anything. Believe me, I'm not that kind of person."

Silence on the other end.

"I just got back today. I don't even know what happened."

"Really?" Chen Nian's tone returned to normal.

"Really. Where are you now? I'll come find you!" Fang Mingyu said.

Chen Nian gave him an address. They hadn't left. Leaving now would mean truly having nothing left. Now that they had contacted Fang Mingyu, they needed to hold onto him tightly.

But watching the disheveled Fang Mingyu wolf down a bowl of plain noodles, the Chen family's hearts sank with doubt.

"Why did you go to my company? I got fired," Fang Mingyu said, not so much resentful as just puzzled.

The Chen family exchanged glances and decided to sidestep the topic.

"Fang Mingyu, about what we discussed last time, letting Nian Nian stay at your place—how about it?" Chen's Father actually brought this up again. So what if you lost your job? Our family can't freeload a place to stay anymore! This rundown rental costs three hundred a month!

Fang Mingyu was taken aback and gave a bitter smile. "I don't have a house anymore."

"What?" The Chen family members were all astonished.

Fang Mingyu didn't want to mention his father, just shook his head with a wry smile. "My house was sold by someone."

"It must have been those savages!" Chen Nian cried out.

Fang Mingyu looked at her, momentarily lost in thought. Did Chen Nian always look like this? He tried to remember. No, back then, Chen Nian's face was somewhat dark, but her eyes were very clear, and her smile was innocent.

But now, this Chen Nian cursing the Fang family had a somewhat twisted face. Her eyes were full of calculation and anger, not a trace of the girl he once saw remained.

Seeing him remain silent, Chen's Father asked, "So, what do we do next?" He said 'we', not 'you'.

Fang Mingyu shook his head with a bitter smile. "I don't know either. I've lost my job, my money, and my house."

The Chen family looked at him, full of disbelief, but Fang Mingyu's down-and-out demeanor didn't seem fake.

After a long while, Chen Nian spoke up. "Brother Mingyu, can you reimburse us for our medical expenses?"

A sharp pain shot through Fang Mingyu's heart. This family... He rummaged through his backpack and pockets, pooling all his money together—only a few dozen yuan.

Chen Nian fell silent.

An eerie quiet settled over the entire shabby rental room, broken only by the flickering of the dim yellow light due to unstable voltage.

Fang Mingyu smiled bitterly. "I can hardly protect myself now. If you weren't willing to take me in, I'd be sleeping on the streets."

The Chen family said nothing.

Fang Mingyu truly ended up staying in that cramped rental room for one day, then two, then three. He tried contacting his dad, but the phone was unreachable. He tried contacting Lin Wei, but her line was always out of service.

The Chen family finally confirmed it: Fang Mingyu was finished. His money and his house were gone.