Chapter 095: The Scenery of Huai Prefecture

On the Chen family’s balcony, Wang Qi was momentarily stunned by Hong Yu’s words.

He had not expected Hong Yu to speak with such confidence.

Wang Qi certainly did not believe Hong Yu could produce ten million yuan, but he also knew that money would probably be hard to use as leverage against him. This world was not one in which money could solve everything.

For a woman like Lin Shuyu, even if Hong Yu had one million yuan, he still would not be able to marry another; and it was not as though Wang Qi was any different. His family’s wealth amounted to over a billion yuan, yet did that mean he did not also covet Lin Shuyu?

After thinking for a moment, Wang Qi suddenly smiled. “What do you think of this view?”

As long as Lin Shuyu was not mentioned, Hong Yu was willing enough to speak with him.

Hong Yu gazed into the distance. “It’s a fine view. At the very least, you can’t see scenery like this in Fengzhou.”

Wang Qi said gravely, “I know you truly love Lin Shuyu, but have you ever thought about it?”

“I heard that right now you can’t even afford a taxi. What can you possibly give her?”

“Do you really want a woman as outstanding as Lin Shuyu to remain trapped in that small place called Fengzhou, unknown to the world until the day she grows old?”

Hong Yu said nothing. He wanted to hear whether Wang Qi could really spin his way out of this.

Wang Qi took Hong Yu’s silence as a sign of reflection and pointed toward a tall building in the distance. “See that? That building belongs to my family. If Xiaoyu were with me, she would stand at the very top of that tower, looking down over all of Huaizhou.”

Hong Yu was just about to tell him to get lost when Chen Jianfei suddenly walked over to the balcony.

In a cold voice, Chen Jianfei said, “Hong Yu, was it? You’ve been with Xiaoyu for several years now. Why are you still so hopeless?”

“Is my remarkably accomplished niece really not enough to inspire you to strive harder?”

Hong Yu opened his mouth but found himself unable to answer.

It was true; Chen Jianfei was not wrong. Over these past few years, Hong Yu really had accomplished nothing.

Chen Jianfei said impatiently, “If you were positive, ambitious, and willing to fight for your future, then even if you did not earn much, I would not say another word.”

“But you’re not even trying to better yourself. I simply can’t stand it anymore.”

Wang Qi hurriedly added from the side, “Uncle Chen—no, Uncle, rest assured. As long as Xiaoyu is with me, I will make her the happiest woman in all of Huaizhou.”

Seeing that Wang Qi had even changed the way he addressed him, Hong Yu immediately frowned.

Hong Yu said coldly, “Marriage and love are about mutual affection. What you’re doing is pointless.”

Chen Jianfei said with feeling, “Sigh. Why are you so thick-skinned?”

“Back when Xiaoyu wanted to bring you into the family, if I had known what sort of mess this would become, I never would have let it go this far.”

“My sister already regrets it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have let Xiaoyu come here this time.”

Hong Yu frowned. When he saw that Chen Yingying had even brought Wang Qi along to pick them up earlier, he knew something was off. He had not expected it to be his mother-in-law stirring up trouble after all.

Chen Lan, that mother of his, had more than once wanted her daughter to divorce him. It had long made Hong Yu furious, yet there was nothing he could do about it.

After all, she was still his mother-in-law. People did strike their mother-in-law in anger, and some even killed theirs, but Hong Yu could never bring himself to do such a thing.

Hong Yu closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he said, “Uncle, what exactly do you want? If you want me and Xiaoyu to divorce, that is impossible.”

Chen Jianfei sneered. “Not only do I want you and Xiaoyu to divorce, I also want Xiaoyu to marry Xiaoqi!”

“Xiaoqi is the sole heir to Wang Real Estate, and the family holds assets worth more than a billion yuan.”

“Do you see this house I live in now? It was built by Xiaoqi’s family.”

“If that were all, I might still have to think about it. But even without his family behind him, Xiaoqi is more than capable on his own.”

“He’s tall, he graduated from a prestigious university, and now he’s even willing to start from the bottom and work his way up step by step. How could a live-in son-in-law like you compare?”

“As long as Xiaoyu marries him, my sister’s family can get out of Fengzhou’s predicament.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what things are like with the Lin family right now. But as long as you’re willing to divorce Xiaoyu, my sister’s family will surely gain a foothold in Huaizhou, and Xiaoyu can even become a minor socialite there.”

Hong Yu gave a cold laugh. “That’s all?”

“Everything you just said—was that already the limit of your imagination?”

“A real estate company worth only a billion or so yuan means nothing. If I want to, I can give Xiaoyu all of Huaizhou!”

“How audacious!” Chen Jianfei shouted angrily. “Are you an idiot? Are you dreaming? A worthless good-for-nothing like you has no right to say such things. What can you give Xiaoyu? Your hot air?”

“Xiaoqi, let’s go. This bastard turns out to be an idiot. There’s no point wasting our breath.”

Wang Qi shook his head, and when he looked at Hong Yu, there seemed to be a trace of pity in his eyes.

“Uncle, I truly feel sorry for Xiaoyu.”

“There are so many men in this world—why did she have to end up with such trash as a live-in son-in-law?”

“Poor Xiaoyu. I must save her!”

Chen Jianfei was overjoyed.

He had previously worried that Wang Qi would mind Lin Shuyu having been married before, but from the way Wang Qi was speaking now, it seemed he truly did like Lin Shuyu.

This might really work.

After the two of them left, Hong Yu still stood gazing at the distant scenery.

He was thinking about how to bring Huaizhou into his hands.

If he had the Hong family’s help, that would of course not be difficult. But Hong Gang’s words still echoed in his mind.

The old monster of the Hong family might be watching his every move. If he relied too heavily on the Hong family’s power, then even if he did seize Huaizhou, it would only become the Hong family’s achievement, not his, Hong Yu’s.

“Dinner’s ready!”

Suddenly, a voice came from the living room.

Hong Yu knew he was unwelcome at the moment, so he did not hesitate and turned at once toward the dining room.

Everyone soon took their seats, but just as Lin Shuyu was about to sit beside Hong Yu, Chen Jianfei suddenly pointed to the empty seat next to Wang Qi. “Xiaoyu, come on, sit beside Xiaoqi.”

Lin Shuyu frowned. “Uncle, that doesn’t seem very appropriate. I’d rather—”

Chen Jianfei cut her off. “What’s inappropriate about it? A guest deserves courtesy. Wang Qi is a guest. Don’t tell me you don’t even have that much manners?”

At his sharp rebuke, Lin Shuyu gave Hong Yu an apologetic glance before taking the seat.

Of course, Hong Yu was not clay to be kneaded by them at will.

Seeing Lin Shuyu sit down there, he stood up and followed.

Chen Yingying immediately snapped, “Do you have to be this thick-skinned? And I never even asked you to come eat!”

Seeing that Lin Shuyu already looked displeased, Chen Jianfei also feared upsetting her, so he quickly called out, “Come, come, everyone eat first.”

Then he even made a point of reminding Wang Qi, “Xiaoqi, you need to eat more. From now on, we’re all family, so don’t be polite.”

Beside him, Chen Yingying smiled. “That’s right, we’re all family now. In the past, I would have had to call you my brother-in-law.”

The Chen father and daughter seemed to have arranged everything in advance, and Hong Yu found the whole scene unbearable.