Before Zhou Xueman could continue with her harsh words, Qin Fan shook his head, took a step forward, and continued, "Zhou Yihang, hmm—for now, I'll still call you Uncle Zhou. If I remember correctly, my dad helped you a lot with your college tuition, didn't he? Also, my dad made no small contribution to your initial startup funds. And besides, back when my dad was still part of the Qin Family, many people showed you favor during your startup process simply out of respect for him, your old college roommate, right? You speak of searching your heart, so please, search your own heart and ask yourself: without my dad, would you be where you are today? Would you?"
"Qin Fan! Why are you bringing all that up!" Hearing Qin Fan's words, the expression on Qin Chu's face visibly quivered.
Although every word Qin Fan said was true, he was never the type to harp on the past. The upright and honest Qin Chu disapproved of his son dredging up old history.
But Wei Shuying revealed a satisfied smile. She had wanted to say those things herself, but it wasn't her place. Coming from Qin Fan, however, was a different matter. As she watched with approval, a sliver of doubt crept into her mind.
Why does Qin Fan seem like a completely different person today?
"Brother Qin, don't—don't scold him. Everything he said is the truth!" Zhou Yihang pursed his lips, then turned to Qin Fan. "Young Fan, I admit it. If it weren't for your dad back then, I absolutely wouldn't be where I am today. I owe him a debt I can never repay in this lifetime!"
"What's this about repaying or not? Isn't ten million enough? And speaking of searching your heart, Uncle Qin, ten million should be more than enough to compensate for your help, shouldn't it? You helped my father in the past, sure, but if my father wasn't competent, would your help even have mattered? Since my father has the business acumen, gold will always shine. We are grateful that you were there to give him a push. But to endlessly drag up past assistance like this… isn't that just pathetic?" Zhou Xueman said with a sneer, her arms crossed as she looked down on Qin Chu and Wei Shuying. As for Qin Fan, she ignored him completely. In her eyes, he wasn't even qualified to speak with her.
"Xueman, that's enough! Uncle Qin and Aunt Wei are your elders. How can you speak to them like that? Where are your manners? If it weren't for your Uncle Qin, I, your father, wouldn't be so successful today! That is a fact, an undeniable fact!" Zhou Yihang's well-maintained, handsome face flushed as he scolded his daughter.
At this moment, Zhou Yihang was clearly trying to have his cake and eat it too.
"Dad!" Zhou Xueman stubbornly tried to explain her point of view again.
But Zhou Yihang cut her off. "Enough! Shut up!"
"Alright, alright. This isn't a theater. Mr. Zhou, let's cut to the chase. You came here today to call off the engagement, right?" Qin Fan asked, still wearing a broad, mocking smile as he looked at Zhou Yihang.
"Ahem… Young Fan, it's like this. Just as your mother said, in this day and age, we elders can no longer interfere in our children's love lives. You can't force love. Back then, your parents and I did arrange a marriage between you and Xueman, but now… Xueman has grown up and has her own ideas!"
Pushing up his glasses and touching his nose, a guilty Zhou Yihang found it impossible to be completely shameless in front of the family who had done so much for him.
Listening to Zhou Yihang's words, Qin Fan's mocking smile deepened.
Can't interfere in their children's love lives? You can't force love? She has her own ideas? If our family was still part of the Qin Family, if we hadn't been kicked out on the street, would there be any talk of non-interference? Would there be any talk of not forcing love? Would there be any room for her 'own ideas'? In this materialistic world where power is everything, the answer is obvious! In the end, it's all just snobbery and opportunism.
With a small laugh, Qin Fan pulled his hands out of his pockets. "You know, my parents never actually told me about this engagement. But speaking of which, Mom, Dad, did you two sign a marriage agreement with them, a formal pledge made by the parents?"
"Yes, we did! We even pressed our thumbprints on it!" Zhou Yihang blurted out before Qin Chu or Wei Shuying could answer.
A marriage agreement? That makes things easy.
An undisguised, playful smile spread across Qin Fan's face. He clicked his tongue and said, "A marriage agreement, with thumbprints and everything? Does that mean I don't have to worry about finding a wife in the future? Well then… Mom, Dad, Uncle Zhou, this Miss Zhou is quite the looker. I've changed my mind. I don't want to call off the marriage anymore!"
"Qin Fan, you loser! What part of you is worthy of me?" Zhou Xueman blurted out, her anxiety getting the better of her. The word "loser" slipped from her lips without a second thought.
"Whether I'm worthy or not is unimportant. The marriage contract is what matters, isn't it? Uncle Zhou, you're a businessman. You wouldn't want to be labeled an ungrateful snake, would you?" Qin Fan said, indifferent to Zhou Xueman's insult as he turned his mocking gaze on Zhou Yihang.
Ungrateful snake? Forgetful of past kindness? These words stabbed into Zhou Yihang's heart like daggers. If that rumor started to spread, the gossip surrounding him would multiply, and his reputation in the business world would undoubtedly take a hit. That was a price he was unwilling to pay.
"Young Fan, can't we discuss this? A marriage ultimately requires mutual affection. How about this? Uncle Zhou can introduce you to some other girls, as many as you like. You can pick anyone you're satisfied with, okay?" Zhou Yihang said through clenched teeth, utterly stunned by Qin Fan's abnormal behavior.
Is this how a pathetic pushover who lets everyone walk all over him acts? Is this how a cowardly loser behaves? What has gotten into Qin Fan today?
Similarly, Qin Chu and Wei Shuying were dumbfounded. Qin Fan was their son; they knew him better than anyone.
With Qin Fan's timid personality, shouldn't he have just given in? Instead, he's trading sarcastic barbs and veiled insults, going head-to-head with Zhou Yihang and his daughter? This is abnormal… completely abnormal!
"They say 'like father, like daughter.' Your daughter wants to buy out the debt of gratitude owed to my father for ten million, and now you want to buy out our marriage contract with some Tom, Dick, or Harry. Tell me, are you two so lost in your world of transactions that you can't find your way out?" Qin Fan's sneer swept over the father and daughter, and he let out a contemptuous laugh.
"Qin Fan, don't push your luck! Do you really think a decade-old piece of paper gives you leverage over us? My father and I came here to discuss this amicably out of respect for the relationship between our families. Give you an inch and you take a mile?" Zhou Xueman retorted, her fury boiling over as she felt the sharp sting of Qin Fan's mockery.
Being mocked by a loser? For someone as proud as her, what could be more humiliating?
Tacitly approving of his daughter's harsh words, Zhou Yihang didn't rebuke her again. Instead, he took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and said in a low voice, "Brother Qin, Sister-in-law, Young Fan, I came here in good faith. I will never forget the immense favor your family has done for me. But this is about Xueman now. Just tell me, what will it take to reach a happy resolution for everyone?"
Qin Chu shifted slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Wei Shuying tugged his arm, giving him a slight shake of her head and a playful look. As a mother, she was genuinely curious to see how her suddenly transformed son would handle this ungrateful snake.
"I don't need your ten million, and I certainly don't need you to introduce me to any Tom, Dick, or Harry. You want to dissolve the marriage contract, right? Fine. There's a compromise!"
As he said the word "compromise," Qin Fan let out a loud, deliberate laugh.
PS: It's not easy getting a new book off the ground. I'm on my knees begging for everyone to add this to your collections, for your recommendation votes, and for your five-star reviews