"I've broken up with Jiang Zexi, and I haven't spent any of his money. I'm borrowing from you because something happened back home. Don't worry, I'll pay you back."
Xia Wantang didn't care at all about what had happened at home, but the problem was she didn't have any money either!
She told the truth, "As you know, I'm still a university student, so I couldn't possibly have a million. All my money comes from Ling Yuchen."
Xia Wanfu was silent for a moment, unwilling to give up. If she couldn't borrow the money, what would she do?
Could she really harden her heart and abandon her grandparents? She couldn't do that.
"Please, I'm begging you. Xia Yichen, that good-for-nothing, almost beat someone to death. Without sufficient compensation, it's my grandparents who will suffer."
After saying these words, Xia Wanfu closed her eyes, tears flowing silently. She felt all her dignity and pride trampled underfoot at that moment.
She thought Xia Wantang would mock her, despise her, and never imagine that she would one day have to beg her.
She was fully prepared for mockery and ridicule, but to her surprise, the person on the other end simply said calmly, "I'll discuss it with Ling Yuchen. After all, it's not my money."
Xia Wanfu was stunned. For some reason, her eyes were a little red. She stifled a sob and said, "Then… I'll wait for your call."
"Okay, bye." Xia Wantang hung up the phone and fell into thought.
She felt that Xia Wanfu seemed to have changed, that something was different about her.
Her words weren't laced with barbs anymore; she had never spoken a kind word to her before.
They had left each other alone during this time. Unless there was a major crisis, she wouldn't have bothered her so easily.
Thinking about it, Xia Wanfu was just sharp-tongued and cynical; she hadn't actually done anything to hurt her.
As for the elders of the Xia family, she only saw them a few times a year during the New Year holidays since she was little.
She wasn't their biological daughter, so they naturally wouldn't be as affectionate towards her. But they never skimped on her food and drinks when she visited.
There was favoritism, of course. For instance, Xia Wanfu and Xia Yichen each got a thousand yuan in red envelopes, while she only got one hundred.
Or at the New Year's Eve dinner, she didn't get a piece of the stewed chicken, but she could still have a bowl of soup.
She wondered if it was because pregnancy had softened her heart, or if time had simply healed the wounds within her.
"Weren't you sleeping? Why are you awake?" Ling Yuchen walked in with a fruit platter and placed it gently on the coffee table.
Her thoughts were interrupted. Xia Wantang looked at him, wanting to say something but unable to articulate it.
Ling Yuchen sat down beside her, gently touched her face, and asked softly, "What's wrong? Did you have another nightmare?"
Xia Wantang shook her head and leaned into his embrace. Then she told him about what had just happened.
"My money is your money. Borrow whatever you want," Ling Yuchen said without hesitation.
Because he could tell from Xia Wantang's words that she still wanted to lend the money. A million yuan was nothing to him, as long as Xia Wantang was happy.
Besides, after all this time, that woman hadn't done anything truly outrageous.
Xia Wantang was also very conflicted. She hesitated, "I don't know if I should lend it…"
"You want to lend it," Ling Yuchen said, stroking her head with eyes full of tenderness. "Your sister hasn't done anything wrong. Think of it as repaying the Xia family for raising you!"
A dark glint flashed in Ling Yuchen's deep eyes. If he thought about it, Xia Linfeng and his wife would be released next spring.
With their cruel and venomous nature, how could they possibly let them off easily?
Even with him around, they wouldn't be able to cause too much trouble, but a cornered dog would still bite.
Xia Wantang didn't know what to say, after all, she was lending Ling Yuchen's money.
She thought for a moment and said, "Consider it a loan from you. I'll pay you back later."
"What are you talking about!" Ling Yuchen suddenly became serious. "We're husband and wife. We give and take from each other."
After a period of affectionate banter, Xia Wantang finally called Xia Wanfu back.
Xia Wanfu was pacing back and forth in the hotel room, having already prepared for the worst.
If there was absolutely no other way, she would have to resort to loan sharks.
The phone rang once, and she immediately answered it.
Xia Wantang's tone was still calm, neither condescending nor mocking.
"Ling Yuchen agreed to lend you the money. Give me your card number."
This sentence directly brought tears to Xia Wanfu's eyes, like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
When she was isolated and had nothing, only Wu Jiajia and Xia Wantang offered her help.
She had never imagined in her life that she would fall to such a state.
Hearing the choked sobs from the other end of the line, Xia Wantang didn't know what to say for a moment.
She remained silent, her heart filled with complex emotions.
After a long pause, Xia Wanfu said hoarsely, "Thank you. I'll pay you back as soon as possible."
"Okay, bye." Xia Wantang's attitude remained indifferent, but the touch in her heart was undeniable.
After the call ended, Xia Wanfu collapsed on the bed and cried.
Her current situation was no different from Xia Wantang's at that time.
When the family you loved the most shows you no mercy, the pain is truly heartbreaking.
Less than ten minutes later, her phone beeped. One million yuan had been deposited.
With the money matters resolved, Xia Wanfu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She didn't know now who would be caught in a greater public storm.
Because her act of borrowing money had attracted Wang Hewen's attention.
When he learned that Xia Wanfu had not only borrowed money from him but had also called all her classmates, he immediately became suspicious. Others treated it as a joke, but only he knew the true situation of the Xia family.
Although Xia Wanfu was already a somewhat famous celebrity, her brother Xia Yichen was like a bottomless pit.
He was cunning, so he immediately inquired if anything had happened to the Xia family, and to his surprise, he was right.
He had always coveted Xia Wanfu. Since he couldn't have her, he harbored resentment.
Moreover, having been in the entertainment industry for years, he wouldn't let go of such a sensational piece of news.
He immediately sold it to various entertainment tabloids, earning a considerable income.
…
Xia Wanfu sent the money back to compensate for the losses and paid the medical expenses.
Then, she received more good news: the person who had been beaten had gotten out of danger and had been transferred to a regular ward.
She hired a lawyer for Xia Yichen. The lawyer said that a three-year prison sentence was inevitable for him.
There was nothing she could do about it, as Xia Yichen's mistake was real.
Just as she started to relax, she received another call from home.
Wang Juxiang cried, "Wanfu, the lawyer just said your brother has to serve at least three years in prison. Is there really nothing you can do?"
Xia Wanfu said coldly, "What can I do? I still owe over a million in debt!!"