amaotonovel Chapter 1: The house should pay me compensation for emotional distress.
Chapter 1: The house should pay me compensation for emotional distress.
The music in the bar's private room was deafening.
"Tingyue, when are you going to get rid of that country bumpkin?" Jiang Wanjun, sitting next to Zhu Tingyue, asked her.
"Hmm..." Zhu Tingyue thought for a moment after hearing this, then replied nonchalantly, "Let's talk about it after I'm done playing with him! What? Are you interested in him?"
"No, no, no! I didn't. With his shabby appearance, if I took him out, I'd be so embarrassed! Only you have thick skin and aren't afraid of being laughed at."
Jiang Wanyun's hand gesture was so eerie it was almost invisible; she rejected Zhu Tingyue while simultaneously belittling her. However, given their relationship, Zhu Tingyue didn't seem to mind, though she might have reacted differently to someone else.
The hand that was pushing the door stopped, but the sounds from inside continued.
“Yes! Tingyue, don’t you think he’s pathetic? After all, he’s not good enough for you at all! There are plenty of guys like him out there. What do you see in him?” The speaker was another girl named Li Qingyu.
"Hey, that's just how their family likes things that are unique. How could we ordinary folks understand? Don't worry about it!"
Xu Jie immediately picked up where Li Qingyu left off, and the two of them put on a good cop/bad cop act, their acting skills were no less than those of top-tier stars.
"You like it?" Zhu Tingyue stared straight at Xu Jie, her eyes playful. "If you beg me, maybe I'll take pity on you and give it to you!"
Xu Jie felt a chill run down her spine under her gaze. She hadn't forgotten why she was there, and her tone unconsciously became humble: "How could I? No way! Tingyue, don't worry, I don't think... how could I steal someone else's love?"
Before she could even finish saying "I don't think much of you," she immediately changed her tune. If she had actually said that, forget about trying to curry favor with Zhu Tingyue; she would have been kicked out on the spot.
Li Qingyu wanted to say something in her defense, but she grabbed him and shook her head, signaling him to shut up.
"Hmph! Don't you even know your own worth? A toad trying to eat swan meat? Look in the mirror and see if you're even qualified!"
After listening to everyone's explanation, Jiang Wanjun finally understood Xu Jie and her group's purpose. They had ulterior motives! They were subtly probing and sowing discord! She wouldn't let them have their way.
"You've gone too far! We're all friends. Don't you understand the principle of being forgiving and mindful of your words, Miss Jiang?" Li Qingyu spoke up for Xu Jie.
"Oh, who is this? I've never seen her before?" Jiang Wanjun's tone was curious, as if she had just seen her, making her feel embarrassed.
Li Qingyu's face flushed red instantly. He glared at Jiang Wanjun, tears streaming down his face.
Isn't this blatant disrespect? Everyone here is a heiress from a wealthy family. Only she has an ordinary family background and an ordinary personality.
The atmosphere wasn't very harmonious. Seeing that the person she brought had been bullied, Xu Jie quickly tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, we're all on the same side, don't hold these words against us. Come on, let's sing!"
Turning around, he saw that Jiang Wanjun was about to say something, so he immediately grabbed her and said, "Wanjun, it's your turn. You can choose a song."
Jiang Wanjun glanced at her and didn't press the matter further.
Knowing he couldn't compete with them, Li Qingyu walked to the side and sat in a corner, silently becoming a background figure.
The person who had been standing outside the door listened to their conversation, their eyes darkening further: Heh, in Zhu Tingyue's eyes, they were utterly insignificant. Her nonchalant attitude and tone clearly indicated that, in Zhu Tingyue's eyes, they were nothing more than a toy! Perhaps even something that could be given away casually!
He was worried that it was too late and not safe, so he rushed over to pick her up!
And her? Was she going to show him her aloof and unapproachable side? Perhaps she was already tired of him. How could a high and mighty young lady possibly be interested in someone as poor and shabby as him?
Though poor, his spirit remained strong. Since things were as they were, he had nothing left to linger over. He closed the door to the private room, pretending he'd never been there.
Once outside, I felt that no matter what, the two of us should talk things out. It's a tangled mess, better to cut ties cleanly.
As everyone in the private room came out, Xu Jie immediately spotted Shen Yanqiu on the sofa in the lobby.
"Qinghui! You're here!" Xu Jie's voice was filled with surprise and her tone was extremely familiar.
However, the newcomer did not look at her. His gaze passed through a series of familiar and unfamiliar faces, finally settling on Zhu Tingyue's face.
Zhu Tingyue also saw him, but she didn't greet him as warmly as Xu Jie. As the sugar daddy, she had her own disdain.
When Zhou Qinghui looked at her, she looked back as usual, open and honest, as if she wasn't the one who had just said she was going to give him away to someone else.
Jiang Wanjun sensed that something was off. She glanced cautiously at Zhu Tingyue, guessing that she and the pretty boy had something to say, so she led the others away.
The action of pulling Xu Jie up was somewhat rough, because she did not cooperate like the others.
The room fell silent; the remaining two remained silent.
Judging from Zhou Qinghui's expression, Zhu Tingyue guessed that he might have heard her words, but she didn't know which sentence it was.
Seeing Zhu Tingyue's upright and dignified expression, without any sign of guilt, Zhou Qinghui knew that the two of them had to have a serious talk today.
"Let's break up!" he said calmly, speaking first.
"Huh?" Zhu Tingyue couldn't believe what she was hearing. Zhou Qinghui said he wanted to break up? Did he want to hear what she was saying?
“I said, let’s break up,” Zhou Qinghui repeated.
"Do you want to listen to what you're saying?" Zhu Tingyue looked Zhou Qinghui up and down, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She continued, "Look at yourself, every single item you own was paid for by me. Besides, if we were to break up, I should be the one to say it first. What gives you the audacity to talk to me like that? Do you even know your place?"
Zhu Tingyue's words were like a knife, stabbing Zhou Qinghui's heart and causing him unbearable pain.
His dignity was being brutally trampled on, yet he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.
Zhu Tingyue was right; he was covered in traces of her spending money on him. "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him." This age-old truth has never changed.
“Okay, then you can say it.” Zhou Qinghui compromised; it didn’t matter who said it.
"What should I say? Break up? Fine, I'll say it!"
"Zhou Qinghui, I want to break up with you! Remember, it's Zhu Tingyue who wants to break up with you!"
Zhu Tingyue's tone was harsh, making her seem unlike someone who would initiate a breakup. After speaking, she turned to leave, but Zhou Qinghui's words made her stop in her tracks.
"You're not going to take back the house you gave me, are you?" Zhou Qinghui asked, though his voice lacked confidence.
There was no other way; in the early stages of starting a business, every little bit counts. Consider it compensation from Zhu Tingyue for her emotional distress, and anything saved is yours.
"Hmph, I'd forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it. You mean that house? Now that I've given it to you, of course I'm not going to take it back. I, Zhu Tingyue, am not so poor that I can't afford your little bit of 'selling myself' fee."
"Say it, what else do you want? Just say the word. You've done your part, even if you haven't done anything special. After all, you have a great figure and a pretty face. I can offer you some compensation for sleeping with you for so long!"
Zhu Tingyue spoke as if it were a matter of course, as if she was used to doing this kind of thing, without the slightest hesitation.
"Nothing else is needed. Thank you!"
Zhou Qinghui's answer was as obedient as a primary school student's. He remained unfazed after hearing Zhu Tingyue's insulting words, but his voice was no longer as gentle as usual.
Zhu Tingyue treats him as something that can be bought and sold, so let's settle the transaction now to avoid any unresolved trouble later.
"Have you thought this through? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"Hmm, I've thought it through! I'll buy you out now, and we'll never have anything to do with each other again!" Zhou Qinghui seemed to be reminding her.
"Good job, Zhou Qinghui!"
Zhu Tingyue still can't believe that Zhou Qinghui would sever ties with her so easily.
Zhou Qinghui was a man who didn't have a single penny in his pocket, and whose pockets were emptier than his face. If it weren't for the 200,000 yuan that I gave him, would he be able to stand up straight and talk to me now?
He even has the audacity to say he wants to break up? I've spoiled him too much! It was just a few jokes, why is he making such a big deal out of it? Fine, let's break up then, let's see how he manages without me!
"Then I wish you find a good husband, a perfect match, and many children and grandchildren, even if you are infertile." Zhu Tingyue offered her sincere blessings.
"You too!" Zhou Qinghui returned the courtesy.
"Hmph!" Zhu Tingyue, wearing sky-high heels, tossed her long hair and left.
Zhou Qinghui watched her leave without looking back, then stood there blankly.
Xu Jie appeared out of nowhere, her eyes filled with sympathy and anger, standing up for Zhou Qinghui:
"Qinghui, I knew that people like Zhu Tingyue looked down on us. They think they're so important, and we're just ants. They wouldn't even look at us. How dare she treat you like that? I'm really angry for you."
As she spoke, she slowly approached Zhou Qinghui, scrutinizing him closely: short, neat black hair, a simple casual tracksuit, a tall and handsome figure, and a pair of dark, deep eyes beneath his perfect features. When he looked at you, his eyes were always full of affection, making you unable to resist falling for him.
Now, those eyes were looking at her. Under his gaze, Xu Jie's cheeks gradually flushed, and her eyes lowered slightly. After a long while, she finally mustered the courage to look at him again.
The person opposite him looked impatient, which made sense. Anyone would be annoyed by someone as aloof as Zhu Tingyue! Especially Zhou Qinghui? Aside from his humble background, he was perfect in every way! Unfortunately, Zhu Tingyue didn't find him appealing, so it wasn't her fault for getting a bargain!
"Qinghui, I like it..."
She was interrupted by Zhou Qinghui halfway through her sentence: "Excuse me, I have to go now."
Watching his departing figure, Xu Jie stomped her foot in frustration and secretly resolved: she must win him over and avenge herself in front of Zhu Tingyue.