The Art of Teasing - Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Having finished cursing Wen Shiyi, Wen Shishu rose in a huff and left.

Now that Wen Shiyi had fled home to hide by the old master's side, she could no longer break his legs. She could manage Wen Shiyi's affairs for a time, but not for a lifetime. If it weren't for the old master, she truly had no desire to meddle in Third Brother's affairs anymore—he could do whatever he pleased.

Wen Zhengyu accompanied the old master out of the residence and onto the lakeside walking path.

A gentle breeze drifted by, refreshing the heart and spirit.

Old Master Wen asked Wen Zhengyu, "What are your thoughts?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "Mr. Wen Shiyi wants to restore his former circumstances, but his reputation is utterly ruined. It will be difficult for him to accomplish anything now, even if the family wishes to help… Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt have been helping him all along…" The result was evident from his current situation. "But if the family doesn't help him, he'll find his own way, and if things go wrong, the family will still bear the burden."

Old Master Wen nodded and let out a heavy sigh, saying, "That's why Shishu would rather break his legs and support him."

Nor could Wen Zhengyu let her Second Aunt shoulder this blame alone. "This matter was the result of discussions between me and Second Aunt, and between Second Aunt and Grandmother. In the end, it ensures he has a way to survive and won't drag the family to ruin."

Old Master Wen glanced at Wen Zhengyu and said nothing more.

Wen Zhengyu supported the old master as they strolled leisurely, not bringing up Wen Shiyi again.

When they returned home from their walk, Wen Zhengyu said to Old Master Wen, "I'd like to call Mr. Wen Shiyi and Second Aunt over to discuss something."

Old Master Wen patted Wen Zhengyu's hand and said nothing at all.

Emerging from the old master's courtyard, Wen Zhengyu sent someone to invite her Second Aunt and Mr. Wen Shiyi to the adjacent courtyard for a discussion.

That adjacent courtyard had stood empty for over twenty years, locked for over twenty years. Only last year, when Ye Ling purchased the residence, had its gate been reopened and the courtyard renovated.

The water and electrical lines had all been reinstalled. The house stood empty, with only a set of guest furniture arranged in the main hall. This courtyard had once been where her mother and Mr. Wen Shiyi had lived—it was in this very courtyard that her mother's accident had occurred.

Wen Zhengyu went to the guest hall, boiled water, steeped tea, and drank it slowly.

Before long, Wen Shishu arrived. She swept her gaze over Wen Zhengyu, studied the room, then looked toward the courtyard. Thinking of Lian Huaijin's death, she sighed softly.

Ma Jun came to report, telling Wen Zhengyu, "Mr. Wen says he won't come."

Wen Zhengyu said, "Take a few men with you. If he won't come, throw him outside the main gate. If he's brought luggage, throw his luggage and those people from the guest courtyard out together."

Wen Shishu's brow arched. She cast a faint glance at Wen Zhengyu and, without betraying any emotion, lifted her teacup to drink.

Ma Jun acknowledged the order and strode briskly away.

Wen Shishu said to Wen Zhengyu, "You've grown bold."

Wen Zhengyu replied with perfect calm, "You flatter me."

Roughly ten minutes later, Wen Shiyi arrived. Ma Jun and Wen Jing entered together, positioning themselves to Wen Zhengyu's left and right.

Wen Shiyi entered the room with a dark expression, swept his eyes over Wen Zhengyu, then greeted Wen Shishu with "Second Sister" before turning to sit in a chair. He casually picked up his tea and asked Wen Zhengyu, "What business do you have with me? Whatever you have to say, say it directly. If you want to talk about your mother's affairs, go right ahead." His voice was calm and steady, but the hand holding the teacup trembled faintly, his expression betraying desolation and unease.

Wen Zhengyu looked at Wen Shiyi, his temples graying, and in the end, she could not bring herself to speak harsh words. Her thoughts swirled several times, but the words reached her lips and would not come out.

Only after a long while did she say, "I have an idea. Listen and see if it can work."

Wen Shishu nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Wen Zhengyu said, "The cash I have on hand right now is all from Grandmother. That money can be used for anything, but it absolutely cannot be used to repay Mr. Wen's debts. The dividends from my shares in the studio bring in two to three million a year, with occasional extra income on the side. All told, earning five or six million is no problem." Her voice slowed. "I want to have Second Aunt lend me a sum of money to first settle the debts he owes. I'll pay interest as a private loan and repay it slowly each year, using money I earn through my own abilities."

Wen Shiyi's face tightened. He said in a grave tone, "My debts are none of your concern. I don't need you to repay them for me." With that, he rose, about to walk out—but his forward step came to an abrupt halt. He turned and sat back down, saying, "Second Sister, I'll write an IOU. Lend me a sum of money."

Wen Shishu swept her eyes over Wen Shiyi, then said to Wen Zhengyu, "Yu'er, finish what you were saying."

Wen Zhengyu said to Wen Shiyi, "I will repay this debt on your behalf, but there are two conditions. First, you move out. When you reach retirement age, I will provide for your living expenses. Henceforth, our relationship and contact will be limited to this. Second, this is the last time I repay a debt for you. If you incur more debts in the future, the most I will do is arrange your funeral affairs."

She paused, then continued, "If you both find this acceptable, invite the uncles here. Let Second Aunt and the uncles serve as witnesses together, and write it down in black and white. If you find it unacceptable…" She raised her head and looked at Wen Shiyi. "You and those guests who came with you, please leave first thing tomorrow morning." With that, she stood, adding, "I've said my piece. Consider it. I'll take my leave now." She inclined her body slightly and walked out, fleeing as though escaping.

Wen Shishu watched Wen Zhengyu leave and let out a heavy sigh. She glanced at Wen Shiyi, then rose and headed for the door.

Wen Shiyi called out, "Second Sister."

Wen Shishu halted and turned back to look at Wen Shiyi.

Wen Shiyi asked, "You agree?"

Wen Shishu said, "My money didn't come from the wind. If I lend it to you, what collateral will you put up? Who will guarantee for you? If you can't repay it, my money will simply be thrown away."

She looked at Wen Shiyi, grinding her teeth. "When we came of age, our parents provided money for us to establish families and careers. In your case, you've thrown hundreds of millions in debt onto your child! Yu'er works herself to exhaustion and only earns a few million a year—barely enough for expenses. And you—at every turn, you demand she repay your debts. She'd have to work for ten years without eating or drinking just to clear this debt for you!" Yu'er was not her child, yet watching this broke her heart.

She shouted, "I'm telling you, Wen Shiyi, if you let Yu'er repay this debt for you, you'd better prepare your own coffin and urn first!" Having spoken, she turned and left.

Wen Zhengyu hurried back to her own courtyard, closed the door, and leaned her back against it. She did not want to cry, yet she felt utterly wretched—so wretched that her whole body trembled uncontrollably. She had originally intended to summon Wen Shiyi to the courtyard and confront him, but in the end, she could not bear to.

She loathed Wen Shiyi intensely, wanted nothing more than to sever all ties with him, wished him ill—yet seeing him like that, she felt grief.

She heard Ye Ling's footsteps and inhaled forcefully, trying to suppress the emotions surging in her heart. But… it was truly too painful…

Her hands and feet were shaking badly, trembling beyond control.

Ye Ling rushed forward and embraced Wen Zhengyu, who was shivering violently. Her hand stroked Wen Zhengyu's back in gentle, soothing motions as she said softly, "It's all right. It's all right. If it hurts, cry it out, okay?"

Wen Zhengyu clenched her hands tightly and said in a low voice, "I don't want to cry."

Ye Ling hummed in agreement, offering Wen Zhengyu a way out: "It's only human. I understand." She said in a gentle voice, "Big sister is holding you. It won't hurt anymore. Be good."

Big sister?

Wen Zhengyu stiffened in Ye Ling's embrace, jolted by the words "big sister." She was stunned for several seconds, still unable to process them.

Wen Zhengyu asked, "Big sister?"

Ye Ling hummed softly and said, "I'm several years older than you, so of course I'm big sister."

Wen Zhengyu's mind was suddenly in disarray. She had no desire to say anything at all and allowed Ye Ling to take her hand and lead her back inside.

Ye Ling guided Wen Zhengyu to sit at the round table, poured her a glass of water, and asked, "Feeling a bit better?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded. Cupping the warm glass of water in her hands, the heat she felt from it helped her recover a little strength.

Ye Ling said, "Looking at that utterly devastated expression, what came of the talk?"

Wen Zhengyu deliberated briefly, then recounted to Ye Ling the conversation she had just had with Wen Shiyi and her Second Aunt.

Ye Ling blinked blankly, then reached out to feel Wen Zhengyu's forehead and asked, "Does your money fall from the sky?" She glanced up at the ceiling. "Even if money fell from the sky, you'd still have to bend down and put in effort to pick it up."

Wen Zhengyu said morosely, "I would have liked to beat him out the door, but…"

Ye Ling said, "Then beat him out!"

Wen Zhengyu: "…" She stared at Ye Ling, stunned and shocked.

Ye Ling said, "I had someone look into it. Wen Shiyi owes fifty million."

Wen Zhengyu froze, her breath catching. Last time, it wasn't this amount.

Seeing Wen Zhengyu's dazed expression, Ye Ling felt both heartache and exasperation. Her own wife—she could only teach her herself. She sat down and said, "They dared to lend money to Wen Shiyi precisely because they know you'll repay his debts. If you repay this for Wen Shiyi this time, next time they'll find ways to lend him even more. After all, someone will always pay it back for him." She raised her eyes to look at Wen Zhengyu and asked, "Do you know what it is that Wen Shiyi owes?"

Wen Zhengyu lifted her eyes to Ye Ling. She knew Ye Ling must have investigated already.

Ye Ling said, "Loan sharks. Ones specializing in cross-border business."

Wen Zhengyu knew Ye Ling had a plan. She promptly and attentively poured Ye Ling a glass of water.

Ye Ling accepted the water Wen Zhengyu offered with both hands. She smiled, glanced at Wen Zhengyu's humbly-awaiting-instruction expression, and said quietly, "Skin both them and Wen Shiyi, and you won't have to pay a single cent."

Wen Zhengyu's gaze brushed over Ye Ling's fingers as they lightly tapped the water glass. She suddenly had the feeling that Ye Ling was sharpening her knives. She understood—Ye Ling intended to stand up for her.

For a moment, she felt what it was like to be protected.

Ye Ling saw Wen Zhengyu staring at her intently and asked with a smile, "What is it? Touched?"

Wen Zhengyu quickly shook her head and said, "No." Nervously, she lowered her head and drank water, then added, "Not at all."

Ye Ling sighed. "So foolish." She did not dare to voice the rest—sold off and still helping them count the money. She said, "I've already sent people to investigate the details of this group. We still can't determine who their boss is, so we'll have to observe the situation further. The loan agreement Wen Shiyi signed is also in their hands. I've already reviewed it—there's plenty of room to maneuver." She looked at Wen Zhengyu, pained, and said, "The money you work so hard to earn isn't meant to be spent like this."

Wen Zhengyu fell silent. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, yet… in the end, she could not bring herself to be ruthless. She steadied herself, gathered her thoughts, and said, "I'll go see Second Aunt and have her also… Second Aunt will investigate."

Ye Ling nodded. "That much money—of course Wen Shishu will want to get to the bottom of it."

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