Chapter 5: Why Should I Owe You Money?

“Alright then, you’d better hurry. How about this I’ll come find you tomorrow afternoon to get the money.” Aunt Tian quickly hung up.

Feeling irritated, I placed my phone on the nightstand. With only one day left, I truly had no idea where to get that much money. Asking the Jiang Family for money? I’d rather die than do that.

Time flew by, and it was already noon the next day. I still hadn’t figured out a way to raise the funds, and the agreed-upon time was fast approaching.

It seemed my only option was to ask that person for a loan. Just the thought of his disgusted expression made me reluctant to even open my mouth.

But I really had no other choice. Just as I picked up my phone to call Jiang Ruohe, Aunt Liu came in with soup.

“Xiaowan, this is the nourishment your grandfather bought for you. It’s top-quality stuff each box costs several thousand. Drink it quickly.”

My eyes lit up as I glanced at the nourishment boxes piled on the nearby table. They were all gifts from Jiang Mingzhe, over ten boxes in total. Noticing my gaze, Aunt Liu added, “And this is the cheap one. That box over there I heard from Butler Chen costs twenty thousand!” She pointed at it.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I murmured, “Grandfather is so kind.”

After Aunt Liu left, I stared conflictedly at the nourishment, my heart wrestling with guilt.

This was a gift from Grandfather for me to consume. Selling it felt like a betrayal of his kindness. But I was truly desperate. I tried hard to convince myself: since Grandfather gave these to me, they were mine to dispose of as I saw fit.

The money I got from selling the nourishment weighed heavily on my conscience. Just then, Aunt Tian called again, frantically explaining that Uncle Chen was being beaten half to death at the station.

Soon, Aunt Tian appeared before me, her eyes gleaming with delight at the sight of the brown paper bag in my hand.

As she reached for it, I took two steps back. Her expression immediately soured.

“Aunt Tian, let’s be clear this is the last time I’m helping Uncle Chen.”

“Don’t worry, I promise it’s the last time.”

Aunt Tian eagerly snatched the bag from me. Watching her retreating figure, I glanced down at the necklace around my neck, a pang of anguish shooting through my heart.

Chen Xi, I know I can never repay what I owe you. But for your parents… this really is the last time.

As I turned to leave, I met Jiang Ruohe’s icy gaze. A mocking smile curled his lips, but he said nothing before turning away.

That wordless, scornful look cut deeper than any insult.

When I returned to the hospital room, I found Jiang Ruohe waiting inside. He pointed at some documents on the nightstand and told me to sign them.

Thinking it was the divorce papers, I picked them up readily. But after reading them, I glared at him furiously.

“This nourishment was bought for me by Grandfather! Why should I owe you money?”

Jiang Ruohe had itemized every box of nourishment I’d sold, calculating the total market value at over two hundred thousand. He demanded I repay him within a month.

“That’s still the Jiang Family’s money. For someone as insatiably greedy as you, I’m being more than generous by not exposing your hypocrisy to Grandfather.”

My face turned pale. Expecting me to produce two hundred thousand in a month? He was clearly trying to destroy me.

He leaned in close to my face.

“Yu Xiaowan, I have an idea for you to quickly repay your debt sell your body.”

“Go ahead and sell without worry. Don’t be concerned about tarnishing my Jiang Family’s reputation. Wherever I, Jiang Ruohe, am present, no one would dare expose this.”

With a sharp “smack,” a red palm print appeared on Jiang Ruohe’s face. Trembling with rage, I glared at him, feeling my anger still unappeased. I raised my hand to strike him again, but he seized my wrist. His icy eyes flickered with fury as he pinned me against the wall, leaned down, and viciously bit my right cheek.

“I can’t stand others taking even the slightest advantage of me.”