Zhao Mengxue ground her teeth in hatred, loathing Zhao Chengren to the core. That useless piece of trash only knew how to drag her down. If it weren’t for the fact that he was still useful and that she herself wasn’t married yet, she would have severed ties with him long ago.
“I don’t have any money! If you want to die, then go die!” Zhao Mengxue snapped, her anger boiling over as she blurted out what was in her heart.
She was truly sick of Zhao Chengren and no longer wanted to clean up his messes. If this kept going, there would never be an end to it.
Just then, the door was opened with a key. Zhao’s mother stared wide-eyed at the two of them. “Xue’er, how can you talk like that? He’s your own big brother!”
Zhao Mengxue closed her eyes, the irritation in her heart impossible to suppress. Sure enough, her mother only ever pitied that useless son. No matter how good Zhao Mengxue was to her, she would never appreciate it.
Now Zhao Chengren finally found someone to back him up. He clung to Zhao Mother’s arm and whined, “Mom, I just asked little sis for a hundred yuan, and she wouldn’t give it to me. Look how cold-blooded she’s become!”
Zhao Mengxue sat on the sofa without looking at them, but the frustration in her heart surged straight to her head.
Did they really think she was some rich young miss like Su Wan? She only earned a few dozen yuan a month, and all the household expenses were borne by her alone.
Her father did odd jobs at a factory, earning barely enough for his own food. Her mother was always ill, and her elder brother was a gambling addict. Why was her fate so miserable?
Why hadn’t she been born into the Su family? Why did she have to be a daughter of the Zhao family? It was all Su Wan’s fault. She should have belonged to the Su family—just like in that dream. It was Su Wan who stole her identity!
Her mother was still speaking up for her brother. Zhao Mengxue finally couldn’t take it anymore. After a big fight, she slammed the door and stormed out.
Su Wan hadn’t expected Zhao Mengxue to come looking for her so late at night. Seeing the irritation hidden in her expression, Su Wan had her suspicions and let her in.
“Mengxue, what’s wrong?” Su Wan asked.
Of course Zhao Mengxue couldn’t say that her brother had lost money gambling and was asking her for cash. She was still hoping her brother would win Su Wan over—then all of the Su family’s assets would belong to their family.
“It’s nothing. I quarreled with my mom and wanted to stay here for the night. You won’t kick me out, will you?” Zhao Mengxue said, clinging to Su Wan’s arm and acting coquettish.
Su Wan sneered inwardly, but her tone was gentle. “Of course not. You can stay—we can chat.”
In a place Su Wan couldn’t see, Zhao Mengxue’s face twisted horribly. Su Wan was already divorced, yet still had people waiting on her and more money than she could spend. How could her life be so good?
Was there any way for her to get the Su family’s money and at the same time push Su Wan into the abyss, never able to climb out again?
She had originally planned to write an anonymous report accusing Su Wan’s family of being capitalists. Now that Su Wan was no longer a military wife, once the report was filed, given the Su family’s background, Su Wan would surely be sent to the countryside.
But if that happened, those assets wouldn’t fall into her hands. Zhao Mengxue was unwilling to accept that.
Then she thought of her own brother. Speaking of abyss—would marrying her brother be even more terrifying than being sent to the countryside?
Quite satisfied with this idea, Zhao Mengxue deliberately steered the conversation and began praising her brother.
“Wanwan, my brother is doing well now. He knows a powerful person and is working for him. He earns quite a lot every month.”
She casually fabricated an excuse. Anyway, Su Wan didn’t know the truth, and she was always easy to fool.
Su Wan followed her lead and continued chatting. The more they talked, the more ridiculous Su Wan found it. Zhao Mengxue hadn’t obtained the space, and now it seemed she wanted to matchmake her with her brother.
Unfortunately, whether or not she had been reborn, she would never take a liking to Zhao Chengren. She might lack judgment in other areas, but she was very picky when it came to men.
Besides, it was still uncertain whether her brother would even be able to marry in the future.
The two lay down to sleep, each harboring their own thoughts.
Zhao Chengren hadn’t expected his sister to be so determined not to help this time. He was so anxious that he was practically on fire.
This time, he blocked her at the entrance of her workplace after she got off work. Zhao Mengxue hadn’t expected Zhao Chengren to track her down there. If people found out she had such a gambling-addicted brother, how would she face anyone?
“Zhao Mengxue, hurry up and give me the money! They’ve come to press me again. Do you really want to see your brother beaten to death?!”
Zhao Chengren’s eyes were bloodshot. Though they’d said three days, for some reason Scar Brother’s people were pushing him unusually hard this time. Yesterday, he’d even seen Scar Brother’s men downstairs at his building.
If the neighbors found out he gambled, the image he’d carefully built up over the years would be completely ruined!
Zhao Mengxue shook off Zhao Chengren’s hand. Over the years, how many times had she cleaned up after him? Every time he gambled, she paid off his debts. She truly didn’t want to give him any more money. If this continued, when would it ever end?
Her own expenses were high too. When colleagues bought new dresses, she had to buy one as well. When they ate at a restaurant, she had to go the very next day. Even though Su Wan, that sucker, often bought her things, it still couldn’t support her constant comparisons.
Now she had little money left. And recently, something seemed off with Su Wan. Yesterday, she had subtly mentioned wanting a handbag, but Su Wan hadn’t offered to buy one for her.
She felt that Su Wan had changed since the divorce—something that had never happened before. It made her uneasy.
Zhao Chengren tried to grab her again. Zhao Mengxue quickly walked to a deserted alley and hissed angrily, “Where am I supposed to get the money? Don’t you know our family’s situation? If you want money, earn it yourself!”
Zhao Chengren raised his fist, wanting to strike her. Zhao Mengxue glared at him viciously. “Go on, hit me! Even if you beat me to death, I don’t have money! Why are you so useless? Su Wan just got divorced—if you want money, why don’t you think about getting her? Then wouldn’t all the Su family’s money be yours?”
Zhao Chengren lowered his hand, recalling the box full of cash he had seen at Su Wan’s place that day. That scene had been replaying in his dreams these past few nights.
That’s right. If he could get Su Wan, would he still worry about money?
“Xue’er, I don’t know what’s gotten into Su Wan—she just refuses to see me. How about you help your brother and arrange for me to meet her?” Zhao Chengren softened his tone and begged.
Zhao Mengxue cursed him as useless in her heart, but still began to offer him advice. “Fine. I’ll ask her out tomorrow. Then it’ll depend on how you perform.”
She wasn’t working tomorrow. She would see if she could get Su Wan out and let her brother meet her.
Zhao Chengren was anxious. Tomorrow was already the third day. Even if he made progress with Su Wan, she wouldn’t just hand him a hundred yuan for no reason!
How could he quickly get a hundred yuan from Su Wan to resolve this immediate crisis?
Zhao Mengxue went straight to the Su residence and told Su Wan about going out together. Su Wan agreed without revealing anything.
Sure enough, the next day Zhao Chengren appeared beside Zhao Mengxue. Su Wan deliberately showed displeasure. Several times Zhao Chengren tried to talk to her, but she ignored him.
Zhao Chengren couldn’t figure out how he’d offended Su Wan, but the day once again ended in failure.
And if he didn’t bring money to Scar Brother today, they would definitely come to his door to collect the debt. If people found out, how would he ever face anyone again?
After hitting a wall with Su Wan, Zhao Chengren returned with Zhao Mengxue, his face dark as if he were about to kill someone.
“Can’t you go borrow a hundred yuan from Su Wan? She’s so rich anyway!” Zhao Chengren said to Zhao Mengxue.
Zhao Mengxue frowned. “No. I already borrowed money from her last time, and it hasn’t been long. How can I ask again?”
“Then what should I do? If you’re not afraid of losing face, I’ll go all out—if I’m humiliated, you won’t be the only one!” Zhao Chengren said irritably, scratching his head until his hair looked like a bird’s nest.
Zhao Mengxue felt even more annoyed. “I don’t care if you steal or rob—just don’t bring trouble back home!”
“You useless trash! Aren’t you usually good with words? Why couldn’t you say a single thing to Su Wan today? The Su family is so rich. If you married her, would you still be short of a mere hundred yuan? You could just take money directly!”
She knew her brother was extremely vain, even more so than her, so she wasn’t worried about being threatened.
Zhao Chengren recalled how Su Wan had been chatting with Zhao Mengxue earlier. It seemed she lived alone.
Then if he…
Heh. Looking down on him, Zhao Chengren? Then don’t blame him.