Chapter 55: Xie Wantang: Come Back to Haishi with Me, I

Xie Wantang isn't actually tired; she just doesn't want to deal with Xie Bailu.

After sending the private butler away, Xie Wantang freed up time and called Xu Yanqiu.

She had already noticed that Xu Yanqiu was in trouble, and seeing that the girl was overwhelmed, she didn't tell her about the incident.

Whenever Xie Wantang called, Xu Yanqiu answered within seconds—unless she was sleeping.

"Hey, my treasure," Xu Yanqiu said deliberately in a relaxed tone.

In fact, just a minute before Xie Wantang's call, she was red‑eyed, wiping tears, tormented by self‑doubt.

She didn't know the purpose of being born by her parents.

It felt as if she were destined to be drained, to give everything to her family.

This time, her parents and younger brother came because the brother was getting married; the bride's family had high demands, and knowing Xu Yanqiu works in Sijiucheng, they asked her family to pay the down payment for a house within the Five Rings in Sijiucheng.

The bride's side even pretended to be magnanimous, saying they only required a down payment and didn't ask for full payment, which they claimed was already generous enough.

They even suggested they look around—what girl doesn't demand the groom pay the full price for a house?

Those who pay in full buy in the Eighteen County City, not in Sijiucheng, the international metropolis.

Her future sister‑in‑law seemed savvy, knowing Xu Yanqiu does live‑stream sales, and saying if she does well the commission will be high, so paying the down payment won't be a problem.

What a pain.

In Xu Yanqiu's eyes, Xie Wantang's recent worries are more bothersome than her own old, stale ailments, and she doesn't want to bother her with these trivial matters.

"What's wrong? Tell me if something's up—we're best friends," Xie Wantang said bluntly. "Alright, I'll give you half an hour; come over quickly, I have something to tell you."

"It's serious."

Fearing Xu Yanqiu might refuse, Xie Wantang deliberately exaggerated the seriousness of her issue.

That way, Xu Yanqiu would come.

Sure enough, within half an hour Xu Yanqiu hailed a ride and arrived.

Xu Yanqiu has a driver's license and can drive; she once bought a car, got into trouble, and hasn't bought another since.

For travel she usually takes a ride; if she truly needs a car, she rents one from a dealership.

It's not that she doesn't want to buy, she just doesn't want her parents to treat her as a patsy.

If she bought a car, her parents and brother would think she's suddenly wealthy and would find every way to squeeze all her money.

In front of them she already pretends to be poor, yet they still break promises and keep looking for ways to demand money.

This time they even shamelessly said she should stop renting such a nice complex and just take a few hundred‑yuan single room in a basement; after all it's only for sleeping, a bed is enough.

When she heard her parents say that, she almost cried from anger.

If she weren't mentally strong, she'd probably have been driven to jump off a building on the spot.

In the end, her mother even suggested that if she couldn't scrape together that much money, she should get married to a man who could afford the down payment as a bride price.

Xu Yanqiu actually laughed at her mother then; those two, grown into such bear‑like shapes, and they still expect her to be good‑looking?

A man with that much money would look for a big star; aren't models attractive enough?

Which patsy would spend that much on marrying a woman with such a terrible family background?

Don't they just browse their phones every day?

I don't know, a sister‑who‑supports‑her‑brother is the hardest to marry and most despised?

And still looking for a man?

Do they really think she's a moon‑hiding, flower‑shying, goddess sister that everyone loves?

From the moment she stepped into the elevator, Xu Yanqiu concealed all her low and bad emotions.

Once inside the room, Xu Yanqiu turned herself into the lively little sun that Xie Wantang knows and likes.

"When did you get discharged? Why didn't you let me pick you up?" Xu Yanqiu, hugging Xie Wantang, took the chance to pat her still‑unfilled belly.

She's going to be the godmother of the little one growing in that belly; the money she's saved will be used to buy tasty food and fun toys for that child.

"No need to pick me up; my parents came over."

"Huh? Where are they?"

"They left."

"Y‑you‑you…"

Xu Yanqiu felt she should invite Xie Wantang's parents to a nice feast, thanking them for raising her best friend so well.

It made her feel that the world still holds hope and beauty.

"They just dropped me at the airport this morning; do you know who I saw there?"

"Who?"

"Lu Yanshen, Xia Meng, and Dongdong—those three really look like a family of three," Xie Wantang still can't forget the harmonious yet glaring scene of the three appearing together.

What she wants to forget is precisely…

Memories that won't obey.

She also feels she's annoying and has no prospects.

When will she ever break free from Lu Yanshen's curse?

Why is it so hard to completely let go of a person?

After hearing Xie Wantang's words, Xu Yanqiu jumped up in fury, her emotions raging, hurling all sorts of harsh curses—since Lu Yanshen wasn't there, she let loose.

Xie Wantang smiled without replying.

When Xu Yanqiu finished cursing, Xie Wantang handed her a bottle of juice: "Drink this, tell me some of the troubles you've faced, and let me balance things out."

"……"

Xu Yanqiu stared blankly for a while, realizing Xie Wantang wanted to hear her thoughts and, without a hint of drama, let her speak freely.

Moved, Xu Yanqiu reached out, hugging Xie Wantang, and said, "Sweetheart, you say I'm so shrewd—I've been fully pretending, yet you still see I have a problem."

We're close girlfriends; you think we're just plastic sisters. Come on, speak up—or do you want to change where we talk?

Huh? Change where?

The bathroom—anyway, the tub is big enough; we can soak together and chat while we're at it. How about that?

Xu Yanqiu laughed—of course her best friend would enjoy that.

But Xu Yanqiu was a bit puzzled; her foster parents were from the countryside of Haishi, and Haishi's development naturally couldn't compare to Sijiucheng's, yet her treasure stayed in the Presidential Suite so calmly—buying a villa was just said and done, without any hesitation.

Those who don't know might really think Xie Wantang's past was... surely not the luxurious life of a wealthy young lady, right?

Otherwise, Cinderella marrying a prince—splendid at first, but afterward her days would surely be restricted and constrained.

Her treasure gave her no such feeling.

She seemed as relaxed as if she had lived this way since childhood.

"No more, pregnant women should avoid baths." Since learning Xie Wantang was pregnant, Xu Yanqiu also started brushing up on prenatal knowledge.

"Then let's talk on the sofa."

The two of them snuggled onto the sofa, each taking a corner, and Xie Wantang threw a cushion at her.

Xu Yanqiu hugged the cushion and told Xie Wantang all the troublesome things at home.

Xie Wantang never imagined that Xu Yanqiu's parents, in order to make money, would actually go so far as to sell their daughter.

She was furious; after venting, she domineeringly told Xu Yanqiu: "Qiuqiu, after I divorce Lu Yanshen, come with me to Haishi—I'll support you and be your backing."