Chapter 161: Chapter 161

After Zhu Yuanhang and his wife left the school, they took a bus back. Just as they got off, they ran into Li Jianlong. Li was officially coming to propose today.

"Uncle, Aunt, there’s no problem with Xiaoxiao’s school, right?" Li Jianlong asked.

He was very satisfied with Chu Xiaoxiao. She was as beautiful as a fairy. In theory, she was at the prime of her youth and surely wouldn’t look at someone like him.

But the Chu Family desperately needed money. He only needed to spend three hundred thousand as a betrothal gift to marry Chu Xiaoxiao, his wife. It was like finding a treasure.

The only thing he wasn’t satisfied with about Chu Xiaoxiao was that she was still in college, which was bad news for him. With her looks, there were sure to be boys pursuing her at school, and he couldn’t let that happen.

Having her drop out was precisely his idea.

Once they got married, Chu Xiaoxiao not only had to leave school but also had to sever any contact with those male classmates.

"No problem, I should say, it’s no longer a problem," Zhu Yuanhang quickly assured, afraid that Li Jianlong would be dissatisfied.

They desperately needed that betrothal money; this marriage must not be messed up.

Li Jianlong nodded, "That’s good."

The thought of soon being able to see Chu Xiaoxiao made Li Jianlong a little excited. Previously, he’d only seen her photos and was already impressed. In person, she must be even prettier than in pictures.

"Today, I brought the dowry to propose. If there’s no problem when I meet Xiaoxiao, I’ll give you both one hundred and fifty thousand in cash as a dowry. When Xiaoxiao and I are married, I’ll give the remaining one hundred and fifty thousand," Li Jianlong said.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanhang and his wife exchanged glances, joy evident in their eyes.

One hundred and fifty thousand was an enormous sum for them. Thinking about getting one hundred and fifty thousand in cash soon made them excited.

He Meifang laughed, "There won’t be any problems."

Li Jianlong said, "I know there won’t be any issues with you two, but I’m not sure how Xiaoxiao herself feels about it?"

He Meifang quickly said, "What could she think? She knows marrying you means a dowry of three hundred thousand to save her brother. There will be no problem."

Zhu Yuanhang smiled, "Yes, we’ve already worked on her mindset, don’t worry."

Li Jianlong said, "That’s good."

Zhu Yuanhang flattered, "Jianlong, you’re talented, and your family is well-off. It’s Xiaoxiao’s blessing to marry you."

Hearing this, Li Jianlong felt a bit proud; he indeed considered himself not bad.

While talking, they arrived outside Hongyun District. Li Jianlong planned to park his car and caught sight of a Kosak parked by the roadside.

Originally feeling proud, Li Jianlong was instantly deflated. Damn, look at this car, worth tens of millions. What did he have to be proud of!

How strange, in this lousy place, why was there such an expensive luxury car parked here? It was discouraging.

Li Jianlong was a bit puzzled.

He parked the car, took the dowry with him, and followed Zhu Yuanhang and his wife into the district.

As they were walking, suddenly, He Meifang let out a scream, her face changing.

In response, Zhu Yuanhang also cried out. The couple hurriedly ran forward.

As it turned out, on top of a building, there was a little boy about to jump. The couple was scared out of their wits.

"Is this their son? What’s happening?" Li Jianlong frowned.

On the rooftop, Chu Xiaoming had already climbed to the edge. He was physically frail, so climbing to the rooftop was no easy feat. At this moment, his face was pale, clearly exhausted.

"Son, what are you doing? Come back!"

The couple ran frantically, screaming, nearly hysterical.

Chu Xiaoming saw them, showing a pained expression.

"Dad, Mom, I don’t want to live anymore. Staying alive only drags you down, burdens Sis. If I die, it’ll be over. Sis won’t have to drop out or get married," Chu Xiaoming said.

He Meifang anxiously said, "What are you talking about? How could you be a burden to us?"

Zhu Yuanhang said, "Why would you think that? Where’s your sister?"

At this time, there was a clatter—something fell to the ground nearby.

Everyone looked around and saw a bicycle laying on the ground, a plastic bag hanging from the handlebars also broke, and a sandwich fell out.

Chu Xiaoxiao, her face pale with fright, ran over.

She had just bought a sandwich for Chu Xiaoming. Suddenly discovering him on the rooftop scared her so much she dropped her bicycle and came over.

Seeing Chu Xiaoxiao, Zhu Yuanhang was furious, pointing at her, he cursed, "Where the hell were you? Why weren’t you at home watching your brother, you useless girl!"

Fuming, Zhu Yuanhang stepped forward, raising his hand to hit Chu Xiaoxiao. If this slap landed, Chu Xiaoxiao’s face would definitely swell.

Seeing Zhu Yuanhang’s furious hand about to strike Chu Xiaoxiao.

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side, grabbing Zhu Yuanhang’s hand.

"Let’s talk it out, why resort to violence?" Lin Fan said coldly.

"Who are you? I’m disciplining my daughter, mind your own business, let go!" Zhu Yuanhang shouted, trying to break free.

Lin Fan applied a little pressure.

Zhu Yuanhang cried out. His hand felt like it was clamped by iron tongs, the pain making him grimace, cold sweat dripping down.

This young man’s grip was too strong. If he wanted to, he could probably crush his hand.

"Alright, alright, I won’t hit her, just let me go," Zhu Yuanhang grinned and quickly backed down.

Lin Fan then released him.

Chu Xiaoxiao was stunned, not expecting Lin Fan to come. Besides Lin Fan, the principal was also there!

If Lin Fan hadn’t intervened in time, Zhu Yuanhang’s slap would have landed, and it’d be too unjust for her.

"I just went out to buy sandwiches for Xiaoming. I didn’t know he would get up there," Chu Xiaoxiao explained.

She then looked up at Chu Xiaoming, anxiously asking, "Xiaoming, what are you doing?"

Having witnessed the scene earlier, Chu Xiaoming appeared even more pained, "Dad, don’t blame sister, I tricked her into leaving. I don’t want to live. Sis, I’m sorry, I know you don’t want to marry. If I die, you won’t be troubled."

Chu Xiaoxiao wept, "Silly boy, Sis isn’t troubled. Sis is willing to do anything for you. Sis is doing it voluntarily!"

Chu Xiaoming shook his head, "You don’t have to lie. If you were willing, why did you cry in your room? You’ve been crying for a whole day and night. Didn’t you always tell me you wanted to be a composer? You wouldn’t want to drop out."

Chu Xiaoxiao cried uncontrollably, unable to deny it. Everything Chu Xiaoming said hit the mark.

Chu Xiaoming continued, "It’s all Mom and Dad forcing you, and they are forcing you because of me. If you marry, you can get the dowry to treat my illness. I don’t want to drag you down. The only solution I can think of is for me to die."

Everyone was immensely shocked.

Liu Mengjie glared at Zhu Yuanhang and his wife, "That’s why you asked Chu Xiaoxiao to drop out? You’re too absurd!"

The actions of Zhu Yuanhang and his wife clearly incited public anger, and everyone began to criticize them.

"My God, forcing the daughter to drop out and get married to treat the son’s illness?"

"How is this different from selling off the daughter?"

"This is too much, why ruin your daughter’s life like that, it’s too selfish!"

Voices of rebuke filled the surroundings.

Listening to this, Zhu Yuanhang and his wife were red-faced. Family disgrace shouldn’t be spread outside. They knew this was shameful and kept it secret. Now, their family affairs were known to everyone.

"What do you know? Don’t just talk without understanding; it’s not your son who’s sick, of course, you can talk like that. My son has no money for medical treatment, have you thought about our plight? We wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t a last resort," Zhu Yuanhang shouted excitedly.

Since they lost face, might as well go all out.

Seeing Zhu Yuanhang about to argue with everyone.

"Xiaoming, I think your decision is right. If you want to save your sister, you should indeed die!"

Suddenly, Lin Fan shouted towards the rooftop.

Everyone was taken aback, and for a moment, everything went silent.