Chapter 86: A Proper Conversation

A bride price of one hundred million! This was unheard of, unprecedented—it was essentially a disguised refusal of Jiang Fu’an.
“So, I really don’t know what to do anymore,” Jiang Fu’an said with a bitter smile.
“You don’t know what to do? And yet you’re thinking about giving five million as a meeting gift?” Qin Tian asked.
“Yes, I’ll take it one step at a time,” Jiang Fu’an nodded.
“Haven’t you considered that they’re just messing with you? Even if you give them the five million, they’ll never let you marry their daughter!” Qin Tian raised his voice.
“I… I know.” Jiang Fu’an nodded.
“You know? And you still go through with it? Are you stupid?” Qin Tian blurted out angrily, but realized too late that his words were harsh.
“You’re right, I am a bit foolish.” To his surprise, Jiang Fu’an didn’t get angry; instead, he lowered his head in defeat.
Sigh.
Qin Tian let out a sigh—love truly makes people act foolishly.
Jiang Fu’an’s moth-to-the-flame spirit, Qin Tian couldn’t decide if it deserved praise or pity.
“There’s really no room for compromise? Maybe we should try to sit down and talk?” Qin Tian suggested.
“Probably not,” Jiang Fu’an replied, forcing another bitter smile.
Qin Tian felt a headache coming on; wasn’t this a dead end?
“What’s their background? Does Uncle Jiang’s connections do nothing?” Qin Tian asked.
The Jiang Group was a major company, and with Jiang Tianxiang involved, surely the other party would show some respect.
“They’re from the Xue family. I can’t do anything; they don’t care about our little company,” Jiang Tianxiang sighed.
“The Xue family?” Qin Tian didn’t recognize the name.
“Yes, the Xue family of the capital. They’re quite influential,” Jiang Tianxiang explained.
“The capital?” Qin Tian was taken aback. Any family thriving in the capital would indeed be powerful.
But even the most prominent families wouldn’t demand a bride price of one hundred million. Usually, these things were more about etiquette than substance. Among the elite, a token gesture was enough.
When it came to families of that stature, Qin Tian was at a loss, so he joined Jiang Tianxiang and Jiang Yingying on the sofa, all wearing troubled expressions.
Just then, Jiang Fu’an’s phone rang.
He offered an apologetic smile and stepped aside to take the call.

“What? Xiao Rong’s been hospitalized?” Jiang Fu’an’s shocked voice came from across the room.
Everyone immediately looked toward him. Xiao Rong must be Jiang Fu’an’s girlfriend.
“All right, I’ll be there right away.” Jiang Fu’an hung up and announced to everyone that he needed to go to the hospital at once.
Since Xue Xiao Rong worked in Wushi, she was hospitalized there, and they could drive directly over.
“I’ll go with you,” Jiang Tianxiang said after a moment’s thought.
Jiang Fu’an had lost his parents young, and as his elder, Jiang Tianxiang felt responsible to care for him.
“Thank you, Uncle,” Jiang Fu’an nodded, accepting his offer.
After Jiang Fu’an and Jiang Tianxiang left, Shen Xiaoqing looked pitifully at Qin Tian.
Qin Tian saw right through her—this silly girl wanted to join the excitement.
“I have a bad feeling about this. I’m worried. Qin Tian, get the car ready. I want to go to the hospital too,” Jiang Yingying said, uneasy.
“All right! I want to go too!” Shen Xiaoqing raised her hands.
“Don’t be silly! This isn’t a game!” Jiang Yingying scolded sternly.
“Okay,” Shen Xiaoqing immediately nodded obediently.
“I’ll get the car,” Qin Tian said, not hesitating; truth be told, he wanted to see for himself.

At the hospital.
“Rong Rong! How could you be so foolish? For the sake of that brat, you had to break ties with the family?”
Xue Xiao Rong’s mother, Lu Dongmei, looked at her pale daughter in bed, her resentment toward Jiang Fu’an rising yet again.
If not for Jiang Fu’an, would Xue Xiao Rong have quarreled with the family, then attempted suicide?
Look at her now! Her wrists were bandaged terribly.
“Xue Beiping! I don’t care what you do! I want that brat gone from Rong Rong’s life—forever!”
Lu Dongmei pointed at Xue Beiping, whose expression was complicated.
“What’s the point of yelling at me? I don’t want our daughter like this either, but what can I do?”
“Her legs are on that kid; I can’t control her!” Xue Beiping had been overwhelmed these days by his daughter’s troubles.
Mostly, it was Lu Dongmei constantly causing drama. In truth, he thought Jiang Fu’an was a good kid: promising, ambitious.
Though not a top tycoon, he was already worth millions at a young age.

But Lu Dongmei’s standards were sky-high; she insisted her daughter marry into an elite family.
“You can’t control her? Then I will!” Lu Dongmei spat, storming out of the ward.
“Dongmei! What are you doing?” Xue Beiping hurried after her—the troublesome woman always made things worse for him!
Once outside, Lu Dongmei made a call, summoning a group of men.
At the head was a man with a scar running from his eyebrow to his temple. If Qin Tian were here, he’d recognize him as Snake Brother from before.
“When you see this kid from the photo, don’t let him in. Best if you break both his legs—warn him to stay away from my daughter!”
Lu Dongmei showed Snake Brother and his crew Jiang Fu’an’s photo, ensuring they memorized his face.
“Don’t worry, Madam Lu. Leave it to us,” Snake Brother replied with a grin.
Years ago, Snake Brother had won Lu Dongmei’s favor during his wandering days. Now, he gladly handled her business without asking for a dime.
“Good,” Lu Dongmei nodded.
“Auntie!”
Just as Lu Dongmei was about to turn back, she heard a familiar and unwelcome voice—Jiang Fu’an had arrived!
“Auntie!” Jiang Fu’an called again, prompting Lu Dongmei to turn around.
“Who are you calling Auntie? I am not your aunt!” she snapped.
“Auntie, I…”
“I told you not to call me that!” Lu Dongmei glared at Jiang Fu’an, roaring.
“Ms. Lu, I’m Jiang Fu’an’s uncle, Jiang Tianxiang. I came today to talk with you,” Jiang Tianxiang stepped forward.
“Jiang Tianxiang from the Jiang Group? You have some reputation, but take my advice: don’t ruin yourself!”
“The Jiang Group is only influential in this little patch of Wushi!” Lu Dongmei sneered.
“If you want to talk, let’s talk properly,” she said, waving her hand. Snake Brother and his men immediately surged forward, surrounding Jiang Tianxiang and Jiang Fu’an.
Their faces changed instantly; they hadn’t expected Lu Dongmei to be so forceful.