Xu Ke was at the home of his girlfriend, Siao Jia. His prospective mother-in-law had called him over to discuss the wedding.
He hung his head low, not daring to meet the gaze of Chang Xiujuan, his prospective mother-in-law.
"Speak up," Chang Xiujuan clamored.
Siao Jia's brother, Siao Fan, spat out a sunflower seed shell that landed right in front of Xu Ke.
"Auntie, I'm sorry, I really can't manage it," Xu Ke managed to squeeze out, his teeth clenched tightly.
Chang Xiujuan's expression soured. "My Jia Jia is only asking for a bride price of 250,000, and you can't even afford that?"
"After buying the house, I really can't," Xu Ke said, his smile so bitter he looked like he was about to cry.
"Get out," Chang Xiujuan cursed. "You can't even afford a 250,000 bride price, and you still want to marry my Jia Jia?"
"Exactly." Siao Fan spat the rest of the sunflower seed shells into the trash can. He clapped his hands and pointed at Xu Ke's nose. "How am I supposed to get married if you don't have that 250,000?"
Xu Ke looked to Siao Jia for help. "Jia Jia..."
Siao Jia's expression was icy as she ignored him.
"Don't sound so affectionate. From now on, you two are broken up," Chang Xiujuan stepped forward and yanked Xu Ke to his feet.
Xu Ke still clung to a sliver of hope. "Jia Jia, please say something. I've already paid the down payment for our house."
Siao Jia shook her head. "It's not going to work. My brother is getting married, too. If you don't have the money, we should just break up."
Hearing Siao Jia's heartless words, Xu Ke turned pale. "But we had an agreement, didn't we? That we would get married after I supported you through your medical master's degree."
As if he'd touched a sore spot, Siao Jia grew agitated and shouted, "Xu Ke, what are you talking about?!"
"Are you trying to use the fact that you paid for my studies to emotionally blackmail me into marrying you?
"Yes, my family opposed my graduate studies, so I had no choice but to let you borrow money to pay my tuition. But you agreed to it back then, didn't you? It's not like I held a knife to your throat.
"Now my brother needs to get married, and you can't help out, so there's no way I can marry you.
"You have no money and no education. How are you worthy of me? You can't live on love, Xu Ke. We're all adults here. Have some self-awareness."
Siao Jia's words were sharp and merciless, piercing Xu Ke's heart.
He swayed, as if about to collapse. He couldn't accept that his girlfriend of many years had become this person. The tenderness of the past was matched only by the pain of the present.
Siao Fan sneered with contempt. "A toad lusting after swan meat. My sister is the campus beauty; there's a line of guys waiting to pursue her."
Chang Xiujuan was even more impatient. "Why are we still talking? Li Jun is picking our family up for dinner in his Ferrari soon. Don't let him see you here."
Xu Ke was stunned, his eyes suddenly lifeless. "You're still in touch with Li Jun?"
Li Jun was Siao Jia's wealthy ex-boyfriend from college. Xu Ke had only gotten together with Siao Jia after Li Jun cheated on and dumped her. He had thought they'd long since cut off all contact, but now he realized Siao Jia and Li Jun were still entangled.
Siao Jia's gaze darted away. Then, remembering they had already broken up, she said brazenly, "What's it to you?"
"Fine, fine. It's none of my business." Xu Ke's eyes turned crimson with despair. "The tuition you wanted? I borrowed money to pay for it. The handbags you wanted? I worked a part-time delivery job to buy them for you. The down payment? I worked overtime teaching private classes and had my parents go into debt to scrape it together...
"And now you dump me over the bride price for your bastard brother.
"And you're hooking up with that asshole Li Jun again.
"I get it now. I finally understand what 'a woman's heart is the most venomous' means, and what it means to be a two-timer.
"Hahaha, Siao Jia, was I just trash for you to use and throw away?!"
Xu Ke was so provoked he seemed to have lost his mind.
Siao Jia's face paled. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Don't you know what I'm talking about?" Xu Ke roared, his eyes looking as if they would split from their sockets.
He had always thought that if he just endured his prospective mother-in-law's abuse and bought the house, a happy future was certain. That's why he'd bitten his tongue and suffered in silence. But now he made a devastating discovery... What he thought was a journey they were taking hand in hand had been nothing but his own wishful thinking.
Siao Jia felt a pang of guilt and couldn't meet his gaze.
Just then, a sharp pain shot through Xu Ke's back, and he fell face-first to the ground. "Argh..."
THUD.
Siao Fan had kicked him to the ground. He retracted his foot and spat on the floor. "What are you yelling about? This is the Siao family home. Your broke-ass whining is annoying. Get the hell out."
"Well done," Chang Xiujuan even applauded.
Seeing Xu Ke's pathetic state, a look of satisfaction crossed Chang Xiujuan's face. A poor wretch dares to criticize them? He's courting death.
Enduring the searing pain, Xu Ke staggered to his feet and stared daggers at Siao Fan.
He was a fitness instructor. If he hadn't been so devastated by Siao Jia, how could a sneak attack like that have possibly succeeded?
Siao Fan was startled. The fury in Xu Ke's bloodshot eyes was terrifying.
Siao Jia rushed forward to shield Siao Fan, glaring at Xu Ke. "What are you doing? Are you trying to hit my brother? I'll call the police, believe it or not! Xu Ke, I knew you were a violent brute! I knew you'd eventually raise a hand to my family. It's a good thing I broke up with you when I did, or I'd regret it for the rest of my life."
Xu Ke was aghast. He never thought Siao Jia would twist the truth like this. Her brother attacked him first, so how did it become his fault?
Siao Fan grew smug again. "Go on, hit me, Xu Ke. I'm standing right here, waiting."
Xu Ke paid him no mind. He just stared blankly at Siao Jia's cold expression. After a long moment, a bitter smile spread across his face. "Fine... just fine... Siao Jia, with this kick, we are completely, utterly through."
With that, Xu Ke turned and walked out of the Siao family's home.
"Get lost! So much nonsense from a poor piece of trash. Who do you think you are?" Chang Xiujuan cursed as she slammed the door shut.
BANG!
The deafening sound echoed.
Staring at the closed door, Xu Ke's eyes burned crimson, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.
He swore he would make Siao Jia regret this!
But Xu Ke never imagined that the day Siao Jia would be on her knees, begging him for mercy, would come far sooner than he expected.